Currently in the process of finalizing the narrative of our project. The following is our draft (WIP) of our narrative
-Once upon a time-
- Small-scale villagers living along coastal areas of the Ayeyarwady and Tanintharyi delta live off the coastal ecosystem services for sustenance
-Array of issues-
- Growing Agriculture industry, land use change
- Military regime managing the resources in an extractive manner, exploiting both the resources and the people with no regards to the long-term welfare of the people and the region.
- Tycoons bought over local land from military regime, without the approval of the state
- As a result, villagers pushed out of their original livelihood, worked in a rice-field or converted to illegal charcoal traders
- Tycoon from Thailand offer capital and knowledge to set up charcoal kilns and run the business, villagers end up being in a debt trap
- Villagers have to bribe the military, local forestry officials, officials at the checkpoint for each transaction, the remaining profit they have is used to pay off their debt and to fulfill their own needs.
- Charcoal products brought over to Thailand to fulfill their own needs for heating and export
-Pressure-
- Bogale was once known for its high quality charcoal, but now with depleting mangrove forests, and threat from natural disasters, locals are once again threatened to be pushed out of their source of income
- When they are out of mangrove, charcoal production will shift to another region
-Conflict resolution-
-Role of the 3rd party-
- A 3rd party architect recognises the potential of the resources of the region, and the failure of the military regime to manage the resources
- Architect reaches out to the NLD, discussed the idea of establishing a secret base in collaboration with China.
-Plans to establish special economic zones with China-
- Resources will flow to and from the potential port that will be established at Thilawa Port
-China’s goals-
- To strengthen its position as a key player in the Asian economy
- Fulfil its growing thermal and metallurgical carbon needs in a bid to be the global leader of ferro-silicon supply
- Whilst maintaining its reputation sustainable usage of energy, and eventually carbon neutral by 2060.
-What’s in it for China-
- Collaboration with a developing country rich in resources
- Tap on the different forms of carbon produced by the secret base
-Contribution of the secret base-
- Make use of the agricultural waste to recreate bioChar, and other alternative sources of energy to fulfill their own needs, as well as
- Learn sustainable mangrove deforestation
- With the eventual aim of setting the villagers free from their debts and allow them to self sustain
-Long term goal-
- To be a regional hub of BioMass Alternative energy
