Rotary Peace Fellows class 14th !




Rotary Peace Fellows class 14th are leaders from 13 countries, We are promoting national and international cooperation, peace, and the successful resolution of conflict throughout our lives, in our careers, and through service activities.

Reflection on Nepal Field Study



I am filled with many different thoughts and emotions as I reflect on my field study to Nepal from 9-17th March, 2013. In fact, this field trip is made possible by the Rotary Peace Center of Chulalongkorn University and it is a part of a course in post conflict reconstruction. From my point of view, Nepal fits into this field study very well, as  the country is now in the midst of resolving political conflict through non-violent peace-building, and many various actors have been contributed greatly to the post conflict transformation. The 9-day field trip to Nepal has broadened my perspective and understanding of Nepal deeper and in many ways. Allow me to share some of my thoughts and feelings about this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

First of all, the visit to various local Non-Governmental Organization (NGOs) and Governmental related institutes in Nepal helped me to understand that post conflict transformation does not necessary to deal with the conflicts and/or arm-conflict. The most important thing is to understand the power that already exist, to be aware of what happened and what is going on inside the country. I now understand that the conflict is a very common phenomenon and inevitable. However, it is resolvable and violence is not the appropriate option.

In the post-conflict transitional period, Nepal seems to turn to power sharing as a way to bring all sides of the conflict together, reduce the likelihood of a return to violence, and stabilize the country to create a favorable atmosphere for everyone to be involved, which I think it is very good for the sake of the country in overall. For instance, after the restoration of the multi party democratic policy, the number of registered NGOs in Nepal has skyrocketed in the last ten years, growing in number from 220 in 1990 to somewhere between 10,000 and 15,000 today. These NGOs in Nepal are engaging themselves in various fields, however, health, job and education seem to be the most 3 concerns in Nepal. In Transculture Psycholsocial Organization (TPO), I observed that the NGOs and the Nepali government did an excellent job in collaborating with each other to develop community-based consultation health to reduce trauma in affected children, and to have capacity building regularly for the government officers. However, I also noticed that, in many cases, there are lacks of cooperation between the NGOs and the government, which makes it more difficult to work in Nepal for both sides. From my point of view, I think the government of Nepal should encourage the NGOs to play more effective roles in peace building process and economic development. At the same time, the NGOs themselves should try their best to perform to the level that are accountability, transparency, competency, sustainability and in good quality for the real benefit of the country.

   I firmly believe that more information is needed to be able to analyze the post conflict and measure the progress in peace building process in Nepal. So far, I appreciate what Nepal has achieved in shifting from peace building theory into real practices. Looking back the Nepal field trip, I could not help but thinking how much I have learned and gained from this experience. Nepal and Laos share many commons in terms of geography, culture, and conflicts. The lessons I have learned in Nepal will help me in my works in analyzing post conflict and peace process, and how to work collaboratively with the NGOs back in my country. 

Bangkok governor election 2013




Everywhere I go, every TV channels I turned on, every newspaper I read, every Thai websites I visited, all mentioned about the latest Bangkok governor election 2013, which was ended on March 3rd. The latest result that I heard from the television on the night of March 3rd revealed that Mr. Sukhamband Parabitra, from the Democrats won the election with more than 100,00 votes ahead of Pheu Thai rival of the present Thailand Prime Minister Yinluk. Many of my thai friends from Facebook seemed to be very happy with this result, while some others were very shocked how this result turned out” !

A month before an election, I noticed that Bangkok was very colorful with those posters of candidates, their campaign promises’ signboard, and many flyers along the street. Each of the candidate had been trying to convince people to vote for them by giving many promises to solve the problems in Bangkok, such as flood control, traffic jam, footpath, shelters, wastes and air pollutions, and so on. Some candidates delivered very powerful and promising speeches on the television, and I think it would be very difficult for bangkokians to decide who they really want to choose. Some candidate promises are too fancy, and it might take a long time to achieve the goal, for example, the ruling Pheu Thai party said that he will bring back “happiness and smiles”, other candidates promise to turn Bangkok into the Hollywood of the region, and so on so forth. How can we measure happiness and smiles quantitatively? Why Bangkok has to be like Hollywood? These questions have not yet been gotten the answers from me. Back to the time during 1995-2000 when I was studying in Thailand, I had heard similar promises from many Bangkok governor candidates. Some promises have seen great improvement since then, for instances, the air pollution, the public green spaces. Some promises such as less flooding, fewer cars and greater safety seems to me a very difficult target for the new governor to achieve within their 4-year period, unless they inject large amount of money and have a clearer mission and goal.
   
This year Bangkok governor election has seen many progresses in many ways. According to the newspaper, nearly 64 percent of Bangkok’s 4.2 million eligible voters turned out on Sunday, and making it the highest turnout for voters in the city’s history. This tells something about how Bangkokians want to see some good changes happen in their communities, and have a right person to be their municipal governor. The successful of this election would be impossible, if not, for the cooperation of all the media and organization concerns. The television channels broadcasted the campaigns very often to encourage people to go for a vote on Sunday. What surprised me the most was that all entertainment venues and restaurants in Bangkok were prohibited to sell all types of alcohols a day before the election, so that people will not get drunk, and can get up early to go and cast their votes. Despite the fact that on Sunday afternoon, It was also raining heavily, but somehow, the bangkokians could manage to make their ways for to the vote booth across the city.

   As a foreigner living in Bangkok, I would like to congratulate the new governor of Bangkok for being re-elected, and wish them to be successful in their missions.  Although the team of this governor is coming from the democrat party, but I wish they could work collaboratively with the current government (Pheu Thai) to bring real benefits to the people. Four-year mission for the municipal governor seems to be a long period, but very challenging mission to accomplish many tasks they have promised. I will cheer for you, and hope to see many new positive changes of Bangkok in a year to come. 

What to see and do in Bangkok ?

My best friends from Laos visit me in Bangkok

Recently, I posted many photos of my trips in Thailand in my Facebook, and received a lot of messages, comments and Like clicks from friends around the world. Some of my friends, especially from Japan, USA and Laos changed their plan and made their ways to Bangkok to visit me. They thought that I might be a good tour guide to take them around, but they were wrong. Although I had spent 5 years in Thailand before, but that was 15 years ago, and most of the time I spend my life in the North of Thailand. Many things in Bangkok has been changed enormously during the past decade, especially the pop-up of many tall buildings, the reduction of air pollution, and the use of modern way of transportation such as Sky Train, and Subway systems. This made Bangkok a city of life and even more amazing than before. 

Sunset over Bangkok from the top of building bar

Due to the facts that there are so many things to see and do in Bangkok, it gives me sometime a headache on what to introduce to my friends who has never been here and have limited time to visit.  What come up in to my mind is the tourist attractions such as Grand Palace, temples, and museums. I also love to introduce my friends to various kind of thai food, drinks and tropical fruits. Bangkok is also a paradise for shopping as there are many good quality products with reasonable prices. The places that I like to introduce to my friends is Chatuchak Weekend market,  MBK, and stalls along the street at night. 

Depends where my friends are from, their interests seem to be different from country to country. Most of my Japanese friends love Thai food, Thai massage, and follow the tourist tracks. My American friends love to do something out of the tourist tracks, and enjoy drinking and dancing the whole night. My Lao friends love shopping, and enjoying taking photos of themselves. These are some of the cultural differences I could observe, and it tells me a lot about the nature of people from different places. 

As my time in Bangkok is getting short, I would also like to enjoy myself. If time allow, I would like to explore more the area that I have never visited and experience and learn more the local ways of Thai people. Five things that I would like to do here before I go back to my country is:

1. To attend Thai cooking class
2. To watch Thai boxing
3. To have alms-giving 
4. To visit unseen places 
5. To visit more NGOs 

Thailand and Laos has many things in common especially the cultures and Language. However, I feel that there are so many things in Thailand that I have to learn from, especially the way they think, and the way they develop their country. There are also many dark sides of bangkok that worth learning so that Vientiane could avoid in the future.  For the time being, what I can do is to try my best to learn how to deal with various conflicts and find resolution so that I could integrate what I have learned into the real situation in Lao society. 

Exercise my Negotiation Skill

Photo: Infront of Platinum Fashion Mall

During the past few weeks, the course in Rotary Peace Center was mainly focus on concrete skills and strategies for conflict resolution such as negotiation, mediation, and communication. To put some of what I have learned into practices, I launched myself into a Platinum Fashion Mall and Pantip Plaza in Bangkok to buy some clothes and IT items, and to practice my negotiation (bargaining) skills.

Negotiation, according to my understanding, is a process of trying to reach agreement with another person, so that it somehow meets the satisfaction of the two. In shopping, bargaining sometimes is challenging and thrilling but can be also very stressful depends on various situation.

I myself love bargaining so that I can get the best deal possible. In some countries in Asia, such as Laos, Thailand, and China, bargaining is a part of culture, while other countries such as Japan, and many european countries, bargaining is very rare, and hardly find in many shopping areas.

I consider myself as a very good negotiator, as I could get some good bargains from the shop owners in many situations. In China, I used to get 70% off after a long and difficult negotiation with a shop owner. What I did is that I tried to ask for a bargain, and if the shop owner said "No", I will walk away, and they will call and pull me back to their shop. In Laos, i could get around 20% off from the actual price. In Thailand, my Thai friends told me that I could get a bargain at around 20-30 Baht, the maximum because many products are already in good low prices. However, in some how, I believe that I could get more bargain here.

At Platinum Fashion Mall, I had tried my best to ask for discount for my American friend who want to buy a T-shirt. I first started with a greeting in Thai language to a shop owner

"Sawasdee Krub, how much is this ?"
"250 Baht" the shop owner said.
"Is 200 Baht possible" I replied.
"No", the owner said."
"What about 220 Baht?"
"No", the owner reaffirmed his statement.

I then asked my friend to pretend to walk away, but there is no sign the shop owner to call us back.
I have 3 assumptions in my head, and it may be right or wrong:
1) The price is already low, and they can not give any discount
2) They have many customers, and they don't care who you are
3) I was with foreigner (I myself is also a foreigner), and it is hard to get a discount

Photo: Inside Pantip Plaza

In Pantip Plaza, I walked alone to find  a Karaoke CD program to install into my computer. Pantip is famous for its low cost IT products, and I know it is another good places for me to exercise my negotiation skill. I came across one shop, and talked to a shop owner for sometimes. During the conversation, I notice that his accent is from the Northeast part of Thailand, so before asking for a price, I asked him where he is from. To my surprised, He is from Obon Ratchathani, the province that I just visited during the field trip. I was not hesitate to speak Isan language with him, and told him that I am from Laos. I then started to bargain. The price started with 500 Baht, including 2 CDs with 5,000 songs and a book. He offered me 450 Baht, but it was too expensive for me for this price. I asked for 300 Baht. He kept saying "No" to me, but still had a smile on his face. I noticed this, and continued my negotiation.  I begged him that Laos and Isan is brotherhood, so please give me cheaper price. Finally, he nod his head, and gave me the price of 300 Baht.

I am very satisfied with this price, and I knew that at the end, we were both happy, and still had a big smile to each other. From this experience, I have learned that good communication skills can pave good ways to good negotiation, and lead to a win-win situation.

Lesson learned from the controversial Pak Mun dam


Photo: From above the dam

A local field trip of Rotary Peace Fellows batch 14th brought me to the controversial Pak Mun dam in Obon Ratchathani province, Thailand. During this visit, it has broadened my new perspectives in many ways, especially on how local Thai people view the benefits of Pak Mun dam very different from those of researchers and scientists. This helped me deeper my understanding the 2-side of problems. Allowed me to share with you some of my observations.

First of all, I am very impressed by the never give up spirit of the local people living downstream of Pak Mun dam. They have been negotiating and fighting with the Thai government for almost 24 years to ask for the opening of the sluice gate all year round or to decommission the dam permanently in making ways for fish to migrate to/from the Mekong river. The Mun river once used to be the main source of fish supply to local people, has undergone major changes in the last few decades after dam construction.  The small number of fishes caught in the river forced many young people to leave their villages, and head to big cities. Asking if there are any positive changes they observed in their community after the dam was built, and the answer I received was “None”. This surprised me very much. I then started to question myself, why was many local people so concerned about the fishes when there are hundred of alternative jobs they can engage. I then realized what local people here need is not a “development” but “Sustainable living”.  Fish means happiness to them, and these answers touch deep into my heart. Now, I understand how life is linked to the environment and basic needs.



Photo: Fish ladder of Pak Mun dam

The next day, I had a chance to listen to the explanation of researchers and scientists from Obon Rachathani University in regards to the management of Pak Mun dam. As I myself is also a researcher, I was not so surprised with the answers I got from them. The Pak Mun dam is a multi-purpose dam, which mean its function is not only for electricity generation, but also supply water resources through irrigation to agricultural lands, and to keep water resources to be used during dry season. Many local people living upstream of the dam are in favor of having dam, because it helps them to increase their agricultural production. I personally believe that there are many good benefits from the dam development, but at the same time, it also has many adverse impacts to the ecology of river system and people livelihood. The researchers and scientists should dare to raise those issues to the public, so that the issues will be raised, and mitigation is proposed accordingly.  

Photo: "No Dam" message on the wall of Pak Mun dam

Looking back to the fast paced development of dam in my country, I could not help, but to think, how much dam development in Laos is considered too much. The government plans to turn Laos into batteries of ASEAN, and many rivers in Laos are now under investigation for dam development project. I know that we always gain one and lose one from the development project, but can we make it fair or close to the fairness for everyone? Development is sometime of what we want, but will that last for long and benefit our future generation? That is a question we need to think about it carefully.

   

Wild Peace !



It was Sunday morning, and I woke up earlier than usual to prepare myself for a one-day trip to Kao Kiew Open Zoo. The sky looked very dark outside and rain was anticipated to come in anytime. What's a terrible holiday I mumbled to myself.  I had no choice  but to grab my Rotary umbrella and hopped on to the van. Along the way, there were small rains pouring, and the weather got cooler inside the van. It took around 1 hour and a half from Bangkok to arrive the Zoo. As we arrived,  the sky turned clear and we were welcomed by the beautiful sunshine ! I then realized the power of thinking "positve" to gain "positive" outcome.


Kao Kiew Open zoo is a very large zoo with exotic wildlife, animal shows, elephant riding, and even free tram to sightseeing around! Not like many zoos that I had visited, the Kao Kiew Open zoo has many animals that kept in large enclosures in their natural habitat with lots of space for animals to move around. 





Sightseeing through all the Kao Kiew Open Zoo helped me to think about the wild peace. First of all, human know how to keep some animals in separate area to avoid their conflicts in both food and habitats, and to develop fair rules for many animals to live by. while an animal such as monkeys can live in wider spaces, and mixed harmoniously with many other animals. 

Secondly, observing animal in the animal show, helped me to appreciate more the world of animal kingdom. In the show, many animals from small to large sizes worked together collaboratively to deliver the best show they could make. Every animals has their own responsibility, and no matter how easy or difficult it is, they are all parts of the success ! What about human ? Some people are so much proud of themselves, and don't care about other. Some people do everything they can, to get whatever they want, without caring about other. If people begin to turn in more to each other and their environment, to communicate and cooperate the way these animals do, I believe, the world will be much better off. That's something I think many of us know intuitively, but sometimes we just can't make it. 
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