Covid kudos
Re: "PM lauds nation's Covid index boost," (BP, Feb 2). Giving credit where credit is due, hearty congratulations to all concerned, including PM Prayut and DPM Anutin, on our good Covid-19 booster coverage.
So far, we've had zero Covid fatalities in the age 1-14 group (data as of July 2021). But the TDRI reported that 16% of Thai youth were malnourished, affecting mental development.
As the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that school transmission occurred most often between staff -- not students -- that's where we should focus our efforts.
Require that all staff, including outsourced and those authorised to drop off/pick up students, be vaccinated/boosted. Adults (only) should mask indoors. Divide classes into cohorts and minimise contact between cohorts. Instead of vaccinating our youth, shift resources to give them more healthy diets.
BURIN KANTABUTRA
Win-win work plan
Re: "Worker shortages a 'new normal,'" (BP, Jan 26) and "Shrinking Asia changing global demographics," (Opinion, Jan 26).
Japan, Korea and many European countries are facing critical shortages of labour as a result of stagnant or declining populations and ageing societies. China and Thailand are about to follow suit.
At the same time, population growth in many African countries and the Philippines outstrips the ability of those countries to create jobs.
The win-win solution is for countries with labour shortages to relax immigration to allow more foreign migrant workers from countries with an excess of working-age individuals. This should be an especially promising proposition for more developed countries that currently have high labour costs.
Workers from less advanced economies would undoubtedly be willing to work for far lower wages, filling vacant worker positions and bringing down overall labour costs in the process.
SAMANEA SAMAN
Direct answer
Re: "Racist regrets," (PostBag, Feb 3).
This morning's Bangkok Post brought shock, sadness and some anger at Eric Bahrt's comments. I thought of my father who was murdered by the Nazi Gestapo; I thought of the children I taught at the Hebrew School in Hong Kong and I thought of these same young students who returned to Israel with their families and have had successful academic, business and community lives.
Regular people with positive, constructive lives in a dynamic country, the only democratic one in that area of the world I have visited over the years.
In direct answer, consider this, Eric Bahrt: Israel causes antisemitism? Sure mate, and what caused it before '48?
Israel is the best defence the Jewish people have against the persecution, ethnic cleansing and genocide that has plagued them for millennia.
JOHN ALLAN-RAE
River ways
Re: "Ferry Fever," (PostBag, Feb 3).
P DE P obviously lives on the Chao Phraya River as do I. He should be aware the Chao Phraya is a working river facilitating commerce and tourism as it has done for decades. The longtail boats have been here forever as have the much noisier barges.
Loud music from hundreds of dinner boats and monthly fireworks pre-pandemic are even louder.
Does P DE P want the river moved? Perhaps he would be less stressed living out in the jungle or on a high floor in the central business district.
Stress kills, so I hope he can move on because nothing is going to change on the mighty Chao Phraya.
DAVID BARKDULL
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