• 2017.11.27
    星期一

英譯概念﹕Not In My Backyard (鄰避效應)

[2017.11.27] 發表
The plan of building a sewage treatment facility and expanding landfills in Tuen Mun was opposed by many local residents.
T. PARK opened in 2016, can handle a maximum capacity of 2000 tonnes of sludge per day.

【明報專訊】“Not In My Backyard” (NIMBY) refers to opposition to new development plans or proposed public facilities from residents living in the vicinity of these facilities. Opponents are worried about the potential harmful effects, although such facilities might benefit society as a whole in the long term to such an extent that they are even indispensable. NIMBY is a phenomenon all around the world.

Sludge treatment plant × adverse effects on health

Facilities that often lead to the "NIMBY" effect are referred to as obnoxious(可憎的)facilities, and they include landfills, incinerators, nuclear plants and composting plants. Residents are worried about pollution, odours, and the adverse effects on health. They are opposed to such facilities also because they think these facilities affect the image of the neighbourhood and living standards.

T. PARK, a sludge treatment facility, was opened in May 2016. Through incineration, sludge shrinks in size by 90 percent, thus relieving pressure on landfills. The electricity generated can be used to power the facility itself as well as the public grid(公共電網). However, residents of Ha Pak Nai village have staged protests against the facility, citing the bad smells coming from the facility which they say have made residents feel dizzy and nauseous. They are worried that the facility is giving out poisonous matters that affect their health.

NIMBY × government's role

It is possible to prevent and resolve the NIMBY effect. The government can, for example, make sure that obnoxious facilities are distant from neighbourhoods through urban planning or legal means. Advanced technology can be adopted, and regulations can be improved to minimize the safety hazard. Environmental assessment can be conducted, and the public can be fully consulted.

There has been a string of protests against PX plants in China in recent years. Thanks to protests such as that staged by citizens in Maoming(茂名), Guangdong in 2014, some of the plans have been shelved. Experts believe that regional governments failed because their environmental assessment reports were not transparent, there was a lack of public participation, the general public did not possess adequate scientific knowledge, and the regional governments were lacking in credibility.

◆Yes In My Backyard

From NIMBY to YIMBY?

The NIMBY effect often results from perceived unfairness – the feeling that only residents living in the vicinity of the facility are affected. Compensation can be provided to address opposition and hopefully lead to a shift from "Not In My Backyard" to "Yes In My Backyard". The prerequisites are that the facilities meet environmental and safety standards and that the public is involved in the decision-making process. In South Korea, the government provides subsidies and rebates for people living within 300 metres of incinerators. In Taipei, rewards are given to funeral homes (殯儀館)and incinerators to promote regional development.

Related concepts:

.urban development

.neighbourliness

.reconciliation

[通通識 第484期]

更多教育
焦點新聞﹕一周焦點通識新聞
【明報專訊】■11月15日(港、全、衛) 美收緊高血壓定義 港逾45歲患者料增5% 美國心臟協會14年來首度重新定義高血壓,原本... 詳情
AI象棋大戰創紀錄
【明報專訊】逾千名中小學生拿茈酊O及手提電腦,表現興奮,到底所為何事?原來他們正與中國象棋的人工智能(AI)系統一決高下,較量棋藝。他們更共... 詳情
STEM X 衣食住行:與AI對弈
【明報專訊】「AI對弈千人匯」10月27日在伊利沙伯體育館舉行,有72間中小學、1140名學生參與。初賽中,同學需運用自備的平板或手提電腦連... 詳情
時事常識挑戰(香港):反思衣食行
【明報專訊】11月本來沒有大型節慶,但2009年起內地興起雙十一節,各大購物網站減價促銷,不少香港人也趨之若鶩。網購文化日趨盛行,生活便利卻... 詳情
【明報專訊】1. D 2. A 3. D 4. C 5. 遵照醫生指示按時按量服用抗生素、保持壎矷A服藥前要先潔手 ... 詳情

明報網站 · 版權所有 · 不得轉載
Copyright © 2016 mingpaocanada.com All rights reserved.
Ming Pao Daily News A wholly owned subsidiary of Ming Pao Enterprise Corporation Ltd.
Vancouver Chinese Newspaper

5368 Parkwood Place, Richmond B.C. V6V 2N1 | Tel.: (604) 231-8998 | Fax: (604) 231-9881/9884 | Advertising Hotline Tel.: (604) 231-8992