Green groups say Asian golf boom causing gloom<\/p>\n
By P. Parameswaran<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Green groups recently launched a \"No Golf
\nYear\" as they intensified a campaign against Asia's golf course
\nboom which they say is disrupting water supplies, taking up
\nvaluable farmland and causing health problems.<\/p>\n
\"Actions against the proliferation of golf courses have grown
\nand there are rising local protests against the social and
\nenvironmental fall-out of the golf boom in Asia,\" said Chee Yoke
\nLing of the Asia-Pacific Peoples' Environment Network (APPEN).<\/p>\n
The launch of No Golf year will mean the distribution of
\ninformation to the public throughout Asia on the adverse effects
\nof golf courses on people and the environment.<\/p>\n
APPEN is a key coordinator of the Tokyo-based Global Anti-Golf
\nMovement (GAG'M) which launched the \"No Golf Year\" campaign to
\ndrum up public opposition to the proliferation of golf courses in
\nthe region.<\/p>\n
APPEN, which is coordinated from the northern Malaysian state
\nof Penang, said the golf boom was powered mainly by space-starved
\nJapan.<\/p>\n
Officials said Japanese investors had converted forests and
\nswamps around Asia into courses to meet the demands of the
\ncountry's 15 million golfers who travel the continent in pursuit
\nof their sport.<\/p>\n
\"Even as the golf industry in Japan continues to be ridden
\nwith financial scandals, including exploitative membership
\nspeculation and bribery, the business of golf is spreading
\nrapidly in China, Indochina and India,\" said GAG'M official Gen
\nMorita.<\/p>\n
In southern China, forests and rice fields are making way for
\n24 new courses, representing an investment of more than US$500
\nmillion mostly from Japanese, Thai and Hong Kong investors, APPEN
\nofficials said.<\/p>\n
Public lobby<\/p>\n
But Morita said a strong public lobby had led to the
\ncancellation of 720 golf course projects in Japan.<\/p>\n
Toxic pollution and health problems caused by chemicals used
\non golf courses had led to a moratorium on course construction in
\nmany Japanese prefectures, he said.<\/p>\n
APPEN officials said that in the southwestern Indian city of
\nGoa, a massive public campaign had led to the suspension of eight
\nproposed golf courses, while opposition was mounting against a
\nJack Nicklaus-designed course near the city of Bangalore,
\nthreatening an important watershed area.<\/p>\n
Chee said Thailand's Irrigation Department recently said 13
\ngolf courses were illegally diverting water from canals and
\nreservoirs reserved for agricultural purposes.<\/p>\n
\"A recent survey by (Thailand's) Bangkok Post (newspaper)
\nrevealed that such unlawful practices continued despite the
\nirrigation department's warning of legal action against
\nculprits,\" Chee said.<\/p>\n
Green groups say an 18-hole golf course requires about 500
\ntones of water daily, enough to supply 1,000 families.<\/p>\n
SKEPHI, an Indonesian non-government organization network for
\nforest conservation, reported to APPEN that golf course
\ndevelopment in land-scarce Java had left many farmers landless
\nand with little or no compensation.<\/p>\n
In South Korea, public protests had stopped or suspended
\nconstruction of 96 golf courses over the past few years, they
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"The good response from citizens' groups, environmental and
\nhuman rights organizations is becoming a thorn for the multi-
\nmillion dollar golf industry which thrives on images of a green
\nsport, success and glamour,\" Chee said.<\/p>",
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