237: the maturing of Chinese civil society

Did you know that Yale produces its own news websites? I didn't - at least not until today. But I've now discovered 'Yale environment 360' - a news site dedicated to highlighting environmental issues from across the world, through a combination of news streaming, scientific commentary and reportage style journalism. Today's linked story from that site focuses on the growth of grassroots environmental organizations in China, a country where the concept of 'civil society' is nascent but local environmental problems are severe. According to the article, environmental groups have secured a good degree of freedom relative to other civil society organizations in China. As a result, they have been able to develop a strong body of data about issues such as industrial pollution, water resource management, land degradation and other things that affect Chinese people's lives - and they are beginning to be trusted by the government as they prove their worth. Whilst controls on their activities remain, environmental groups have evolved rapidly in recent years, giving a glimpse of the potential for a more pluralistic and open society as 21st century China evolves.