September 15, 1998
Learning to see the wood and the trees Youngsters display T-shirts bearing the conservation message. Before joining the Kanchanaburi Environmental Group's project many of the students had never really thought about green issues. WE CARE: The Kanchanaburi Environmental Group believes the best hope for saving the environment is to plant a love of nature in young minds - and to encourage young people to think critically about how their environment is used. Supara Janchitfah It was a simple meal consisting of plain rice cooked in bamboo stalks, but for a group of Kanchanaburi students on a training camp in Thung Yai Naresuan wildlife sanctuary, the rice tasted so good the mere thought of it makes their mouths water even now. "We made a bonfire next to a small creek and ate our meal under a big tree. The simple but close-to-nature restaurant really made us feel in tune with the environment," said Pattharinya Seubchakin, a grade 11 student of Kanchana Nukroh School. Apart from enjoying their time in the forest, the students learned a number of crucial things. "I must confess, before I went I didn't even realise Thung Yai was in my province - Kanchanaburi! I knew it was a World Heritage site, but it was only when I joined the Kanchanaburi Environmental Group I realised its value," said Pattarinya. Pattarinya is not alone, many of the other students who participated in the training programme made similar comments. The Kanchanaburi Environmental Group is a local NGO which aims to conserve nature. Although it has been around for more than a decade, it hit the headlines when it spearheaded opposition to the Yadana gas pipeline project. For years however it has worked, often behind the scenes, to protect the wealth and health of Kanchanaburi's environment. Comprising of mostly middle-class residents from the Western province, the group entered the environmental arena back in the late 80s when it joined a mass protest against the controversial Nam Choan Dam project. A few years later, the group exposed illicit toxic waste dumping by the Port Authority of Thailand in the province. Mr Boonsong gives a seminar among the trees explaining how the forest is the Rachini Crab's habitat. He explains if the forest goes, so does its splendid wildlife But it has been the recent environmental campaign against the Petroleum Authority of Thailand's Yadana project, initiated by members of the group, which really thrust it into the spotlight. Narong Changkamol, who works with the the Seub Nakhasathien Foundation NGO, said: "A number of NGOs which joined the Yadana protest only came in later. Without the local environmental group's own initiatives, the other NGOs might not have been involved as much." Following their environmental protection activities, some of the group's members, including Boonsong Chansongrasami and Phinun Chotirosserani decided the best hope for conservation lay with the younger generations. They believed if they could cultivate environmental awareness and the ability to seek and analyse information in the minds of youngsters, the natural environment would be much better protected in the long run. "The depletion of natural resources are at risk. We want young people to see things with their own eyes and make their own analysis. It is not easy to make people concerned about such problems without giving them complete and accurate information," said Mr Boonsong, a photo shop owner. His statement is based on his personal experiences of fighting against influential organisations such as the PTT. The state enterprise has been criticised for bombarding the public with one-sided information by buying up media space. "We need to prepare the younger generation to have a critical mind. They should not believe anything without careful studying," Mr Boonsong said. Thus the group has organised workshops aimed at training youngsters about the importance of nature and what should be done to conserve it. With some financial support from the United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) small grant programme the group has so far launched three rounds of training involving more than 150 secondary school students from the province. The group recently expanded its network to cover all the provinces in the western region including Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi, Suphan Buri and Kanchanaburi. With the cooperation of several other NGOs, the training was based on students' interests and participation - and that, the organisers believe, has led to impressive outcomes. Mr Boonsong led visits to the forest and lectures were given by forest officials and rangers. Students also heard about biodiversity, they tested water, and observed animal habitats. Bird watching was also on the programme. Pattharinya and other students were eager to learn about the Thung Yai forests. The beauty of the World Heritage site and the efforts of those who sought to protect the forest impressed the students. Nathavuth Ratanavatham, another grade-11 student from Thepmongkol Rangsri school in Kanchanaburi said when Mr Boonsong took them to see the Nam Choan River his heart leapt with excitement. "I could not believe people wanted to block its flow just for the sake of constructing a dam, the success of which (in solving flooding and drought problems) is not proven," Nathavuth said. The youngsters also had a chance to learn about the indigenous Karen people and their wealth of knowledge about forest conservation. And, perhaps most importantly, the students learned they have a role to play in the rise and fall of the forest. "If we ignore what's going on in Kanchanaburi, it's us who will bear the consequences," said Nathavuth. "No one will help us protect our environment if we are not actively involved," he added. The programme also encouraged the students to learn how to analyse issues more critically. Another student, Jaenjira Sirhakanya said: "This training and camping led me to think for myself beyond state propaganda. "It also made me realise the trade-offs between environment and industrialisation. Before, I never knew the Rachini crab's habitat is in Thong Pha Phum district. Now I realise if its habitat is destroyed by big development projects it is threatened with extinction. I now realise the forest's ecological value. "The forests help retain water and moisture. They provide habitats for wildlife, sustenance for forest dwellers and recreational places for us city dwellers to visit." Since the Kanchanaburi Environmental Group has been involved in protesting against the Yadana gas pipeline, some authorities have accused it of using UNDP money earmarked for the youth project for the protest activities. The funding agency itself is not concerned. The UNDP has granted 250,000 baht to the group's training activities and will only reimburse money that fits the project criteria. "Even buying 50 baht worth of postage stamps must be explained," said Boonpor Metae an assistant coordinator of the UNDP's small grant project. "Actually, the grant money doesn't cover everything. Many of the expenses are shouldered by dedicated people like Khun Boonsong and Phinun themselves." Mr Boonsong owns a big photo shop. He spends money carefully on himself and his family and he willingly pays from his own pocket to implant social and environmental awareness among young people. Apart from using his own money, Mr Boonsong also lets the Kanchanaburi Environmental Group use his buildings as an office and centre for young people to join and arrange activities. Despite the suspicions from the authorities, Mr Boonsong takes heart in the fact at least the younger generations understand him. "To me he is a role model, a concerned citizen who really cares for society," said Udomchai Matheekul, another student. Students take samples from a river to test water quality. The project emphasises young people learning for themselves and seeing things with their own eyes so they can appraise situations more critically. The Kanchanaburi entrepreneur recalled how he had entered Kanchanaburi's environmental movements. Kanchanaburi, he said, was once home to huge, pristine forests. The rapid depletion of the forest worried him and he wanted to do something about it. His concerns turned into action when he met the late conservationist Seub Nakhasathien. "I learned about his wildlife rescue mission at the Chiew Larn Dam in Surat Thani province. His compassion for wildlife and his concerns for the forests moved me. "He made me understand the damage dams and other big development projects can do to nature. So I decided to play my part to save Kanchanaburi's forests," he said. "Life is short," he said, "I want to live it meaningfully." The Kanchanaburi Environmental Group's youth training programmes are bearing fruit. At a recent meeting, students decided to set up a network to operate as an environmental watchdog and to expand their cooperation with students in other provinces. "My province has a lot of environmental problems too so we should work together to exchange information and experiences," said Rosarin Kaewmouth from Suan Peung School, Ratchaburi. "We cannot expect much from grown-ups. It isn't their fault as they are too busy working. Young people like us must take the initiative. "Although we are a temporary group as we will grow up and go our separate ways, but we will take an environmental awareness with us. And we hope we can contribute to change in the future," she added. Info for donations: Name of organisation: The Kanchanaburi Environmental Group Contact person: Boonsong Chansongrassami Address: 285/2 Chum Chon Tao Poon, Tambon Baan Nua, Amphur Muang, Kanchanaburi 71000 Telephone: (034) 515-042 -We Care is a weekly series honouring people who believe in giving. You can show you care by supporting the projects featured here each week. You can also let us know about people who selflessly help others so we can honour them in these pages. Fax 'We Care' on 240-3666, or call 240-3700 ext 3208 or 3212. Alternatively email (sanitsuda@bangkokpost.net).		Classifieds Jobs Property Entertainment Investment Education Travel Sales Learn English Weekly Database Horizons NiteOwl Student Weekly Real Time Special We Care Street Art Back Issues Last Month Archive Company Servcies Subscriptions Advertising Annual Report
© Copyright The Post Publishing Public Co., Ltd. 1998 Last Modified: Tue, Sep 15, 1998 For comments and letters to the editor see : notes Comments to: Webmaster Advertising enquiries to Internet Marketing