Tuesday, February 12, 2008

PLEASE GIVE 5 MINUTES OF YOUR TIME TO WATCH THIS VIDEO... THANK YOU

"Kasetsart University's faculty of fisheries recently tested the sea water quality at Hat Sai Khao (WHITE SANDS BEACH) and Bang Bao, the island's famous beaches, and found excessive levels of sediment and E. coli, a type of bacteria living in human waste, in sea water." http://iamkohchang.com/News/rubbish.htm (2005)

FROM PARADISE TO POISONED PARADISE....

"Tourism to Koh Chang, Thailand's second-largest island, started more than 16 years ago with a few foreign backpackers from Khao San Road who wanted to go somewhere other than the two well-known islands of Samui and Phuket.They found a paradise of virgin beaches and beautiful scenery which, being surrounded by 52 smaller islands, gave it a reputation of being the "Maldives of Thailand". One advantage of Koh Chang's slow development has been that its beaches have remained in pristine condition, with very little noise or pollution." http://iamkohchang.com/News/status.htm

In 2001.... "Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is so impressed with the natural beauty of Koh Chang he wants the island to become a popular eco-tourism destination like Phuket." http://iamkohchang.com/News/PM_wants_to%20develop_Koh_Chang.htm

In 2005 it was reported that "Koh Chang's marine ecosystem is deteriorating from wastewater
At a distance, Koh Chang looks virgin and calm. Taking a closer look, the surroundings look messy and polluted.Garbage is piling up on the hillside and along the road. Wastewater is being discharged from hotels and construction sites to the seashore, where tourists sunbathe and swim." http://iamkohchang.com/News/rubbish.htm


In 2007..... the Thai government stated that they wanted to attact..."Quality, trendy tourists....wedding couples (and) gays for more income. Higher-yield tourists, including wedding couples and young travellers, are among the target groups being considered by the Tourism Authority of Thailand at a meeting here to draw up marketing strategies for 2008" http://iamkohchang.com/News/quality-not-quantity.htm

POISONED PARADISE SAYS... WE ARE THE TARGET MARKET ... AND NO, WE DON'T WANT OPEN, OVER-FLOWING SEWERS, POISONED SEA WATER, FESTERING RUBBISH, THE EVER-PRESENT STENCH OF HUMAN WASTE, BACTERIAL GROWTH ON THE BEACH WHERE CHILDREN ARE PLAYING, WALKING ALONG THE STREET WITH OUR HANDS OVER OUR MOUTHS AND NOSES TO STOP US FROM VOMITING FROM THE STENCH, AN OPEN SESS PIT AS THE PUBLIC ACCESS PATH TO THE BEACH.

WE ARE BEING RIPPED-OFF ..... THIS IS NOT WHAT THE BROCHURES OFFER ... IT IS TIME TO SHOW THE TRUTH ....

THIS WEB PAGE WILL BE SENT TO AS MANY ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCIES, MAJOR MEDIA ORGANISATIONS AND TRAVEL AGENTS AS POSSIBLE... ANYTHING TO STOP THE THAI GOVERNMENT FROM LETTING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES COMING TO THIS HEALTH RISK DESTINATION ....

OTHER LINKS
http://www.grist.org/news/daily/2002/09/23/chang:/index.html