HELP OPPOSE THE DRILLING!
Imagine 35,000 holding hands around the ring road! And ark your diary for July 31st and join in this protest against drilling.
Below is a letter being distributed by Rak Aao Thai Group calling for your support. If you need information on where and when to show up for this island wide protest against the industrialization of the Gulf of Siam, please write to samuimala@gmail and we’ll keep you informed when we hear more.
Here’s a video link to the protest last week if you didn’t make it:

and a link to news online if you don’t know the background:

http://www.thailand-travelonline.com/thailand-travel-news/samui-tourism-operators-rally-in-opposition-to-offshore-drilling-plan/3140/

Rak Ao Thai letter:
Kill The Drill!
Koh Samui leads the protest against the oil exploration and drilling project off-shore of the Koh Samui, Koh Pha-Ngan and Koh Tao Region in the Gulf of Thailand.
Khun Ramamanate Jaikwang, President of the Siam Gulf Preservation Network Group, recently presided over the steering committee meeting for setting up a movement against any government grant to petroleum companies for oil exploration and drilling concessions in the territory of Koh Samui, Koh Pha-Ngan and Koh Tao.
The committee revealed that the direction of the movement shall be determined by representatives from official organizations, active communities, leading network groups and clubs on the islands, including: the Tourism Association of Koh Samui, the Thai Hotels Association (Southern Chapter, East Coast – Samui), the Tourism Association of Koh Pha-Ngan and Koh Tao, the Green Island foundation and various other local community groups on Koh Samui and neighbouring islands.
The committee also announced that there shall be an initial mass demonstration, to be made on 31st July, 2010, of full public support against any oil exploration concessions. A minimum number of 35,000 local residents (including those from Koh Pha-Ngan, Koh Tao and Suratthani) and visitors (including foreigners who are sympathetic to the cause) will link hands forming a continuous human chain along Koh Samuis 52-kilometre long ring-road.
The purpose of this huge collective expression of solidarity is to inform the Thai government, fellow citizens of Thailand and other nations of the world that the overwhelming public opinion in the Southern Region is fully against the Department of Petroleum granting permission for oil exploration and drilling in the territory of Koh Samui, Koh Pha-Ngan and Koh Tao which could have a disastrously negative impact on the entire regions tourism and fishing industries, with possible knock-on effects being experienced in Suratthani, Nakorn Sri Thammarat and Chumporn, and even places as far a field as Phuket, Krabi and Phang-Nga.
The committee is calling for the governments grant to the project to be withdrawn forthwith and requests an official meeting with the Department of Petroleum in order to discuss possible energy production alternatives which wouldnt potentially threaten the regions thriving tourism industry.

WATER SEMINAR HELD ON JULY 12 The good, the bad, and the ugly….
Samui Mala inspired, funded and co-organised a water seminar with Green Island Foundation to discuss the water crises on Samui. The seminar was very very interesting – with speakers following the water cycle from where it falls in the mountain and all the way down to how it affects the ocean ecosystem and offering advice, insights and solutions to Samui’s water issues both on land and at sea. Speakers included Mr Wuttikun of the Samui watershed unit, the Provincial Water Authority, the Regional Environment Office ,and Dr Suchana from the Department of Marine Science in Chulalongkorn University, as well as visiting expert Dr Goreau of the Global Coral Alliance. The Rak Chaweng group presented an upbeat glimpse of their fabulous achievement to clean up one of Chaweng’s worst feature the ghastly khlong running from Laem Din to Chaweng Noi.

While more than 40 people attended the full day workshop, it was frankly disappointing to see that there were not more people who can and will make decisions about Samui’s infrastructure there to share the workshop or hear the experts. And disappointing to see that nobody has taken any measure to educate adults and children to store, preserve, conserve and reuse water during this crises. Samui Mala is not an organisation to complain or point fingers, but it is impossible to stand by and not say something right now. Many who attended the workshop had to go home thinking: “What kind of government (local, provincial or national) will let their people run out of water and not say a word of warning concerning the quality and the quantity of water available?”

The content was presented in Thai, but we are working with the kind help of Tongsai Bay Green officer Khun Jul and other volunteers to make a summary available in English.

YOGA THAILAND SATURDAY COMMUNITY CLASS RESCHEDULE
Yoga Thailand kindly invites residents to join an open community yoga class, now at 5pm every Saturday. Experience a taste of this highly acclaimed yoga centre. All proceeds go to Yoga Thailand’s community projects. See attached flyer for details.

SAMUI MALA MOVIE NIGHTS ON SUNDAYS START AGAIN THIS WEEK
We’ve had a break from Sunday nights, but this Sunday 18th we have a special screening.
July 18th “Through the Eastern Gate” a documentary about choice, and a spiritual path. See the film and meet the director  http://www.throughtheeasterngate.com/
After the film co-director Julien Balmer has kindly offered to share a Q&A session. Julien is the founder of the Koh Phangan and Koh Samui Film Festival, and will also be able to update you on the festival program that starts on 6 August.

Most Sundays at 6:30pm there will be something to see or hear at the Samui Town Centre by the kind consent of June’s Art Cafe. There will be either a film or a talk.
PLEASE NOTE: Schedule is subject to change if something serendipitous comes up or a live speaker materialises with a fabulous subject to share so PLEASE check this calendar. You are also welcome to state your preferences – we do try and keep the schedule varied and are happy to respond to any comments…

http://www.samuimala.org/calendar.html

The cafe closes at 6:30pm so there’s still time to place your order for an early dinner if you come before. A donation of 100B would be appreciated. The proceeds will go towards improving the facilities we have already purchased some comfortable seats

NOTE: no movie on Sunday July 25 as Seva Day has been scheduled for that Sunday (see below)

On August 1st we will show The Knowledge of Healing – a film about Tibetan Medicine
This is a full-length film dealing extensively with Tibetan Medicine, one of the world’s most highly developed medical systems. The original book of medicine, the Knowledge of Healing, dates back to the 12th century. Tibetan medicine is based on a holistic principle and treats both physical and spiritual aspects. The film covers both physicians and their patients in places like Dharamsala and northern Mongolia, as well interviewing scientists in Switzerland, Vienna and Jerusalem who are studing the application of natural Tibetan medicine in the West. We also hear about the latest scientific investigations into the healing properties of Tibetan medications, first instigated by Karl Lutz, a Swiss pharmaceuticals merchant who died in 1995. It was Karl Lutz who started industrial production of Tibetan medications in the West, leading to some astonishing cases of healing. See http://www.franzreichle.ch/eng/films/knowledge.php for more details.

SEVA DAY AT JUNE’S CAFE ON SUNDAY JULY 25
A day of sharing food and ideas at June’s Art Cafe on the full moon every month from 10 am to 8 pm. So please feel free to join in! Seva day is a day of service, where June’s Cafe provides a delicious free buffet of healthy foods in exchange for a donation. This is a great day for meeting others who care about our island and our health.

AUGUST EVENTS
SAMUI FILM FESTIVAL 6-8 AUGUST..
This year’s film festival is an outdoor event in the coconut groves at Tamarind Springs with a special opening night at Beach Republic on August 5. Come and be inspired and enriched by this lovely collection of films and documentaries reflecting nature and the spirit. Here’s a preview on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7aUECBZntE
And see the full program at www.samuifilmfestival.com

SAMUI MALA HEALING CIRCLE WILL MEET AGAIN
The circle is a meeting ground for sharing and inspiring others, an exchange of experience and skills, an opportunity to give and receive. There is no charge for attendance of this event which is kindly hosted at Kamalaya. The next meeting is on August 28 at 7:30pm at the Yantra Hall at Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary, Laem Set.
This experiential sharing is entitled: What are you missing? Are you beside yourself?
This discussion will be led by Andrea Hahn, a professional brain integration kinesiologist. She will present information about energetic core stability and show what being ‘out of whack’ means energetically. This is not just a presentation – it will be an interactive and hands-on exchange where Andrea would like to inspire you to share also the techniques and mechanisms you use to bring yourself back to your centre…
Andrea is a certified energy worker and has practiced professionally since 1998 running a clinic for children and adults in Austria. Andrea has developed professional integrative Kinesiology trainings in Austria and abroad and teaches kinesiology workshops and trains teachers.
Come back, to the centre, of the centre, of the self….

SAMUI MALA SEPTEMBER FESTIVAL – COME OUT AND PLAY….
This year’s Mala during the third week of September is going to different to previous years. We want to celebrate a ‘back to basics’ theme, taking into account that times are tough for everybody with low visitor counts, with little water, with a tough economy worldwide and that we can’t ask companies and businesses to support as much as in the past. But that’s no reason we can’t enjoy the natural abundance of beauty, friendship and community by sharing and caring and giving of our most precious resource – time.

Be a volunteer:
At the kids’ day:This year’s festival will include a children’s day on Saturday 25th September. One of the main reasons we established the Samui Mala was to teach and reach children. We want this to be a fun filled informative and environmentally friendly day and Samui Mala is looking for volunteers to to help with planning and to help on the day. Please send your details to samuimala@gmail.com and we’ll put you on the team!

Other days: There are other events soon to be announced, including a healing day, a blue day, a yoga event so do let us know if you want to come out and play and be part of the spirit of this event.

More and more we realise that our environment is not just something ‘out there’ like scenery that needs fixing, but that our air, our water and our food are part of us, and that we are connected to the environment and part of it, and that our lives depend on it…. come and join us!

Samui Healing Guidebook DIY
Since Elicia Woodford arrived at Samui Mala’s Healing Forum last September, she’s been working hard researching and writing an e-guide book about all of the detox programs and healing offered on Samui. Elicia’s book will feature detox and fasting programs, classes, retreats, shops and restaurants as well as D-I-Y Samui Healing Detox, Pre/Post Fast Candida Program with Recommended Resources. She will also launch this online guide at the end of this month and you are welcome to write to her to be listed elicia.woodford@gmail.com.
You can send a listing showing Service(s), Category,
Short Description of Service, Name, Contact Info to Link (website, email, phone) or write to her for a sample listing. Contact her for a copy Samui;s Intergalactic Guide to Healing 2010-2011

and a 20% discount off the $11.11 price tag if you sign up now.
Contact info +66833891708
epowerme.com
samuihealing.com