Latest comments posted about Weathering the storm on ChinaDialogue en-gb http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/994-Weathering-the-storm http://staging.chinadialogue.net/images/cdlogo.gif http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/994-Weathering-the-storm I think that the environmental storms are interesting because they are an example of how SEPA is pursuing its goals under the banner of goals such as cooling down the economy and changing the development paths of local officials. However, I agree with Tang Hao that they don't have much long term effect. I think that the biggest impact they have is to boost SEPA's standing in the bureaucracy and give it more publicity from the media. TJ Thu, 24 May 2007 12:57:46 +0000 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/994#comment-3743 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/994#comment-3743 If we genuinely regard it as an issue to resolve, we should also have some faith that somehow it will. I think, disregard individual purposes, we should welcome all efforts taken for environmental protection. Hopefully, there will be more and more agencies which gathers different resources. Juliet Thu, 17 May 2007 16:38:05 +0000 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/994#comment-3713 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/994#comment-3713 I think the current means of environment regulating is over-monotonous, if merely punishment taken, the result as I see would not be very effective; rather, these would lead to resistance and resentment from enterprises. Personally I posit that sticks and carrots shall be taken together in terms of environment regulation - instead of having the enterprises live with the fear of being punished if not to take care of the environment, a more sensible way is to offer incentives to encourage them to be an activist in environment protection. Only under policies in this kind, the desired enthusiam could be roused. As I can see, the fundamental problems lie still in the measures and policies adopted by the government in regulating the affair of environment protection. Haibei Wed, 16 May 2007 05:28:37 +0000 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/994#comment-3704 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/994#comment-3704 Comment 4's viewpoint is sharp and great. But, back to the bottom line, words are not always enough, and what we need to do is start to live a better, more eco-friendly lifestyle. I think we all know it is quite hard to change the present circumstances. However, we can not give up in the face of difficulties, even the road is long and harsh. Civilization is in a slow process of adapting to the ideas that concern the environmental problem. So let's start from today. Do not give up! we have to face it, and find the solution ourselves. snowland brown bear Sat, 12 May 2007 02:28:55 +0000 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/994#comment-3683 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/994#comment-3683 I think there should be an equilibrium of opposing forces among enterprises, government and society in environmental protection. If we can’t bring about this equilibrium first, environmental protection will never be realised, because the huge expansion of industry and economic growth policies work together too easily. Tue, 15 May 2007 02:12:17 +0000 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/994#comment-3688 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/994#comment-3688 I was a bit harsh on Snowland Brown Bear - China and the whole world needs people like him/her who care about the environment. He/she makes an interesting point: that environmental work should start from the individual choosing an eco-friendly lifestyle. Small changes like this can have a wider effect. For example, a friend of mine uses his own chopsticks instead of disposable ones when he goes to a restaurant and now quite a few of us are doing the same thing. But it seems so futile when the real problem is industry, and industry is expanding. JR Mon, 14 May 2007 02:03:37 +0000 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/994#comment-3686 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/994#comment-3686 I think comment number 3 demonstrates a big problem with NGOs in China. There's a lot of waffle about hearts, dreams, working together etc and not enough concrete action (although at least it shows some kind of support for environmentalism). Vagueness is everywhere in China - in the laws, the policies and the language. Of course there are a lot of NGOs trying to do good work, and in a political climate like China's, progress will be slow. People have to be happy with small victories. But ultimately results are all that matter. Results. Without an independent judiciary I don't see how substantial progress can be made in the environment or any other area. You can't rely on benevolent leaders to sort everything out for you. Fri, 11 May 2007 13:23:12 +0000 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/994#comment-3682 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/994#comment-3682 hanging together we can go through the water and fire, wiht coalition of all the society, we surely can form a better world. Some time, the great achievement or movement just needs a breeze to forward it to the next step. To ensure the people's voice to be heard, the only alternative is to hang the people together to form a dream or devotion. For instance, Every ngo has it's own mission and dream. we are all living upon the dream, some thing fabulous. If any body could lead the way, certainly, lots will follow as long as it is good for us. Snowland brown bear Fri, 11 May 2007 11:40:32 +0000 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/994#comment-3679 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/994#comment-3679 The storms would hardly be a cure-all, but in the long run, these will be seen as trademarks in the progress of environmental protection in China. They show the resolutions of the government. Practical policies and actions will come out following the arguments. Of cause storms do cause problems, but one should not totally repudiate them. Fri, 11 May 2007 10:26:12 +0000 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/994#comment-3677 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/994#comment-3677 Launching this kind of storms is good for the media, but probably not that useful for tackling the problem. Fri, 11 May 2007 03:05:58 +0000 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/994#comment-3676 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/994#comment-3676