Sanitsuda Ekachai's blog - Latest comments on Hope on the hills

In response to: Hope on the hills

Augusta Dwyer [Visitor] — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 02:57:47 +0000

I found this post very interesting after visiting forest communities in Indonesia last year as part of my research for a book on grassroots social movements. I am struck by the similarity of the situations in both Thailand and Indonesia, where communities that have lived within forest environments for centuries are now considered encroachers. I am also very interested in knowing what is happening with the Assembly of the Poor.

In response to: Hope on the hills

Soontong Swanwit [Visitor] — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 02:08:07 +0000

Khun Sanitsuda, you are the only one at Bangkokpost who still care about us villagers. I am quite impressed with the poor getting organized. Don't put too much wieht on technology though, it is just a tool like hammer or screw driver. Use the right tool for the right job, that is the key. Getting organized to be a political force to be reckoned with, that is bigger. Pay attention to sufficiency economy and act accordingly, that is even more important. Don't just blindly coppy the western ways. Thank you for your report and keep up the good work.

In response to: Hope on the hills

Helen Collier USA [Visitor] — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 08:46:36 +0000

What progress toward solving the problems of our planet. It gives new hope in our world's future to see human beings organized in such effective application of technology toward global conservation and cooperation.

In response to: Hope on the hills

John McKinnon [Visitor] — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 11:54:56 +0000

Khun Sanitsuda
A great report. It confirms my experience when I worked with a group of Karen in north Thailand sometime ago and later in a Hani village in Yunnan. In case any of your readers are interested they can find the reports:
- 2004. With Jack McConchie “Empowering indigenous peoples and promoting collaborative natural resource management through Mobile Interactive GIS (MIGIS)” WORLDMINDS: GEOGRAPHICAL PERSPECTIVES ON 100 PROBLEMS. Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Association of American Geographers 1904 - 2004 eds. Donald G. Janelle, Barney Wharf, Kathy Hansen. Kluwer Acdemic Publishers: Dordrecht/ Boston/ London pp.541 - 546

- 2003 “Community Culture: Strengthening Persistence to Empower Resistance“ In Claudio O. Delang (ed.) LIVING AT THE EDGE OF THAI SOCIETY: THE KAREN IN THE HIGHLANDS OF NORTHERN THAILAND Claudio O. Delang (ed.) RoutledgeCurzon: London pp.64-84

It's just great to see this technology being used to off set prejudice.

Many thanks for your report

In response to: Hope on the hills

Janus [Visitor] — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 15:07:11 +0000

What a wonderful example of communication and cooperation this community and the officials working close to them have set. How nice it would be if our greedy, self-seeking politicians and their influential even greedier backers could follow a similar path.

In response to: Hope on the hills

tony shannon [Visitor] — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 18:27:20 +0000

well done people of Mae Hong Son....active democracy with full and transparent action with the good of all the people as the core objective is good way to ensre the preservation of your community. Remember ..the price of freedom...the right to live your lives in peace and harmony..is eternal vigilance...and local democracy in action. Good luck in all your efforts. Tony, Ireland.