ENVIRONMENT
SONGKHLA : Greenpeace has sent a petition to the government, urging it to switch to renewable energy to save the country from an energy crisis in the future resulting from fossil fuel shortages. The petition was part of the group's latest energy campaign, which kicked off yesterday after Greenpeace's flagship, the SV Rainbow Warrior, sailed into Songkhla yesterday.
The ship is on a 21-day visit to Thailand to spearhead Greenpeace's ''Quit Coal, Lead the Energy [R]evolution''campaign to reduce the country's dependence on coal and gas. The environmental activist group also encourages investment in energy efficiency measures and power generation from renewable energy sources such as wind, solar power and biomass.
''The need of the hour is to shift from fossil fuels, which cause climate change, and exploit the massive renewable energy potential in Thailand. It is time to invest in the power of the wind and sun to provide people with energy security,'' said Tara Buakamsri, a Greenpeace campaigner.
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| Young women perform a southern Thai traditional dance in front of Greenpeace's flagship vessel Rainbow Warrior, which arrived at Songkhla pier yesterday. The vessel will stay in Thai waters for 21 days. — GREENPEACE |
Mike Fincken, captain of the SV Rainbow Warrior, said renewable energy not only helps solve climate change, but also allows the public to participate in developing the country's energy resources.
''The people of Thailand deserve clean energy sources that preserve the environment and give us a sense of economic stability,'' he said.
The group petitioned the government to abandon the use of coal, which it said is ''the dirtiest, most carbon intensive of all fossil fuels''.
Coal emits 29% more carbon per unit of energy than oil and 80% more than gas, according to the group.
Burning coal also releases massive amounts of toxic substances such as mercury and arsenic which have a deadly impact on human health and create acutely detrimental effects on developing economies and hosting communities, they said.
After Songkhla, the SV Rainbow Warrior will go to Thap Sakae in Prachuap Khiri Khan and Bangkok to push the message about solving climate change.
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