OPINION

Build on reality

Re: "Admit Timor Leste to bloc now or never", (Opinion, May 21).

Kavi Chongkittavorn's call for the unblocking of the entry of Timor Leste to Asean is both timely and brave. In the face of certain member nations opposing the young Asian democracy to be admitted to its rightful place with the regional group, care must be taken to first accept Timor Leste as a very potential component of Asean.

The claim that its low human capital development is an impediment is yesterday's news. Young Timorese scholars today are going through their degree studies in countries such as Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Portugal and Australia (to name a few), where they are able to complete their degrees and return to their homeland to build it up. A recent graduate from Assumption University's Faculty of Architecture has returned after completing his degree, with a blueprint for the country's first national museum, and he is being further assisted by a Fulbright scholarship to go to the United States.

Herein lies the true hope of Asean's potentially new member; a human capacity that can be trained to become exceptionally successful. This is but one case in point. There are others, and it is expedient on Asean to "dare to allow" Timor Leste become a more integrated member. Indeed, when Asean was set up in 1967 through the acclaimed Bangkok Treaty, the vision then was to "build on dreams". Today's Asean needs to build on realities.

Re: "Crossing calamities", (PostBag, May 21).

Please don't blame the SRT for train accidents at unmanned crossings. Instead, blame the vehicle operators and motorcyclists who do not stop, look, or listen for an oncoming train. The decibel level of a train horn is loud enough to be heard way before the train approaches a crossing, guarded or not. Most Thai drivers are totally ignorant of the "stop, look, listen" rule that is taught to kids in driver education courses in high schools in North America and elsewhere. Most drivers have radios and CDs blasting as well while driving, with closed windows, and do not lower the volume as they approach track crossings.

Blame the Land Transport Department where driver's licences are issued freely, including to those with a 1,000-baht note slipped to a greedy inspector by a failed applicant. Been there, seen it all.

I see the Port Authority has plans to build another mall for the mega-rich. I suppose it never occurred to these authorities that a park might be a more socially responsible investment as end times for global warming bear down upon us.

I feel sad for our children and grandchildren that despite all of the serious warnings that have been issued about extinction, that the Port Authority and most others go on as if it is business as usual when in fact, there is an existential threat facing all of us.

When will the leaders of Thailand wake up?

Re: "Skimming off milk", (PostBag, May 21).

Ron Martin is upset that Thai children are not being given high-quality milk. But there is no such thing as high quality dairy milk, which was meant for a baby calf who has several stomachs and puts on hundreds of pounds.

There is no species in the world who needs to drink the milk of other species. Anyway, why cow's milk? Why not drink dog's milk or rat's milk?