POSTBAG
Perhaps there is a lesson for all of us to learn from the InSight article "Not scared to care" (Perspective, 4 May 2008). Compassion and support for all, whether they are ill or have made poor choices, would seem preferable to banishment and ostracism.
MARGARET JAMIESON
Nonthaburi
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The truth about Palestine
I refer to the article "Where is that Palestinian state?" by Mr Nick Ferriman (Perspective, 4 May 2008), which is not based on historical facts.
The Palestinian Arabs were offered a Palestinian state based on the division of the land, following these events:
- In 1936 (Peel Commission)
- In 1948 after Israel's War of Independence
- In 1967 after the Six Day War
- In 2000 during President Bill Clinton's summit with Ehud Barak and Yasser Arafat.
The offer of a Palestinian state was turned down by the Palestinian Arab leaders on every occasion.
The tragedy of the Palestinian Arabs is the quality of their leaders who have betrayed them at every opportunity. In the famous words of Abba Eban, "the Palestinians never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity."
BALLINABOY
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Democracy, really?
It seems strange that Thirayuth Boonmi, who has cried for democracy since the 1970s, is now trying hard to protect amendments to the dictatorial power of the military-scripted constitution of 2007, which is in desperate need of corrective attention. This constitution was established hastily, displacing the far more broadly consulted 1997 constitution.
It seems that Thirayuth's anti-Thaksin position comes at any cost to real democracy in Thailand and the voice of the majority. Pride and stubbornness also come at a great cost when self-proclaimed vested interest groups use the term "democracy" to cover their real interests and intent.
DR JIM TAYLOR
Adelaide, Australia
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No 'just' war
In response to C.O. Jones and the contention that the first Gulf War was a 'just War' I would like to offer another view. Prior to the invasion of Kuwait, the government of Iraq queried the US ambassador at the time if the US government would oppose the takeover of Kuwait as it had in the past been a part of Iraq. We must be mindful of the fact that the US and Iraq had a long history of mutual operations in the region. The response of the US was that the American government would take no position if the Iraqi government chose to reclaim Kuwait. Iraq invaded and the American military obliterated the Iraqi army and air force, a destruction that it never recovered from. This was similar to the deception employed to get the Soviets to invade Afghanistan which was concocted by the NSA director under President Jimmy Carter. The American policy in the Mideast is to achieve hegemony. Therefore there can only be client states or 'terrorist' states that will be destroyed and reconstituted as client states. This has been the policy of the United States since WW2 and it has been pursued relentlessly and ruthlessly. The notion of a 'just war' in these times is quaint, almost romantic, but the world that gave us such a nostrum is long gone.
OBSERVER
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Make foreign foods affordable
I grew up in a country where Tesco (not Tesco Lotus) was the mainstay large food supermarket.
When I first visited Bangkok more than a year ago it was quite refreshing to see a slightly familiar name, Tesco. On the chilled meat counter I saw shrink-wrapped intestines and blood cake that cater for local needs and tastes.
What I have been slightly disappointed with is that Tesco cannot do more in terms of using their trans-global shipping power to do a better job of introducing new foodstuffs to local markets.
This started off as a strong desire on my part to get "a taste of home" locally, but the "import food vendors" consider it OK to charge ridiculous prices for non-local produce. Why is this? Why should it be different for foodstuffs? In the West everything is sourced in the East to a large extent, and that not only covers electronic goods but also food.
Why do international food vendors like Tops, Carrefour, Tesco Lotus, etc feel that they can charge such a premium for "international food" when the shipping mechanisms are already in place to allow them to import as much as they require at cheap rates?
KB
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Consider biogas
While reading your article on May 6 (page B6) "Pennies from heaven", I could not help but reflect on my visit to a starch mill in Chachoengsao province a few years back. The trip was organised by the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (Biotec) and King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi to show the operation of a high-rate, anaerobic fixed-film reactor which produces biogas. The starch mill uses the biogas as substitute for heavy fuel oil, thus saving money and reducing environmental waste. With the combined effort of Biotec and KMUTT, the mill was able to reduce the cost of heavy fuel oil by using biogas.
Thailand has over 10,000 food-industrial plants consuming various resources from electricity to fuel oil and generates tons of waste. Imagine what life would be like if these industrial plants utilise technology that are energy saving and cause minimal pollution. In addition, implementing the technology allows the mills to have flexibility when it comes to increasing benefits for their workers. Another plus for society.
RAM
Pathum Thani
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Greening tourism
It's good to know that the world is finally waking up to the drastic environmental changes in the environment, especially the travel industry.
What's ironic is that more numbers of tourists help the industry, but harm the environment.
From this point of view, the Pata CEO seminar on climate change was most important, educational, and illuminating.
It was impressive to know how many airports, airlines, hotels, even tourism boards are undertaking various measures to protect the environment.
One hopes this will lead to fundamental changes in tourism planning and infrastructure, especially in Thailand, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand will focus more on quality, rather than quantity, tourists.
L SANKAR
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