International Journal of Criminology and Sociology, 2021, 10, 1229-1244 1229 Care for the Environment and Environmental Crime Based on Theravada Buddhist Philosophy Dittita Tititampruk* and Tanet Ketsil# Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Mahidol University Abstract: From past to present, global compressions on human and environmental systems are more likely to increase than ever before in human history. With the science and technology advancement, we are living in the age of the global village that enables more convenient and brings us closer together. However, this also means that human being is suffering from global environmental crisis including the threat of war, economic crises, racial conflicts, environmental degradation, and environmental crime. This paper represents library-based work to date in Buddhist contemporary and useful perspectives and strategies on environmental protection and prevention in the backdrop of growing consumerism and capitalism influenced by western cultural in post-globalization era. Comparing to other countries, Thailand faces various environmental problems and some of them could become to environmental crime such as illegal wildlife trade; smuggling ozone-depleting substances; illicit trade in hazardous waste and pollution; illegal mining; illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing; illegal logging and associated trade in stolen timber. Since Thailand is one of largely Buddhist practical countries, measures to conserve the environment can draw on the principles and precepts of Lord Buddha’s teachings, known as Tripitaka. In Lord Buddha’s lifetime, environmental problems were not salient, but surprisingly, Lord Buddha recognised such problems because they are related to natural law. Accordingly, he established disciplinary rules for monks to live as models of not destroying the environment. The five precepts of Buddhism are the examples of the main principals in Buddhism which is regulations regarding the relation with environmental crime protection and humanity. Keywords: Buddhist, Environmental crime, Environmental protection, Buddhist Five Precept, Contemporary society, Theravada Buddhist philosophy, Thailand. INTRODUCTION independent entity sent the alarm about the air pollution problems at intervals from the reports of The world has undergone many changes because Greenpeace group (Green Peace, 2017). In Thailand, of human activities, including global environmental the ambient airborne particles were estimated. It found changes. Indeed, environmental changes are that in 2017, the 24-hour average which was examined increasing, contributing to climate change, which, in was in the range of 2-116 µg/m³. The maximum turn, causes unbalances in the natural world. For average of all over the country was 74 µg/m³ (The instance, the exploitation of natural resources that are standard value was at 50). The annual average was in not replaceable, as seen in the case of fossil fuel the range of 9-36 µg/m³ (The standard value was at burning, has led to the greenhouse effect (Choeikiwong 25). The standard value was about 40-50 days per 2012). Deforestation has increased because of year. During January-March, from checking the causes ignorant actions by villagers and the indifference of of ambient airborne particles basically, it found that the both the government and larger society. Environmental problem came from burning the agricultural materials change worldwide has led to effects such as unusual and from cooking producing smoke. It was about 40- precipitation, flooding and heavy snowfall. It is even a 45%. 30-35% was from traffic and vehicles. 10-15% cause of polar ice melting at the North Pole, which has was from industry. Most of particles coming from contributed to the increasing level of Pacific Ocean construction and dust road are bigger than PM2.5. water, a phenomenon associated with earthquakes From the result measuring the faraway pollution from (Chumsai Na Ayudhya and Dhammasakiyo, 2015). the remote sensing in many provinces like in the areas of central and northeastern regions, the quantity of Apart from the above-mentioned problems, Thailand ambient airborne particles PM2.5 which was examined and Chiangmai faced with the continuing severe air was over the standard value during January-March. pollution during the beginning of 2019. The government The annual average of ambient airborne particles defined the emergency measures for solving the air quantity was over the standard value especially in pollution problems. Scholars and the group of Chiangmai. The 24-hour average quantity of ambient airborne particles was during 36-239 µg/m³ *Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Social Sciences, (Theerapong, 2019). Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Mahidol University, Salaya, Phutthamonthon, Nakhon Pathom 73170 Thailand; Tel: +6681-926-6287; E-mail: [email protected] Various countries including Thailand signed a #E-mail co-author: [email protected] United Nations Treaty to counteract climate change E-ISSN: 1929-4409/21 © 2021 Lifescience Global 1230 International Journal of Criminology and Sociology, 2021, Vol. 10 Tititampruk and Ketsil (Choeikiwong, 2012). In Thailand, the Enhancement destroying on the environment by human unless and Conservation of the National Environmental mindsets of people who are more likely to become Quality Act (No. 2) B.E. 2561 (The Government materialism and consumerism person in modern Gazette, 2018) (Amendment), which falls under the societies would not be changed. Comparing to other Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, similarly studies, the authors attempt to bring the light was published in the Royal Thai Government Gazette. the Buddhist principals or strategies which could be eliminate or mitigate the environmental problems and In additions, the consequences of environmental environmental crime problems in Thai society and problem not only limit to destroying of natural could be the first consideration to create as a practical environmental resources, but also some problems model to prevent the environmental problems. transformed to be the environmental crime or green However, Buddhism’s principles are practical and criminology. Environmental criminology can be timeless for Thai society as well as other countries. basically explained as the study about Crimes against Especially in the current situation of environmental the Environment (Jitsawang, 2016). Damage and change, it is important for Thai society and individuals seizing the advantages from the natural resources in to learn and practice the principles of Lord Buddha’s this world occurred for a long time, but it has just been teachings. Hence, there are still unknown gap taken to be the issue in the second half of the 20th explaining how principles of Buddhist philosophies and century because the trend of interest of world concepts related to environmental problems including community in the environmental damages and the environmental crime protection or prevention, attempt of a group of criminologists who requested and especially in the Buddhist favour countries like reflected the point of view against that action being one Thailand. The authors felt strong require to pursue type of crime (Gottfredson and Hirschi, 1990; library-based exploratory study on this issue. Aroonwipada, 2016). This present paper argues that even though the Moreover, it has been pointed out that for Thai principles of Buddhism were founded over 2,500 years society to flourish, individuals should take responsibility ago, they can have an application that is modern, in caring for the environment. Thai people are mostly contemporary and practical for taking care of the Buddhists, but not everyone in Thailand knows or environment and maintaining the balance of nature. understands all the Buddhist principles. Lord Buddha However, the main objectives of this paper are firstly to himself lived with the natural environment, in a period address literature review on current situations of known as the Rains Retreat or Buddhist Lent, environmental issues in contemporary Thai society. throughout 45 rainy seasons of Buddhism propagation Buddhism in contemporary and Buddhist principals (Somdet Phra Buddhakosajarn, 2017). He also put into toward environmental protection should be following legislation many disciplinary rules for monks to live a discussed. This paper also presents some example of balanced life in harmony with nature without destroying temples in Thailand, where participate in environmental the environment. protection by following the Buddhist principals. In the face of deforestation, climate change, and In the discussion section, the authors attempt to extreme flooding in Thailand, Buddhist monks are address how Buddhist disciplines and environmental stepping up as environmental leaders. Although the problem and crime prevention are related and how Buddhist religion typically emphasizes a detachment Buddhist strategies on environmental caring look like. from society, these monks are acting as environmental The relationship between Buddhist philosophy and advocates through ritual, advising in the political crime, especially five precepts and environmental crime sphere, and agricultural work. By putting the Thai are also discussed to represent how effective Buddhist environmental movement on a moral platform, ecology approaches on environmental perspectives. monks are encouraging followers to protect the environment as a religious duty. Methodology Applying in this