ASEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY

Open market under AEC may open door to disease and waste: experts

Suriyan Panyawai

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Participants of the fifth Thai Environment Health Conference voiced concerns that once the AEC kicks off in 2015, Thailand will face more environmental issues and related health problems as the free flow of labour could lead to crowded living conditions and problems with infrastructure.

With the Pollution Control Department (PCD) expecting garbage and polluted water to double, the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) has urged the government to put in place measures to control waste.

Dr Narong Saiwong, Department of Health deputy chief, said the free flow of labour could create crowded living conditions for which the existing infrastructure is insufficient, causing sanitation issues and health problems.

The migration of labour, partially motivated by the recently implemented Bt300 daily wage, could lead to disease outbreaks in Asean countries. Hence public and private agencies - especially those located near borders - should prepare measures such as supplies of clean water, proper wastewater treatment, disposal of household waste and garbage, and food safety.

He added that the already implemented measures on environmental health (2012-2016) needed to focus more on the management of air and water quality, as well as sanitation, garbage and waste disposal, he said.

PCD chief Wichien Jungrungreung said his department had estimated that once the AEC starts, the problem of garbage, wastewater and air quality could worsen in Thailand because manufacturers will start producing goods for a much larger market.

This will be combined with hazardous waste caused by cheap and substandard goods that are imported to Thailand, as quality checks will become less strict to promote trade.

He said the Kingdom already produced 700,000 tonnes of hazardous waste per year and countries that have stricter laws might smuggle such waste to less strict countries such as Thailand.

The rising number of tourists might also lead to more waste and water pollution, especially since Thailand is only able to dispose of about 36 per cent of its garbage properly and 20 per cent of its wastewater, he added.

FTI executive Korakot Phadungjit, meanwhile, said an inefficient transport system could also pose a problem because if goods ended up having to be stored for too long, they might end up having to be discarded, adding to the garbage problem. Thus, he said, the government should be ready to prevent such a scenario.

He added that the Bt300 wage would push manufacturers towards technology-based industries, helping Thai workers to improve their skills, as foreign investors running heavy industries would possibly move to countries with lower costs.

"However, if these heavy industries move to a neighbouring country, such proximity could still affect the Thai environment and health, so the government should focus on the reinforcement of law," he added.

-- The Nation 2013-01-19

Haven't these people been told there isn't compete freedom of movement of cheap labour.

The kicking and screaming of adolescents being dragged into the modern world.

I give up.

And Thailand hasn't had - oh how many years - to get its waste disposal, water, air and infrastructure problems in order?

Oh, I forgot, no one gives a toss.

Edited January 19, 201313 yr by arthurboy

This will be combined with hazardous waste caused by cheap and substandard goods that are imported to Thailand

Which will also be combined with the hazardous waste caused by cheap and substandard goods that are produced in Thailand.

This will be combined with hazardous waste caused by cheap and substandard goods that are imported to Thailand

Which will also be combined with the hazardous waste caused by cheap and substandard goods that are produced in Thailand.

It makes you wonder if these people are talking about some other Thailand, a land of zero pollution, no waste, spotless beaches and sea, and rivers filled with crystal clear waters.

The kicking and screaming of adolescents being dragged into the modern world.

These are just curtain raisers (there will be more) & when the day finally dawns there will a huge chorus of "we have not had time to prepare".

The kicking and screaming of adolescents being dragged into the modern world.

These are just curtain raisers (there will be more) & when the day finally dawns there will a huge chorus of "we have not had time to prepare".

They have been saying that about protected industries for 40 years. We aren't ready to compete.

If there is such a concern why are they cutting the budget by half every year???

Thailand's national budget on environmental protection

year in millions of baht

2010 - 3,362

2011 - 1903

2012 - 665

ote

edit

Found the 2013 budge. Note the percentage of allocation (0.1%) also note a 900 billion baht budget was suggested for the planed high speed rail.

Environment: 2,171,000,000.3 Baht (0.1 per cent) for sewage treatment system, wastewater treatment system, management and construction of drainage system, air and climate protection, protection of ground and surface water, reduction of noise pollution, radiation protection, construction of noise reducing walls and fences, measures to reduce water pollution, maintenance of ecosystems and landscapes and research and development.

http://asiancorrespo...ds-budget-2013/

Edited January 19, 201313 yr by dcutman

If there is such a concern why are they cutting the budget by half every year???

Thailand's national budget on environmental protection

year in millions of baht

2010 - 3,362

2011 - 1903

2012 - 665

ote

edit

Found the 2013 budge. Note the percentage of allocation (0.1%) also note a 900 billion baht budget was suggested for the planed high speed rail.

Environment: 2,171,000,000.3 Baht (0.1 per cent) for sewage treatment system, wastewater treatment system, management and construction of drainage system, air and climate protection, protection of ground and surface water, reduction of noise pollution, radiation protection, construction of noise reducing walls and fences, measures to reduce water pollution, maintenance of ecosystems and landscapes and research and development.

http://asiancorrespo...ds-budget-2013/

I believe that waste water treatment falls under local municipality control in most cases. The local authorities have to fill their pockets somehow.

Go in behind the hotels around pattaya and look at the storm canals, and then realise that basically that water only gets strained for solids. I will never go on the sea there. The whole eastern seaboard is basically the same.

As for seafood, forget it.

Edited January 19, 201313 yr by Thai at Heart

It's always someone else's fault for their own incompetence and inability to deal with problems.

The tourists, foreign investors, migrant workers... etc. Everyone is to blame but themselves.

It's already spread oral diarrhea among Thai "experts".

What's with all the fear mongering by these (so called) 'Thai experts'?

Me thinks this is just to set the stage for Thailand to say NO to the AEC and slam the door shut so they can continue to live in blissful isolation.

Ignorance is bliss. Amazing Thailand indeed.

If ever a proof of the sheer xenophobia of the Thais was needed, this report says it all. Every sin imaginable is thrown at all and sundry, from "cheap, shoddy goods" to tourists having the audacity of using the toilet during their visit! Yes, it's everybody's fault except the Thais!

As others have said, just wait till the AEC actually kicks in and then listen to the screams of outrage from the pampered cartels and monopolies who have grown fat on protectionism.

If ever a proof of the sheer xenophobia of the Thais was needed, this report says it all. Every sin imaginable is thrown at all and sundry, from "cheap, shoddy goods" to tourists having the audacity of using the toilet during their visit! Yes, it's everybody's fault except the Thais!

As others have said, just wait till the AEC actually kicks in and then listen to the screams of outrage from the pampered cartels and monopolies who have grown fat on protectionism.

I think you are right.

it will be like watching Alf Garnett

This will be combined with hazardous waste caused by cheap and substandard goods that are imported to Thailand

Which will also be combined with the hazardous waste caused by cheap and substandard goods that are produced in Thailand.

No No No, they just had a crackdown on cheap pirated goods so that problem has been solved.

This will be combined with hazardous waste caused by cheap and substandard goods that are imported to Thailand

Which will also be combined with the hazardous waste caused by cheap and substandard goods that are produced in Thailand.

It makes you wonder if these people are talking about some other Thailand, a land of zero pollution, no waste, spotless beaches and sea, and rivers filled with crystal clear waters.

I have read the tourist brochures also.

"The rising number of tourists might also lead to more waste and water pollution, especially since Thailand is only able to dispose of about 36 per cent of its garbage properly and 20 per cent of its wastewater, he added".

dam_n tourists, time for a crackdown on tourist arrivals.

Can I assume that the other 64% of garbage is dumped on the side of the roads and in canals poluting the water and rice fields. I guess 80% of the sewage is produced by the record number of tourists arriving every year, so they just dump it into the tourist beaches, the tourists produce it, so they can swim in it.

Why don't they just issue (or even sell if they must) every tourist a little paper bag and a pooper scooper so they can clean up thier dump and take it home with then in thier suitcases?.

Edited January 19, 201313 yr by chooka

ould create crowded living conditions for which the existing infrastructure is insufficient, causing sanitation issues and health problems.

Doesn't this describe most major Towns in Thailand already?

should prepare measures such as supplies of clean water, proper wastewater treatment, disposal of household waste and garbage, and food safety.

Ooh yeah, it's spotless right now.

Really, which country are they living in today, because they could equally have had this meeting ignoring there AEC.

This will be combined with hazardous waste caused by cheap and substandard goods that are imported to Thailand

Which will also be combined with the hazardous waste caused by cheap and substandard goods that are produced in Thailand.

It makes you wonder if these people are talking about some other Thailand, a land of zero pollution, no waste, spotless beaches and sea, and rivers filled with crystal clear waters.

I have read the tourist brochures also.

"The rising number of tourists might also lead to more waste and water pollution, especially since Thailand is only able to dispose of about 36 per cent of its garbage properly and 20 per cent of its wastewater, he added".

dam_n tourists, time for a crackdown on tourist arrivals.

Can I assume that the other 64% of garbage is dumped on the side of the roads and in canals poluting the water and rice fields. I guess 80% of the sewage is produced by the record number of tourists arriving every year, so they just dump it into the tourist beaches, the tourists produce it, so they can swim in it.

Did the brochure welcome tourists to Thailand and remind them NOT to use the toilets while they are here?

Edited January 19, 201313 yr by billd766

Is it xenophobia month in government house and the "expert" community this january? Third story recently heard along these lines. Wonder what's next; the rice debacle is the fault of foreigners because they won't pay our ridiculously over priced product?

Edited January 19, 201313 yr by Bluespunk

If ever a proof of the sheer xenophobia of the Thais was needed, this report says it all. Every sin imaginable is thrown at all and sundry, from "cheap, shoddy goods" to tourists having the audacity of using the toilet during their visit! Yes, it's everybody's fault except the Thais!

As others have said, just wait till the AEC actually kicks in and then listen to the screams of outrage from the pampered cartels and monopolies who have grown fat on protectionism.

I think you are right.

it will be like watching Alf Garnett

I don't think so. I used to think that was a really funny show but now I realise it was reasoned, educated social debate.

This will be combined with hazardous waste caused by cheap and substandard goods that are imported to Thailand

Which will also be combined with the hazardous waste caused by cheap and substandard goods that are produced in Thailand.

It makes you wonder if these people are talking about some other Thailand, a land of zero pollution, no waste, spotless beaches and sea, and rivers filled with crystal clear waters.

I have read the tourist brochures also.

"The rising number of tourists might also lead to more waste and water pollution, especially since Thailand is only able to dispose of about 36 per cent of its garbage properly and 20 per cent of its wastewater, he added".

dam_n tourists, time for a crackdown on tourist arrivals.

Can I assume that the other 64% of garbage is dumped on the side of the roads and in canals poluting the water and rice fields. I guess 80% of the sewage is produced by the record number of tourists arriving every year, so they just dump it into the tourist beaches, the tourists produce it, so they can swim in it.

Why don't they just issue (or even sell if they must) every tourist a little paper bag and a pooper scooper so they can clean up thier dump and take it home with then in thier suitcases?.

That's a good idea. It'll make it a lot easier to smuggle stuff. Customs aren't going to be in a hurry to check those suitcases.

I seem to be missing some thing here, (not unusual for me) They say

"BANGKOK: -- Participants of the fifth Thai Environment Health Conference voiced concerns that once the AEC kicks off in 2015, Thailand will face more environmental issues and related health problems as the free flow of labour could lead to crowded living conditions and problems with infrastructure."

Then I hear others saying Thailand is going to be left behind by the other countries.

Now to me it seems that if these other countries leave Thailand behind there own people will not come to Thailand for work. There by no increase in harm to the environment.

FTI executive Korakot Phadungjit, meanwhile, said an inefficient transport system could also pose a problem because if goods ended up having to be stored for too long, they might end up having to be discarded

How many gazzillion tonnes of rice is he talking about?

I would have thought Singapore would be more concerned about the disease and waste from Thailand than the other way round.

What a sad bunch these ''experts'' are.

Racist bigoted xenophobic born again losers who know that the truth is Thailand is going to be left way behind the other members of the A.E.C due to the feudal society which these 'expert's'' cultivate so as they can thrive in their paper towers which will of course be destroyed with the advent of Asean.

Yeah Yeah, just wait until the Burmese start going back home for jobs and just wait and see what Thailand is going to say

This will be combined with hazardous waste caused by cheap and substandard goods that are imported to Thailand

Which will also be combined with the hazardous waste caused by cheap and substandard goods that are produced in Thailand.

I was rather hoping that the government would not allow Thailand to become a mini China!

Oh well then, maybe we should just opt out for a few more years (40?)

I begin wonder, which parallel universe these experts are pooping out of into our world?

Is there another Thailand elsewhere?

One where the klongs of Bangkok are not covered in plastic garbage?

One where people actually give a f@#$ about the environment?

One where supermarkets and convenient stores are not handing out straws, joghurt spoons and plastic bags, as if there were no tomorrow?

One where fishing boats and other vessels are not offloading their garbage and oil into marine nationalparks and on beaches?