3 March 2007

This morning we were up early to go to the temple with Khun Yai, and then back to Bangkok. We’ll be up early tomorrow morning to catch our flight to Hanoi. As I’ve already said before, we have met some wonderful people here in Thailand. The issues we are facing are global. Local people are observing and experiencing changes in climate. However, we don’t need to feel helpless or depressed. The only true solutions in my view will come about from positive local actions, and that view has been strongly reinforced by the people we have met in Thailand. There is real potential for Thailand to provide us all with leadership for the future, towards a more balanced approach to working with our environment… the self sufficiency economy is founded on long-held wisdom that the true foundation of a sustainable economy is a well-balanced ecology. Working with nature, not withdrawal from nature or against nature, is the key.

A last word from Thailand

Hi all, just got back to Bangkok from Ayutthaya, the old capital. We were there 3 days, with Yai, our host,a lovely lady. See Gavin's blog for all the names and details.

We interviewed some farmers and one lady farmer in particular, who did things alone, an awesome example of energy and commitment, to farming more naturally.

In a short time, we had some great experiences, ...saw amazing Wats or temples, and Buddhas, a monk blessed us and gave us all bracelets, we were very careful not to touch him, as a sign of respect.

We saw a sunset over a temple ruins and of course I took lots of photos.

This morning , we gave flowers and food to the 4 monks at a temple, to celebrate the full moon. It was very moving. We have had dinner at the busy markets by the river and had lunch at a vege cafe and were recommended some lovely peanut food by David from Michigan. Saw and tasted rambutans for the first time.

Now we are up 5am to fly to Vietnam, I am looking forward to it but a little sad to leave behind such lovely people we have met so far, I will miss Thailand and its beautiful, gentle people.

Thankyou everyone, Sa wa deeka, kob khun ka love karen

Ayutthaya Province, Thailand

Yaowaluck Sukseeleang, organic rice farmer, Naku Village, Naku Sub-District, Pughai District, Ayutthaya Province

Pattapee Poungsuwan, organic vegetable grower, Naku Village, Naku Sub-District, Pughai District, Ayutthaya Province

Yaowaluck Sukseeleang, on left, outside her farmhouse

2 March 2007

Yaowaluck Sukseeleang - rice farmer (left), Pattapee Poungsuwan -vegetable farmer (middle) and Pacharee

Pacharee, friend of Khun Yai, looked after us for the morning along with Mr Santi Jeeyapan. Santi works as a facilitator to support villagers doing farm based research. We drove out to Naku Village, near Ayutthaya, where we met with three local farmers: Pattapee Poungsuwan, Somnuk Sanksem, and Yaowaluck Sukseeleang. We interviewed all three together in quite a challenging setting, a small roadside café. All three farmers have decided to move towards organic production because of concerns with degradation of the land and the high cost of inputs. The climate has definitely changed with more erratic weather patterns than in the past. Last September there was widespread flooding in Thailand and Ayutthaya Province was one of the worst affected, because it is low lying. They were all clear that the cause of the problem is people and that there is a need for a more balanced approach working with nature.

Gavin and Lena discussing sound problems

Yaowaluck Sukseeleang and Pattapee Poungsuwan both had their farms right next to the café, so we went into the field to talk to them some more.

Yaowaluck is an amazing woman. She learnt rice growing from her parents, beginning when she was 10 years old and has now been a rice farmer for 29 years. Yaowaluck farmers 56 rai (about 20 acres, or 8 hectares) on her own. At times in the past she has felt depressed and tried other work. People think farming is a dirty job, but she is clearly very passionate about her work and life as a farmer. Yaowaluck is a true leader for the future.

We then walked down the road to Pattapee’s farm. He stopped growing rice and shifted to organic vegetable production for the Bangkok market. This was a more financially viable option for him, as well as good for the environment.

1 March 2007

We spent part of the afternoon visiting some of the ruins of Ayutthaya with our new host, Khun Yai. In the evening we went to a night market for dinner by the river and then drove around to enjoy the ruins lit up at night time.

Ayutthaya, view from the ruins of Wat Ratcha Burana

Night scene at Ayutthaya

A quiet day

Fortunately today has been a bit quieter, a short trip (1 hour) by taxi to the old city of Ayutthaya and visiting some of the old Wat (temple) ruins (in incredible heat and humidity). We actually ordered the taxi to take us to the train station, but then the taxi driver said he would take us all the way for 700 baht (less than NZ$30).

Tomorrow we're going out to a local village....our last bit on the ground in Thailand.

photo album update

Thailand 2

There are now four albums of photos for quick review of those featured on the blog and some that didn't quite make it. (Michael)

Sunset at the Sa Kaew annual fair

Sunset at the Sa Kaew annual fair, at the end of a hectic day on the move with Ajarn Yak.

This photograph was taken at about 6PM on Tuesday evening the 27th of February 2007. (Michael)

28 February 2007

This morning we went back to re-interview Mr La Ong Dao, village leader at Bo Luk Lang village and key player in the model project for Sa Kaew Province. We had filmed him on the fly on Monday, but were so impressed with him that we wanted more time. Mr La Ong Dao is quite unique in that unlike many village people who are University educated he chose to return to his village rather than go to a comfortable city job. He is doing a fantastic job in leading by example. Through his efforts they have a community information system and a community bank.

Now he is leading by example to develop more sustainable land use and address the very real effects of land degradation and climate change that they are experiencing. He has a bet with Ajarn Yak that he will achieve higher yields than Ajarn Yak is predicting, and he is very confident of winning the bet. He says that he is a winner!! I am going to do my very best to come back in the next couple of years to witness the transformation.

We’re now back in Bangkok ahead of the last leg of our journey in Thailand, and then on to Hanoi on Sunday. We don’t yet know what is in store for us in Viet Nam, but are feeling very confident after such warmth and generosity from our Thai friends. We can’t say enough to thank you all.

Lena setting up for interview with Mr La Ong Dao

Lena setting up for interview with Mr La Ong Dao

Mr La Ong Dao, “I am a winner!”

Gavin giving a presentation

Gavin giving a presentation to the Sa Kaew Provincial Government.

A happy Ajarn Yak

A happy Ajarn Yak, after hearing messages shared by Gavin and Lena.

An attentive audience

27 February 2007

Ajarn Yak has been working in Sa Kaew Province, a drought prone area of Thailand, to get buy-in from people there with the goal of encouraging the whole Province to adopt the self sufficient economy model.

In the morning we attended a large gathering, in an open air school auditorium, of farmers and their children. The approach was to present people with the basic principles of the self sufficiency economy and then invite them to further training. I was asked to talk for 10 minutes, and Lena also spoke. People commented afterwards, to our hosts, that they had felt they were alone in experiencing drought, problems with lack of water, and more erratic weather patterns. It opened their eyes to hear that other people were experiencing the same things in other parts of the world.

After a lunch break we went to the countryside and filmed some farm workers planting tapioca cuttings in the intense heat and humidity of the afternoon. We spoke with the leaseholder who talked about the degraded soil and drought situation. He initially said that he was waiting for the government to create rain, but then later said that there was a need to plant more trees.

We then went to the Provincial government buildings where I gave a powerpoint presentation to senior provincial officials. Later we met with the Governor.

The outcome of the day was that the Sa Kaew Governor has committed to support a model project in the province. The key player is a local village leader, Mr La Ong Dao. Other partners are the Agri-Nature Foundation, a major sugar cane company, and some university people.

Lena talking to a gathering

Lena talking to a gathering of farmers and their children, accompanied by Khun Wipa who was translating.

26 February 2007

We were up early to film an interview with Ajarn Yak, who had to leave ahead of us for a meeting in Sa Kaew Province. Ajarn Yak originally worked as a note-taker for the King of Thailand. Through this work he learnt first-hand about the King’s thinking for the development of a self-sufficient economy in Thailand, and the “Our Loss is Our Gain” philosophy. Later on, frustrated by farmers who didn’t believe the ideas that he presented to them based on this thinking, Ajarn Yak resigned his job to develop a working model.

He chose a piece of land owned by his brother near Chonburi, an area that is heavily industrialized and where water is very short. He began with soil that was as hard as rock from years of misuse. From this beginning he created the Agri-Nature Foundation and a learning centre that has now hosted about 300,000 people from all around Thailand. The approach has simple goals, to create:

• Enough food to eat
• Enough to live (eg, trees for simple housing)
• Enough plants to live (eg, plants for making natural shampoos, herbal medicine etc.)
• Enough for energy self-sufficiency (eg, biogas through on-site waste treatment)
• With these four needs satisfied you have the basis for two very important things:
• A comfortable environment (cool air (important in the tropical heat) and a warm heart)
• Enough to help develop inner spirit

Ajarn Yak is deeply dedicated to transforming Thailand, and addressing the effects of very heavy chemical use which has severely degraded many areas, and of rapid deforestation which has contributed to land degradation. This work is also very mindful of climate change, both in terms of creating resilience against weather extremes and also helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions and providing carbon sinks.

The day was hectic, on the move following Ajarn Yak’s trail and eventually catching up with him near Sa Kaew, in an area of degraded land with a thunderstorm overhead.

We spent the night sleeping (as well as we could!) on a packed earth floor!

Ajarn Yak (Giant Teacher)

Ajarn Yak (Giant Teacher), a man on a mission to prove the success of the self-sufficient economy approach in Thailand, one that is founded on a sound ecological balance.

Gavin, about to be interviewed

Gavin, about to be interviewed by Channel 3 from Thai TV

happy pizza eaters!

Rose (2nd from right), owner of Phranakorn Nornlen and her staff, happy pizza eaters!

25 February 2007

Pizza making at Phranakorn Nornlen Hotel, Bangkok

After a day and a half of resting and catching up we were on the road again, this time to Chonburi and then on to Sa Kaew Province in the east. Our good friend, and extraordinary organiser, Kris had arranged for me to be interviewed by Channel 3 from Thai TV. We had barely arrived at the home of the Agri-Nature Foundation in Chonburi when I was straight into being interviewed, and then filmed with our host Wiwat Salyakumtorn (known as Ajarn Yak (which means “Giant Teacher”)). Then another interview by a documentary crew. No time to do our own filming! Our accommodation for the night was in an open air Thai-style hut. Lots of tree frogs, crickets and other creatures to sing us to sleep and wake us up in the morning!!

Rose (2nd from right), owner of Phranakorn Nornlen and her staff, happy pizza eaters!

Pizza making at Phranakorn Nornlen Hotel, Bangkok