Ethics of Water Management: The Thai Case

Ethics of Water Management: The Thai Case

Soraj HongladaromCenter for Ethics of Science

and Technology, Chulalongkorn University

Soraj HongladaromCenter for Ethics of Science

and Technology, Chulalongkorn University

Presented at the 8th IAB World Congress of Ethics,Beijing, China, August 6 - 9, 2006

OverviewOverview

What happened recently in the country

Conflict between industry and population

Ethical/social and political issues

Conclusion

What happened recently in the country

Conflict between industry and population

Ethical/social and political issues

Conclusion

Eastern Seaboard AreaEastern Seaboard Area

What happened thereWhat happened there

Updated: Thursday 14 July 2005 - Thailand: industrial output cut to reduce water consumption

Siam Cement PCL (SCC), Thailand's biggest industrial conglomerate, announced on 22 June 2005 that its petrochemical plants in drought-hit eastern Thailand will cut production by about 40 per cent. The cut was prompted by the need to reduce water consumption.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said industrial plants on the eastern seaboard did not need to cut output because there was enough water for the next two months. He said the situation was not critical and the government had launched artificial rain making efforts, which should increase water supplies in the area. Eastern Water Resources Development and Management, Thailand's largest industrial water supplier, confirmed it had enough water to supply clients until September 2005 after the success of recent cloud seeding efforts.

Ethical IssuesEthical Issues

Conflict between interests of the industry and the villagers

Economic development against the interest of the environment and the villagers

How to find a balance?How to protect the environment which will benefit us in the long term?

Conflict between interests of the industry and the villagers

Economic development against the interest of the environment and the villagers

How to find a balance?How to protect the environment which will benefit us in the long term?

Management of Scarce Resource

Management of Scarce Resource

Water has become scarcer.Yet there does not seem to be concerted effort to think this over.

At the heart of the problem lies the conceptual and normative dilemma of how scarce resource is to be distributed.

How to ensure justice for all?

Water has become scarcer.Yet there does not seem to be concerted effort to think this over.

At the heart of the problem lies the conceptual and normative dilemma of how scarce resource is to be distributed.

How to ensure justice for all?

Justice in Water UseJustice in Water Use

Looking at the Thai Eastern Seaboard case, it is clear that there is a conflict between the industry and the villagers.

Water has seemed to become a commodity.

This idea has been strongly resisted in Thailand.

Looking at the Thai Eastern Seaboard case, it is clear that there is a conflict between the industry and the villagers.

Water has seemed to become a commodity.

This idea has been strongly resisted in Thailand.

Water as CommodityWater as Commodity

However, it may be a time to rethink this issue.

The worry is that, if water is classified as commodity, then the rich will be able to get a lot of it.

If water now, then what? Do we then have to pay for air?

But what is the alternative?

However, it may be a time to rethink this issue.

The worry is that, if water is classified as commodity, then the rich will be able to get a lot of it.

If water now, then what? Do we then have to pay for air?

But what is the alternative?

The Buddhist PerspectiveThe Buddhist Perspective

As with the other religions, Buddhism does not consist of a single, coherent set of teaching that is subscribed by everybody.

One needs interpretation, but the core needs to be maintained.

In this case, the idea of interdependence of all things is key, but it is not sufficient.

As with the other religions, Buddhism does not consist of a single, coherent set of teaching that is subscribed by everybody.

One needs interpretation, but the core needs to be maintained.

In this case, the idea of interdependence of all things is key, but it is not sufficient.

Interdependence of All Things

Interdependence of All Things

The most that this doctrine can establish, in case of water management, is that we are dependent on water and water is also dependent on some things else.

But this, apart from certain deep metaphysical issues, is a common place idea.

We need to go further.

The most that this doctrine can establish, in case of water management, is that we are dependent on water and water is also dependent on some things else.

But this, apart from certain deep metaphysical issues, is a common place idea.

We need to go further.

How to Live TogetherHow to Live Together

We also need the way on how people live with one another.

One way is to divide the water equally, but that does not take into account the needs.

But how to measure the needs of the various parties?

We also need the way on how people live with one another.

One way is to divide the water equally, but that does not take into account the needs.

But how to measure the needs of the various parties?

Competing RightsCompeting Rights

How to decide if the basic life and death issue has been cleared up.

Right to life is the most basic. Without water one cannot live, but there are also uses of water for making a living.

In this case, how to choose from among these competing rights?

How to decide if the basic life and death issue has been cleared up.

Right to life is the most basic. Without water one cannot live, but there are also uses of water for making a living.

In this case, how to choose from among these competing rights?

Buddhist ViewpointBuddhist Viewpoint

Neither utilitarian nor deontological perspective is adequate.

What more is required is that the decision be made with compassion.

This means to take the interests of others to be more important than one’s own.

Neither utilitarian nor deontological perspective is adequate.

What more is required is that the decision be made with compassion.

This means to take the interests of others to be more important than one’s own.

Water DistributionWater Distribution

Altruism should be the basis for distribution of water and other scarce resource, rather than abstract principles of justice.

Justice consists in taking ‘the bird’s eye view’

This means all the interests need to be taken into consideration.

Altruism should be the basis for distribution of water and other scarce resource, rather than abstract principles of justice.

Justice consists in taking ‘the bird’s eye view’

This means all the interests need to be taken into consideration.