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Published on September 15, 2007

With wind power gaining attention as a clean energy source, young environmentalists from all over the country recently visited Umpawan Temple in Chon Buri's Muang district to learn about producing electricity from windmills.

Banchong Kayankit, a Burapha University technician, said he and two monks designed the four windmills at the temple to cut down on electric bills. Savings have reached up to Bt8,000 per month. The youngsters, who are attending Eco Camp 2007, looked very curious about the windmills' operations while he explained how they work. They asked him a lot about the windmills.

"One day, running these windmills can produce three days of power for use in the temple, and they are in heavy use up to nine months a year," Banchong said.

"I want to spread my knowledge of how to make windmills to others in Thailand because I want them to use wind energy more to help fight global warming. And if they're able to make windmills themselves, they'll spend not more than Bt20,000. But if they buy windmills from foreign countries, they'll have to pay at least Bt300,000."

The environment enthusiasts are high-school students in Mathayom 4-6 and undergraduates who participated in environmental activities in their communities or at school, or were interested in protecting the country's environment, and joined the camp as Bayer Young Environmental Envoys.

The camp on Monday and Tuesday was the 11th held by Bayer Thai Co Ltd in partnership with the United Nations Environmental Programme.

The students toured Bayer's plant in Rayong's Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate to observe its environmental management practices, for instance standard wastewater treatment.

The Lam Roongruang community in Rayong's Muang district is another place they visited to experience the way of life there based on fishing, use of solar cells and garbage management.

They learned how to harness solar energy, separate rubbish for sale and destruction by burning, and use heat from the community's incinerator to cook food.

"Using electricity from solar energy is good for the environment," community leader Sommai Srivichai said. "So we try to use it but now we don't have enough solar cells to produce electricity for all the families in our community. We plan to join the solar home project to give all the families solar cells and also to use windmills by next year," Sommai said.

Thaworn Laomankhongthaworn, 15, a student from Samut Prakan who has participated in his community's project to grow trees for mangrove forests, said global warming was caused by everyone who had been destroying the environment for a long time. To solve the problem, people should educate children to conserve the environment.

Chonlakan Polwattana, 16, a student from Rayong who has campaigned to preserve his community's canals together with his group and local residents, said although global warming could not be eliminated, it could be prevented from worsening.

"We have to encourage children to help solve the problem," he said "And after the camp, I'll disseminate knowledge on using solar and wind energy to the local people to apply in my community."

Supatchaya Techachoochert, 17, a student from Bangkok who is the head and founder of a rubbish bank at her school, said joining the camp gave her a deeper insight into environmental problems, and she would promote alternate energy at her school.

"As a Bangkok citizen I want others in the city to separate their rubbish because I have seen company workers take recyclable waste from piles of rubbish to sell. I think it'll be easy for them to take the rubbish," she said.

Only five students with the highest scores will be chosen as representatives of Thailand to go on an environmental management field trip to Germany to share their ideas and experience with other foreign students.

Woralak Sriyai, manager of the Seub Nakhasathien Foundation and one of the six judges, said the jury wants representatives with a high emotional quotient, academic background on the environment, and skills in working with local people in their communities.

"However, we do hope the camp will make most students realise the need to conserve the environment forever," he said.

Wannapa Phetdee

 The Nation