Dutch filmmakers draw attention to Bangkok's water problem
(Wutthichai / Shutterstock.com)
The Thai capital Bangkok is known for its vulnerability to flooding due to its location in a low-lying delta and rapid urbanization. Climate change and poor urban planning have also contributed to the city's flooding problems.
The government has taken steps to address the problem, but it remains a persistent challenge for the city. As part of their training, five young Dutch filmmakers will pay attention to this increasingly urgent problem in the form of a documentary.
The Netherlands has been internationally known for many decades for its exceptional know-how and expertise in the field of water management. For example, Dutch companies play an important role in solving the water problem in the Indonesian capital Jakarta. The same applies to the development and realization of the master plan that was made for the American city of New Orleans after the devastating hurricane Katrina.
Proactive
The Thai capital Bangkok has also been plagued by frequent flooding for many years, but there is still little structural attention to this problem. As part of their studies, five students at the Dutch Filmers Academy in Eindhoven (Eef Caubo, Lizzy Hubers, Wieneke Manders, Roseanne Körver and Tomas Slingerland) have conceived the plan to make a documentary in order to generate attention for the 'sinking city'. ', as Bangkok is already called by many. In order to realize their ambitious plans, the students have now started crowdfunding to rent the necessary equipment for their documentary 'The Drowning City'. You can donate via a crowdfunding page on 'Voor de Kunst'.
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Thought that years ago Dutch experts were invited here to look at this problem, they then went back to the Netherlands because of the Thai officials. Were not planning to follow their advice, this water nuisance might have been solved if the advice had been followed.
That's right,
And they already had a plan with calculations and budget.
Thank you for the effort and send the bill.
Subsequently, there was no nuisance for years, so the Ned Plan was put on the top shelf.
And never did anything with it again
I thought that the Dutch companies were also prepared to advance the necessary money, unfortunately…, The Thai government prefers to waste their money on submarines, there will probably be some money left hanging here and there, Dutch companies are not allowed to give bribes, so they will never be allowed to solve the flooding….
Those submarines could then come in handy in Bangkok.
Just came back from Bangkok and Hua Hin and if you see and read what billions-cost infrastructure projects are running and have yet to be started, then it's hard to understand why crowdfunding has started for this. You would expect that the Thai government could also release some money for this, wouldn't you? After all, it's their problem...
That crowdfunding is of course not for waterworks in Bangkok, but for the filmmakers to be able to make a documentary.
Yes Peter, I understand that too, but the documentary is intended to look at a possible solution to the problem and if the government is throwing billions in megalomaniacal projects, you might think that they are now /will suffer the most from it supports this project.
The initiative comes from the students themselves (a trip to Bangkok is of course a good choice 😉 ), they have not been asked by the Thai government, so they will not put any money into it. Moreover, all expertise on this subject is at Deltares (https://www.deltares.nl/nl/) and not with the students of a film academy. In 2011, during the worst flood of the past 50 years, Dutch engineer Adri Verweij was the most important adviser to then Prime Minister Yingluck and received a high award from the Thai government for this. Almost all ambassadors have lobbied various Thai governments over the past 15 years to use the knowledge of Dutch companies and universities against flooding. But as you know Thais can be quite stubborn, they prefer to reinvent the wheel themselves. In addition, if you want to do business in Thailand, you often have to have access to the highest echelons and/or be prepared to pay some tea money.
sonny,
You don't think the Thai government will reward Dutch students with a subsidy, do you?
That is called loss of face and Thais don't like that, and certainly not the government.
When the crowdfunding for Bangkok does not go well, the students can also go to Bangladesh.
Cheaper accommodation and there is much more flooding there.