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Published on November 20, 2007

Initiated by the Nation Multimedia Group (NMG), the "One Degree Joining Hands to Make a Difference" campaign will continue until next May. It aims to encouraging Thais to be aware of global warming and to join hands to help combat increasing temperatures, said NMG managing director Thanachai Santichaikul at the launch yesterday.

Energy Minister Piyasvati Amranand said the country had done much to tackle climate change, but the efforts so far were not enough. He hoped the campaign would build awareness about the need to change daily habits to help fight rising temperatures.

Besides urging Thais to switch to energy-saving light bulbs, he said Thailand could also help by preparing to embrace nuclear energy, which does not emit carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

"There are many measures to tackle climate change and we should do all we can, even though we may not like it," he said, referring to his ministry's plan to go nuclear within the next 13 years.

Besides the Energy Minis-try, the campaign also includes the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), PTT Plc, Sylvania, Sahapathana-phibul Plc, American Inter-national Assurance, Advance Info Services and Bank of Ayudhya.

Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin said the BMA supported the campaign because it went along with its policy of combating climate change.

There will be a variety of activities throughout the six-month campaign, including an international conference on "Asia's Emerg-ing Response to Climate Change", a concert this Friday, and the publication of a series of pocket books on the subject.

Pennapa Hongthong

 The Nation