In "No state renewable power buying for five years", we can see the government's myopic and self-interested mindset regarding the future of Thai people.
Although the Ministry of Energy has been planning the course of energy development for decades, here is yet another plan to keep Thailand in the dark ages.
The idea to leverage foreign direct investment in solar and other renewable sources to move away from fossil fuel dependency and continued pollution has been rejected because "the nation has enough reserved power for the medium term".
This suggests that the ministry has chosen to preserve PTT Plc's bottom line to the detriment of national development, the environment and public health.
Michael Setter
Ban double deckers
Re "More promises after latest deadly crash," BP, March 28.
Double-decker buses don't fit the nature of Thai drivers, neither their behaviour nor skills. They should stay off of Thai roads.
Manufacturing and registering new double-decker buses must be banned, and existing ones should only be allowed where it's physically impossible for them to travel at high speeds.
RH Suga
'Soi Dog' bites back
Re: "Kill all of these rascally dogs", (PostBag, March 25).
We at Soi Dog Foundation have been perplexed to read that the deaths of six people from rabies this year have led to calls for "Set Zero" -- the massacring of all 8-10 million [stray] dogs in Thailand.
Six people. Yet the driver of a bus can crash when high on meth, killing 18 people, and there are no cries for a Set-Zero-type solution.
So we'll make the call: Round up all bus drivers -- whether proven meth users or not. We'll be kind; we won't put them all to death. We'll just neuter them instead. We'll call it "Sex Zero".
That should solve the problem of mad bus drivers killing people, shouldn't it?
Soi Dog Foundation
Hurrah for poor folk
As a boy l recall once being taken out for a birthday dinner. When my starter arrived l took one bite and cried "Yuck ", spitting out what l thought was spoiled meat paste. It was actually foie gras terrine and l was told: "You'll have to get used to eating that when you're rich and famous."
I've often thought my experience contributed to my subsequent life of impoverished obscurity (not to mention vegetarianism). Now, living in a land where the rich and powerful are able to make up or ignore laws and create their own notions of fun, there's some sort of consolation for us poor folk in seeing how crass and vulgar their tastes and behaviour are.
If I ever do "make it", I hope I'll be able to resist the temptation of heading for a remote forest and slaughtering rare animals or draping myself in ugly jewellery.
Next time I go to my favourite, slightly shabby, bar for a 7 o'clock cold beer, I'll pause for a moment and give thanks.
Yanawa David
Cars don't kill people
During my years as an international schoolteacher in Thailand, I often suggested a driving course for high school students. The idea never took off.
Excuses were plentiful. Too expensive. We have a driver. Too busy. They take a taxi. We will teach them. They can learn after university.
Even though we live in Thailand, one of our trips back to the US was specifically for our daughter to attend a driving class. She said the classes were boring and long. I didn't care. Cars kill people. Wait a minute, no they don't. Ignorant drivers do.
George Bowman
Lock 'em up!
Browsing the local media, I can count at least three or more corruption stories every day. What I've never found is a story about how any of these corrupt officials have been punished.
Thailand would need to set up a penal colony on an island to deal with them all. Perhaps France or Malaysia can rent out one of their former facilities.
Buttercup
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