News

The Nation 04 October 2017 | PRATCH RUJIVANAROM

ACADEMICS AND activists have cast doubt over the coal purchasing contract between Thailand and the United States, claiming it is too expensive, domestic coal demand is low and the deal breaches the country’s pledge to contain greenhouse gas emissions.

Myanmar Times 04 October 2017 | Myat Moe Aung    

Residents decried the slow action of authorities to address their concerns over a coal mine blamed as the cause of air and water pollution in their villages in Tanintharyi Region.

The aggrieved residents said that while the Ban Chaung Coal Mine, which was operated  by Thai and Myanmar companies, has stopped operations, the coal that left in the area continued to burn, emitting choking black smoke and also polluting the rivers.

The Nation 03 October 2017 

AN ETHANOL plant has been hit with a 45-day closure order over a serious water pollution problem that has ravaged part of Suphan Buri province.

“Along with the temporary closure of the plant, we have declared Tambon Nong Makha Mong in the province’s Dan Chang district a disaster area,” Deputy Suphan Buri Governor Pipop Boontham said yesterday. 

A heavy downpour on Sunday night caused the company’s wastewater treatment plant to overflow and spread polluted water across several villages. 

The Nation 30 September 2017 | PRATCH RUJIVANAROM, PRAPASRI OSATHANON

THE EASTERN Economic Corridor (EEC) bill passed the first reading on Thursday in the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) |despite concerns of academics |and citizen activists over the downsides from future projects, including environmental impact, corruption, and a lack of public participation.

Bangkok Post 26 September 2017 | EDITORIAL

The government has once again turned opportunity into needless confrontation over its stubborn stance on energy. Its decision to go ahead with an Egat-run coal-fired plant in Songkhla's Thepa district speaks volumes about the problem.

The Thepha project has drawn criticism from locals, activists and academics over its public hearings, a condition set in the EIA and/or EHIA study process. But Egat dismisses the concerns, and despite the dispute the Office of Natural Resources and Environment Policy and Planning (ONRE) has endorsed the project and defended its stance.

The Nation 26 September 2017 | Pratch Rujivanarom

TWO SOLDIERS who led an armed attack on a local community near Tungkum gold mine to open a blockade on a gold transportation route had their sentences extended yesterday.

Loei Provincial Court yesterday read the Regional 4 Appeal Court verdict.

Bangkok Post 25 September 2017 | Apinya Wipatayotin

Kanchanaburi: The Department of Pollution Control expects to start cleaning up the lead-contaminated Klity creek in Thong Pha Phum district in Kanchanaburi province in October with a 460-million-baht budget.

The move sets the target for lead amounts in water sediment at 1,800 miligrammes per kilogramme after the rehabilitation process.

Standard Digital 25 September 2017 | Lucas Ngasike 

A global study found nearly half of Kenyan women involved in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) had mercury levels that exceeded 1 ppm, which approximately corresponds to the US Environmental Protection Agency reference dose.

Mercury levels above 1ppm can be linked to brain damage, IQ loss, and kidney and heart damage.

The Nation 25 September 2017

A lawsuit has been filed at the Administrative Court to stop construction of a coal-fired power plant and a biomass power plant in Chaiyaphum’s Bamnet Narong district.

Over 500 people from Bamnet Narong district gathered at Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Administrative Court on Monday requesting the court cancel the approval process for a coal-fired or biomass power plant to be located in a potash mine in their area.

The Nation 23 September 2017 | PRATCH RUJIVANAROM  

Protests planned from November as critics say it fails to improve on flaws and process lacked public participation.

ENVIRONMENTAL activists from around the country jointly protested against the new Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Bill for not doing enough to protect the environment and lacking public participation, and announced a prolonged demonstration beginning in November.