Trash Hero Bangsaphan: Suan Luang beach cleaning

[buksida]

A number of local beach-goers gathered at Coco Resort early Sunday morning to try to make a dent in the shocking amount of trash that has once again polluted Suan Luang beach. The small stretch between Montri's and Daeng's produced 7-8 large sacks of mostly plastic and styrofoam.

Note to the local municipality: how about a bit of cooperation and organisation on your part? They can do it in Ban Krut and Hua Hin, why not here?
Note to beachfront land and resort owners: please make a little effort now and then to clean the very thing that you make business from.
Note to the BS fishing fleet: use some common freakin' sense and stop polluting the very thing you catch your livelihoods from.

[passingthrough]

Thanks you guys for giving up your time on this. It is an unfortunate fact that when we get high winds and waves around this time of year the geography of the bay brings in a lot of rubbish onto the beach. Of course, as Buksida knows from his coral-cleaning dives, a great deal of this junk comes from our very pretty, nightly fleet of hundreds of fishing boats. I really wish they would take more care of the sea that is their livelihood. On the plus side, however, I have in previous years, seen the entire local school descend en-mass to clean up the beach. Hopefully the kids learn something from the rather graphic experience.

[Mr Chin Chok]

Good job! Wish I could be there to lend a hand as well.

[buksida]

A little later this year but the tide of trash is back. We convened at Why Not this morning armed with bin liners and gloves and proceeded to clear the beach between the Coral and Coco Bar.

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This was then taken to the local council building for disposal.

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As usual 90% of this crap comes from the fishing boats, its mostly styrofoam, plastic, straws, lighters, bottles, shoes, and ropes. The affluent resort owners only look after their few meters of beachfront so it was down to the local expats and the odd tourist to do the rest!

At the OPD office we suggested buying some bins for the Suan Luang area, possibly sponsored by BSG, however they would need to be emptied regularly by the council. They are considering it though which is one step forward.

[migrant]

Nice job! Looking forward to helping next year!

[Big Boy]

The bins are a good idea, but you will need to ensure you get enough of them.

I walk the beach at Hua Hin for a few miles every night with my dogs. Hua Hin has placed a couple of bins at at every entrance to the beach, and the big surprise is that people actually use them. OK, I know the volume of people is much greater than Bang Saphan, but every night, every bin is full, and there's a pile of rubbish scattered around each bin, which then attracts cats and dogs (and probably rats), who spread the rubbish even further. I keep my dogs away from these mini rubbish tips, but they look very unsightly as you enter and leave the beaches.

Just something to consider if sponsoring them. you may remove one problem, but inadvertently be creating another, even though the idea is very sound.

[buksida]

The problem, as we're finding out, isnt the bins - its the collection of them (or lack of) that'll cause the scenario you describe.

Still - we can keep trying!

[buksida]

Another beach cleaning effort is scheduled for this Wednesday (Feb 25th), meeting is likely to be at Why Not at 9am.

Will advise if this changes.

[Mike Parker]

As I mentioned over previous years this is about education of Thai's and that starts at school.Kids can and should shame there parents into the responsible disposal of rubbish.To realise how bad it is catch the 3rd class train down to HH,just everything goes out the windows.

I wish all the schools could get involved in a regular appearance,on a roster basis, at the beach.

Its a national problem and BS could lead the way,bit of a dream I know but education is the key to most things in life.

[NIT]

Mike as nearly always you are right , the problem with educated Thai's is the politicians know they would be screwed if the majority of voters could understand how they were rapeing the country. When the corruption in politics is reduced , education will come forward,honest or at least somewhat honest politicians are not afraid of educated voters. Low life scum like Thaksin and his lot are laughing all the way to foreign banks over the rice scam...again something that would of never passed if voters were educated. Schools in thailand are a business about how can I get the most money from parents, they really do not give a shit about the childs education. it all gets back to that "do you know who my father is " mentality, untill someone stands up to these "hiSo punks" and says no I don't and don't give a shit either , nothing will change in Thailand

[buksida]

95% of the trash comes from the fishing boats and they don't give a rats arse about politicians, the environment, or tourists on the beach.

As you say - nothing will change.

[Big Boy]

Why should the fishermen worry? Most aren't Thai anyway.

[buksida]

Our beach cleaning efforts are gaining momentum, a lot more people turned up today. We even had the boss of the OPD office there snapping shots so hopefully we've made an impact.

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Thanks to Nong @ Roy Tawan for providing food and refreshments.

[migrant]

Very Nice!!

[Mr Chin Chok]

Well done!