Haze from 'burning culture' | Bangkok Post: news

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Blitz targets burnoffs as air worry mounts

Seasonal fires blamed for northern haze crisis

Published: 28 Jan 2013 at 01.11
Online news: Local News

CHIANG MAI: Authorities are aiming to damp down the "burning culture" in the North to ward off the annual haze crisis.

A campaign will encourage people not to burn crops and household waste, which is a common practice in the northern provinces, Aphiwat Khunarak, chief of the environment office region 1, said.

This seasonal crop burning can create dangerous dust levels in the air during the driest months, he said.

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oldairman
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Discussion 24 : 28 Jan 2013 at 19.3224
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D22
Fat chance of DPM Chalerm going to Pattani in this life.
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whatajoke
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Discussion 23 : 28 Jan 2013 at 18.2923
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Good luck with that, there are lots of banners everywhere saying stop burning (in both languages) alongside Yingluck's pretty face, but it's an age old habit and everyone ignores the threats and goes ahead anyway, most locals are untroubled by a few weeks of smog. The other thing is that the problem waxes and wanes from one year to the next depending on climatic conditions. It could be that this year might not be chronic if there is some breeze or unseasonal rain, then the Initiative is forgotten.
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davidh
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Discussion 22 : 28 Jan 2013 at 16.1822
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Who do the Government want to serve - the population at large including the Tourists who deserted the North in droves last year to avoid the environmental catastrophe causing massive losses for the tourist industry or the Farming Community who have had years to adopt to changing needs?

Come now Phuea Thai - you are supposed to be strong in the North. Just do your duty and show it by using the whole Month of March as a place for Government affairs. You could also meet for a Month in Pattani to help with the problems down there!
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rontorre
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Discussion 21 : 28 Jan 2013 at 12.5521
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d16 "governmenrt should develop a plan to subsidize wood chippers & other tools and train people how to use them'
already done about 3 years ago, at least in Chiang Dao, my wife is part of the group that was trained and provided with a chipper and some donated land and a shack to house things in.
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Bangon
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Discussion 20 : 28 Jan 2013 at 12.5420
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Each and every year the same bla-bla, and nothing changes! There is no will (ill-will?) from the authorities, no laws and regulations can change that. And it's not only about education, IM sad O, many many Thais have become unbelievably SELFISH, don't care about anyone, just themselves, and money... Bhuddist? Who? Where? Nowadays even in temples it's hypocrisy all around! Ba-ah!
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faceless
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Discussion 19 : 28 Jan 2013 at 11.5719
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"He said the government should compensate farmers for the cost of burying, or encourage them to grow other crops which do not need to be disposed of after harvest."

Farmers should not be "compensated" for responsible farming practices. Starting with education and ending with enforced laws there are ways to change the current farming techniques.
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spareword
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Discussion 18 : 28 Jan 2013 at 11.5518
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D13 - spot on!
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pquinlan
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Discussion 17 : 28 Jan 2013 at 11.4617
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D4: I agree with your overall sentiment, but you must have had a weak moment when you said it won't stop until it is against the law. I know from your previous postings that you know better than that. It is already against the law to pollute. It is lack of enforcement, not the need for new laws, that is at issue here (and with most of Thai society's problems, come to that).

D5: if you know a solution, have you implemented it?
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hillfarang
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Discussion 16 : 28 Jan 2013 at 10.2816
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"Though burying is more environmentally friendly, it takes more time and costs more than burning, Mr Aphiwat said."

Yet there has never been a lack of cheap labor in the North, both legal & illegal (from across the boarder.) Maybe along with making a law, the governmenrt should develop a plan to subsidize wood chippers & other tools and train people how to use them in an ecologically friendly way. I know that this is a multi-generation habit and only if the locals "buy-in" will it stand a chance of success.
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onlyme
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Discussion 15 : 28 Jan 2013 at 10.1915
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'The number of bushfires has dropped in recent years from an average of 300 a year to about 100 a year now, Mr Somdet said. He attributed the drop to locals becoming more aware of the hazards of setting fires in forests.'
Others might attribute it to clear cutting and therefore less forest to burn.
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