Stories tagged with environment
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Chiang Mai Views Bicycling with Disdain
In Chiang Mai, Thailand’s second-largest city, bicycling is at your own risk, even though this form of transport provides clear advantages for a rider’s physical health and for the environment.
Next to getting around by foot, the bicycle is seen by Thais in Chiang Mai as the least desirable mode of transportation.
The city’s streets are teeming with cars and trucks, as motorcycles screech and zig-zag through the stalled traffic.
Other than the attitude of the locals about bicycles, it is the unpredictable movement of motorcycles that poses the greatest danger to bicyclists. Cyclists are forced to the edge of the road where they can be forced into the curb or parked vehicles. The lack of bicycle paths on most roads makes the situation even worse.
In addition to the more practical life and death considerations for cyclists, this particular mode of transport is viewed in Chiang Mai, as it in the cities of many developing countries, with disdain as it is seen as reflecting a low economic status.
Many local people avoid using bicycles as a means of transport because of these social attitudes that consider any form of human powered transportation as demeaning. This includes walking as well as bicycling.
Bicycling remains an activity reserved for tourists in Chiang Mai, or occasionally as a weekend pastime for locals.
The attitude is unfortunate, as bicycling can improve a rider’s physical health, reduce energy consumption and can play a positive role in improving the air quality in these highly polluted urban areas.
Posted by: Andrew on 17 Jun 2008, 00:00 -
Dead turtle raises environmental questions
With much news from Phuket these days relating to pushes for development, the other side of the coin has shown itself in the form of a dead Olive Ridley turtle that was found last month on the shores of Mai Khao Beach. After the turtle was sent for autopsy, scientists at the Phuket Marine Biological Center found that the species of prey found inside the turtle were not typical for the species.
The squid found in the animal’s esophagus suppose it had eaten just before dying, and the squid, usually too fast for the turtle to catch, suggest that it may have been ingested after being caught in a fisherman’s net.
PMBC representative Sontaya Manawatthana says, “The Olive Ridley turtle is highly endangered in Thailand, where nesting numbers are even lower than the Leatherback turtle. Its only known nesting sites now are at Phrathong Island in Phang Nga.�
As the municipal and federal governments push forward with their big plans for Phuket, and the marine mammal’s environment is further compromised, the turtles are in even more danger of becoming extinct.
Posted by: DaveB on 03 May 2008, 11:26 -
Samui locals veto new airport
At a public meeting held recently to discuss the possibility of a second airport on the island of Ko Samui, the prospect was all but quelled by locals from Moo 1, 2 and 5 districts, who would be directly influenced by noise pollution. The locals said the airport would cause them nothing but pollution; both through noise and environmental. They used Bangkok’s new Suvarnabhumi International Airport as an example of how residents’ health can be affected from living so close to an airport, not to mention the natural resources that would be felled to construct the facility.
Public officials high up the food chain admit that due to the size of the island, its ecosystem may not be able to sustain two airports. Proponents of the plan say that if all this is true, then the monopoly by Thai Airways on the existing airport will have to be examined.
Posted by: DaveB on 19 Apr 2008, 18:54 -
Rain soaks up bad air
Fears that Chiang Mai might again suffer hazardous air quality conditions this season have been unfounded, and recent early season rains have brought the PM10 levels down way below the critical level.
Thunder showers through the week in the late afternoon, and humid conditions have served to mitigate the effects of chronic burning that occurs at this point in the dry season, creating hazy conditions and filling the air with harmful particles. Climate conditions have also been more favourable than 2007 when the province was blighted with hazardous air conditions for more than a month. So far, only a eight days in March this year have produced conditions where the PM10 index is above the 120 level considered dangerous to respiration.
Over the last weekend of March the index had fallen below 80, and the mountains were again visible (a quick indicator), but in Mae Hong Son province, where the burning is out of control, the index remained well above 100.
Local tourist business have complained the bookings are down 20%, as the negative publicity of the previous year has taken its toll on tourism confidence in the Northern region. However a widely initiated campaign to educate locals and discourage burning has helped spread the word among villagers and city dweller alike.
Rain in early April is unusual, and has been a welcome respite from the high temperatures being experienced. The King has also taken a personal interest in the problem this year and has instructed rain-making exercises to be conducted, helping ease the problem.
Pollution control department readings
Posted by: Andrew on 31 Mar 2008, 09:29 -
Bangkok is sinking and the waters are rising
According to scientists, Bangkok, capital of Thailand and home to some 10 million inhabitants, is at risk of being reclaimed by the sea in the decades ahead.
Scientists at the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change held in Khun Samut Chin recently said that Bangkok is among 13 of the world’s largest 20 cities which may be submerged into the sea over the course of the next century.
Lisa Schipper is an American who researches global warming. She recently visited the temple that marks the gates to Bangkok, a temple barely clinging to a spit of land that shrinks under the flood of monsoon rains every year.
"This is what the future will look like in many places around the world," she said. "Here is a living study in environmental change."
The loss of Bangkok on Thailand’s economy would be devastating. "If the heart of Thailand is under water everything will stop," says Smith Dharmasaroja, chair of the government's Committee of National Disaster Warning Administration. "We don't have time to move our capital in the next 15-20 years. We have to protect our heart now, and it's almost too late."
Scientist Anond Snidvongs says that the Gulf of Thailand is rising at the same rate as waters around the rest of the world. However 0.25 centimeters a year seems like a lot when most of the city is only a meter above water, with many parts already existing below sea level.
In addition, since the city was not build on solid rock, but rather on a foundation of clay, it is sinking, even as the waters rise. The combination could mean that Bangkok goes under much faster than most people anticipate.
"You notice that every highway, road and building which has no foundation pilings is sinking," says Smith. "We feel that with the ground sinking and the sea water rising, Bangkok will be under sea water in the next 15 to 20 years - permanently."
As to what measures the government should be taking, there are many to consider. "There is no one single solution to respond to climate change," says Anond, whose team is putting forward recommendations based on several scenarios. "We have to start doing something about this right now."
Posted by: Jen on 24 Oct 2007, 09:18 -
Villagers concerned over dead sea turtles
In the Gulf of Thailand there are a few different species of sea turtle, the beautiful green specimens emerge from the blue water to lay their eggs on the beaches and mangroves around Bangpakong. In an age where communities around the South of Thailand are up in arms about protecting their environments and natural heritage, the recent sightings of dead sea turtles in the mangroves has villagers very concerned.
The turtles found measured about 120 cm in length and the carapace was 65 cm. The turtle weighed in at 50 kg. This variety of green sea turtle lives in the deep waters in the Gulf and is comfortable at around 30 to 40 metres deep. They surface every winter to lay their eggs and finding multiple carcasses in Chachoengsao Province has locals petitioning authorities to act.
The fact that many locals feel that the buck is being passed from department to department is causing much stress for the people who are intent to keep their natural ecosystem in check. The turtles are thought to have swallowed pieces of plastic or become entangled in fisherman’s nets.
Vigilance must be kept up to protect the turtles, who without human intervention should have a natural life span of 100 years.
Posted by: DaveB on 06 Sep 2007, 11:06 -
Environmental issues must be immediately addressed in south of Thailand
The state of fragile natural ecosystems has been a long running issue in the public forum, but what is really being done to protect systems that are irreplaceable yet being treated so poorly?
The Mermaid of Samui group, headed by Mr.Surat Sukcharoen has spoken out to plead for social attention to Ko Samui’s natural environment and resources, so that future generations can infact enjoy the same beauty that we do today.
He said, “Our natural resources are used without consideration to their future affects. And even many previous projects initiated to protect the environment lack continuity. In the next few years, Samui will start getting affected badly by environmental problems.�
MSG has been campaigning hard recently to bring to the attention of people the negative effects that we have on our environment and how we can be more aware of this; thus affect sustainable change.
Soe initiatives by the group have included the releasing of one million Barramudi fish to teir natural homes to draw attention to the incentives to clean the beaches in Samui and keep them clean.
MSGs efforts are necessary to garner support, as Mr. Surat says, “Our valuable resources are being abused and used with no appropriate directions.�
Posted by: DaveB on 26 Jul 2007, 12:07 -
Bangkok is Sinking?
Scientists are predicting that global warming and the slow but inevitable rise of sea levels will soon lead to the streets of Bangkok becoming flooded far more often than not.
Since most of the capital is only, on average, 40 centimeters higher than the level of the sea, only a small change in the level of the ocean is required to submerge most of the city.
While residents may be used to flooding during the rainy season, if the slow rise of the Andaman and the Gulf of Thailand continue much longer, it could be a continual state of affairs.
The director of the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre, Bhichit Rattakul thinks that may soon be the case. "People in neighborhoods along the banks of the Chao Phya River may have to get used to wading through water on their streets all the time," he warned.
Foreigners have developed models for the eventual impact of rising sea levels and these models suggest that there is a 55 per cent chance Bangkok will flood if the sea rises another 50 centimeters.
Although everyone in the world would be affected by the phenomenon, people in Asia, particularly in China, India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand will be the most impacted by rising sea levels.
Posted by: Jen on 05 Jul 2007, 15:18 -
Swim in the Sea, Save the Turtles
Maritime authorities met with environmentalists on Tuesday to discuss how best to balance beachside development and the needs of local wildlife.
A total of 40 experts in various fields and government agencies met in a Thalang district hotel, near Phuket to discuss the plight of sea turtles in Thailand.
The development of beaches, along with refuse left by tourists including plastic bags and waste water have directly contributed to a decline in local turtle’s egg laying.
Sea turtles have become the focus of numerous conservation efforts but many groups trying to protect the local wildlife have been hampered by a lack of qualified personnel, funds and expertise in the area.
Although tourism, in part, has contributed to the problem, for many organizations, taking advantage of the expertise and volunteer work of passing travelers is one way to help save the sea turtles.
Lost Horizons Asia is one organization combining tourism with conservation. The group offers tourists the opportunity to enjoy excellent Thai food, a beautiful beach, lessons in Thai culture, massage and yoga and contribute to conservation efforts, all on the remote island of Phra Tong (also known as Golden Buddha Island.)
Naucrates is an Italian organization inviting volunteers to Koh Khao and Koh Phra Thong, just north of Phuket to learn to scuba dive, see turtles in their natural environment and work towards their preservation.
There are plenty of opportunities to help out with the cause, all while enjoying Thailand’s beautiful coast and lovely islands.
Posted by: Jen on 04 Jul 2007, 11:38