Heat and drought raise awareness of deforestation

Nan Governor Suwat Promsuwan reacted to the Facebook post by writing that he would be the enemy of all people who blamed Nan province without proposing any solutions, as they were “keyboard brats”. On the other hand, he has 500,000 rai of land for them to plant trees. He deleted the post later and wrote a new one clarifying what he and the authorities had done for the forest. 

In reaction, Apisit Joeyboy Opasaimlikit wrote: I am neither a keyboard brat nor a Nan province citizen, but if the governor wants some help, I, as well as many people, are ready to give support physically, morally and financially. Only if you may allow. #NanNgai #WeAreAll Thai. He also posted that he used to raise funds when Thailand faced the great floods in 2011. They had a cash balance of Bt388,653 left over for public use in the time of an emergency or when required. He thought it was time to use the money.

Meanwhile, Suharit Siamwalla posted that he would contribute Bt500,000 for tree plantation in the Nan areas damaged by corn plantation.

Pongsa Chunam wrote that he wanted to whisper into Joey Boy’s ears that the problems of the Nan forest could certainly be solved if people did not condemn the people of Nan as evil or just blamed the officers or the corn companies. The land should be kept public and the people should manage it. “Farm plants should be replaced with other plants that can make money... Set up some funds and take care of the trees. Pay the people who takes care of the trees at five per cent of the trees’ value for 10 years.”

Pat Hemasuk wrote: “We have leaders, net idols, money, volunteers to plant trees, and also young plants to grow. What about water? Has anyone thought about this or just plant the trees, show two fingers, take photos and go home?”

An article appearing on www.Vcharkarn.com about Pol Sub-Lietenant Wichai Suriyut, who volunteered to grow over 3 million trees in 1988, has been recirculated.

Meanwhile, Kapook.com also shared ThaiPBS’s feature clip titled, “Do you know where the forest in Nan has gone?” 

Some social media users commented that those posts were not well balanced and people should help solve the problems rather than blame each other. 

Another popular post came from Chophaka Viriyanont. She posted pictures of how Thai authorities handled the conflicts between transportation lanes and big trees: they cut the trees, while in the case of a foreign country the tree was made a tunnel for vehicles to pass.

Marm Viroj shared a post about plant seed capsules (plant seeds put inside drug capsules to be planted easily) and wrote, “Innovation is more useful than verbal discourse”.

Big Trees shared an article on Yacouba Sawadogo, the man who changed the desert in Africa to a green land. 

Nash Siamwalla wrote: “Raising awareness is just as important as raising trees. Salvaging Thai forest is the duty of all Thais.” 

Somdej Ya (Princess Mother) Fanpage shared many ideas and experience of people who helped revive Thai forests, including the late Princess Mother’s Doi Tung project. It quoted her: “When people are hungry, forests disappear. Growing a forest then has to start with raising people.”

Bazdude shared a picture of environmental activist Sasin Chalermlarp and wrote, “The whole nation paid attention to [a clip of ] a girl who swore rudely “fucking...” every ten seconds over her stolen sticky rice and chicken. But nobody listens to a man who has been trying to shout politely that the watershed forests of Thailand are missing.

F****** Thailand.”

The “Like It, Share It” column realises that there are too many issues for Thai people to pay attention to right now.