Recovering a bit after I was almost literally wiped out by the sudden change in weather here in Shanghai (yesterday almost 30 degrees Celsius!), so posting was light. One of the more interesting post I should mention is that of Red Star News (proxy needed in China) who points to some quotes by the author Elizabeth C. Economy, in "The River Runs Black' who describes the friendly relationship between environmental groups and China's environmental authorities:
Environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are at the forefront of strengthening civil society in China, drawing hundreds of thousands of Chinese citizens into environmental activities, forging non-state linkages across provincial boundaries, and establishing the Chinese people as political actors independent of state-directed policies. Environmental NGOs also play a critical role in advancing transparency, rule of law, and official accountability within the Chinese political system. Through this process, they have become a significant force for political reform. ...
And:
... Still, SEPA support for NGOs is very strong. It is common now for high-ranking SEPA officials, such as Pan Yue, to articulate the necessity of environmental NGOs for safeguarding the environment. Pan has also said that within the next two years, SEPA will help to establish an NGO cooperation network and to provide professional training for small grassroots groups. He believes that it is critical to have the Chinese people engaged in environmental protection and to open the decision-making process for environmental issues to make it democratic. ...
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