Humanity forgotten
Kuldeep Nagi, with the sentiments in his letter, "Let them live", (PostBag, April 18), is yet another person trying to preach perfection in a rather very imperfect world.
There has been very little morality or regard for life, whether human or animal, (and perhaps alien), since mankind began to populate the planet. It has always been, kill or be killed, eat or be eaten. These concepts have changed little, except to bring everything up to the high-tech methods of warfare and elimination of today.
How many Buddhists follow the teachings of the Buddha? How many Christians follow the basic tenets laid down by Jesus, and how many Muslims follow the peaceful dictates of Islam? How many Jews adhere to the rules in the Torah, and how many Hindus follow their religion seriously? The gods of money, greed, avarice, personal power, and the me, me, me, I'm first, is the overriding doctrine of most of mankind today.
Mr Nagi, animals do have rights, but so do people. Look at your country's neighbour, Burma, where Rohingya slaughter is akin to genocide, and what is your righteous Buddhist country or its Buddhist leadership doing or saying about it? "Oh, its an internal matter". Mr Nagi, you and Mr Qui are preaching to the wrong audience. Try a reality check.
David James Wong
Preserve marine life
It is not necessary to keep the sharks away from people in the Gulf of Thailand. It is necessary to keep people away from the sharks.
That any marine life at all has been sighted is quite a miracle.
Michael SetterChon Buri
State of traffic laws
Re: "Let's get serious", (PostBag, April 19).
The suggestions made by Khun Burin are of course totally unworkable although the causes of road accidents are plausible. It is time the government took responsibility in setting common road quality standards, vertical signage, road markings and other warnings throughout the Kingdom.
Howlers include: major [but lesser used] roads with speed limits lower than the centre of Bangkok, indications of speed checks without revealing the speed limit, signs which hide other signs, traffic lights which are installed but not used, unlit pedestrian crossings, illegible signs, DIY fantasy signs, the enduring use and construction of highly disruptive and dangerous U-turns. The writer could fill pages on what is wrong -- and also what is right.
Introducing excessive punishment increases the opportunity of corruption. Most countries have found that a license point system is the most practical and just way of punishing offenders. Causing death while drunk or drugged and text messaging is unforgivable and merits automatic imprisonment.
Give people roads they can be proud of and punish offenders correctly. Above all, instill through persistent publicity that considerate and careful driving is the epitome of being Thai.
George Layton
Road safety advice
Regarding: Songkran road deaths, I am curious if anyone noticed that 79.85% were related to "motorcycles" and 7.17% to pickup trucks for a total of 87.02% of all recent holiday accidents. These are vehicles that wealthier people do not drive! If we also add in multiple deaths, not during the holidays, from trucks carrying people to/from work and the bus/van accidents we read about regularly, it seems like driving a nice car is the safest form of transportation in Thailand.
Thailand is an oligarchy with the wealthy, mostly urban people in control, regardless of a presumed-temporary military government. Traffic enforcement should be a bastion of equality. If serious traffic enforcement with high fines based on the value of the vehicle being driven was the standard, I think traffic deaths would change quickly. Thailand needs more radar speed enforcement and police cars and radio communications that can catch speeding Ferraris. Next, no one under 18 or over 75 should be allowed on scooters. Also, there should be a driver training for everyone. Last but not least, empower police officers against the rich. That might make a big difference.
John Kane
Contact: Bangkok Post Building 136 Na Ranong Road Klong Toey, Bangkok 10110 fax: +02 6164000 Email: postbag@bangkokpost.co.th
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