Comments on: Sufficiency in the City http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2006/06/22/sufficiency-in-the-city/ New perspectives on mainland Southeast Asia Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:10:35 +1100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: New Mandala » Virtuous sufficiency http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2006/06/22/sufficiency-in-the-city/comment-page-1/#comment-4895 New Mandala » Virtuous sufficiency Sun, 29 Oct 2006 06:52:22 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/?p=65#comment-4895 [...] As I posted a few months ago, perhaps there are more realistic, investor-friendly and people-friendly economic visions. I came across this one while undertaking ethnographic research in a popular northern Thai eating establishment: [...] [...] As I posted a few months ago, perhaps there are more realistic, investor-friendly and people-friendly economic visions. I came across this one while undertaking ethnographic research in a popular northern Thai eating establishment: [...]

]]> By: New Mandala » The coup and self-sufficiency http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2006/06/22/sufficiency-in-the-city/comment-page-1/#comment-2718 New Mandala » The coup and self-sufficiency Sat, 23 Sep 2006 23:01:03 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/?p=65#comment-2718 [...] Specifying familiarity with the King’s ideas on economic development is a different matter altogether.  To my eye, it is much more problematic.  Here at New Mandala we have often written about “self-sufficiency”.  In the context of Andrew’s earlier comments on future strategies for left(ish) activist-academics in the post-coup environment, Sophon’s proclamation (however fanciful it may actually be) is a sign that “self-sufficiency” could become a new battleground.  [...] [...] Specifying familiarity with the King’s ideas on economic development is a different matter altogether.  To my eye, it is much more problematic.  Here at New Mandala we have often written about “self-sufficiency”.  In the context of Andrew’s earlier comments on future strategies for left(ish) activist-academics in the post-coup environment, Sophon’s proclamation (however fanciful it may actually be) is a sign that “self-sufficiency” could become a new battleground.  [...]

]]> By: Jakkrit http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2006/06/22/sufficiency-in-the-city/comment-page-1/#comment-18 Jakkrit Thu, 22 Jun 2006 02:52:20 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/?p=65#comment-18 In my view I think the King did not try to make Bangkok to be what so called "the sufficient city" since it is obvious that Bangkokians to day are quite removed from what is being sufficient. But what the king has tried to do for more than a decade to Bangkok is to make it just a "livable city". The royal project to solve the traffic problem is one thing that may not solve all the problem but at least it helped better the real bad situation existed before. The King used to call the traffic in Bangkok as a 'zero kilometre / hour'. Now the traffic flow is 20 km/h, I guess. That is better, right? Also the flood control in Bangkok, the idea he got is from woring on different irrigational project in the upcountry ares. 'Kam Ling' or the Monkey Cheek project is a good example. The other thing to think about, and it relateds to the city itself too, is how 'sufficient economy' in agricultural sector will help preventing rural people from coming and explioting the capitalism of the capital city. I think the effect of sufficient economy will keep farmers stay with thier roots. BioDiesel also links the issues of fluctuationof agricultural product and energy shortage together. That is also the the piont where the city and rural problem can, to certain extent, be solved together. So when we look at how to solve the issues of Bangkok or to make it at least livable, it has to put in the context of national development as a whole. But I don't think the governer of Bangkok and the Prime Minister see this piont yet. In my view I think the King did not try to make Bangkok to be what so called “the sufficient city” since it is obvious that Bangkokians to day are quite removed from what is being sufficient. But what the king has tried to do for more than a decade to Bangkok is to make it just a “livable city”. The royal project to solve the traffic problem is one thing that may not solve all the problem but at least it helped better the real bad situation existed before. The King used to call the traffic in Bangkok as a ‘zero kilometre / hour’. Now the traffic flow is 20 km/h, I guess. That is better, right?

Also the flood control in Bangkok, the idea he got is from woring on different irrigational project in the upcountry ares. ‘Kam Ling’ or the Monkey Cheek project is a good example.

The other thing to think about, and it relateds to the city itself too, is how ’sufficient economy’ in agricultural sector will help preventing rural people from coming and explioting the capitalism of the capital city. I think the effect of sufficient economy will keep farmers stay with thier roots.

BioDiesel also links the issues of fluctuationof agricultural product and energy shortage together. That is also the the piont where the city and rural problem can, to certain extent, be solved together.

So when we look at how to solve the issues of Bangkok or to make it at least livable, it has to put in the context of national development as a whole. But I don’t think the governer of Bangkok and the Prime Minister see this piont yet.

]]>