Environment in rural areas seriously polluted, but poorly treated

In Vietnam Net's article, "Environment in rural areas seriously polluted, but poorly treated," author Thanh Lich discusses environmental issues in rural areas of Vietnam, such as rampant pesticide use, lack of protocol for disposing of solid waste, and undeveloped waste treatment technology. Lich ultimately cites the reason for continuance of rural environmental pollution as lack of funding for reform measures.

The structure of the article takes on a fact-machine form, in which Lich adds numerous facts delineating the gravity of environmental issues in rural areas, while simultaneously adopting an implicit social activist role. It is interesting that Lich preserves anonymity of authorities by not including specific names of experts, employees, or residents with whom he may have had interactions. The article seems bare-boned and lacks the "fluff" of anecdotes and accounts that are inherent to Western journal articles. Though the array of facts that Lich provides may seem to be sharp-edged and, to a slight degree, accusatory, Lich interestingly attributes the issues of rural pollution to the failure of organizations to act. It is inferred that the Vietnamese government should play a significant role in enforcing stewardship protocols and funding projects to reduce solid waste in residential areas and develop waste treatment plants. As may be a quality intrinsic to Vietnamese media in general, it seems like Lich avoids casting a negative light on the government. It is also interesting that Lich attributes pollution in rural areas to outdated customs and habits. This statement implies a dichotomy between rural and urban residents and portrays rural Vietnamese as undeveloped, rather than individuals living under a different lifestyle.