| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立臺灣師範大學 === 環境教育研究所 === 94 === One goal of environmental education is to motivate citizens to take action to solve environmental problems. Many communities in Taiwan have initiated environmental actions in recently years; some have found that the processes of taking action is a form of environmental education in itself.
The concept of “action competence” as proposed by Danish scholars refers to letting children learn how to take action, develop critical thinking, and experience the spirit of democracy from actual environmental action. Empowerment is the process in which residents develop the feeling of power to can take action that influences their lives, community, and society. This research aims to understand community environmental actions through the perspectives of action competence and empowerment.
The target group of this research is the Tsao-shan Ecological, Cultural and Historical Union. Research methods include six-month participant observattion, in-depth interviews, data collection, and field diaries. After data analysis, this research found that the participants’ learning is deeply influenced by their background of opposition as well as the actual process of taking action. Major findings can be categorized into four aspects as summarized below.
1. Members’ learning and changes: In the beginning, members did not know how to act on the issues and felt insignificant. After they established the association and took action, they felt empowered and knew how to deal with issues they care about. It was also found that the graduate students in this union were more proficient in handling these issues.
2. Methods and results of educating the community: The members tried several ways to arouse other residents’ awareness, and the community gradually turned from rejecting to supporting them. Later they tried to educate the community through the Tsao-shan water supply system issue and won much stronger support from the residents.
3. Learning from the process of negotiating with the government: The government did not want to face up to the community’s protests at first. Then they gradually knew they had to communicate with the residents. Tsao-shan Ecological, Cultural and Historical Union has become a positive pressure group.
4. Opinions about environmental actions: The members realized that the process of taking action is more important than its result. They also came to know the importance of citizen involvement and how to deal with and apply specialized knowledge.
Finally, in light of the research results, some suggestions are proposed to local environmental groups, environmental education programs and applications of action competence.
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