Pollution Puts Chiang Mai Off The Tourist Trail

[HaleySabai]

I live outside ChiangMai city near the national park and the air has been getting better, although today is smoggy once again. The last few years it has been fine,NOT this year.

I am thinking about heading to Nepal for March to mid-April next year and trek in the solitude and freshness of the Himalayas. ChiangMai is a very nice place to live for at least 9 months of the year and I have no intention of moving, just exercise my options.

[blakegeee]

same-same here in Laos, unfortunately....... here in Luang Prabang it's getting really bad, I had to pull off the road a few times on my 'cycle yesterday just to clear my eyes.

CM and all of northern Thailand has to get a grip on this situation, I hear Chiang Rai is even worse!

You should take the road from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang: everywhere fire, everywhere forest is burning: deliberatey by Hmong hilltribes: slash and burn. It's a nightmare! Lao police isn't doing anything, Government even less (40% of the Lao population is Hmong)... I have photographic evidence...

You sound like you work for the Thai or Laos government, "Its the hilltribes fault!" Believe me, not all farmers are hilltribe people. This is from wiki:

"Lao Soung (highland people)

Hill people and minority cultures of Laos such as the Hmong (Miao), Yao (Mien), Dao, Shan, and several Tibeto-Burman speaking peoples have lived in isolated regions of Laos for many years. Mountain/hill tribes of mixed ethno/cultural-linguistic heritage are found in northern Laos which include the Lua (Lua) and Khmu people who are indigenous to Laos. Today, the Lua people are considered endangered. Collectively, they are known as Lao Soung or highland Laotians. Lao Soung account for only about 10% of the population."

Not even close to 40% of the population! So where is that supporting "photographic evidence"? Surely it can be used to correct wiki.

Edited March 31, 2012 by blakegeee

[Mitker]

For those who didn't sign it yet, here is the petition aimed at reversing this pathetic inertia of the authorities:

http://www.breathecampaign.net/

At least, this is something anyone can do to help for a change.

[hellodolly]

Ahh yes, everything revolves around tourists especially backpackers - NOT.

Has anyone actually considered why it is done? Has any one seen how well it is staggered? Has anyone thought what would happen if the underbrush was allowed to thrive year after year?

If you have a solution you enviro-genii,

I am sure we would all love to hear it - go on, I am waiting with my face mask on for your pearls of wisdom...

Yes they do have methods that do not involve fire. They will improve their profits also. But the problem is their great great great Grandfather did it this way so why change. Bitch all you want but until some one actually goes out there and shows them nothing will change.

[theanimaster]

My neighbour here in Bangkok burns his leaves right in our faces. I was going to call the cops but found out the truth: The city sanitation department DOES NOT collect leaves etc. You have to PAY THEM to do it. Thailand: Land of Corruption.

I'm outta this shithole by the end of the year. Let the Thais be blindly led to the slaughter by their dictators. I'm taking my whole family with me too.

[theanimaster]

I can't seem to access the breathecampaign.net page. The MICT must be working its magic... like the times they blocked Macworld articles....

[theanimaster]

Oh ok... liek -- WOW -- It ONLY runs in MS IE. I hate shit designers... No go for Firefox, Chrome or Safari...

[Mitker]

Oh ok... liek -- WOW -- It ONLY runs in MS IE. I hate shit designers... No go for Firefox, Chrome or Safari...

I'm using Firefox only and the link works fine.

[Sparkles]

I have a good friend that smokes 2 packs a day. Yesterday the smoke was seemingly worse than in many days. He started to bitch about how sh*tty the air is. I just had to laugh. My question is how many complainers on this forum smoke cancer sticks and complain about the air. Yes the air is pretty pretty bad. In a matter of a few weeks more or less the rains will come and things will be back to the abnormal normal.

Hang in there

And next year the burning will be back again.Is that the best that can be done, wait for mother nature ? Rather than wait wouldnt it be a good idea for someone in power to act. 1000's of army personnel are stationed in Northern Thailand probably bored out of their minds.Its not a national emergency but pretty close to it, ask the tourist operators and the hospitals treating people.Oh and the rain making exercise that was a huge success

[theanimaster]

Oh ok... liek -- WOW -- It ONLY runs in MS IE. I hate shit designers... No go for Firefox, Chrome or Safari...

I'm using Firefox only and the link works fine.

Must be Windoze-only then, because none of the browsers on my mac work, but it opens up in a virtual Windoze installation.

[ianf]

The burning still goes on. Yesterday I drove through Mae Tang up to Chiang Dao. Quite a few areas were burning. Cops driving past, no doubt officials of other types too. Nobody gives a dam_n. Up above Chiang Mai on the mountain with Mont Cham. Burning too on the way up there. Round the back of Doi Kham this evening. Recent burning of the verges. The air had been improving for a few days but today was so bad ..... and nobody gives a dam_n. These type of issues are not the ones that will satisfy the power hungry greedy monsters that are in charge of things.

[ianf]

The burning still goes on. Yesterday I drove through Mae Tang up to Chiang Dao. Quite a few areas were burning. Cops driving past, no doubt officials of other types too. Nobody gives a dam_n. Up above Chiang Mai on the mountain with Mont Cham. Burning too on the way up there. Round the back of Doi Kham this evening. Recent burning of the verges. The air had been improving for a few days but today was so bad ..... and nobody gives a dam_n. These type of issues are not the ones that will satisfy the power hungry greedy monsters that are in charge of things.

[ianf]

The burning still goes on. Yesterday I drove through Mae Tang up to Chiang Dao. Quite a few areas were burning. Cops driving past, no doubt officials of other types too. Nobody gives a dam_n. Up above Chiang Mai on the mountain with Mont Cham. Burning too on the way up there. Round the back of Doi Kham this evening. Recent burning of the verges. The air had been improving for a few days but today was so bad ..... and nobody gives a dam_n. These type of issues are not the ones that will satisfy the power hungry greedy monsters that are in charge of things.

[freedom4life]

Indeed, it is high-time that the Thai gov't does something about this horrible issue. Tourists, especially residents have had enough of this dibilitating health issue. I have a home in Chiang Mai, but I will not remain here, if the issue is not dealt with this year.

[bristolgeoff]

this year was a bad one for the burning,no wonder people stayed away from chiang mai

[palomnik]

Burning the rice fields kills the insects; its either that or use a massive amount of insecticides every year.

In Bali they don't burn the fields. They let loose an army of ducks instead - they eat all the insects and the rice stubble, plus they fertilize the fields. And then the farmers eat the ducks. Great solution!

Edited March 31, 2012 by palomnik

[JeffreyMcCollum]

Back in the late 70's or early 80's Oregon USA had the same problem with burning the grass seed fields. Much like the rice. The skies were just brown and many accidents were on the near by freeways. Then a law was passed and low and behold, within 1 year they had a better system. No burning and better for the feild crops. So I know it can be do if they wish to do it.

California also has many rice feilds and they do not burn there either

[jko]

For those who didn't sign it yet, here is the petition aimed at reversing this pathetic inertia of the authorities:

http://www.breathecampaign.net/

At least, this is something anyone can do to help for a change.

+1 And the deadline for signatures is today - it is scheduled to be sent to the Prime Minister and provincial governors on 1st April - so please don't sit on the fence. Even if you feel the wording and the approach could be better, the message is clear - STOP THE BURNING - and that's what we all want.

Go ahead folks. At the time of posting this there are 3683 signatures. Make it at least 4000.

[barefoot1988]

I have a good friend that smokes 2 packs a day. Yesterday the smoke was seemingly worse than in many days. He started to bitch about how sh*tty the air is. I just had to laugh. My question is how many complainers on this forum smoke cancer sticks and complain about the air. Yes the air is pretty pretty bad. In a matter of a few weeks more or less the rains will come and things will be back to the abnormal normal.

Hang in there

I am a smoker but not a 2 pack per day guy, more like a 2pack per week guy, only smoking after meals or while crapping. Nothing much on the breathing part, but its the visibility and it irritates the hell out of my eye since im wearing contacts

[KeyserSoze01]

Does anyone have a cost effective solution to problem of clearly the fields, fertilizing them and killing the insects without burning? I thought not. Farmers have been burning their fields for a millennium to prepare them for the next planting. Either get used to it or move.

[cusanus]

As much as I love Chiangmai, having lived there for 25 years, we could no longet accept the pollution.

My wife had chronic rhinitis the whole time we were there which resulted in severe infection to her sinuses and I stared getting astma and bronchitis. We are very elderly which made the problem even more serious. A few years ago we moved to a beach resort just south of Hua Hin and the both our problems completely cleared.up. I recently nade a trip to Chiangmai and thought I had caught pneumonia there and was admitted to Ram Hospital. They treated me and normally it would have taken at least a week or two for the problem to clear up But upon arriving back at our beach I recovered completely.in two days.

The pollution problem can be solved simply by having a couple of special helicopters with water containers which could spot a fire when it was started and douse it. They could patrol day and night and easily spot a fire. The villagers would soon stop burning if water was dumped on them everytime. About 5 years ago bT250 million was allocated for controlling the fires in Chiangmai. It could have emplyed a lot of helicoter time but instead it went into someones pocket.

There should be massive protests in Chiangmai to impose severe penalties for burning but I think the helicapoter idea would really work,

Yep, it would be a wonderful retirement city if not for this, most older people simply can't endure the smoke, a big shame and terrible cost to Thailand, too. I had a headache for a solid two weeks, my Thai wife has been coughing all night and in very bad shape for a month now in Sanpatong.

[yummypizza]

Well hang on, where's the proof that tourists are avoiding Chiang mai?....hog wash, there are more things putting tourists off than smoke!!

[TeddyFlyfisherDavis]

I was in Mae Sai on Thursday and could not see 100 yards in front or behind me...The smell was beyond disgusting..Then crossed over to Burma and it actually got worse...

Edited March 31, 2012 by TeddyFlyfisherDavis

[BigJohnnyBKK]

If you have a solution you enviro-genii,

I am sure we would all love to hear it - go on, I am waiting with my face mask on for your pearls of wisdom...

Reduce the earth's human population by 80% and eliminate commercial agriculture, have all government spending funded by a tax on food that escalates by the distance between where it's grown and where it's sold to the consumer.

Let's start actually living up to the pretence that we are rational animals.

[millwall_fan]

If you have a solution you enviro-genii,

I am sure we would all love to hear it - go on, I am waiting with my face mask on for your pearls of wisdom...

Reduce the earth's human population by 80% and eliminate commercial agriculture, have all government spending funded by a tax on food that escalates by the distance between where it's grown and where it's sold to the consumer.

Let's start actually living up to the pretence that we are rational animals.

Which is pretty much what Pol Pot tried to do!

Nothing is being done and nothing will be until there is a financial incentive for the police to act.

The pathetic sight of the CM governor K. Diskul, riding round in a Jeep at the head of a convey of ancient fire trucks, last week, squirting water into the air around the moat for the benefit of Al Jazeera's TV cameras shows that the local government anyway, has no intention or ability to do anything about the problem.

[yeeowww]

Authorities in Thailand must act to stop the perennial problem of pollution in the backpacker town, says Chris Coplans.

lol back packer town...

Laugh all you want...

I own an art gallery and in the past month, backpackers are about ALL I've seen walk past my shop front.

My sales are at a 6 year low, and we are not even technically into the "Low" season yet.

This government has screwed up more than anything that was promised and I personally hate them.

Regardless of who or what came before, they are in the driver's seat now and are responsible for what is happening at this point.

They are responsible for the floods and they are responsible for letting this air pollution continue and not getting it in control.

What happened to all of Thaksin's promises to make things right?!

What happened to "There will be no more poor within 6 months"?

What happened to "300 Baht a day minimum to every worker"

What happened to "I will bring gold back to the price it was 2 years ago"

What happened to "Drug dealers will cease to sell drugs the moment we are back in government"...

and so on, and so on, ad nauseum.

I can tell you this...

I am pulling up anchor and moving to Siem Reap to do business. At least there there is no insane Thai ego or lying visa BS. I have friends there who inform me it is a walk in the park and a breath of fresh air and roses compared to LOS.

Let's face the facts folks...

LOS has LOST it.

And the sad thing, all of this by their own hands... the oblivious, ignorant fools.

[Chupup]

I have a good friend that smokes 2 packs a day. Yesterday the smoke was seemingly worse than in many days. He started to bitch about how sh*tty the air is. I just had to laugh. My question is how many complainers on this forum smoke cancer sticks and complain about the air. Yes the air is pretty pretty bad. In a matter of a few weeks more or less the rains will come and things will be back to the abnormal normal.

Hang in there

Sorry can"t answer your question,but I smoke like a chimney and have suffered no ill effects from the bad air quality.maybe something in my genes.

Just give it time, just give it time it will !!

[harada]

On a recent trip to Chiang Mai I mentioned to the receptionest that things seemed to be a bit quiet tourist wise for the high season, she said yes now we only have a low season and a low low season( the hotel is up for sale) I think the smile is wearing off in LOS.

[mistitikimikis]

We can focus at the North but isn't the irresponsibility everywhere the same????

http://www.antoni-uni-photography.com/THAILAND/Pollution/Pollution-thailand-antoniuni/16226628_qCfq9S#!i=1239396430&k=a9o94&lb=1&s=A

http://www.antoni-uni-photography.com/THAILAND/Pollution/Pollution-thailand-antoniuni/16226628_qCfq9S#!i=1239405449&k=XAppx&lb=1&s=A

http://www.antoni-uni-photography.com/THAILAND/Pollution/Pollution-thailand-antoniuni/16226628_qCfq9S#!i=1239406122&k=2QzVh&lb=1&s=A

http://www.antoni-uni-photography.com/THAILAND/Pollution/Pollution-thailand-antoniuni/16226628_qCfq9S#!i=1773568863&k=MStjHtv&lb=1&s=A

http://www.antoni-uni-photography.com/THAILAND/Pollution/Pollution-thailand-antoniuni/16226628_qCfq9S#!i=1773568863&k=MStjHtv&lb=1&s=A

At just 500 mtrs. from the houses and four kms from a manned police-station along Nimitmai Rd., North Bangkok. In the "village" KC-Garden they do the same, so what?

[jalansanitwong]

When i read the travel articles back home, its countries such as Laos and Burma that are all the rage. Thailand barely rates a mention these days. Thailand has become money mad and overcommercialised with a 7/11 on every corner. New travellers are now looking for whats left of 'real' Asia.

No doubt Laos and Burma will eventually become the new Thailand's and commercialise themselves in just the same way.

Greed always wins out.