News stories about disputes for EFL ESL learners and teachers using a newspaper (NiE)

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Disputes

If you think about it, a large percentage of news stories involve disputes of some kind. Strikes, nasty divorces, protests, and wars are all forms of disputes. Since they can be dramatic and affect large numbers of people, such stories appear in the newspaper virtually every day. All disputes have basic similarities and this makes it easy to form a plan for reading about them. Below are some of the factors you should consider in reading a story about a dispute.

At least two sides and one grievance

Disputes have at least two opposing sides and at least one grievance. Thus, to understand a dispute you must find the information which identifies the opposing sides and explains why they are in disagreement.

A recognisable sequence

Disputes begin with a grievance and usually move through a number of stages before reaching a resolution. If the process is peaceful, the adversaries rely heavily on discussions and negotiations to gain an agreement. They may even bring in outsiders to mediate. If necessary they may use the courts—or perhaps even an election. Particularly bitter disputes, however, can result in violence. Disputes can be resolved through compromises or they can favour one side over another. In the most extreme cases, one of the adversaries may suffer total defeat, even destruction.

In reading a story about a dispute, think about what stage it has reached, i.e., what has happened thus far, and what is likely to happen next. What attempts have been or are being made to reach a settlement? Will the opposing sides be able to reach an agreement by themselves or will it be necessary to bring in outside mediators or perhaps leave it to a court to decide?

Pressure tactics

Adversaries try to gain advantages in even the most peaceful disputes. They do this in many ways, but most disputes reported in the Bangkok Post involve some type of pressure. Individuals or groups may threaten demonstrations, boycotts, legal action, strikes or even violence. And if they don’t succeed in winning their demands, they are quite likely to carry out these threats. Their opponents may make counter-threats of their own and they, too, have a whole set of tactics available. Companies faced with a strike, for example, may lock out their employees. Governments may jail protesters and, in extreme cases, countries may take up arms against a disagreeable neighbouring country. All this, of course, makes news.

When you read about a dispute, consider the tactics used by each side. Also consider which side seems to have the stronger position. In a strike, for example, consider how long each side is likely to be able to continue without suffering severe damage. Which side seems to have the most public support? Or if the courts become involved, which side seems to have the stronger case?

A look at a real dispute

Below is a story from the Bangkok Post which deals with a long-standing dispute which eventually reached all the way to the Prime Minister's office in Bangkok. As you read, try to determine the opposing sides, the grievance which has caused the dispute, and the demands which have been made. Consider also what attempts have been made to resolve the dispute and what additional steps might be taken. The story is in the news because of the pressure tactics being used. What tactics are both sides using to strengthen their positions?

Villagers bring toxic waste protest to city

RAYONG villagers opposed to a toxic waste dump have joined the 10,000-strong protest at Government House.

Led by the Rayong Conservation Group, the Pluak Daeng villagers vowed to stay until their demand that the landfill site be moved is met. Group representatives will meet Industry Minister Chaiwat Sinsuwong today to convince him the Tambon Tasit site is not appropriate as it is too close to water sources.

The 1,036-rai former pineapple plantation is 300m from Klong Ra-woeng and 500m from Klong Tai Sun, both of which feed Nong Pla Lai reservoir, seven km away. Fears among villagers that toxins will seep into the reservoir, which supplies Rayong and Chon Buri, have been reaffirmed by a Greenpeace report detailing leaks from landfill sites in the United States managed by Waste Management International (WMI).

According to Greenpeace USA’s 1991 report “Waste Management Inc, An Encyclopedia of Environmental Crimes and Other Misdeeds”, at least 14 hazardous waste landfills in North America have been reported by the US Environmental Protection Agency to have leaked extremely toxic chemicals into surrounding areas and underground water sources.

WMI is engineering consultant to General Environment Conservation Co., Ltd (GENCO), which with the Industry Ministry as a joint venture partner, is to build and operate the Pluak Daeng site.

GENCO’s initial plan to build an industrial waste treatment complex and landfill site in Pluak Daeng ran into stiff opposition from villagers. Early this year, after a public hearing, the Industry Ministry moved the treatment plant to Mab Ta Phud industrial estate, but not the landfill site. Puangsan Xumsai Na Ayudhaya, GENCO’s president and chief executive, said its treatment technology and the chosen site are technically appropriate and will pose no environmental threat.

Efforts would be made to convince the villagers to abandon their protest, said Mr Puangsan, welcoming suggestions that construction and operations be monitored by GENCO executives, protest leaders and neutral parties. Officials from the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand and the Industrial Works Department will be invited to promote understanding among villagers and other opponents.

Other GENCO executives, however, have implied some opponents have ulterior motives. GENCO adviser Nattasin Chongsanguan said they included people involved in illegal collection and disposal of industrial waste and small factories which do not meet disposal requirements. “If our facilities go ahead, many factories will use them, depriving illegal dumping operations of business,” he said. He also accused land brokers of opposing the plan because they lost out in GENCO's land purchase. “We bought land direct from villagers in Tambon Tasit, which was a disappointment to them,” he said.

Protest leaders dismissed his allegations as an attempt to discredit opponents. A conservation group leader said: “GENCO lies. Opponents to its project are ordinary villagers afraid of toxic leaks,” he said.

Villagers will escalate their protest if GENCO insists on the Pluak Daeng site. “It will face an even tougher protest and it may end up like the tantalum factory in Phuket,” he said, referring to the plant burned down by protesters several years ago.

Let’s think about it

Thinking about the above story in an organised way makes it easier to understand and more interesting as well. In this case, the main opposing sides are clearly stated. On one side are the protesters: villagers from the Thai province of Rayong led by the Rayong Conservation Group. On the other side are the Ministry of Industry, GENCO, and their consultants, WMI. But there may be more parties as well. If GENCO executives can be believed, the protesters may include some dishonest elements. That is something we would want to watch for in future stories.

The protesters’ grievance concerns the proposed establishment of a toxic landfill in their area. They claim this would be extremely unsafe and they have demanded that it not be set up. The demonstration in front of the Government House—a pressure tactic—is the latest measure they have taken to prevent the landfill from being built. Their next step is to try to convince the Minister of Industry to stop the project. At this stage, the dispute is still a peaceful one and the subject of negotiations. Notice that previous negotiations were partially successful in that they prevented a waste treatment facility from being established in the same area. But the protesters have also made threats to escalate their protest if their demand is not met, and that may mean violence.

The other side is employing their own tactics. They have rejected claims that the project is unsafe and they have offered to include the villagers in monitoring its safety. But they also appear to be using less honorable tactics in trying to discredit their opponents' motives.

With this as background, the story will be even easier to understand as it develops over the next few days and weeks. Here are some of the things we might want to watch for: What will be the Industry Minister's response to the protesters? If he decides the project must go forward, what will happen? Will a compromise eventually be reached? Will the protesters be able to increase their pressure, perhaps by bringing in outside groups? Is violence a real possibility? Regular readers come to stories with such questions in mind and that is one reason they quickly become good readers as well.

Return to the Common stories page to look at other types of news.

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