The role of alternative online environmental media in Thailand for sustainable development in the greater Mekong subregion

Abstract

The emergence of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) in Thailand has provided a new communication tools for people and helped to empower CBOs and NGOs to voice their concerns and to promote sustainable development in Thailand and the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), which includes Myanmar/Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and two Southern provinces of China - Yunnan and Guangxi. Since 1992, the GMS program initiated by Asian Development Bank (ADB) has resulted in many development projects and policies such as the construction of hydropower dams and rapids blasting in upper mainstream Mekong River. These development schemes have had a negative impact on local communities and the environment in Mekong countries. Moreover, since the Asian financial crisis occurred in 1997, Thailand has undergone many economic and social changes and a noticeable increase in the number of and frequency of environmental conflicts between people and government over the use of natural resources. As the lack of recognition of social problems and people’s hardships evidenced by government policies and mainstream media reports, CBOs and NGOs have become the media provider themselves through the use of Alternative Online Environmental Media (AOEM) to voice out their concerns and to promote sustainable development. This study employs both quantitative and qualitative methods of documentary research, in-depth interviews, and website content analysis by using Gibson and Ward’s Model (2001). The examination of AOEM used by (1) Thai CBO - Mekong-Lanna Natural Resources and Culture Conservation Network/Mekong Lover; (2) Thai NGO - Living River Siam; and (3) International NGO - International River (Southeast Asia campaigning page), is to understand the functions of AOEM to promote sustainable development in the GMS. The three organizations’ websites are analyzed as communication channels to understand how organizations employ them to achieve: (1) dissemination of information; (2) networking among CBOs and NGOs themselves, and other working individuals and groups; and (3) the organization of public campaigns. The three organizations also revealed their strategy, challenges and concerns regarding the functions of AOEM. The use of AOEM helps the examined organizations to lower the cost of campaigning, to streamline updating and reporting processes, and to increase the effectiveness of online petitions. The findings also reveal that the impact of new information communication technologies have contributed positive changes to environmental organizations and GMS citizens’ access to more information and social justice in terms of achieving truly sustainable development.