Village Chief Defends Burning Practices Amid Air Pollution Crisis

[webfact]

 

In Ban Mae Lan Kham, northern Thailand, villagers are gearing up for their annual land-clearing fires as the haze season begins, traditionally contributing to some of the world’s worst air pollution. 

 

Village chief Nanthawat Tiengtrongsakun and his community cut down shrubs and trees on their small plots, setting controlled burns to clear the fields for planting. This age-old practice emits plumes of smoke, leading to a thick grey haze that permeates the region and makes breathing difficult for many locals.

 

Nanthawat, like many in his community, feels frustrated by the blame placed on the Pakanyo people, who are often accused of causing the haze and forest damage. "We are the ethnic group that preserves the forest. If we were causing the damage, the forest around us would be gone by now," he asserts.

 

Chiang Mai, a major tourist destination, consistently ranks among the world’s most polluted provinces during the haze season, from February to April.

 

The fine particulate matter levels can soar up to 20 times the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s recommended limit. This alarming pollution issue has prompted Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin to prioritise clean air legislation, aiming to make Chiang Mai a model province in tackling air pollution.

 

The primary culprit behind northern Thailand’s air pollution is typically seen as farmers growing corn for agro-food giants like CP Foods. Alternative stubble management methods like biochar or soil tilling are often too labour-intensive for the hilly terrain.

 

In response to the outcry, CP Foods has implemented a tracing system to avoid purchasing corn from deforested or burned land. Nevertheless, much of the cultivation has shifted to neighbouring Myanmar and Laos, where stubble burning remains rampant. In an effort to combat this, the Thai prime minister has started discussions with these countries to reduce the practice.

 

 

TOP Picture courtesy: Newsday

 

-- 2024-06-19

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

 

 

[ChrisY1]

Archaic practices prevail in Thailand....much of the country has not and probably never will, come into the modern era. Education is useless here sometimes!

[watchcat]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

We are the ethnic group that preserves the forest.

 

...and get thousands of people to hospitals, moron!

[Tropicalevo]

Unless the fat-butted government get off those butts and actually do something for the poorer people, folk like this have no options.

It's burn or starve for many.

Lots of money available for major projects that only big business want, but nothing in support of people like this.

Just telling them to stop burning isn't going to fix the problem.

 

NB to the esteemed leaders of this wonderful country - a one-off, 10,000 baht payment that is only available on a smart phone is not going to help them.

[Gottfrid]

Ok, so that´s what it takes to be the village headman today? He says they are an ethnic group preserving the forest, while he in reality do not understand the effects of what they are doing and supporting. To call himself an ethnic protector of the forest, maybe this man should get the education needed for such a title and position. The forest has not died yet, as it will stand and remain longer time than human health.

When he understands that fact, it will be time to ask him who will protect the forest, after human health has been eradicated? A question he will shrug off, because he will simply not understand it. The most sad thing, is that this guy must be the smartest in the village as he gets to wear the title Pu Yai ban. I can only say that I feel very sorry for the rest of the village population.

[Captain Flack]

Post breaking community rules has been removed.

 

Rule 17. The ASEAN NOW news team collects news articles from various recognised and reputable news sources. The articles  may be consolidated from different sources and rewritten with AI assistance These news items are shared in our forums for members to stay informed and engaged. Our dedicated news team puts in the effort to deliver quality content, and we ask for your respect in return. Any disrespectful comments about our news articles or the content itself, such as calling it "clickbait" or “slow news day”, criticizing grammatical errors, will not be tolerated and appropriate action will be taken. Please note that republished articles may contain errors or opinions that do not reflect the views of ASEAN NOW.

If you'd like to help us, and you see an error with an article then please use the report function so that we can attend to it promptly.

[hotchilli]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Nanthawat, like many in his community, feels frustrated by the blame placed on the Pakanyo people, who are often accused of causing the haze and forest damage. "We are the ethnic group that preserves the forest. If we were causing the damage, the forest around us would be gone by now," he asserts.

It's about causing health hazards and harm to the people you idiot.. what do you not understand?

[spidermike007]

Village chief Nanthawat Tiengtrongsakun and his community are real problem people. They care not one iota for their neighbors nor the nation. 

 

This is an ancient practice, and in order to improve the quality of life on a planet populated by over 8 billion souls, people have to be willing to adapt. This creep is not even willing to consider the possibility of progress or evolution, and he is directly responsible for lower air quality in the region

[Nickcage49]

Unfortunately they also move to Pattaya and they burn their garbage here. It makes the air quality in the town terrible.

[rwill]

People burn everywhere here.  It is not in just one area.

[MangoKorat]

8 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

Just telling them to stop burning isn't going to fix the problem.

No but locking them up might!

[Thailand]

"In Ban Mae Lan Kham, northern Thailand, villagers are gearing up for their annual land-clearing fires as the haze season begins,"

 

It's June and the wet season has just started?

[Cult of the Sun]

On 6/19/2024 at 4:55 AM, MangoKorat said:

No but locking them up might!

They are enabled by those who have the power to stop it or it obviously would not have gone on so long.

S. Florida's sugar cane industry does something similar, though they're not allowed to let it get near any 'important' people's home,

ie palm beach.

[MangoKorat]

6 hours ago, Cult of the Sun said:

They are enabled by those who have the power to stop it or it obviously would not have gone on so long.

Correct. Those who create the pollution and those who turn a blind eye (probably paid to) should be locked up.

[BobBKK]

I could not care less about his ancient practices - obey the law or be locked up.

[scorecard]

2 hours ago, BobBKK said:

I could not care less about his ancient practices - obey the law or be locked up.

....and have some respect for the health of and the right to live without being bombarded with smoke and soot / particles etc.