Conflict over mining in rural China: A comprehensive survey of intentions and strategies for environmental activism
Conflict over mining in rural China: A comprehensive survey of intentions and strategies for environmental activism
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DOI：
10.3390/su10051669
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发表时间：
2018-05
期刊：
影响因子：
3.9
通讯作者：
P. Ho;Xiuyun Yang
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
P. Ho;Xiuyun Yang
采矿造成严重的不利影响，如污染和强迫移民。因此，它引发了在中国也很明显的冲突。我们的研究评估了农村居民是否以及如何参与反对采矿的环境行动主义（EA）。这是通过构建EA策略模型来实现的，再加上检查受访者意图的变量。该模型使用的数据从一项调查（n = 352），覆盖37个村庄分布在5个省和1个省级直辖市。该模型是基于改进的计划行为理论（TPB）。报告了各种调查结果：（1）大多数（77%）的受访者认为矿区环境污染严重;（2）对环境保护的效果持悲观态度，41%的受访者认为环境保护不能改善环境，只有不到五分之一的受访者认为政府支持环境保护，这是矛盾的;（3）超过一半的人从事过一种或多种形式的环境影响评估，而（4）主要的环境影响评估策略包括向当地政府或乡村当局投诉（5）经济依赖性和性别影响到就业援助的意愿，因为采矿业雇员和妇女不太愿意参加。尽管研究指出“倾向于弃权者”或“沉默的大多数”，但本研究证实，关于采矿，农村居民并不沉默。我们认为可能已经达到了环境承受力的极限。在这方面，决策者需要解决采矿的不利影响，因为采矿可能会引发更多的暴力对抗，最终对政治信誉和社会稳定构成风险。
Mining causes severe adverse effects such as pollution and forced resettlement. Accordingly, it has prompted conflicts that are also evident in China. Our study assesses whether and how rural residents’ engage in environmental activism (EA) against mining. This is achieved by constructing a model of EA strategies, coupled to variables that examine respondents’ intentions. The model uses data from a survey (n = 352) covering 37 villages spread over 5 provinces and 1 provincial-level municipality. The model is based on a refinement of the theory of planned behavior (TPB). Various findings are reported: (1) a majority of respondents (77%) believes that pollution in the mining areas is serious; (2) there is pessimism about the effects of EA with 41% believing it does not improve the environment, and less than one-fifth feeling the government supports EA, contradictorily; (3) well over half has engaged in one or more forms of EA, while (4) dominant EA strategies consist of complaining to local government or village authorities (both over 40%), or open protest (opted for by over 17%); (5) economic dependency and gender affect the intention for EA, as those employed in mining and women are less inclined to participate. Whereas studies pointed to “inclined abstainers” or the “silent majority”, this study ascertains that—with regard to mining—rural residents are not silent. We posit that a threshold of environmental endurance might have been reached. In this context, policymakers need to tackle the adverse effects of mining, as it is likely to generate more violent confrontations that ultimately pose risks to political credibility and social stability.