OPINION

Rules for thee

Re: "Hospital insists Thaksin is not getting VIP treatment", (BP, Aug 24).

According to an earlier statement from prison authorities, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra would get no special treatment. Thus he would be treated the same as any other prisoner. However, in newspaper updates, a few hours after being sent to a prison facility, Thaksin was shortly moved from the remand hospital to the Police General Hospital. No matter what one thinks of billionaire Thaksin, in Thailand, apparently, some are more equal than others. This explains the disparities that exist in Thai society.

Solar drawbacks

Re: "Solar silence", (PostBag, Aug 24) & "Here comes the sun", (Business, Aug 21).

Energy officials are aware of the fact they have a huge responsibility to industry, commerce, healthcare and domesticity to provide an uninterrupted supply of electricity. They know even hundreds of thousands of rai covered in solar panels would only meet a very small percentage of the vital electric energy required. They also know the environmental destruction caused. The total input of solar panels, mining raw materials, manufacturing, installing and disposing of after their short life is far, far greater than their beneficial output.

Without fossil fuel-generated electricity, we would have remained in medieval misery, sticking animal fat on sticks for light when the sun goes down.

Fossil fuels are plant life formed millions of years ago when CO2 formed 500+ ppm, far greater than the current 180 ppm. At 130ppm, plant life dies, so we urgently need more CO2 to save life on Earth.

It is strange, is it not, that 500+ppm has left the planet uninjured, and yet it is believed currently that 180ppm is a threat to its existence. But of course, when fossil fuel plant life thrived, megalomaniac, primitive-thinking politicians and their gullible followers did not exist.

Respect all citizens

Re: "'Pride' watch seizures challenged in Malaysian court", (BP, Aug 23).

Whilst not in any cheerful, gay or otherwise happy colours, Malaysia's government paints Malaysians as snowflakes of extra special delicateness. Could it be true, as their government warns, that attractively colourful watches "may harm … the interests of the nation by promoting, supporting and normalising the LGBTQ+ movement that is not accepted by the general public"?

Perhaps the Malaysian government should worry more about the prevailing bad public morals that fail to equally respect all citizens, including those who are LGBTQ+. Merely being a majority consensus does not make an ugly prejudice less rotten.

Solve earthly issues

Re: "India makes Moon history", (BP, Aug 24).

Without detracting from India's amazing achievement of landing a capsule on the Moon, is it not ironic that on the same day, 17 people were killed when a bridge in the Sairang area of Mizoram state in northeast India collapsed?

Like many other countries, it would appear that we are prepared to spend billions on outlandish space projects before maintaining and improving what we have on Earth.

India's rail system, once the envy of the world, is in neglect. With regular reports of accidents and deaths. If only the space programme funds had been put into maintaining the rail system and improving it.