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  It is becoming common knowledge in the United States, and other industrialized nations, that
Industrialization has been taking a heavy toll on the environment since around the 1850's when it
began.  Developing countries that are currently going through the same industrialization process
have an opportunity to learn from other already industrialized countries’ mistakes and practice effective
techniques that make the transition more sustainable and healthy for the environment and the people
inhabiting it.  In Dara O’Rourke’s book, Community-Driven Regulation,  he offers insight as to what can
be done in the country of Vietnam to better deal with the negative effects it is experiencing from
pollution-causing factories that are increasing throughout the country.  
        The factories themselves are not the problem and are in fact a positive sign for the
economy of Vietnam, an example of this is that Vietnam is the second largest producer of Nike shoes, the
problem is the lack of environmental policies and the otherwise effective policies are being disregarded by
the factories. O'Rourke focuses his studies on impacts that six factories are having on the environment
and it’s villages. His book offers suggestions for what Vietnam can do with the means it has presently
to find a balance between the emergent economy and the suffering environment.   One could even go so
far as to say an ideological war is currently raging in Vietnam, a communist government focused mainly
on industrialization versus the health of the environment and the population.
    Vietnam's rapid economic growth has made it very difficult for environmental policies to stay
up to date.  O’Rourke states that the policies need to be more flexible in order for them to move in
unison with the growing economy.   Communities should start out locally and demand that the local factories
reduce the pollution they are responsible for creating.  Communities can appeal to the state for an
intervention if the factories do not comply with the community’s wishes or other policies that help
prevent pollution. 
    Dara O’Rourke also emphasizes that the new policies need to be practical at the same time.
Current policies that ensure punishment by fines are typically ineffective because there is not enough
political will to enforce them and underpaid inspectors are easily corrupted.  The government needs to fund
new environmental  agencies and improve the current ones that are far from effective. There is an
obvious need for government action, but O'Rourke suggests that for any real and effective changes to occur,
they must start at a community level, which will eventually reach the government and inspire
change.
    One way that communities have influence over factories is that the last thing a factory wants
is their reputations being tarnished, if the community learns of corrupt or immoral happenings, the factory
loses consumers.  Community pressure and complaints has been the most effective process for firing,
or correcting, corrupt officials and initiating policy change.  Communities do not tolerate
corruption and when it is exposed and the strength of the community forces change. This theory of a community-
driven revolution coincides with Vietnam's history of  various governmental changes that usually
started with the people. It is of the utmost importance that communities have a good relationship with the
government so they can turn local complaints into national policies.
    Communities can initiate the progression of reform, but the reform in itself is another set of
problems that need to be answered. Once the pollution problem is recognized the process to actually
reduce the pollution becomes very complicated. One reason is that there is a lack of financing for
environmentally friendly factories and what they need to be successful, this is another example of
the government simply lacking will to improve the environment. The factories need new technology to
function, but it is just as important that the community maintains it’s influence over the managers
to make sure the managers aren’t slow to respond and to prevent corrupt ones from may squandering
financing for an improved factory on themselves.  Another reason it is so difficult to renovate the
factories is the availability of technology that can effectively reduce pollution because the
technology has had a hard time keeping up with such rapid industrialization.  Factories have been confronted
with so many new environmental problems that they respond to current problems with answers to old.  The
factory’s reputation plays a key role in inspiring the firm to stay up to date with other competing
factories that may look better because they have complied with the government and community’s
wishes and are working to reduce pollution.
     Dara O'rourke's basic formula for an effective change in policy involves four main factors;
community, state agencies, international organizations, and the factory itself.  O’Rourke’s equation
would work out something like this;  First, the community complains and demands the factory changes,
secondly, the state government is contacted by the community because a part of O’Rourke’s equation
is that the community and state government must have a good relationship. The state is a crucial
part of this process even though it has little say over economic choices because of the communist hold
over it that controls economic decisions. This does not mean the state is helpless because it can still
implement environmental policies to deal with the challenges the growing economy presents. 
International authorities are the third aspect to his theory.  The community begins the process by
contacting an international authority that can then intervene and possibly supply financial aid back
what the community is attempting to accomplish.   Lastly is the factory itself.  The community
members must maintain communication with the managers at the factory and force change.  The factory needs to
adhere to the policies and accept what tools are given to them to make the reform possible.
    Communities do not always succeed in their attempts at change, but if communities across the
nation all individually become active, an overall change seems inevitable.  The pattern Vietnam has
exhibited throughout its history will most likely repeat itself, if the saying is true.  The war of
industrialization versus the health of Vietnam as a whole will be won with a movement started by the
people.