News
Muslim community opposes plans for a waste-to-energy plant
HaRDstories 17 January 2023
On 13 January 2023, the Pollution-Free EARTH, a pollution watchdog group in Thailand, reported on the first public hearing for a newly proposed waste-to-energy plant near a Muslim community in Tha Bun Mi, Koh Chan district, Chonburi.
Sra Si Liam locals oppose Asia Metal’s EIA process – says first public hearing lacked transparency/ provided insufficient information
EARTH REPORT 09 January 2023
Citizens of Moo 10 village, Sra Si Liam subdistrict, Phanat Nikhom district, Chonburi province, eastern region of Thailand, spoke to oppose the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process for Asia Metal PCL’s galvanization project, at its second public hearing.
Toxic reality of Thailand's BCG model
Bangkok Post 24 December 2022
One of Thailand's buzzwords of 2022 has been "BCG" -- the acronym used for the Bio-Circular-Green Economic Model.
BCG has become one of the guiding principles of Thailand's national development, with roots leading back to the Thailand 4.0 policy conceptualised by the governments of General Prayut Chan-o-cha.
After Victory in Court, Nong Phawa locals put up banner calling for Environmental Restoration
EARTH REPORT 22 December 2022
“Area Contaminated by Dangerous Chemical (Acid) – Gov Must Restore ASAP!” – cries a banner in front of Tiab Smanmit decimated rubber plantation, one of the areas in Nong Phawa village Moo 4, Bang But subdistrict, Ban Khai district, Rayong province, most affected by the recycling operations of Win Process company. Today, heavy metal can be found in Tiab’s plantation, which have lost more than 1,000 rubber trees since 2017.
Locals of Tha Than Say “No More” to Recycling Factories
EARTH REPORT 22 December 2022
Citizens of Moo 3 Khok Hua Khao village, Tha Than subdistrict, Phanom Sarakham district, Chachoengsao province put up a banner in front of the local temple saying “NO” to all types of recycling factories, after two years of being impacted by electronic waste (e-waste) recycling factory and waste oil / industrial solvent recycling factory.
Scientists Confirmed Food Chain Contamination Near E-Waste Processing Facilities in Thailand
PRESS RELEASE: EARTH & ARNIKA 15 December 2022
BANGKOK/PRAGUE: Recently published analysis confirmed that communities in the Chachoengsao province, Thailand, face severe food chain contamination with some of the world's most toxic chemicals caused by improper electronic waste processing. Samples of analyzed soil, sediments, and duck eggs, common food rich in nutrients, contained record levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). The dioxin level in duck eggs from a village near an e-waste recycling factory in Khao Hin Son is the 10th highest ever measured level in poultry eggs in Asia and the 2nd highest level measured in eggs from Thailand.
Victory for Nong Phawa Locals! Court Ordered Win Process to Pay 20 Million Baht in Compensation – Restore Polluted Environment
EARTH REPORT 13 December 2022
Rayong court ruled in favor of Nong Phawa locals, declaring Win Process’ recycling factory responsible for widespread pollution – company ordered to pay 20 million baht in compensation as well as environmental restoration
Don’t ignore factory risk
Bangkok Post 24 September 2022 | Punyathorn Jeungsmarn (EARTH Thailand)
During the morning of Sept 22, many residents in Nakhon Pathom province awoke to a foul smell they were unfamiliar with, irritating both their eyes and noses. In neighbouring Nonthaburi, some people were reported to be coughing and sneezing after noticing a "burning-like" smell.
Joint Statement on the Leakage of Hazardous Chemicals from the Indorama’s Plastic Factory in Thailand
By EnLAW, EARTH, and Greenpeace Thailand | 22 September 2022
In the early morning of September 22nd, 2022, there was a leakage of hazardous chemical from the Indorama Polyester Industries PCL. Located in Nakhon Chai Si District, Nakhon Pathom Province, Thailand. Citizens living near the factory were affected by foul smell and reported the problems to the regional environmental authorities. Regarding to the incident, Ecological Alert and Recovery – Thailand (EARTH), ENLAWTHAI Foundation, and Greenpeace Thailand, which work together in calling for environmental justice in Thailand, including pushing for a Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) law to ensure citizen’s access to pollution information, sees the incident as the latest evidence of how Thai citizens must live with the risk of toxic chemicals and poisons on a daily basis.
EARTH Visits “Dioxin Lab” at Prague
EARTH REPORT 16 September 2022
Arnika Association brought Ecological Alert and Recovery – Thailand (EARTH) team to visit the Dioxin laboratory of the State Veterinary Institute Prague (@Státní veterinární ústav Praha) in Prague, Czech Republic.
Ing. Jan Rosmus, Head of the Department of Chemistry and Deputy Directory of the institute brought the team around the Dioxin lab, all the while describing the equipment and processes conducted in the institute. These included Gas chromatography – mass spectrometer or GC-MS, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry or ICP-MS and various other equipment. This allowed EARTH team to better comprehend the process of testing for “Persistent Organic Pollutants” or #POPs, a class of pollutants still found in the environment in #Thailand today.
