Environmental Advocacy Dilemma on Tin Mining Communities in Bangka Belitung

Abstract

Tin mining generally results in massive environmental damage. This condition occurs in Bangka Belitung as an area rich in tin natural resources. Due to the environmental damage, tin mining in this area runs along with several rejection of the mine. Environmental activists will generally assist the community in carrying out resistance movements. However, environmental activists will face various dilemmas in advocacy. This paper discusses how the environmental advocacy dilemma in the tin mining community in Bangka Belitung. The study model used is a qualitative model by collecting data in the form of in-depth interviews and conservation. This study found four important things, namely: first, the tendency of society to split in two different attitudes in the context of tin mining. The gap focused on at least 10 dimensions of attitude difference. Second, the study found that the environmental advocacy movement generally centered on the aspect of rejecting the existence of tin mines in the sea and coastal areas as well as Watersheds (DAS). Third, environmental activists are always faced with intimidation and pressure from paid groups by investors. Environmental activists generally face back pressure from counter-pressure groups. Fourth, this study also found that people tended to be apathetic towards the environmental advocacy movement, some of them because they were worried about pressure and partly because they felt unaffected or directly related. The study also found that apathy also arises because of the pragmatism of the people in certain regions which are actually accommodating to tin mining.