OPINION

Stop plastic menace

Single use plastics are a huge menace for the environment and all communities. The unprecedented death rate of dugongs in the Trang region this year with ingestion of marine plastic waste a major culprit highlights the impact of plastic pollution entering our waterways and the food chain.

Thailand's addiction to plastic bags and other packaging for most purchases at shops, supermarkets and food outlets seems to be still on the rise. Major culprits include 7-Eleven, which should adapt its policies and behaviour. Asking customers at the point of purchase whether they need a plastic bag is a welcome first step. Now they must phase in, over say one year, a complete end to distributing plastic bags, straws, spoons and other optional packaging.

Corporate leadership starts with taking social responsibility and commitment to the first steps to help reduce wasteful and damaging practices by raising community awareness.

Teen could have been saved

Re: "Somtam blamed for teen's death", (BP, Aug 31).

Wanida Atsiangram's death could be blamed on somtam or the government. It has been known for a long time that fermented fish and freshwater snails are sources of deadly diseases, especially in Isan. Secondly, there is a simple remedy to prevent death from dehydration resulting from diarrohea -- oral rehydration salts. The ingredients, salt and sugar, are found in every home and all mothers should be taught how to prepare and administer this simple lifesaving remedy.

If the Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul could get his mind off the money in marijuana for a moment, maybe he could do something about this situation?

Trump, Bolsonaro to blame

Re: "Brazil's Bolsonaro fuels spat with France", (BP, Aug 30).

The escalation of wanton destruction of the Brazilian Amazon is the result of misguided policies by Brazil's President Bolsonaro and US President Trump. Mr Bolsonaro has no real intention of combatting the devastating fires, beyond token efforts to silence international criticism. Indeed, in campaigning for president last year, Mr Bolonsaro advocated a populist platform including economic exploitation of the Amazon for increased agriculture and mining.

It is not a coincidence the accelerated clearing of the Amazon comes at a time of the prolonged trade war between the US and China. President Trump's ill-advised trade war has resulted in a virtual halt of sales of US soybeans to China, which Brazil is only too happy to step in to supply. The anticipation of huge new sales of soybeans as China seeks alternatives to US supplies is a clear driver of Amazon forest clearing and burning.

The unintended consequences of Mr Trump's trade war continue to pile up: loss of markets for US (and Chinese) products, misery for US farmers and exporters, higher prices for consumers, potential global recession, environmental destruction.

Untrue confessions fatal

I agree with Bereleh (PostBag, Aug 31), that it's disheartening the death penalty for the two men convicted of the Koh Tao murders was upheld. It seems the evidence against them was a DNA test that was handled in a questionable manner and a confession of the two men.

The television station RT recently ran an excellent programme on how even in America (where defendants have more rights than in Thailand) innocent people might sign a confession. The programme focused on a man who spent 15 years in jail after confessing to raping and murdering a 14-year-old girl. Yet he was released from prison after it was proven he was innocent. Why did he confess? He said he was interrogated for 36 straight hours, the police and prosecution lied to him that he had failed a lie detector test and told him he'd be executed if he didn't confess. The best argument against the death penalty is that we cannot always rely on the prosecution and the police to deliver justice.

Much-maligned Chicago

No doubt many countries and cities share Thailand's pain when it comes to misrepresentation in cinema ("The message of the medium", Life, August 28). When locals learn of my hometown, Chicago, the response invariably remains "gangster" or "mafia", accompanied by a mimed spray of machine gun fire. (Sadly, gun violence continues in earnest there today, predominantly among a new generation of urban criminals.) Hundreds of films have been produced in and about Chicago, from John Hughes' wholesome suburban comedies (Home Alone and Ferris Bueller's Day Off) to diverse films about sports (Eight Men Out, Hoop Dreams), love (My Best Friend's Wedding and Signature Move) and of course, music, The Blues Brothers ultimately topping the list of Chicago classics.

And while the list of films about gun-toting bootleggers is indeed long, from Chicago Syndicate (1955) to modern epics including The Untouchables and Public Enemies, it is hardly fair to judge or know this Midwestern metropolis only by the legends of Al Capone.

The world of cinema revolves around the auteur's vision. Only the audience can reject their continued portrayals of cultural cliche.