Urgent call for your attention
Door: Gaby
Blijf op de hoogte en volg Gabriella
18 April 2016 | Nederland, Amsterdam
Hello my dear friends,
It's been a real long time since I posted anything on this site, but here I am again!!
This time I'm writing you regarding a really serious matter as the island of Koh Phayam in Thailand is under threat at this moment and they urgently need ALL the help possible to support them.
Below you will find a press release which you can send to any media you want so it can be as widely published around the world as possible. Or, you can send it onwards all your friends and family as they might know somebody to publish it!
Before you do so, please sign the petition first & share it on your Facebook wall.
https://www.change.org/p/%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B4%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%87%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%A5%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%A1-%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%84%E0%B9%82%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%82%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%B5-stop-ruining-koh-phayam-with-the-green-energy-from-korea-company
Thank you so much, on behalf of the people living in Koh Phayam and the people visiting Koh Phayam!
Lots of love, hugs & kisses,
Gaby
PRESS RELEASE
Urgent call for your attention KOH PHAYAM UNDER THREAT
Dear Sir, Madam,
We, friends of Koh Phayam, (Andaman coast Thailand) would like to ask your attention for the following urgent situation that is happening right now. THE ISLAND OF KOH PHAYAM IS UNDER THREAT of being strongly impacted and possibly forever destroyed by development plans of the South Korean energy company Inter Far East Wind International Co. (IFEC) and it’s Thai subsidiary; Koh Phayam Public Utility Co. These development plans and their impact on the island have become an urgent concern among many villagers of Koh Phayam.
ONE OF OUR CONCERNS is how the company is handling the situation. IFEC uses debatable methods in persuading the local people. A complaint from the villagers is that attendance lists of general village meetings have been misused by IFEC. The people on these lists, IFEC says, agree with the development plans. The people of Koh Phayam do not agree and have given a protest letter to the Governor of Ranong about these votes this February.
IFEC GIVES NO CORRECT INFORMATION about the project to the people. Brochures of IFEC persuades people in return of booking an electric meter for 500 baht* with extra gifts as a power bank, t-shirt AND a chance to win a motorbike or air-con. It seems at least highly debatable that people are being persuaded with a lottery over a decision that will greatly impact their homeland.
BECAUSE OF ALL THIS LACK OF CORRECT INFORMATION people on the island fear greatly the impact of the project on their future life and the impact on the ecosystem of the island. What the people do know is that IFEC wants to construct wind turbines and a large solar farm on the island and a wave power generator in front of Koh Phayams’ coast. Also recently plans were made for the broadening of several roads from 6 to 10 meter wide, planned to be developed in the coming months.
THE DIRECTOR OF IFEC VISITED IN MARCH THE HIGH PRIEST of the island and promised to stop the project. Apparently this was a LIE, as IFEC only last week placed a notice on a billboard on the island about a definite meeting on the 19TH OF APRIL between IFEC, Ranong Government and the villagers. This is problematic as by law the date for a public hearing to appeal against this project has now passed. Exposure about the situation from media and concerned NGOs is therefore now URGENTLY NEEDED. We include the contact address of initiator Tee of the “Safe Koh Phayam” Facebook page, you can contact her on the current situation and for more information about the alternative plan from the people of Koh Phayam.
THE PEOPLE OF KOH PHAYAM are in favor of energy alternatives to an over-reliance on generators (which is now the situation on the island) but the proposal of IFEC will cause tremendous destruction to Koh Phayam, one of the last natural biodiverse islands of Thailand and a critical habitat for a variety of species specifically for the endangered Hornbill and the Sea Eagle. Therefore an ALTERNATIVE PLAN by the people of Koh Phayam was made, which they presented to the Governor of Ranong and to the Primary Minister.
SOME FACTS ABOUT IFEC, quoted from the KGI business research report regarding IFEC from 26 February 2016, speaks of A DROP OF 65% of IFECs share price since Februar 2015. Further, IFECs operating profit from renewable energy missed its targets and resulted in disappointed investors. It is questionable then, as to why IFEC wants this project so badly? The Koh Phayam energy project is expected to generate 5MW; less than 1% (0.29) of the company total revenues. (Ex: Another energy development plan from IFEC in Thailand is expected to generate 600MW.) There are some who think that the company is using the energy project as a cover up to buy up the island and develop later big resorts for Korean tourist. We have as to date no concrete information to support this theory other than that IFEC bought (in 2015) a 5star hotel near Chiang Mai.
These development plans of IFEC will destroy one of the last untouched natural biodiverse islands of Thailand, This is not only a threat to the people of Koh Phayam but will be a loss for Thailand itself as a whole. Further development will happen on the island regardless, but should it not therefore be in the hands of the people who live on the island and for their wellbeing and their future? And the development of a natural island like Koh Phayam should be kept according to the Thai Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process?
We ask you urgently to give referential attention to this major concern and call for necessary measures to be taken to address the needs of the people and wildlife of Koh Phayam.
Sincerely,
Catherine Coumou, Basia Sommer and Gabriëlla van der Ham
Amsterdam the Netherlands
Friends of Koh Phayam
FURTHER INFORMATION
“SAVE KOH PHAYAM” Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/saveKohphayam/
CONTACT “Save Koh Phayam” initiator Tee from Hornbill hut
hornbillhut@yahoo.com OR hornbill_hut@hotmail.com WEBSITE: http://hornbillhut.com/
CHANGE.ORG > petition site safe Koh phayam
https://www.change.org/p/%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B4%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%87%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%A5%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%A1-%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%84%E0%B9%82%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%82%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%B5-stop-ruining-koh-phayam-with-the-green-energy-from-korea-company
KGI Report about IFEC
http://research.kgieworld.co.th/recom.nsf/0/9F1DF31BA229E0A747257F6900031098/$file/Daily+Story_IFEC_2016_03_01_e_th.pdf
From the people of Koh Phayam
Koh Phayam is a very small Island, about 35 km2. The population consists of about 400 families. Most of the villagers are cashew nut gardeners and rubber tree cutters. The second largest occupation is tourism (resorts, guesthouses and restaurants).There are no cars on the Island, only motorbikes. As a result the air on the Island is very clean. Koh Phayam has a big jungle and a perfect nature. You can see thousands of birds, among them the Hornbill, everywhere on the Island.
Now a big change for Koh Phayams wildlife and people is coming. The ICFT Green Plus from South Korea has plans for major projects on the Island. They will make an electric factory from wind, wave and sun. They plan on constructing massive wind turbines, a huge solar farm and a coral threatening wave power generator. We on Koh Phayam are in favor of power alternatives to an over reliance on generators but all three parts of this proposal will cause tremendous destruction to local wildlife, the local environment and in turn our relationship with this land we call our home. It’s not green energy if it’s killing hundreds if not thousands of our wonderfully diverse species of bird and bat life.
The statistics for the impact on bird life and bat life from wind farm turbines alone is undeniably horrendous! This would of course include genuine threat to our Hornbill and Sea Eagle population not to mention the hundreds of species of songbirds.
The benefits of a 200 million Baht plus investment for such a small community like Koh Phayam will be negligible. These constructions will have a dramatic effect on the wildlife, waters and coral reefs on and around the Island. Koh Phayams attractiveness for tourism will disappear. This will be a problem, not only for the wildlife, but for the people living on the Island as well. Our lives on our home island will be irreversibly changed.
Forever.
It's been a real long time since I posted anything on this site, but here I am again!!
This time I'm writing you regarding a really serious matter as the island of Koh Phayam in Thailand is under threat at this moment and they urgently need ALL the help possible to support them.
Below you will find a press release which you can send to any media you want so it can be as widely published around the world as possible. Or, you can send it onwards all your friends and family as they might know somebody to publish it!
Before you do so, please sign the petition first & share it on your Facebook wall.
https://www.change.org/p/%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B4%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%87%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%A5%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%A1-%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%84%E0%B9%82%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%82%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%B5-stop-ruining-koh-phayam-with-the-green-energy-from-korea-company
Thank you so much, on behalf of the people living in Koh Phayam and the people visiting Koh Phayam!
Lots of love, hugs & kisses,
Gaby
PRESS RELEASE
Urgent call for your attention KOH PHAYAM UNDER THREAT
Dear Sir, Madam,
We, friends of Koh Phayam, (Andaman coast Thailand) would like to ask your attention for the following urgent situation that is happening right now. THE ISLAND OF KOH PHAYAM IS UNDER THREAT of being strongly impacted and possibly forever destroyed by development plans of the South Korean energy company Inter Far East Wind International Co. (IFEC) and it’s Thai subsidiary; Koh Phayam Public Utility Co. These development plans and their impact on the island have become an urgent concern among many villagers of Koh Phayam.
ONE OF OUR CONCERNS is how the company is handling the situation. IFEC uses debatable methods in persuading the local people. A complaint from the villagers is that attendance lists of general village meetings have been misused by IFEC. The people on these lists, IFEC says, agree with the development plans. The people of Koh Phayam do not agree and have given a protest letter to the Governor of Ranong about these votes this February.
IFEC GIVES NO CORRECT INFORMATION about the project to the people. Brochures of IFEC persuades people in return of booking an electric meter for 500 baht* with extra gifts as a power bank, t-shirt AND a chance to win a motorbike or air-con. It seems at least highly debatable that people are being persuaded with a lottery over a decision that will greatly impact their homeland.
BECAUSE OF ALL THIS LACK OF CORRECT INFORMATION people on the island fear greatly the impact of the project on their future life and the impact on the ecosystem of the island. What the people do know is that IFEC wants to construct wind turbines and a large solar farm on the island and a wave power generator in front of Koh Phayams’ coast. Also recently plans were made for the broadening of several roads from 6 to 10 meter wide, planned to be developed in the coming months.
THE DIRECTOR OF IFEC VISITED IN MARCH THE HIGH PRIEST of the island and promised to stop the project. Apparently this was a LIE, as IFEC only last week placed a notice on a billboard on the island about a definite meeting on the 19TH OF APRIL between IFEC, Ranong Government and the villagers. This is problematic as by law the date for a public hearing to appeal against this project has now passed. Exposure about the situation from media and concerned NGOs is therefore now URGENTLY NEEDED. We include the contact address of initiator Tee of the “Safe Koh Phayam” Facebook page, you can contact her on the current situation and for more information about the alternative plan from the people of Koh Phayam.
THE PEOPLE OF KOH PHAYAM are in favor of energy alternatives to an over-reliance on generators (which is now the situation on the island) but the proposal of IFEC will cause tremendous destruction to Koh Phayam, one of the last natural biodiverse islands of Thailand and a critical habitat for a variety of species specifically for the endangered Hornbill and the Sea Eagle. Therefore an ALTERNATIVE PLAN by the people of Koh Phayam was made, which they presented to the Governor of Ranong and to the Primary Minister.
SOME FACTS ABOUT IFEC, quoted from the KGI business research report regarding IFEC from 26 February 2016, speaks of A DROP OF 65% of IFECs share price since Februar 2015. Further, IFECs operating profit from renewable energy missed its targets and resulted in disappointed investors. It is questionable then, as to why IFEC wants this project so badly? The Koh Phayam energy project is expected to generate 5MW; less than 1% (0.29) of the company total revenues. (Ex: Another energy development plan from IFEC in Thailand is expected to generate 600MW.) There are some who think that the company is using the energy project as a cover up to buy up the island and develop later big resorts for Korean tourist. We have as to date no concrete information to support this theory other than that IFEC bought (in 2015) a 5star hotel near Chiang Mai.
These development plans of IFEC will destroy one of the last untouched natural biodiverse islands of Thailand, This is not only a threat to the people of Koh Phayam but will be a loss for Thailand itself as a whole. Further development will happen on the island regardless, but should it not therefore be in the hands of the people who live on the island and for their wellbeing and their future? And the development of a natural island like Koh Phayam should be kept according to the Thai Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process?
We ask you urgently to give referential attention to this major concern and call for necessary measures to be taken to address the needs of the people and wildlife of Koh Phayam.
Sincerely,
Catherine Coumou, Basia Sommer and Gabriëlla van der Ham
Amsterdam the Netherlands
Friends of Koh Phayam
FURTHER INFORMATION
“SAVE KOH PHAYAM” Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/saveKohphayam/
CONTACT “Save Koh Phayam” initiator Tee from Hornbill hut
hornbillhut@yahoo.com OR hornbill_hut@hotmail.com WEBSITE: http://hornbillhut.com/
CHANGE.ORG > petition site safe Koh phayam
https://www.change.org/p/%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B4%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%87%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%A5%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%A1-%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%84%E0%B9%82%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%82%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%B5-stop-ruining-koh-phayam-with-the-green-energy-from-korea-company
KGI Report about IFEC
http://research.kgieworld.co.th/recom.nsf/0/9F1DF31BA229E0A747257F6900031098/$file/Daily+Story_IFEC_2016_03_01_e_th.pdf
From the people of Koh Phayam
Koh Phayam is a very small Island, about 35 km2. The population consists of about 400 families. Most of the villagers are cashew nut gardeners and rubber tree cutters. The second largest occupation is tourism (resorts, guesthouses and restaurants).There are no cars on the Island, only motorbikes. As a result the air on the Island is very clean. Koh Phayam has a big jungle and a perfect nature. You can see thousands of birds, among them the Hornbill, everywhere on the Island.
Now a big change for Koh Phayams wildlife and people is coming. The ICFT Green Plus from South Korea has plans for major projects on the Island. They will make an electric factory from wind, wave and sun. They plan on constructing massive wind turbines, a huge solar farm and a coral threatening wave power generator. We on Koh Phayam are in favor of power alternatives to an over reliance on generators but all three parts of this proposal will cause tremendous destruction to local wildlife, the local environment and in turn our relationship with this land we call our home. It’s not green energy if it’s killing hundreds if not thousands of our wonderfully diverse species of bird and bat life.
The statistics for the impact on bird life and bat life from wind farm turbines alone is undeniably horrendous! This would of course include genuine threat to our Hornbill and Sea Eagle population not to mention the hundreds of species of songbirds.
The benefits of a 200 million Baht plus investment for such a small community like Koh Phayam will be negligible. These constructions will have a dramatic effect on the wildlife, waters and coral reefs on and around the Island. Koh Phayams attractiveness for tourism will disappear. This will be a problem, not only for the wildlife, but for the people living on the Island as well. Our lives on our home island will be irreversibly changed.
Forever.
Reageer op dit reisverslag
Je kunt nu ook Smileys gebruiken. Via de toolbar, toetsenbord of door eerst : te typen en dan een woord bijvoorbeeld :smiley
