OPINION

Fair competition

Re: "Grab enlisted to ease airport taxi woes," (BP, 12 Nov).

It's excellent that Airports of Thailand is working with Grab's ride-hailing service to solve the taxi shortage at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports due to the rise in tourists. Had AOT shown a little foresight, these problems could have been prevented.

But Grab may not have enough drivers at a particular time, and passengers would be better served if Grab had competition, such as from Bolt and Cabb, all of which have iOS and Android apps. AoT should share flight arrival data with all three ride-hailing providers under equal terms and conditions.

I'd like to draw the attention of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's (BMA) leaders about the delays of the bridge project near Soi Udomsuk 60 in the Sukhumvit area.

This project needed five years to be developed, but then the bridge collapsed early this year. Repairs are only half completed. Currently I watch the cranes and backhoes push pipes and piles of dirt one way and then the other, getting nowhere near completing the bridge.

I drive past this bridge in the morning and late afternoon, and the workers have done nothing while letting the unfinished construction impede daily commuting.

Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt should demand the contractor finish the work, or fire the contractor and hire a competent firm to finish the folly of the last contractor.

The delay has affected thousands of commuters who have to deal with traffic jams in this neighbourhood daily. The bridge needs to be completed as soon as possible.

Re: "Playing with fire in the garden of humanity," (Opinion, Nov 11).

Gwynne Dyer seems to have a dim view on human beings when he says: "What they do have in full measure is a basic culture, older than our very species itself, that sees war as natural and necessary [at least when our side does it]". He goes on to add that even though there may be clear aggressors and defenders to a war, "the roles swap around regularly and the game never stops".

The writer is acting as if, rather than being a learned behaviour, war is something which is natural to Homo sapiens. If that is the case, then God help us all!

I prefer to follow the stance of the current pontiff, Pope Francis, who encourages humans to "cultivate the garden of humanity", rather than destroy it. Instead of "playing with fire, missiles and bombs... covering our common homes with ashes and hatred", we should be engaging with our fellow humans and enjoying our time with them.

War is not ingrained in us, but rather is a learned behaviour which humans must try to avoid at all costs.

Re: "Why cartoons exist", (PostBag, Nov 12).

Does Paul realise the total irony of his letter?

He says: "They [cartoons and puzzles] are not 'real' news items and so should not be commented upon much in a part of the newspaper, the letters to the editor section, where topics of real significance and relevance are discussed."

He then proceeds to comment on PostBag letters concerning cartoons and puzzles with his own letter on the subject.