Monks and young people

Monk’s chanting is not very interesting to the young people. But at the same time the young monks are very active and they want to do something. So I think linking these dynamic monks with young people is important so that the young people can learn about cultural and spiritual aspects though actually doing the work.

Sombath Somphone, Towards Global Transformation: Making Change Happen, at the 3rd International Conference on Gross National Happiness, November 2007, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.

Sombath’s response on receiving the Magsaysay Award

Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation: Manila, 31 August 2005

Sombath-MagsaysayThe honorable Chief Justice Hilario Davide, trustees of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation, distinguished guests, fellow awardees, ladies and gentlemen, good evening.

It is a great honor for me today to be here receiving the 2005 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership, and I would like to sincerely thank the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation and its board of judges for conferring on me this important award.
This award is not just for me or for my staff in PADETC. This award is also for our young Lao volunteers and youth leaders, who have demonstrated to us, the adults, that they have the capacity, and indeed the right, to claim the space to determine their own and their community’s development pathway. I believe that it is their passion and their hopes and dreams for a better future which are recognized and celebrated through this prestigious award today.

Continue reading “Sombath’s response on receiving the Magsaysay Award”

SSBP Speaks out for Sombath

Sombath’s vision for sustainable development aims to foster respects for nature and humanity. He advocates for mindful education and inclusive development highlighting ordinary people, especially young people who are the potential of change.
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It has been 4 years since the last time his family heard from him. The night of December 15, 2012 became a horrid silence that continues until today. For the past 4 years, family and friends of Sombath Somphone have called the Lao government and world leaders to bring forth Sombath’s whereabouts. Sadly, our leaders have failed us. We would like to reiterate the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights’s (APHR) question “If the Lao government really wants to solve Sombath Somphone case and is as concerned as the rest of us, then why is it blocking all possible avenues for the investigation?” Continue reading “SSBP Speaks out for Sombath”

Dear Sombath…from a former Green Ant volunteer

Dear Uncle Sombath,

sombath_fishing_skillsI have not written to you in a long time, since you disappeared. That hit me inside, in my heart. It made me wonder what I should do about my work, because you were always my role model, ever since I was a PADETC volunteer while in secondary school.

The first time I saw you was when you explained your work to a group of youth volunteers from Vientiane. At that time, Pui Duangkhae was the team leader mobilising volunteers who were interested in learning about the environment in Phu Khao Khwai. We met at the bamboo garden, and you and Uncle Outhin briefed us before we went to the park. Your words at that time greatly impressed me. You said we needed the forest, but the forest did not need us. Those words made me think that we must preserve and care for the forest, and it was the beginning of my journey as an environmental volunteer. We started by removing garbage from the steams in the Phu Khao Khwai Protected area in 1996. Continue reading “Dear Sombath…from a former Green Ant volunteer”

Dear Sombath…from a respectful youth

Dear Respected Uncle,

SB-Xieng Khuang-2008

I hope you are well. Five years ago, I asked you for advice about a new job. You never refused to help. Even if you had a lot of work, you would always find time for me. The only exception was that it could not conflict with the time you played ping pong. I smile whenever I think about that. Even when I was not asking about work directly, you gave guidance and encouragement when I needed it.

It has been three years that I don’t know where you are, but I still remember what you told me the first time I met you: “Be a half-full, or nearly full glass, but never a full glass. To never be full leaves room for new lessons, it leaves us open to learn what is right, to absorb new thoughts, to move us forward and give us encouragement. For that which is not appropriate, pour it out so you won’t get misled, so you can move in a better direction.” I can remember your words well, and recall them often, especially when I encounter a problem.

It has been three years, and I am not the only one who remembers what you taught. I have met many others who have grown with the thoughts you shared. They remember your words as well. The passing time has not erased what you built. Your work has been taken up by a new generation strengthened through your efforts. You opened opportunities for us to develop ourselves, and we can move forward on our own.

With this letter, I want to thank you again for your valuable guidance. Thank you for your impressive achievements which benefit society. We have learned and adapt them for our use. Thank you for giving us youth a chance to grow, and thank you for the opportunity to know you. Finally, I hope that what you have built will continue to spread and foster the development of society and the next generation.

With love and respect,

A youth that admires your vision

Humanity & Nature: Panyanivet

Logo-Humanity & NatureThis presentation was part of the Sombath Symposium on “Humanity and Nature: Traditional, Cultural and Alternative Perspectives”, the objective of which was to present and discuss knowledge and practice drawn from different cultures and traditions that can serve as an alternative foundation to the predominant growth-driven development model.

จากเพื่อนไทยถึงเพื่อนลาว

โครงการ ไปให้ไกลกว่าสมบัด สมพอน: 15 ธันวาคม 2528

2015-12-15-SSBP-01

จากเพื่อนไทยถึงเพื่อนลาว,

พวกเราคนหนุ่มสาวลุ่มน้ำโขง รวมตัวกันทำกิจกรรมในนาม Sombath Somphone and Beyond Project มาตั้งแต่ปี 2556 หลังเหตุการณ์การบังคับให้สูญหายที่เกิดขึ้นกับลุงสมบัด สมพอน เมื่อวันที่ 15 ธันวาคม 2556 ณ กรุงเวียงจันทร์ ประเทศลาว จากที่เราได้ยิน ได้เห็น ได้เรียนรู้ เราพบว่า ลุงสมบัดอยากเห็นสันติภาพเกิดขึ้นในภูมิภาคลุ่มน้ำโขง จากการใช้ชีวิตและการทำงานที่ผ่านมาไม่ว่าจะเป็นงานด้านการศึกษา งานพัฒนาคนสาวหนุ่มรุ่นใหม่

เราเชื่อในสันติภาพเช่นกันจึงได้ลุกขึ้นมาจัดกิจกรรมต่างๆ ตลอด 3 ปี อาทิ งานดนตรีเพื่อสันติภาพ, Tea Talks ดื่มน้ำชาตามหาสันติภาพ, กิจกรรมตามหาสมบัด Around the World, Peace Talks 2 ครั้ง ในชื่อ “เสรีภาพ สันติภาพ แตกต่างเหมือนกัน” และกิจกรรมครบรอบ 2 ปี สมบัด สมพอน “2 years I remember“ ถ้าโลกนี้ไม่มีการอุ้มหาย” ด้วยการโบกรถตามหาสันติภาพจากกรุงเทพถึงแม่น้ำโขงที่จังหวัดหนองคาย และมีเวทีวิชาการในกรุงเทพ ในทุกๆ กิจกรรม พวกรามีความฝันที่จะร่วมกันสร้างสันติภาพให้เกิดขึ้นจริง สันติภาพที่เราทุกคนมีเสรีภาพที่จะพูด ที่จะแสดงความคิดเห็น สันติภาพที่จะปกป้องดูแลซึ่งกันและกัน สันติภาพที่รัฐและกฎหมายจะดูแลพวกเรา แม้เป็นเพียงหินก้อนเล็กๆ แต่เราก็หวังว่ามันจะกระเพื่อมสายน้ำออกไปเป็นวงกว้าง
Continue reading “จากเพื่อนไทยถึงเพื่อนลาว”

Message from Thai Youth to Lao Friends

Sombath Somphone & Beyond Project: 15 December 2015

2015-12-15-SSBP-01From Thai youth to Laos friends,

We, the youths of Mekong, has come together for Sombath Somphone and Beyond Project since 2013 after the tragedy that occurred to our uncle Sombath Somphone on the fifteenth of December 2013 in Vientiane, Laos. From what we have heard, seen, and witnessed, we come to realize that the lifetime commitment and dedication either in the fields of education or development uncle Sombath has been doing is for nothing but peace in this region.

We, too, believe in peace. This is why we have come together and organized various activities in the past three years from Concert for Peace, Tea Talks, Finding Sombath Around the World, Peace Talks under the title “Liberty, Freedom, Same Same but Different”, a peace journey “Two Years, I remember” from Bangkok all the way to Mekong in Nhong – Khai province, with academic forums to raise awareness for every activity that we held. We have a dream to make peace come true. Peace that allows freedom of expression. Peace that protects one another person. Peace that permits the state and law to fairly govern us. As small action as this might seem to be, we hope this rock we cast will create many ripples across the water. Continue reading “Message from Thai Youth to Lao Friends”

The Man, His Work and His Dream for Laos

2015-12-11-PADETC-02The Participatory Development and Training Center (PADETC), founded by Sombath, held its 2015 fair under the banner of “The Man, HIs Work, and His Dream for Laos,” on Friday, December 11th.

Approximatley one hundred friends, colleagues, CSO staff and diplomats attended the event, which included Buddhist prayers for Sombath, and comments from his spouse and colleagues.

2015-12-11-PADETC-01Some likened Sombath to a farmer nurturing a fruit tree. But rather than keeping the fruit for himself, he would spread it around so more trees would grow, and produce more fruit.

May the fruits of his vision continue to grow.

A Thai PBS report on the event.