Environmental movements and social networking sites in Bangladesh. (2nd January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sharma, Shudipta
• Is Part Of: International journal of innovation and sustainable development. Volume 8:Number 4(2014)
• Page Start: 380
• Page End: 393
• Publication Date: 2015-01-02
• Subjects: environmental activism -- SNS -- social networking sites -- new social movement -- online activism -- public sphere -- information and communication technology -- ICT -- Bangladesh -- Rampal Power Plant -- information technology -- environmental movements -- climate change -- World Heritage sites -- communication patterns -- activists; Sustainable development -- Periodicals; Technological innovations -- Periodicals; 338.92705
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1740-8822

Abstract

This paper aims to explore the current trend of environmental movements and its relationship with social networking sites (SNS) in Bangladesh, the most vulnerable country to climate change impacts in the world. SNS is increasingly being used in environmental movements in the disaster–prone country and it has a significant impact on activism. This study was undertaken on a recent protest against Rampal Power Plant project, designed to set up near Sundarbans, a UNESCO World Heritage site. On the basis of new social movement theory, this study engaged a multi–level, multi–methods approach to the analysis of the movement and found that SNS played an important role in every stage of the movement. This study also indicates that SNS motivates non–partisan people to join a movement on the ground. I argue that the new communication pattern among activists determines the new characteristics of the movement and helps it to be different from conventional social movements.