BANGKOK, May 24 (TNA) - Environmental experts have been warning Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries of impending weather tragedies, according to a statement issued by Greenpeace Southeast Asia Wednesday.
Emmy Hafild, Executive Director of Greenpeace Southeast Asia extended sympathy to northern Thais, "especially to those who lost their loved ones in this tragic disaster. We call on everyone to donate to the families affected by this tragedy and to do so soon and generously."
According to Greenpeace, climate scientists warned in March of upcoming extreme weather events. Dr. Anond Snidwongse of the Asia Pacific Network for Global Change Research, predicted that "La Nina is forming and should start hitting Thailand and Asia in the next two months, the beginning of the rainy season."
Dr. Anond further predicted that the La Nina event will hit Thailand this year "causing landslides and flooding nationwide."
Greenpeace said that the authorities had been warned. "As the country tries to cope with the disaster, the Thai government must be reminded to heed the warning issued time and again by scientists that extreme weather events will hit hard and more often in the country, along with other parts of Asia," according to Ms. Hafild.
There must be changes in governmental awareness and response procedures, she said.
In the international arena, this tragedy should serve as a wake up call for Thailand to work together with poorer countries in Southeast Asia-- the Philippines, Indonesia and Cambodia in particular--to press for proactive research, policy-making and mitigation measures on the impacts of climate change in the region, Greenpeace said.
"The people of Thailand and Southeast Asia have been victims of frequent extreme weather events. Our people are at risk of becoming climate refugees if we do not act with urgency on this issue," the NGO representative explained. (TNA)
Emmy Hafild, Executive Director of Greenpeace Southeast Asia extended sympathy to northern Thais, "especially to those who lost their loved ones in this tragic disaster. We call on everyone to donate to the families affected by this tragedy and to do so soon and generously."
According to Greenpeace, climate scientists warned in March of upcoming extreme weather events. Dr. Anond Snidwongse of the Asia Pacific Network for Global Change Research, predicted that "La Nina is forming and should start hitting Thailand and Asia in the next two months, the beginning of the rainy season."
Dr. Anond further predicted that the La Nina event will hit Thailand this year "causing landslides and flooding nationwide."
Greenpeace said that the authorities had been warned. "As the country tries to cope with the disaster, the Thai government must be reminded to heed the warning issued time and again by scientists that extreme weather events will hit hard and more often in the country, along with other parts of Asia," according to Ms. Hafild.
There must be changes in governmental awareness and response procedures, she said.
In the international arena, this tragedy should serve as a wake up call for Thailand to work together with poorer countries in Southeast Asia-- the Philippines, Indonesia and Cambodia in particular--to press for proactive research, policy-making and mitigation measures on the impacts of climate change in the region, Greenpeace said.
"The people of Thailand and Southeast Asia have been victims of frequent extreme weather events. Our people are at risk of becoming climate refugees if we do not act with urgency on this issue," the NGO representative explained. (TNA)
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