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plant will be using an average of 8,000 tons of bituminous coal a day,
equivalent to 2.3 million tons per year. The resulted coal ash amounts
to 20-40 percent of the total coal burned. Coal ash contains numerous
toxic heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium, sulfur, and uranium. In
addition, the power plant requires an enormous amount of seawater
for cooling. In turn, the power plant would release over 100,000 cubic
meters of high temperature wastewater, full of chlorine.
The second construction is the Ban Klong Rua Seaport in Taling
Chan Sub-district, Nuea Klong DIstrict in Krabi. The seaport would have
the size of 30x220 meters and extend 350 meters into the sea. The
seaport would be receiving the coal, transported by large ships via Phi
Phi Island in Lanta District, a world famous eco-tourist destination.
Most significantly, this area is declared an environmentally
protected zone by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
and internationally recognized as a Ramsar wetland number 1100.
There are abundant mangrove forests and sea grasses, home of local
community and protected species such as sea turtles, dugongs,
dolphins, and many other marine species.
These important factors have gathered not only civil society
groups but also people from all walks of life in 2012 to collectively
protest against the proposed coal-fired power plant in Krabi. They
formed the “Save Krabi From Coal” network and expanded their
members until the network to become “Save Andaman From Coal”
network.
“Women” have played a crucial role in the network’s
movement. One important reason is the “lessons learned” in these
women’s lives.
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