Social Impact Assessment is an aspect of EIA that should be looked into thoroughly when dealing with the social aspect of the environment - not least in that it has an impact on the economy.
true but EIA is meant to thoroughly deal with social aspect. Have a loo at RIAM it is a very simple assessment tool and how much weight is given to social aspect.
This is not the answer your looking for, but the following is the best historical characterization of the railroad as an intrusion upon a sacred land:
As the century turned, Africa began to emerge from a Dark Age stretching as far back as life on earth, into all the years that lay ahead - years of Renaissance, Enlightenment, Industry, and, if you will, Anxiety. It is fitting that Grogan made his symbolic trek (across Africa - 1891-92) as a survey for a railroad, the means through which foreign capital, the paraphernalia of technology, and foreigners themselves would enter. But because an incision is also a wound, the railroad was also the means through which the old life suppurated and poured out of Africa. This, then, is the tragic paradox of the white man's encroachment. The deeper he went into Africa, the faster the life flowed out of it, off the plains and out of the bush and into the cities, vanishing in acres of trophies and hides and carcasses. The coming of the white man, who imposed his steel tracks, his brains and his will, on the great continent was attended by glory and courage, ennobled by sacrifice, enriched by science and medicine and law. But it marked the beginning of the end in a land where nature herself had always been sovereign
--Peter Beard, End of the Game, 1960
Railway construction has huge positive impact in long run. that is, we minimize the cost of transport, reduce the pollution from bus when we use train, save oil, income to the railway and so on. Regard to negative aspects, we have to loose trees and few agricultural lands.
I reckon that there will always be gains and losses in any development initiatives, however it's crucial to seek acceptable balance between those to factors for both sides (people, environment, culture AND corporations, etc.). EIA has been systematicly negletect by governments and corporations in many developing countries for its cost in time and money. An equitable dialogue between the parts is fundamental for fair concessions and agreements on the outcomes and shortcomings of the project. Communities should be provided with relevant information on the project so that they can decide on the basis of full knowledge of the issue. The provision of such information includes allocating a translator of it for communities, where applicable.
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