Mekong Eye - News, analysis and opinion focusing on the environment and sustainability of the Mekong region

22 June 2020 at 3:59  (Updated on 19 October 2020 at 20:06)
ANOONTAWAS BOOTIN
UPD For centuries promoters of maritime commerce have proposed a canal across the Kra Isthmus in Southern Thailand. The proposal has gained renewed interest of late as growing congestion within the Straits of Malacca is creating a bottleneck for regional and global shipping. A Thai Canal would not only provide relief, but reduce sailing time through Southeast Asia by two-three days. The proposed canal’s route, however, is feared to generate considerable environmental and social devastation, especially to critical habitat for endangered wildlife on both coasts and in protected areas within one of the world’s biological diversity hotspots. With the help of Chinese interests in Thailand, the project has gained sufficient traction for Thailand’s Parliament to form a committee to evaluate the canal’s feasibility.
With support from Internews’ Earth Journalism Network, award-winning journalist Anoontawas Bootin traveled with camera and backpack along the canal’s 135km proposed route, capturing viewpoints from communities to be impacted now that money is flowing into the region to promote the project. Anoontawas produced a three-part series for Thai PBS, which has been combined and edited into this single feature for international audiences.