2

EXPOSURE

The Host Committee took the participants to meet two groups. The first was an environmental protection group and the second a farmers group. The first group was involved in the work relating to the environmental hazards caused to the residents of Au-ngeh (Ho-chin) by the Naptha Cracker Plants (a processing plant of the Petro-Chemical Industry) owned by the China Petroleum Corporation (Government). The participants were taken to the site where the enormous plants were constructed right in the village inhabited by the people. The noise and pollution emanating from the plants was experienced by the participants. A slide show presented by the group showed the struggle of the villagers in opposing the building of the 5th Neptha Cracker Plant.

The Farmers group gave a brief overview of their struggle and described how they gradually organized themselves in order to be able to speak with one voice from a common platform. The strategy helped in putting forth their demands to the government. The participants enjoyed the delicious longan and watermelon grown on the land by the farmers while they listened and put forth questions.