Comparative Politics@ Nareasuan University

Once again, I did teach the Comparative Politics for the class of 34 undergrad student at Nareasuan University.  It's the intensive course which hold only four weeks to complete the study course. 
Class was on one building but I went to another building.  Starting from 9:00 a.m. till 4:00pm, I completed the definition of comparative politics and some of the theoretical documents.

In class, we talked and discussed a lot on the Thai current issue instead of comparative topic.  However, it needs to understand where we are, I mean Thai politics before we step further to other countries to compare.  The System paradigm such as political system, political culture, political socialisation, and so on are pretty much important for this class.  In fact, the basic approach for political comparison is "SIMILARITIES & DIFFERENCES". This is mean and method.  It is the way com pare one country to another country.  In term of the similarities, we shall select the most similar countries to compare in order to sort out the differences. In reverse, we select the most different countries to compare in order to sourt out the similarities.  Later, we frame our comparison by implementing the suitable paradigms or approaches for instance, system thoery. 

Time passed very quick.  Finally, the class was assigned to do two tasks for this course: Group paper and individual paper.   I eariler assigned them these tasks so that they can have enough time to complete their tasks before the final exam.

Flooding in Kamphaengphet 4-11 Oct 2011

Late afternoon of 4th October, the Kamphaengphet Governor (Mr. Wanchai Suthin) called the emergency meeting due to the heavy rain making the water over dam's restriction.  The dam must release big amount of water over 100 cubic meter which caused the water level on the Ping river will be high and flood into many areas in Tak, Kamphaengphe, and Nakhornsawan. 

The meeting started the first day of working on flooding protection and other issues related to water. According to the Local Flooding Disaster Plan, there are 3 levels of severe:

• Level 1: Local body is able to manage and control the situation
• Level 2:  The situation is over local capacity, the the provincial authority shall respond to the situation
• Level 3: Provincial authority can not control the situation, the expert team shall be bring into the desk of decision maker.

Kamphaengphet Town is local administration which has area cover 14 square kilometers. Ping river is the main river that run pass through the the town from the north to the south of the town.  The town located about 99 kilometers below the dam. Therefore, the water level on the bank relies on the water outlet flow from the dam and the water flow from some streams flow into the river before it run through the town.

The first day(4 Oct. 2011), we made plan to flight against the incoming flooding in the evening after meeting with the Governor.  According to the plan, we must build the barriers to block the water from flooding into the north and south of the town since it is lower than other area. It's marked as risk area.

The barrier in the north part was a 500 meter dam and covered with sand sacks both sides and laid small rocks on the surface of the dam to make it stronger and hard enough for Back Hoe to drive on.  We surveyed more risk area to lay down the sand sack at people's backyard, garden, and water ways. More government agencies were recruited to cooperate on this matters for instance, the military unit, police, communities, rescue team units, and hospital.  While we were working on protection barriers, the water increased dramatically. 

Courtesy to Mr. Toom Tam

In the morning (5 Oct 2011), the water is higher than critical level, it's 4.5 meter. The town announced to warn public to leave up valuable things higher from the floor and provide sand sacks to local residents to protect their houses from flooding.  It's noticed that when crisis public interest less important than private interest.  I don't want to say much. So let's see my gallery on the event.

Courtesy to Mr. Toom Tam

Giving a brief explanation on the crisis and its solution.

Courtesy to Mr.Toom Tam

City Mayor on T.V. "Spring News" but I was not in scence.

The river was rising to the peak rapidly; as a result, the barrier was scrumble in several parts of the town. The water flood into twon very quick while our man were exhault and less labour. We need to make public announcement to warn and evaculate people to the save place. So, I decided to call for the meeting and invite Mr. Jirasak, the Deputy Governor and other executive directors of involved government agencies to hear the situation and to make decision to evacuate people and to approve my purposed emergency plan.  The resolution was remove people and valuable things to the save place as plan and build new barrier. 

          My great effort is only to protect the town and mitigate disaster. Of course, merging various approaches I have learned with practical working experiences to scope the phenomenon and Q&A approach was also using to tackle the crisis. Starting from asking how much water to come? Where it will come into the town? How can we stop or make it slow down? What types of barriers to stop water? etc. Who or which organisations will be put in place? What type of communication? Moreover, "What-If "approach was a powerful tool to make a future scenario and plan-making. 

The rich gave to those who were suffering, this is the best story to be told on this crisis.

I spent the rest of the day trying to check and gave score to student's examination paper.

Ranger in roll to hear our City Mayor gave a speech of sincere thank, honorable salute, and farewell when the crisis was gone. Our great missions have completed.

University's students taking their visit at Kamphaengphet Town Municipality Office

About 50 students at Social Science Faculty from KPP Rajabat University were taking their out class study by visiting the KPP Town Office.  I gave the 60 mins' lecturing on the Local Government's from and functions. Also the day-to-day business of the town was provided for better understanding on the local affairs.  Issues on local administration and its challenges were clearly explained. There were two key issues: less public participation through out the process of local administration and the problem of 3Es. (Economy, Effectiveness, and Efficiency).  The challenges were how to increase trust amongst stakeholders to elevate higher participatory both in the local body and people in the communities, and how to deal with the 3Es problem properly.   

"We need to build trust amongst stakeholders to voluntarily cooperate in social activities. But the question is how to to build trust?" Let's thinking about social capital....." 

Date 26 Sept 2011

IT'S A HARD DAY

Look at them!!!!