British Conservationist In Thailand Receives OBE

[webfact]

ENVIRONMENT

British conservationist in Thailand receives OBE

By THE NATION

Belinda Stewart-Cox, who has spent the last 25 years working for wildlife conservation in Thailand, has received the prestigious OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours.

A leading figure in local efforts to protect the forests of western Thailand, Stewart-Cox has over the years helped stop environmental damage from a hydro-electric dam and logging concessions.

She also co-wrote the successful |nomination for World Heritage status and co-founded two organisations that focus on conservation in different ways.

The most recent, the Elephant Conservation Network (ECN), was established in 2000 with her colleague Jittin Ritthirat to help protect wild elephants and their ecosystem by turning human-elephant conflict into human-elephant coexistence.

Their work is steadily changing the attitudes of formerly hostile farmers, enabling villagers to develop alternative livelihoods, and strengthening protection of elephants and their habitat. Several projects initiated by ECN, including a corridor proposal, are now part of the Thai government's agenda.

On receiving her OBE, Stewart-Cox said: "I'm thrilled that all those years of effort have been recognised in this way, but I'm also aware that I could not have achieved anything worthwhile without the kind and committed help of the many good people I have been, and still am, privileged to work with in Thailand."

British Ambassador to Thailand, Asif Ahmad said: "I am delighted that Belinda has received this honour. It is recognition of her tireless commitment to safeguarding Thailand's most important resource - its natural environment".

-- The Nation 2011-06-13

[lannarebirth]

Isn't Western Thailand almost completely logged, maybe even twice already? I don't mean to take anything away from the dear lady's honors but the last thing they mention regarding her was 10 years ago and if you've evr been in Western Thailand you'd know it has been nearly completely logged. The steepest slopes you ever saw have been stripped of primevil forest. No wonder every river is a mudflow.

Edited June 13, 2011 by lannarebirth

[geriatrickid]

Isn't Western Thailand almost completely logged, maybe even twice already? I don't mean to take anything away from the dear lady's honors but the last thing they mention regarding her was 10 years ago and if you've evr been in Western Thailand you'd know it has been nearly completely logged. The steepest slopes you ever saw have bbe stripped of primevil forest. No wonder every river is a mudflow.

Umm, with all due respect to your comments, which I recognize as having merit, she's the elephant lady as we call her. Her focus was on getting people to live in harmony with the natural habitat and to try and sustain a place for elephants to live naturally. Her work may not have prevented the illegal logging but it helped to contain it and to ignite the public's involvement. She's an educator and grass roots kind of dame, not a saviour. The poor woman can only do so much.

[Soutpeel]

I wounder how much she paid for it...?......

[folium]

I wounder how much she paid for it...?......

What a pathetic, sad, petty-minded response.

Classic cheap shot from an armchair warrior. When did you get off your backside and do anything beneficial for this country?

[ginjag]

Isn't Western Thailand almost completely logged, maybe even twice already? I don't mean to take anything away from the dear lady's honors but the last thing they mention regarding her was 10 years ago and if you've evr been in Western Thailand you'd know it has been nearly completely logged. The steepest slopes you ever saw have bbe stripped of primevil forest. No wonder every river is a mudflow.

Umm, with all due respect to your comments, which I recognize as having merit, she's the elephant lady as we call her. Her focus was on getting people to live in harmony with the natural habitat and to try and sustain a place for elephants to live naturally. Her work may not have prevented the illegal logging but it helped to contain it and to ignite the public's involvement. She's an educator and grass roots kind of dame, not a saviour. The poor woman can only do so much.

Brilliant dedicated person, fully deserved.

but I wonder why Thailand it's self hasn't done more, answer Thai greed by the money people,who protect themselves. Agree with the person about the logging, no wonder there are mudslides.

Iannarebirth-you are correct, its a pity there weren't 10 of these people, then maybe the tigers etc would have more protection. And this for the sick posters to comment on how much money the lady received, Maybe she had expenses -maybe she was paid. It's not the point, it's the time and dedication and effort that has been put into the conservation work, and her experience teaching Thais how to manage such things-education

Edited June 13, 2011 by ginjag

[lannarebirth]

In the Land Of Smiles when vetting a news release or blurb, I generally like to add the words scam and cheat into the search engine. This lady seems to check out pretty well. Her Thai confederates not so well. My heartiest congratulations to her.

Edited June 13, 2011 by lannarebirth

[folium]

In the Land Of Smiles when vetting a news release or blurb, I generally like to add the words scam and cheat into the search engine. This lady seems to check out pretty well. Her Thai confederates not so well. My heartiest congratulations to her.

Without wishing to be overly controversial, it's a shame that you did not do your homework before posting your first response. Patronising comments about a "dear lady" are unnecessary, as is suggesting that work has been a waste of time, and are a classic case of pulling trigger before engaging brain. I get so sick of overly hasty, snide posts that probably come from people who have done little of any real value in their lives (maybe you have LannaRebirth, but I get the feeling it's not the case for quite a few TV posters).

Edited June 13, 2011 by folium

[isanbirder]

Isn't Western Thailand almost completely logged, maybe even twice already?

No. Have you ever been into the Western forest complex, from Umphang south to Three Pagoda Pass?

[toybits]

Congratulations Belinda!!!

[lannarebirth]

In the Land Of Smiles when vetting a news release or blurb, I generally like to add the words scam and cheat into the search engine. This lady seems to check out pretty well. Her Thai confederates not so well. My heartiest congratulations to her.

Without wishing to be overly controversial, it's a shame that you did not do your homework before posting your first response. Patronising comments about a "dear lady" are unnecessary, as is suggesting that work has been a waste of time, and are a classic case of pulling trigger before engaging brain. I get so sick of overly hasty, snide posts that probably come from people who have done little of any real value in their lives (maybe you have LannaRebirth, but I get the feeling it's not the case for quite a few TV posters).

I am on my knes, Please elucidate me.

[Soutpeel]

I wounder how much she paid for it...?......

What a pathetic, sad, petty-minded response.

Classic cheap shot from an armchair warrior. When did you get off your backside and do anything beneficial for this country?

Get a sense of humour......Pleeeeeeese....:jap:

So you are telling me.....British honours/titles etc have never been bought ?....

I do plenty of things which are beneficial to this country, what do you do ?

[folium]

In the Land Of Smiles when vetting a news release or blurb, I generally like to add the words scam and cheat into the search engine. This lady seems to check out pretty well. Her Thai confederates not so well. My heartiest congratulations to her.

Without wishing to be overly controversial, it's a shame that you did not do your homework before posting your first response. Patronising comments about a "dear lady" are unnecessary, as is suggesting that work has been a waste of time, and are a classic case of pulling trigger before engaging brain. I get so sick of overly hasty, snide posts that probably come from people who have done little of any real value in their lives (maybe you have LannaRebirth, but I get the feeling it's not the case for quite a few TV posters).

I am on my knes, Please elucidate me.

Arise Sir Lannarebirth! Feel better?

Edited June 13, 2011 by folium

[aussimike]

I wounder how much she paid for it...?......

welllllllllllll = what a totally pathetic comment from someone who obviously sits in his little chair in front of his old pc thinking of negative comments to post on tv - get off your bum and contribute something your self -- what have u ever achieved or done that sought recognition from anything --- she deserves this award -- as does anyone who give up their time and effort for good causes and who ask for no thanks - but do it for he love of his or her cause

[lannarebirth]

In the Land Of Smiles when vetting a news release or blurb, I generally like to add the words scam and cheat into the search engine. This lady seems to check out pretty well. Her Thai confederates not so well. My heartiest congratulations to her.

Without wishing to be overly controversial, it's a shame that you did not do your homework before posting your first response. Patronising comments about a "dear lady" are unnecessary, as is suggesting that work has been a waste of time, and are a classic case of pulling trigger before engaging brain. I get so sick of overly hasty, snide posts that probably come from people who have done little of any real value in their lives (maybe you have LannaRebirth, but I get the feeling it's not the case for quite a few TV posters).

I apologize sincerely if I have maligned anyone who has engaged in good works. At the same time, given the tiny bit of information in the press release, I wonder how it squares with my own observation's travelling down nearly every road in Thailand and the deforestation I've seen. Probably could have been a lot worse, eh?

Edited June 13, 2011 by lannarebirth

[anterian]

What I find interesting, and in no way maligning her efforts, is the Queen's awards are awarded by a behind the scenes committee. One has to be nominated in order to be considered. How did this lady come to the attention of this committee? I had never heard of her before today. Is her work part of a larger organisation, anyone know?

[robertson468]

I wounder how much she paid for it...?......

welllllllllllll = what a totally pathetic comment from someone who obviously sits in his little chair in front of his old pc thinking of negative comments to post on tv - get off your bum and contribute something your self -- what have u ever achieved or done that sought recognition from anything --- she deserves this award -- as does anyone who give up their time and effort for good causes and who ask for no thanks - but do it for he love of his or her cause

I'm sure the original post was intended as light-hearted humour, but unfortunately instead of being funny, it would appear that some (including me) find it in bad taste.

[robertson468]

In the Land Of Smiles when vetting a news release or blurb, I generally like to add the words scam and cheat into the search engine. This lady seems to check out pretty well. Her Thai confederates not so well. My heartiest congratulations to her.

Without wishing to be overly controversial, it's a shame that you did not do your homework before posting your first response. Patronising comments about a "dear lady" are unnecessary, as is suggesting that work has been a waste of time, and are a classic case of pulling trigger before engaging brain. I get so sick of overly hasty, snide posts that probably come from people who have done little of any real value in their lives (maybe you have LannaRebirth, but I get the feeling it's not the case for quite a few TV posters).

It would appear you have used a sledgehammer rather than a finger wagging to get your point across, apart from which the term "dear lady" is not condescending, it is a term of endearment. Unlike starting a sentence with "Without wishing to be overly controversial..." and then knocking the poor person clean out of the ring! Did we have a bad night last night perhaps? I hope you feel better as the day goes on. By the way, I am a bigger dog than he is!

Edited June 13, 2011 by robertson468

[folium]

In the Land Of Smiles when vetting a news release or blurb, I generally like to add the words scam and cheat into the search engine. This lady seems to check out pretty well. Her Thai confederates not so well. My heartiest congratulations to her.

Without wishing to be overly controversial, it's a shame that you did not do your homework before posting your first response. Patronising comments about a "dear lady" are unnecessary, as is suggesting that work has been a waste of time, and are a classic case of pulling trigger before engaging brain. I get so sick of overly hasty, snide posts that probably come from people who have done little of any real value in their lives (maybe you have LannaRebirth, but I get the feeling it's not the case for quite a few TV posters).

It would appear you have used a sledgehammer rather than a finger wagging to get your point across, apart from which the term "dear lady" is not condescending, it is a term of endearment. Unlike starting a sentence with "Without wishing to be overly controversial..." and then knocking the poor person clean out of the ring! Did we have a bad night last night perhaps? I hope you feel better as the day goes on. By the way, I am a bigger dog than he is!

So I hear, darling.

Edited June 13, 2011 by folium

[latearrival]

I have been on this site for ages but never posted until now. Congratulations to her for amazing work - usually no doubt against the odds. I also felt that there are too many people replying here that are just small minded individuals who can not believe that some of us actually love Thailand and want to help make it a better place. Not everything in this world is about money.

Again amazing work from an amazing woman who thoroughly deserves to be recognised for it.

[tlansford]

Nice to see the publicity on conservationism in Thailand and congratulations to Ms Stewart-Cox and the others.

Thailand is filled with natural beauty and important habitats. There is certainly a lot more work for the Ms Stewart-Cox's of the world to do here.

[CNXBKKMAN]

I wounder how much she paid for it...?......

What a pathetic, sad, petty-minded response.

Classic cheap shot from an armchair warrior. When did you get off your backside and do anything beneficial for this country?

Get a sense of humour......Pleeeeeeese....:jap:

So you are telling me.....British honours/titles etc have never been bought ?....

I do plenty of things which are beneficial to this country, what do you do ?

I thought the titles of Sir and Lord were the ones that can be bought. You buy them by making large donations to the Labour party or the Consevative party. MBE's are for normal people who have done something to merit it.