Green groups say Asian golf boom causing gloom
Green groups say Asian golf boom causing gloom
By P. Parameswaran
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Green groups recently launched a "No Golf Year" as they intensified a campaign against Asia's golf course boom which they say is disrupting water supplies, taking up valuable farmland and causing health problems.
"Actions against the proliferation of golf courses have grown and there are rising local protests against the social and environmental fall-out of the golf boom in Asia," said Chee Yoke Ling of the Asia-Pacific Peoples' Environment Network (APPEN).
The launch of No Golf year will mean the distribution of information to the public throughout Asia on the adverse effects of golf courses on people and the environment.
APPEN is a key coordinator of the Tokyo-based Global Anti-Golf Movement (GAG'M) which launched the "No Golf Year" campaign to drum up public opposition to the proliferation of golf courses in the region.
APPEN, which is coordinated from the northern Malaysian state of Penang, said the golf boom was powered mainly by space-starved Japan.
Officials said Japanese investors had converted forests and swamps around Asia into courses to meet the demands of the country's 15 million golfers who travel the continent in pursuit of their sport.
"Even as the golf industry in Japan continues to be ridden with financial scandals, including exploitative membership speculation and bribery, the business of golf is spreading rapidly in China, Indochina and India," said GAG'M official Gen Morita.
In southern China, forests and rice fields are making way for 24 new courses, representing an investment of more than US$500 million mostly from Japanese, Thai and Hong Kong investors, APPEN officials said.
Public lobby
But Morita said a strong public lobby had led to the cancellation of 720 golf course projects in Japan.
Toxic pollution and health problems caused by chemicals used on golf courses had led to a moratorium on course construction in many Japanese prefectures, he said.
APPEN officials said that in the southwestern Indian city of Goa, a massive public campaign had led to the suspension of eight proposed golf courses, while opposition was mounting against a Jack Nicklaus-designed course near the city of Bangalore, threatening an important watershed area.
Chee said Thailand's Irrigation Department recently said 13 golf courses were illegally diverting water from canals and reservoirs reserved for agricultural purposes.
"A recent survey by (Thailand's) Bangkok Post (newspaper) revealed that such unlawful practices continued despite the irrigation department's warning of legal action against culprits," Chee said.
Green groups say an 18-hole golf course requires about 500 tones of water daily, enough to supply 1,000 families.
SKEPHI, an Indonesian non-government organization network for forest conservation, reported to APPEN that golf course development in land-scarce Java had left many farmers landless and with little or no compensation.
In South Korea, public protests had stopped or suspended construction of 96 golf courses over the past few years, they said.
"The good response from citizens' groups, environmental and human rights organizations is becoming a thorn for the multi- million dollar golf industry which thrives on images of a green sport, success and glamour," Chee said.