OPINION

PM2.5 nightmares

Re: "PM2.5: Endless deja vu in Thailand", (Opinion, March 12).

We can't breathe! Don't the people who run this country have children? Don't they care about them?

My 4-year-old grandson went to the hospital this week the doctor examined him and said his choking cough was from the pollution. I love my children. Why can't the political establishment stop talking and do something to save their own children and ours?

PM2.5, small-sized dust particles, are a carcinogenic substance and a risk factor for lung cancer and other diseases. Screening and prevention can help manage and mitigate the risk.

Time will tell

Re: "Parties go to war against dust scourge", (BP, March 14) & "Does anyone care", (PostBag, March 13).

I wish to inform Samanea Saman that both the Pheu Thai and Democratic parties have pledged to fight against haze and air pollution in Thailand, including passing the long-awaited Clean Air Act.

Whether these efforts actually achieve any tangible results remains to be seen.

Nonetheless, the above-mentioned letter writer was correct to wonder when someone in power in Thailand would do something to rectify the smog crisis, as it has been an ongoing problem, with no one seemingly doing anything about it.

Anyways, almost on cue, right after the letter was published, the two established political parties on the Thai political scene submitted drafts to fight air pollution both in the capital and in other areas of the nation.

Dual purposes

Re: "N-95 dust gobblers", (PostBag, March 11).

This regular letter writer Michael Setter went to lengths in this space throughout the whole Covid-19 pandemic, profusely proclaiming the futility of us wearing face masks to protect against the coronavirus.

Yet here he is now saying that N-95 masks are effective in protecting humans against small dust particles! He claims that, though these masks are expensive, their replaceable filters make them useful for protecting us from dust and haze, unlike the normal masks worn by people worn during the Covid-19 pandemic.

So one wonders whether they are effective against the coronavirus also?

Ideas for Chuvit

Re: "Chuvit petitions graftbusters to probe Saksayam", (BP, March 15) & "Weed bounty may go to pot", (Editorial, March 7).

It is time for us to thank Chuvit Kamolvisit for what he has done to bring down the Chinese mafia, and perhaps it is also time for him to say goodbye and end his crusade to bring down a political party. As the election is coming close, voters do not need soap dramas and chaos to distract their attention, as we all know that no political parties in Thailand are not tainted by corruption.

Mr Chuvit could do the public a good thing by accepting the debate with Panthep Phuapongpan, a vocal supporter of cannabis-based medicine, on whether the law to legalise the herb is appropriate and in the interest of the public. The debate, however, should be conducted in a civilized manner without tooth brushing and mouth washing, use of foul language and spitting.

Thai thinking

Re: "By royal decree", (PostBag, March 15).

I'm not alone in having relied on Burin Kantabutra over the years for his wise and erudite insights into Thai affairs -- that invariably give an insider's perspective on matters that leave we expats floundering. However, I wonder if even he is qualified to tell us what "all Thais are united in believing".

Khun Burin is in danger of falling into the Prayut camp of thinking Thais, particularly the young, believe what they are told.

Faith on holidays

Re: "Maybe Armageddon!" (PostBag, March 13) & "Cashing in on superstition", (Business, March 13).

Miro King, the lotus eater, be of good cheer. Bangkok Post's Business Section just reports the solution to your own and all such petty earthly concerns in "Cashing in on superstition". The new faith-based tourism targeting the truly faithful for the purest of motives will drive away all evils.

Religious tourism is but the latest fruit borne and nurtured by the absolute efficacy of prayer and by the proven powers of magical amulets produced by mystical temples under the guidance of venerated figures oozing pure holiness. These spiritual gifts indubitably solve all problems, whether health, business or beyond.

Who would dare question that such serious merit-making will solve all those mundane travails along with rising debt, unemployment, and inflation, let alone lesser matters such as your faithless concern of an excess of eager tourists swamping us all like a flood or other act of god?

And if prayer, amulets, and mass ordination inexplicably fail for the first time ever to deliver the promised goods, that it is plainly because not enough praying was done, not enough offerings were made to a large enough collection of amulets, or not enough men freely volunteered to ordain. What other explanation could be considered? More faith, purer faith, is all that is needed.

Bullying behaviour

Re: "Ukraine's problems", (PostBag, March 14).

Jason Jellison has the audacity to liken Ukraine to Nazi Germany and, in doing so, engages in a morally corrupt game of apples and oranges. Nazi Germany certainly was not invaded illegally in violation of all international laws and norms.

Jellison has stated he works for a school. I wonder if he advises his young charges to roll over to any bully that should happen along. I certainly would not want him in charge of any children of mine.

Best stay relevant

Re: "The Ides of March and perils of power", Roger Crutchley, (BP, March 12).

Shakespeare is a big put-off for most US school and college faculty and students except those associated with drama and theatre.

In a 1995 interview, famous American rapper Tupac Amaru Shakur, known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, said, "I love Shakespeare. He wrote some of the rawest stories, man. I mean, look at Romeo and Juliet. That is some serious ghetto s**t." After his comments, African American students flocked to English classes to check out Shakespeare. In 2019, to improve enrolment in English literature, many educators in California seized hip-hop's broad appeal to help students connect with boring Shakespeare. It worked for a while.

As Roger mentioned, many famous American authors ignored Shakespeare's legacy. Even today, plenty of people in academia in the USA and Canada believe that Shakespeare is irrelevant. To them, studying classics is a waste of time. Twenty-first-century social and behavioural norms, traditions, and cultures are very different. They firmly believe that students like to study the current authors. Their characters and stories are more relevant to them, and they can make real and easy connections.

To such teachers, faculty, and students, their own representation matters. Hence West Side Story by Arthur Laurents is more relevant to them than Hamlet or King Lear. Hence despite his incredible talent, "To study" or "Not to study" Shakespeare remains a big question.

Cruelty to animals

Re: "Minister plans new law on animal fighting, to attract visitors", (BP, Feb 27).

Animal fighting is cruel. These bloody events are agonising for the unwilling animal participants, who are just trying to survive the violence. Even the "winners" hobble away from these fights with physical and emotional wounds. So join me in urging Justice Minister Somsak Thepsutin to outlaw these fights -- not promote them. And please never attend, wager on, or participate in animal fighting.

In cockfighting, roosters have suffered from gouged eyes, shattered bones, and pierced lungs. And according to the World Health Organization, cockfighting is linked to the spread of a highly lethal bird flu virus that can be transmitted from birds to humans through contact with blood and faeces.

Dogfighting is another blood sport which pits two dogs against each other. They're forced to rip each other to shreds for the depraved enjoyment and monetary gain of spectators. Research links cruelty to animals to violence against fellow humans -- including spouses, children, and the elderly. Cruelty to animals is also connected with other types of violent offences. So why are lawmakers permitting such cruelty on their own soil?

No animal deserves to be hurt for human entertainment. So let's urge the government to enforce cruelty-to-animals laws and ban animal fighting -- not endorse it!

Lottery doubts

Re: "Activist, vendors query new plans", (BP, March 16).

As the 16th day of the month lottery looms, I have to ask why there has been no follow-up to the low-key revelation that, in addition to the well-published win of 6 million baht by a meatball vendor at the last lottery, an anonymous punter won 205 million with 17 winning tickets. This was reported as an aside by another English-language news medium but seems to have been ignored both by that source since and any other.

The fact that my Thai family has seen no reporting of it seems to indicate (best option) that this didn't happen or that a blatant scam was inadvertently revealed and has been buried.