CHINA: Help From The People

The public pressure raised the stakes for China's top leaders. Last April Wen ordered officials to conduct a major review of the project. According to a report in Hong Kong's Ming Pao newspaper, Wen listed "a high level of concern in society" and opposition by environmentalists as two reasons for the stoppage. In November, Pan of SEPA announced that public hearings would be held early this year to discuss the dams. Because the Nu River campaign got national attention, "it's changing the debate in China around dams," says the Wilson Center's Turner.

More important, green NGOs and like-minded government institutions have been able to network--both together and with foreign counterparts, leading to more vigorous domestic challenges. "In the past," activist Wang says, "people just did what the government told them to do. Now they are demanding a voice."

© 2005