In South Thailand, rubber tappers are struggling to make ends meet as rubber prices continue to fall, leaving them facing an uncertain future.
Organic rice farmers in Thailand’s Klong Yong community find success as entrepreneurs
A case of successful entrepreneur in organic rice community shifted their way of life to produce variety organic products in Klong Yong community of Thailand. The transition initially proved difficult but now the community has grown stronger after becoming not just producers of organic rice but entrepreneurs selling a variety of organic products.
Lower Klity Creek villagers: Living with lead poisoning
Lower Klity Creek is the main source of water for the hundreds of Karen families living in the Thongpaphum district of Kanchanaburi province in western Thailand. For the last five decades, a lead factory has released toxic waste, poisoning the rivers and creeks and leading to illnesses and death from lead contamination in the water and food. The Jo family is one of the Karen families still living with the toxic contamination and living in unimaginable suffering. Even though the factory was shut down in 1998, the toxic legacy of poisoning remains. Although the villagers have fought and won court cases against the company to clean up the creek, so far the authorities have not provided any effective clean-up measures.
A young Singaporean’s journey of self-discovery in Isaan
A Singaporean city dweller travels to the Thai countryside to learn more about sustainable food production and local farming knowledge. Sing Yee, a recent university graduate, shares insights from her stay, amidst conversations on farming, food, politics and development with other ASEAN youths and the host community.
Forced evictions cause misery for Phu Phan mountain farmers, Thailand
Thailand’s military government has undertaken forced evictions of both businesses and villagers found using state lands such as national reserve forests and protected areas without legal land titles. This article looks at ongoing evictions in northeastern Thailand’s Phu Phan mountains, to present farmers’ perspectives on their struggles.
Thailand’s freedom seeds network: Can Jack face the giant?
Seeds are at the heart of food production, but are increasingly controlled by a few multinational companies. No one expected “uneducated” farmers could breed viable crop seeds, but Thai groups have proved they have the right skills, and communities are drawing the benefit. In this process, small-scale farmers are opening alternative paths to the increasing monopolisation of our agricultural system
Laos foots the bill for power-hungry Bangkok
Bangkok’s ever-expanding electricity demand is contributing to environmental and social injustices through the generation of electricity far away from the city. This includes in the Mekong River basin, particularly through the expansion of hydropower dams in Laos.
Dam EIAs enable “river grabbing”
Governments and developers promote large hydropower as clean energy necessary for economic development. In most cases, developers prepare Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs). But rather than raise questions about whether the dam should be built, EIAs become the first step to enable “river grabbing”
Integration for whom: The ASEAN Economic Community
The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), to be launched in 2015, aims to create a single market and production base. Dorothy Guerrero examines whether this advances socio-economic development in the ASEAN region, or results in damage to people’s general well-being, human rights and environmental security.