My experience in South (Going trip)

Since the start of this blog creation, I don't have much chance to travel to places which are being affected by flood. However, due to chinese tradition, I had to go down to Nakorn Srithammarat which is one province in southern region of Thailand to pay respect to my ancestors. I didn't expect it to be a trip with full of experiences about flood occuring in the region. Here is my story;

On the going trip, I and my mom took the train from Hua Lamphong Station in Bangkok with the destination at Klong Chandee. The train left on the night of March 27, 2011 and was expected to reach the destination by 8.30 in the morning of Sunday. However, during that night, the train had to stop for several times due to the flooded rail and flood also made the rail unbalanced which caused the train to incline on one side. People on the train were very upset and the rain kept falling all night. Based on the schedule, we were supposed to reach there before 8.30 but in reality, we were there around 11.30. Along the way, I have seen how much damages the flood has caused to people in those areas. Their crops were flooded and the water even ran through their home. I could see a lot of things floating with the water. I could imagine how hard people in the area were living. For almost 12 hours of our journey there, the rain didn't stop even for a second. I also tried to check the weather forecast and news about things happening throughout the night. Here are some of photo to show you how bad it is.



Those were not all problems we have to face. We have to reach bangkok by that night but our flight was cancelled due to the closure of Nakorn Srithammarat Airport. We had to book another airline with the full price which was around 55% more expensive than our original price. We also had to catch our flight in Suratthani which was around 155 kms. We had to drive through rain and wasted lots of time. On the way, we could also see a lot of accidents and flooded areas. It made me feel so pity for those people who had to live there.

Then I felt that, flooding is not a small problem anymore. Every region in Thailand, or many developed countries in other parts of the world are also facing the same issue. I would like to encourage everyone that it's time that we should start doing something. From what I had talked with local people, flood occurs every year and it only gets worse. We can't wait for only authorities to help but we should start acting now to prevent further flooding in the future.

Flooding is not a small problem. It affects several sectors of the country ranging from reduction in GDP, lower productivity of the agricultural sector, damaged properties and infrastructure and etc. People, please join us by sharing your opinion and idea how to lower the damages. We are waiting for your help!!!

Flooding in Central Part of Thailand

Disaster zones imposed in South after flooding
By The Nation on Sunday.



Southern Thailand is suffering from downpour-triggered floods, with all 16 of Nakhon Si Thammarat's districts, eight of Phattalung's districts, and three of Chumphon's districts declared disaster zones yesterday.
In response, the government will open a flood situation follow-through centre at Government House this morning

PM Abhisit Vejjavija said that he had instructed Sathit Wongnongtaey of the PM's Office to coordinate with the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department (DPMD) to assist flood victims in the South, especially in hard-hit Nakhon Si Thammarat and that he himself would visit the National Disaster Warning Center (NDWC) today to check disaster warning systems.

Sathit, who chairs the committee following up assistance for flood victims, said that the committee had started working from the beginning and related agencies such as DPMD, NDWC and theMeteorological Department had reported on the situation directly to the prime minister. However since the situation became more and more severe, a flood situation follow-through centre will be opened today at 11am at the Government House. He also commented that, besides the committee's report of flood situation and assistance, the Cabinet meeting tomorrow will table the idea of setting up a central coordinating center to warn the public of disasters and assist victims.

In Nakhon Si Thammarat, the bodies of two Buddhist monks who were reported missing in a landslide-hit area of Khanom district were discovered. And 60 tourists were marooned in the popular Nam Priwan Resort in Nopphitam district.

At Nakhon Si Thammarat, where all district were declared disaster zones and flood conditions extended due to ongoing heavy rainfalls, a road linking the province to Surat Thani was damaged and several cars were reported to be swept off the road. The Nakhon Si Thammarat-Thung Song Road was also impassable due to floodwater Officials on 38 flat-bottom boats were dispatched to evacuate at-risk residents to safer grounds.

The bodies of Phra Pattaraporn Jirawara and Phra Apichat Akhathammo, who meditated in the wooded area of Bang Nai Plao in Khanom district and were apparently caught in a landslide, were discovered yesterday about 100 meters away from their original camping spot.

Phattalung yesterday declared its Muang, Kuan Khanoon, Kongra, Srinakarin, Pa Payom, Khao Chai Son, Sri Banphot and Bang Kaew districts as disaster zones. The situation was particularly severe in Muang and Kuan Khanon, where a total of some 8,000 households and 45,000 rai of farmland were under deep floodwater. Chumphon's Mungam Lang Suab and Sawi districts were also declared disaster zones.

Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department's southern region office continued to warn people on the southeastern coast. especially those in Phattalung, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani and Chumphon, of heavy downpours until tomorrow as well as possible flash floods and landslides. Small fishing boats were also urged to remain on shore due to strong winds and 2-3 meter-high waves during this period.

In related news, 150 homes of 1,200 people in 10 tambons of Trang's Muang, Na Yong, Huai Yod and Wang Wiset districts were flooded yesterday, while many areas of Surat Thani were flooded, especially the low-laying Kanchanadit district. The district is now under 50cm-deep water and at-risk residents have been evacuated.

The continuous rainfall prompted Ranong to have its seacoast residents to move their belongings to higher grounds for fear of flooding condition from rising tides. They also watched out for landslides.
Source: The Nation

Our Contribution to Ecosystem

Climate Change

More emission of Greenhouse gas leads to rising temperature, melting gracier, rising of sea level, heavy rain and create flood.

By reforestation, it will help absorb Co2 and reduce the amount of greenhouse gas released into the atmosphere. Trees also will help to absorb more water, protect relief and land slide.

Biodiversity

Due to flooding, many species are exposed to risk of extinction. Some of species have to migrate to other areas for living which affect the balance of ecological system.

Not only that, when flood wash away chemical down into the river, it promote the growth of seaweed which affect quality of water and life cycle of marine lives.

We can help reduce the area and amount of damages to preserve some species and ecological balance.

Security

Living standard of people living the flooded areas are very unstable. They are worried about flood coming to destroy their crops and properties.

Government also has so spend large amount of money to subsidize the damages caused by flood every year.

With our help, living standard of people willl be better and the amount of compensation made by the government will be much less and it can be used to develop other aspects of the country.

Sufficiency

When there is heavy rain, we have flood. After that, we don't have water to use. It shows the picture of situation which thailand has beening facing for years.

People don't feel that they are well equipped with necessary knowledge on dealing with flood due to communication problem within society.

Factories use clean water and release dirty water out to natural sources which will affect the quality of water which are main sources of living for local people.

We aims to store water in time of flood for use in time of need and we willl also educate people about the knowledge they should have, so that they will not be affectted much from flood. Moreover, we will also inspect industrial areas to make sure that they are doing their parts in solving flood problem.

Sustainability

People nowadays have very low sense of responsiblity toward nature due to the fact that our nation promote capitalism. That's why people tend to focus more making fanancial profit rather than concerning about natural capital.

Business owners are not focusing on contribution to society. They prefer making wealth without caring about the consequences.

That's why we aim to promote long term sustainability by educating people to make sure that they know their parts of helping. Especially, our next generation who will be living with the earth after us.

We try also to promote green business strategy. We will create value in people's mind that green company should be supported. Those companies who do not care should be punished.

Interesting Videos

source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kp_nyVPK4XQ&feature=related

credit: UNESCOVeniceoffice

source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQ21EMkLRFo&feature=related
credit: Howcast

Global effect of flood

Floods make an enormous impact on the environment and society. Floods destroy drainage systems in cities, causing raw sewage to spill out into bodies of water. Also, in cases of severe floods, buildings can be significantly damaged and even destroyed. This can lead to catastrophic effects on the environment as many toxic materials such as paint, pesticide and gasoline can be released into the rivers, lakes, bays, and ocean, killing maritime life. Floods may also cause millions of dollars worth of damage to a city, both evicting people from their homes and ruining businesses. Floods cause significant amounts of erosion to coasts, leading to more frequent flooding if not repaired.

Uganda, October 2007

Aid agencies in Uganda are struggling to reach tens of thousands of people in the east and north of the country, two months after rains inundated the area. Around 400,000 people lost their homes or crops after Uganda's heaviest rainfall in a generation. One-Third of the country is under water



Pakistan, August 2010

Heavy rain has continued to occur throughout Pakistan since the initial heavy downpour on July 29, and the flooding has impacted an estimated 14 million people, killing over 1,300 at time of writing.

Australia, 2011

About 1,200 homes across Queensland have been inundated since heavy rains set in last month, with another 10,700 suffering some damage, officials say. Four thousand people have been forced from their homes. As of 28 January 2011, 35 deaths have been attributed to the floods, 21 of which are from the Toowoomba and the Lockyer Valley area. Additionally, 9 people are listed as missing, after the catastrophic flash flood struck Toowoomba, Lockyer Valley, Brisbane and Ipswich.

Global-flood-map

This is what will happen if sea levels rise by 6 inches

(green = sinking area)

Reference:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7050903.stm

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/weather/08/12/heat.floods.extremes/index.html?iref=allsearch

http://www.police.qld.gov.au/News+and+Alerts/Media+Releases/2011/01/death_toll_jan24.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12124805

http://globalfloodmap.org/
http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/uganda_41017.html

Stakeholder's Analysis

The chart above shows all stakeholders who are related to flooding in central region of Thailand. In this chart, we have also put them into chart based their polical power and how much they are contribute to social construction.

Radar Risk Analysis

The following figure shows the radar risk which shows business risks related when we analyze it from technoloby aspect in PESTLE. We decide to use The Ernst & Young Business Risk Radar

4 Matrix Analysis

In order to understand the effect of flooding clearly, we have categorized them into 4 matrixes as we have studied in class which are economy, society, security and government. Our group members have studied about it and put them as the digram above.