Without personally visiting, it’s impossible to truly experience their inferior quality of life. Local residents have to witness factories continuously damaging the environment. Standing on the rooftop of Fenglin Elementary School, feeling the sea breeze, it’s evident that it’s not a clean breeze but one laden with dust particles. You can sense the granularity, and even when you return home and clean your face, there are black impurities or secretions. The protests of these residents are like trying to stop a speeding car with their bare arms. Still, they never give up any opportunity to lead the way in advocating for their homeland and the health of the next generation, which is highly admired by the students.
After conducting practical surveys, the students have genuinely experienced the helplessness of the residents and their frustration with the government. They have witnessed a community rich in culture and humanity, yet surrounded by towering smokestacks, all the while enduring air pollution. Local residents have expressed their fondness for sharing these beautiful memories and take pride in having participated in the area’s past prosperity. The residents’ descriptions of their past, accompanied by excited expressions and stories, bring those beautiful scenes to life. It’s as if we’ve been transported back to the 1950s, walking alongside them through the golden age of Dalinpu—once vibrant, rich in local flavor, but now a part of history. These images are slowly fading away, and many can only be painted through the words of the residents. The students also sense the residents’ deep attachment to the wounded Dalinpu and the bygone years. Those joyful and beautiful memories and landscapes are what the residents have given, and what they’ve lost is far more than just land; it’s their childhood and a lifetime of memories in their homes.
“Moving with Emotion” – Although it may not be the most logical or effective approach, it is the most touching. If we were to rely on regulations and precedents for our protest, we wouldn’t compare to the fighters who have been at it for a long time. However, we can contribute by diligently documenting the stories the residents have shared with us. We can share the memories, stories, concerns, fondness, and efforts of the people of Dalinpu. Let others see how they treat with indifference what matters so much to the people of Dalinpu, and hopefully inspire others to learn to cherish it as well.
Our Thoughts
The residents of Dalinpu have been adversely affected in the long term in terms of health and have not had a lifestyle closer to modern times. We hope that the government can provide more assistance to the residents here so that they can have a better quality of life. Blindly pursuing economic development is not in the best interest of the country, and the rich cultural heritage built up over the years needs to be properly preserved. When basic rights are not protected, it becomes even more important to stand up and defend our rights.
Whether relocation occurs or not, environmental protection is a crucial issue that needs to be addressed. The situation with factories surrounding the area should be resolved first before genuinely helping the residents of Dalinpu. If, during the process of development, we can coexist harmoniously with nature, we can achieve the most ideal state, having a high quality of life and good health.
The residents of Dalinpu are quite helpless but also brave individuals. Despite facing oppression in the past, they are determined to resist the relentless pollution and protect their only hometown, rather than allowing the government to excessively exploit the land they live on. We hope their voices can be heard, leading to improvements in environmental protection and relocation policies.What are Your Thoughts on This?