The BBC looks at the recent Xiamen PX protests as an example of rising people power in China:

The Xiamen protest was different to the thousands of others that take place across China because of who was involved.

The customary groups of poor, uneducated farmers were joined by young, motivated environmentalists, such as Wu Xian.

When he heard about the PX project, he set up an online discussion group and urged Xiamen’s residents to protest against the plant.

A few days before the first demonstration, police arrested the 20-year-old, who is a manager at a local karaoke bar. [Full text]

[Image: Activist Wu Xian, via the BBC]