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3. Environmental Justice Case Studies
Many countries continue to grapple with accessibility of
environmental resources and impact from utilization and often lead to
conflicts. Environmental justice can be seen as a facet of social justice,
as it pertains to how key institutions in society allocate rights, duties,
and benefits equitably among all members of the society. The concept
is deeply rooted in social organization. The case studies discussed in
this section involve an analysis of environmental justice in two distinct
cases: the Pak Mun Dam area and the Bang Kloi villagers.
Pak Mun Dam in Ubon Ratchathani Province
The case of Pak Mun Dam in Ubon Ratchathani Province involved
economic inequality in that the villagers of Pak Mun used to work
as fishermen in the Mun River Basin and were able to make ends meet,
but after the project was implemented they lacked access to stable
income. Some have had to go into unfamiliar occupations, prompting the
villagers to make demands to those responsible and the government.
Bang Kloi Villagers in Kanchanaburi Province
The problem of inequality in access to economic opportunities
for Bang Kloi villagers, the largest ethnic group in Thailand in the area
