Hooked on a fallacy
In “A heads-up on a tasty treat” (11/10) we are told about an old Chinese saying that tells us that if we want to be happy for life we should go fishing. That’s all very well for us — but what about the fish? Shouldn’t their happiness — or torture — feature in the equation?
In her book Do Fish Feel Pain? biologist Victoria Braithwaite says: “There is as much evidence that fish feel pain and suffer as there is for birds and mammals”, and Professor Bill Runciman of Adelaide University says: “Fish constitute the greatest source of confused thinking and inconsistency on earth at the moment with respect to pain”.
Isn’t it time to shed the old mindset and recognise that tricking fish into swallowing hooks then asphyxiating them is as cruel as tricking puppies into swallowing hooks then asphyxiating them? The great English poet, Lord Byron, called angling “the cruelest, the coldest and the stupidest of pretended sports”. Can any thinking person honestly disagree with him?
Jenny Moxham
On the right track?
Re: "Thailand, China pledge to start rail work this year", (BP Oct 10). According to the news, there have been discussions only on the “construction” part of this railway project. And, obviously, China will benefit from using the railway to transport its goods across Thailand. But what about the Thai side?
First, the Thai government is still unclear whether it will use this railway to transport petroleum products and construction materials instead of via the highways as was the case previously. Doing so will help ease traffic congestion on highways as well as provide more safety to motorists.
Second, silos for storing rice and grain should be built alongside this railway. If planned carefully, this logistical strategy will help elevate the standard of living of Northeastern farmers immensely.
Third, the government must make sure the trains provided by China are not from yesterday’s technology. For example, locomotives that run on gas are better than those by diesel engines which are out-of-date and detrimental to the environment.
Vint Chavala
Brits short-sighted
In response to recent letters concerning the British embassy’s possible reluctance to reply to correspondence (PostBag, Oct 10), I feel I should share my own experience.
I settled in Thailand soon after retiring as a naval chaplain four years ago. I immediately wrote to the defence attache at the embassy to inform him of my willingness to assist in any military ceremonial or welfare matters, but did not get a reply.
Subsequently, I emailed my local consul to seek support in setting up a branch of the Samaritans here (a UK support group for those contemplating suicide). Again, no reply was received. I prefer to think my letter and email just went missing.
That being said, the British Foreign Office does seem pretty much invisible, moribund and inaccessible here, at least as far as we British expats are concerned. I suspect this is more a result of severe funding cuts made a few years ago. If so, I think British embassy staff deserve our pity rather than our condemnation, which would then be best directed at our short-sighted British government.
Andy Phillips RNPhuket
Inspiring example
I was fascinated to read the Tunisian National Quartet was awarded the 2015 Nobel Peace prize for “its decisive contribution to the building of a pluralistic democracy,” (BP, Oct 10). Is there something to be learned from this model here in Thailand?
Wouldn’t it be great to read in the Post in the future that, “The Nobel panel said the award to the Thai Dialogue Panel was intended as 'encouragement to the Thai people' and as an inspiration for others, particularly in neighbouring countries in South East Asia.
“The committee hailed its “decisive contribution to the building of a pluralistic democracy in Thailand in the wake of the PDRC revolution in 2014. The Norwegian Nobel Committee hopes this year’s prize will contribute towards safeguarding democracy in Thailand and be an inspiration to all those who seek to promote peace and democracy in the rest of the world.”
Wouldn’t it be nice for Gen Prayut to hand over the reins with such an accomplishment behind him?
TomPhuket
