Moral Obligation to Keep Thailand Clean

As occupants of Earth, we absolutely have a moral obligation to protect this plant.  The path our environment is headed down is dangerous and coming towards us quickly.  Shelia Watt-Cloutier called this environment problem, “the second wave” in “The Inuit Right to Culture Based on Ice and Snow.”

This second wave is coming quickly.  As communities, it is necessary to take actions to protect, not just our futures, but also the futures of our children and our children’s children.  Watt-Cloutier talked about this second wave of environmental degradation making a huge impact on her homelands lifestyle and culture.  As the climate change sets in and melts the snow and ice of her northern homeland, her people can’t travel the way they did before, and the children are unable to be taught the same traits because the previous methods are becoming nearly impossible.

This cannot continue to our planet.  The way cultures have grown and functioned around the globe need the option of continuing on their paths, not be shut down because the methods become unavailable thanks to pollution.  We have a moral obligation to save the generations to come.  They deserve the same quality of life as we do today, if not better.

Flooding in Bangkok, Thailand causing water pollution and exposing the Thai people to sewage
 bangkok2birmingham.com

Thailand faces just about every environmental issue out there, it seems.  Pollution in the air and water, a decreasing population of wildlife, deforestation, soil erosion, water scarcity, and hazardous water issues.  As one of the fastest industrial growing countries in South East Asia, these issues are too easily overlooked.

Dr. Xu Ping of Assumption University in Thailand wrote an article titled, “Environmental Problems and Green Lifestyles in Thailand,” about the environmental issues and possible remedies.  First off, the change in climate caused by pollution is causing floods. Thus resulting in soil erosion in the country and water pollution as objects on the ground are moved into the water.  Deforestation kicks out the wildlife causing a decline in the animal population.  As you can tell, many of the problems are linked to one another and just continue to incline as no action is taken.  Dr. Xu Ping made the suggestion of the Thai government spending more money educating the citizens of environmental problems to spread awareness.

Dr. Ping wrote, “In order to tackle the challenges of environmental degradation and achieve greener and cleaner environmental goal, Thai people should rethink of the emergency of environmental protection.”  As citizens become more aware, I think the moral obligation will grow inside them as well, same with the rest of the world.

Members of WWF getting involved with cleaning up Thailand's water
www.wwf.org.hk

Currently, water.org is not involved in Thailand, but many other environmental organizations are.  A large group called WWF (World Wildlife Fund) Global, that is very popular, has an office in Thailand.  This program works on environmental and conservation problems across the entire country.  Their mission is to stop the degradation of our natural environment and create a brighter future where “humans live in harmony with nature.”

A non-profit called TEI, Thailand Environment Institute, also takes control on environmental issues in the country.  TEI has many national and private partners to get the job done.  Although not a government organization, TEI links with the government as well to increase the quality of life in Thailand.  On a regional and global level, TEI is spreading the approach to share environmental responsibility.  On their website www.delosea.eu, TEI lists their partnerships and achievements.  As the organization grows, more and more people come together to save Thailand’s environment.

Overall, saving the environment in Thailand, or anywhere in the world, starts with becoming educated about the problems we are facing.  The Thai people need to learn more about ways to prevent pollution and deforestation, just to name a few, through their everyday life just like the rest of the world needs to focus on the problems their own homelands are creating.  Education is key in saving the future of our home, Earth.