The ASEAN People's Forum is a People-to People platform to be held prior to the 14th ASEAN Summit in Bangkok. Civil society organizations and social movements from all ASEAN countries are invited to join the forum to discuss issues confronting peoples in the region and to articulate and strategize around people's aspirations for ASEAN and the ASEAN people.
The APF will have plenary sessions on people-centered alternatives, the food and energy crisis in the region, and people's participation in ASEAN. There will be independently-organized parallel workshops on different issues such as labourrights, disaster risks reduction, free trade agreements, youth, Gross National Happiness, migration, human rights, and many others.
A Call for workshop proposals will be posted shortly.
The APF is jointly organized by The Thai Working Group on APF and Regional Organizing Committee for the ASEAN Civil Society Conference IV (ACSC4).
Below is an update of Thai young people's movement on the current political situation. The story was kindly written by Phat (and photo as well), from the Youth for Local Wisdom Project, Thailand.
Today, I would like to share about Thai's situation today in Bangkok with you.
You might see or hear from news paper or TV or online news paper. The situation went too bad condition, after People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) clashed with United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) last night. This morning Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej announced the government's declaration a state of emergency.
The situations were very difficult to explain, because it very complexly condition. And the situation has changing every day. You can read more from website http://www.bangkokpost.com, Thai's newspaper in English.
For Thai people who have difference thinking and don't want violent as same as civil war and more coup in Thailand. Even though whose will go to start from the government or PAD or UDD. The result will leave only painfulness, hard to treat the society. It not only Thailand but we could saw it everywhere in the world. How do you think?
So! Bangkok now a day, There are Thai young people from difference groups around 30 people went out to the street (02-09-2008). Tell to the other at MBK and Siam Shopping centre, what the real thing which they want to say is. Some words I heard from them are "NO VIOLENCE"/"STOP NO VIOLENCE"/"PEACE" The government' s Declaration a State of Emergency is NOT the way out"
I send you some pictures which I took, you can see their activity.
Non-violence protest
Stop violence
No coup!
Young Thai people activity for non-violence stop
Light of peace
Giving emails for further connection
Story and photo by Phat, from Youth for Local Wisdom Project, Thailand.
The second batch of the Young GMS Professional Program (YGMSP) of the Mekong Institute will begin in November 2008. YGMSP offers medium-term training to talented and enthusiastic individuals from the GMS member countries. Young professionals working, or interested, in managing/facilitating capacity building program for regional development and cooperation are
invited to apply.
Applicants must be GMS nationals aged 35 years or younger. A Master's Degree or equivalent training/experience and English proficiency are required. The deadline for application is 19 September 2008. Attached please find the details of the announcement in the brochure herewith this mail.
I request for your assistance in disseminating this announcement through your network.
Thank you very much for your cooperation,
bhoj
-- Bhoj Raj Khanal Research Manager Research and Library Department MEKONG INSTITUTE Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand Tel: 66-4-320-2411 Ext. 401 Fax: 66-4-334-3131 Web: www.mekonginstitute.org
We are pleased to inform you about our upcoming event, the 7th Asia-Europe Young Volunteers Exchange (AEYVE) - Intercultural Approaches to Sustainable Development: Volunteering for today and tomorrow: How to foster sustainable choices among volunteers and local communities?, from 5th November to 19th November 2008. In 2008 the project is entirely based in Asia for the first time with the preparation and evaluation meetings taking place in Singburi, Thailand.
The project is co-organised by the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) and the Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service (CCIVS) and will be bringing together up to 40 motivated youth trainers and leaders active in the area of youth, training, capacity building and non-formal education.Background information on the event, including the criteria for participation, have been enclosed for your perusal. Please note that there is a double call – one for hosting organisations and one for participants.
Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any further inquiries. Email to Michal Skrzek at p2p.projects2@ asef.org
The Chiang Mai Friends for Nargis Recovery Group, a coalition of Thailand and Burmese civil society groups from Chiang Mai, seeks to provide financial support to on-the-ground, local organizations directly working on Cyclone Nargis relief and rehabilitation efforts in cyclone-affected areas. Grants of USD $1,000 will be awarded for livelihood recovery projects, particularly those supporting vulnerable groups such as women, children, and people living with HIV/AIDS. Exemplary proposals may also be channeled to other funding agencies in Thailand for additional financial assistance.
To apply for Chiang Mai Friends for Nargis Recovery fund please kindly provide the following details:
Organization information
Proposed Activities
Financial Information : financial report form and activities' budget
We would like to conclude the activities a bit for some friends who might be interested in:
The 6 workshops to explore the issues on Sufficiency Economy with TRF in 2008-2009.
1) The first meeting will be next week , "Today's Crisis. Hidden opportunities for change? " Tuesday morning 26 August at SASIN business school in Chulalongkorn University
2) Next meeting will be on Happiness and Transformative learning, 10 October 2008
3) The 4th International Conference on Gross National Happiness in Bhutan: the dates are now 24-26 November 2008
4) In December we will organize the GNH workshop as part of the ASEAN conference. We try to include Mekong region networking activities in the TGLIP project
These activities are very interesting and hope that some of us here can join you!
For more information please visit http://www.gnh- movement. org/ Anyone has more information particular in each activity please kindly let us know.
Here are some thoughts and advice from two Cambodian young leaders practicing peace. Thank you Te Chum and Sam Chanthy for sharing your thoughts with us. The two feature articles aredrawn from CYL (Cambodian Youth Leader) Newsletter.
Practice in Peace by Te Chum
"Peace" is a wonderful and meaningful word. Its appearance looks and sounds very nice.
The word "peace" is used in a variety of purposes since it is a term that the global community strongly encourages everyone to implement. As a result, some leading countries are trying to use this word to disguise their reasons for invading other countries in favor of their businesses. Therefore, peace can truly appear only when everyone practices it without any hidden reason or agenda regardless of the situation they are in.
Regarding Cambodia and Thailand, there is one main point that is causing conflict and the eventual confrontation. The border lines between these two countries have not been concretely determined. To make peace practically, I would suggest having a neutral, reliable international organization occasionally intervene in the confrontations between these two countries and encourage these countries to withdraw their militaries from the border. When the situation is more peaceful, this organization should to set up a neutral committee to finalize the border lines between Cambodia and Thailand. Then, peace will be possible in these two countries. The vague, unclear border line is the main cause of war between these countries, and it is such matters that destroy peace in our world.
Turning back to the cause of the confrontation between Cambodian and Thailand, there are three problems that I have observed: firstly, the acceptance of reality; secondly, extreme nationalism, and finally, fake history. To make Peace in Practice applicable, Thailand should seek any other bilateral means except for force. If that fails, Thailand should follow other steps which are in compliance with international laws to be at peace with its neighbor and the region.
Peace is possible only when all parties are willing to make it neutrally.
Internal Calmness: A Way of Exercising Peace
By Sam Chanthy
Lord Buddha has said that people in the world seek Happiness in life, but there is no better Happiness than Calmness. This Calmness is from your heart and spirit. People can easily enjoy Happiness with the wealth they have or what they believe it can bring them. But it reminds me of a common saying everyone knows: "Money can buy you a bed, not sleep."
Usually this Happiness does not last for long because it depends on external inputs or support. Likewise, a community of people who wait to be fed and do not wake up and learn how to lead their own lives will not be sustainable and strong enough when their donors or supports leave them. Self-reliance is something we all have experienced, confirmed as true and deemed necessary in this world. Again, Lord Buddha has also mentioned that "Nothing can help you but yourself."
Peace is the ultimate goal everyone desires, but in practice, it does not always reflect the truth because people define peace differently. This is the nature of human beings who are born with individually different thoughts. However, some individuals are too sure about their definition of peace and the ways they approach it. They want others to believe them even though they cannot successfully prove their view and have to twist facts to support it. But others are able to accept all the ideas offered or suggested and make their own decision based on all the facts and evidence they have collected.
The difficult situation and tension at the Thai/Cambodia border has remained for nearly two weeks now and no solution has been dealt yet. There is no way to resolve this unless the two countries can learn to listen and accept each other's reasons; they need to justify their own stands with real facts along with a record of history that everyone acknowledges. At the same time, everyone needs to practice their peace with Calmness.
Personally, I felt a bit frustrated when I heard that Thailand sent out their troops to Preah Vihear, but another feeling urged me to wake up and listen to and learn from enough information and facts before I resort to anger. And it works! My internal calmness exists and I have no serious, negative feelings about this situation. As Lord Buddha advises us,
"Choose the non-violent way to solve the problem rather than aggressively face and fight! Learn to listen and ponder!"
