CREATING CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE

The ongoing industrialisation of a fragile area of Prachuap Khiri Khan province has prompted a group of environmentalists to go to extreme lengths to protect their community, writes SUPARA JANCHITFAH

The villagers who protest against the iron ore smelting plant in Bang Saphan district of Prachuap Khiri Khan province have never heard of the philosopher Henry David Thoreau, who first introduced the fundamentals of civil disobedience in an essay of the same name in 1849. However, these villagers know, far better than most, what exactly Thoreau was talking about.

One of his many memorable passages poses these questions: "Unjust laws exist: shall we be content to obey them, or shall we endeavour to amend them, and obey them until we have succeeded, or shall we transgress them at once?"

Opponents of the smelter say they have witnessed many unjust laws, as well as a lack of regard for their troubles on the part of government agencies. As they began to learn about local and environmental movements that have made a difference, they formed their own Mae Ramphueng Environmental Group and mustered the courage to assemble and express their concerns (see related story). ...

continued at the Bangkok Post

CREATING CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE

The ongoing industrialisation of a fragile area of Prachuap Khiri Khan province has prompted a group of environmentalists to go to extreme lengths to protect their community, writes SUPARA JANCHITFAH

The villagers who protest against the iron ore smelting plant in Bang Saphan district of Prachuap Khiri Khan province have never heard of the philosopher Henry David Thoreau, who first introduced the fundamentals of civil disobedience in an essay of the same name in 1849. However, these villagers know, far better than most, what exactly Thoreau was talking about.

One of his many memorable passages poses these questions: "Unjust laws exist: shall we be content to obey them, or shall we endeavour to amend them, and obey them until we have succeeded, or shall we transgress them at once?"

Opponents of the smelter say they have witnessed many unjust laws, as well as a lack of regard for their troubles on the part of government agencies. As they began to learn about local and environmental movements that have made a difference, they formed their own Mae Ramphueng Environmental Group and mustered the courage to assemble and express their concerns (see related story). ...

continued at the Bangkok Post

I lived in that area for 3 years .. the folks down there are interesting. They managed to hold off the power plant project (several years ago) and they are quite vocal over the smelter. Thailand's environmental department withheld approval for quite sometime, then the permanent secretary retired and .. well ..

The water around Ban Chai Talay (Bangsaphan's Beach area) is filthy, mainly due to the deep-water port. The port size is now planned to double capacity. There is also speculation that the land is mangroves and was public land.

The rolling mill already built there creates tons of traffic. I can only imagine what might bappen with the smelter.