Introduction The Chao Phraya river runs through most parts of Thailand so it  is also known as the

“Lifeblood of Thailand.” The river starts in the mountains of Chiang Mai and ends at Samut Prakan which flows into the Gulf of Thailand. The Chao Phraya river supports all kind of life

throughout Thailand. It is used for transportation, irrigation, fishing and other activities. In the olden days, people could drink from the river, swim and there use to be dolphins in the river, but now the water is polluted with chemicals, the fishing industry has reduced and the are no

more dolphins in the river  .

In order to improve the health of the Chao Phraya river system, we should encourage people at their homes, factories to use phosphate free products instead of phosphate based products .

On the 5th of February , Year 7 students observed many indicators of the Chao Phraya health. We observed that the amount of phosphates or detergent have a negative effect on the river system, as seen through these indicators:

Quality indicators of my problem

Current level

Predicted positive trend if innovation is implemented

Phosphates 0.7 Fewer

limit variety of plants few variety More variety

Lots of zooplankton Lots some

D.O 4.2

dead fish some some

Systems map

Effects of PhosphatesIt is good because phosphate will simulate the growth of plankton and aquatic plants  which will provide food for larger organisms, including zooplankton, fish, humans and other mammals and their numbers will increase. If there is too much plants it will cover the surface of the river and the sunlight doesn't go to the plants underneath so the plants rot and use up oxygen. This will lower the dissolved oxygen levels because there will be more animals and more plants using up the oxygen . It can also have a negative effect because if we have more plants there will be less dissolved oxygen   because the plants use the dissolved oxygen   If there are less dissolved oxygen  the marine life could reduce in population because they also use dissolved oxygen .

PerspectivesBusiness people

I don't really care because the phosphates in the river don't affect me and i don't put phosphates in the river.

Street food vendors

We arent educated and we don't know what phosphates are so we don’t really care.

Fish In the beginning there were lots of food for us to eat but then it started to get hard to breath and then my family and my friends all died.

Fishermen I can't catch as many fish as before and more plants and stuff get stuck in my nets.

WHY THIS IS THE IDEAL POINT TO MAKE A CHANGEAs can be seen in the system map, there are many different things that contribute to the presence of phosphates in the water. Some of the most significant reasons are:

Low economy Waste water not treated properly People not educated properly

The key to changing the system is at the point of people not educated properly. This is an important place to make a difference because it will prevent phosphates entering the waterways in the first place.

The proposed innovation is to educate the people at homes to use phosphate free detergent and other cleaning product such as herbal product and bioclean instead of

cleaning product with phosphates in it.

This innovation will be effective for the following reasons:

NaturePhosphates is a substance that makes plants grow so the waterways will be blocked and therefore sunlight will not be able to reach the plants below the it will start to rot. At first there will be more organisms but then it uses more dissolved oxygen so then fishies will die.

If people switch from phosphate based products to phosphate free products, we will be able to prevent phosphates from entering the river system in the first place. As a result, there will be no need to worry about the fact that it will kill fishies.

Economy

Phosphates detergent are cheaper the phosphate free products, which is why they are easily found in many places.For example, tide liquid detergent (phosphate based detergent) can be ordered on walmart.com for 11.97 dollars  per 96.1 oz (not include shipping) acording to www.walmart.com.

Unfortunately, a phosphate free detergent (Bioclean) cost more than the phosphate based detergent, with the cost 9.99 dollars per 64 oz. In another way it can cause a good effect for a private business economy because they could import in the bioclean. If Thai people make their own product from the herbal plants and they can get high profit from sell those herbal detergent because they can grow herbal plants in their garden or so.

SocietyThe bioclean contains no phosphate, chlorine, ammonia, petroleum solvents, alcohol, butyl, glycol ether, SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) or SLES (sodium laureth sulfate), EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), DEA (diethanolamine; no SARA Title III, CA 65 according to(Sarah van Schagen). As a result, bioclean will be suitable for people who are allergic to any of these substances. It would also attract tourist because there if there is low phosphate there would be more variety of plants so the tourist would be have a better. Rich or poor people could be affected equally because poor people could make their own product from the herbal plants and the rich people can import the bioclean. This innovation would be perfect for the chao phraya river side because they are already making lots of herbal products according to khun Kan Ya a lady in the Bagh krachao riverside community.

Well-beingPhosphate can cause Osteoporosis, Heart disease, stroke, Cancer and Soft-tissue (ectopic) calcification if phosphate enters your body in high amount according to Sadie Heilemann. in addition, smelling that much phosphate in the water may make people feel very unhappy, as it destroys the plants in the river if there is high amount of phosphate.

Switching to bioclean or any herbal product would not cause any of the side effects of the things above because bioclean and any herbal product does not contain phosphate, chlorine, ammonia, petroleum solvents, alcohol, butyl, glycol ether, SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) or SLES (sodium laureth sulfate), EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), DEA (diethanolamine; no SARA Title III, CA 65 according to( Sarah van Schagen), therefore there won’t be any harmful effects on the human body but there will be positive effects on the human body. For example if you use herbal product there would only positive effects. People who use the phosphate free detergent or any herbal detergent would feel proud because that they are making a positive contribution, and will feel more comfortable that they are using a product that has no chemicals that will cause a harmful effect on the human body.

ConclusionIn conclusion, the innovation of using phosphates free detergent or any herbal product instead of phosphate based product, would be a great thing for all of the four compass points. I think it is a plus for the nature part of the compass; this is because the effect of phosphate free products are the opposite from the effect of phosphate based product. It would also be a plus for the economy side of the compass because people could make their own product from herbal plants and other people import phosphate free product, also because the difference between the price isn't that

much because the difference between the price per oz is 0.031 dollars. In the part of the society it would also be a plus because it would be suitable for people who are allergic to any of the

chemicals in the phosphate base product. I would be a great thing for the bang krachao riverside community because they are already making many herbal products do why can't they make more

and earn more money. Last but not least the well being part of the compass is a plus too. It is because there won't be any harmful effects to the human body from using the phosphate free detergent or herbal products but instead there will be positive effects on the human body from using herbal products. If you use phosphate based products that is bad for you. I you are using

phosphate free products or herbal product you are healing the world.

“How do people make positive changes to systems?”

Criterion A:Knowledge and Understanding

Criterion C:Critical Thinking

Criterion D:Presenting

1-2 You recognize some vocabulary.

You demonstrate basic knowledge and understanding of content and concepts about river systems through limited descriptions and/or examples.

You identify how your innovation will create a positive change to the Chao Phraya river system to a limited extent.

You use indicators to give a limited opinion on the health of the Chao Phraya river system.

You identify some stakeholders’ views about the effects of your innovation.

You communicate information and ideas in a style that is not always clear.

You organize information and ideas in a limited way.

3-4 You use some vocabulary.

You demonstrate satisfactory knowledge and understanding of content and concepts about river systems through simple descriptions, explanations and examples.

You identify how your innovation will create a positive change to the Chao Phraya river system to some extent.

You use indicators to give an adequate opinion on the health of the Chao Phraya river system.

You identify some stakeholders’ views about the effects of your innovation and suggest some possible implications.

You communicate information and ideas in a way that is somewhat clear.

You somewhat organize information and ideas.

5-6 You use considerable relevant vocabulary, often accurately.

You demonstrate substantial knowledge and understanding of content and concepts about river systems through descriptions, explanations and examples.

You identify how your innovation will create a positive change to the Chao Phraya river system.

You use indicators to give a substantial opinion on the health of the Chao Phraya river system.

You identify stakeholders’ views about the effects of your innovation and suggest most implications.

You communicate information and ideas in a way that is mostly clear.

You mostly organize information and ideas.

7-8 You consistently use relevant vocabulary accurately.

You demonstrate excellent knowledge and understanding of content and concepts about river systems through detailed descriptions, explanations and examples.

You identify how your innovation will create a positive change to the Chao Phraya river system in detail.

You use indicators to give detailed opinions on the health of the Chao Phraya river system.

You consistently identify stakeholders’ views about the effects of your innovation and its implications.

You communicate information and ideas in a way that is completely clear.

You completely organize information and ideas effectively.

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