On our way to the on-shore events in Prachuapkhirikhan, our little boat swayed back and forth amidst the strong winds and turbulent sea. But the bad weather was no match to our enthusiasm of meeting old friends on shore.
Today the Rainbow Warrior arrived at Prachuapkhirikhan early morning. I woke up to the ship’s familiar atmosphere, but today the air was tinged with excitement. On land, the atmosphere was not very different. The locals of Prachuapkhirikhan were equally excited, and woke up extra early to prepare for the events. Local fishermen teamed up in their fishing boats and headed out to greet and welcome the Rainbow Warrior only minutes after its anchor landed on the Prachuap seabed.
Meeting old friends stirred good memories of the Rainbow Warrior visiting the province two years ago.
9 September 2010, The Rainbow Warrior sailed along the coast of Baang Sapan, Baan Krood Beach, and stopped at Tup Sakae Shore, to join in the campaign “Stop Coal”. I was overwhelmed by the warm welcome. Big smiles and the resounding “Klong Yaw” (Long Drum) beats surrounded us and brought warmth to our hearts. But it was when I heard the words of a local elderly lady; I understood what the Rainbow Warrior meant to the people of Prachaup.
The Ship stopped at our home again. Last time it came, the power plant got cancelled. This time, I guess there will be no more power plants”, she said idly, but I could sense a sliver of hope in her voice. “The Rainbow is here. That means good things are going to happen”, she said with a big smile.
Like the past three visits, the Rainbow Warrior stopped at Prachaup to exchange information and support in acts against unsustainable developments, which have been forced upon the area.
The local communities’ preservation efforts were untiring even when numerous giant industrial development projects were proposed on the area. It all started in 1995 with rumours about the building of a coal power plant. The rumour was proven true in 1996, when the government announced the three designated coal power plant sites: 700MWs at Bo Nok, 1,400MWs at Baan Krood, and 2,000MWs at Tup Sakae. It is then when the people’s actions became more defined.
And it was in the year 2000, when the Rainbow Warrior sailed to Southeast Asia for the first time, then on the mission “Toxics-free Asia”. The Rainbow Warrior stopped by Baan Krood and let its sails fly like flags, to show support for the local movements. This visit marked an important step in Greenpeace’s renewable energy campaign. It has also served as a beginning, urging the people to “speak out and criticise” government policies, backed with information and scientific evidence. This has led to debates and discussions on the country’s energy plans, and consequently demands to include green and sustainable energy into the country’s energy development plans.
The first victory came to the fighters of Prachuap in 2002, when the government announced a postponement of the project for another 2-5 years. This was followed by an order to move the power plant, and eventually led to the abandonment of the Baan Krood and Bo Nok power plant projects at a later time.
The Tub Sakae Power Plant project was brought up again in 2006, with plans to increase the generation capacity from 2,000 MWs to 4,000 MWs, but was also postponed after more protests from the people of Prachaup.
In 2005, the Rainbow Warrior returned to visit Thailand with a new campaign for an “Energy Revolution”, and again the ship paid a visit to her old friends who had fought together to help eradicate the misconception of “Clean Coal Energy” in Thailand. The Rainbow Warrior anchored off the coast of Bo Nok, Kuiburi Subdistrict, Muang District, Prajuabkirikan, to commemorate Charoen Wat-aksorn, a key community leader who led a people’s movement against the coal power plant projects, but who was assassinated after the projects were abandoned.
Because Coal Power Plants emit greenhouse gasses, which cause global climate change” has always been the slogan behind all these movements. And it is still the reason why the people of Prachuap still “believe” that what they are doing goes beyond “hope”…
… and into real “power” to turn the tide.
I also believe in that.
Isa Kingwatcharapong is a Media Campaigner at Greenpeace Thailand