Re: ''Revised flood plan fails to cut B350bn cost to taxpayers'' (BP, March 14).
Again a story appears to illustrate how politicians are myopic, self-centred and self-serving. The article says water retention areas will be centred in the North and Northeast, to keep water as far away from Bangkok as possible, and to avoid paddy flooding in the Central provinces.
These people act as if northerners and northeasterners are nothing but expendable chaff and not worth dealing with. As long as precious Bangkok is flood-free, to hell with the rest of the population.
I hope the zealous redneck red shirts take note of this stupid move. It's the farmers in the North and Northeast who will suffer once again, if not by drought due to poor water management, then in the future by flooding. Don't worry, boys. Your fearless leader Thaksin will protect you from Dubai.
GOLANI
Life in the 'motorsai' lane
There must be tens of thousands of motorcycle taxis in Thailand, so it is unfair of Jean Victor Pierre Krier (PostBag, March 14) to condemn them all because of one bad experience with a drunken driver.
I drive my own car, but whenever I visit Bangkok or another large city, I use motorcycle taxis as I don't like driving in crazy traffic and more often I don't know the way.
Invariably I have found motorcycle taxi drivers rough but cheerful chaps (and women) who know where you want to go and are expert at taking you there via little-known back sois and shortcuts. They are cheap and get you to your destination quickly.
I must admit to the occasional adrenalin rush as a driver weaves in and out of traffic, but what the heck! It gives a new definition to living life in the fast lane.
DAVID BROWN
Stop the shark fin trade
Your March 12 picture of a large number of shark fins at a Siam Square restaurant is revolting. It's irresponsible for Thailand to even allow shark fin soup to be served in the country.
Thailand looks the other way because the corrupt, spineless government does not want to offend China and locals of Chinese ancestry. Because of Thailand and other irresponsible Asian countries, notably China, a beautiful and vital ocean species is on the way to extinction.
Man is but one animal on this planet and has no right to eliminate others. China and other offenders cannot be respected members of the world's nations until they come down hard on and eliminate the trade in shark fins, elephant tusks, rhino horns, bear paws and other animal parts that have no beneficial effect on the human body.
H CLARK
Plastic not so fantastic
There is a worldwide treaty called Marpol (maritime pollution) which is dedicated to reducing and, if possible, eliminating dumping of garbage and oil by ships at sea.
Among other things, it bans dumping any plastic anywhere at sea. It has been signed by nearly every country in the world which has a coastline. The only exceptions are Costa Rica, Taiwan and Thailand.
Taiwan can't sign international treaties because of Chinese pressure, but why does Thailand not go along with such a reasonable anti-pollution treaty? Perhaps it's because it enables Thai fishermen to continue to dump garbage offshore with little or no worries about legal repercussions.
Of course, there are other repercussions to dumping garbage - like hurting sea habitats and shorelines. It appears fishermen (and Thai officialdom) don't appear to be much concerned about such things, judging by the amounts of plastic trash strewn upon corals and washed up on beaches.
KEN ALBERTSEN
Chiang Rai
CONTACT: BANGKOK POST BUILDING
136 Na Ranong Road Klong Toey, Bangkok 10110
Fax: +02 2403666 email: postbag@bangkokpost.co.th
All letter writers must provide full name and address.
All published correspondence is subject to editing at our discretion.