Phasakorn Channgam
More than 40 groups from five Eastern Seaboard
provinces have joined forces to oppose industrial growth and push the
region back toward a natural environment.
Rao Rak Khao Chamao
representative Bupphathip Chaemnil is part of one group trying to stop
progress on the Eastern Seaboard.
The Eastern Environmental Group convened its first
meeting June 2 at Pattaya’s Long Beach Garden Hotel & Spa, bringing
together 44 organizations including the Naklua Bay Preservation Group,
Banglamung Bay Preservation Group, Laem Chabang Pier-Construction
Opposition Group, Rao Rak Khao Chamao of Rayong, Srakaew Agri-Nature
Foundation and the Special Agricultural Network’s Sustainable Water
Development project. Officials from the National Public Health Office,
and Community Development Institute also attended.
Rao Rak Khao Chamao representative Bupphathip
Chaemnil said the meeting was aimed at setting a shared vision and
direction to push Thailand’s eastern region back toward a natural
environment. Groups offered suggestions and helped set targets for how
to jointly oppose expansion of industrial projects and restore the
environment.
Examples of projects the EEG opposes include
expansion of Laem Chabang Port, environmental protection near the
Maptaput Industrial Estate and all phases of water purification, from
hard water to residential distribution.
“From the study of the future condition of the
Eastern Region, there will be problems that will affect the environment,
including laying of new infrastructure and a doubling in the size of the
industrial sector that will proceed like a chain reaction,” Bupphathip
said.
Other areas of concern include changes in ownership
for agricultural lands, with Bupphathip claiming that 80 percent of
farmland in Phae, Rayong is now owned by foreigners. She claims these
non-Thai owners will ruin things for residents by using the land for new
non-agricultural investments.
“Based on this, it has become necessary for us to
join hands to find measures to change the eastern region back towards
nature,” she said.
