OPINION

When values plummet

The raison d'etre for the coup four years ago was to root out corruption. I think only the most gullible fell for that ploy to wrest power from a democratically elected government. I suppose that the wealthy and well-connected were getting nervous to see their position and privileges being whittled away and threatened by a government supported by "red buffaloes" from the North, and getting afraid of no longer being first in the queue to receive the fruits of corruption.

According to Ellis O'Brien, in the Bangkok Post of Feb 26, there has been a gradual deterioration in societal values especially among the younger generation, and recently there have been reports in the international news concerning the high incidence of depression among young people in Thailand.

Some would claim this is the inevitable result where there in a general feeling of malaise and loss of hope that goes with the realisation the institutions of the state and the government are corrupt and cannot be trusted, and there exists a two tier system of justice, one for the rich and powerful, and another for ordinary Thai citizens.

What a shame for what was once the "Land of Smiles", but then that, too, was just another myth.

To follow up on my previous letter that debated the axiomatic term "Land of Smiles" and the current status: Puzzled readers (and potential foreign entrepreneurs here) are recommended to refer to the excellent book Working with Thais by Henry Holmes and Suchada Tangtongtavy, published locally. It discloses, among other things, that Thais have evolved approximately 13 different smiles to respond to various situations, so the smile here does not necessarily denote pleasure. In particular, beware yim lessanay. I wonder if this was factored into the description of "least miserable nation", trumpeted recently, by the compilers of the list, who were presumably unaware?

I devoured this book years ago and it has been a considerable help in addressing some baffling circumstances at times.

I refer to the Feb 27 editorial, "Scrap coal energy plans", which calls to totally scrap the coal power plant and demands the development of solar and wind power to be alternatives as the main power producers for the national grid.

In a few decades when oil and gas are depleted, we will have only choices of either nuclear or coal to fuel our reliable power plants of the national grid, and we have to choose soon.

What would you choose, nuclear or coal or both.

I was horrified to read the article in the Feb 26 edition, "Changing landscape of pig farming in China", highlighting the enormous expansion of huge, intensive, vastly populated piggeries in China. Factory farming of animals for food is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than the entire transport section combined.

The toxic run-off from piggeries is known to be the worst pollution of all. The Chinese have not even got the animal husbandry or welfare and disease control organised, before they build the new facilities.

The world has experienced a swine flu outbreak in the past, which could mutate and again bring on a catastrophic, worldwide pandemic.

Imprisoning sows in tiny, filthy concrete stalls for their entire pregnancies is unspeakably cruel, as their bodies swell they cannot move, or even lay down comfortably. Males are cruelly milked for their semen and slaughtered early. The animals are considered "units" for profit only.

The US created a "war on drugs" which has gone on (and failed) for nearly 50 years, criminalising people for having a few hemp seeds, among other non-harmful things.

Yet the US can't instigate a "war on privately-held military weapons" -- even though there's an average of one mass murder (four or more people) each day in the US.

That makes about as much sense as parents of a large family outlawing white foods (mayonnaise, tofu, bread) but allowing strychnine, deadly nightshade and arsenic for meals.

Ken Albertsen Clarification

Contact: Bangkok Post Building 136 Na Ranong Road Klong Toey, Bangkok 10110 fax: +02 6164000 Email: postbag@bangkokpost.co.th

All letter writers must provide full name and address.

All published correspondence is subject to editing at our discretion.