Stories tagged with ecology
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Double standards in going green?
For many travellers these days, doing what they can to minimalise their impact on the environment while they travel is an important part of the process. And with this desire comes the profiteering of a new trend. Green travel is now a cash cow, and many popular tourist resorts in the world, including the Thai island of Ko Samui, are building new spas and resorts that cover every angle as far as sustainability goes. From bed sheets made from recycled materials, composting toilets and self sustainable and local cuisine served in the restaurants, the guest at these 21st century bastions of responsible business and tourism can rest easy they’re not contributing to the deterioration of the environment.
The question begs however, are travellers really committed to fomenting sustainable lifestyles, or is the current green revolution a trend comparable to the Atins Diet craze that will fade over time?
Posted by: DaveB on 09 May 2008, 17:10 -
Sea Around Koh Racha Resort Island to be Zoned
Pinsak Suraswadi, director for preservation and restoration at the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources explained to the Bangkok Post that the sea around Koh Racha island two hours from Phuket island will be zoned to help protect the coral reef and marine resources near the island. The coral reef is currently graded between moderately healthy and deteriorating, and has been suffering due to a lack of controls and competing interests in the area. The Bangkok Post has full details.
Posted by: Toony on 18 Jun 2007, 10:35 -
Red Frog Crabs on Phuket Beach may have been Poisoned
According to stories in the Phuket Gazette and the Gulf Times (via DPA dead and dying red frog crabs found recently on a Phuket beach may have been poisoned by fishermen, though locals ate them with no immediate ill effects.
Posted by: Toony on 06 Jun 2007, 14:42 -
Coral Briefs 1
What do you get when you put Royal Phuket Marina owner Gulu Lalvani and Bill Gates together? Answer: a plan for a private island. Fortunately, the plan is not to take over an island that already exists; unfortunately the plan is to build one that doesn't.
With an archipelago in its backyard, Phuket would seem the last place to need an artificial island, yet Lalvani plans to build what amounts to a $200m, three-kilometer-long facility with luxury homes and berthing facilities for megatoy owners like Abramovich, Gates and Allen. Apparently existing facilities at Lalvani's marina (the 'Royal' part of the name seems entirely Lalvani's brand creation) are too shallow for the kind of tubs Paul Allen (who owns the world's largest private yacht) and friends motor around in.
The island is to be located 1.9 kilometers off the east coast of Phuket—its effect on local fishing grounds, tidal flows and so on is unknown. Presumably the authorities have given the green light, anticipating the windfalls of cash such a project is likely to bring.
No one would want to criticize Gates for leading the way in giving away a fortune. But what could 200 million bucks do towards trying to solve Thailand's huge garbage problem, for example? Garbage management for most rural areas in Thailand is non-existent, especially for the islands off Thailand's coast. No doubt Lalvani will employ locals with boats 24/7 to scoop up offensive trash from the surrounding waters of the planned island retreat.
Reuters reports that Phuket millionaire has plans to build a man-made island off Phuket for the world's richest people to moor their luxury yachts.
Posted by: ConcernedExplorer on 19 May 2007, 22:31