Paris deal sets chance for real change

Activists gather near the Eiffel Tower, in Paris, Saturday,

Dec.12, 2015 during the COP21, the United Nations

 Climate Change Conference. (AP photo)

LE BOURGET - The final draft of an unprecedented climate

deal was presented to negotiators from nearly 200 nations

 on Saturday in a bid to slow rising temperatures and

sea levels.

The Paris agreement commits countries to keeping the rise

 in global temperatures by the year 2100 compared with

pre-industrial times “well below” 2C and “endeavour to limit”

them even more, to 1.5C. That was a key demand of poor

countries ravaged by the effects of climate change and

rising sea levels.

They would also be committed to limiting the amount of

greenhouse gases emitted by human activity to the same levels

 that trees, soil and oceans can absorb naturally, beginning

 at some point between 2050 and 2100. Negotiators had a

 few hours to analyse the draft before going into a plenary

 meeting late last night for possible adoption.

French President Francois Hollande said “the decisive

 agreement for the planet is here and now” in calling on

delegates to adopt “the first universal agreement on climate”.

The deal, meant to take effect in 2020, would be the first to

 ask all countries to join the fight against global warming,

 representing a sea change in the UN talks, which previously

 required only wealthy nations to reduce their emissions.

 “This is a good text,” said Brazilian Environment Minister

 Izabella Teixeira. “Brazil can accept this.”

 Some delegates, however, noted that the long-term temperature

 goals would not be achieved by the emissions targets more

 than 180 countries have set for themselves so far.

Thailand set a goal of reducing emissions by 20% from current

levels, and up to 25% with international assistance.

The new version removes disputed concepts like “climate

neutrality” or “emissions neutrality” which had appeared in

earlier drafts but met opposition from countries including China.

It sets a goal of getting global greenhouse gas emissions to

start falling “as soon as possible”; they have been generally

 rising since the industrial revolution.

 It says wealthy nations should continue to provide financial

support for poor nations to cope with climate change and

“encouraged” other countries to pitch in on a voluntary basis.

That reflects Western attempts to expand the donor base to

 include advanced developing countries such as China.

In what would be a victory for small island nations, the draft

 includes a section highlighting the losses they expect to incur

 from climate-related disasters that it’s too late to adapt to.

However, a footnote specifies that it “does not involve or provide

 any basis for any liability or compensation” — a key US

 demand because it would let the Obama administration sign

 on to the deal without going through the Republican-led Senate.

Thai activists said the energy sector and businesses would have

 to make dramatic changes to meet the country’s targets.

Good Governance for Social Development director Bantoon

 Sethasiroj said the agreement sent a strong message and called

 for Thailand to make a greater investment in clean

energy technology.

Mr Bantoon warned businesses would also be under pressure to

 limit their carbon footprints, with potential trade sanctions

awaiting exporters who breach accepted limits.

International activists who say the agreement won’t go far enough

 held protests across Paris yesterday, calling attention to

 populations threatened by melting glaciers, rising seas and

expanding deserts. “This puts the fossil fuel industry on the wrong

 side of history,” said Kumi Naidoo of Greenpeace.

“This deal alone won’t dig us out of the hole we’re in.

” The world has already warmed by about 1C since pre-industrial

times, and poor low-lying nations have pushed to set a goal of

 limiting the rise to another half-degree on top of that.

 Ben Strauss, a sea level researcher at Climate Central, said

limiting warming to 1.5C instead of 2C could potentially cut in

 half the projected 280 million people whose houses will

eventually be submerged by rising seas.

The UN has been working for more than two decades to

persuade governments to work together to reduce the man-made

 emissions that scientists say are warming the planet. AP with

post reporters .

 

News,World,Bangkok Post, 13 December 2015.

 

As the Paris agreement commits countries to keeping the rise

 in global temperatures by the year 2100 compared with

 pre-industrial times “well below” 2C.

And limiting the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by

human activity to the same levels that trees, soil and oceans

can absorb naturally.

So it should be the duty of the government to set the plan

which math the goal set and it is duty of everyone to cooperate

and support the plan to meet the goal.

 

Sincerely Yours.

No mention of 'crisis panel' in new charter draft

 

 

Members of the former National Reform Council gather on Sept 6

 this year at parliament, where they voted down the previous

 charter draft. (Photo by Phrakrit Juntawong)

The latest version of the draft constitution will not include a

 "crisis panel", a spokesman for the charter drafters assured

 on Friday.

The Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) had no intention

 to propose reviving the National Strategic and Reform for

Reconciliation Committee, CDC spokesman Udom Ratamarit said.

The CDC would consider the point again early next month,

he added. The first complete draft is scheduled to be released

 on Jan 29.

The committee, which the public and media quickly dubbed

 the "crisis panel", was one of the main reasons the previous

draft constitution was rejected in September by the former

National Reform Committee.

 The previous group of drafters envisioned a panel made up

 of top military figures, senior civil servants, senior political

 figures and others. It would have the power to override

 an elected government whenever political conflict appeared

 to be leading to a deadlock. Politicians, scholars and other

 critics condemned the idea, saying it would institutionalise

 coups and make the military a permanent presence in

Thai politics.

Mr Udom also said on Friday that the constitution draft had

 been 70% completed and drafters were trying to finish

sections on local administration, reform and provisional clauses.

 

 Meanwhile, he said, drafters were designing approaches for

 national reconciliation that they hoped would be generally

acceptable to all sides.

He admitted that politicians so far did not appear to accept the

 draft. He said that some political parties were prejudiced against

 the process from the start.

 He urged political parties to be more open-minded because,

 he said, the drafters were trying to make the new constitution

acceptable to all parties for the sake of national peace.

 

News,Politics,Bangkok Post,11 December 2015.

 

The purpose of the crisis panel is to avoid coup if the

elected goevernment  get into crisis.

 For me as Thai people not a politician the constitution

include it or not is not important for me.

 

The important points are that the new constitution should

lead to sustainable and true democracy.

And how Thai democracy can avoid coup cycle and the

Controversial in the society is the point to think more.

Sincerely Yours.

 

 

EASA spares Thai airlines, gives more time to upgrade air safety

 

 

A Thai Airways Boeing 777-300ER plane takes off from

 Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport. The carrier will be able to

 continue to fly to Europe without restriction following results

of a European Commission safety audit.(Reuters photo)

The European Aviation Safety Agency on Thursday spared

Thai-registered airlines a ban from European skies, saying

 instead it will closely monitor and assist the country in

 upgrading its air-safety standards.

While the EASA did not yet publish the full results of its recent

 safety audit, the European Commission said in a statement

that no Thai-registered airlines were added to its EU Air Safety

List for the listing of carriers subject to operational bans or

 restrictions in the European Union to be updated officially

on Friday.

 Analysis: Storm in a teacup

"The commission and the EASA are willing to continue  to

work with the Thai authorities to enhance aviation safety in

the country," the statement read.

 

"The commission and EASA will, however, closely monitor

future developments and, if the protection of air passengers

 against safety risks so requires, the commission could then

propose to include one or more air carriers from Thailand in

 the Air Safety List."

 

The EU reprieve comes as the first bit of good news in a while

for the Thai aviation sector, which has been reeling this year

after air-safety downgrades from both the International Civil

Aviation Organization and US Federal Aviation Administration.

 While last week's FAA downgrade dealt a powerful blow to

 the country's international image, it, so far, has had no

 material impact, as no Thai carriers currently serve

North America.

The same would not have been true had the EASA slapped

 Thailand with a ban or restrictions. Thai Airways

 Thai Airways International and charter carrier Mjets both

 serve the European market with the Europe responsible

for an estimated 30% of THAI's revenue.

 

 Europe is Thailand's second largest tourism market, with the

number of European tourists accounting for about 18% of total

 international visitors this year.

 

About four million Europeans visit Thailand every year with

 about a quarter of those flying THAI.

EASA visited Thailand earlier this year and on Wednesday

 the Department of Civil Aviation signed an agreement with

the agency that will see EASA experts help Thailand improve

 its air-safety oversight.

News,Transport,Bangkok Post 10 December 2015.

 

As  the European market responsible for an estimated

30 % of THAI’s revenue so it is the good news that

Thai Airways Thai Airways International meet the
 

standard of  EASA.

 

Hope we can improve the service to meet the standard

of both the International Civil Aviation Organization and

 US Federal Aviation Administration also.

 

Sincerely Yours.

Government presses on with GMO bill !!

 

The government has insisted on pressing ahead with the enactment
 of a controversial bill regulating genetically modified
organisms (GMOs) amid mounting opposition.

 However, it promised Wednesday to allow representatives of

farmers and activists to air their opinions and share information

 with the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) during the

 bill's vetting.

The move came after networks of farmers who believe they

 will be affected gathered in 46 provinces across the country

to oppose the biosafety bill which received cabinet approval

on Nov 24.

In Bangkok, a group of around 200 representatives from 115

 networks of farmers, along with environmental, health and

 consumer protection activists, gathered yesterday in front

 of Government House to oppose the draft the draft legislation.

 They demanded the government put the bill on hold.

Activists at Government House hand a petition to spokesman

Maj Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd, (lower right), demanding a

 halt to the biosafety bill. (Thanarak Khunton)

The group also called on the government to set up a joint

committee with representatives of farmers and NGOs

 participating to review the bill before it is forwarded to

 the NLA.

 Government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd met with the

 demonstrators and explained to them that the government is ready

 to listen to all opinions concerning the bill, but it is impossible

 to put the legislation on hold. It must continue but the

government is still open for debate regarding its pros and cons,

he said.

"We have to admit that GM products have been marketed in

 the country without laws to regulate them. A law is needed to

control any possible damage and determine who must be

 responsible for such damage," he said.

 "I am certain the NLA members will not pass the bill if they

 find too many weak points. As this is an important issue,

I believe the NLA will set up a committee to consider this

 issue in particular and they will allow stakeholders'

 representatives to air their opinions and share information

 on the matter," Maj Gen Sansern said.

 Yesterday evening, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said the

 intensifying opposition to the biosafety bill had irritated him.

 

 "I don't understand why state agencies failed to explain this issue

to the public, as this has resulted in mounting opposition to it,"

he said.

Three controversial bills -- the biosafety and two petroleum-

related bills -- will not be immediately forwarded to the NLA.

 Some sections will be adjusted to ease the concerns of opponents.

"I confirm that I never thought we wanted GMOs in Thailand,"

 Gen Prayut said.

However, the government's message has not convinced the

 GMO-regulating bill protesters.

 Witoon Lienchamroon, director of BioThai, said he would

 give the government some time to come up with a clear answer

on how it will proceed with the bill.

However, he said speeches from the government spokesman

 do not represent an official message from the regime.

 He also insisted that the government should suspend the bill

from being forwarded to the NLA and set up a joint committee

 to rewrite it. The joint committee must include all stakeholders,

especially farmers who are directly impacted by the bill,

Mr Witoon said.

 Stronger action by the networks will be organized if the

government ignores their calls, he said.

 Suree Yodprachong, chairwoman of Thai Tapioca Starch

 Association, said the government should listen to the opinions

 of the bill's opponents' as GM contamination of the environment

will definitely have a negative impact on 530,000 cassava

farmer families nationwide and the tapioca starch business

that generate revenues of more than 70 billion baht and

140 billion baht each year respectively.

 She said all the major starch markets in China, Europe and

the United States also oppose GM crops. "If GM crops are

 allowed to be commercially planted, which is possible under

 the controversial bill, then there is no guarantee that GM

contamination will not be released into the environment and

 that would cause severe damage," she said.

Ms Suree said orders from overseas markets would fall

 substantially as had happened with canned fruit from Thailand

 when GM papaya was found in the past.

Meanwhile, Kasemsun Chinnavaso, the Natural Resources and

Environment Ministry's permanent secretary, said yesterday

 the country needs to have the biosafety law as currently

 there is no law controlling and supervising the research and

study of GM crops, meaning the country is at risk of spreading

 GM contamination into the environment.

News,General,Bangkok Post, 10 December 2015.

 

As the world market do not  want GMOs crop,why we

plant it our country.

For I think our crop from natural  is the best for the country

and the world.

If the biosafety law is helpful to lead our crop in the future

it should be consider.

 

Sincerely Yours.

Government takes aim at UK envoy comments !!!

 

The government has slammed the British ambassador's
 comments "supporting law-breakers" and is considering
whether to summon him for talks.
By "law-breakers", the government was referring to a group of
anti-coup activists who call themselves Prachathipatai Sueksa
 (Democracy Studies). They were stopped at a railway station
 in Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province while they were
on a train bound for Rajabhakti Park in Prachuap Khiri Khan.

The activists were taken to an army base in Nakhon Pathom

where they were detained. All the students were later released

from military custody. The majority of the students -- 30 --

signed an agreement promising not to engage in such activities

 again.

Six refused to sign and two more withdrew their signatures.

The British ambassador to Thailand, Mark Kent, wrote in a

Twitter post on Monday that, "I had hoped the fact 200 people

 [were] allowed to demonstrate at the US embassy might be

 relaxation of freedom of assembly," referring to a rally that

 took place in late November in front of the US embassy on

 Wireless Road against US ambassador Glyn Davies.

The protesters had gathered to slam Mr Davies' critique of

the government's imposition of jail terms for lese majeste cases.

 Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said Tuesday efforts were

 under way to link the students' visit to Rajabhakti Park to the

gathering at the US embassy. He claimed the two incidents

 were separate. It was clear that the student's trip to the park

was politically motivated to stir unrest, he said.

Remarkable claim: Udomdej says park foundation completely

 clean Earlier report: Activists arrested 'for their own safety'

See also: Chinese donate bicycles for Bike for Dad

Regarding the British ambassador's comments on the issue,

 Mr Don said he will look at the details before considering

whether to summon him for talks.

Deputy government spokesman Werachon Sukondhapatipak

Tuesday hit back, saying that "it is disappointing that the
 ambassador took a position that has supported a group that has
often broken the law and disrespected judicial processes".

"The NCPO regrets that this happened. This issue has been
 discussed with every envoy. If there are violent confrontations
during upcoming elections, then everyone should take
 responsibility for escalating tensions. "

So far, every effort has been made to move the country towards

 general elections, but this type of behaviour can instead encourage 'lawbreakers' to further damage the country," Maj Gen

Werachon said.

Every action taken is for the national interest as well as the

 interests of foreign friends, he said.

"It is hoped that other ambassadors will be able to understand that

 as long as the confrontation between the two opposing sides

 cannot be prevented, then the referendum and general elections

 could end up in chaos," he said.

 Maj Gen Werachon insisted that authorities had to stop the

 student group to prevent a confrontation with local residents

who hold different views.

He also said some Pheu Thai Party members have sought to

 provoke authorities to arrest the students, hoping for some

foreigners to misconstrue the situation.

 Responding to Maj Gen Werachon's criticism, Mr Kent told the

 Bangkok Post: "I think my tweet is clear enough.

I was making an observation. It is of course for the Thai

authorities to administer the country as they see fit."

"I hope they do so in accordance with their international

 obligations, as the EU has previously stated."

 Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon

insisted that the government had no double standards in enforcing

 security measures to handle demonstrators.

 Demonstrators from all groups have been treated equally under

 the same law, Gen Prawit said.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha also insisted Tuesday that the

 student activists were stopped from visiting Rajabhakti Park

 because if they had gone there, they could have been assaulted by

 local residents who disapproved of their actions.

 "Don't you know why they were stopped from going to the park?

 There were people waiting to attack them, or did you want us to

 let them go and let them get hurt? If that had happened,

 you would have blamed the government again,"

 Gen Prayut said.

Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission issued a

statement Tuesday criticising the regime's reaction.

"The government should instruct authorities to abide by

 constitutional principles and laws. They should be more patient

 for the sake of peace," said the commission.

The commission also called on demonstrators to act carefully,

honestly and take the public interest into account.
Amnesty International (AI) also slammed the regime.

 The move is the latest evidence that the military government is

 using arbitrary powers of detention to silence peaceful activism,

 said Champa Patel, AI's Southeast Asia and Pacific regional

 office director.

"These heavy-handed and completely unjustifiable arrests

 highlight Thailand's need to remove the military's powers of

 arbitrary detention, which are being used to harass and criminalise

 peaceful dissent," said Ms Patel.

"This group, some of whom were also denied access to lawyers,

 were detained merely for peacefully exercising their right to

 speak out against alleged corruption.

Sirawith Seritiwat, a political science student at Thammasat

University and leader of the group, has vowed to return to

Rajabhakti Park by train again by the end of this month.

 "No matter what will happen, I will definitely go back to the

 park by train again within this month," Mr Sirawith told

 reporters at Thammasat University's Tha Prachan campus

Tuesday.

 Government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said

that Gen Prayut did not want the problems of any particular
 person to impede progress in government work or to undermine
public confidence in the administration.

 "There is no need for the government to protect anyone, no matter

 how important a position they hold. If they are guilty

 [in the Rajabhakti Park project], they'll have to face the

consequences," Gen Prayut was quoted as saying.

 

News,Politics,Bangkok Post, 9 December 2015.

 

These pictures show the motive why  Mr Sirawith go to

Rajabhakti Park and who and which group he support .

 

And I believe the government do their best for this case.

 

Sincerely Yours.