Charity, not politics

Charity, not politics

Re: "FFP makes waves for better and worse", (Opinion, April 1).

Veera Prateepchaikul was right when he said Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit -- despite his impressive success in running his family's business --is still "green" due to his lack of political experience. Khun Veera also correctly opined that running a country is much more complicated and difficult than running a family business.

Thai billionaires should emulate Warren Buffett and Bill Gates who are giving a large part of their wealth back to their country and beyond to the global community.

Billionaires of the world who contributed to their societies are not confined only to this age and time. A century ago, American steel magnate Andrew Carnegie gave out $350 million (about $4.8 billion or 153 billion baht today) to build 2,500 libraries, and donate more than 6,700 organs to churches in the US and across the globe.

If Thai billionaires return some of their profits back to society -- Thai people's living standards and the country's wealth will be much, much, improved. Hence, good Thai billionaires should go into philanthropy -- not politics.

Vint Chavala


Condemn Brunei

Re: "Speak out on barbarism", (Editorial, April 2).

Just as good white people, and everyone else, recently spoke out loudly against the vile white supremacist attack on Muslims at prayer in New Zealand, good Muslims everywhere now need to shout out to condemn Brunei's vile programme to make Islam look like a primitive moral abomination unfit for decent, civilised society.

Felix Qui


Double smog blow

As a person who has been visiting this beautiful country for 50 years, I am astounded that the government has failed to address this major health problem affecting residents and tourists alike.

For years, the problem was blamed on northern farmers burning the old chaff as a natural fertiliser. Then, Myanmar burning was blamed. The government would know exactly the source of such combustion and has a duty of care to bring it to a close. If that involves sanctions on the offending sources, then that is what must happen.

Today I am again in Thailand for a sporting event in Chiang Mai that lasts one week. Having arrived on March 30 with the CNX airport arrivals hall full to the escalators and only three immigration staff on duty, I began to wonder whether the tourism authority is doing its job (it's not) and whether those responsible for illness prevention are likewise doing their jobs (they are not). Respiratory small particulates (RSP) are exacerbated in the presence of sunlight and VOCs, another harmful pollutant, ozone (O3) is formed and the PM2.5 clings to the ozone and creates the brown "haze smog", so we inhale a double whammy.

It is ironic that Thailand promotes sports and health tourism yet brings the participants into what is, in effect, a gas chamber caused by failure to use available prevention measures as a matter of urgency.

James Middleton
Chairman, Clear the Air NGO


Exploiting Ganesha

One can really speculate on the gullibility of the Thai public and marketing ethics after watching endless advertisements for an amulet in the form of the Hindu god Ganesha. The supposedly subtle scenario, with an enthusiastically serious host, promises riches from the lottery and other sources, supported by dubious winners (not very convincing actors methinks) if the trinket is purchased at a special discounted price from the purveyors posthaste.

One also wonders about what the said, and presumably glum deity by now, would have to say about this exploitation of his beneficence.

Robin


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