Pardon me, dear readers, for the headline betrays my inadequacy in wordsmithery. You see, I put as much effort into coming up with it as the following esteemed people perhaps with their "ideas". It seems you can always count on the government for questionable plans but these three recent examples take the cake. Read on for your entertainment (which may be tinged with hopelessness).
Mobile Air Purifiers
The first time I read a headline stating that the Ministry of Transport would install air purifiers on BMTA buses, I was glad that, finally, the government shows that they care for the people by helping the poor commuters (of which I'm one) deal with PM2.5. But then I free fell into a bottomless pit of facepalm-ness once I learn that these purifiers are being installed on the roof and meant to help combat PM2.5 for the city. The logic is that such a purifier (which looks like a DIY project, IMHO) would filter the polluted air as they travel on their routes across the city and catch harmful particles along the way.
On Tuesday, BMTA countered the criticism that these purifiers are as efficient as GT200 devices, which was made by Chula lecturer Jessada Denduangboripant, with several claims, one of which is that one bus can clean the air for 20,000 people on the street. On the street, I repeat. If such a purifier works, why don't we all get one and put it on our personal vehicles and, voila!, Bangkok air will be clean in no time! I really hope BMTA is right and I'm wrong. I really do.
Nine-Day Songkran Break, Almost
Earlier this week, the Cabinet pondered whether the Songkran break should be extended to a nine-day holiday but, fortunately, came to their senses and scrapped it. I would be jumping for joy, had this plan been proposed for any year instead of this Year of (Rabid) Rat. The plan was meant to stimulate the economy, but with the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, it's obvious that tourists -- Chinese or otherwise -- are unlikely to book their flights to flock to our great country for a wet and wild time. Not to mention, Reuters reported on Feb 11 that Zhong Nanshan, China's top medical expert, expected that the epidemic would end by April, but other experts caution that the estimate may be too optimistic.
Therefore, extending Songkran 2020 was like extending a Facebook event to which not many people will click "Going". Also, wouldn't such a plan indirectly encourage a lot of people to crowd in one place and weaken each other's immune systems by throwing water at each other? At least 14 provinces are also facing severe drought, which is expected to last until May. So glad the Cabinet dropped it. Phew!
P(ropaganda)atriotic Films
The Department of Fine Arts revealed on St Valentine’s Day that PM Prayut Chan-o-cha ordered documentary films on the history of Thailand with a focus on historic wars to be produced to educate Thais on the country’s history and encourage them to become patriotic. In the short term, one of such film will be released annually, the first one in time for next New Year’s celebrations, while more TV dramas with similar themes will be rolled out in the future. Eight conflicts have been approved as the basis for the storyline, including Thai soldiers’ participation in the Korean War, Vietnam War, World War I and World War II.
I can’t help but feel that, especially given what has recently transpired in Korat, this plan, which although was first proposed by the PM in the middle of last year, comes across as a tool to help people forget what happened and repair the army’s reputation. They also send a message that you can be patriotic only if you’re soldiers who are willing to die for the country. Moreover, these documentaries will inevitably draw people’s attention to tragedies that the army was involved in, namely the October 6, 1976 event, the crackdown on the red shirt protesters and senseless deaths of conscripts.
Apologies for ending on a gloomy note.