title: Our battle with hexachlorobenzene: citizen perspectives on toxic waste in Botany.
abstract: The perspectives of residents are brought together in this assembly of statements concerning the management of hexachlorobenzene waste in Botany, a southeastern suburb of Sydney. The paper indicates how residents have responded as participants in public participation exercises, and the contribution made by lay experts in the search for a negotiated solution to the problems of legacy wastes. Resident comments on the role of independent scientific experts, on legal liability, and on the State Government sponsored Commission of Inquiry, indicate the deficit of resources faced by the local community. The paper provides insights into the status of citizen knowledge in environmental controversies and the pitfalls of participatory processes.
authors.affiliation: School of History and Philosophy, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hillier Oam
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gennissen
authors.forename: Beverley
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pickering
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Smolenski
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D003256:Community Participation; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods; D034462:Dissent and Disputes; D006256:Hazardous Waste; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006581:Hexachlorobenzene / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D007220:Industrial Waste; D012935:Social Justice; D018505:Waste Management
chemical_list: D006256:Hazardous Waste; D007220:Industrial Waste; D006581:Hexachlorobenzene