Day 3

Observations

Following our discussion the previous day, we decided our best plan of action for the day would be to visit some of the hot-spots around the island where some of the issues we discussed are prevalent. As designers we hope to gather some insight into the problems within these areas, and use our unique observational skills to maybe identify issues which may have been overlooked, and use the skills we have learnt in systematic problem solving and apply these skills to create a new or a re-design to provide a solution. 

 Here are the places we visited:

The Pier: - This is the point of entry for all those coming to Koh Tao

Sea at the Pier

Garbage lying Pier side

• Large amounts of refuse & waste, as a result of high amounts of traffic through the area.
• Refuse can clearly be spotted in the waters just off side of the pier.
• Oil slicks can only be found floating in the sea, due to the large numbers of boats using this port. Ruining what in truth could have been a very beautiful and pristine beach. 

Sairee Beach: - The populous part of Koh Tao, to the North side of the island

• Problems with over building here; with narrow streets, this is due to the  need to accommodate the ever increasing numbers of tourists visiting the island. 
• Beautiful beach slightly ruined by overbuilding again; very narrow strip of actual 'beach front' left.
• Other issues that come hand-in-hand with densely populated areas; e.g. waste & noise pollution.

Waste Processing Site: - Where the Island's waste goes to either be incinerated or recycled

Waste Processing Plant

Landfill Site

• The plant is capable of processing between 3-4 tonnes of refuse per day. The island is currently producing approx. 7 tonnes per day, this number is only likely to increase.
• Recyclable waste with value e.g. glass and plastic bottles are usually taken by private enterprises to be re-sold.
• Herd of goats hang around the landfill site; scavenging what they can from the waste.

Activities for Day 3:

After we sent to observe these 3 sites we traveled back to New Heaven, to discuss the different issues each of us identified. We all concurred that waste from a huge issue for Koh Tao; not only is there too much of it, but most importantly the amount of it finding its way into the local ecosystems, both terrestrial and marine, and the negative and often fatal results that this may have on these ecosystems.

So working in conjunction with the guys responsible and with the expertise in wildlife and marine life conservation, we held a brainstorming session to generate ideas of what can be done to alleviate or rise awareness concerning some of these issues. In the end we were told to go away for the night with the task of coming back the next day and individual ideas for possible solutions that we can all undertake as a group project for the remainder of our time on the island.

Further discussions

  N.B. - We had to use a pick-up to get to-and-fro from the sites of interest.