Sirinya Wattanasukchai in her Dec 22 Commentary, "Bangkok air is no choking matter at all", makes it clear that the authorities are doing far too little to protect its citizens from a silent, but mass killer.
Bangkok has greater structural problems than many cities because of its historical architecture as a canal based city has resulted in far less road space than other cities.
Banning vehicles when no alternative transportation is available is not practical. Without a comprehensive London or Paris type underground transportation system, any solutions will be sub-optimal.
However, there are many areas that could produce an improvement.
A parking ban on all major roads enforced by cameras, car clamps and towing vehicles; emission testing on all vehicles, especially trucks and buses; reducing large trucks from city centres during daylight hours; phasing out petrol motorcycles in favour of electric alternatives (commonly seen in Vietnam now); removal of toll booths causing long tailbacks on commuter routes such as the two from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok; real tax incentives for electric vehicles; and fully computerised traffic light controls.
In the meantime, free issue of high quality face masks to everyone, or certainly to all children would be a useful start.
But this is Thailand. What are the chances?
Phil Cox
Nationalism goes mad
You know how zealously Thais take pride on their national flag. Recently, a French shoe company came out with new sandals decorated with colour stripes that resembled the Thai flag, and social media went berserk. One commentator even called for war against France.
Last weekend while I was browsing at a flea market behind Seacon Square on Srinakarin Road, I did a double take when I saw a used sneakers vendor displaying his goods on top of a table laid with the Stars and Stripes flag.
I asked the vendor, "Do you think the Americans would get mad if they see this?" "Why?" he replied, naively.
Somsak Pola
Graft? What graft?
Re: "Corruption is like pregnancy", (PostBag, Dec 23).
How can anyone know the level of corruption in a country where there is no transparency? When people have been thrown in jail for peacefully protesting against the junta it makes it impossible to have an open inquiry into the corruption of a country. There are human rights advocates in Thailand who have mysteriously "disappeared". Wouldn't "corruption" lawyers face a similar fate?
The same people who before argued that the coup would end corruption are now making excuses for it.
Eric Bahrt
If you can't beat 'em...
Re: "Recipe for disaster", (PostBag, Dec 23).
With all due respect to Phra Allan, drivers have always somehow set their own speed limits, disregarding the limits legally posted. Average driving speed on toll roads and expressways has always been between 100kph to 110kph. With so many drivers going at this speed, the traffic police have never been able to enforce anything. It comes down to, "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em".
The same attitude has been taken with marijuana. It appeared enforcement for illegal use became out of the question. The solution for many countries was to legalise it. Whether increasing traffic speed or legalising marijuana is a good idea, it is too early to assess either. A wait and see attitude might be the best compromise.
Jack Gilead
Splitting hairs over EU
Robin Grant in his Dec 20 letter "Brits of sterner stuff?" says "Britain never joined the EU". That's a bit "hair-splitting", because if you go by that, then most of today's EU members never joined the EU, not even the six founding members (Germany, France, Italy, Benelux) of the predecessor Common Market. Charles De Gaulle was right rebuffing British membership in the the EEC.
Once the Brexit becomes true Charles De Gaulle can again rest in peace (RIP).
Reinald Lueke
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