Amara Pongsapich

Urban household energy consumption in Thailand

This study was aimed at developing a better understanding of urban household energy consumption in Thailand through a series of in-depth household energy surveys. Households in urban areas used electricity, LPG, charcoal, and fuelwood. Traditional biomass fuels such as husk and dung, as well as kerosene, were essentially not used in urban households. Nearly all households used electricity and most households used LPG. Some households used more than one fuel for cooking, particularly LPG and charcoal. There was a great difference in electricity used between the households in Bangkok and other urban areas. Most households in the study areas used LPG stove or burners for cooking. But charcoal stoves were also used by many households for specific culinary purposes. Electric rice-cookers are widely used for convenience. The study suggests that the number of households using charcoal stoves will decrease gradually and fuelwood use will disappear. Saturation rates for refrigerators and colour television sets were very high and air conditioners were common in Bangkok. Some users may be unaware of the benefits of LPG as a cooking fuel. To improve indoor air quality and cooking safety and reduce pressures on forests from commercial fuelwood use, measures to promote LPG should be undertaken. The government should also provide information about efficient appliances and electricity conservation.

POLITICS OF CIVIL SOCIETY

In 1973, Thai civil society made its impact felt in a most dramatic way, when students overthrew a military-led government. Since then, civil society has played a major role in Thailands evolving democracy. Its influence has been strength ened by the economic crisis that engulfed the country from July 1997, and the related promulgation of a new constitution in October that year. While political scientists still debate over a definition of civil society, there is broad agreement that it refers to various organizations and institutions that are independent of government and the state, but able to exert influence on it. Independent case-oriented groups, professional groups, labour and student organizations, business federations, and institutions such as a free press, are all important components of civil society. Civil society may seek to influence governments by a range of tactics, from co-operative working together to out right opposition. Most analysts accept, however, that the state (government and bureacracy) cannot be part of civil society.