Swiss man in Pattaya clean-up campaign features on national Thai TV

 

Picture: Channel 3

 

A 52 year old Swiss man has been featured on national Thai television after he complained to the media that nothing was being done to clean up the klong by his house. 

 

Long time Thai resident Erich Fahrni has been waging a six year battle to keep the Chark Ngaew canal in Bang Lamung clean. 

 

In Thai language he spoke to Channel 3's reporter telling her that people stop on a bridge, dump their trash then go home. 

 

He claimed that septic tank trucks also discharge their filthy waste in the canal, too. 

 

It all ends up in the sea. 

 

Over the last six years he has sometimes collected 200 kilos of trash in a single day. And he has spent 60,000 baht of his own money hiring people at 300-500 baht a time to help him with the clean-ups. 

 

Channel 3

 

He said that it shouldn't be his job - but he loves Thailand like his homeland.

 

His Thai wife said that he wanted his Thai home to be clean like in Switzerland where you could drink the water in the waterways.

 

It was difficult for him to complain to individuals as they would simply say: Who the hell are you?

 

So he went on Facebook and attracted the attention of the TV news. 

 

Channel 3 discovered that one of the culprits was a local laundry that discharges dirty water in to the canal.

 

The local Huay Yai council were filmed going to see the laundry owner in an effort to get her to change her ways.

 

Source: Channel 3

 

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2019-07-25

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What should be a straightforward environmental enforcement action has been turned into maudlin pap. The narrative has been switched from the environmental destruction to a sappy take on the Swiss man's struggles. Very Thai. Watch, sympathise, do nothing. This khlong will be filthy for the next 100 years.

Immediately after being interviewed, he was apprehended by immigration and deported for failing to submit a TM30 within 27 seconds of his arrival into the kingdom

1 hour ago, webfact said:

he has sometimes collected 200 kilos of trash in a single day.

he could weigh that in for cash.

Switzerland is one of the cleanest countries in the world. 

Why would a Swiss man want to move to Pattaya which is one of the filthiest  places in Thailand ?

Cambodia is the filthiest place I've seen anywhere.

3 hours ago, webfact said:

His Thai wife said that he wanted his Thai home to be clean like in Switzerland where you could drink the water in the waterways.

You can here... if you want to glow in the dark

........where you could drink the water in the waterways.

 

You can drink the canal water in Thailand. Just need a long straw......

Briggsy, nice reflective summary into the Thai culture....

 

i have become damn cynical over the 20 years now living here....

 

the bottom line here is nothing ever gets done whether traffic flooding air pollution road fatalities burning garbage/litter soi dogs land poaching wildlife trafficking etc 

 

it always points to a lack of accountability but Thais never reach a critical analysis of the issue at hand but rather a positive spin of hopelessness and make it a feel good story...

 

the Thai culture (tradition, status quo and do nothing) is masterful of turning solutions of serious issues into mai bpen rai....

 

As J Edgar Hoover said, if you are not improving, you are dying....

Do we love Thai Visa - what is pleasant story , and might get a bit of air time and perhaps might make a difference has been shot down in flames by the typical bitter and twisted keyboard warriors. 

This is the kind of story and related stories that need to be shown to all these western kids that stop going to school and cry to western politicians about clean air/water/save polar bears. 

This is the reality of the planet. Nearly 8 billion and counting and 90% don't give a flying rats ass about the planet and what they do to it.

The western politicians jump on the bandwagon and announce carbon taxes to make money out of the problem. 

This Swiss guy is as already shown beating his head against the proverbial brick wall. He might also take heed and beware of who he upsets about this in LoS. It could cost him more than his money to clean the mess.

 

I have given up on humanity. Currently all we hear now is wasting money on going back to the moon. What the hell for? To just go up there and cover it in human crap and plastic? Imagine Tranquility Base covered in what you see in a Thai/Cambodian Klong......nice.

4 hours ago, Lucius verus said:

Switzerland is one of the cleanest countries in the world. 

Why would a Swiss man want to move to Pattaya which is one of the filthiest  places in Thailand ?

Cambodia is the filthiest place I've seen anywhere.

i agree with what you say about cambodia---sihanoukville, very nice beach, littered with rubbish.they set up restaurants ,expecting people to eat surrounded by rubbish--just unbelievable.

I have the same problem around my house. Nobody care, although there are signs with  1,000 or 2,000 Baht fine for throwing garbage into the canal.

 

Now the real question surely on everybody's mind: when will Mr. Fahrni be deported?

Not surprised! It's in their genes, it's called the "Putzfrau" syndrome. We'll done Swiss man. ????????

Why bother Swissman, this place is a dump litteraly!

5 hours ago, mikebell said:

he could weigh that in for cash.

If it was worth anything it wouldn't be in the klong... if a Thai dumps it, it's got zero value !!

1 hour ago, lonewolf99 said:

This is the kind of story and related stories that need to be shown to all these western kids that stop going to school and cry to western politicians about clean air/water/save polar bears. 

This is the reality of the planet. Nearly 8 billion and counting and 90% don't give a flying rats ass about the planet and what they do to it.

The western politicians jump on the bandwagon and announce carbon taxes to make money out of the problem. 

This Swiss guy is as already shown beating his head against the proverbial brick wall. He might also take heed and beware of who he upsets about this in LoS. It could cost him more than his money to clean the mess.

 

I have given up on humanity. Currently all we hear now is wasting money on going back to the moon. What the hell for? To just go up there and cover it in human crap and plastic? Imagine Tranquility Base covered in what you see in a Thai/Cambodian Klong......nice.

 Can't agree with you more. Have you ever seen the mess around the base camps on Mt. Everest. The whole world has gone mad!

1 hour ago, lonewolf99 said:

This is the kind of story and related stories that need to be shown to all these western kids that stop going to school and cry to western politicians about clean air/water/save polar bears. 

This is the reality of the planet. Nearly 8 billion and counting and 90% don't give a flying rats ass about the planet and what they do to it.

The western politicians jump on the bandwagon and announce carbon taxes to make money out of the problem. 

This Swiss guy is as already shown beating his head against the proverbial brick wall. He might also take heed and beware of who he upsets about this in LoS. It could cost him more than his money to clean the mess.

 

I have given up on humanity. Currently all we hear now is wasting money on going back to the moon. What the hell for? To just go up there and cover it in human crap and plastic? Imagine Tranquility Base covered in what you see in a Thai/Cambodian Klong......nice.

I often wonder what could be achieved if the money spent on armaments around the world was diverted to better causes, yes and I know it it keeps people employed but perhaps they could be reemployed making something useful.

Wishful thinking I know.

at Least it’s not a bad report about a nasty foreigner..

 

..is it?

 

im a little skeptic somehow 

 

There must be some hidden motive?

 

 

1 hour ago, lonewolf99 said:

Tranquility Base covered in what you see in a Thai/Cambodian Klong......nice.

They did leave their crap  bags up there you  know

This guys should be very careful what he does. First rules of the foreigner - don't upset the locals and don't stand out from the crowd. Who knows, the laundry lady who dumps her effluent into the klong may have an axe-murderer brother, or another relation who can't wait to dob him in to the authorities for some minor infringement. 

My advice would be to cease any type of work immediately, or you are liable to be done for working without a work permit !

8 hours ago, webfact said:

His Thai wife said that he wanted his Thai home to be clean like in Switzerland where you could drink the water in the waterways.

Good luck with that!  You will fail. Mission impossible. 

7 hours ago, Lucius verus said:

Switzerland is one of the cleanest countries in the world. 

Why would a Swiss man want to move to Pattaya which is one of the filthiest  places in Thailand ?

Cambodia is the filthiest place I've seen anywhere.

What he should have learned during all the years he has spent in Thailand is the sad fact when you as a foreigner point on something negative in Thailand then you point Your finger on all the Thais.

 

If he didnt have any enemies before he for sure has it now - sad, but true ...

 

Never try to change the country you are visitting - if you dont like what you see just move on

The council is going to try and get her to change, shouldn't it be the council arrested her and shut her business down

7 hours ago, Lucius verus said:

Switzerland is one of the cleanest countries in the world. 

Why would a Swiss man want to move to Pattaya which is one of the filthiest  places in Thailand ?

Cambodia is the filthiest place I've seen anywhere.

Atleast in Cambodia you get what you pay for. In Thailand you pay a premium to see garbage everywhere including the privilege of watching black sewage water being pumped into the sea. Obviously its the tourist who are at fault. Thai's are way too intelligent to do anything of the sort! 

3 hours ago, murraynz said:

7 hours ago, Lucius verus said:

Switzerland is one of the cleanest countries in the world. 

Why would a Swiss man want to move to Pattaya which is one of the filthiest  places in Thailand ?

Cambodia is the filthiest place I've seen anywhere.

i agree with what you say about cambodia---sihanoukville, very nice beach, littered with rubbish.they set up restaurants ,expecting people to eat surrounded by rubbish--just unbelievable.

 

 

i recall a few years ago s ville beach was clean. not anymore

7 hours ago, Lucius verus said:

 Pattaya which is one of the filthiest  places in Thailand ?

Yes pattaya is famous for dirty. Dirty beach, rubbish, water.

And famous for many for being farang city.

 

if all the farang same this guy, I think it would be clean place.

 

A troll post and an off topic post in giant fonts removed

3 hours ago, StevieAus said:

I often wonder what could be achieved if the money spent on armaments around the world was diverted to better causes, yes and I know it it keeps people employed but perhaps they could be reemployed making something useful.

Wishful thinking I know.

Costa Rica puts their money into education rather than defense, worked okay for them..

4 hours ago, lonewolf99 said:

This is the kind of story and related stories that need to be shown to all these western kids that stop going to school and cry to western politicians about clean air/water/save polar bears. 

This is the reality of the planet. Nearly 8 billion and counting and 90% don't give a flying rats ass about the planet and what they do to it.

The western politicians jump on the bandwagon and announce carbon taxes to make money out of the problem. 

This Swiss guy is as already shown beating his head against the proverbial brick wall. He might also take heed and beware of who he upsets about this in LoS. It could cost him more than his money to clean the mess.

 

I have given up on humanity. Currently all we hear now is wasting money on going back to the moon. What the hell for? To just go up there and cover it in human crap and plastic? Imagine Tranquility Base covered in what you see in a Thai/Cambodian Klong......nice.

The moon might be the first choice in off worlding trash. The pioneers of creating a new other world of land fills. Some of them craters are begging for it! ????