Thai government launches national efforts to stem water pollution

Mueang Samut Prakan/Thailand – The Thai government has launched a national campaign in the Samut Prakan Province to clean the country water resources from litter and garbage, as it joined forces with university students, school students, and the private sector to address water pollution.

An organizer of a canoeing event to collect garbage said the event is merely symbolic and is not meant to clean the country, but just to raise the awareness of people on the importance of preserving the environment and the water resources. 

She said the water pollution is affecting marine life, which is considered a lifeline for the province population. 

Participants of the canoe’s activity rowed for 40 kilometers to collect marine waste in the upper Gulf of Thailand, and it is estimated that garbage strewn over one thousand kilograms must be collected.

Thanet Munnoi, the Director of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, stressed the importance of sustainable and systematic management of marine waste to protect the marine ecosystem. 

Environmental activist Parinya Dewaramitkul expressed his delight at the joint efforts of various segments of society including Merit bridge riders, members of the Natural Farming Network, and Thammasat University, describing it as a ‘delightful scene’.

“We do not collect garbage for garbage collection only; however, we are collecting garbage to tell people who throw garbage into the rivers and seas that you must stop. If you don’t stop, we will continue to collect trash. we have to keep marine debris out to get our seafood back,” Dewanarumitkul added.

Also, activist Salisa Salyakamthorn said that natural resources protection is a shared responsibility, calling on people to invite their friends and families to join the campaign as they “will learn, do fun activities, get a job, and develop themselves.”