Activities of Environmental Protection

Overview

In this chapter are three papers dealing with the environmental problems from different perspectives, and hence three different initiatives toward environmental protection.

The first paper by S. Sudara deals with those problems faced in Thai society which are not necessarily the outcomes of economic development in Thailand alone. Rather, he argues, those have been brought about by the foreign capitals operating in Thailand. Of no less importance is the nature of the global economic system, dominated by the developed economies, which is not sustainable even in their perspective. Hence, he claims, activities for environmental protection should include the transformation of that system through an extended collaboration across the divisions of South and North.

On the other hand, R. Sprenger examines the importance of economic measures toward environmental protection, especially tax reform that includes environmental tax. Of course, as his paper discusses more in detail, there are pros and cons to this. By looking into past experience in the European Union, he proposes to create some economic incentives so that economic development and environmental protection can both be achieved even in the European context.

The last paper by M. Kurihara discusses the possibility for local authority to implement protective measures at grassroots. He explains what a city government can and cannot do, while also touching upon the importance of citizen participation, not just in the process of the implementation of those policies but also in the very policy making process itself. Especially interesting is the suggestion of a contract between the local government and those industries operating within the territory for the reduction of pollutant emissions. The last analysis will be one of the major areas for further studies, to make the protection more feasible, realistic and practical.