Signing ceremony Thursday 11:30, 17 December at ESCAP Building
The Economic and Social Commission in Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) – the regional arm of the United Nations - and the Russian Federation will sign an agreement this Thursday to strengthen cooperation, with a view to promoting inclusive and sustainable economic and social development in Asia and the Pacific.
Under the agreement, the Russian Federation provides a voluntary
contribution of US$ 1.2 million annually during the period 2009-2010 to support key programme activities of ESCAP.
ESCAP will be hosting a signing ceremony where Mr. Gennady Gatilov of the Russian Federation Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Dr. Noeleen Heyzer, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP will formalize the agreement.
In response to the regional development priorities, the Russian contribution will be used for technical cooperation projects to develop capacities and improve development in key areas such as environment, energy, regional transport connectivity, disaster risk reduction, statistics and migration.
The ceremony will take place Thursday 17 December 2009, 11:30 on the 15th floor of the ESCAP Secretariat building. Media are welcome to cover the ceremony. Please register in advance for building access at unisbkk.unescap@un.org.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
TCDC hosts ‘Bangkok Creative City’ seminar along with launch of ‘Skills Mapping’ project to show potential of 6 creativity hotspots across Bangkok
Thailand Creative & Design Center (TCDC) has joined forces with government and private sectors in ‘Bangkok Creative City’ seminar to brainstorm ideas that will turn Bangkok into one of the world’s leading creative city. The event highlights the launch of ‘Skills Mapping’ project to unveil six areas of Bangkok that are tipped as high-potential, money-spinning creative industry zones.
Mr. Apisit Laistrooglai, Managing Director of TCDC, provides background about the seminar: “The government has recently made creative economy concept a key policy under its administration to give Thailand a new economic catalyst and boost competitiveness of Thai entrepreneurs within the framework of Creative Thailand strategy, with a goal to make Thailand the Creative Industry Hub of ASEAN. TCDC has therefore conceived an implementation plan that includes a range of activities and events in support of this government policy and is gearing up the process to build the body of knowledge in the area of creativity in order to promote creative industry development among all social sectors.”
“Over the past few years, he continues, “TCDC has played the key role in laying a strong foundation for creative economy in Thailand. Our ongoing operation plan under this mission will see us increase our pace in boosting awareness and understanding of all stakeholders about the importance of this economic concept through a variety of activities. As an indicator of achievement in creative economy development, establishment of a ‘creative city’ is taken into consideration. We have therefore teamed up with Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to jointly host ‘Bangkok Creative City’ seminar as a major event to create awareness and attention of government agencies, entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders on the relevance and direction Bangkok’s development into a creative city.”
‘Bangkok Creative City’ seminar brings together experts from public and private sectors to exchange their points of view and help broaden audience’s perspective of Bangkok in new dimension as a creative city. The seminar begins on Monday, November 30 with a panel discussion on ‘Bangkok’s Preparedness to Become Creative City’ by Mr. Somsak Chantawattana,
Director General of BMA’s Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism; Mr. Sorapong Paitoonphong, Head of Mass Transit System Development Group, Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP); Mr. Adhiruth Thothaveesansuk, Managing Director of Convergence and Managing Director of Office/SME Solution & Wireless Access, True Corporation Plc; Ms. Karuna Dechatiwong Na Ayuttaya, Chief of International Events Section, Events Planning Division, Events Department, Tourism Authority of Thailand; and Mr. Kittiratana Pitipanich, Design Advisory Director of TCDC. The fist day of the seminar also highlights the launch of ‘Skills Mapping’ project through a presentation on ‘Bangkok Creative Spaces: Chatuchak, Thonglor, Siam Square, Town In Town, RCA, and Sukhumvit’ by Dr. Peeradorn Kaewlai and Ms. Supicha Silairat from Creative City Research Group, Urban Planning Unit, Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Thammasat University. The research-based presentation points out the potential of the six areas in terms of products and services available, influences of social context and culture on clustering of creative industry entrepreneurs, as well as problems and needs of the creative businesses. The day ends with a lecture on “Creative City Design – Innovation-inspiring Architecture and Planning” by Mr. Michael Freedman, an international expert in urban planning and design who was behind planning of Silicon Valley and is regarded as a guru in strategic integration to make cities pleasant and develop in sustainable way.
Tuesday, December 1, begins with a special lecture on ‘Innovative Approach to Strategic Urban Planning and Design for Creativity-inspiring World Metropolises’ by Mr. Freedman, followed by ‘Evolution of Bangkok Creative City’ symposium by Dr. Narongchai Akraseranee, Chairman of the Office of Knowledge Management and Development (OKMD), Mr. Apirak Kosayodhin, Advisor to the Prime Minister, and Ms. Supaluck Umpujh, Senior Vice President of The Emporium Shopping Complex Co., Ltd. and Executive Vice President of Siam Paragon Development Co., Ltd. The seminar will be wrapped up by a keynote speech on ‘Creative City Development as Catalyst of Thai Economy’ by Mr. Alongkorn Ponlaboot, Deputy Minister of Commerce and Chairman of the Sub-committee on Creative Economy Policy.
Mr. Apisit adds that the seminar is expected to inspire government and private organizations to play their part in creative city development as a solid foundation of the nation’s wealth and added economic value, as well as a cornerstone for development of Thailand’s creative economy.
Mr. Apisit Laistrooglai, Managing Director of TCDC, provides background about the seminar: “The government has recently made creative economy concept a key policy under its administration to give Thailand a new economic catalyst and boost competitiveness of Thai entrepreneurs within the framework of Creative Thailand strategy, with a goal to make Thailand the Creative Industry Hub of ASEAN. TCDC has therefore conceived an implementation plan that includes a range of activities and events in support of this government policy and is gearing up the process to build the body of knowledge in the area of creativity in order to promote creative industry development among all social sectors.”
“Over the past few years, he continues, “TCDC has played the key role in laying a strong foundation for creative economy in Thailand. Our ongoing operation plan under this mission will see us increase our pace in boosting awareness and understanding of all stakeholders about the importance of this economic concept through a variety of activities. As an indicator of achievement in creative economy development, establishment of a ‘creative city’ is taken into consideration. We have therefore teamed up with Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to jointly host ‘Bangkok Creative City’ seminar as a major event to create awareness and attention of government agencies, entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders on the relevance and direction Bangkok’s development into a creative city.”
‘Bangkok Creative City’ seminar brings together experts from public and private sectors to exchange their points of view and help broaden audience’s perspective of Bangkok in new dimension as a creative city. The seminar begins on Monday, November 30 with a panel discussion on ‘Bangkok’s Preparedness to Become Creative City’ by Mr. Somsak Chantawattana,
Director General of BMA’s Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism; Mr. Sorapong Paitoonphong, Head of Mass Transit System Development Group, Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP); Mr. Adhiruth Thothaveesansuk, Managing Director of Convergence and Managing Director of Office/SME Solution & Wireless Access, True Corporation Plc; Ms. Karuna Dechatiwong Na Ayuttaya, Chief of International Events Section, Events Planning Division, Events Department, Tourism Authority of Thailand; and Mr. Kittiratana Pitipanich, Design Advisory Director of TCDC. The fist day of the seminar also highlights the launch of ‘Skills Mapping’ project through a presentation on ‘Bangkok Creative Spaces: Chatuchak, Thonglor, Siam Square, Town In Town, RCA, and Sukhumvit’ by Dr. Peeradorn Kaewlai and Ms. Supicha Silairat from Creative City Research Group, Urban Planning Unit, Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Thammasat University. The research-based presentation points out the potential of the six areas in terms of products and services available, influences of social context and culture on clustering of creative industry entrepreneurs, as well as problems and needs of the creative businesses. The day ends with a lecture on “Creative City Design – Innovation-inspiring Architecture and Planning” by Mr. Michael Freedman, an international expert in urban planning and design who was behind planning of Silicon Valley and is regarded as a guru in strategic integration to make cities pleasant and develop in sustainable way.
Tuesday, December 1, begins with a special lecture on ‘Innovative Approach to Strategic Urban Planning and Design for Creativity-inspiring World Metropolises’ by Mr. Freedman, followed by ‘Evolution of Bangkok Creative City’ symposium by Dr. Narongchai Akraseranee, Chairman of the Office of Knowledge Management and Development (OKMD), Mr. Apirak Kosayodhin, Advisor to the Prime Minister, and Ms. Supaluck Umpujh, Senior Vice President of The Emporium Shopping Complex Co., Ltd. and Executive Vice President of Siam Paragon Development Co., Ltd. The seminar will be wrapped up by a keynote speech on ‘Creative City Development as Catalyst of Thai Economy’ by Mr. Alongkorn Ponlaboot, Deputy Minister of Commerce and Chairman of the Sub-committee on Creative Economy Policy.
Mr. Apisit adds that the seminar is expected to inspire government and private organizations to play their part in creative city development as a solid foundation of the nation’s wealth and added economic value, as well as a cornerstone for development of Thailand’s creative economy.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
TRIS Rating Affirms Company Rating of “BMA” at “AA+” with “Stable” Outlook
TRIS Rating Co., Ltd. has affirmed the rating of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, a local government organization, hereinafter referred as “BMA”, at “AA+” with “stable” outlook. The rating is based on the importance of the Bangkok Metropolis (Bangkok) as Thailand’s administrative and economic center, which despite an economic contraction in 2009, the Thai economy is expected to rebound in 2010. The rating also reflects BMA’s reliable tax revenue, consistently sound budgetary performance, and a strong financial profile as it is nearly debt-free and has a large amount of cash on hand. The rating, however, is constrained by the negative impact that the recession is having on revenue collection, the huge capital investments needed for public transportation and infrastructure, and an increasing financial burden from assuming public services delegated from the central government under a decentralization plan. Despite the undertaking of various costly responsibilities, BMA faces a restriction in seeking additional revenue sources. In addition, several issues need to be monitored: the availability of an audited financial report in a timely manner, and the preparations for future fund raising, including the development of a concrete debt management framework.
The “stable” outlook reflects BMA’s reliable revenue sources and conservative budgetary policy. TRIS Rating expects that BMA will continue to receive support from the central government at all times. Nevertheless, BMA should maintain proper financial discipline to ensure sound budgetary performance and a robust financial profile. Leverage, if incurred in the future for capital investments, should be well planned to match BMA’s revenue and debt service ability.TRIS Rating reported that BMA is a local government organization and has the responsibility of providing public services for both residents and businesses in Bangkok. As the capital city of Thailand, Bangkok benefits from its position as the social, political and economic center of the country. In 2008, the Gross Provincial Product (GPP) of Bangkok was the highest in the country, amounting to Bt2.29 trillion or 25% of Thailand’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). During fiscal year 2005-2008, approximately 93%-95% of BMA’s total revenue was from taxes, both local taxes collected by BMA (20%) and allocated taxes collected by other governmental agencies and remitted to BMA (73%-75%). The major component of local taxes is property tax, which accounts for over 90% of total local taxes. Almost half of the allocated taxes are derived from value added tax, while automobile tax and land transfer fees average at 19%-20% each. Tax revenue is considered a highly reliable source of income for BMA, although the amount varies with the nation’s economy. In 2009, the Thai’s economy was negatively impacted by the global economic crunch and an intensifying political situation, resulting in a significant reduction in allocated taxes. Consequently, for the first nine months of fiscal year 2009, revenue collection accounted for 61% of the total Bt46,000 million budget, and declined 16% compared with the same period last year. However, BMA could revise its expenditures down to 51% of the budget during the same period in order to comply with revenue collection and a balanced budget regulation. BMA’s financial profile remains very strong with high liquidity, virtually no debt, and cash on hand of over Bt20,000 million as at the beginning of fiscal year 2009.
TRIS Rating said, Bangkok is the most developed city in Thailand; however, more investment in public services and infrastructure is needed to serve the expanding population and to facilitate economic growth. Public services, including new projects initiated by BMA and the responsibilities transferred from the central government, require a large amount of funds for project development and ongoing expenditures. In addition to a tax revenue allocation, the central government also grants BMA an annual subsidy. However, these funding sources are somewhat limited and are not sufficient as BMA has planned to invest in many capital-intensive public transportation projects. Currently, BMA’s management is studying the possibility of seeking funding through the capital market to provide more financial flexibility. Incurring new debt in the future may increase the financial risk and weaken BMA’s financial strength. TRIS Rating expects that BMA will put in place a practical debt management framework in order to sustain a liquidity and healthy financial position, at the same time, provide the timely audited financial report.
The “stable” outlook reflects BMA’s reliable revenue sources and conservative budgetary policy. TRIS Rating expects that BMA will continue to receive support from the central government at all times. Nevertheless, BMA should maintain proper financial discipline to ensure sound budgetary performance and a robust financial profile. Leverage, if incurred in the future for capital investments, should be well planned to match BMA’s revenue and debt service ability.TRIS Rating reported that BMA is a local government organization and has the responsibility of providing public services for both residents and businesses in Bangkok. As the capital city of Thailand, Bangkok benefits from its position as the social, political and economic center of the country. In 2008, the Gross Provincial Product (GPP) of Bangkok was the highest in the country, amounting to Bt2.29 trillion or 25% of Thailand’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). During fiscal year 2005-2008, approximately 93%-95% of BMA’s total revenue was from taxes, both local taxes collected by BMA (20%) and allocated taxes collected by other governmental agencies and remitted to BMA (73%-75%). The major component of local taxes is property tax, which accounts for over 90% of total local taxes. Almost half of the allocated taxes are derived from value added tax, while automobile tax and land transfer fees average at 19%-20% each. Tax revenue is considered a highly reliable source of income for BMA, although the amount varies with the nation’s economy. In 2009, the Thai’s economy was negatively impacted by the global economic crunch and an intensifying political situation, resulting in a significant reduction in allocated taxes. Consequently, for the first nine months of fiscal year 2009, revenue collection accounted for 61% of the total Bt46,000 million budget, and declined 16% compared with the same period last year. However, BMA could revise its expenditures down to 51% of the budget during the same period in order to comply with revenue collection and a balanced budget regulation. BMA’s financial profile remains very strong with high liquidity, virtually no debt, and cash on hand of over Bt20,000 million as at the beginning of fiscal year 2009.
TRIS Rating said, Bangkok is the most developed city in Thailand; however, more investment in public services and infrastructure is needed to serve the expanding population and to facilitate economic growth. Public services, including new projects initiated by BMA and the responsibilities transferred from the central government, require a large amount of funds for project development and ongoing expenditures. In addition to a tax revenue allocation, the central government also grants BMA an annual subsidy. However, these funding sources are somewhat limited and are not sufficient as BMA has planned to invest in many capital-intensive public transportation projects. Currently, BMA’s management is studying the possibility of seeking funding through the capital market to provide more financial flexibility. Incurring new debt in the future may increase the financial risk and weaken BMA’s financial strength. TRIS Rating expects that BMA will put in place a practical debt management framework in order to sustain a liquidity and healthy financial position, at the same time, provide the timely audited financial report.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
A new destination for eco-tourists
Chiang Mai last month carved out a new district, its 25th, and then proceeded to unveil plans to develop and turn it into its latest nature and eco-tourist destination.
Named after the late Princess Galyani Vadhana the new district,165 kilometres northwest of the provincial town, has a population of 16,000 spread over 21 villages occupying 700-square-kilometres in tambon Ban Chan, Chaem Luang and Mae Dad, said Chiang Mai Governor Amornphan Nimanan.
The majority of its residents are ethnic Karen, Mong and Lisor hill tribe farmers in employ of royally initiated projects growing vegetable, fruit and other cash crops.
With pleasant weather all year round,the district is also noted for its vast pine forest around Ban Wat Chan, a village perched at an elevation of 1,000 metres above sea level.
An existing art and craft centre, now under renovation, will initially serve as the district office, but a new one will be built on an 80-rai plot in tambon Chaem Luang in due course.
Additionally, there are plans to build a highland sports complex and a herbal study centre for which an allocation of 300 million baht will be sought from the government.
To get to the new district, take Highway 1095(Mae Malai-Pai) from Chiang Mai town and turn left into ChomchaengBan Muang Rae Road. Alternatively, take a public bus plying the Chiang Mai-Wat Chan route. Tourism memo inked
The tourism offices of Xishuangbanna in China's Yunnan Province and Chiang Rai have signed a memorandum of understanding to facilitate the movement of tourists and logistics along the 1,800-km-long R3A highway linking Kunming with Bangkok.
The memorandum signed recently in Chiang Khong district seeks to promote land travel and also calls for low-cost air links between Chiang Rai and Jinghong,the main city of Xishuangbanna, said Chiang Rai Governor Sumeth Saengnimnuan.
Last year some 1.7 million tourists visited Chiang Rai of which 11 per cent were from China. Their number is expected to increase slightly this year. Bird sanctuary
A newly-opened tourist centre at Talay Noi, a wetland home to some 43,000 birds representing 187 species, in Khuan Khanun district of Phattalung comes fully equipped with high-speed Internet as well as tourist information available to visitors both in Thai and English.
October to March is high tourist season in this 285,625 rai wetland area during which migrating birds flee harsh winter in the northern hemisphere to seek refuge around this tropical lake, pulling in avid bird-watchers and nature lovers in droves.
Apart from bird watching, visitors can observe the lifestyle of fishermen inhabiting the wetland and stop by Krajud Rong Fang to watch a group of housewives weaving lepironia mats, baskets and purses. Airport gets a facelift
Some 5.3 million passengers transited through Phuket International Airport last year and their number is expected to increase to 6.5 million by the end of this year.
Preparing for the upcoming high tourist season, the airport is planning to spend 30 million baht to polish up its image and present its best face to the arriving tourists.
According to its Managing Director Pratheung Sornkum, the money will be used to improve road surface around the airport, car park, toilets, passenger terminals and buy two more X-ray security machines.
The airport also plans to expand its passenger capacity to 12.5 million annually by 2013.NokAir tie-up
Low-cost airline Nok Air has joined hands with SF Cinema City to sell air tickets via 13 of the latter's outlets in Bangkok and Phuket.
Nok Air CEO Patee Sarasin said the arrangement would suit those whose lifestyle revolves around cinemas and shopping malls.
The airline is offering 100 baht discount to those who purchase a roundtrip ticket with 5-kg extra baggage allowance on the Phuket route, and 50 per cent discount coupons redeemable at Budget Car Rental.
If the tickets are bought at SF Jungceylon in Phuket or at Central Phuket, buyers get 200 baht discount for a BangkokPhuket round-trip.
The offer is valid until Nov 30. Adventure race
The 4th Yara Bangkok Challenge 2009,part of the Amazing Thailand Adventure Race Series already run in Kanchanaburi,Chiang Mai and Samui Island, kicks off Nov 14 in Nong Chok district of Bangkok.
The event is a test of endurance involving trekking, mountain biking, swimming, and canoeing over a distance of 50 kilometres in which two-man teams compete in a gruelling race that lasts hours depending on physical fitness of the participants. More than 100 teams are expected for the race.
Visit www.ama-events.com for more information. Big field for regatta
The 23rd King's Cup Regatta scheduled Nov 28-Dec 5 off Kata Beach promises a big field with boats from Australia,Britain, China and Russia joining local teams vying for honours at an event that heralds the start of high tourist season in Phuket.
Kevin Whitcraft, president of the organising committee, is hoping some 2,000 high spending international tourists to converge in Phuket for the event which is expected to pump some 40 million baht into the local economy.
Named after the late Princess Galyani Vadhana the new district,165 kilometres northwest of the provincial town, has a population of 16,000 spread over 21 villages occupying 700-square-kilometres in tambon Ban Chan, Chaem Luang and Mae Dad, said Chiang Mai Governor Amornphan Nimanan.
The majority of its residents are ethnic Karen, Mong and Lisor hill tribe farmers in employ of royally initiated projects growing vegetable, fruit and other cash crops.
With pleasant weather all year round,the district is also noted for its vast pine forest around Ban Wat Chan, a village perched at an elevation of 1,000 metres above sea level.
An existing art and craft centre, now under renovation, will initially serve as the district office, but a new one will be built on an 80-rai plot in tambon Chaem Luang in due course.
Additionally, there are plans to build a highland sports complex and a herbal study centre for which an allocation of 300 million baht will be sought from the government.
To get to the new district, take Highway 1095(Mae Malai-Pai) from Chiang Mai town and turn left into ChomchaengBan Muang Rae Road. Alternatively, take a public bus plying the Chiang Mai-Wat Chan route. Tourism memo inked
The tourism offices of Xishuangbanna in China's Yunnan Province and Chiang Rai have signed a memorandum of understanding to facilitate the movement of tourists and logistics along the 1,800-km-long R3A highway linking Kunming with Bangkok.
The memorandum signed recently in Chiang Khong district seeks to promote land travel and also calls for low-cost air links between Chiang Rai and Jinghong,the main city of Xishuangbanna, said Chiang Rai Governor Sumeth Saengnimnuan.
Last year some 1.7 million tourists visited Chiang Rai of which 11 per cent were from China. Their number is expected to increase slightly this year. Bird sanctuary
A newly-opened tourist centre at Talay Noi, a wetland home to some 43,000 birds representing 187 species, in Khuan Khanun district of Phattalung comes fully equipped with high-speed Internet as well as tourist information available to visitors both in Thai and English.
October to March is high tourist season in this 285,625 rai wetland area during which migrating birds flee harsh winter in the northern hemisphere to seek refuge around this tropical lake, pulling in avid bird-watchers and nature lovers in droves.
Apart from bird watching, visitors can observe the lifestyle of fishermen inhabiting the wetland and stop by Krajud Rong Fang to watch a group of housewives weaving lepironia mats, baskets and purses. Airport gets a facelift
Some 5.3 million passengers transited through Phuket International Airport last year and their number is expected to increase to 6.5 million by the end of this year.
Preparing for the upcoming high tourist season, the airport is planning to spend 30 million baht to polish up its image and present its best face to the arriving tourists.
According to its Managing Director Pratheung Sornkum, the money will be used to improve road surface around the airport, car park, toilets, passenger terminals and buy two more X-ray security machines.
The airport also plans to expand its passenger capacity to 12.5 million annually by 2013.NokAir tie-up
Low-cost airline Nok Air has joined hands with SF Cinema City to sell air tickets via 13 of the latter's outlets in Bangkok and Phuket.
Nok Air CEO Patee Sarasin said the arrangement would suit those whose lifestyle revolves around cinemas and shopping malls.
The airline is offering 100 baht discount to those who purchase a roundtrip ticket with 5-kg extra baggage allowance on the Phuket route, and 50 per cent discount coupons redeemable at Budget Car Rental.
If the tickets are bought at SF Jungceylon in Phuket or at Central Phuket, buyers get 200 baht discount for a BangkokPhuket round-trip.
The offer is valid until Nov 30. Adventure race
The 4th Yara Bangkok Challenge 2009,part of the Amazing Thailand Adventure Race Series already run in Kanchanaburi,Chiang Mai and Samui Island, kicks off Nov 14 in Nong Chok district of Bangkok.
The event is a test of endurance involving trekking, mountain biking, swimming, and canoeing over a distance of 50 kilometres in which two-man teams compete in a gruelling race that lasts hours depending on physical fitness of the participants. More than 100 teams are expected for the race.
Visit www.ama-events.com for more information. Big field for regatta
The 23rd King's Cup Regatta scheduled Nov 28-Dec 5 off Kata Beach promises a big field with boats from Australia,Britain, China and Russia joining local teams vying for honours at an event that heralds the start of high tourist season in Phuket.
Kevin Whitcraft, president of the organising committee, is hoping some 2,000 high spending international tourists to converge in Phuket for the event which is expected to pump some 40 million baht into the local economy.
Grand festival to celebrate His Majesty the King's 82nd birthday on Dec 5
More than 200,000 visitors are expected to attend a grand festival designed to celebrate and homour His Majesty the King, the world's longest reigning monarch, who will be celebrating his 82nd birthday on December 5.
The opening ceremony will be held on December 1, but the entire festival well run from November 30 to December 10 at the Ratchaphruek 2006 Garden in Chiang Mai.
His Majesty the King ascended the throne in June 1946 and was crowned in May 1950.
Organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand(TAT), the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry, and the Chiang Mai provincial administratiion, the festival is expected to attract thousands of Thais, resident expats, and international visitors.
Juthaporn Rerngronasa, TAT deputy governor for marketing communications, said TAT was proud to host such a grand event for our beloved King.
The event is designed to honour His Majesty and to publicise and promote tourism to Northern Thailand, especially the Ratchaphruek 2009 Garden.
"It fits in perfectly with our plans to diversify our range of destinations, and encourage visitors to travel around the country to help raise the incomes of rural people," he said.
The festival will help boost domestic tourism, increase hotel occupancies in Chiang Mai, and give extensive exposure to North Thailand, projected to be a bridgehead for Thailand's future economic development plans and links with the Greater Mekong Subregion.
The official opening ceremony will be on December 1, with parades from all four regions of Thailand. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will deliver the opening address and then take part in releasing 999 Kom Loi (Sky Lanterns). This will be followed by classical dances from the four regions with 99 performers from each region.
The number nine is consdered luckey for the Thai people. A slight variation of its pronunciation also means "progress" or "advancement" in Thai.
Highlight of the festival will be on His Majesty's birthday on December 5 with the lighting of thousands of candles, offering of prayers and blessings for his good health and singing congratulatory songs, followed by a fireworks display and a light and sound show.
Throughout the festival, visitors will view a horticultural exhibition of flowers, trees and fruits, and sales and competitions of agri-products, handicrafts and village-made souvenirs.
Orchid lovers will find this festival of special interest.
The Ratchaphruek Garden was built for the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2006,. an international horticultural expo, held in Chiang Mai as part of the celebrations commemorating the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King's accession to the throne. Roughly 2.5 million plants and flowers, including some rare species of orchids, were on display at that expo, which had over two million visitors.
Chiang Mai is the economic, communications, cultural, and tourism centre of Northern Thailand. In recent years, it has undergone considerable economic development but still retains its historic heritage. It is also becoming increasingly well-known as a centre of traditional Thai massage, meditation, health, and wellness spas.
The opening ceremony will be held on December 1, but the entire festival well run from November 30 to December 10 at the Ratchaphruek 2006 Garden in Chiang Mai.
His Majesty the King ascended the throne in June 1946 and was crowned in May 1950.
Organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand(TAT), the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry, and the Chiang Mai provincial administratiion, the festival is expected to attract thousands of Thais, resident expats, and international visitors.
Juthaporn Rerngronasa, TAT deputy governor for marketing communications, said TAT was proud to host such a grand event for our beloved King.
The event is designed to honour His Majesty and to publicise and promote tourism to Northern Thailand, especially the Ratchaphruek 2009 Garden.
"It fits in perfectly with our plans to diversify our range of destinations, and encourage visitors to travel around the country to help raise the incomes of rural people," he said.
The festival will help boost domestic tourism, increase hotel occupancies in Chiang Mai, and give extensive exposure to North Thailand, projected to be a bridgehead for Thailand's future economic development plans and links with the Greater Mekong Subregion.
The official opening ceremony will be on December 1, with parades from all four regions of Thailand. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will deliver the opening address and then take part in releasing 999 Kom Loi (Sky Lanterns). This will be followed by classical dances from the four regions with 99 performers from each region.
The number nine is consdered luckey for the Thai people. A slight variation of its pronunciation also means "progress" or "advancement" in Thai.
Highlight of the festival will be on His Majesty's birthday on December 5 with the lighting of thousands of candles, offering of prayers and blessings for his good health and singing congratulatory songs, followed by a fireworks display and a light and sound show.
Throughout the festival, visitors will view a horticultural exhibition of flowers, trees and fruits, and sales and competitions of agri-products, handicrafts and village-made souvenirs.
Orchid lovers will find this festival of special interest.
The Ratchaphruek Garden was built for the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2006,. an international horticultural expo, held in Chiang Mai as part of the celebrations commemorating the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King's accession to the throne. Roughly 2.5 million plants and flowers, including some rare species of orchids, were on display at that expo, which had over two million visitors.
Chiang Mai is the economic, communications, cultural, and tourism centre of Northern Thailand. In recent years, it has undergone considerable economic development but still retains its historic heritage. It is also becoming increasingly well-known as a centre of traditional Thai massage, meditation, health, and wellness spas.
DEMOCRATS IN HOT WATER
The largest scandal ever during this Democrat-led government has forced Deputy Prime Minister Korbsak Sabhavasu to resign as board chairman of the Sufficiency Economy Office for Community Development.
His brother, Prapote Sabhavasu, later stepped down as the office's deputy director.
The brothers are unlikely to be the last political casualties of this scandal as an internal investigation is being conducted within the Democrat Party while the opposition Pheu Thai Party is closely examining the project for traces of irregularities.
Mechai Viravaidya, once known as "Mr Condom" who is credited with Thailand's successful birth control, has been appointed to take over from Korbsak as the agency's board chairman. The move is viewed as an attempt to reduce pressure on the ruling Democrat Party and the coalition government it leads.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of the Democrat Party, appointed a working group headed by senior party figure Charoen Kanthawong to investigate the alleged irregularities and find out whether any party member had been involved.
"VICTIM OF A SMEAR CAMPAIGN"
In opting to resign, Korbsak explained that he was a victim of a political smear campaign. "If a politician remains the board chairman, the enemies will never stop their political attacks. So, it's better to find a person who has nothing to do with politics to assume the job. He can devote his time to doing the job," Korbsak said.
He admitted there were irregularities in the project, which encourages communities to invest in programmes for their residents under the royal philosophy of Sufficiency Economy.
"I can't prevent people from being corrupt. I don't think this is the only project [with the corruption problem]. My decision to quit reflects my intention that benefit should go to the project and not myself," he said.
He did not make it clear whether the political campaign in question came from inside or outside his Democrat Party.
Party figures have blamed junior officials in the project and coordinators from communities for the irregularities, in which expensive products offered by certain private companies were favoured to be used in community programmes.
Charoen, who heads the Democrat working group investigating the project's irregularities, said that his panel had questioned the party figures involved with the project and the private companies offering their products for sale to the community programmes.
"We are concluding the findings and making a report to be submitted to the party leader," he said.
Charoen said the party figures questioned denied any irregularities, saying there were only a limited number of choices as there were only a handful of companies offering their products for sale. They said the companies had been familiar with the communities as they had come to the areas since the villages were under the SML (small, medium, large) project in the government of Thaksin Shinawatra.
Charoen said his panel had raised questions that about the small number of competing suppliers and that the companies appeared to have inside information about funds approved to communities. "They knew even before the community leaders that funds were approved," he added.
A source in the Democrat probe team said that traces of irregularities were found in the project, particularly in programmes involving the purchase of solar-powered water-vending machines and solar-powered street lamps for Bangkok communities.
The opposition is also closely monitoring the project. Anudit Nakornthap, a Pheu Thai MP for Bangkok who is part of the committee scrutinising the spending of funds for the project, also pointed out there was something fishy about the purchase of solar-powered water-vending machines.
He said the opposition was collecting evidence before referring the matter to the National Anti-Corruption Commission and other relevant state agencies.
OPPOSITION WATCHING CLOSELY
The opposition MP said the project's irregularities pointed to "policy corruption by the government" as the problem appeared to take place at all levels. He said the programmes that chose to buy certain products were given funding easily while those planning to use other products failed to get approval for funding.
The term "policy corruption" was first used during the Thaksin government.
"This practice simply makes money for the merchants and the people involved. The project does not benefit the communities as it is clear that the implementation of the project does not follow the philosophy of Sufficiency Economy," said the opposition MP.
Before Korbsak resigned as the project's board chairman, he met Auditor-General Jaruwan Maintaka and sought an investigation by the Auditor-General's Office into the alleged irregularities.
The resignation of Korbsak and his brother, as well as the appointment of Mechai as the new board chairman and the internal probe by the ruling party may have helped reduce some of the pressure on the government. But this scandal is likely to be a serious threat to the government's "clean" image, and could eventually hurt its stability, if it fails to find the culprits.
THE SCANDAL AND ITS FALLOUT
HOW THE SCAME WORKS
When a community propess its projects to the agency, corrupt officials prepare a parallel project proposal. After the proposal is approved, the officials switch their own project for the community's project. The approved budget is for the project proposed by the corrupt officials.
Local politicians influence the community's choice of project. Decisionmakers in the community are persuaded by the politicians to pick a project that requires products sold by a particular company. the company then offers to sell its product to the cmmunity without any competitor, which makes it easy for the company to sell at an inflated price. The project is then examined and approved by the agency's officials.
Many project proposed by communities are identical and require products, such as fertiliser, from the same company evenn though there are other supplies offring the same product.
THE PROGRESS REPORT
The programme targets some 80,000 communities all oer the country. About 63,000 communiites have submittted their project proposals and the Sufficiency Economy Office for Community Development has approved 31,000 of them. those projects require funding of Bt8.4 billion, or 40 per cent of the entire programme's Bt21 billion budget.
His brother, Prapote Sabhavasu, later stepped down as the office's deputy director.
The brothers are unlikely to be the last political casualties of this scandal as an internal investigation is being conducted within the Democrat Party while the opposition Pheu Thai Party is closely examining the project for traces of irregularities.
Mechai Viravaidya, once known as "Mr Condom" who is credited with Thailand's successful birth control, has been appointed to take over from Korbsak as the agency's board chairman. The move is viewed as an attempt to reduce pressure on the ruling Democrat Party and the coalition government it leads.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of the Democrat Party, appointed a working group headed by senior party figure Charoen Kanthawong to investigate the alleged irregularities and find out whether any party member had been involved.
"VICTIM OF A SMEAR CAMPAIGN"
In opting to resign, Korbsak explained that he was a victim of a political smear campaign. "If a politician remains the board chairman, the enemies will never stop their political attacks. So, it's better to find a person who has nothing to do with politics to assume the job. He can devote his time to doing the job," Korbsak said.
He admitted there were irregularities in the project, which encourages communities to invest in programmes for their residents under the royal philosophy of Sufficiency Economy.
"I can't prevent people from being corrupt. I don't think this is the only project [with the corruption problem]. My decision to quit reflects my intention that benefit should go to the project and not myself," he said.
He did not make it clear whether the political campaign in question came from inside or outside his Democrat Party.
Party figures have blamed junior officials in the project and coordinators from communities for the irregularities, in which expensive products offered by certain private companies were favoured to be used in community programmes.
Charoen, who heads the Democrat working group investigating the project's irregularities, said that his panel had questioned the party figures involved with the project and the private companies offering their products for sale to the community programmes.
"We are concluding the findings and making a report to be submitted to the party leader," he said.
Charoen said the party figures questioned denied any irregularities, saying there were only a limited number of choices as there were only a handful of companies offering their products for sale. They said the companies had been familiar with the communities as they had come to the areas since the villages were under the SML (small, medium, large) project in the government of Thaksin Shinawatra.
Charoen said his panel had raised questions that about the small number of competing suppliers and that the companies appeared to have inside information about funds approved to communities. "They knew even before the community leaders that funds were approved," he added.
A source in the Democrat probe team said that traces of irregularities were found in the project, particularly in programmes involving the purchase of solar-powered water-vending machines and solar-powered street lamps for Bangkok communities.
The opposition is also closely monitoring the project. Anudit Nakornthap, a Pheu Thai MP for Bangkok who is part of the committee scrutinising the spending of funds for the project, also pointed out there was something fishy about the purchase of solar-powered water-vending machines.
He said the opposition was collecting evidence before referring the matter to the National Anti-Corruption Commission and other relevant state agencies.
OPPOSITION WATCHING CLOSELY
The opposition MP said the project's irregularities pointed to "policy corruption by the government" as the problem appeared to take place at all levels. He said the programmes that chose to buy certain products were given funding easily while those planning to use other products failed to get approval for funding.
The term "policy corruption" was first used during the Thaksin government.
"This practice simply makes money for the merchants and the people involved. The project does not benefit the communities as it is clear that the implementation of the project does not follow the philosophy of Sufficiency Economy," said the opposition MP.
Before Korbsak resigned as the project's board chairman, he met Auditor-General Jaruwan Maintaka and sought an investigation by the Auditor-General's Office into the alleged irregularities.
The resignation of Korbsak and his brother, as well as the appointment of Mechai as the new board chairman and the internal probe by the ruling party may have helped reduce some of the pressure on the government. But this scandal is likely to be a serious threat to the government's "clean" image, and could eventually hurt its stability, if it fails to find the culprits.
THE SCANDAL AND ITS FALLOUT
HOW THE SCAME WORKS
When a community propess its projects to the agency, corrupt officials prepare a parallel project proposal. After the proposal is approved, the officials switch their own project for the community's project. The approved budget is for the project proposed by the corrupt officials.
Local politicians influence the community's choice of project. Decisionmakers in the community are persuaded by the politicians to pick a project that requires products sold by a particular company. the company then offers to sell its product to the cmmunity without any competitor, which makes it easy for the company to sell at an inflated price. The project is then examined and approved by the agency's officials.
Many project proposed by communities are identical and require products, such as fertiliser, from the same company evenn though there are other supplies offring the same product.
THE PROGRESS REPORT
The programme targets some 80,000 communities all oer the country. About 63,000 communiites have submittted their project proposals and the Sufficiency Economy Office for Community Development has approved 31,000 of them. those projects require funding of Bt8.4 billion, or 40 per cent of the entire programme's Bt21 billion budget.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Flash floods wreak havoc in 3 districts
Flash floods are continuing to devastate Kanchanaburi, with three districts suffering their worst flooding in a decade.
More than 7,000 households in Lao Khwan, Huay Krachao and Bo Phloi districts have been lashed by days of heavy rain and run-off from the Chong Krueng and Chong Kruad mountain ranges. Over 50,000 rai of farmland and more than 300 local roads have been damaged.
Many areas in the three districts remained inundated yesterday with floodwaters rising to 120cm.
Kanchanaburi governor Roengsak Mahavinitchaimontri yesterday inspected flood-hit areas in Huay Krachao and handed out 1,000 relief kits to residents.
Bangkok has been placed on maximum alert as the city expects to face a very high tide today.
City Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra yesterday said flood prevention measures had been put in place to protect the inner city during the high tide.
The city administration has spent over 300 million baht to build embankments along the Chao Phraya River to prevent flooding in Samphanthawong, Bangkok Noi and Tha Prachan areas. About 70km of embankments have been built.
The tide is expected to peak at 1.80m at 8am today.
City clerk Pongsak Semsant yesterday told people living along Klong Bangkok Noi to brace themselves for flooding.
An embankment could not be built in the area as 35 of the 250 households were encroaching on the canal, Mr Pongsak said. Authorities are negotiating with owners to remove the houses to pave the way for the building of a 1km-long embankment from Arun Amarin bridge to Bangkok Noi bridge.
Flooding that hit Nakhon Ratchasima,Chaiyaphum, Buri Ram and Surin last week caused about 132 million baht in damage to farm land and public utilities in the four northeastern provinces.
Wallop Theppakdi, head of the office for disaster prevention and mitigation in Region 5, said more than 122,000 rai of farmland in Chaiyaphum were badly damaged by last week's flooding.
More than 7,000 households in Lao Khwan, Huay Krachao and Bo Phloi districts have been lashed by days of heavy rain and run-off from the Chong Krueng and Chong Kruad mountain ranges. Over 50,000 rai of farmland and more than 300 local roads have been damaged.
Many areas in the three districts remained inundated yesterday with floodwaters rising to 120cm.
Kanchanaburi governor Roengsak Mahavinitchaimontri yesterday inspected flood-hit areas in Huay Krachao and handed out 1,000 relief kits to residents.
Bangkok has been placed on maximum alert as the city expects to face a very high tide today.
City Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra yesterday said flood prevention measures had been put in place to protect the inner city during the high tide.
The city administration has spent over 300 million baht to build embankments along the Chao Phraya River to prevent flooding in Samphanthawong, Bangkok Noi and Tha Prachan areas. About 70km of embankments have been built.
The tide is expected to peak at 1.80m at 8am today.
City clerk Pongsak Semsant yesterday told people living along Klong Bangkok Noi to brace themselves for flooding.
An embankment could not be built in the area as 35 of the 250 households were encroaching on the canal, Mr Pongsak said. Authorities are negotiating with owners to remove the houses to pave the way for the building of a 1km-long embankment from Arun Amarin bridge to Bangkok Noi bridge.
Flooding that hit Nakhon Ratchasima,Chaiyaphum, Buri Ram and Surin last week caused about 132 million baht in damage to farm land and public utilities in the four northeastern provinces.
Wallop Theppakdi, head of the office for disaster prevention and mitigation in Region 5, said more than 122,000 rai of farmland in Chaiyaphum were badly damaged by last week's flooding.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
A wet week for the Governor
It was good to see Bangkok's Governor wading through floods and getting his boots wet this week as he coordinated the efforts of city planners and irrigation engineers in draining off excess water from the inundated eastern suburbs. Equally welcome was MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra's apology and acceptance of responsibility because the floods had got out of control, causing inconvenience and traffic jams for much of the week.
Backing this was the promise of a better drainage system for the worst affected area. Bangkok's citizens are used to promises but not to polite apologies and requests for forgiveness, so this pledge has the authority of a policy commitment that we should be able to trust.Countless millions of baht have been spent by taxpayers in recent decades on flood prevention safeguards including dykes, heavy-duty pumps, dredging, floodgates,sandbags and other drainage projects in an effort to make such appearances by the Governor unnecessary.
But sometimes just too much water gets dumped on the city in too short a time and there is nowhere for it to go. Drainage Technology Department directorNarong Airasubkunakorn claimed that this week's rains had been the heaviest in 25 years but this seemed to overlook the havoc wrought by what were then termed "the heaviest rains in a thousand years" during Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang's tenure as city governor.
In the aftermath of that deluge a couple of decades ago, questions were raised about the wisdom of having turned so many of the city's canals into roads, given that much of Bangkok is below sea level. Mr Narong's point of reference was presumably the great flood of 1983 when a sizable part of Bangkok was submerged and boats were seen making their way along Silom,Ploenchit, parts of Sukhumvit and other roads. That is what happens when floodwaters have nowhere to go.Nowadays they head for the eastern suburbs, much to the horror of those living there.
This is also the time of year when city officials tend to point an accusing finger at construction projects for creating subsidence, worsening flooding and hampering drainage, but they should not forget that they were the ones who signed off on them, often without ensuring that the necessary infrastructure to service them was in place. They would also do well to review the measures taken to improve and clear out drainage systems and get pumps in working order ahead of this week's heavy rains. And start to plan for what might happen once construction of the infrastructure mega-projects begins.
More misery appears to be on the way for residents of the eastern suburbs next week, with high tides and heavy rains due to coincide. Those in the "inner city"are protected to some extent by the encircling flood control barriers and dykes. Unfortunately, this means that a disproportionate and unfair portion of the capital's average annual rainfall of 150cm (59 inches) will end up getting pushed out into the already soaked eastern suburbs. This is why it is essential that the promised improvements to the drainage system get the utmost priority. If for some reason they do not, then enthusiasm for paying high municipal taxes might start to wane.
The obvious problem facing Bangkok is that it is too close to the water - and getting closer all the time.This is caused by the excessive extraction of ground water over many years. Given that Bangkok is a human settlement built on a layer of clay, the dangers of groundwater extraction should have long been obvious.This has to stop. The solution is obvious but enforcement has been repeatedly postponed and Bangkok continues to sink. We are rapidly running out of time to fix this.
Backing this was the promise of a better drainage system for the worst affected area. Bangkok's citizens are used to promises but not to polite apologies and requests for forgiveness, so this pledge has the authority of a policy commitment that we should be able to trust.Countless millions of baht have been spent by taxpayers in recent decades on flood prevention safeguards including dykes, heavy-duty pumps, dredging, floodgates,sandbags and other drainage projects in an effort to make such appearances by the Governor unnecessary.
But sometimes just too much water gets dumped on the city in too short a time and there is nowhere for it to go. Drainage Technology Department directorNarong Airasubkunakorn claimed that this week's rains had been the heaviest in 25 years but this seemed to overlook the havoc wrought by what were then termed "the heaviest rains in a thousand years" during Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang's tenure as city governor.
In the aftermath of that deluge a couple of decades ago, questions were raised about the wisdom of having turned so many of the city's canals into roads, given that much of Bangkok is below sea level. Mr Narong's point of reference was presumably the great flood of 1983 when a sizable part of Bangkok was submerged and boats were seen making their way along Silom,Ploenchit, parts of Sukhumvit and other roads. That is what happens when floodwaters have nowhere to go.Nowadays they head for the eastern suburbs, much to the horror of those living there.
This is also the time of year when city officials tend to point an accusing finger at construction projects for creating subsidence, worsening flooding and hampering drainage, but they should not forget that they were the ones who signed off on them, often without ensuring that the necessary infrastructure to service them was in place. They would also do well to review the measures taken to improve and clear out drainage systems and get pumps in working order ahead of this week's heavy rains. And start to plan for what might happen once construction of the infrastructure mega-projects begins.
More misery appears to be on the way for residents of the eastern suburbs next week, with high tides and heavy rains due to coincide. Those in the "inner city"are protected to some extent by the encircling flood control barriers and dykes. Unfortunately, this means that a disproportionate and unfair portion of the capital's average annual rainfall of 150cm (59 inches) will end up getting pushed out into the already soaked eastern suburbs. This is why it is essential that the promised improvements to the drainage system get the utmost priority. If for some reason they do not, then enthusiasm for paying high municipal taxes might start to wane.
The obvious problem facing Bangkok is that it is too close to the water - and getting closer all the time.This is caused by the excessive extraction of ground water over many years. Given that Bangkok is a human settlement built on a layer of clay, the dangers of groundwater extraction should have long been obvious.This has to stop. The solution is obvious but enforcement has been repeatedly postponed and Bangkok continues to sink. We are rapidly running out of time to fix this.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
800m baht earmarked to limit flooding
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration plans to spend 800 million baht on improving the drainage system along Srinakharin Road after serious flooding yesterday.
Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra said the drains along a 6.5km stretch of the road between the Phatthanakan and Sri-udom intersections on Sukhumvit Soi 103 would be improved.
The work will take about two years.MR Sukhumbhand said part of Srinakharin Road was built by the Rural Roads Department without a modern drainage system before it was transferred to the BMA.
A heavy downpour yesterday morning flooded several major roads in Bangkok,causing traffic jams across the city.
The situation was particularly serious on Srinakharin Road where floodwaters were from 30cm to 50cm high.
"I ask for forgiveness from Bangkokians for the slow drainage of floodwaters from many areas," MR Sukhumbhand said."That was because the torrential rainfall on Monday night required six to eight hours to drain from the roads."
In nearby Samut Prakan province, floodwaters on certain streets off Sukhumvit Road were as high as 80cm. The areas became impassable to small vehicles.
In Nakhon Ratchasima's Phimai district, the overflowing Moon River submerged more residential areas yesterday.
Flood officials said the water level in the Moon rose by 10cm, affecting more than 300 households in Phimai.
The average flood level in the district is 50cm, while the highest level recorded yesterday was one metre. There was a shortage of drinking water in many of the flooded areas.
The flooding in Phimai for more than a week has seen more than 50 residents develop skin and foot diseases, officials said. No agency has come forward with assistance despite repeated pleas for help.
Si Sa Ket's Sila Lat district was also hit by heavy flooding, with the flood level as high as one metre in some places. About 2,000 rai of farmland in tambons Nong Bua Dong and Kung have been swamped.
Phitsanulok governor Preecha Ruangjan yesterday declared Bang Rakam district a disaster zone as the flooding has spread and covered about eight tambons. Almost 40,000 rai of farmland has been affected.
The Meteorological Department yesterday issued a warning that Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi and Phetchaburi provinces could be hit by flash floods as more rain is forecast.
Flooding has already hit two districts - Huay Krachao and Lao Khwan - in Kanchanaburi.
In Huay Krachao district, flooding has affected about 200 households and damaged more than 10,000 rai of farmland.
In Lao Khwan district, all seven tambons are under water.
Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra said the drains along a 6.5km stretch of the road between the Phatthanakan and Sri-udom intersections on Sukhumvit Soi 103 would be improved.
The work will take about two years.MR Sukhumbhand said part of Srinakharin Road was built by the Rural Roads Department without a modern drainage system before it was transferred to the BMA.
A heavy downpour yesterday morning flooded several major roads in Bangkok,causing traffic jams across the city.
The situation was particularly serious on Srinakharin Road where floodwaters were from 30cm to 50cm high.
"I ask for forgiveness from Bangkokians for the slow drainage of floodwaters from many areas," MR Sukhumbhand said."That was because the torrential rainfall on Monday night required six to eight hours to drain from the roads."
In nearby Samut Prakan province, floodwaters on certain streets off Sukhumvit Road were as high as 80cm. The areas became impassable to small vehicles.
In Nakhon Ratchasima's Phimai district, the overflowing Moon River submerged more residential areas yesterday.
Flood officials said the water level in the Moon rose by 10cm, affecting more than 300 households in Phimai.
The average flood level in the district is 50cm, while the highest level recorded yesterday was one metre. There was a shortage of drinking water in many of the flooded areas.
The flooding in Phimai for more than a week has seen more than 50 residents develop skin and foot diseases, officials said. No agency has come forward with assistance despite repeated pleas for help.
Si Sa Ket's Sila Lat district was also hit by heavy flooding, with the flood level as high as one metre in some places. About 2,000 rai of farmland in tambons Nong Bua Dong and Kung have been swamped.
Phitsanulok governor Preecha Ruangjan yesterday declared Bang Rakam district a disaster zone as the flooding has spread and covered about eight tambons. Almost 40,000 rai of farmland has been affected.
The Meteorological Department yesterday issued a warning that Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi and Phetchaburi provinces could be hit by flash floods as more rain is forecast.
Flooding has already hit two districts - Huay Krachao and Lao Khwan - in Kanchanaburi.
In Huay Krachao district, flooding has affected about 200 households and damaged more than 10,000 rai of farmland.
In Lao Khwan district, all seven tambons are under water.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Villagers urged to inspect relief supplies
The opposition warned the government yesterday to ensure transparency in the distribution of flood relief supplies,saying it should carefully monitor budget spending while extending help to the flood victims or it could see itself mired in another rotten canned fish scandal.
Opposition chief whip Witthaya Buranasiri urged local administration organisations and villagers in the flood-hit areas to check the quality of humanitarian supplies being provided by state agencies.
"Flood relief supply recipients should carefully check the items to see if they are still fit for consumption, otherwise you could end up having rotten canned fish in your bags again," Mr Witthaya said.
He was referring to complaints by Phatthalung villagers over the distribution of rotten canned fish to flood victims in the southern province by the Social Development and Human Security Ministry earlier this year. The then social development and human security minister Witoon Nambutr resigned in February after the scandal broke.
Although the flood situation has improved somewhat in many of the hardhit provinces, the weather bureau issued a new warning yesterday saying that more torrential downpours were expected over the next two weeks.
In Ayutthaya, the Ratchaprachanukroh Foundation under the patronage of His Majesty the King yesterday distributed 1,000 flood relief kits to the affected people in Bang Ban district.
Ayutthaya is among the 13 provinces in the Central, North and Northeast regions still encountering heavy flooding.
Ayutthaya Governor Witthaya Phiewphong said yesterday the overall situation in the province had improved as floodwaters had begun to recede.
However, the water level in major rivers running through the province, such as the Pa Sak, remained high and needed to be monitored continuously for the time being.
In this province alone, about 25,200 families in nine districts have been affected.
More heavy rain has been forecast for the East and the South where people have been told to prepare for more flash floods, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.
In Bangkok, Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said the city was expected to face a run-off from the North on Oct 18 to 20 which could complicate matters with the possible arrival of Tropical Storm Parma, which has regained strength, and two more new tropical storms. Parma was yesterday moving westward toward the South China Sea.
Flood relief officials in the city's drainage department have been alerted and are being readied for any emergency if needed, said the governor.
Opposition chief whip Witthaya Buranasiri urged local administration organisations and villagers in the flood-hit areas to check the quality of humanitarian supplies being provided by state agencies.
"Flood relief supply recipients should carefully check the items to see if they are still fit for consumption, otherwise you could end up having rotten canned fish in your bags again," Mr Witthaya said.
He was referring to complaints by Phatthalung villagers over the distribution of rotten canned fish to flood victims in the southern province by the Social Development and Human Security Ministry earlier this year. The then social development and human security minister Witoon Nambutr resigned in February after the scandal broke.
Although the flood situation has improved somewhat in many of the hardhit provinces, the weather bureau issued a new warning yesterday saying that more torrential downpours were expected over the next two weeks.
In Ayutthaya, the Ratchaprachanukroh Foundation under the patronage of His Majesty the King yesterday distributed 1,000 flood relief kits to the affected people in Bang Ban district.
Ayutthaya is among the 13 provinces in the Central, North and Northeast regions still encountering heavy flooding.
Ayutthaya Governor Witthaya Phiewphong said yesterday the overall situation in the province had improved as floodwaters had begun to recede.
However, the water level in major rivers running through the province, such as the Pa Sak, remained high and needed to be monitored continuously for the time being.
In this province alone, about 25,200 families in nine districts have been affected.
More heavy rain has been forecast for the East and the South where people have been told to prepare for more flash floods, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.
In Bangkok, Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said the city was expected to face a run-off from the North on Oct 18 to 20 which could complicate matters with the possible arrival of Tropical Storm Parma, which has regained strength, and two more new tropical storms. Parma was yesterday moving westward toward the South China Sea.
Flood relief officials in the city's drainage department have been alerted and are being readied for any emergency if needed, said the governor.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
RUN-OFF AND HIGH SEAS THREATEN CHAO PHYA LEVELS
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is keeping watch on twin flood threats to the Chao Phya River - approaching run-off from flooding in the North and, on October 18-20, heavy inflows of sea water, which could lift river levels by up to 2.20 metres.
BMA governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra led city executives yesterday on an inspection of the Chao Phya at Ratchawong pier and Klong Bangkok Noi.
They found the city's water level had already risen by 20cm-30cm, following the release of 2,500 cubic metres of water from the Chao Phya dam. Records showed the river had risen by 1.8 metres at Memorial Bridge.
Sukhumbhand warned that from October 18 to 20 there would be massive inflows of sea water to the river, especially on Tuesday October 20, which will see the highest inflows. However the river's flood level should not exceed 2.2m.
The BMA has piled up 4.2 million sandbags to form seven-kilometre-long flood barriers on both sides of the river where permanent flood barriers are not yet built - but should be in place by late next year.
Local officials have been ordered to be ready to help the 28 communities in nine districts that are most at risk. The public can call for flood information on the BMA hotline 1555 around the clock, he said.
In Angthong, where floods affected 300 families and 2,000 rai of farmlands in Muang and Pa Moke districts, residents of Muang district's tambon Ban Id have gone fishing, following news that some Pho Thong district residents caught two giant 100-kilogram catfish on Wednesday night.
In Pa Moke district, flood water had risen 11cm since Wednesday and the Chao Phya River there was 50cm above its banks. In Muang district it was 7.20m deep and 30cm below the river banks.
The Chao Phya dam released 2,092 cubic metres of water per second yesterday, slightly less than the day before. The local irrigation authority has opened the sludge gate to Klong Bang Kaew, causing the canal to overflow and cover the Asia Highway in 80cm-deep water.
Up north, the weather on top of Ang Khang and Inthanon mountain in Chiang Mai is getting cooler. The lowest temperature was between 12 and 15 degrees Celsius.
BMA governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra led city executives yesterday on an inspection of the Chao Phya at Ratchawong pier and Klong Bangkok Noi.
They found the city's water level had already risen by 20cm-30cm, following the release of 2,500 cubic metres of water from the Chao Phya dam. Records showed the river had risen by 1.8 metres at Memorial Bridge.
Sukhumbhand warned that from October 18 to 20 there would be massive inflows of sea water to the river, especially on Tuesday October 20, which will see the highest inflows. However the river's flood level should not exceed 2.2m.
The BMA has piled up 4.2 million sandbags to form seven-kilometre-long flood barriers on both sides of the river where permanent flood barriers are not yet built - but should be in place by late next year.
Local officials have been ordered to be ready to help the 28 communities in nine districts that are most at risk. The public can call for flood information on the BMA hotline 1555 around the clock, he said.
In Angthong, where floods affected 300 families and 2,000 rai of farmlands in Muang and Pa Moke districts, residents of Muang district's tambon Ban Id have gone fishing, following news that some Pho Thong district residents caught two giant 100-kilogram catfish on Wednesday night.
In Pa Moke district, flood water had risen 11cm since Wednesday and the Chao Phya River there was 50cm above its banks. In Muang district it was 7.20m deep and 30cm below the river banks.
The Chao Phya dam released 2,092 cubic metres of water per second yesterday, slightly less than the day before. The local irrigation authority has opened the sludge gate to Klong Bang Kaew, causing the canal to overflow and cover the Asia Highway in 80cm-deep water.
Up north, the weather on top of Ang Khang and Inthanon mountain in Chiang Mai is getting cooler. The lowest temperature was between 12 and 15 degrees Celsius.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Flying on a wing and a prayer
Mong Thongdee, the 12-year-old stateless boy who won first prize in a paper airplane team competition, has been honoured as a science ambassador and promised a scholarship for a doctorate degree.
Science and Technology Minister Kalaya Sophonpanich yesterday led officials to greet Mong at Suvarnabhumi airport and said the boy had been rewarded for encouraging other children to study the sciences.
The Science and Technology Ministry will sponsor his study, Khunying Kalaya said.
"All Thais are proud of him and the ministry will offer him a scholarship to study for a doctorate," she said.
Mong's father, Yun, said that without the scholarship he could send the boy only to Prathom 6(Grade 6) because he and his wife earn just 190 baht each a day and they had a two-year-old daughter to take care of.
The boy now studies at Prathom 4 in Chiang Mai. He has no nationality because he was born to the ethnic Burmese construction workers in Thailand.
Mong yesterday returned to Thailand with the third prize in the individual contest for children and the first prize in the team contest in the Origami Airplane Contest in Chiba at the weekend.
Prasert Chalermkannon and Surin Intarachot won the second and third places in the men's individual category and Fongfon Sriswat came first in the wom-en's individual contest. Mong's paper airplane stayed in the air for 10.53 seconds, which was enough to win him third place in the individual category.
"I am so delighted, and this award will be given to His Majesty the King,"said the boy after alighting from the real aircraft at Suvarnabhumi airport.
"My technique to make the plane stay aloft longer was to fold its wings in equal parts. When I grow up I would like to be a pilot."
Mong nearly lost his chance to participate in the contest after the Interior Ministry refused to issue him a document to apply for travel papers because of his statelessness.
The ministry's decision was overturned.
Science and Technology Minister Kalaya Sophonpanich yesterday led officials to greet Mong at Suvarnabhumi airport and said the boy had been rewarded for encouraging other children to study the sciences.
The Science and Technology Ministry will sponsor his study, Khunying Kalaya said.
"All Thais are proud of him and the ministry will offer him a scholarship to study for a doctorate," she said.
Mong's father, Yun, said that without the scholarship he could send the boy only to Prathom 6(Grade 6) because he and his wife earn just 190 baht each a day and they had a two-year-old daughter to take care of.
The boy now studies at Prathom 4 in Chiang Mai. He has no nationality because he was born to the ethnic Burmese construction workers in Thailand.
Mong yesterday returned to Thailand with the third prize in the individual contest for children and the first prize in the team contest in the Origami Airplane Contest in Chiba at the weekend.
Prasert Chalermkannon and Surin Intarachot won the second and third places in the men's individual category and Fongfon Sriswat came first in the wom-en's individual contest. Mong's paper airplane stayed in the air for 10.53 seconds, which was enough to win him third place in the individual category.
"I am so delighted, and this award will be given to His Majesty the King,"said the boy after alighting from the real aircraft at Suvarnabhumi airport.
"My technique to make the plane stay aloft longer was to fold its wings in equal parts. When I grow up I would like to be a pilot."
Mong nearly lost his chance to participate in the contest after the Interior Ministry refused to issue him a document to apply for travel papers because of his statelessness.
The ministry's decision was overturned.
Flooded homes get relief
Foundations under royal patronage have been handing out emergency relief bags to victims of floods in downtown Chaiyaphum.
The bags were given to 2,000 families most affected by the floods in the northeastern province.
The bags were donated by the Rajaprajanugroh Foundation under His Majesty the King's patronage and the Princess Pa Foundation under Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha.
The floods were caused by run-off from the Lam Pathao reservoir in Kaeng Khro district, and are now receding after inundating downtown areas for the past few days.
Chaiyaphum's city mayor, Banyong Kiatkongchoochai, yesterday handed out the bags on behalf of the foundations.
The council worked pumps around the clock to drain water from the city centre. Council staff are on the lookout for crocodiles which escaped from flooded farms.
In the eastern province of Rayong,persistent heavy rain at the weekend has triggered a mudslide which damaged communities around Wat Nong Wa in tambon Makhamkoo of Nikhom Phatthana district. Residents said the mudslide appeared to have weakened the foundations of the temple wall, which they feared could collapse on to nearby homes.
The bags were given to 2,000 families most affected by the floods in the northeastern province.
The bags were donated by the Rajaprajanugroh Foundation under His Majesty the King's patronage and the Princess Pa Foundation under Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha.
The floods were caused by run-off from the Lam Pathao reservoir in Kaeng Khro district, and are now receding after inundating downtown areas for the past few days.
Chaiyaphum's city mayor, Banyong Kiatkongchoochai, yesterday handed out the bags on behalf of the foundations.
The council worked pumps around the clock to drain water from the city centre. Council staff are on the lookout for crocodiles which escaped from flooded farms.
In the eastern province of Rayong,persistent heavy rain at the weekend has triggered a mudslide which damaged communities around Wat Nong Wa in tambon Makhamkoo of Nikhom Phatthana district. Residents said the mudslide appeared to have weakened the foundations of the temple wall, which they feared could collapse on to nearby homes.
IN PURSUIT OF HAPPY ECONOMICS
What is your idea of economics? What good is this branch of social science for the ordinary, non-business people?For many, economics evokes the notion of opportunity, employment and financial security. For others, it's a discipline that suggests Darwinian competition, greed,and simply the egotistical pursuit of self-interests at all costs.
But to Helena Norberg-Hodge, director of the International Society for Ecology and Culture (Isec), economics can bring happiness, and without having to produce a huge sum of monetary profit, or the stresses and strains that are typical of a large-scale economy.
Norberg-Hodge received the 1986 Right Livelihood Award,aka the alternative Nobel Prize, for her dedication in promoting more peaceful, just and sustainable communities worldwide.
It all started from a small project the Swedish woman runs in Ladakh, initially a backwater region in northern India. Norberg-Hodge launched the Ladakh Project in 1978 in a bid to reverse the damaging trends of mass tourism and consumerism through promoting development based on Ladakhi cultural values. The innovative programme soon grew into Isec, where Norberg-Hodge and her colleagues had been initiating campaigns around the world to encourage ways of living that are more de-centralised and land-based.
A globetrotting and extremely busy Norberg-Hodge recently visited Thailand and delivered lectures in Bangkok and Khon Kaen on the theme of "Economics of Happiness".Norberg-Hodge took some time off from her hectic schedule to talk with 'Outlook'.
Could you please tell us what exactly this 'Economics of Happiness' is? It now seems the economics has been a tool for making money and a tool for making disasters,considering the recession we are now facing ...
Well, the 'Economics of Happiness' is essentially an economics of strengthening the local economy. It's a systemic shift away from the current direction of economy,which is going more and more global. At the fundamental level, what I'm arguing is that as economic policies support the globalising path, they support a bigger and bigger distance between production and consumption. And with this distance, structurally, it means pushing business to become bigger and bigger and bigger.with nature. And those therapies are successful. Even prisoners, juvenile delinquents or violent men can be changed if you help them to connect to people with similar situations and to really share and help them to [re]connect with nature.
With the scale of business and the distance, we are getting enormous problems both environmentally, socially and psychologically.
Again, structurally, this globalising path is leading to monoculture. These large businesses inevitably have to impose monoculture; it's not possible to adapt to diversity.It's directly linked to using media and advertisement to foster a human monoculture where children worldwide are made to feel inferior to the standards that are fundamentally Western. But it's also anti-Western, in the sense that there is this image of perfection that the young children feel they cannot live up to. By establishing an unrealistic role model - a global consumer identity this is responsible for massive increases in self-rejection,and even self-hatred.
By subsiding global trade and global businesses, a government is simultaneously subsidising a path that's encouraging businesses to use more fossil fuel and technology and fewer people. So the next result is job insecurity, and very, very intense competitions for scarce jobs. This combination of creating an unrealistic role model, the role model of consumer identity, and at the same time, the job scarcity, the unemployment and the competition is increasing worldwide friction and unhappiness.
What I'm suggesting is that we must shift away from these bigger and more global business activities, and toward supporting local businesses worldwide that spend less fossil, and adapted to the natural-biological-cultural diversity and identities. We need to bring the economy closer to home worldwide. Localising as an economics of happiness at the fundamental level is about reducing the competition for jobs, by establishing cultural and community role models that are realistic. This might sound utopian, or unrealistic, but the fact is that the unrealistic is to go further and further as we have done up until now.
Related to the economics of happiness is an economics of survival. Because subsidising more and more global trade, it literally leads to the import and export of the same products - water, milk, chicken, pigs, live animals. The US imports just as much as it exports. The UK exports as much butter and milk as it imports. This is utter madness on a planet dying from global warming. Oil is scarce and polluting. We want to minimise the use of oil, obviously.So ending a trade in identical products is the most logical and commonsensical way, which is not depriving anybody.But the profits of the giants would decrease, whereas the profits of millions of local businesses would increase. And this is the way of reducing the gap between the rich and the poor while reducing global warming.
The alternative, localisation movement seems to look good, but having witnessed the past economic recession,after the crisis is over, we tend to go back through the same process again and again. Humankind seems to hardly change, why?
I'd argue that it isn't humankind that is deciding what kind of economy that they need. It's a very small number of increasingly powerful people. If you look at who is actively promoting the deregulation of trade and finance,it's maybe point zero one of the human population ...maybe even less than that. I'd estimate that about 10,000 people worldwide. Most people wouldn't even understand the mechanisms. They think it's free trade that allows freedom. I think the main reason that this is happening is ignorance from the top and ignorance from the bottom.
But shall we be able to counter the trend in time,considering the urgency of the situation?
I think we do have enough time right now. I feel too many people in the environmental movement would say,'Oh it's all going to break down,[so] we don't need to worry about the system'. I believe if more people would focus on education for action, awareness, what I call 'economic literacy'. Spread the awareness. If we can't write for the newspaper, then we can write for newsletters.If we can't speak on television, then let's speak on radio programmes. Let's encourage everybody with the idea that there is a solution.
I believe that in theory, in two or three years, there could be enough of a movement to change policies. But I think this economic literacy needs to be understood from a global point of view. We need to have a lot more information shared between the North and the South. I believe in the localisation in the small states.
It seems, though, that the level of the 'immune system'of people in the South has already been drastically eroded ...
I believe in the so-called 'less developed countries' that the structures are much stronger for localisation. The structure of this crucial identity with one another, with the land, with animals, with the sense of belonging to a place,a language, a history and a group - that identity is still here. The sense of identity is what localisation can rebuild.
More importantly, or just as importantly, you have skills, both social and practical skills that we have lost.More people here know how to grow foods, know how to build houses out of natural, local materials. In the West,these skills and the communities are much more destroyed.However, in the West, there is more awareness of the problems with the global consumer culture. Here, people are still not experiencing it as much. Even when they see Bangkok - it's polluted, crowded, they believe if they just get more education, more Western schooling, learn English,get more development, then they will be like this paradise - the paradise of America or Europe. So lack of awareness here is the big problem of this dominant model of progress/development. So this is where I believe a deep dialogue between the North and the South is needed.
How have you seen yourself change over the years since you first set foot in Ladakh in the mid-'70s?
My views of everything [have] changed. I have studied psychology and I thought that cultural differences were not so significant. I thought it had more to do with hereditary [factors]. But what I experienced in Ladakh, a pre-industrial,pre-developed culture, I realised there were huge differences between that and all the industrialised countries that were very similar.
With industrial development, the most important thing that developed was the breakdown of identity through[out]communities, to realise the differences between old and young, male and female, and this role model for the children and sense of belonging.
I believe that community is essential for mental health.It's essential for learning how to be loving and tolerant.And breaking that down is like breaking down the sense of interdependence, which is the teaching of all spiritual traditions. I'd say it is a spiritual and psychological need that is just as important as breathing air is for your lungs.To feel spiritually and psychologically connected, it's something that modernity has destroyed, and that creates self-hatred, self-rejection, which leads to intolerance,violence, unhappiness. That may be the most important thing I have learned from Ladakh.
Having understood that, I also see in the West therapies that are fundamentally about rebuilding communities and the sense of interdependence and spiritual connection with nature. And those therapies are successful. Even prisoners, juvenile delinquents or violent men can be changed if you help them to connect to people with similar situations and to really share and help them to [re]connect with nature.
But how do you feel when you go back to Ladakh and see that it, too,changes year after year to be ... er,just like any other place on Earth?
There have been times when it becomes very depressing and upsetting.The worst was in 1989 when Buddhists and Muslims were killing each other.And year after year, the change has been quite difficult. But each year, with the breakdown of communities and ecological conditions, there were more and more Ladakhis who became interested in looking for alternatives,in assisting our work, particularly in the last 10 or so years. This interest has been going on at the same time as the destruction. So that has given me the strength and the hope to continue.
It seems young children nowadays have been groomed to think that they have to be No.1, and the interdependence has been thus cut off ...
Yes, absolutely. Even explicitly. In Ladakh they have now been taught:'You've got to be more ambitious; you've got to literally be more greedy; you've got to look up to [be] number one'.These are the terrible values that are being taught in the schools. In many journals, they'll talk about community identity as tribalism, and they identify tribalism with friction, with warfare.And the picture is painted that in the past, all of these diverse war-like tribes were fighting each other, and that modernity and homogenising has created peace. Well, let's look at how peaceful America is - look at the teenagers who go to school and kill each other, look at the violent crimes.You don't have group violence in the same way, but you have a complete breakdown. A lot of violence.
When you centralise power and you push people into the big cities, and they have to have a job for survival,then the people in power will give jobs to people of their own kind. If they're Buddhists, then they give the jobs to Buddhists. And if they're Muslims, then to Muslims. And this leads to ethnic friction and violence.
Centralisation is part of globalisation.Decentralisation is what can allow more people to have jobs, and to have interdependence with different groups.
I think another very major point is that by destroying communities and then creating job scarcity, these are crimes against humanity. However many people we are, there is more work to be done. Unemployment is a modern product of this economy. It never existed for thousands of years in any society.The artificial constriction of job opportunities is a crime against humanity that must be written about,explaining how and why it could happen.With more people, we need more care,because we have more work. First of all, every plant, every fish, every thing that lives right now is threatened, so we need more people caring for everything that's living. With global warming, we have drought and floods.
We need to protect everything against floods, fire and drought. So that means more people caring for every bit of water,and every little tree, so there's more work than ever. However many people we are, we need proportionate teachers,nurses, doctors ... there is no limit of work. But through this globalising path we are artificially constricting, and we're partly doing it through taxes and subsidies. So we must expose them.
And there's also this artificial scarcity of time ...
The scarcity of time is directly linked to the scarcity of jobs. Because we support businesses when they use technology and fossil fuel, they benefit from scientific research, subsidies and tax breaks. And the more fossil fuel they use, the less they pay. It's more the small businesses that use very little that will be punished because they pay more. This is crazy.
At the same time, if you employ a person, you pay heavy taxes. This should be shifted toward reducing the taxes on employment and increasing the taxes on technology and fossil fuel. The technology is part of speeding everything up. So the few people who have the jobs now in computers, you have to answer with more posts. Whereas when it was by post, in a day, you might have to answer how many letters. And now with emails, you have to answer much more.
It's because we've chosen subsidising technology and subsidising speed, which is linked to unemployment.
What project is your organisation working on right now?
We are working on a film called,"Economics of Happiness", which should be ready in about two months.I've worked on it for more than four years, and I've tried to get people from every continent -Africa, South America, North America, Europe, China,India, Thailand - to basically spell out that the globalisation of consumer culture is creating too much unhappiness in the world, and that localising would solve most of these problems. Localising needs to be pursued with an international and collaborative mindset. It's not about isolation. It's not about no travel, no trade. We actually need more deep,deep dialogue between the North and the South. And we need it now more than ever before.
But to Helena Norberg-Hodge, director of the International Society for Ecology and Culture (Isec), economics can bring happiness, and without having to produce a huge sum of monetary profit, or the stresses and strains that are typical of a large-scale economy.
Norberg-Hodge received the 1986 Right Livelihood Award,aka the alternative Nobel Prize, for her dedication in promoting more peaceful, just and sustainable communities worldwide.
It all started from a small project the Swedish woman runs in Ladakh, initially a backwater region in northern India. Norberg-Hodge launched the Ladakh Project in 1978 in a bid to reverse the damaging trends of mass tourism and consumerism through promoting development based on Ladakhi cultural values. The innovative programme soon grew into Isec, where Norberg-Hodge and her colleagues had been initiating campaigns around the world to encourage ways of living that are more de-centralised and land-based.
A globetrotting and extremely busy Norberg-Hodge recently visited Thailand and delivered lectures in Bangkok and Khon Kaen on the theme of "Economics of Happiness".Norberg-Hodge took some time off from her hectic schedule to talk with 'Outlook'.
Could you please tell us what exactly this 'Economics of Happiness' is? It now seems the economics has been a tool for making money and a tool for making disasters,considering the recession we are now facing ...
Well, the 'Economics of Happiness' is essentially an economics of strengthening the local economy. It's a systemic shift away from the current direction of economy,which is going more and more global. At the fundamental level, what I'm arguing is that as economic policies support the globalising path, they support a bigger and bigger distance between production and consumption. And with this distance, structurally, it means pushing business to become bigger and bigger and bigger.with nature. And those therapies are successful. Even prisoners, juvenile delinquents or violent men can be changed if you help them to connect to people with similar situations and to really share and help them to [re]connect with nature.
With the scale of business and the distance, we are getting enormous problems both environmentally, socially and psychologically.
Again, structurally, this globalising path is leading to monoculture. These large businesses inevitably have to impose monoculture; it's not possible to adapt to diversity.It's directly linked to using media and advertisement to foster a human monoculture where children worldwide are made to feel inferior to the standards that are fundamentally Western. But it's also anti-Western, in the sense that there is this image of perfection that the young children feel they cannot live up to. By establishing an unrealistic role model - a global consumer identity this is responsible for massive increases in self-rejection,and even self-hatred.
By subsiding global trade and global businesses, a government is simultaneously subsidising a path that's encouraging businesses to use more fossil fuel and technology and fewer people. So the next result is job insecurity, and very, very intense competitions for scarce jobs. This combination of creating an unrealistic role model, the role model of consumer identity, and at the same time, the job scarcity, the unemployment and the competition is increasing worldwide friction and unhappiness.
What I'm suggesting is that we must shift away from these bigger and more global business activities, and toward supporting local businesses worldwide that spend less fossil, and adapted to the natural-biological-cultural diversity and identities. We need to bring the economy closer to home worldwide. Localising as an economics of happiness at the fundamental level is about reducing the competition for jobs, by establishing cultural and community role models that are realistic. This might sound utopian, or unrealistic, but the fact is that the unrealistic is to go further and further as we have done up until now.
Related to the economics of happiness is an economics of survival. Because subsidising more and more global trade, it literally leads to the import and export of the same products - water, milk, chicken, pigs, live animals. The US imports just as much as it exports. The UK exports as much butter and milk as it imports. This is utter madness on a planet dying from global warming. Oil is scarce and polluting. We want to minimise the use of oil, obviously.So ending a trade in identical products is the most logical and commonsensical way, which is not depriving anybody.But the profits of the giants would decrease, whereas the profits of millions of local businesses would increase. And this is the way of reducing the gap between the rich and the poor while reducing global warming.
The alternative, localisation movement seems to look good, but having witnessed the past economic recession,after the crisis is over, we tend to go back through the same process again and again. Humankind seems to hardly change, why?
I'd argue that it isn't humankind that is deciding what kind of economy that they need. It's a very small number of increasingly powerful people. If you look at who is actively promoting the deregulation of trade and finance,it's maybe point zero one of the human population ...maybe even less than that. I'd estimate that about 10,000 people worldwide. Most people wouldn't even understand the mechanisms. They think it's free trade that allows freedom. I think the main reason that this is happening is ignorance from the top and ignorance from the bottom.
But shall we be able to counter the trend in time,considering the urgency of the situation?
I think we do have enough time right now. I feel too many people in the environmental movement would say,'Oh it's all going to break down,[so] we don't need to worry about the system'. I believe if more people would focus on education for action, awareness, what I call 'economic literacy'. Spread the awareness. If we can't write for the newspaper, then we can write for newsletters.If we can't speak on television, then let's speak on radio programmes. Let's encourage everybody with the idea that there is a solution.
I believe that in theory, in two or three years, there could be enough of a movement to change policies. But I think this economic literacy needs to be understood from a global point of view. We need to have a lot more information shared between the North and the South. I believe in the localisation in the small states.
It seems, though, that the level of the 'immune system'of people in the South has already been drastically eroded ...
I believe in the so-called 'less developed countries' that the structures are much stronger for localisation. The structure of this crucial identity with one another, with the land, with animals, with the sense of belonging to a place,a language, a history and a group - that identity is still here. The sense of identity is what localisation can rebuild.
More importantly, or just as importantly, you have skills, both social and practical skills that we have lost.More people here know how to grow foods, know how to build houses out of natural, local materials. In the West,these skills and the communities are much more destroyed.However, in the West, there is more awareness of the problems with the global consumer culture. Here, people are still not experiencing it as much. Even when they see Bangkok - it's polluted, crowded, they believe if they just get more education, more Western schooling, learn English,get more development, then they will be like this paradise - the paradise of America or Europe. So lack of awareness here is the big problem of this dominant model of progress/development. So this is where I believe a deep dialogue between the North and the South is needed.
How have you seen yourself change over the years since you first set foot in Ladakh in the mid-'70s?
My views of everything [have] changed. I have studied psychology and I thought that cultural differences were not so significant. I thought it had more to do with hereditary [factors]. But what I experienced in Ladakh, a pre-industrial,pre-developed culture, I realised there were huge differences between that and all the industrialised countries that were very similar.
With industrial development, the most important thing that developed was the breakdown of identity through[out]communities, to realise the differences between old and young, male and female, and this role model for the children and sense of belonging.
I believe that community is essential for mental health.It's essential for learning how to be loving and tolerant.And breaking that down is like breaking down the sense of interdependence, which is the teaching of all spiritual traditions. I'd say it is a spiritual and psychological need that is just as important as breathing air is for your lungs.To feel spiritually and psychologically connected, it's something that modernity has destroyed, and that creates self-hatred, self-rejection, which leads to intolerance,violence, unhappiness. That may be the most important thing I have learned from Ladakh.
Having understood that, I also see in the West therapies that are fundamentally about rebuilding communities and the sense of interdependence and spiritual connection with nature. And those therapies are successful. Even prisoners, juvenile delinquents or violent men can be changed if you help them to connect to people with similar situations and to really share and help them to [re]connect with nature.
But how do you feel when you go back to Ladakh and see that it, too,changes year after year to be ... er,just like any other place on Earth?
There have been times when it becomes very depressing and upsetting.The worst was in 1989 when Buddhists and Muslims were killing each other.And year after year, the change has been quite difficult. But each year, with the breakdown of communities and ecological conditions, there were more and more Ladakhis who became interested in looking for alternatives,in assisting our work, particularly in the last 10 or so years. This interest has been going on at the same time as the destruction. So that has given me the strength and the hope to continue.
It seems young children nowadays have been groomed to think that they have to be No.1, and the interdependence has been thus cut off ...
Yes, absolutely. Even explicitly. In Ladakh they have now been taught:'You've got to be more ambitious; you've got to literally be more greedy; you've got to look up to [be] number one'.These are the terrible values that are being taught in the schools. In many journals, they'll talk about community identity as tribalism, and they identify tribalism with friction, with warfare.And the picture is painted that in the past, all of these diverse war-like tribes were fighting each other, and that modernity and homogenising has created peace. Well, let's look at how peaceful America is - look at the teenagers who go to school and kill each other, look at the violent crimes.You don't have group violence in the same way, but you have a complete breakdown. A lot of violence.
When you centralise power and you push people into the big cities, and they have to have a job for survival,then the people in power will give jobs to people of their own kind. If they're Buddhists, then they give the jobs to Buddhists. And if they're Muslims, then to Muslims. And this leads to ethnic friction and violence.
Centralisation is part of globalisation.Decentralisation is what can allow more people to have jobs, and to have interdependence with different groups.
I think another very major point is that by destroying communities and then creating job scarcity, these are crimes against humanity. However many people we are, there is more work to be done. Unemployment is a modern product of this economy. It never existed for thousands of years in any society.The artificial constriction of job opportunities is a crime against humanity that must be written about,explaining how and why it could happen.With more people, we need more care,because we have more work. First of all, every plant, every fish, every thing that lives right now is threatened, so we need more people caring for everything that's living. With global warming, we have drought and floods.
We need to protect everything against floods, fire and drought. So that means more people caring for every bit of water,and every little tree, so there's more work than ever. However many people we are, we need proportionate teachers,nurses, doctors ... there is no limit of work. But through this globalising path we are artificially constricting, and we're partly doing it through taxes and subsidies. So we must expose them.
And there's also this artificial scarcity of time ...
The scarcity of time is directly linked to the scarcity of jobs. Because we support businesses when they use technology and fossil fuel, they benefit from scientific research, subsidies and tax breaks. And the more fossil fuel they use, the less they pay. It's more the small businesses that use very little that will be punished because they pay more. This is crazy.
At the same time, if you employ a person, you pay heavy taxes. This should be shifted toward reducing the taxes on employment and increasing the taxes on technology and fossil fuel. The technology is part of speeding everything up. So the few people who have the jobs now in computers, you have to answer with more posts. Whereas when it was by post, in a day, you might have to answer how many letters. And now with emails, you have to answer much more.
It's because we've chosen subsidising technology and subsidising speed, which is linked to unemployment.
What project is your organisation working on right now?
We are working on a film called,"Economics of Happiness", which should be ready in about two months.I've worked on it for more than four years, and I've tried to get people from every continent -Africa, South America, North America, Europe, China,India, Thailand - to basically spell out that the globalisation of consumer culture is creating too much unhappiness in the world, and that localising would solve most of these problems. Localising needs to be pursued with an international and collaborative mindset. It's not about isolation. It's not about no travel, no trade. We actually need more deep,deep dialogue between the North and the South. And we need it now more than ever before.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Mong gets third place in new event
Mong Thongdee, the stateless boy representing Thailand at the Japanese paper airplane contest, has captured third place in the individual event.
It was the second achievement in two days for the boy. On Saturday, Mong,12, and his three-member Thai team won the group competition.
Contestants quickly fold their planes,then throw them into the air.
Mong won a national paper airplane championship in Thailand in August 2008 after he threw a plane that flew for 12 seconds, and was later chosen to attend the Japanese contest in Chiba,near Tokyo.
But Mong, who lives in Chiang Mai,is the son of Burmese migrants who are stateless and so have no legal right to travel abroad.
His first application to leave Thailand was denied, but after media coverage of his plight the government granted him a temporary passport.
Mong yesterday appeared in a white T-shirt decorated with the Thai flag, whipping his carefully folded airplanes high into the air during the competition in front of hundreds of spectators.
He placed third in the division for elementary school students with a time of 10.53 seconds.
After the event he said he wanted his family back home to know he won third place, and that he was grateful to the people who supported him.
It was the second achievement in two days for the boy. On Saturday, Mong,12, and his three-member Thai team won the group competition.
Contestants quickly fold their planes,then throw them into the air.
Mong won a national paper airplane championship in Thailand in August 2008 after he threw a plane that flew for 12 seconds, and was later chosen to attend the Japanese contest in Chiba,near Tokyo.
But Mong, who lives in Chiang Mai,is the son of Burmese migrants who are stateless and so have no legal right to travel abroad.
His first application to leave Thailand was denied, but after media coverage of his plight the government granted him a temporary passport.
Mong yesterday appeared in a white T-shirt decorated with the Thai flag, whipping his carefully folded airplanes high into the air during the competition in front of hundreds of spectators.
He placed third in the division for elementary school students with a time of 10.53 seconds.
After the event he said he wanted his family back home to know he won third place, and that he was grateful to the people who supported him.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Efforts to regulate jet skis to be stepped up
Authorities are stepping up efforts to regulate jet ski operators following alleged scams involving extortion of foreigners over damage to jet skis on Phuket and other incidents.
Phuket officials, jet ski operators and representatives of insurance companies yesterday met to discuss measures to promote tourism in the resort island and to bring jet ski operations into the insurance system to prevent possible extortion of foreigners.
The move came after the recent distribution of video recordings featuring foreign tourists allegedly being ripped off over damage to jet skis on Phuket and other incidents.
Phuket deputy governor Samith Palwatwichai said a committee will be set up to look at the possibility of having all jet skis in the province insured.
Mr Samith said local authorities, insurers and jet ski operators will meet again on Wednesday to thrash out the details of insurance premiums for jet skis.
A total of 219 jet skis are available for rent on Surin, Bangtao, Kamala, Patong and Kata-Karon beaches.
Mr Samith said the provincial marine office had been asked to survey and register jet ski operators in the province.
The deputy governor said operators will be asked to stop overcharging and extorting tourists or demanding exorbitant compensation for minor damage to jet skis.
Suvimol sae Lim, director of the Phuket insurance commission office, said Phuket should serve as a trail-blazer in jet ski insurance as so far no insurers had ever provided coverage for jet ski operators in the country.
She said if jet ski insurance was introduced in the province, this would help sort out problems involving the extortion of foreigners over damage.
Tourists who rented jet skis would feel confident they would not be taken advantage of, Ms Suvimol said.
"If Phuket is successful, it will serve as an example for other provinces which has jet ski operators," she said.
Ms Suvimol said initially proposed insurance packages would cover damage to jet skis, insure against loss of income due to the damage to jet skis and provide coverage to tourists renting them.
So far only the Bangkok Insurance company has offered to provide cover for jet skis in Phuket, Ms Suvimol said.
Anusorn Sa-re, head of the Phuket association of jet ski operators, said he agreed with the proposal and said the insurance premium must be acceptable to operators. He said operators can only earn income between December and May. They could not make money during the remainder of the year as it is the monsoon season.
Recently, video clips have been distributed showing a female British tourist being arrested for marijuana possession at a full moon party on Koh Phangan and a British marine and a US marine being threatened to pay exorbitant compensation for damage to rented jet skis on Phuket in separate incidents.
Phuket officials, jet ski operators and representatives of insurance companies yesterday met to discuss measures to promote tourism in the resort island and to bring jet ski operations into the insurance system to prevent possible extortion of foreigners.
The move came after the recent distribution of video recordings featuring foreign tourists allegedly being ripped off over damage to jet skis on Phuket and other incidents.
Phuket deputy governor Samith Palwatwichai said a committee will be set up to look at the possibility of having all jet skis in the province insured.
Mr Samith said local authorities, insurers and jet ski operators will meet again on Wednesday to thrash out the details of insurance premiums for jet skis.
A total of 219 jet skis are available for rent on Surin, Bangtao, Kamala, Patong and Kata-Karon beaches.
Mr Samith said the provincial marine office had been asked to survey and register jet ski operators in the province.
The deputy governor said operators will be asked to stop overcharging and extorting tourists or demanding exorbitant compensation for minor damage to jet skis.
Suvimol sae Lim, director of the Phuket insurance commission office, said Phuket should serve as a trail-blazer in jet ski insurance as so far no insurers had ever provided coverage for jet ski operators in the country.
She said if jet ski insurance was introduced in the province, this would help sort out problems involving the extortion of foreigners over damage.
Tourists who rented jet skis would feel confident they would not be taken advantage of, Ms Suvimol said.
"If Phuket is successful, it will serve as an example for other provinces which has jet ski operators," she said.
Ms Suvimol said initially proposed insurance packages would cover damage to jet skis, insure against loss of income due to the damage to jet skis and provide coverage to tourists renting them.
So far only the Bangkok Insurance company has offered to provide cover for jet skis in Phuket, Ms Suvimol said.
Anusorn Sa-re, head of the Phuket association of jet ski operators, said he agreed with the proposal and said the insurance premium must be acceptable to operators. He said operators can only earn income between December and May. They could not make money during the remainder of the year as it is the monsoon season.
Recently, video clips have been distributed showing a female British tourist being arrested for marijuana possession at a full moon party on Koh Phangan and a British marine and a US marine being threatened to pay exorbitant compensation for damage to rented jet skis on Phuket in separate incidents.
POLICE TO ENLIST 1,000 INFORMERS
Police are enlisting 1,000 residents to help them fight crime.
Wichai Sangprapai, chief of the city police unit, said the Sai Lub Phan Na (Spies With A Thousand Faces) project encourages residents to play an active part in cracking down on crime in their communities.
One thousand volunteers have been recruited from 140 communities in areas under the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Police Division 1, which supervises Government House, parliament, Ratchadamnoen Avenue, Sam Sen, Phaya Thai, and Huai Khwang. The project was launched yesterday.
The Office of the Narcotics Control Board has allocated 420,000 baht to train the volunteers to work as police informants. Pol Maj Gen Wichai said they will be rewarded for their efforts.
Wichai Sangprapai, chief of the city police unit, said the Sai Lub Phan Na (Spies With A Thousand Faces) project encourages residents to play an active part in cracking down on crime in their communities.
One thousand volunteers have been recruited from 140 communities in areas under the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Police Division 1, which supervises Government House, parliament, Ratchadamnoen Avenue, Sam Sen, Phaya Thai, and Huai Khwang. The project was launched yesterday.
The Office of the Narcotics Control Board has allocated 420,000 baht to train the volunteers to work as police informants. Pol Maj Gen Wichai said they will be rewarded for their efforts.
Mong lands gold in team event
Mong Thongdee, a stateless child from Chiang Mai province representing Thailand in an international paper airplane flying contest in Japan, yesterday emerged the champion in the team event.
MONG GOES FOR GOLD: Mong Thongdee prepares to throw his paper plane in Japan yesterday.
The 12-year-old boy was part of a three-man team which included two adults at the All-Japan Origami Airplane competition being held at the Makuhari Complex in Chiba, Japan, according to Japanese newspaper Mainichi.
Mong's paper plane stayed in the air for 11 seconds, which was good enough for victory, but not good enough to break the record of 12.50 seconds set last year.
Mong was wearing a yellow shirt and a pair of jeans when he made his throw.
After the team victory, in which only the best throw is counted out of the three throws, he smiled and shook hands with members of the rival teams.
Mong said he wanted to thank all the people who supported him and said he would tell his parents he was proud to have represented Thailand and won.
He will be competing Sunday in the individual event.
Mong is a Prathom 4 (grade 4) student at the Ban Huay Sai School in Chiang Mai province.
Mong almost didn't make it to Japan for the competition as he is a stateless person in Thailand - his parents are Burmese - and he has no ID card and didn't qualify for a Thai passport.
But after the story of his plight first broke in the Bangkok Post Sunday, senior government officials stepped in.
Mong was then given the all-clear to travel to Japan after PM Abhisit Vejjajiva stepped in. A certificate and temporary passport were issued to the boy, allowing him to travel to Japan.
MONG GOES FOR GOLD: Mong Thongdee prepares to throw his paper plane in Japan yesterday.
The 12-year-old boy was part of a three-man team which included two adults at the All-Japan Origami Airplane competition being held at the Makuhari Complex in Chiba, Japan, according to Japanese newspaper Mainichi.
Mong's paper plane stayed in the air for 11 seconds, which was good enough for victory, but not good enough to break the record of 12.50 seconds set last year.
Mong was wearing a yellow shirt and a pair of jeans when he made his throw.
After the team victory, in which only the best throw is counted out of the three throws, he smiled and shook hands with members of the rival teams.
Mong said he wanted to thank all the people who supported him and said he would tell his parents he was proud to have represented Thailand and won.
He will be competing Sunday in the individual event.
Mong is a Prathom 4 (grade 4) student at the Ban Huay Sai School in Chiang Mai province.
Mong almost didn't make it to Japan for the competition as he is a stateless person in Thailand - his parents are Burmese - and he has no ID card and didn't qualify for a Thai passport.
But after the story of his plight first broke in the Bangkok Post Sunday, senior government officials stepped in.
Mong was then given the all-clear to travel to Japan after PM Abhisit Vejjajiva stepped in. A certificate and temporary passport were issued to the boy, allowing him to travel to Japan.
17 injured in clash near Preah Vihear
Seventeen people were injured yesterday as thousands of protesters from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) clashed with local residents who live near Preah Vihear temple.
A protester from Chachoengsao, Phongsak Ritthichaikul, was hit in the right eye by a stone, while villager Prasert Piewkhao suffered facial injuries after being beaten up.
Teenagers armed with sticks and slingshots attacked the yellow shirts as they marched through their village to Preah Vihear.
Local villagers opposed the PAD protest, as they feared it could spark a war with Cambodia. The villagers have already suffered from the temple being closed, which has cost them income from the lack of tourists. Access to their farms has also been blocked by the military since last year.
The villagers were a similar mob to one that clashed with the PAD in July last year when yellow shirts rallied at the site to oppose the site being nominated for World Heritage listing.
However, thousands of PAD protesters led by Veera Somkwamkid managed to break the police and villagers' barricades in Si Sa Ket's Ban Phumsarol to reach the gate of Pha Mor Ee Daeng, next to Preah Vihear temple.
Veera said the villagers were misinformed about the PAD mission.
"We have come here to demand the removal of Cambodians from the disputed 4.6-square-kilometre area," he told reporters after the clash.
The PAD just wanted to enter Pha Mor Ee Daeng to read out their statement. However, they would stay put if the Abhisit government made no clear proposals to evict the Cambodians, he warned.
Si Sa Ket provincial governor Rapee Phongpuphakit had lengthy negotiations with Veera but failed to get the protesters to leave the site.
PAD coordinator Suriyasai Katasila yesterday called on the government to ensure safety of the protesters and prevent future clashes with local residents.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, in Bangkok, said he did not understand the PAD's intent. "I don't understand what is the purpose behind their protest," he told reporters.
The government had tried to brief the Cambodian government about the PAD protest and begged Phnom Penh to understand the situation to prevent a military clash, he said.
Second Army Region Commander Wiboonsak Neeparn said the protesters would not be allowed to get into Preah Vihear and the disputed area.
The most they would be allowed to do was for some representatives to read a statement at Pha Mor Ee Daeng.
A protester from Chachoengsao, Phongsak Ritthichaikul, was hit in the right eye by a stone, while villager Prasert Piewkhao suffered facial injuries after being beaten up.
Teenagers armed with sticks and slingshots attacked the yellow shirts as they marched through their village to Preah Vihear.
Local villagers opposed the PAD protest, as they feared it could spark a war with Cambodia. The villagers have already suffered from the temple being closed, which has cost them income from the lack of tourists. Access to their farms has also been blocked by the military since last year.
The villagers were a similar mob to one that clashed with the PAD in July last year when yellow shirts rallied at the site to oppose the site being nominated for World Heritage listing.
However, thousands of PAD protesters led by Veera Somkwamkid managed to break the police and villagers' barricades in Si Sa Ket's Ban Phumsarol to reach the gate of Pha Mor Ee Daeng, next to Preah Vihear temple.
Veera said the villagers were misinformed about the PAD mission.
"We have come here to demand the removal of Cambodians from the disputed 4.6-square-kilometre area," he told reporters after the clash.
The PAD just wanted to enter Pha Mor Ee Daeng to read out their statement. However, they would stay put if the Abhisit government made no clear proposals to evict the Cambodians, he warned.
Si Sa Ket provincial governor Rapee Phongpuphakit had lengthy negotiations with Veera but failed to get the protesters to leave the site.
PAD coordinator Suriyasai Katasila yesterday called on the government to ensure safety of the protesters and prevent future clashes with local residents.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, in Bangkok, said he did not understand the PAD's intent. "I don't understand what is the purpose behind their protest," he told reporters.
The government had tried to brief the Cambodian government about the PAD protest and begged Phnom Penh to understand the situation to prevent a military clash, he said.
Second Army Region Commander Wiboonsak Neeparn said the protesters would not be allowed to get into Preah Vihear and the disputed area.
The most they would be allowed to do was for some representatives to read a statement at Pha Mor Ee Daeng.
Friday, September 18, 2009
BEADS OF LASTING HERITAGE AND PRIDE
The sky was still dark when Captain Boonyarit Chaisuwan, an archaeologist of the Phuketbased 15th Fine Arts Office, readied himself for another mission. His destination: Ban Dan School, in Kapoe district, Ranong province.The archaeologist was to meet with a group of 40 students and teachers from the school who took part in a heritage conservation project in which participants attended archaeological workshops, as well as an excavation process.
The project is the brainchild of Capt Boonyarit in a bid to promote conservation awareness in communities close to key archeological sites on the Andaman coast of southern Thailand. Ban Dan School and Wat Pathum Tararam were chosen because of their rice heritage, he said.
The archaeologist said the project, which ended earlier this month, was to serve as a model for conservation awareness campaigns.
"Bead hunting has become rampant in the area and we need to do something about it," he said, adding that his project was only an initial, but crucial, step to protect the local heritage since crackdown alone was not enough.
The archaeologist noted that the bead hunters turned to Kapoe and other archeological areas, including Phu Khao Thong village in Ranong's Suk Samran district,because they had already exhausted most of the resources at Kuan Lukpad in Krabi's Khlong Thom district.
Kuan Lukpad, which literally means "Hill of Beads",was well-known for its various types of beads, in particular,the face bead or the so-called "Suriya Dev" and Roman carnelian intaglio, featuring Peseus holding the head of Medusa. The craze for beads led to widespread illegal bead hunting over the past 30 years. Since every square metre had been scoured by local villagers who made a fortune selling beads to collectors, it is believed that there were no ancient beads left in the area and the "Hill of Beads" is just one on the list.
"The Kuan Lukpad phenomenon is a precious lesson for every community with archaic artefacts," said Capt Boonyarit, stressing that he didn't want other areas to ever repeat the same mistake.
That prompted him to launch the first project at Phu Khao Thong village in 2006, which raised awareness among the local people and encouraged them to better safeguard their heritage.
In his article,Archaeology along the Andaman Coast ,which was recently presented at an international seminar on Thai-Malaysian Archaeology Joint Project, Capt Boonyarit pointed out that Phu Khao Thong is still largely unknown to scholars but is no less important to Kuan Lukpad.
Some 2,000 years ago, Kuan Lukpad and Phu Khao Thong were both once prosperous port cities and trading stations where people exchanged goods with foreigners from Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Europe along the so-called "Southern Silk Route".
More importantly, he noted that archaeological evidences, in particular, clumps of glass and stone, as well as unfinished beads that were found in drove, indicated that both cities were not just bead trading stations as previously believed by many Western scholars, but major bead-making sites of the region. Other exquisite findings at Phu Khao Thong archaeological sites included gold ornaments - also in large amounts - from the Middle East; carnelian triratana beads, a symbol of Buddhism;and some Rouletted ware, a kind of pottery with a smooth surface. It was the first time that Rouletted ware (c.2nd century BC to 1st century AD) was discovered on Thailand's Andaman coast as this type of artefact was mostly found in Arikamedu, an archaeological site in India. It was also found in Java, Vietnam and Sri Lanka.
Capt Boonyarit said he believed that Phu Khao Thong beads were much sought-after items that were sent to other parts of the Malay peninsula and Southeast Asia,and said that more research is needed for this archaeological site. Phu Khao Thong and Kuan Lukpad eventually lost their importance as seaports between the 8th and 11th centuries AD.
"Excavation work has covered about 40 percent of the Phu Khao Thong area," he said. Yet he expressed great concern over the spawning bead hunting by local villagers - an illegal activity that caused extensive damage to the archaeological sites.
Capt Boonyarit conceded that even though the law stipulates that all unearthed antique items belong to the state and those who come across such items are required to give them up to the state, there exists many loopholes that make it very difficult for law enforcement authorities to deal properly with illegal treasure hunters.
"That is partially because beads are scattered in privatelyowned lands and the police are reluctant to take action since they recognise the private land ownership. This explains why illegal bead trading still continues today and we need cooperation from every party concerned to curb the illegal hunting."
But local villagers need to realise that bead trading is not a short-lived business, he said.
"They can probably pick 20 to 30,000 baht from selling beads. However, I have told them [the locals] that once the beads are all gone, there will be nothing left in the community. On the contrary, if they manage to keep the beads and other artefacts within their community, we can then develop it into a more sustainable way," he said.
To have that happen, the local community must take pride in their heritage and have the urge to safeguard it,insisted Capt Boonyarit, who recognises the potential of young students in promoting conservation awareness in their respective communities.
The heritage conservation project began with locating archeological study sites, he said.
"Focus is on the areas with traces of ancient human settlement. In the case of Kapoe, they are scattered around the school and the temple," he said, adding that it's important the designated areas remain "clean", which means areas that have never been searched by hunters in the past.
Students not only learn about conservation and the archeologist's work process as they help him excavate the archaeological pits, they also learn to treasure and value the artefacts they unearth.
Capt Boonyarit said he encourages the students to attach importance to all types of artefacts that are found during an excavation, while most hunters only go after beads."We are different as we keep and study all the artefacts that we come across in order to learn more about ancient human settlement," he said.
And the excavation at Ban Dan produced huge finds - gold beads, remnants of tripod pottery, the first time ever that such ancient items have been found, dated about two to 3,000 years, were found in the lowland southern region.
"The pottery, normally found in caves, helps us determine the time when the ancient people settled in the area," he said.
Capt Boonyarit expressed confidence that both Phu Khao Thong and Ban Dan, with exquisite heritage, have the potential to be developed as a learning centre and a tourist attraction in the long run.
He said if the local community is ready, then it could eventually have its own folk museum to showcase its heritage with pride.
"In fact, things go well at Phu Khao Thong village as people take part in bead-making workshops and Phu Khao Thong beads have become well-known in the market since people enjoy the extra income," he said.
It is his hope that Phu Khao Thong will eventually restore traditional heating methods in bead-making, using old-style kiln, as to add uniqueness to their final products.
When asked about his next project site, Capt Boonyarit said he may probably go back to Kapoe district.
"There is a whole lot more to search in that area," he said.
The project is the brainchild of Capt Boonyarit in a bid to promote conservation awareness in communities close to key archeological sites on the Andaman coast of southern Thailand. Ban Dan School and Wat Pathum Tararam were chosen because of their rice heritage, he said.
The archaeologist said the project, which ended earlier this month, was to serve as a model for conservation awareness campaigns.
"Bead hunting has become rampant in the area and we need to do something about it," he said, adding that his project was only an initial, but crucial, step to protect the local heritage since crackdown alone was not enough.
The archaeologist noted that the bead hunters turned to Kapoe and other archeological areas, including Phu Khao Thong village in Ranong's Suk Samran district,because they had already exhausted most of the resources at Kuan Lukpad in Krabi's Khlong Thom district.
Kuan Lukpad, which literally means "Hill of Beads",was well-known for its various types of beads, in particular,the face bead or the so-called "Suriya Dev" and Roman carnelian intaglio, featuring Peseus holding the head of Medusa. The craze for beads led to widespread illegal bead hunting over the past 30 years. Since every square metre had been scoured by local villagers who made a fortune selling beads to collectors, it is believed that there were no ancient beads left in the area and the "Hill of Beads" is just one on the list.
"The Kuan Lukpad phenomenon is a precious lesson for every community with archaic artefacts," said Capt Boonyarit, stressing that he didn't want other areas to ever repeat the same mistake.
That prompted him to launch the first project at Phu Khao Thong village in 2006, which raised awareness among the local people and encouraged them to better safeguard their heritage.
In his article,Archaeology along the Andaman Coast ,which was recently presented at an international seminar on Thai-Malaysian Archaeology Joint Project, Capt Boonyarit pointed out that Phu Khao Thong is still largely unknown to scholars but is no less important to Kuan Lukpad.
Some 2,000 years ago, Kuan Lukpad and Phu Khao Thong were both once prosperous port cities and trading stations where people exchanged goods with foreigners from Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Europe along the so-called "Southern Silk Route".
More importantly, he noted that archaeological evidences, in particular, clumps of glass and stone, as well as unfinished beads that were found in drove, indicated that both cities were not just bead trading stations as previously believed by many Western scholars, but major bead-making sites of the region. Other exquisite findings at Phu Khao Thong archaeological sites included gold ornaments - also in large amounts - from the Middle East; carnelian triratana beads, a symbol of Buddhism;and some Rouletted ware, a kind of pottery with a smooth surface. It was the first time that Rouletted ware (c.2nd century BC to 1st century AD) was discovered on Thailand's Andaman coast as this type of artefact was mostly found in Arikamedu, an archaeological site in India. It was also found in Java, Vietnam and Sri Lanka.
Capt Boonyarit said he believed that Phu Khao Thong beads were much sought-after items that were sent to other parts of the Malay peninsula and Southeast Asia,and said that more research is needed for this archaeological site. Phu Khao Thong and Kuan Lukpad eventually lost their importance as seaports between the 8th and 11th centuries AD.
"Excavation work has covered about 40 percent of the Phu Khao Thong area," he said. Yet he expressed great concern over the spawning bead hunting by local villagers - an illegal activity that caused extensive damage to the archaeological sites.
Capt Boonyarit conceded that even though the law stipulates that all unearthed antique items belong to the state and those who come across such items are required to give them up to the state, there exists many loopholes that make it very difficult for law enforcement authorities to deal properly with illegal treasure hunters.
"That is partially because beads are scattered in privatelyowned lands and the police are reluctant to take action since they recognise the private land ownership. This explains why illegal bead trading still continues today and we need cooperation from every party concerned to curb the illegal hunting."
But local villagers need to realise that bead trading is not a short-lived business, he said.
"They can probably pick 20 to 30,000 baht from selling beads. However, I have told them [the locals] that once the beads are all gone, there will be nothing left in the community. On the contrary, if they manage to keep the beads and other artefacts within their community, we can then develop it into a more sustainable way," he said.
To have that happen, the local community must take pride in their heritage and have the urge to safeguard it,insisted Capt Boonyarit, who recognises the potential of young students in promoting conservation awareness in their respective communities.
The heritage conservation project began with locating archeological study sites, he said.
"Focus is on the areas with traces of ancient human settlement. In the case of Kapoe, they are scattered around the school and the temple," he said, adding that it's important the designated areas remain "clean", which means areas that have never been searched by hunters in the past.
Students not only learn about conservation and the archeologist's work process as they help him excavate the archaeological pits, they also learn to treasure and value the artefacts they unearth.
Capt Boonyarit said he encourages the students to attach importance to all types of artefacts that are found during an excavation, while most hunters only go after beads."We are different as we keep and study all the artefacts that we come across in order to learn more about ancient human settlement," he said.
And the excavation at Ban Dan produced huge finds - gold beads, remnants of tripod pottery, the first time ever that such ancient items have been found, dated about two to 3,000 years, were found in the lowland southern region.
"The pottery, normally found in caves, helps us determine the time when the ancient people settled in the area," he said.
Capt Boonyarit expressed confidence that both Phu Khao Thong and Ban Dan, with exquisite heritage, have the potential to be developed as a learning centre and a tourist attraction in the long run.
He said if the local community is ready, then it could eventually have its own folk museum to showcase its heritage with pride.
"In fact, things go well at Phu Khao Thong village as people take part in bead-making workshops and Phu Khao Thong beads have become well-known in the market since people enjoy the extra income," he said.
It is his hope that Phu Khao Thong will eventually restore traditional heating methods in bead-making, using old-style kiln, as to add uniqueness to their final products.
When asked about his next project site, Capt Boonyarit said he may probably go back to Kapoe district.
"There is a whole lot more to search in that area," he said.
Call to probe sand transfer to Singapore
A company's request to ship sand sediment to Singapore after dredging it needs more study, a local environmental group says.
The sediment could contain a high level of silica, which is protected under the law, the coordinator of the Andaman Organisation for Participatory Restoration of Natural Resources, Thanu Nabneon, said yesterday.
Singapore-based K and Sand Corp has offered to help the Tambon Bang Nai Sri Administrative Office in Phangnga's Takua Pa district clear sediment blocking the mouth of the Takua Pa River.
The company offered the service at no charge on the condition it was allowed to ship the sediment to Singapore, he said.
The firm could not be reached for comment but the Department of Mineral Resources confirmed the request had been made.
The sediment would be cleared from a site measuring 30 square kilometres and up to 11 metres deep, said Preecha Laochu, director of the Department of Mineral Resources' Geo-Technical Office.
Mr Thanu said the firm had asked a handful of state agencies for permission.
"The company claims the sediment has no value for industry and would not breach export regulations," Mr Thanu said.
"But if there is no economic value,why does the company offer to dredge it for free?
"We could lose over a million cubic metres of sediment, which could harm the coastline's ecological system.
"The area is an environment and natural resources protection zone, so an environment impact study is required for any activities which might harm the environment."
A Commerce Ministry regulation said sand containing over 75% silica oxide could not be exported.
The regulation was designed to preserve sand, which has economic value.Silica is a component used in making cement.
Mr Preecha said the Geo-Technical Office and the company planned to test the silicon level of the sediment.
"We have written to the company and the tambon office demanding a sediment sampling test. The department and company will share the cost," Mr Preecha said.
The sediment could contain a high level of silica, which is protected under the law, the coordinator of the Andaman Organisation for Participatory Restoration of Natural Resources, Thanu Nabneon, said yesterday.
Singapore-based K and Sand Corp has offered to help the Tambon Bang Nai Sri Administrative Office in Phangnga's Takua Pa district clear sediment blocking the mouth of the Takua Pa River.
The company offered the service at no charge on the condition it was allowed to ship the sediment to Singapore, he said.
The firm could not be reached for comment but the Department of Mineral Resources confirmed the request had been made.
The sediment would be cleared from a site measuring 30 square kilometres and up to 11 metres deep, said Preecha Laochu, director of the Department of Mineral Resources' Geo-Technical Office.
Mr Thanu said the firm had asked a handful of state agencies for permission.
"The company claims the sediment has no value for industry and would not breach export regulations," Mr Thanu said.
"But if there is no economic value,why does the company offer to dredge it for free?
"We could lose over a million cubic metres of sediment, which could harm the coastline's ecological system.
"The area is an environment and natural resources protection zone, so an environment impact study is required for any activities which might harm the environment."
A Commerce Ministry regulation said sand containing over 75% silica oxide could not be exported.
The regulation was designed to preserve sand, which has economic value.Silica is a component used in making cement.
Mr Preecha said the Geo-Technical Office and the company planned to test the silicon level of the sediment.
"We have written to the company and the tambon office demanding a sediment sampling test. The department and company will share the cost," Mr Preecha said.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
CRITICS SLAM GOVT'S 'CHEAP' POPULIST POLICY
The new government policy allowing the leasing of 1 million rai of state-owned land to farmers has met more criticism than praise from people who had their plots repossessed thanks to a 2001 Cabinet decision.
In a Bangkok seminar yesterday, critics - labelling the scheme as a populist policy - said the government was handing out stolen property instead of returning it to the rightful owners.
Prayong Phikulthong, an activist known for fighting for the poor, said the "Community Title Deeds" project was unacceptable and vowed to have villagers in Pathum Thani return the deeds they received earlier this month.
"Instead of returning the land to its rightful owners, this government has taken stolen assets and leased them cheaply to gain political benefits. This is unacceptable," Prayong said. He also called on farmers living in other parts of Pathum Thani, who will soon be given leases, to not accept them.
In 2001, Thaksin Shinawatra's first government issued a decree reclaiming 30 million rai of land held by farmers, who had legal claim over the plots since 1970.
Under the current government's "Community Title Deeds" project, about 1 million rai of state-owned land, which comes under the jurisdiction of the Treasury Department, will be leased to farmers or low-income earners at a low rate of Bt20 per rai per year. On September 3, a total of 1,182 farmers based in Pathum Thani received deeds and leasing rights on farmland covering 7,912 rai.
Sunee Chairos, a former Human Rights Commission member, said communities should be granted full authority to manage the project on a permanent basis instead of just 15 years under government supervision.
Panya Khongpan, chairman of the Farmer's Federations Association for Development Thailand, said he was planning to organise a rally of farmers in Nakhon Pathom to demand that they be allowed to manage title deeds and leases through cooperatives.
"Once the 15-year period is over and the land is returned to the Treasury Department, I believe these plots will definitely be transferred or sold to financiers," he added.
Assoc Prof Nualnoi Treerat, a Chulalongkorn University lecturer, said the project should be beneficial to the public, but clear guidelines on management policies were needed to prevent administrative and social headaches once the 15-year period is over.
In a Bangkok seminar yesterday, critics - labelling the scheme as a populist policy - said the government was handing out stolen property instead of returning it to the rightful owners.
Prayong Phikulthong, an activist known for fighting for the poor, said the "Community Title Deeds" project was unacceptable and vowed to have villagers in Pathum Thani return the deeds they received earlier this month.
"Instead of returning the land to its rightful owners, this government has taken stolen assets and leased them cheaply to gain political benefits. This is unacceptable," Prayong said. He also called on farmers living in other parts of Pathum Thani, who will soon be given leases, to not accept them.
In 2001, Thaksin Shinawatra's first government issued a decree reclaiming 30 million rai of land held by farmers, who had legal claim over the plots since 1970.
Under the current government's "Community Title Deeds" project, about 1 million rai of state-owned land, which comes under the jurisdiction of the Treasury Department, will be leased to farmers or low-income earners at a low rate of Bt20 per rai per year. On September 3, a total of 1,182 farmers based in Pathum Thani received deeds and leasing rights on farmland covering 7,912 rai.
Sunee Chairos, a former Human Rights Commission member, said communities should be granted full authority to manage the project on a permanent basis instead of just 15 years under government supervision.
Panya Khongpan, chairman of the Farmer's Federations Association for Development Thailand, said he was planning to organise a rally of farmers in Nakhon Pathom to demand that they be allowed to manage title deeds and leases through cooperatives.
"Once the 15-year period is over and the land is returned to the Treasury Department, I believe these plots will definitely be transferred or sold to financiers," he added.
Assoc Prof Nualnoi Treerat, a Chulalongkorn University lecturer, said the project should be beneficial to the public, but clear guidelines on management policies were needed to prevent administrative and social headaches once the 15-year period is over.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Proxy land holdings come under threat
Thais holding land on behalf of foreigners in breach of legal limits may lose title to the land, Phuket governor Wichai Praisa-ngob says.
Ownership of some parcels of land,thought to be in the hands of nominees of foreign investors, was expected to be revoked, Mr Wichai said yesterday as the province moves to enforce foreign ownership curbs.
Inquiries by the province had discovered at least "four to five landlords might need to have their title deeds cancelled", he said.
They were acting as nominees of foreigners trying to get around curbs on foreign land ownership.
Government help was needed to tackle the problem, he said.
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has asked land officials on the island to investigate 16 plots which they suspect are controlled by foreign businessmen through Thai proxies.
Most of the land, covering thousands of rai, is in tambon Rawai in Muang district.
The plots are owned by five property developers.
"We need to keep checking, but we can't root out the whole thing ourselves,"Mr Wichai said.
The Phuket land office has issued up to 130,000 land title deeds and is now examining 1,000 applications more.
Tambon Choeng Talay in Thalang district is also popular with development companies part-owned by foreigners.
Chief of Choeng Talay tambon administration organisation Manot Pancharat said he supported the province's attempt to get things right.
Land purchases had boomed in Phuket since last year after foreign investors became more interested in housing projects.
Among them are homestays, a type of lodging that provides tourists with an experience similar to that of Thai families.
Democrat MP for Phuket Chalermlak Kebsap said foreign businesses could exploit legal loopholes for their own interest, including tax avoidance.
However, he warned against too much scrutiny, saying it could affect legitimate development in Phuket.
Pol Lt Col Prawut Wongsinil, of the DSI, said a similar problem was occurring in Surat Thani province, where consultancies were giving foreigners advice on how to buy land and get around legal curbs.
Foreigners are suspected of colluding with Thai partners in land development projects which break foreign ownership limits, said the DSI, which is expanding its investigation to Samui island and other tourist provinces.
Ownership of some parcels of land,thought to be in the hands of nominees of foreign investors, was expected to be revoked, Mr Wichai said yesterday as the province moves to enforce foreign ownership curbs.
Inquiries by the province had discovered at least "four to five landlords might need to have their title deeds cancelled", he said.
They were acting as nominees of foreigners trying to get around curbs on foreign land ownership.
Government help was needed to tackle the problem, he said.
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has asked land officials on the island to investigate 16 plots which they suspect are controlled by foreign businessmen through Thai proxies.
Most of the land, covering thousands of rai, is in tambon Rawai in Muang district.
The plots are owned by five property developers.
"We need to keep checking, but we can't root out the whole thing ourselves,"Mr Wichai said.
The Phuket land office has issued up to 130,000 land title deeds and is now examining 1,000 applications more.
Tambon Choeng Talay in Thalang district is also popular with development companies part-owned by foreigners.
Chief of Choeng Talay tambon administration organisation Manot Pancharat said he supported the province's attempt to get things right.
Land purchases had boomed in Phuket since last year after foreign investors became more interested in housing projects.
Among them are homestays, a type of lodging that provides tourists with an experience similar to that of Thai families.
Democrat MP for Phuket Chalermlak Kebsap said foreign businesses could exploit legal loopholes for their own interest, including tax avoidance.
However, he warned against too much scrutiny, saying it could affect legitimate development in Phuket.
Pol Lt Col Prawut Wongsinil, of the DSI, said a similar problem was occurring in Surat Thani province, where consultancies were giving foreigners advice on how to buy land and get around legal curbs.
Foreigners are suspected of colluding with Thai partners in land development projects which break foreign ownership limits, said the DSI, which is expanding its investigation to Samui island and other tourist provinces.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
"Natural" fuels ignite power struggle
Villagers in many parts of the country are up in arms over proposed natural gas and biomass power plants in their communities By Tunya Sukpanich
"This project must stop," said Wanna Rodpitak, a member of the Chachoengsao Provincial Administration Organisation who has led the protest against a natural gas-fueled power plant in Bang Khla district,about 60 kilometres east of Bangkok. Protests against the proposed power plant on 500 rai of land in tambons Samed Nue and Samed Tai, with a generating capacity of 1,600 megawatts, have been ongoing for almost two years.
The scene is being repeated in many provinces with planned natural gas and biomass power plants, with determined protestors in Chiang Rai, Saraburi, Ubon Ratchathani, and Prachuab Khiri Khan among other places demanding the projects be terminated and refusing any compromise. In some areas locals are blocking roads or obstructing work on construction sites.
Mr Wanna insists that such protests represent the true voice of the communities which will be most affected by the plants. His group began their protest in early 2008 soon after learning of the project in their district.
They were not included in any decision to construct a power plant in their backyard,they say, and only became aware of the project after their suspicions were aroused that something was going on, as more and more land in the area was being bought up, and later large pipes were delivered to some of the sites.
More than 20,000 locals signed a petition requesting detailed information from every agency that might be involved, including the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Industry,the Office of the Parliament and provincial authorities
"We tried every method to make the authorities listen to our reasons why we do not want the power plant, but nothing happened.Finally, in July last year we blocked the road for three days," said Mr Wanna.
"After negotiations, a so-called tripartite committee and a sub-committee were set up to find a solution, but they never functioned,"he continued.
The locals worry that the plant might cause air pollution, but they are most concerned about the tremendous amount of water it will need for its operation from the Bang Pakong River."We know the plant will need 60,000 cubic metres of water per day for its system. Of that, half will evaporate into the air and another 20,000 cu m will be treated and released back into the river.
"What will happen in the dry season, what will happen to farmers? We need water too,"he said.
Water is also the reason for the locals'protest in Saraburi's Nong Saeng district,where another gas-fueled power plant is in the works. They are very disappointed that the plant's environment impact assessment (EIA) was recently approved by the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (Onep).
"Both the state authorities and the company involved want to deny us the right to protect our way of living as farmers. What is really ironic is that the power plant site is in a planned agricultural preservation zone in the province," said Tee Trairattanamanee, who along with two other villagers was recently arrested for obstructing work on the construction site.
Villagers have petitioned concerned authorities in an attempt to obstruct any work on the planned construction site, and have asked various organisations to help study the rich biodiversity of the area to establish its ecological value. This site too is part of a planned agricultural zone.
"We plant rice three or four times a year.Any project with the possibility of damaging our environment and the natural resources essential to farming should not be allowed,"said Mr Tee.
BENEFITS DOUBTED
Villagers in Chiang Rai, Phayao, Ubon Ratchathani and Prachuap Khiri Khan provinces are protesting proposed power plants fueled by biomass in the form of agricultural waste.
The government believes biomass is most suitable for Thailand because it is a renewable energy source, using rice husks, bagasse, coconut wastes, wood chips, animal dung and other agricultural waste as fuel.
A study from the Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency shows that each year about 13 million tonnes of bagasse, five million tonnes of rice husks,and 1.7 million tonnes of cassava roots are left as farm waste. The study says one MWhour of electricity can be produced by 14,100 tonnes of bagasse,9,800 tonnes of rice husks or 14,687 tonnes of cassava roots.
The government has been promoting biomass power plants among the private sector. At the present time,17 biomass power plants - most of which fall into the category of Very Small Power Producer (VSPP), referring to a generating capacity of not more than 10MW - using bagasse, cornstalks, woodchips, rice husk, and waste from palm trees sell electricity to the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT).
Most of the opposition against biomass power plants is based on the air pollution that results in burning the organic matter to create energy. As well, many locals are angry that they have been left out of the decisionmaking process.
Article 67 of the Constitution says that individuals and communities have the right to conserve, protect and to benefit from local natural resources and biodiversity, and prohibits any projects or activities which can cause serious negative impacts to the environment, natural resources and public health.The Constitution further states that if the authorities want to pursue a project with the potential to cause these negative impacts a comprehensive EIA must be conducted. This must include a public hearing process with the participation of locals and independent environmental and public health organisa-tions. Local communities can file a lawsuit against government agencies, local authorities or state enterprises if they do not follow the rules.
However, many small power plants avoid the EIA process because regulations state that plants with less than a 10MW capacity don't need to conduct an EIA. A number of power plants are proposed which will generate only 9.9MW.
Locals feel the rules are being manipulated to deny them participation in the process and they are distrustful of assurances from the government and the companies involved that environmental impacts will be minimal.They feel a thorough study is essential to ensuring the protection of their lifestyle and environment.
A planned biomass power plant which will use coconut waste as its energy source in Tap Sakae district of Prachuab Khiri Khan province has faced a strong protest from the locals,even though many will earn extra income from selling coconut waste to the plant. Initially the plan was for a 5MW capacity plant but this was changed to 9.6MW.
Locals are concerned about the possibility of air pollution, and, according to Anchulee Chumrum, of the Huay Yang conservation group, they also fear the plant might shift to other fuel sources such as coal if there is not enough coconut waste to supply it.
Villagers in Wiangchai and Wiang Chiangrung district of Chiang Rai province are protesting against a planned rice husk-fueled power plant with a capacity of 9.4MW. The company involved, Palang Gharn Sa-ad Dee 2, is in the process of preparing a suit to be filed at the Administrative Court to allow it to construct the plant as soon as possible.
A representative of Palang Gharn Sa-ad Dee 2 said the company has done everything according to the law and regulations. He said that the operation of rice husk-fueled power plants in Surin and Pichit provinces, run by other companies, has proved that they are friendly to the environment, and pointed out that promoting biomass power plants is government policy. He called on the government to take an active role in solving the widespread and ongoing protests which threaten the industry.
Protests have halted the development of even plants much smaller than the 10MW limit, such as a planned plant with a capacity of 1.8MW in Tambon Mae Na Rue of Phayao province. Last year, a proposed 9.6MW biomass power plant in Dok Kham Tai in Phayao was also called off because of strong protest from the locals.
Deunnapa Panyawong, of the Mae Na Rue conservation group, said that the tambon administration organisation (TAO) and villagers turned down the smaller project because it is located close the community,and the local school. She pointed out that without the proper system and management even a small plant can cause significant pollution.
She questioned if the company had studied the local farm production before they came up with the scheme. The plant was supposed to use rice husks and cornstalks as fuel.
"This is doubtful because there is no rice mill in the area since we don't plant much rice here," she said.
Ms Deunnapa added that many locals fear that lignite coal might be used as fuel, especially as the mines that supply the Mae Moh lignite power plant in nearby Lampang province are in the vicinity of Mae Na Rue.
Meanwhile, some plant operators are apparently concerned that the government's promotion of biomass power plants will result in a problem in fuel supply. One operator told Spectrum that with high competition from both Thai and foreign investors, farm biomass will be much more expensive.
NOT IN MY BACKYARD: The past decades of reckless energy management in Thailand have resulted in widespread suspicions and protests whenever a new power plant is proposed.
ACTIVIST: Wanna Rodpitak has led the protest against the power plant in Bang Khla district of Chachoengsao province for almost two years
OPPOSED: Left, Tee Trairattanamanee is leading the protest against the power plant in Saraburi province.
"This project must stop," said Wanna Rodpitak, a member of the Chachoengsao Provincial Administration Organisation who has led the protest against a natural gas-fueled power plant in Bang Khla district,about 60 kilometres east of Bangkok. Protests against the proposed power plant on 500 rai of land in tambons Samed Nue and Samed Tai, with a generating capacity of 1,600 megawatts, have been ongoing for almost two years.
The scene is being repeated in many provinces with planned natural gas and biomass power plants, with determined protestors in Chiang Rai, Saraburi, Ubon Ratchathani, and Prachuab Khiri Khan among other places demanding the projects be terminated and refusing any compromise. In some areas locals are blocking roads or obstructing work on construction sites.
Mr Wanna insists that such protests represent the true voice of the communities which will be most affected by the plants. His group began their protest in early 2008 soon after learning of the project in their district.
They were not included in any decision to construct a power plant in their backyard,they say, and only became aware of the project after their suspicions were aroused that something was going on, as more and more land in the area was being bought up, and later large pipes were delivered to some of the sites.
More than 20,000 locals signed a petition requesting detailed information from every agency that might be involved, including the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Industry,the Office of the Parliament and provincial authorities
"We tried every method to make the authorities listen to our reasons why we do not want the power plant, but nothing happened.Finally, in July last year we blocked the road for three days," said Mr Wanna.
"After negotiations, a so-called tripartite committee and a sub-committee were set up to find a solution, but they never functioned,"he continued.
The locals worry that the plant might cause air pollution, but they are most concerned about the tremendous amount of water it will need for its operation from the Bang Pakong River."We know the plant will need 60,000 cubic metres of water per day for its system. Of that, half will evaporate into the air and another 20,000 cu m will be treated and released back into the river.
"What will happen in the dry season, what will happen to farmers? We need water too,"he said.
Water is also the reason for the locals'protest in Saraburi's Nong Saeng district,where another gas-fueled power plant is in the works. They are very disappointed that the plant's environment impact assessment (EIA) was recently approved by the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (Onep).
"Both the state authorities and the company involved want to deny us the right to protect our way of living as farmers. What is really ironic is that the power plant site is in a planned agricultural preservation zone in the province," said Tee Trairattanamanee, who along with two other villagers was recently arrested for obstructing work on the construction site.
Villagers have petitioned concerned authorities in an attempt to obstruct any work on the planned construction site, and have asked various organisations to help study the rich biodiversity of the area to establish its ecological value. This site too is part of a planned agricultural zone.
"We plant rice three or four times a year.Any project with the possibility of damaging our environment and the natural resources essential to farming should not be allowed,"said Mr Tee.
BENEFITS DOUBTED
Villagers in Chiang Rai, Phayao, Ubon Ratchathani and Prachuap Khiri Khan provinces are protesting proposed power plants fueled by biomass in the form of agricultural waste.
The government believes biomass is most suitable for Thailand because it is a renewable energy source, using rice husks, bagasse, coconut wastes, wood chips, animal dung and other agricultural waste as fuel.
A study from the Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency shows that each year about 13 million tonnes of bagasse, five million tonnes of rice husks,and 1.7 million tonnes of cassava roots are left as farm waste. The study says one MWhour of electricity can be produced by 14,100 tonnes of bagasse,9,800 tonnes of rice husks or 14,687 tonnes of cassava roots.
The government has been promoting biomass power plants among the private sector. At the present time,17 biomass power plants - most of which fall into the category of Very Small Power Producer (VSPP), referring to a generating capacity of not more than 10MW - using bagasse, cornstalks, woodchips, rice husk, and waste from palm trees sell electricity to the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT).
Most of the opposition against biomass power plants is based on the air pollution that results in burning the organic matter to create energy. As well, many locals are angry that they have been left out of the decisionmaking process.
Article 67 of the Constitution says that individuals and communities have the right to conserve, protect and to benefit from local natural resources and biodiversity, and prohibits any projects or activities which can cause serious negative impacts to the environment, natural resources and public health.The Constitution further states that if the authorities want to pursue a project with the potential to cause these negative impacts a comprehensive EIA must be conducted. This must include a public hearing process with the participation of locals and independent environmental and public health organisa-tions. Local communities can file a lawsuit against government agencies, local authorities or state enterprises if they do not follow the rules.
However, many small power plants avoid the EIA process because regulations state that plants with less than a 10MW capacity don't need to conduct an EIA. A number of power plants are proposed which will generate only 9.9MW.
Locals feel the rules are being manipulated to deny them participation in the process and they are distrustful of assurances from the government and the companies involved that environmental impacts will be minimal.They feel a thorough study is essential to ensuring the protection of their lifestyle and environment.
A planned biomass power plant which will use coconut waste as its energy source in Tap Sakae district of Prachuab Khiri Khan province has faced a strong protest from the locals,even though many will earn extra income from selling coconut waste to the plant. Initially the plan was for a 5MW capacity plant but this was changed to 9.6MW.
Locals are concerned about the possibility of air pollution, and, according to Anchulee Chumrum, of the Huay Yang conservation group, they also fear the plant might shift to other fuel sources such as coal if there is not enough coconut waste to supply it.
Villagers in Wiangchai and Wiang Chiangrung district of Chiang Rai province are protesting against a planned rice husk-fueled power plant with a capacity of 9.4MW. The company involved, Palang Gharn Sa-ad Dee 2, is in the process of preparing a suit to be filed at the Administrative Court to allow it to construct the plant as soon as possible.
A representative of Palang Gharn Sa-ad Dee 2 said the company has done everything according to the law and regulations. He said that the operation of rice husk-fueled power plants in Surin and Pichit provinces, run by other companies, has proved that they are friendly to the environment, and pointed out that promoting biomass power plants is government policy. He called on the government to take an active role in solving the widespread and ongoing protests which threaten the industry.
Protests have halted the development of even plants much smaller than the 10MW limit, such as a planned plant with a capacity of 1.8MW in Tambon Mae Na Rue of Phayao province. Last year, a proposed 9.6MW biomass power plant in Dok Kham Tai in Phayao was also called off because of strong protest from the locals.
Deunnapa Panyawong, of the Mae Na Rue conservation group, said that the tambon administration organisation (TAO) and villagers turned down the smaller project because it is located close the community,and the local school. She pointed out that without the proper system and management even a small plant can cause significant pollution.
She questioned if the company had studied the local farm production before they came up with the scheme. The plant was supposed to use rice husks and cornstalks as fuel.
"This is doubtful because there is no rice mill in the area since we don't plant much rice here," she said.
Ms Deunnapa added that many locals fear that lignite coal might be used as fuel, especially as the mines that supply the Mae Moh lignite power plant in nearby Lampang province are in the vicinity of Mae Na Rue.
Meanwhile, some plant operators are apparently concerned that the government's promotion of biomass power plants will result in a problem in fuel supply. One operator told Spectrum that with high competition from both Thai and foreign investors, farm biomass will be much more expensive.
NOT IN MY BACKYARD: The past decades of reckless energy management in Thailand have resulted in widespread suspicions and protests whenever a new power plant is proposed.
ACTIVIST: Wanna Rodpitak has led the protest against the power plant in Bang Khla district of Chachoengsao province for almost two years
OPPOSED: Left, Tee Trairattanamanee is leading the protest against the power plant in Saraburi province.
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