Saksit Meesubkwang
In 1957, 80 percent of Thai natural resources were
remaining, but nowadays this has decreased to 18 percent. The government
currently pays more attention to economy and technology, resulting in
consumption of more natural resources and destruction of the environment.
Air pollution and garbage is increasing, businessmen compete to possess the
forests; drought, flooding, earthquake and various weather conditions, are
increasing the problems every day, but some sectors have realized we must
preserve natural resources.
An
old Karen woman.
Chiang Mai NGOs and several sectors in the north have
told residents living in the forest that they are drafting a law to offer to
the government to allow residents to live there legally, but some governors
disagree and will not approve the law.
One example of residents living in the forest is the
Karen tribe. They have lived in the wild for a long time, and understand
nature and wildlife.
One old man Jawni Odochao, 67, living at Tambon Mae Wang,
Mae Wang district, Chiang Mai who knows the forest informed me that there
were students from several institutes who had traveled to the forest and
asked for information from him concerning bugs, trees, animals, herbs every
year. There was also a doctor from France visiting his village and who lived
with him for a year to study the Karen tribal lifestyle of living with
nature.
Elders
provide chickens to thank the angels protecting forest.
Jawni said that in order to get along with nature, it was
necessary to be honest, as there were angels protecting the forest, and if
humans destroy the forest, they would be harmed by nature such as becoming
lost in a forest, or flooding, drought and mudslide. Humans should
understand nature’s rules and should not destroy natural resources and
then nature would give many beneficial things to human kind. The old man
said that a forest can be compared to a large refrigerator providing fresh
food to humans at all times, because the forest was full of animals,
vegetables, fruits and many other items. But one important thing humans
should remember was natural rules such as not hunting during the breeding
period, and not to destroy trees or plants that were the food of wildlife.
Wild
mushrooms.
The Karen tribe was also thankful to the angels as they
are protecting the forest, by presenting special food for them. They
believed that each mountain and river had its own angel taking care of it,
and the Karen people would provide a couple of male and female chickens and
two bottles of homemade alcohol to cook in the forest and treat the angels.
They would have that meal together in the forest but could not bring out
that food out of the forest even if some of it was left.
There was a formal activity that first took place in 1996 to conserve 50
million trees by wrapping monk’s robes around the trees. This kind of
activity could protect trees because most Thai citizens believed in monks
and their robes were important so people did not dare to cut down a tree
covered by monk’s robe.
Karen
tribesmen make a promise to conserve the forest.
Praying
for blessing.
Making a
meal using wild mushrooms.
Five Elements’ spectacular
Michael Vogt
The Guangzhou Acrobatic Troupe of China brought its new
show with over 100 performers to Chiang Mai’s 700 Year Anniversary
Stadium. The spectacular show called “The Five Elements” is based on the
ancient Chinese belief that the world is composed of five basic elements,
Earth, Wood, Water, Fire and Metal.
The
agile women performing with grace.
The audience was treated to a very fast-paced spectacle
of acrobatic expertise, beautifully expressive costumes, light and sound
displays, and was at times left completely breathless by the explosive
performances. Traditional Chinese acrobatic art meets modern dance, artistic
gymnastics, drama, fashion and computer-generated stage effects.
These performers have stunned audiences all over the
world. Accepted as China’s most celebrated acrobatic company, it was
founded in 1959, and has gained the highest acclaim nationally and
internationally, winning well over 50 medals for its extraordinary and
inventive feats, which have inspired and been imitated by other troupes all
over the world.
The many high points of the show comprised shows of
strength and skill, control and balance, and movement and stillness. The
show’s dynamic rhythm builds up through ever higher levels of excitement,
each act suddenly blooming into impossible flowers - frozen tableaux of
human sculpture - bringing the audience to its feet.
It has to be said, however, that the venue was far from perfect. On the
day Chiangmai Mail visited the indoor stadium where the performance took
place, the lack of air-conditioning (for whatever reason) made it extremely
uncomfortable for the audience, let alone the performers.
A 10 cm
wide swaying piece of wood was the take-off and landing base for the
performers.
Don’t
try this at home.
A human
statue!
Pure
perfection. This catapulted performer lands safely in his high chair.
The
“Ball feature” was part of the element “Metal”.
High-flying
action.
The
human pyramid, part of the first element “Earth”.
