Human Rights Protection Among Resettlers Displaced by the Three Gorges Project

The mammoth Three Gorges Dam is designed to displace 1.13 million people. Over the past ten years since the resettlement project started in 1993, 709,200 people or 62.76% have been resettled. Thanks to the principle of "resettlement by development," the Chinese government has paid full attention to protecting the property right, the right to employment, the right to residence and the rights and interests of disadvantaged groups. As a result, the resettlement project has given a powerful push to the overall economic and social progress and sustainable development.

Compensation and benefit sharing: Why resettlement policies and practices must be reformed

Many public and private sector projects, such as hydropower dams or mines, trigger forced population displacement but fail to resettle people sustainably and instead cause their impoverishment. Social science research has found that one root cause of such failures and of impoverishment is asset dispossession and the insufficient financing of resettlement. Most governments, however, state that （1） compensation alone is sufficient for restoring the income and livelihood of those displaced, and （2） resources to supplement compensation with additional financing are not available. The author critiques and rejects these positions. He offers a theoretical analysis of the limits and flaws of compensation payments for expropriated assets, and argues that resources are available for supplementing compensation with financial investments for resettlers＇ development. The sources for supplementary financing are the economic rent （windfall profits） generated by natural resource projects such as hydropower or mining and the regular stream of benefits generated by all projects that require resettlement. Further, the author argues that financial investments in resettlers＇ welfare are indispensable and what benefit sharing is feasible. Therefore, both should become basic principles of resettlement legislation and practice. In addition to theoretical analysis, the author documents with empirical evidence that some countries （China, Brazil, Canada, Columbia and Japan） already make investments additional to compensation for post-displacement reconstruction. The author sums up his argument in these key points： （1） Compensation alone cannot prevent the impoverishment of resettlers and cannot in itself restore and improve their livelihoods; （2） Additional financing is needed for direct investments in resettlement with development; （3） Compensation levels must be increased; （4） Financing resources are available in most cases for investing in resettlers＇ development, but allocation of investments depends on the political will of governments and project owners; （5） Firm opposition to displacement and under-compensation is growing in many countries and the strength of resettlers＇ demands and political opposition does influence allocation levels; （6） Mechanisms for benefit sharing and transfer are known arid effective and these mechanisms Can be adjusted todifferent country and economic sector conditions; （7） The introduction of benefit-sharing rules requires legislative enactment for robust application.

Relocation Selection for Poverty Alleviation:Factor Analysis and GIS Modeling

Resettlement is considered a major policy measure in two major Chinese policy programs,the "Great Development of the West" and poverty alleviation in the new century,and the "New Countryside Development".The selection of the target location of resettlement sites for poverty-stricken villages is of critical importance to the success of resettlement projects,yet the selection process is challenged by the need for analyzing a variety of contributing factors,and the need for many rounds of tedious data processing.So in this paper we present an in-depth analysis of the major factors and data processing model concerning mountainous povertystricken villages,which also takes a major part of China's poor villages.Our analysis shows the following factors bear the most importance in resettlement selection:1) topography:candidate areas should have slope less than 25 degrees and altitude less than 2400 meters.2) accessibility:close to market conventions places and transportation facilities.3) farming resources:with abundant land and water resources.4) non-intrusiveness:interests of receiving villages should be considered and negative impact minimized.A simple measure could be having the candidate area 1000 m away from the receiving residents.5) Minimal ecological and political footprint:candidate areas shall not conflict with nature conservation areas or nationally planned key land use projects.6) Social and cultural compatibility:residents will better off if relocated in the same county,considering language,religion,ethnic culture and other factors.Taking Makuadi,Lushui County of Nujiang Prefecture as a case study,we demonstrate how GIS analysis and modeling tools can be used in the selection process of resettlement projects in mountainous areas.

Rural vulnerability,migration,and relocation in mountain areas of Western China:An overview of key issues and policy interventions

Western China features a vast area of mountains and high plateaus where millions of people,including diverse ethnic minority groups,have inhabited for generations.Geographically located in the mountainous,remote,and isolated regions,rural communities are prone to natural hazards and thus become vulnerable to impoverishment.To reduce rural vulnerability,many people residing in mountainous villages opted to out-migrate from their original villages and hometowns while some took in-situ adaptation measures.A host of government-sponsored resettlement programs have been carried out to help rural villagers seek alternative livelihoods elsewhere over the past four decades.To achieve a sustainable future for rural communities in mountainous areas of western China,more effective policies and measures need to be developed and enforced.

Slope Reinforcement for Housing in Three Gorges Reservoir Area

The Three Gorges Project of the Yangtze River is the largest hydropower-complex project under construction in the world. Under the largescale relocation projects, 2874 engineered slopes are formed along with the construction of new towns. In this paper, the cutting slopes are mainly soil slopes and rock slopes. Soil slopes include residual soil slopes, colluvial accumulation slopes, swelling soil slopes, and artificial earth fill slopes, etc. Rock slopes include blocky structure rock slopes, layer structure rock slopes, and clastic structure rock slopes, etc. Varied protection measures have been used for slope protection in the reservoir area including shotcrete concrete-anchor bars, frame beams, retaining walls, slope stabilizing piles, sheet-pile walls, anchorage anti-shear tunnels, flexible protection grids, and drainage, etc. Besides, slope deformation monitoring systems have been set up to monitor deformation failure and the stability state of slopes. The protection measures have guaranteed slope safety and maintained a harmony with the urban environment and surrounding landscape.

SUSPENDING VILLAGE" A MODEL OF NEW DEVELOPMENT AREA IN THE NINGXIA HUI AUTONOMOUS REGION OF CHINA

The southern part of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in China was infamous for its poverty and serious soil erosion caused by over population. In order to alleviate poverty and backwardness, a plan was worked out: to remove 200,000 people to the north plain by developing newly irrigated land during the period of 1983-1992. The plan has been in operation for eight and half years to date. About 200,000 people have been removed from the poor southern part to the newly developed area, and 800,000 mu (1/ 15 ha) of desert land has been cultivated. Most of the migrants have been lifted out of poverty and the people’s life in the south is being improved. During the immigration process, a model, called 'Suspending Village', has been developed. In the article, the whole process of the development and the strategies are discussed.

Compensation for Land Loss in Reservoir Resettlement: A Case Study of The Three Gorges Project, China

This paper studies current policies in compensation for land lost due to construction of the Three Gorges project (TGP), China. In the case study of Kaixian County, the value of land in the peri-urban areas is underestimated. Some losses in land are tangible and thus measurable, but some losses are intangible and thus immeasurable. The land available in the resettlement areas is scarce and rarely of equivalent quality. This study suggests that the loss of agricultural land be compensated with alternative land and/or non-land-based livelihood strategies, including part compensation in monetary terms and preferential policies.

Review and Prospect for the Resettlement of TGP

The general situation of the Three Gorges Projects reservoir inundation and its characteristics are presented. The investigation and verification of the Three Gorges Projects reservoir resettlement and its planning are summarized. Some key technical problems as environmental capacity of resettlement in the Three Gorges reservoir area, relations between compensation investment for resettlement and development investment, responsibility for the assigned resettlement investment and design under conditions of a limited investment, construction of mountain cities and towns and related geological disasters etc. are expounded. Facing new situations, several proposals are put forward to make the resettlement work well done, such as implementing resettlement project construction in accordance with the capital construction procedure strengthening regular management of the resettlement work, further perfecting the system of resettlement supervision, attaching great importance to the environmental protection in the reservoir area and to the planning work of resettling relocatees in other counties or provinces, speeding up the prevention and regulation, and the monitoring of landslides, etc.

Evaluation of eco-economic effects in relation to resettlement policy in Shulehe River Basin

In the Shulehe River Basin, policy of resettlement was very effective in handling agricultural development and livelihood problems in regions of poverty limited by topography, climate, or infrastructure. Thus, since 1996-1997, the Shulehe River Basin resettlement project transferred roughly 7.5 × 10^4 people from areas of Dingxi, Longxi or Minxian which could not offer sufficient resources for the residents. Meanwhile, construction facilities such as the reservoir, which underpins the resettlement project, also triggered an internal migration of people away from the reservoir to other parts of the Shulehe River Basin. This large scale migration derived apparent effects in water resources, land use and cover change, agricultural structure as well as landscapes. Results show that total arable land expanded by 3.1 × 10^8 m^2, cattle numbers maintained a stable level of 1×10^4, pigs declined to a low level due to market trends, and sheep numbers soared from 17.44×10^4 to 73.57×10^4. However, greening and afforestation increased while croplands maintained a rational tendency accompanying with greening area expansion. From the standpoint of integration, the Shulehe River Basin resettlement policy fulfilled its previous goals of improving the inhabitants＇ livelihood and the capacity of environment when sphtial residues including environmental capacity and resources consumption for sustainable development are still positive conditions.

The resettlement planning and practice of Three Gorges Project

Migrant resettlement is essential to the success of the Three Gorges Project (TGP),and the smooth implementation of resettlement is ensured by the resettlement planning and effective organization management.In the process of resettlement planning and implementation,systematic legislation and document support system is established;environmental capacity analysis and assets appraisal methods are introduced;resettlement sites are selected through in-depth analysis and comparison;the relationship between resettlement compensation and local development is correctly understood and considered,and reasonable resettlement schedules are well prepared.Through the establishment of efficient management system and capital management mode of "static control and dynamic management",as well as the timely adjustment of plan according to actual situations,the resettlement is accomplished smoothly.Thus,the social stability of the reservoir area is ensured;the economic development of reservoir area is promoted,and it has promoted successfully the improvement of legislation,regulations and techniques for land requisition and resettlement.The paper also discusses the theory and prospective work of resettlement.

Empirical Study on Satisfaction of Farmers with Land Requisition in Guangdong Province

Taking land requisition and land disputes in Guangdong Province as starting point,this paper built a framework for analysis of farmers' satisfaction with land requisition.Through questionnaire survey and in-depth interview,field survey was carried out.With the aid of statistical software SPSS22.0 and AMOS22.0,it analyzed specific factors influencing satisfaction of farmers with land requisition using Principal Component Analysis(PCA),Exploratory Factor Analysis(EFA),and Structural Equation Modeling(SEM).Empirical results indicate that annual family income of farmers,proportion of requisitioned land to total land of a family,land requisition compensation procedure,compensation standard,compensation content,and compensation supervision havea significantly positive influence on satisfaction of farmers with land requisition.

Study on Sustainable Development of Resettlement in Urbanization Process——A Case Study on the ADB-Funded Nanning Qingxiu Mountain Ecological Protection Project

Based on derivation of permanent income hypothesis(PIH),the conflict is analyzed between expected profitability of migrants and government policy in resettlement project.Government has provided compensation for relevant building and land losses,but farmers are still unwilling to dismantle and move.On the contrary,it results in more serious social problems.The implementation and effect of resettlement policy is analyzed with ADB-funded Nanning Qingxiu Mountain Resettlement Project as an example.Finally,following suggestions are put forward for promoting sustainable development of resettlement:change ideas of resettlement to promote establishment of civil rights protection ideas;carry out early survey to protect rights and interests of owners and migrants;communicate with migrants to ensure their smooth appeal channel;and enhance coordination work with government department to ensure smooth completion of resettlement.

Viet Nam 1969/1970: Pacification as a Path to No-where

Refugees, their movements, and the problems associated with their survival and maintenance in combat scenarios are a constant problem in the search for peace in war zones. In the American conflict in Viet Nam, the traditional village structure with its communal character created the perfect situation for seminal revolutionary movements and the ensuing conflict. These same villages then became targets for search and destroy operations and later wholesale clearing operations in which entire populations were forced into resettlement. In Quang Nam Province, in Central coastal Viet Nam, over 50% of the population or 500,000 people were in refugee status by 1969. The concept of "pacification" in 1970 focused on putting people back on the land in their original village areas or a return to normalcy for some of the population. This case study, by a former civil affairs officer, details movement of a population in refugee status to a "return to village" project, as pacification and an attempt at creating a manageable strategic population area. It failed on both counts. The mistakes inherent in this project illustrate some of the more widespread problems which plagued the conduct of the conflict in Viet Nam. It also calls into question, the concept of the military planning and execution of resettlement. The lack of a thorough understanding of local culture and subjects involved by planners and project officers alike contributed to a village which neither replaced the original nor survived as an improved model.

Effects of Post Eviction Resettlement on Land-Use and Cover Change in Uganda’s Oil Exploration Areas

Evaluation of the changes in land use and land cover change (LULCC) in respect to oil exploration across the Albertine region in Uganda has been focused around the exploration areas and protected areas, with no attention to the potential impacts of evictees’ activities on resettled areas. This study used LANDSAT images to analyze the land use and land cover changes (LULCC) among the period before eviction (2002 and 2005) at the climax of eviction and resettlements (2005-2011), and during the post-resettlement period (2011-2015) to quantify the impacts of resettlements on the environment. LANDSAT images were processed using ERDAS IMAGINE software and analyzed using ArcGIS 10.1 to determine LULCC in relation to post-eviction resettlement in the study area. Results from the study indicate. The results of the study indicate that vegetation reduced by 33.08 percent, woodland were converted into settlements by 48 percent while farmlands increased by 18.3 percent. Non vegetated areas increased during resettlements however they reduced five years after eviction which indicated the ability of the ecosystem to stabilize. The study proved that post eviction induced resettlements can yield potential environmental effects to resettled areas. It is important therefore to plan and implement other means of additional source of income and construction materials for evictees to abate vegetation clearance and hence rescue the woodland. The study also recommends maintenance of an optimum population and well-planned pre eviction resettlement schemes.

A new Lease on Life by Relocation and Resettlement

THE Wumeng Mountains are one of the major mountain ranges of the Yungui Plateau in southwest China.Having a typical karst landform,it features bumpy roads that are hard to travel on.

Two Divergent Cases of Protracted Humanitarian Aid Operations:The World Bank and UNRWA(1949-2017)

The refugee convention of 1951^1 defined a refugee as“someone who is unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin owing to the well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race,religion,nationality membership in particular social group,or political opinion.”The convention also lays down basic minimum standards for the treatment of refugees,without prejudice to States granting more favorable treatment to refugees.Such rights include access to courts,to primary education,to work,and the provision for documentation,including refugee travel documents in passport forms”.None of these conditions have been applied to the Palestinian refugees.Following Israel’s war of independence in 1948-49,about 800,000 Palestinians became refugees mainly in Jordan,Syria,Lebanon,and Egypt,where their descendants still live.UNRWA was created in 1949 as a“fire extinguisher”to provide the refugees in these four States with short-term survival assistance.UNRWA’s original mandate was for three years,assuming that the refugees will soon be absorbed by the countries of their refuge.This hope never materialized,and almost 70 years later,the third and fourth generation of Palestinians are still being considered by UNRWA as“refugees”.Our research shows that flows in UNRWA’s working principles have resulted in the prolonging of the problem,and the hindering of its resolution.A comparison with the World Bank’s assistance programs proves that UNRWA’s programs are clearly part of the problem and not part of the solution.

Major Issues of Post-earthquake Housing Construction during Resettlement

Natural disasters provide an acute image of how man-made technologies are a cause of conflict when it comes to nature. It is man versus wild in its true means. The nature lets us grow and increase our settlements. We encroach on other animals＇ territories and it is only when the environment＇s patience runs out that it retaliates in forms of natural disasters. These disasters affect numerous lives and kill a lot ofhnmans. This is the main reason why we require more stable structures and preventive measures to battle the wrath of the nature. Rescue and search operations are conducted by many different government and private agencies including NGOs. These operations aim at providing the required relief and supplies after the disaster. Injured people need to be treated. People in dangerous zones need to be evacuated. Help is needed in many forms. Out of the many natural disasters, this paper will focus on the occurrence of earthquakes. Severe earthquakes destroy buildings and structures like roads, bridges etc. and wreak havoc in the community. Earthquakes largely damage all human constructions, including houses. This is the reason why a reconstruction program for dwellings and housings is of utmost importance. A home is only secondary to basic needs such as food and water. A well-planned strategy is important when it comes to launching a post-earthquake reconstruction program. The strategy should be reasonable and should consider the best interests of everyone affected; self-help and imported fabrication should play no part in the decision-making procedures. Creating awareness, physically demonstrating options and delivering are the three steps for the success of reconstruction programs. The extent of affected area and the magnitude of earthquakes are variable in nature and it is on these two aspects that the reconstruction strategy is devised. Technical aspects are focused towards the development of the affected areas and conceptual design of surrounding neighborhoods. It also aims at identifying seminars and programs based on easy financing for a new home. Along with these, review processes are conducted for the analysis of new residential needs based on optimizing the use of available land for planning and development. The paper discusses the construction of housing and resettlements as prioritized activities that must be undertaken post an earthquake. Earthquakes physically only destroy structures and buildings but for the people affected, they destroy lives, jobs, companies, sources of food and the sense of safety and traumatize the ones who come out alive.

Resettlement Agency： The Case of the Welcome Home Community Center

Research on U.S. immigrant and refugee resettlement has focused on some of the ways federal and voluntary organizations help new members integrate into mainstream society. Little research, if any, has explored how bridging socio-cultural gaps emphasizing immigrants＇ and refugees＇ aspirations is done. Conducted in a mid-size southern city, this study focuses on an organization funded solely by private donations in which the model is to encourage immigrants and refugees to set their own goals. The program is part of a social context for participants＇ strategic action planning in the process of their adjustment to U.S. society. The agency takes a transnational approach that helps participants attain cultural, economic, and educational goals.

From compensation to development:the application and progress of RwD in China

Involuntary resettlenment caused by project construction is a difficult problem over world. In the past, therestoration of livelihoods in the event of involuntary resettlementhas been based purely on providing compensation to those who are displaced. Evidence has shown that compensation-based involuntary resettlement can not realize the objective of restoring and improving resettlers＇ living standard. With a view to improve this outcome, the concept of Resettlement with Development （RwD） was envisaged and is now generally heralded as the means to mitigate catastrophic failures of the past. However, few developing countries have included the concept of RwD into th, ational policies and China is one of them. The Chinese government has taken resettlement as an opportunity to help resettlers restore and improve their living standards and develop economy in reservoir areas by implementing RwD olicy including giving compensation and subsidies at early stage and offering production assistance at late stage, citing up reservoir construction fund, initiating partnership programs and preferential policy as well as enhanc infrastruture construction. The preliminary experience from the TGP resettlement has verified that the transformation from compensation-based resettlement to RwD is a right policy, choice. Meanwhile. because ofthe changing political environment and the complexity of involuntary resettlement there is still room for china to improve its RwD policy.

Nature/Culture Dichotomy in China’s Ecological Resettlement Policy——Research based on Wustu Village,IMAR,PRC

Ecological resettlement,as a subsidiary policy of the Central Government’s environmental policy,is now attracting increasing domestic and international attention.The amount of immigrants involved in the policy serves as one reason to raise concerns about the issue,and its side effects (especially the loss of ethnic cultures and the dilemma of some ethnic minority herders and farmers) gave rise to multi-lateral discussions about the policy.The ecological and economic effects of the policy are the primary focus of present research,while the cultural analysis (esp.concerning the social and political forces that fostered and implemented the policy) of the State’s environmental and ecological resettlement policy is lacking.Based on my field research in Wustu village,IMAR,this paper relates the cultural basis of these policies with China’s desire to establish a harmonious society and argues that respect for minority cultures as well as local participation of immigrants are key to solving China’s environment issues.