Mekong in Finland
Energy Democracy in the Mekong seminar 2011
Mekong seminar 2008
In Finland Siemenpuu has a volunteer based Mekong group. The Mekong Group monitors the MEE Net prorgamme and organizers information work in Finland about Mekong energy issues. The members are experst on Mekong region and energy political issues from research community, and Siemenpuu member organsiations and friendship organisations of the region. .
The group has organized three seminars in Finland, one on 3rd of November 2008 Mekong region: Energy Policy, Climate Change and Ecological Democracy in Helsinki, and second on 9th June 2010 Mekong mini seminar: Mekong - What is the future ? in Espoo and the third on 6th of October 2011 Energy democracy in the Mekong and in Finland in Univeristy of Helsinki. In 2011 summer the group also arranged an environmental action project under the theme Buddha in Nature and a seminar on Religions and environment on 2nd November 2011.
More information on the Mekong cooperation prorgamme and Mekong Gorup of the Siemenpuu Foundation please contact project coordinator Tove Selin, at tove.selin at siemenpuu.org.
Activities in Finland 2011:
Buddha in Nature
The idea of Buddha in Nature project is to present an overview of the prevailing concepts of environment in the Buddhist traditions and show practical examples of the environmental actions of Buddhist groups mainly from the Mekong region. Overview and practical examples will be published on the Siemenpuu website from July 2011 onwards. There is also an experiential component with in the project, Buddha in Nature Action, which aims to bring together participants from around the world. Participants´ inputs are presented on the Siemenpuu website and in an exhibition in Helsinki in November 2011. Buddha in Nature project is part of the information and awareness-raising services of Siemenpuu.
Call for participation to Buddha in Nature Action
Buddha in Nature Action is part of information services of Siemenpuu Foundation. The aim is to explore environmental thinking in Buddhism and consciously experience one’s relationship with the environment while doing something to improve our common environment.
How to participate?
- Explore the relationship between Buddhism and environment (see e.g. the link list below).
- Do an act, an exercise, which relates to Buddhist environmental thinking.
- Actions can be for example environmental art or some environmentally responsible actions.
- You can also bring out an environmental action that has already been implemented.
- Document the action or part of it as photo, video and/or audio material.
- Write a short description of how the act relates to Buddhist environmental thinking and how you experienced it.
- Send the material electronically or by mail (see contact details below) by 1st of September 2011.
- Include your name, year of birth, nationality, location of your action and your contact details.
Sent material will be presented on the Siemenpuu website and in an exhibition in Helsinki, Finland in November 2011.
Seminar on the Environmental Concepts of the Religions is organized (in Finnish) on the 2nd November 2011 in University of Helsinki, main builiding, auditorium XII, address Unioninkatu 34, 3rd floor. Pre-registration by 31.10.2011 to buddhaluonto at siemenpuu.org for coffee and tea service.
Siemenpuu reserves the right to select and publish sent material for the above-mentioned contexts. Contact details of the participants will be kept private and will that not be passed over without their permission to any third party. Participants will not be paid compensation.
Who are we and why are we organizing this?
The core service of Siemenpuu is to support civil society organisations in developing countries working for ecological democracy, environmental protection and prevention of environmental threats. Through its information services the Siemenpuu Foundation presents for example how different cultural traditions can participate in solving global environmental problems. Siemenpuu is not a Buddhist organisation, but operates in areas such as the Mekong region, where Buddhism is the dominant tradition.
More information and contact details:
e-mail: buddhaluonto(at)siemenpuu.org
Postal address: Heinlammintie 7 b, 15210, Lahti, Finland
Some links for Buddhism and environment:
Environment / Dalai Lama
Ecobuddhism
Buddhist Ecology Link
Ecological Buddhism Blog
Ecodharma
The Buddhist Conception of an Ecological Self by Alan Sponberg
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/blog/2010/sep/02/buddhism-environment
Seminar on Energy Democracy in Mekong Region and in Finland
Date and time: 06.10.2011 at 9 -12
Venue: University of Helsinki, Main Building, Auditorium XII, Unioninkatu 34, Helsinki
Presentations (please download the pdf at the each presentation):
Public discussions on energy policy choices in Finland: the case of nuclear energy, Ms. Tuula Teräväinen, University of Helsinki
Flaws in Energy Planning in Mekong, Mr Witoon Permpongsacharoen, Mekong Energy and Ecology Network, Thailand
Public participation in Vietnam Power Development Plan, Ms Nguy Thi Khanh, WARECOD, Vietnam
Alternatives to coal power in Thailand, Ms Sureerut Taechutrakul, Prachuap Khri Khan, Thailand
Comment: Mekong ecosystems: Fish, culture and people’s livelihoods, Mr Noel Rajesh Daniel, writer and filmmaker, Thailand
Mekong seminar 2008 in Helsinki
Siemenpuu Foundation organized together with Service Centre for development Cooperation (KEPA), Finland Futures Research Institue and University of Technology a seminar on Mekong Region: Energy Policy Climate Change and Ecological Democracy on 3rd of November 2008 in the House of Sciences, Helsinki, Finland.
The presenations in English can be downloaded here in pdf format:
- Opening words by Ms Anu Lounela, Chair person of the Siemenpuu Foundation (pdf-document 57 Kt)
- Regional coordinator Mr Masud Hossain: Civil society and international development financing in the Mekong region (pdf-document 83 Kt)
- Professor Mr Jyrki Luukkanen: Drivers of energy future in the Mekong region: prospective development paths (pdf-document 682 Kt)
- Director Witoon Permpongsacharoen: The alternative energy policy future (pdf-document 5 Mt)
- Researcher Mr Marko Keskinen: Challenges with water development in the Mekong - What are the impacts? (pdf-document 2.1 Mt)
- Researcher Ms Hanna Kaisti: Intended and Unintended Outcomes of RE Projects in Laos and Cambodia: Stories from the field (pdf-document 4.26 Mt)
- Siemenpuu´s vice chair person Ms Mira Käkönen: Ecological Democracy and Mekong (pdf-document 156 Kt)
Witoon Permpongsacharoen presents the alternative energy policy of Mekong region