Environmental activism and attitudes toward wastewater pollution in Puerto Rico
This study examines the effects of community activism on the environmental attitudes of residents affected by wastewater pollution in Puerto Rico. Involvement of residents in community organizations is critical to environmental planning and policy decisions by government, but this involvement may be constrained by several factors. These factors include resident perceptions of the environmental problem and their attitudes toward government agencies and community action. This study considers the relative influence of community activism on the residents' perceptions of the wastewater pollution problem and their attitudes toward government and community activism. Perceptions and attitudes are derived from a 1987 survey of residents at three sites in the La Plata River Basin affected by wastewater pollution. The sites differ in levels of community activism among residents. Resident perceptions of the magnitude and impact of the wastewater pollution problem are compared between the three study sites and within each site. Attitudes toward government and community action are also compared. The findings show that residents of the site characterized as highly active gave the poorest rating of stream water quality and perceived a greater impact from wastewater pollution on the community. It was found that attitudes toward government were negative among all affected residents, but were less negative among those aware of community actions carried out in their communities. Results of the study show that both government agencies and community organizations benefit from greater resident involvement in environmental community actions. The attitudes toward government agencies improve as resident awareness of these actions increases.
- Research Organization:
- Michigan Univ., Ann Arbor, MI (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6840226
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
POLICY AND ECONOMY
PUERTO RICO
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
INFORMATION NEEDS
PUBLIC OPINION
PUBLIC POLICY
PUBLIC RELATIONS
WATER POLLUTION
FEDERAL REGION II
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
GREATER ANTILLES
ISLANDS
NORTH AMERICA
POLLUTION
USA
WEST INDIES
290300* - Energy Planning & Policy- Environment
Health
& Safety