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Welcome to SEEK

SEEK is a organisation setup to work with local community, local l government, the private sector and residents of Phuket to communicate and lobby to keep Phuket a leading sustainable destination for the future.

Our aim is to aid Phuket's sustainability, coordinate and communicate on issues such as waste management, water management, - social and economic development and education initiatives.

SEEK Mission

 An active focused coalition dedicated to synergizing the promotion, support, and implementation of initiatives focused on developing sustainable awareness and actions in order for the Phuket community to flourish long term

  • To enhance the lives of individuals
  • To support the growth of local communities
  • To rebuild the environment
  • To help corporations perform in line with their values & passion
  • To offer a support structure for Phuket Green Government
  • To build relationships between the government, NGO and private sectors
  • To connect cultures and people
SEEK Phuket Concept

SEEK Phuket will work as a platform / service to create links between the government, private sector and NGO's to develop sharing and collaboration environment, enhancing communication, developing relationships and offering support to projects enabling the community to flourish.

To develop SEEK as a tool for the greater Phuket community to utilize and impact the island, sharing environmental issues and indicatives through a targeted website, brochure, accreditation and membership program offering advice and support to the local community.

SEEK Compass Sustainability

Education that empowers you to take action

Our actions influence the world around us so in order to truly create a sustainable environment we need to examine the systems that our world is made up of. 

We have adopted a powerful and practical tool called "The Compass of Sustainability" created by the Atkisson group and our thanks to them for allowing SEEK to work with Phuket using this model that is used in schools.

North / Nature: The natural systems that life depends

East / Economy: The economic systems that provide goods, services, and meaningful work

South / Society: The social and cultural systems that provide cohesion, identity, security, and freedom

West / Wellbeing: Health, happiness, and quality of life for individual people and their families.

About SEEK

What We Do

We are a coalition of Global Citizens working together to help find synergies and solutions to the problems faced by Phuket as it grows as a tourist destination and sustainable community. A non profit

We identify and promote existing projects, celebrate positive work and support and award them, develop new initiatives and projects to share with the greater Phuket community.

Phuket is a destination we feel passionate about for sustainable living. We aim to eventually offer SEEK Phuket programs throughout Asia and can integrate our networking to any existing environment wanting to make a difference.

Everyone experiencing SEEK is there for a purpose, they are in touch with the environment, they integrate communities, they participate in community projects, they reflect on their own experiences, they feel passionate about their commitment to make a difference to the lives of others and their own.

SEEK Tools   

Eco Directory:  An extensive list / data base of relevant business and services related to the environment and Phuket

Web Site: www.myseek.org 

A highly interactive web site that people visit frequently to find out about what is going on in boating and fishing with the environment. Links to projects, services, advertising by eco businesses, weather reports, environmental news from Phuket and around the planet and all other SEEK Phuket news. Big blog area, twitter, face book

Brochure:  SEEK Phuket logos on a SEEK Phuket Map, a list of our partners and members in map format with description of beaches etc so people on vacation can make conscious choices

Media campaigns:  A dedicated "Litter Bug" campaign to keep Phuket clean and green with the TAT as principal sponsor. High level media including billboards, TV ads, radio slots, road show etc. Eventually a movie about Phukets' environment

Accreditation:  SEEK Phuket Standards and membership. Visit all local business and offer them SEEK Phuket, sing them up so we can help them improve their impact on the environment. Offering simple standard to comply by and logo to use for branding

Children's Books: Princess Sausage, Tommy the Turtle and more to come, a great way to tell the story of our natural wildlife and the impact of the tourism on their lives

Awards Ceremony: A yearly SEEK Phuket Awards Ceremony, high profile ceremony to reward successes and efforts by people over the past year, best project, new project, most improve.

Education seminars: Targeted trainings for different groups on SEEK Modules to help further awareness and education. All projects to have modulated standards to maintain quality and strictly adhered to.

Forum & Expo: Yearly high profile 3 day event comprising of Government, NGO and Private sectors. Learning and sharing of information, meetings to agree on Phukets future, workshops, EXPO of relevant goods and businesses, SEEK Awards Dinner

Synergy Explorer:  Visiting schools and corporate programming to support community initiatives developed by SEEK Phuket, an action arm.

Art fair: Eco Arts fair and competitions around the island and nationally.

Our Working Style

We work and meet at various locations that reflect a strong educational and sustainability experience or initiatives.

We work with Government, Non Government Organizations, Private Sector, School groups, Communities Corporations and any other group striving to build the relationship between themselves, nature, communities and the environment.

We are positive and flexible in our dealings with all of our partners and persons, working from a solid foundation of ethics and morals for the community of Phuket and the better of the global community, A transparent organization offering support in a timely and ethical manner

What we want to Create

We want to create an easy access sharing platform / service for local, regional and international participants where the information and projects impact globally. A simple resource for people to refer to when they have a question about the future or environment of Phuket, or that want to share experiences and potentially help us on our mission.

What we stand for

We represent the planet and the people that live on it. SEEK Phuket is here to support good action and try to promote this to others while helping more challenging situations. Developing a SEEK Phuket membership base and solid stakeholders to share our vision and help save Phuket is essential to be able to serve the island in the best way we can long term.

SEEK Projects

Specific, targeted, measurable

- Introduce the plastic bag ban throughout the Phuket retail sector December 5th 2011

- SEEK is working with the Phuket Governor on eliminating free plastic bags around the island in the first step of an island wide waste management strategy change

- Mai Khao Organic Garden (Organic Vegetable, Organic Fertilizer)

- Phuket "Litter Bug" campaign with the Government and TAT

- Introduce curb side recycling in a systematic manner throughout Phuket, first trial licked off in Phuket town during August

- Provide education and incentives for all fishing boat crews, and recycling facilities at all harbors with initiation started with a fleet owner with 120 boats.

- Increased support of broad clean-up activities supported by hotels, dive operators, etc. Kamala & Nai Yang pilot projects confirm private sector sponsorship through end 2012

- Promote Coral Rejuvenation project and mangrove initiatives

- Develop Sustainability plan for The Andaman Coastal Region 2011 to 2025 in January 2012 at Thanyapura with Phuket Governor.

- Work with the tour companies to increase awareness and improve their impact on the environment

- SEEK Phuket Outdoor Education Center at PIA

- Teach CEB to local community

SEEK Governance

  • Founding members' Weekly Meeting: To keep momentum moving forward and align the team's efforts, no written agenda, potential summary needed. 
  • Monthly SEEK Phuket Coalition Meeting: Updates on what we have been doing as a group and plan our next month accordingly, share experiences in an open forum where every idea is a good idea.
  • Bi Monthly Project Meeting: Alignment and coordination of initiatives, people from SEEK coalition bring in contact and project to present 

 

 SEEK Programs

SEEK Phuket is also designed for offering experiences to companies, schools or government agencies who want to embrace Social Responsibility principles, we can guide them to help our projects.

By going out there and experiencing nature and the environment, and interacting with local communities, team members will walk away with a greater understanding of their impact on the environment and the values that bind communities and make the connection with their personal culture and goals.

SEEK Phukets' action arm is Synergy Explorer, operated by SEEK Phuket founder Sean Panton

SEEK Phuket Wellness

SEEK wellness is designed to awaken the spirit and help you find your own balance unique to you. It is a combination of physical, mental, and emotional connectedness and has a very strong energy focus. Participants walk away feeling invigorated, connected, stronger within and clarity of what they need to do to maintain a healthy and well state of mind body and spirit through engaging in active community based work and tasks.

SEEK Projects

SEEK Inaugural Andaman Coastal Forum & Eco Festival

Reflections & Future Directions in Integrated Coastal & Environmental Management

"Sea, Sand & Sustainability / Seeking a Sustainable Phuket"

July 2012

Overview:

Thailand has a coastline of almost 3,000 km (one third along the Andaman Sea Coast and two-thirds along the Gulf of Thailand Coast) and an EEZ of around 360,000 km2. Throughout the entire coastline, in-shore shallow water fisheries provide important food security and income for local small-scale fishers. Marine capture fisheries within the EEZ and coastal aquac ulture together generate around $3 billion income/year.

Mangrove cover declined from 2 million rai in the mid-70s to 1 million rai in the mid- 90s, but has since recovered to 1.5 million rai. Phang-nga, Krabi, trang and Satun account for almost two-thirds of remaining mangroves, while Chantaburi and Trat have the most remaining mangroves on the Gulf side. Coral reefs and sea grass beds on the Andaman coast are generally more abundant and in better condition than on the Gulf coast. There are a total of 23 coastal/marine protected areas in Thailand, but together they represent only a very small proportion of Thailand's seas and coasts, while mangrove forests and inter-tidal mud-flats are vastly underrepresented in Thailand's protected areas system. Large parts of the coast are de-facto managed by local communities.

While their rights and responsibilities in this regard are enshrined in the Constitution, there is no law passed to recognize, permit and control community-based management of mud-flats, coral reefs and sea-grass beds, etc. In large islands including Phuket, Samui and Chang, tourism is a major driver of the economy. For the last 40 years, the coastal zone has been the scene of severe conflicts between small scale fishermen and large commercial fishing businesses; and between local communities and investors in commercial prawn farms, tourism, and other development projects.

In many ways the tragedy of the 26 December 2004 Tsunami spurred a renewed interest in Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) and rehabilitation of coastal ecosystems from sustainable livelihoods and disaster risk reduction. More recent (and still growing) concerns about the effects of climate change in the coastal zone, are helping to maintain that momentum.

The Thailand Coastal Forum is an opportunity to share and exchange experiences and lessons learned from a variety of recent initiatives, programmes and activities in the coastal zone – both in community-based resource management; sustainable fisheries and aquaculture (including certification) marine protected areas; marine tourism; climate change adaptation and disaster risk management. It will identify workable solutions to pressing problems in the coastal zone; help to identify gaps that need to be filled; and prioritize issues for capacity-building, institutional development and legal/policy reform.

Potential co – organizers / contributors:

Event principal: Synergy Solutions

Government : Tourism Authority Thailand, Thailand Convention Exhibition Bureau, Provincial Governors Office, Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Education, Thai Hotels Association and more

NGO's: IUCN National Committee; UNDP, MFF; DNP; DMCR; DOF; SAMPAN; CATSPA; DASTA; GIZ; AFD; BOBLME; EU-BCR; Sida; Norad; SDF; RECOFTC; WWF; Cousteau Divers; TDA;

Private Sector: Retail groups, food groups, hospitality groups, education organizations, banks, ECO sector, tour operators,

Education: Thai Schools, International Schools, Universities, development centers

Event Partners

Airline: To provide support in getting key persons to the event

Media:  To provide the necessary press and TV coverage of the event so that the public at home can benefit

Hospitality: To offer the rooms and banqueting areas for the event, subsidized rooms and sponsor for diner

Transport:  Ground transportation for the events

Tours:   To offer the tours to the projects we will be showcasing

Sponsorship

Sponsorship partner: Paul Poole (South East Asia) Co., Ltd – The Sponsorship Experts

Presenting, Cosponsor, Official Supplier, Media Partner and local partner packages

To cover costs of the event: logistics, advertising, brochures, Gala dinner, Awards, salaries, f & b and all other expenses

Opening ceremony Dignitaries:

Mr. Michael Meacher, Former UK Minister of the Environment

Governor of Phuket

Minister of MONRE

Minister of Sports and Tourism

CONTENT

Main Education & Workshop Sessions could include:

Recycling Model and how to make a difference

How to keep our Sea and beaches clean

Ban on plastic bags, how we can help

Sustainable Real Estate practices

Baby Steps to a better Phuket for smaller hotels

Compass Sustainability Workshop

PMBC Diving Sector Workshop and projects

Sharing lessons learned from the MFF large projects in Thailand

Ridge to Reef approach in Kapoe river

Best practices in nature-based solutions for addressing coastal erosion

Best practices in community-based mangrove restoration

Low-tech/low-cost coral reproduction techniques

Organic Prawn farm certification /aquaculture stewardship council

Blue Swimming Crab and Marine Stewardship Certification

Improving Management Effectiveness and Sustainable Financing of Marine Protected Areas

Best practices and environmental standards in marine tourism

Blue Carbon/REDD+ and voluntary carbon markets

Coastal Zone Policy and legal Framework

Planning Sessions / Mapping the Future

Waste Management seminar

Fishing Fleet seminar

Hospitality seminar

Tourism / Developers seminar

Developing a sustainable Phuket

ECO Exhibition Portion

Open to the public for 3 days

Various exhibitors to support the vision of Green Phuket in "I Go Eco"

Interactive stations showcasing technology

School project competition

GE water desalinization, green leaf, hotel products, Ecolab cleaning, solar companies, wind turbine and other eco energy sources, TAT green tourism, SEEK Phuket, tour ECO companies and more

Eco Arts Fair

Celebrating the vibrant "eco arts world"

Exhibition to include photography, sculpture, painting and performing arts show by the children

Competition in areas above with prizes and work to be used in the project

SEEK Gala Awards Dinner

High level awards dinner with top stakeholders from relevant sectors.

A celebration of good work that has been done

SEEK Awards: The Oscars of the Environmental World

Awards to be given for different categories such as:

Hotel / Travel Agency / Tour Company / Beach / Municipality / Project / Person / School etc.

Public Speakers

Phuket Governor - Phukets' Commitment to the Future

Khun Jutaporn - TAT Green Tourism

Mr. Micheal Meacher MP – The Global Challenge (via webcam)

Dr. Robert Mather - Andaman Sea Overview and Plan

Mr. Nick Anthony - NO Plastic Phuket

Mr. John Gray - Phang Nga Bay

Mr. Sean Panton - SEEK Phuket

Activities

To be organized by Synergy Explorer

Large scale CSR program for all to enjoy and help Phuket such as a group beach clean up, mangrove planting, large group mural, WORLD RECORD ATTEMPT

Charity auction event to raise money for Thai School Environmental Scholarships

Visits to local initiatives to celebrate successes ICUN / UNDP / PMBC

Charity Walk for Phuket

Location:

To be held in Phuket. Phang-Nga and Krabi areas to be invited and included

Event location for undercover/no aircon: Thanyapura Sports & Leisure Club,

Awards dinner and forum: Northern Phuket Hotel Assoc including JW Marriott

Exhibition area big enough to host expo stands and showcases

Ballroom big enough for gala dinner & public speakers

Variety of rooms of varying costs for delegates

Participants:

The Phuket public, delegates from various International organizations, Hospitality Sector

Government Agencies, NGOs and Civil Society Networks, Tour Operators, Dive Operators

Universities & Research Institutions, Developers, Retailers, Media, anybody interested in the future of Phuket

Duration

Over the period of 3 days we will host the following events:

Welcome Ceremony / Public Speakers / Seminars / Workshops / CSR Field Trips ECO Exhibition / ECO Arts Fair

SEEK Projects

Litter Bug Campaign

High profile media campaign to stop littering in Phuket

Awareness for local community and tourists targeted by Thai Government, SEEK and NGO,s

Eco friendly logo that all love / cuddly animal / Sea Otter, Turtle

TV, Media, Billboard, Radio, Kids Books,

Arts competitions to get the initial logo, could be with private sector and media support

Education trips around Phuket with the "Mascot" to schools and universities

Movie on the life of litter in Phuket

Large scale CSR project such as beach clean ups

TAT targeted campaign at the tourists

SEEK News