Environmental cover-up

COMMENTARY

Published: 18 Jan 2013 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

Thailand is in crisis. This crisis does not come from controversies over charter amendment, reconciliation bill, populist policies, or conflicts between the red- and yellow-shirt camps.

The real crisis our country is facing is something that is less complicated than political division, and also easier to tackle if the government has a strong political will and the general public is aware of its devastating impacts.

I'm talking about the environmental crisis. This issue has always been overshadowed by political and economic matters, especially over the past decade when the coup, colour-coded politics, and populist policies dominated the public and government's attention.

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jamjon01
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Discussion 12 : 18 Jan 2013 at 19.1012
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Hehe, I was with you all the way through your article: You blamed the people(as ignorant); The previous administrations(ignored, building power, etc.); The current PM (as ignoring, delegating, etc.). Perhaps if you try and go about things in a different way than attempting to incite by your own weak agenda..?..IF the people know exactly what they should know about NOW pollution and FUTURE pollution-Then maybe the people could use their own 'minds' to not vote so erratically toward some 'favorite'...?...Don't underestimate the power of the people. Maybe if articles were more 'teaching' than radically written about blame, blame, blame???
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drsmith
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Discussion 11 : 18 Jan 2013 at 15.0211
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Media accountability. In every country in the world, except Thailand, the media has the power to hold the government accountable for ALL inaction or inability to solve problems. Media accountability means running the story, exposing the culprits by name and keeping the story on the front page of the news until action is taken. Until the Thai media takes social responsibility for accountability to the people, there will be no change. If Thai people want a better Thailand, start demanding the news media hold the govt officials responsible for inaction, broken promises, and lies. Ensure justice for all, not just for the rich. No censuring either
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lungstib
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Discussion 10 : 18 Jan 2013 at 14.5010
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With a 3 kms cycle ride in any direction from Chiang Mai I can see massive pollution all around. It comes from a society that has only cared for profit in everything it does. Footing the bill for cleaning up is the problem. Do you see a philanthropist near you?
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drsmith
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Discussion 9 : 18 Jan 2013 at 14.449
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Thailand has been in an enviromental crisis the past 20 years, only now are the Thai people wising up and not being scared to talk about how damaging it is to the people and the environment. When Thai people continually vote for politicians that take money from big corporations to look the other way, 20 years passes and the environment and people are forever damaged. Next time you vote, think about the person you are voting for and whether they are concerned for the environment or own a second home in the UK they will retire to.
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jacksprat
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Discussion 8 : 18 Jan 2013 at 13.178
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"Banning plastic bags and styrofoam would reduce visible garbage by almost 100 percent." Remember when everything came in bags made of recycled paper? People still threw it on the ground and in the klongs, but it disintegrated quite quickly. Plastic does not.
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Victor
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Discussion 7 : 18 Jan 2013 at 12.057
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Thailand is a dumping ground on its own right without having to import any more second-hand goods from all over the world.
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jck
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Discussion 6 : 18 Jan 2013 at 11.186
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This issue needs to be in the news everyday. Pollution of all kinds is a massive problem and individuals are as much to blame as industry. Here are a few suggestions. Ban all plastic bags in stores and supermarkets but as a start charge customers Baht 5 for every plastic bag used. Reward customers who bring their own bags with a small discount, say Baht 15 for 500 spent. Charge a deposit of Baht 5 on every aluminium can and every bottle, refundable when returned to a recycle depot. Teach every school child from the earliest age the impact of pollution and how to dispose of their own litter in a proper manner and encourage the kids to teach th
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oldexp
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Discussion 5 : 18 Jan 2013 at 11.025
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Hey folks, don't always blame the government (even it deserves the blame).
Blame the ones that do the littering.
Blame the Thai citizens. They are the one too lazy to care.
In my daughters school the talk about pollution, they show where and how everybody can help. The children take this serious and bring this information home where the parents could see and read it too, would they care to do.
Unfortunately soap operas get more attention in LOS.
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dao
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Discussion 4 : 18 Jan 2013 at 10.344
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Trains and subways would solve transportation problems in Bangkok .Water treatment plants would improve water quality for oceans .Banning plastic bags and styrofoam would reduce visible garbage by almost 100 percent .The environment isn't disposable .
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geoffo
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Discussion 3 : 18 Jan 2013 at 07.583
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Good on you for bringing this up Khun Kultida.

Where to start. There are plenty of laws, committees and concerned citizen but IMO once again we come to problem of lax enforcement.

If all the laws in Thailand were enforced Thailand would be lead Singapore in every kind of standard.

As bad as some things are there are little signs appearing, like tiny buds, Even in my condo they are muttering about providing recycling bins.

Khun Kultida keep on the topic and let us know how we can help.
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Environmental cover-up | Bangkok Post: opinion