Planting for Another 87 Years!





Welcome to Puttisopon Primary School 87th Anniversary!
Fine traditional fruit and vegetable carving and decorative leaf folding presented as a ceremonial display to HM King of Thailand.
Intricate creative skills by 11 year old grade 6 students

September the 1st 2012 was Puttisopon Primary School's 87th Anniversary, held a day early to fit school term. Formally a Temple school it is now under the jurisdiction of the ministry of Education, Chiang Mai with the original Chedi dating back to the 15th Century still within the schools' boundry.




Original Chedi 15 Century







chairman of the schools' foundation Khun Metta Soratiwa receiving a Dragon Fruit plant that contains many vitamins for health, easy to grow and promotes oxygen in the city air.




 This year the chairman of the schools' foundation Khun Metta Soratiwa, Puttisopon Director Banyot Somlid, Acharn Monk Sombat Siriponno,  Kru Nongluck DaengThai Head of Social Studies whom invited HEUSP and other school representatives along with head of the PTA Khun Manit Hongkaew celebrated by giving 87 students each a 1000 Baht to help support their studies with many children having social issues as sadly many have lost parents  with mainly Grandparents without government support caring for these kids and families under the poverty line.






Thanks to busy Mum's like Khun Nid and graduate Social Studies' teacher whom all gave a helping hand @ HEUSP tent with over a 1100 students taking home a plant to care for and together help keep healthy and clean the air in the city!.

Holistic Environment Urban School Program - HEUSP was lending a helping hand during the celebrations with 1700 give aways of six local and regional economic and medicinal plants to every visitor, student, teacher, PTA and parents.



The 'rush' to sign the pledge was incredible - Thanks to Kru David for supplying
some of the reused  plastic bags!



Kru Rueng Na Pha Phu Roong Rueng Grade 6/4 Teacher choosing her "Pak Wan Baan"

There was a slight catch for all these giveaways as everyone signed up first to the 10:10 LCLN peoples pledge first which is an easy step by step way to reduce how much carbon we all use starting at 10% with a goal to getting to 90% so children can have a safe, clean and healthy place to live.




School Director Bunyot Somlid pledges the school to cut carbon use by 10%  yearly





Kru Nong Luck DaengThai Head of Social Studies signs the LCLN peoples  pledges


This community event had a serious message with ideas designed around fun hands on activities!





 

Everyday at one of  the  old city's pollution 'hot spots' students with no protection and traffic police unprotected direct traffic and pedestrians

outside the school

  


We all must address urgent urban community health impacts from illegal black exhaust fumes from vehicles affecting our most youngest and at risk citizens




  

Creative Grade  3 Student!



 
 Creative use of flyers stating "STOP BURNING" has this bright grade 3 student  looking cool and spreading the message to all adults to stop all toxic waste, farm and forest burning it the main cause of chronic diseases in the young and aged

 

Ladies@ Huay Hong Krai - Doi Saket working hard!


A couple of days before the event we headed up to Doi Saket to collect all the plants. The team of Ladies did a great job collecting and stacking all 1700 + plants along with offering great local advice on plant properties including the " En Yurt" medicinal plant which was chosen.
Applied raw to the affected area it relieves muscular pain. Thank-you to Tomoko Kashiwazaki a long term Japanese resident and supporter for helping out.



Local Red Truck with 1700+ plants squeezed in the back!
 Car Share or is it a Plant Share!




Connecting Communities glimpes from behind the scenes on how cooperating together we can achieve our vision for a healthy livable safe Chiang Mai for all!



  

Helping together under team leader Khun Banyot Somlid and in the background Tomoko HEUSP



HEUSP Holistic Environment Urban School Program is a bottom to Top local community based  initiative encompassing 4 schools within Chiang Mai Old City including Yuparraj High School YPR., Puttisopon Primary School, Panee Nursery School and Mettasuksa  Boys School. Contact: Thai / English +66 0831 523621
 


Respect, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Replant -The HEUSP Mantra!




Caroline Marsh is co-founder of Chiang Mai based independent ethical tour operator  Trekking Collective Co.,  .."Expertise, Ethical travel and Authentic Experiences contribute to making a difference to local communities and the environment." passionate about new experiences, travel and environmental well being she writes for travel sites and helps coordinate local 'grassroots' community peoples actions for a better future society
 





 

LCLN in Action around Chiang Mai in 2012!



LCLN supporters during the King's 84th Birthday celebrations and National Environment Awareness Day.



Lanna Community Life Network (LCLN) in action this year, we are now half way through 2012 and LCLN have been pro active in supporting global, regional and local initiatives in Chiang Mai during 2012 promoting awareness in the community.."what can we all do to help reduce the future effects of climate change?"

Let's start the year with His Majesty the King's 84th Birthday celebrations on the 5th of December 2011 with the joint purpose of highlighting annual Thai National  Environment  Day on the 4rd December.

LCLN joined hands with prominent Chiang Mai citizens and well known environmentalists including Acharn Kanowan Ukoskit of Northern Organic Certification Association (NOSA) Acharn Sawat Chantalay of Yupparaj High school coordinator of the Global citizen connect classroom initiative, an award winning conservationist.

"Loving Kindness Bolsters the World" - Pra Sutas, Kirk and Caroline of LCLN

Joined by other LCLN supporters on the day including Pra Sutas of Wat Prathat Doi Saket

LCLN say's NO to BURNING our forests and fields, causing extreme cycles of floods,drought and water shortages!

During the National Environment Awareness Event 2-5 Dec sponsored by the Environment Office Region 1 headed by Khun Apiwat Kunarak held in the green shaded setting of JJ Hobby Market 

Grade 5 students from Puttisopon Primary School sign the LCLN pledge

LCLN invited participants to sign up to the 10:10 Chiang Mai peoples pledge an initiative designed to encourage voluntary community participation to lead Chiang Mai towards a healthy low carbon city starting with the date 10:10:10 combining global initiatives of 101010.org and 350.org with more than 5,000 people in Chiang Mai signing the LCLN pledge to date. Watch this Open Chiang Mai VDO!

                      Alex Putnam of Open Chiang Mai chats with LCLN



5 year old students and teachers @ Anubahn Panee Nursery

LCLN says a big Thank-you to Yupparaj High School students and connect classrooms coordinator Acharn Sawat Chantalay, Puttisopon Primary School students under Social studies teacher Kru Nongluck and Panee Nursery head teacher Kru Maem whom are ' very aware' participants in the Holistic Environment Urban School Program (HEUSP) a project to impove wellbeing for schools within the old city produced some fabulous hand painted banners to put on display during the event.

8 year old Puttisopon Primary School Students asking for a healthier future for kids!

Saturday 14th January, 2012, we had heavy showers during the 3rd Low Carbon Children's Day event, but the rains didn't dampen the fun and the early morning soak brought relief to trees and plants and the community's 
health after an unusually arid dry spell for cool season.  



Two brothers pledged to care for their new Jackfruit tree, the leaves will trap unclean air from dirty car exhast smoke and dust produce clean oxygen and delicious fruit when mature....a win win situation for all!


Holistic Environment Urban School Program [HEUSP] and LCLN [Lanna Community Life Network] joined Acharn Duongchan Charoenmuang and the UDIF team held at the centre for urban sustainable development, a landmark in the old city, located in the lovely listed teak building and the old city's first earth built house planted with local varieties of trees and plants from northern Thailand.

Quick change after the rains...Tomoko and Caroline helping out at the event

HEUSP and LCLN members representing The UK, Thailand, Japan, China and the US were handing out giveaways of local economic plants and trees to children and their parents, both signing a 'plant pledge' to care for their plant and be part of the solution to reduce the CO2 in the air!...more trees and plants means more oxygen in the air we all breathe.

3rd time lucky...this lovely family have visited our booth and faithfully plant trees every year...keeping their pledge to a Healthy Low Carbon Chiang Mai

 The plants chosen for their usefulness, easy to grow and size if you consider growing plants in an urban setting, with many people not having gardens, so they can be grown in an old bucket or pot. There were 7 varities such as the edible JackFruit and a sustainable timber source, Black Soap plant which has an attractive red flower, but not to be eaten and the nuts can produce an oil. also 'bai plue' which is an edible easy to grow plant eaten with a number of local healthy 'raw food 'Lanna dishes.




Caroline a member of  HEUSP and LCLN presenting a 'Fartalaijoan' plant in  reused bags to the director of YMCA
during the event.....we are all someone's child and grown up children can celebrate too!

 
'Fartalaijoan' was a very popular givaway and is one of the most important Thai medicinal herbs for many illnesses which the leaves can be eaten fresh or as a herbal tea, dried and in capsule form, but this plant is not for the faint hearted or sweet toothed as it is also famous for being the most bitter of the medicinal plants. From preventing or bring down high fevers and from personal experience getting over hepatitus A its an amazing cure all!





Respected Doctors in Women and Children's Health demonstrate against the chronic air pollution

March 2012, During the hight of the regional burning respected Doctors and teachers, concerned citizens, schools and students, local NGO's, LCLN and fellow community groups joined hands and face masks!


LCLN says YES to a healthy Chiang Mai and No to BURNING  and BLACK EXHAUST SMOKE!



To demonstrate against the high risk and health effects of chronic burning and black diesel car exhaust on the community and particularily our children.Its official WHO announced in June 2012 that diesel particles cause lung cancer. This is not only locally, its a regional and a global problem. Seasonal air quality in Chiang Mai is the same as London, Forests burning in South East Asia, USA and Siberia affects us here in Chiang Mai. Burning mature trees is one of the main causes of severe flooding that we witnessed in Bangkok followed by drought in many provinces all playing their part in the extreme weather we now experience around our shared planet.

NGO's and community groups question the part large corporations play in the health of the planet?
Growing corn ( not a local crop) for animal feed, biofuels and new investment in large real estate projects

Students of Yupparaj High School Conservation and Environment Club join the event

..."We are all part of the problem we must all take conscious steps to be part of the solution!"......

Women Organic farmers from ISAC at the Friday Market @ Puttisopon
School receive an unique recycled 10:10 logo for their
contribution towards a low carbon future!

May 2012. To thank supporters of the 10:10 global initiative in Chiang Mai the London 10:10: head office made gifts of their unique 10: 10: logo made from the recycled metal body of a passenger plane!



LCLN member Hui from China, Sawat Chantalay and Claire Newbold from the UK


 July 4th, 2012!LCLN supported activities with Yupparaj High School during visits by participating schools in the global citizen connect classroom initiative organised by school coordinator Acharn Sawat Chantalay with arranged visits to UDIF Urban Creative Solutions Centre and their well known award winning environmentalist director Acharn Duongchan Charoennmuang.

International relations school coordinators, Ms Claire Newbold from Garendon High School, Leicster,UK., and Mr. Asep Saepudin, SMP Negeri 1 High School, Bogor, West Java, Indonesia invited students and teachers to sign the LCLN peoples pledge on behalf of their Schools for a low carbon future for all.




SMP High School,West Java, Sawat Chantaly, Josh Melby for UDIF and Caroline, LCLN

You can join Lanna Community Life Network - LCLN or HEUSP activities on a local, regional or global level - everyone with 'energy, ideas and community skills' are always welcome.

Businesses, organisations, schools, teachers and parents wishing to support LCLN  contact us to find out more on how you can sign up to the LCLN pledge.

Contact LCLN by email or local mobile Khun Punika 0892634422 Thai/ English, Ms Hui 0846146702 Mandarin and Caroline 08321523621 for English/ Thai - all ages and nationalities welcome!

These projects have zero official funding and rely solely on the positive energy generated within our Chiang Mai Community

Like LCLN on facebook!  
http://www.lannacommunitylife.org/                    

.." Good Actions Require Everyone's Cooperation..."  Jing Si
Caroline Marsh is co-founder of Chiang Mai based independent ethical tour operator  Trekking Collective Co.,  .."Expertise, Ethical travel and Authentic Experiences contribute to making a difference to local communities and the environment." passionate about new experiences, travel and environmental well being she writes for travel sites and coordinates local 'grassroots' community peoples actions for a better future society for all.                                                                                                          

                                                                                                              

Essential Lanna - Chiang Mai City Inthakin 2012

Wat Chedi Luang




Chiang Mai's Intakin festival which is held annually for seven days and seven nights around the end of May to the 1st week in June at the impressive Wat Chedi Luang Temple a focal point in centre of the old city.

Celebrating the Buddhist image of Phra Chao Fon Saen Ha thus invoking the annual rains and fertile soils. Join during the day, but more interestingly during the evenings with hundred's of local citizens to each place a small bundle of flowers among thousand's  along with burning incense at the ancient 'Pillar of the City' shrine and at all points around the Chedi thus strengthening traditional religious and community ties.

Bathe Buddha images resting in deep niches high in the pagoda's north and south facing facades by an intriguing pulley system and make merit by lighting a candle to your own Buddha depending on which day of the week you were born indicated by the different postures of the Buddha. Ring all the temple bells as you navigate clockwise around the Chedi, but please be careful not to knock the bells together!

Pay your respects in suitable covered clothing and enter into the recently renovated main hall taking in all the golden light, shimmer and shadow of the many Buddha images sitting shoulder to shoulder looking knowingly down upon you !

Intakin is the festival to see fine examples of traditional Lanna modest costume worn particularly by women carrying generations old finely crafted silver ceremonial bowls and woven basketry carrying delicate and lovingly folded fresh flowers and leaves to pay homage.

City Sentinels 'Ton Yang'  Trees



Marvel at the "Ton Yang" trees that tower over the Temple and the old city standing as sentinels, the city's silent judges and a daily reminder to follow a more sustainable society model in balance with nature. City legend tells us that if these great trees were to fall..the city of Chiang Mai will follow... So teaching and preserving cultural and environmental mindfulness.

Never fear this is Chiang Mai's traditional answer to the global takeover by 24/7 style consumerism!... with a never ending supply of tasty traditional snacks to sample and shop till you drop at the temple fair onnecting with the Mettasuksa Boys Temple School next door you will find a local version of thrill rides from another century..try the cage Ferris wheel for a slightly better view over all the bright neon's, sights, smells and sonic booms of a 'user friendly' traditional religious celebration  in Chiang Mai.

Caroline Marsh is co-founder of Chiang Mai based independent ethical tour operator http://www.trekkingcollective.com/ .."Expertise, Ethical travel and Authentic Experiences contribute to making a difference to local communities and the environment." passionate about new experiences, travel and environmental well being she writes for travel sites and coordinates local 'grassroots' community peoples actions for a better future for all.

Chiang Mai's 3rd Annual Low Carbon Children's Day 2012!

Hui a member of LCLN from Yunnan and living in Chiang Mai chats with Chinese
visitors to the city during the 2012 event

The heavens opened this Saturday 14th January, 2012, during the 3rd Low Carbon Children's Day event, but the rains didn't dampen the fun and the early morning soak brought relief to trees and plants and the communities health after an unusually arid dry spell for this season.  



Two brothers pledged to care for their new Jackfruit tree, the leaves will trap unclean air from dirty car exhast smoke and dust produce clean oxygen and delicious fruit when mature....a win win situation for all!


Holistic Environment Urban School Program [HEUSP] and LCLN [Lanna Community Life Network] joined Acharn Duongchan Charoenmuang and the UDIF team held at the centre for urban sustainable development, a landmark in the old city, located in the lovely listed teak building and the old city's first earth built house planted with local varieties of trees and plants from northern Thailand.

Quick change after the rains...Tomoko and Caroline helping out at the event

HEUSP and LCLN members representing The UK, Thailand, Japan, China and the US were handing out giveaways of local economic plants and trees to children and their parents.

3rd time lucky...this lovely family have visited our booth and faithfully plant trees every year...keeping their pledge to a Healthy Low Carbon Chiang Mai

 The plants chosen for their usefulness, easy to grow and size if you consider growing plants in an urban setting, with many people not having gardens, so they can be grown in an old bucket or pot. There were 7 varities such as the edible JackFruit and a sustainable timber source, Black Soap plant which has an attractive red flower, but not to be eaten and the nuts can produce an oil. also'bai plue' which is an edible easy to grow plant an eaten with a number of local healthy 'raw food 'Lanna dishes.




Caroline a member of  HEUSP and LCLN presenting a 'Fartalaijoan' plant in  reused bags to the director of YMCA
during the event.....we are all someone's child and grown up children can celebrate too!

 
'Fartalaijoan' was a very popular givaway and is one of the most important Thai medicinal herbs for many illnesses which the leaves can be eaten fresh or as a herbal tea, dried and in capsule form, but this plant is not for the faint hearted or sweet toothed as it is also famous for being the most bitter of the medicinal plants. From preventing or bring down high fevers and from personal experience getting over hepatitus A its an amazing cure all.

Mayor Tassanai 1st person to pledge to a healthy Low carbon Chiang Mai!



Parents and Children sign up to the LCLN  peoples pledge for a Healthy Low Carbon Chiang Mai for All!



The LCLN peoples pledge which promotes Chiang Mai as a healthy clean low carbon city, with more than 10,000 signatures to date was the main focus for the parents, grown ups and children receiving the trees and plants as it is one of the 30 effortless actions that everyone can signup to to make our beautiful city more healthier for our children to live in. Next step is to access the hundreds of businesses and organisations to strenghten the pledge and positive role models for generations to come.




Thank-you to GM and staff of Bodhi Serene Boutique Hotel



Many Thanks to all in the Chiang Mai community for coming to the event to Ricky of Our Chiang Mai. Sopha and Peung, long time supporters of HEUSP for helping to transport the 500 plants to the event...not as easy as you think! and Thank-you again to the Management and staff of Bodhi Serene Boutique Hotel for caring for all the plants at the Hotel nursery. Also to the family from France who made a generous donation to HEUSP and LCLN, community 'grassroots' groups. These projects have zero official funding and rely solely on the positive energy generated within our Chiang Mai Community .....time for us all to give back to secure the future for your children and economic sustainability for our city! Please call these numbers to join our growing membership. Like us on facebook and for more information call  Lanna Community Life Network

 English 0831-523 621 ไทย 0892-634-422 Japanese 0812-884-216 Mandarin 0846146702

Written by Caroline Marsh.

Caroline Marsh is co-founder of Chiang Mai based independent ethical tour operator http://www.trekkingcollective.com .."Expertise, Ethical travel and Authentic Experiences contribute to making a difference to local communities and the environment." passionate about new experiences and travel; preaches and teaches community well being; Caroline writes for travel sites, regional travel magazines and her own blog Authentic Chiang Mai promoting her adopted city of more than 20years!; coordinates local 'grassroots' community peoples actions through Holistic Environment Urban Schools Program (HEUSP)and a member of the umbrella network group Lanna Community Life Network (LCLN) formerly NCCN. Visit channel www.youtube.com/holisticearth1

Learn The Ways of the Thai Elephant

photo credit: Trekking Collective2011

My first unforgettable encounter with Thai elephants more than 20 years ago was hanging on precariously to an elephant howdah (elephant saddle!) during a monsoon downpour in the forests of the ancient Lanna Kingdom, northern Thailand only a few hours journey where I am based in Chiang Mai, the capital city. A time to really appreciate and respect the sure footedness of such a relatively huge pachyderm travelling on a steep and slippery single file narrow mountain path. Don't look down if you get virtigo!

Following my new found elephant friend and her keeper again the next day we made our way down to the river for her morning shower and I joined them to bathe and wash away seeds and insects before work begins - An Elephant Spa ! Contrary to popular belief pachyderms - 'thick skinned mammals' have very sensitive skin.

In the north of Thailand Mahouts (elephant keepers) the Indigenous Karen are the traditional keepers of elephants in the northern forests originally living along the deep forested Thai - Burma border their skills are legendary with commands and skills learnt over many generations with their partnership lasting over a  life-time as both man and elephant may live over 60 years.
  
Over the days I was taught commands in Karen dialect, So I began to know and care for this amazing creature, learning of foods and medicines that can be picked from the forest for an elephants well -being as I journey on elephant back following forested paths.

Late afternoon I returned to my Elephant friend to continue my lessons of traditions, forest-lore and ways of the Thai elephant with a forest walk returning the Elephants to their resting place for the night. It really was a once in a lifetime experience!

Take time to look deep into their all knowing kindly eyes for these our friends are one of the last remaining links to another maybe better world.

..."Let www.trekkingcollective.com you on an unique personal journey through northern  Thailand .."

Caroline Marsh is co-founder of Chiang Mai based independent ethical tour operator http://www.trekkingcollective.com .."Expertise, Ethical travel and Authentic Experiences contribute to making a difference to local communities and the environment." passionate about new experiences and travel; preaches and teaches community environmental well being; Caroline writes for travel sites, regional travel magazines and her own blog Authentic Chiang Mai promoting her adopted city of more than 20years!; coordinates local 'grassroots' community peoples actions through Holistic Environment Urban Schools Program (HEUSP)and a member of the umbrella network group Lanna Community Life Network (LCLN) formerly NCCN. Visit channel www.youtube.com/holisticearth1

Yupparaj Wittayalai High School Goes International



Yuppparaj International Food Festival
photo credit: Sawat Chantalay


Every year during the refreshing climate of cool  'winter' season, historic Yupparaj Wittayalai High School holds its annual open day celebrations. Situated within the old city at the 3 Kings monument with its old colonial buildings and original detailed painted glass windows surrounded by some of the city's largest documented endemic trees dotted around the school grounds that once was the site of a corral that housed Royal Elephants.

Indian National Costume
photo credit: Caroline Marsh

For 2011 the theme was an International food festival supported by the British Council with students dressed in colourful national costume, dance and music promoting languages, technologies and facinating facts about all the countries represented, noted stands were that of India, Korea, France and Japan where everyone sampled traditional fare that students had prepared and served to the many 100's of visitors  including healthy and delicious chaphatis, roti and daal from India.


All departments were represented, Sally Lawrence an English teacher at Yupparaj for a number of years who recently won the best teacher award had fun quiz games set up at the gifted students stand. Sciences had some cool physics and biology exhibits. Acharn Sawat Chantalay from social sciences who is a recognised environmentalist winning many local and national awards, represented India, an additional stand displaying an excellent low carbon school initiative - the sucessful 'eat salad and vegetables' project. Meals containing vegetables, students collect a stamp and when the card's full can win a cool prize.


Eat vegetables and salad for low carbon good health!
photo credit: Caroline Marsh



This was a great event for Yupparaj Wittayalai 's students, teaching staff and president of  Yupparaj PTA, Khun Thanawat Chalermchutidej  to welcome the school's new director  Khun Wissanu Chaokaewmay and endorse the director's vision of cooperation and sustainable future for the School.

The event also welcomed representitives from consulates based in Chiang Mai including China, Japan including the French honourary consul Thomas Baude.


Holistic Environment Urban Schools Program (HEUSP) which has supported Yupparaj  social sciences department for a number of years promoting environmental awareness joined this year's event to sign up students, teachers and visitors to the 'Chiang Mai People's Pledge' more than 700 Yupparaj students have pledged to date.

The intiative started in 2010 by members of the Chiang Mai citizen's group Lanna Community Life Network (LCLN) With the Governor, the Mayor and numerous regional heads of government signed including Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and important Lanna cultural figures such as Chao Duong Duen Na Chiang Mai (Chiang Mai Royal family) who is President of the Chiang Mai Cultural Council.


Students signing up to Chiang Mai People's Pledge

photo credit: Caroline Marsh



The local foreign representitive of Great Britain, the UK honorary consul Mr.Ben Svasti Thompson signed the 'peoples's pledge' December 2010 commiting the consulate to 10 low carbon actions to reduce fossil fuel use which makes environmental, health and economic sense for all to cooperate to take Chiang Mai towards a sustainable future.

During the event the new director of Yupparaj Wittayalai showed great interest  in the initiative and a follow up appointment by members of Lanna Community Life network to pledge the school to commit to these measures so cutting carbon by a minimum 10% and supporting the new government initiative for Chiang Mai to be a low carbon city announced this 14th February 2011.


Written by Caroline Marsh

Caroline Marsh is co-founder of Chiang Mai based independent ethical tour operator http://www.trekkingcollective.com/ .."Expertise, Ethical travel and Authentic Experiences contribute to making a difference to local communities and the environment." passionate about new experiences, travel and environmental well being she writes for travel sites, regional travel magazines and coordinates local 'grassroots' community peoples actions for a better future for all. Member of Lanna Community Life Network (LCLN) http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lanna-Community-life-Network-Chiang-Mai-Thailand/143518985705533