14/02/2005 - Hundreds
of villagers and environmental activists from
provinces all over Thailand have formed the
People Against Coal coalition. On January
25 they gathered outside the CoalTrans conference
in Lampang to protest against coal power plants
and their negative impacts on people and nature.
Coal industry representatives were meeting
in Lampang’s Weinglakor Hotel to celebrate
the 25th anniversary of the largest coal-fired
power plant in South-East Asia and the 50th
anniversary of Thailand’s largest mine – Maeh
Moe.
While plans for an expansion of this mine
were unveiled at the conference, the activists
outside the hotel urged the Thai government
to stop the use of coal and switch to much
cleaner power generated from renewable energy.
“Thailand should stop investing in coal,
as it causes so many environmental, social
and health problems. The country is rich in
renewable energy sources. We should harness
biomass, solar and wind power for a clean
and sustainable energy future,” said Boonyuan
Karjai, leader of the Wieng Haeng Conservation
Network.
Among the members of Thailand’s new People
Against Coal coalition are villagers from
the provinces of Chiang Mai, Lampang, Nakhon
Ratchasima, Surin, Ubon Ratchathani, Saraburi,
Rayong, Krabi and Prachuab Kiri Khan. Apart
from WWF several other green NGOs and social
groups have already joined the coalition.
“The companies must stop selling their deadly
business in our country. What they bring are
the twin threats of pollution and climate
change. Coal-fired power plants have caused
death and respiratory illnesses. No new coal
power plant should ever be built,” said Prasai
Pookphan, leader of the Network of Occupational
Health Sufferers of Thailand.
In a joint letter the coalition asked Thailand’s
Prime Minister, Taksin Shinawatra, and the
Energy Minister, Prommin Lertsuridej, to let
the public participate in decision-making
processes regarding the energy future in their
provinces.
The letter also called on the Ministers to
review the demand forecasting methodology
used by the government to determine future
electricity supply, and to include the social
and environmental costs of coal power.
When the Energy Minister refused to accept
the letter, activists strapped the document
onto a dog’s back.
