It’s easy being green, state and activists say
Environmentalists say Thais need to look after their nation before it’s too late to salvage its plight, writes Apinya Wipatayotin
Thailand’s future to become an environmentally friendly country will not look bleak if all Thais care enough about protecting and preserving the environment, state officials and environmentalists say. They called on all stakeholders in society to help address the issue to raise public awareness about environmental protection — but they insist the government must make it a national agenda item.
Activists have expressed concerns about environmentalal protection after the country faced two major pollution issues recently that are raising alarm in the international community.
The first was the death of a pilot whale last Friday in Songkhla.
The ill whale died after eating 80 plastic bags weighing about eight kilogrammes. The whale suffered a a convulsion and vomited five plastic bags before it died. Officials from the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources spotted it on May 28 in Na Thap Canal in Chana district. It was unable to swim.
They used two boats to help float the whale and put up a sun-shade to protect it. They took turns caring for the whale around the clock but were unable to save it.
CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL REFORM COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
The second issue was the continued raids of several electronic waste recycling factories such as those in Chachoengsao, Bangkok, Samut Prakan and Ayutthaya. Authorities said the raids took place between late last month and early this month.
The raids followed complaints from residents who said the factories were suspected of smuggling electronic waste into the country and some of them were suspected of operating a recycling business without a licence.
Residents said polluted water came from these factories, affecting their health and livelihoods. They urged authorities and the Prayut Chan-o-cha government to solve the problem.
Shortly after the coup on May 22, 2014 the government formed 11 national reform panels to deal with 11 main problems of the country — one of them was the issue of natural resources and environment.
The national reform panel on natural resources and environment has finished drafting a 522-page plan which will become a guideline for authorities to make Thailand an environmentally friendly country and ensure sustainability for the country and encourage people’s participation in protecting the environment.
Under the plan which will be implemented between 2018 and 2022, it requires a budget of 28.58 billion baht.
Royol Chitradon, chairman of the national reform committee on natural resources and environment, said he is confident the plan will help shape the country up with a new aspect of green environment.
He said it will happen with good cooperation from all stakeholders.
“The plan is drafted under the great support from all agencies involved, especially representatives from the state sector. So, we’re confident all of the measures mentioned in the plan will let the country move into a right direction on clean environment,’’ he said.
Mr Royol admitted that the problem of waste is a “challenging issue” and needs to be solved as urgently as possible.
He said according to the five-year plan on the protection of natural resources and environment, one measure is to increase waste management capacity by having a proper waste management by 70% in the next five years, compared with 43% at the current level.
He said another measure is to increase capacity on electronic waste management by 30%, including an introduction of law enforcement on the electronic waste management.
“We need cooperation and support from all stakeholders in the society especially from those from the local administrative organisations to help drive up the plan. Without them, the plan will face a lot of obstacles,’’ he said.
However, Penchome Sae-tang, director of Ecological Alert and Recovery Thailand, thinks differently.
Ms Penchome said the national reform plan on natural resources and environment is hard to gain success as the plan was carried out under on old practices and concepts.
‘‘I have seen nothing to be considered as reform. Measures mentioned by the plan is not different from the state agency’s job descriptions to do,” she said.
‘‘But the problem is it has never translated them into active actions. And I am quite confident that the plan will move nowhere.
‘‘Reform on the environment will not happen if the situation has not yet reached the deepest bottom. It means we will keep seeing a poorer environment, caused by the government’s industrial investment policy to facilitate economic growth.’’
Ms Penchome was referring to the government’s Eastern Economic Corridor policy, in which advanced and green technology will be used for industrial activity in a bid to limit impacts on health and environment.
But the definition of “green technology” is still her main question.
She said that green technology at the time being could not be able to reduce waste at the manufacturing process.
Produced waste is transformed into other forms of what the government regards as useful materials, despite the fact that those products are contaminated with pollutant substances, she said.
She said the government is reluctant to issue an environment law that forces people to contribute less garbage to the country, including a tax collection on plastic bags and more.
Moreover, she added that the official’s ignorance on law enforcement will make the environment situation get worse, especially law enforcement on electronic waste.
She said the country is becoming the favorite destination for dropping electronic waste after China’s government refuses to accept it.
The police order to close illegal electronic waste management in Chachoengsao due to a charge of illegal imported electronic waste into the country proved to be a fact, she said.
Witoon Lianchamroon, director of Biothai, said the country will not be able to go to a green environment if the government doesn’t ban paraquat, a hazardous chemical that is already banned on more than 20 countries.
He said the national reform committee on natural resources and environment has a clear direction to eradicate harmful chemicals used in the farming sector and increase organic practices among farmers.
He said getting a way to green environment needs the government and people’s clear mindset to consider that there is no other means to go.
We need cooperation and support from all stakeholders in society. ROYOL CHITRADON