Alter Egos of
Tara Buakamsri
Throughout 25+ Years
in Greenpeace
2 PM in the park. Late February. Unseasonal rain drizzles under a gray, heavy sky — the kind of weather that lingers, neither here nor there. It's in this setting that we sit down with Tara Buakamsri, Director of Greenpeace Thailand, as he prepares to step away from the organization he helped build from the ground up.
Look a little closer, and the backdrop becomes even more surreal: just beyond us, the headquarters of a major fossil fuel corporation and the Ministry of Industry stand in quiet defiance — symbols of everything Greenpeace has spent decades challenging. And yet, perhaps the most surreal thing of all is the thought of Greenpeace Thailand without Tara Buakamsri.
But what's even more surreal is the multiplicity of identities and ways of thinking that have shaped Tara's 25-year journey. One might call it the "many cards of a director" — some suited for accomplishing missions, others for fostering warmth and unity, some for fighting battles, and some for standing strong again when inner crises arise.
This conversation invites us to explore the many facets of his identity.
A Rebel
"When we established the Greenpeace Southeast Asia office in Thailand in 1999–2000, the country had just moved past the semi-democracy era, the Black May uprising, and the Tom Yum Kung financial crisis. The media still had freedom of expression, the economy was somewhat stable, and there was an influx of foreign investment, which brought with it environmental problems. That's why Thailand became the headquarters for Greenpeace Southeast Asia."
"Greenpeace was often seen as a network of troublemakers — people who opposed whaling, for example. I believed that Greenpeace's work in Thai society needed to consider the social and cultural context. If we simply held protest signs, climbed buildings, or disrupted activities, people would wonder, 'Why are they doing this? It's inappropriate. It's not the right time.' But when we arrived, I just went ahead and did it."
"At the time, the environmental impacts of foreign investment shifting into Thailand had become increasingly apparent. Industrial pollution in Map Ta Phut, Rayong, was becoming a major issue. The first two waste-to-energy power plants were built in Phuket and Koh Samui. We also witnessed the chemical barrels containing Agent Orange — left behind by the U.S. military during the Vietnam War — buried beneath Bo Fai Airport in Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan. At that time, I campaigned against this issue alongside community networks and Penchom Saetang."
…Some say that Agent Orange from the Vietnam War is the most shameful legacy of dioxin in history.
The blood and mother's milk of southern Vietnam still carry its poison,
and the suffering of disease still haunts American soldiers who fought in the war —
the very soldiers who sprayed nearly 50 million liters of herbicidal toxins, drenching forests, biological resources, and farmlands,
where earth and heaven once met.
Beneath the soil of Bo Fai,
in what they call a "secure landfill?"
we have buried contaminated earth along with moral courage,
along with social and environmental justice,
along with whatever hope we had in those with technical and political power to decide.
They have made us proud to be part of the crimes of the Vietnam War…
"I was a toxic campaigner. At the time, the government claimed that waste-to-energy power plants were the solution to the overflowing waste problem. But we argued that, in reality, they were 'cancer factories.' These plants released various toxic heavy metals — both directly from the waste and from the ash produced by incineration. Among them was dioxin, a known carcinogen."
Tara's first major adversary as a campaigner was dioxin — a chemical that had caused Vietnamese mothers to give birth to deformed babies with neurological and organ abnormalities. Many mothers also suffered miscarriages. If waste-to-energy power plants were built in Thailand, Thai mothers' blood and milk would be contaminated with dioxin too. That was something Tara simply could not accept.
"Our operation involved bringing the Rainbow Warrior to dock in Phuket and Koh Samui as part of a Toxics Free Asia Tour. After conducting scientific studies with a laboratory team from the University of Exeter, we took the incineration ash from Phuket and Koh Samui and returned it to the front of the Japanese Embassy — because Japan's JBIC had funded these waste incineration technologies. We even hung a large banner on the JBIC building near Ratchaprasong."
"As a result, JBIC withdrew its loan for building the waste incineration plant in On Nut and instead provided funds to Bangkok for Zero Waste initiatives. This was one of my first acts of defiance under the Greenpeace banner — and, of course, many more would follow."
An Adorable One
Tara's nickname is "Look Nam" — larva, or water baby in Thai. "My father gave me this name," he explained. "He called me Look Nam, which is a term older people use. But later, I thought, if I get older and people still call me Look Nam, it might not sound very suitable. So, I decided to let people just call me 'Nam' instead." (Laughs.)
Both his name and his personality seem to match. Tara once shared: "I was a very shy kid — lacking confidence, unaware of things, not good at speaking, always a step behind everyone else. If I were a student, I'd be the one sitting at the back of the classroom. But I relied on perseverance — falling and getting back up, losing and fighting again. What they call GRIT. And that's what made me who I am today."
"Back then, our team consisted of just three people. One was handling the paperwork to officially register Greenpeace as a nonprofit foundation, and another — an Indonesian colleague — was coordinating with other offices. Because our team was so small, we had to rely on volunteers. We slowly started inviting friends to join the work. We began with simple advocacy campaigns, focusing on pollution issues."
Tara's idea of giving volunteers "simple" tasks in the early days meant holding protest signs. But over time, it evolved into training for Non-Violent Direct Action (NVDA) — preparing volunteers to become full-fledged Greenpeace activists. These actions included mobilizing activists from Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Europe to climb construction cranes at the BLCP coal power plant in Map Ta Phut, where they hung banners reading "Stop Coal."
"We carried out operations at coal power plants many times — so often that people started recognizing my face. One time, a plant staff member greeted me and said, 'Oh, you're back again? Have you gained weight?'"
"We used the issues of coal power plants and industrial development in Map Ta Phut, Mae Moh, and the southern region as the center of debates on energy direction, greenhouse gas emissions, and the climate crisis. We pressured the Asian Development Bank to stop financing coal projects, sent representatives from Map Ta Phut communities to attend China Light and Power shareholder meetings in Hong Kong, and testified before the Belgian Parliament about the role of Export Credit Agencies in funding dirty energy."
"The real turning point for the coal era in Thailand came when we successfully stopped the Krabi coal power plant project. After that, the anti-coal movement gained momentum. Any new coal project now had to secure a social license, and the shift toward renewable energy truly began to take hold."
On the Wild Side
Many people see Tara as a warm and friendly person — until he does something that leaves everyone speechless. Among the many unforgettable moments in his activism, one stands out: the time he snatched the microphone from a nuclear energy expert.
"It was sometime after 2009, at a major public forum in Bangkok. A nuclear expert stood up and said that nuclear radiation isn't dangerous at all — that people living near nuclear power plants receive less radiation per year than a CT scan. He went on to say he had worked in the nuclear industry for 20–30 years and still had children. But the moment that really set me off was when he said something along the lines of: 'Any woman in this room who wants to know if that's true can sleep with me.' I was furious. I stood up, walked over, grabbed the microphone, and told him to take back his statement — a blatant display of toxic masculinity."
Another environmental battle that wasn't exactly "polite" was the fight against genetically modified papaya. Cornell University had used Thailand as a testing ground for Monsanto. Greenpeace carried out investigative research and direct actions multiple times, synthesized scientific data rigorously, and ultimately took the fight to the courts.
"Within our campaign team, we agreed this issue needed to be brought to public attention. We planned a direct action, sending in a team of disciplined, well-trained activists, fully equipped with protective suits and masks, into the horticultural research station in Khon Kaen. They collected the GMO papaya plants — stems, leaves, flowers, roots — and sealed them in airtight containers. Even if it meant taking risks and facing consequences, this was a battle where food sovereignty was at stake."
"For us, even if it meant taking risks and facing consequences, this was a battle where food sovereignty was at stake."
— On the GMO papaya campaign, Khon Kaen, 2003The Department of Agriculture filed a lawsuit accusing Greenpeace staff of trespassing and damaging property. The case went to the Khon Kaen Criminal Court and later to the Court of Appeal. In 2009, the court dismissed all charges, citing the right to environmental protection under the 1997 Constitution. "We fully exercised the Constitution to affirm our right to protect the environment," Tara said.
Years later came another test: a 12-month investigative report into illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in Thailand's distant-water fishing industry. It documented human trafficking, forced labor, deaths at sea, and at-sea transshipments of illegal catches. "There was a social media backlash accusing us of being 'traitors to the nation,'" Tara recalled. "Our legal team had scrutinized every single line from the first page to the last. They told us outright, 'We're definitely going to get sued.' When we received the lawsuit, the pressure was intense. But our legal team stood firmly with us. In the end, the prosecutors decided not to take the case to court."
Thai Greenpeace campaigner Tara Buakamsri meets the press. Phuket, Thailand.
A Campaigner
"It's an incredibly challenging profession. Campaigning is primarily about communicating and engaging with society — persuading large numbers of people to take urgent action. It is a form of participatory democracy, meant to serve the public interest. Most importantly, campaigning creates space for change — giving the public a role in shaping society. Campaigning blends multiple disciplines: law, science, literature, sociology, and politics."
"Effective campaigns follow key principles: Show, don't tell — demonstrating impact rather than stating facts. Motivation rather than education — inspiring action rather than sharing knowledge. Mobilization rather than accumulation — activating public energy and opinion. Campaigning gurus have always told me that effective campaigns must be systematic, and that communication planning is just as meticulous as writing a song or directing a film."
"Beyond understanding communication and motivation, a campaigner must grasp the dynamics of power. They need to identify who controls what and who benefits from the status quo. Why hasn't the change we seek happened yet? When existing power structures and vested interests are challenged, people start paying attention."
"Politics is the art of the possible. But as I see it — campaigning is both a science and an art of making the impossible happen."
One corporate campaign that exemplifies strategic power analysis is the push to strengthen human rights protections in Thai Union's seafood supply chain. The global campaign ran between Greenpeace Thailand, the U.S., Canada, Europe, New Zealand, and East Asia from 2015 to 2017. It deployed every strategy available: ranking seafood sustainability, mobilizing consumers, working with maritime labor unions, protesting at industry conferences, and using technology to track deep-sea fishing fleets.
"The negotiations resulted in an agreement leading to positive changes in four key areas: destructive fishing gear, longline fishing, transshipment at sea, and labor rights. At times, stepping back was necessary — but in other moments, standing firm was critical. This was always about turning the tide, navigating the waves carefully."
"Yes — the issue of toxic PM2.5 pollution. We had been campaigning against coal for years. But then a debate started in Chiang Mai: why was the U.S. Consulate measuring PM2.5 levels, but the rest of the city had no data? In Bangkok, there was one particular day when everyone flooded social media with posts about a thick fog — people were struggling to breathe. That moment was the perfect disruptive moment. We used that momentum to explain that it wasn't fog — it was toxic PM2.5 pollution. From there, we pushed the Pollution Control Department to update the Air Quality Index and tighten ambient air quality standards."
"From my experience, disruptive moments have a higher chance of success. According to dialectical materialism, change happens when quantity transforms into quality — not in a straight line, but through tipping points and critical mass. When those moments are reached, the old system collapses, making way for a new one."
An Activist
"I was born in Aranyaprathet, on the Thai-Cambodian border, in 1967 — the same year ASEAN was founded. When I was 7 or 8 years old, the Khmer Rouge took control of Cambodia, leading to a prolonged civil war and a wave of hundreds of thousands of war refugees along the border."
"I became interested in environmental issues during high school at a provincial school in Samut Prakan. There was a guidance counselor who had been an activist during her university years at Silpakorn University. She assigned us to create a zine about the first-ever Earth Summit in 1972, held in Stockholm. That summit also marked the first-ever use of the term Biosphere."
"General Prem Tinsulanonda was Prime Minister, and Thailand was under semi-democracy. The student environmental movement was still thriving. I was involved with the Committee for Natural Resource Conservation of 15 Institutions. During that period, major environmental conflicts were unfolding — the Nam Chon Dam project planned inside the Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary, the expansion of fossil fuel extraction in the Gulf of Thailand, and after Chernobyl, the Tantalum smelting plant protests in Phuket, which escalated tragically in June 1986."
"An activist must learn to move beyond their own sense of self. For me, being an activist has shaped how I see Greenpeace in two ways: as an organization, and as part of a broader social movement. The Greenpeace brand is strong, and there are times when people expect us to take on every issue. But as a social movement, once we've worked on an issue long enough for it to become a societal norm — a widely accepted framework — our role shifts. At that point, the issue no longer needs to carry our name."
"Beyond just left or right, I align with the framework of political ecology — because democracy and environmental issues are fundamentally connected. If we want the environment to be a truly public issue, we must integrate it with public participation and democracy. Many people ask why I connect Greenpeace with politics. To me, politics is the stage where public policies are decided — a political opera. When a government does not come to power through democratic means, public policies often become corrupt, leading to social and environmental disasters."
"Honestly, I enjoy being an activist the most. Just talking about data or lobbying isn't as exciting — it doesn't engage the body and energy in the same way. Being an activist helps me see the world with hope. Activism allows me to find joy in the struggle — it brings out the human side of the work. An activist should be as human as possible."
"Ecology without class struggle is gardening."
— A phrase Tara cites often"In Solidarity comes from the labor movement in Poland. When I was a student, I engaged with political activists, and I came across this phrase — I really liked it. It helps set the tone that no matter what happens — whether we agree or disagree — we must stand in solidarity if we want to create change. And honestly… it just sounds cool."
A Human Being
"I believe success is just a construct — something we invent in this world. I've encountered a lot of failures. Sometimes, the things I put so much effort into simply don't work. I've often felt, 'Why did I pour so much energy into this when nothing seems to change?' Issues that existed 20 or 30 years ago are still happening today. But I've never told myself, 'That's it. I'm done.'"
"The moments when I've failed are actually the moments I cherish most in my work. My time at Greenpeace has been full of risks and experiments. But when I've fallen, there have always been people who understood and supported me — my family, friends in Greenpeace, fellow activists, and allies in communities. Burnout comes when we give everything we have and push ourselves too hard. But discouragement fades when we have solidarity — no matter what condition we're in. Whether we're heartbroken, crying, laughing, or celebrating, there is always a space of support that helps us recover, regain energy, adapt, and stay resilient."
"Getting lost is just a way of exploring new possibilities."
"Like a caravan traveling across long distances, facing endless obstacles. There hasn't been a single day without problems. But we have to make decisions, stay determined, and push forward — just like a caravan that, when lost, looks up to the sky to find the North Star. But sometimes, I also compare myself to Charlie Watts — the Rolling Stones drummer once said: '5 years of work and 20+ years of hanging around.' So it makes me wonder… how much of my time was actually spent working? And how much was just hanging around?" (Laughs.)
"I consider myself incredibly lucky to have worked with Greenpeace. I've been able to use every skill I have — science, research, law, negotiations, communications, and hands-on activism. I've lived my life to the fullest, making the most of the time I've been given. But now, it's time to pass Greenpeace Thailand on to a new generation of leaders — passionate, determined, creative, and sharp-minded individuals. We will see a new era of Greenpeace campaigning, one that fits the realities of today, without being bound to the past."
"I plan to write about my experiences in the environmental movement — documenting these past 25–30 years — and offer guidance to those who are determined to create change, wherever it's needed. No matter where I am, in whatever role, I will still be just one worker ant in the vast movement for social change. I believe many people share the same vision as I do — a vision of a better Thailand, a better world, where people live in a healthy environment, with basic rights, clean water, fresh air, and the freedom to speak their minds."
As our conversation came to an end, there was one last phrase — one that many who have crossed paths with Tara in the fight for the environment would probably want to say to him…