Report: Environmental Quality in the Third WorldAuthor(s): S. Robert AikenSource: Area, Vol. 6, No. 2 (1974), pp. 142-144Published by: The Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers)Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/20000852 .

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142 Cloze procedure and spatial comprehension tests

Gould, P. R., 1966. On mental maps. Michigan Inter-University Community of Mathematical Geographers, Discussion Paper 9.

Heatlie, S. and Ramsay, E., 1971. An investigation into alternative methods of assessing the readability of books used in schools, in Merritt, J. E. (ed.), Reading and the curriculum, London, 169-87.

Holsti, 0. R., 1969. Content Analysis for the social sciences and humanities. Reading, Massa chusetts.

Moodie, D. W., 1971. Content Analysis: a method for historical geography. Area, 3, 3, 146-9. Moyle, D., 1971. Readability-the use of Cloze Procedure, in Merritt, J. E. (ed.), op. cit.,

159-68. Osborne, B. S. and Reiner, D. L., 1973. Content analysis and historical geography: a note on

Evaluative Assertion Analysis. Area, 5, 2, 96-100. Osgood, C. E., 1959. The representational model and relevant research methods, in Pool,

I. de S. (ed.). Trends in content analysis. Urbana, Illinois, 33-88. White, G. F., 1966. Formation and role of public attitudes, in Jarrett, H. (ed.). Environmental

quality in a growing economy. Baltimore, 105-77.

Environmental quality in the Third World

S. Robert Aiken, University of Malaya

Comments arising from and summary of the Report of the Meeting of Representatives of Countries and Intergovernmental Bodies active in the field of Human Environment in the ECAFE Region, Bangkok, Thailand, October 2-5 1973; Ref. E/CN.IJ/I&NR/98.

The sound of the ecological tocsin is a relatively recent phenomenon and one confined for the most part to a few highly developed, postcivilized societies of the First World. Throughout the less fortunate two-thirds of our planet little time, effort, or interest can be devoted to environmental problems arising from imbalances between man and nature. Instead the Third World must continue to grapple with problems of food supply, the eradication of disease, and the provision of shelter for its ever-exploding masses.

The all-pervading issue centres on how to raise the levels of human decency for over 2 billion inhabitants of Spaceship Earth.

The past few years, however, have witnessed a growing awareness, albeit rather faltering in some quarters, of the need to view ecological problems within the context of the development process which is now continuing apace throughout most of the Third World. While it is true that environmental considerations are still given low priority on the agendas of most developing countries, the fact that they are now recognized is a step forward, perhaps ultimately a step toward a more rational and humane stewardship of the earth.

That ecological awareness in the developing world is on the rise is apparent from a number of recent trends. India, for example, has recognized that environmental problems are not the sole preserve of the wealthy nations. ' The five-year plan which went into effect in 1970 devoted significant attention to the environmental conse quences of proposed development activities '.1 In 1972 a number of African countries

made it quite clear that there must be no conflict between development and environ mental quality and that the ' safeguarding and improvement of the environment must be an integral part of general development policy '.2 And in Malaysia, one of the most developed countries in South-east Asia, more stringent environmental quality controls

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Environmental qualitv in the Third World 143

will come into effect in the near future.3 It is perhaps also of some interest that in Malaysia a small, but growing, body of well-educated, ecologically-conscious citizens now seems to be emerging.4

The proceedings of a recent conference on problems of the human environment in Asia and the Far East offers additional evidence of a growing interest in questions relating to environmental quality control. The population of the ECAFE (Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East) region in 1970 was 2170 million, or 550% of the world's population; the region constitutes 23% of the land area of the globe. Individual countries within this vast region are beset with problems of inadequate development, mass poverty, grinding sickness, unemployment, high rates of illiteracy and staggering population growth rates.5 The conference recognized that environ

mental management' should be carried out as an integral part of the total development effort.'

Problem recognition

The term ' environment ' was given broad meaning by the conference and was taken to include the natural environment, the land and life of rural and urban areas including their trade, economies and technology, and what might be referred to as the ' personal environment ' of individuals, the latter including diet, health, sanitation, literacy and the like.

Problems identified at the meeting may be briefly summarized under four headings: 1. The Natural Environment. It was recognized that minerals and forest products

were of ' great economic significance for developing countries of the region', and that land-use planning would contribute to the rational, rather than unplanned, exploitation of such natural endowments. 'The meeting felt that high priority should be given to forecasting and mitigating the effects of natural and other disasters in the ECAFE region.' Further, it was noted that flora and fauna in the region were being depleated because of contamination and pollution of habitats. Also 'It was felt that steps should be taken to commence the compilation of inventories which would give information on the exploitation, use, trade, and utilization of... genetic resources.'

2. Human settlements. ' Human settlements, human health and habitat and well being should be approached along a wide front encompassing solutions to the problem of provision of adequate supply of food, public health, potable water supply, housing, transportation, waste disposal and industrial zoning.'

3. Trade, economics and technology. The conference hoped that new environmental standards imposed by wealthier countries would not be used to discriminate against consumer goods from the less fortunate countries. It was felt that problems connected with the environmental implications of adopted technology should be given careful consideration.

4. Education, training, assistance and information. It was recognized that heightened awareness of environmental issues must be induced among all levels of people.

The meeting was of the belief that training courses, workshops, and seminars would provide some of the immediate needs of governments. It was also hoped that a referral system for the collection and dissemination of information might be established

within the ECAFE region.

Recommendations

Some of the more important recommendations are as follows: 1. Asian countries should designate a high-level central advisory agency in their

governments with overall responsibility for environmental matters. 2. Personnel in both the public and private sectors should be trained in the tech

niques of environmental protection and management. 3. Governments, perhaps with external help, should develop in their citizens an

environmental ethic.

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144 Environmental quality in the Third World

4. Governments should set up national centres for handling environmental infor mation.

5. Governments should attempt to assess the environmental and social impact of development programmes at an early stage of project analysis.

6. Environmental quality should be constantly monitored. 7. The problems of human settlements (see above) should be given the highest

priority. 8. Population problems should be given high priority, as should problems of

conservation and management of land, water and forest resources. 9. Governments should draw up long-term energy plans. 10. Asian governments should take steps to preserve and protect their cultural

and natural heritages. 11. ' The international agencies should promote, help to make available and, when

requested by governments, finance technical assistance programmes in the field of environmental protection.'

12. The Asian Development Bank in particular should assist Asian countries in solving environmental problems associated with development projects.

Conclusions

Most of the recommendations of the ECAFE conference could be applied with equal validity to the richer, more fortunate, countries of the world. Problems of resource management, pollution, energy supplies, population growth and the quality of life as presently experienced are shared by rich and poor countries alike. To be sure, the Third World is at a great disadvantage facing as it does a multitude of problems which at times seem to be almost insurmountable. Yet it is of great importance that the postcivilized societies of the West be aware not only of the differences which exist between the haves and the have-nots but that they also recognize the common ground which they share with their less fortunate neighbours. Many ecological problems are truly global in extent; they cannot be confined, if indeed they ever could be, within national boundaries.

This latter point is of some significance because, as Wilbur Zelinsky has pointed out, now that the ' United States and similar lands have begun to graduate from an era of self-cannibalism of domestic riches and are turning to external sources, their overseas demographic and ecological impacts will be redoubled '.6 It is probably only through international cooperation and a sense of human justice that the problems of the Third World, including those of environmental quality, can be solved. A recourse to further exploitation of the poor countries by the richer ones can only result in added human misery and further imbalances between man and nature.

References 1. Dasmann, R. F. Planet in Peril? Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltd., 1972, p. 107. 2. New York Times, 14 April 1972, p. 2, as quoted in Ginsburg, N., From colonialism to

national development: geographical perspectives on patterns and policies, Ann. Ass. Am. Geogr. 63 (1973), p. 21.

3. An environmental quality control bill is now pending. 4. Part of the evidence for this trend is apparent from newspaper articles and letters. See, The

Straits Times (Kuala Lumpur) 19 June 1973; 21 July 1973; 10 Sept. 1973; 12 Oct. 1973; 22

Oct. 1973; 16 Nov. 1973 for examples.

5. The meeting was attended by representatives from Australia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Republic of Viet-Nam, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Representatives of a number

of international agencies were also present. 6. Zelinsky, Wilbur. Beyond the exponentials: the role of geography in the great transition.

Econ. Geogr. 46 (1970), p. 523.

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