14/06/2016
“Social counter-argument (SCA) about environment” is yet widely mentioned in legal documents on the environment, but the content of this phrase is familiar because it is associated with political - social organizations’ counter-argument activities and occupation societies. It is stipulated in Article 45 of the Law on Environmental Protection 2014 that political - social organizations and occupation societies have the right to consult or argue with State management agencies and related production, business and service masters about environmental protection in conformity with the law.
SCAs on the environment can be considered as a form of SCA activity with the subjects concentrating on environmental issues involved in a policy, a project, a programme or a scheme (generally called environmental plans). In the context of increasing environmental conflicts, the role of counter-arguments in environmental policies is becoming more and more important and its growth should be fostered. However, specific regulations on this type of counter-argument are not available yet.
SCA activities are spontaneous deeds
SCAs in general and counter-arguments about the environment in particular reflect social interest and opinions about specific issues.
Mentioning the SCA activities of occupation societies means refering the role of the societies in assembling, leading and organizing their members to take part in these activities. The law recognizes mastering the rights of the citizens including the right to know, debate, participate and decide. However, the people’s strength and how well they implement their rights will improve as they gather in occupation societies. Therefore, the occupation societies, which represent the voices of their members need to play a major part in SCAs.
SCA activities are spontaneous deeds occuring in the society
They happen and pervade the society in both width and depth to become public opinions, even if they are not organized by anyone. The society and the populace produce them as they assess political, economic, social and cultural events. Occupation societies must gather and negotiate in order to reach an agreement on the modes and contents of SCAs, hoping they reflect the will and aspirations of the public, as well as their opinions about environmental issues.
As SCA activities are scientific acts, they require members of society to have certain professional skills so they can study, examine, evaluate, collect and propose necessary matters. Thus, in principle, occupation societies all have the right to carry out SCA activities, but the results and levels contributing to the society will largely depend on the professional abilities of their members.
SCA is an effective way to broaden democracy, promote unification between the State and society, and help improve the quality of decisions made by appropriate authorities regarding the development and environmental protection. SCA is an extremely important communication channel, but it is not the only one.
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VUSTA contributed counter-argument ideas to a Hà Nội expansion plan to ensure harmonised development for the landscape and environment. |
Intensifying SCA about environment to create social unanimity
SCA activities are carried out in different fields including environmental science. Some typical SCA activities conducted by the Vietnam Union of Scientific and Technological Associations (VUTAS) and its member organizations, which have been approved by authorities and appreciated by the public, include asking functional agencies not to adopt a US $23 million project to renew water in West lake with water from the Red river, to avoid misspending; proposing the creation of safety corridors for animals in the Cúc Phương national forest at intersections with the Hồ Chí Minh highway in order to conserve wildlife and the natural landscape; arguing against a Red river-side urban development project in Hà Nội to preserve the river; and contributing environmental ideas to a capital expansion plan that aims to ensure harmonised landscape and environmental development.
However, making a counter-argument does not always go smoothly. We have not formed a rule for accepting conflicting information and we assume civil authorities are always right. In many places, counter-arguments are considered objections making it difficult for authorities to execute their projects or create a psychology opposing cooperation. Sometimes, some privileged groups allege that SCA is a source of instability, trying to hide their dubious and tortuous behaviors behind projects. The lack of cooperation from the proprietor of a project makes it hard for social organizations and scientists to access information necessary for thorough assessment and analysis of the projects. Furthermore, legal frameworks related to SCA activities remain incomplete, with financial shortcomings acting as barriers, constraining the efficiency of SCA activities.
Efforts from both sides, objects and subjects, are needed for SCA activities, particularly counter-arguments about the environment for effectiveness. The objects of a project must be clearly aware of the need of polling the public, including SCAs. Hence, it is necessary object to ask for SCAs from occupation societies, and in case of need, from VUSTA - an organization assembling numerous specialized professional associations. Though diverse, projects requiring SCAs are mainly created by multi-level Party and State agencies. Many are also financially invested by the State budget.
Occupation societies’ SCA activities need to be carried out via the following modes: Direct orders from multi-level Party and State agencies authorized to adopt or ask for approval of projects needing SCAs; and orders put forward by occupation societies for projects with great socio-economic and environmental impacts, after authorized Party and State agencies adopt and assign the occupation societies to organize SCA prior to authorities’ consideration and decision. Central and local administration agencies presiding over the projects in related areas are responsible for consulting the society, making counter-arguments and assessing occupation societies before they adopt or submit the projects to authorized levels for approval.
Agencies ordering SCAs must raise the demand for SCA content from occupation societies. On the other hand, they need to provide adequate, timely and necessary information and materials guaranteeing advantageous conditions in time, periods of time, expenses and the use of facilities (if agreed) to occupation societies to carry out the requested tasks. They must process, collect and classify petitions and suggestions from occupation societies and submit their records to the authorized levels for consideration and decisions.
The subjects, occupation societies responding for SCAs, must assemble leading experts and experienced specialists in related areas to produce high-quality SCAs with detailed suggestions to the ordering agencies. Besides, they are responsible for content and progress, as well for the scientism, independence, objectiveness and honesty of the SCA outcomes. They should also take responsibility before the society and State authorities for the legality of the SCA contents and suggestions.
In the process of broadening democracy and letting people take part in determining the development of the country, SCA activities in general and counter-arguments on the environment in particular will become more and more interesting and appreciated. Occupation societies need to promote the need for experts to conduct SCA activities well and enhance the roles of the organizations in society. In this context, expanding the scale of counter-arguments and stipulating more detailed objects could help meet the era’s demand and natural development trends■
Dr. Phạm Văn Tân, General Secretary
Vietnam Union of Scientific and Technological Associations
