Showing 1 - 10 of 12
Wild elephants on the edge of existence
Spectrum, Piyaporn Wongruang, Published on 13/04/2014
» ‘Stop the truck and turn the lights off now!” shouted 57-year-old Somporn Mee-im to his colleague, Mai, driving the pickup.
Struggling to unearth a grain of truth
Spectrum, Piyaporn Wongruang, Published on 02/02/2014
» The government's rice-pledging scheme, long plagued by claims of mismanagement and corruption, is facing increasing scrutiny as the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) probes into caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's involvement.
Second Lao dam upsets neighbours
News, Piyaporn Wongruang, Published on 03/11/2013
» When Laos announced its intention to proceed with the Xayaburi hydropower project on the lower Mekong over the objections of neighbouring countries in the Mekong River Commission (MRC), it was feared that it would set a precedent.
Compromised solution won't win the day against forest encroachers
News, Piyaporn Wongruang, Published on 09/06/2013
» This month marks the two-year anniversary of the start of an unprecedented crackdown on forest encroachment by large resort developments in Thap Lan National Park. But after a series of spectacular raids led by park chief Taywin Meesap, some of them involving hundreds of rangers in night-time operations, the forest take-back operation has languished. The chief reason for this is the retirement of Damrong Pidech last year as head of the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department. Mr Damrong gave Mr Taywin his full backing.
Pmove must fight much harder to win the good fight
News, Piyaporn Wongruang, Published on 15/05/2013
» Their plight represents what the poor suffer after decades of unfair development. Their protests used to grab headlines and shake the stability of governments. No longer.
Strong deeds needed from new forest chief
News, Piyaporn Wongruang, Published on 30/12/2012
» The Seub Nakhasathien Foundation paints a grim picture of the state of the country's forests with its 2012 report, which estimates that in the last 50 years Thailand has lost 50% of its forest cover. The report says forests now account for only about one-third of the country's total area, or about 171,000 square kilometres and there are now only five provinces that have a forest cover of more than 70%. No wonder the foundation's secretary-general, Sasin Chaloemlap, says, ''We cannot afford to lose more forest and forest encroachment cannot be allowed and tolerated any more.''
Villagers vow they won't give up homes for dam
Spectrum, Piyaporn Wongruang, Published on 04/11/2012
» As soon as staff from an engineering consultancy company arrived at the site of the proposed Kaeng Sua Ten dam project in Phrae province late last month, a scuffle broke out between them and locals from the nearby village of Sa-Iab. Later there was another brief confrontation between officials trying to install water level monitors in the Yom River and villagers who tried to stop them. The officials were surrounded and finally driven out of Sa-Iab in a scene reminiscent of one 10 years ago when villagers seized staff from a consultancy firm employed by the World Bank, injuring some of them.
Mekong 'hydro diplomacy' falling short
News, Piyaporn Wongruang, Published on 11/11/2012
» In a conference room in Chiang Rai recently, more than 100 water experts from around the world put their heads together to try to find new approaches to dealing with transborder water issues more effectively. Jargon flew about the room, especially the term "hydro diplomacy". Not surprisingly, a topic on everyone's lips was the Xayaburi dam project in in Laos, where last Wednesday, despite strong protests from locals and environmentalists and unsettled points of contention among Mekong River Commission (MRC) member states, Laos suddenly proceeded with a ground-breaking ceremony at the construction site to mark the official start of the project.
Restrictions sinking sea gypsies
News, Piyaporn Wongruang, Published on 11/11/2012
» Sanit tried to maintain his stride while walking towards the sea, but everybody knew that he was sick.
Koh Samet's serenity shattered by development and disputes
Spectrum, Piyaporn Wongruang, Published on 23/09/2012
» As we arrive at the exclusive five-star beach resort on the southern tip of Koh Samet a young security guard approaches us and asks us where we think we are going.