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Bounties, bullets and toxic waste: The ongoing war against Thailand’s eco-defenders

21 Sept 07:11 Key points summarised by AI

Environmental activists in Thailand, particularly in Prachin Buri province, face severe intimidation, including death threats, bounties, and legal harassment, for campaigning against illegal toxic waste dumping.
Prachin Buri is reportedly becoming a dumping ground for the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), which generates millions of tonnes of industrial and hazardous waste annually, exceeding its disposal capacity.
The crisis is exacerbated by legal exemptions granted after the 2014 coup and the proliferation of sham recycling plants that fail to properly process waste, leading to widespread environmental damage and health risks.
Human rights organizations report a significant increase in harassment against activists, with current laws failing to proactively protect eco-defenders who challenge powerful business interests and state agencies, leaving them vulnerable to violence.

Yesterday 14:22 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Education Ministry is implementing a four-pronged strategy to address its students' below-average performance in PISA 2025 and tackle significant educational inequality.
The plan prioritizes closing performance gaps by increasing funding for small and low-income schools, overhauling the curriculum to foster critical thinking, and adopting a data-driven management system to reduce teacher workload.
Key initiatives include enhancing school safety, combating cyberbullying, and expanding mental health support through peer-to-peer networks, recognizing the severe impact of distress on academic performance.
An education expert advises verifying if PISA improvements stem from structural changes, advocating for a revived STEM curriculum with practical 'learn by doing' methods, and urging bureaucratic reform to link teacher evaluations to student development.