Re: "11 drug plants 'churn out 20m pills a day,"' (BP, April 9).
The evidence in recent decades is as consistent as it is compelling: the only reason to criminalise the personal decisions of adults to use drugs that do not harm others is to profit mafia scum and their loyally corrupt officials, judges and lawmakers. Thailand's wilful persistence in the face of known failures only proves that lawmakers and officials find it highly rewarding to pursue drug policies disastrous to Thai society, with no concern for that society beyond their purely self-serving interests.
The notable exception has been former justice minister Paiboon Koomchaya, who proposed sensible drug reforms that are long overdue. This sensible man gave the ruling junta an opportunity to actually introduce solid reforms to benefit the nation, but was rejected.
Meanwhile, families continue to bear the appalling cost of the indefensible policies inflicted on them by politicians, and since the military also has a vested interest in the suppression of adults regarding recreational choices, specifically, being paid by the state to engage in costly Ramboesque escapades, it is not credible that the recurring military coups bear a large part of the responsibility for the harm that addictive drugs continue to inflict.
Felix Qui
Parit's challenge
Re: "Young gun Parit follows in uncle's formidable footsteps", (BP, April 8).
Young gun Parit Wacharasindhu has apparently learnt his version of liberal democracy not at Oxford, but closer to home: a pluralistic political system, free elections, the rule of law, free speech, civil liberties and political freedoms are not mentioned.
However, the mention of a free press is encouraging and in stark contrast to his uncle who was, according to Human Rights Watch, "the most prolific censor in recent Thai history", and who oversaw the downgrading of media freedom to "not free" under his premiership, according to Freedom House. Quite a "formidable shadow" indeed!
Baffled reader
A costly clean up
Re: "Islands seek clean break from trail of tourist trash", (Spectrum, April 8).
The environmental situation has reached its worst point and if we fail to take immediate corrective actions, we will loose our natural heritage forever.
We have to take ample time to mull recovery and long-term preventative measures, and in the mean time, we need to impose strict bans and control over the existing situation until new comprehensive rules are in place.
However, I really worry whether tourism businesses will agree with this clean break if there is a great drop in their income. Without their cooperation, we will never be able to expect success in cleaning up, recovering and maintaining the irreplaceable nature.
RH Suga
Lamphun
Not so simple
Re: "Simple solution to obesity", (Letters, April 8).
Eric Bahrt refers to "The China Study" and wonders "why does the media keep complicating the problem when the solution is so simple?"
Apparently Eric is oblivious to the statistical analysis of large data sets. The science which led to the book, The China Study, was conducted between 1973 and 1986 and the book was first published in 2005.
Since that time much valid criticism of both data analysis and bias found in the book has arisen and is readily available online.
It turns out that this famous quote from the Campbell book: "People who ate the most animal-based foods got the most chronic disease.
Even relatively small intakes of animal-based food were associated with adverse effects.
People who ate the most plant-based foods were the healthiest and tended to avoid chronic disease" is simply not supported by the data and is therefore a clear example of bias.
Nutritional science and analysis has come a very long way since 1986, thus the media supported controversy Mr Bahrt refers to is a rare example of responsible journalism in this instance. While I am a supporter of a mostly plant-based diet for ethical reasons, the science is certainly not definitive as Mr Bahrt would suggest.
Michael Setter
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