2. In the risk areas where people suffer from the physical effects of environmental hazards the effects are socio-culturally interpreted. It is found that social stigmatization among the victims and discrimination against them can lead to extreme instability in the social life and social harmony and social capital are eroded ( Box 11.1 ). People tend to neglect the health problem until and unless it manifests visibly or becomes unbearable.

SOURCES OF BELIEFS

Thus to protect the environment and also to save people from suffering the physical and cultural results of hazards, it is important to change their belief systems, which is not an easy job. There are many sources of beliefs in general and environmental beliefs in particular. They include:

• Folk wisdom, religious texts and religious organizations

• Education

• Media (newspapers, magazines, TV, radio, etc.)

• International and internal migration, increasing mobility of population and pilgrimage

• Market through advertisement, etc.

• Political parties and leaders who set political agendas

• Non-government organizations, community based organizations and other civil society actors

All of them will have to be used to reverse the process, i.e., to change the anthropocentric beliefs to pro-environmental beliefs.