Bangkok--Jan 24--Greenpeace
Hundreds of villagers and activists gather in Lampang today at a public forum designed to strengthen the network of communities rejecting coal. Villagers from the provinces of Chiang Mai, Lampang, Nakhon Ratchasima, Surin, Ubon Ratchathani, Saraburi, Rayong, Krabi and Prachuab Kiri Khan along with several
environmental and social groups form the People Against Coal coalition, sending a key message to the coal industry that it is no longer needed in Thailand.
"These companies and industry must stop selling its deadly business
in our country. What they bring are the twin threats of pollution and climate change. Coal power plants, like the Mae Moh power plant in Lampang, have caused deaths, respiratory illnesses like pneumonoconiusis, and destroyed livelihoods in our village. No other coal power plant should ever be built," said Prasai Pookphan, chairman of the Network of Occupational Health Sufferers of Thailand.
The world's largest companies involved in the coal and power industry
are meeting in Lampang at the CoalTrans Conference, an event designed to salute the 50th year of operation of Thailand's largest mine and the 25th year of operation of the largest coal-fired power plant in Southeast Asia. Coaltrans 2005 is organized specifically to deepen the dependence of the developing world to coal.
On the roster of the conference are infamous polluters such as Alstom, whose operations continue to be protested from Paris to Manila, and China Light and Power (CLP), a company whose coal plants have been the subject of unrelenting protests in Hong Kong - where its headquarters is based - and in Map Ta Phut, Thailand, where it wishes to build the 1,434 megawatt BLCP coal plant. BLCP is also 50% owned by Thai conglomerate Banpu Plc.
Coal is the most carbon-intensive of all fossil fuels, and is the
leading cause of global warming, which is one of the greatest threats facing the planet today. Coal accounts for over 40 percent of the world's annual carbon emissions.
The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has pointed out that
developing countries like Thailand and the Philippines are expected to suffer most from climate change in terms of loss of life and effects on the economy. Among the anticipated impacts of climate change are an increase in frequency and severity of extreme weather events, more intense flooding, drought and rising sea levels.
"Thailand should stop investing on coal, which brings a host of social, health and environmental problems. The country is rich in renewable energy sources. We should harness biomass, solar, and wind energy for a future that is clean and sustainable," said Boonyuan Karjai, chairman of the Wieng Haeng Environmental Conservation Network.
PEOPLE AGAINST COAL
People Against Coal consists of the following groups: Wieng Haeng Conservation Group, Chiang Mai Sustainable Energy Group, Krabi Friends of the People Bonok Conservation Group Alternative Energy Network Campaign for Alternative Industry Network Bankrut Conservation Group Map Ta Phut Conservation Group Nothern Thailand NGO Coordination Committee Surin Sustainable Energy Network
Network of Occupational Health Sufferers of Thailand Nothern Alternative Network
Civil Society Group for Development Midnight University Wildlife Fund Thailand
Greenworld Foundation Sueb Foundation Thai Volunteer Service Thai GIS for Civil Society Development Policy and Research Development Group Northern Farmers Assembly
Student Federation in Thailand Assembly of the Poor Khaengkhoi Environmental Conservation Group Saraburi People's Network Greenpeace WWF Thailand Foundation for Ecological Recovery Four Regions Slum Network Research and Development Program on Healthy Public Policy and Health Impact Assessment
PRESS CONTACTS:
Arthur Jones Dionio, +661 9254835
Viyada Mongkol, +661 5831030
Photos and video footage available upon request. End.