Making change

Published on September 14, 2007

Floods, drought and fires - the marks of climate change and apocryphal signs of the end of the world - are undeniable. That they are caused by global warming, as the result of man-made activities such as burning fossil fuels, is a notion that's widely gaining acceptance. It's a cause for concern, especially in low-lying Bangkok and coastal parts of Thailand, which will bear the brunt of the rising oceans, as the polar ice caps melt.

But, other than wring your hands with worry, or throw your arms up in powerless frustration, what can you do about it?

If small differences are made by enough people, perhaps the trend of global warming can be reversed, Al Gore said in his documentary film, "An Inconvenient Truth".

Environmental organisations have attempted to stimulate awareness of climate change through many creative activities, like the Live Earth concerts held on seven continents, organised by Save Our Selves (SOS), and a group of naked volunteers posing for American photographer Spencer Tunick on the Aletsch Glacier in Switzerland, organised by Greenpeace.

In Bangkok, a mobile solar-powered shipping container, the Greenpeace Climate Change Clinic, is on the road. Painted in blue and green with colourful drawings of nature icons, the campaign aims to educate people on climate change as well as how to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to the greenhouse warming effect.

"Large cities worldwide consume 75 per cent of the world's energy and produce 80 per cent of greenhouse gases that are responsible for climate change, effects of which Bangkok has already begun to experience, like the rise in temperature, unseasonal showers and storm surges affecting the city," Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayothin said at the launch the Greenpeace campaign.

The container is powered by a 1.6 kilowatt solar system and one kilowatt wind turbine, enough to supply energy for a computer, printer, multimedia players, lighting, electric fans and ventilation. It shows that conveniences we've come to expect in life can become eco-friendly.

If you would like to know your personal carbon footprint, just click the computer. Inside the container, the exhibitions on global warming and renewable energy are on display.

One simple way to reduce carbon dioxide emissions is to take advantage of public transportation, rather than driving your own car. On World Car Free Day on September 22, leave your car at home and walk or ride a bicycle, or take the skytrain, subway, river taxi or bus. Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and Bicycle for Health Society will join in the event along with 14 of the world's largest cities like New York, Berlin, Mexico City, Tokyo and Seoul, which all signed agreement at a climate summit in New York in May for setting greenhouse gas reduction targets. By 2012, Bangkok plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 15 per cent.

For Bangkok's Car Free Day, Apirak will kick off events with a "critical mass" bicycle ride starting at 6am at National Stadium on Rama I Road then head to China Town in Yaowarat and stop at the city hall for lunch before heading back to park at the stadium around noon.

Afternoon events include exhibitions of classic bicycles and mountain bikes, a bike clinic and sales of bicycles and accessories, as well as the Greenpeace Climate Change clinic. Thousands of people are expected to join the event, and ample parking space will be provided for all bicycles. Don't forget to bring your own bike lock.

If riding a bicycle isn't your style, perhaps you can make a fashion statement against global warming. British designer Anya Hindmarch has collaborated with the organisation, We Are What We Do, to launch a limited-edition line of canvas tote bags featuring the slogan "I'm not a plastic bag" to inspire people to reduce their use of ubiquitous plastic bags, the production of which contributes to global warming. Additionally, the bags never completely degrade - they just break up into smaller and smaller bits that clog up the scenery and the oceans.

On the local scene, Thai designers at Chatuchak Weekend Market support the environmental campaign with items made from a wide range of natural materials. At the Turm Fun store is a showcase of handmade decorative items and accessories made of cotton-denim featuring animal designs, created by designer Suphrajira Boontanom, 42.

"Actually my designs don't focus on the global-warming campaign directly, but they come from my passion for fabric bags. I usually use a basket or fabric bag instead a plastic bag when I go shopping at the market," says Suphrajira. "I think that parents ought to foster environmental awareness in their children."

 Not far from Turm Fun, shoppers can find Coco Club owned by Nusara Paniangvait, 34. She has used a unique textured cotton-weave fabric from Chiang Mai to produce an innovative collection of handbags, clothes and accessories in natural colours.

"Even if our products aren't a best-seller during this global-warming campaign, I notice that customers have more awareness, they always refuse a plastic bag, and other stores are starting to promote the use of fabric bags instead plastic packaging," says Nusara. 

Keep strolling in the same zone, Suwanna Chularpyot has created a line of handmade shopping bags that are made of khaki fabric under the Raka brand. The store offers a selection of T-shirts, jeans, dolls and key rings.

"Our designs focus on beauty and function," says Suwanna. "I think that to stimulate awareness of environment we have spend many years using ideas like the sufficiency economy."

Besides reducing a use of plastic bags or carbon-dioxide emissions to save our world, Savaros Chotivanich, 54, offers another way to conserve the forests with O'Bon's recycled stationery made from newspapers imported from North America. The stationery includes pencils, colour pencils, drawing pencils and file folders.

"Thai students love our products because they aren't fragile and help save the forests," says Savaros.

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Greenpeace's Climate Change Clinic is touring around Bangkok. Any schools and communities that would like to have the clinic stop in their communities can contact Greenpeace at (086) 992 3987, (02) 357 1921 or www.greenpeace.or.th.

Car Free Day will be held from 6am on September 22, with a bicycle ride starting from National Stadium. For details, see www.worldcar

free.net and www.bangkok

carfreeday.com.

Turm Fun, (081) 801 4794; Coco Club, (081) 752 6720; and Raka, (087) 036 3646, are all in Chatuchak Weekend Market.

O'Bon recycle stationary has shops in Saphan Taksin, Chong Nonsi, Sala Daeng, Ari and Chit Lom skytrain stations. Call (02) 219 2524, (02) 215 2640.

Pattarawadee Saengmanee