[Very good air quality in most areas of Bangkok; North sees lower dust levels]

Here we go again.  There is no 'safe limit' for PM2,5. There is a Thai 24 hr standard, but this is twice the WHO 24 hr guideline.  It is highly irresponsible of the media to report otherwise.

 

[Party leader asks Koh Samui folk: Where do you want another airport or how about a bridge?]

How about neither?

 

[Respiratory problems on the rise in Phayao as field burning continues]

It's difficult to see how babies and toddlers can wear masks, and yet they are a group which is particularly vulnerable to the health impacts of PM 2.5.

[Bangkok air quality sees slight improvement]

..... but it's a lot worse in the North and Northeast. Perhaps 'The Nation' will take it's title more seriously?

[Drought worsens nationwide, smog intensifies in Isaan]

...... dust particles and pollutants from vehicle exhausts. Outdoor air pollution is now recognised as a major cause of lung cancer with even intermediate levels of air pollution carrying the same risk as passive smoking:

http://www.iarc.fr/en/media-centre/pr/2013/pdfs/pr221_Q&A.pdf

What are you saying? That the source of pollution is from the heavy industry located in Issarn, and its supporting heavy transportation system?

No, I did not say that. What I did say was dust particles are not the only constituents of smog and that outdoor air pollution is dangerous.

[Drought worsens nationwide, smog intensifies in Isaan]

...... dust particles and pollutants from vehicle exhausts. Outdoor air pollution is now recognised as a major cause of lung cancer with even intermediate levels of air pollution carrying the same risk as passive smoking:
http://www.iarc.fr/en/media-centre/pr/2013/pdfs/pr221_Q&A.pdf

[Prawit insists NCPO will strictly follow the roadmap to democracy]

Umm...there's just one little problem. The PM is a confirmed liar.

....... like his repeated assertions that he had no wish to be involved in politics and that there would be no coup.

[An expert predicts Bangkok will be partly submerged in the next 30 years]

Does the present regime accept this forecast - especially since other data suggest that BKK will be largely underwater much sooner, ie within the next 15 years? If so, what exactly are they doing to mitigate the likely disastrous consequences? If they don't accept it, what are their reasons for this and who will be accountable if they are wrong?

[Thailand's weather bureau warns of tropical storms]

Hard to see from this where this weather is going to come from

http://earth.nullschool.net/#current/wind/isobaric/1000hPa/overlay=total_cloud_water/orthographic=-254.10,15.29,1991

...........and hard to understand how "isolated" and "widely scattered" thunderstorms equate to a tropical storm:

http://www.tmd.go.th/EN/region.php?RegionID=2

[Thailand's weather bureau warns of tropical storms]

It is now over 6 hrs since Thai PBS posted this report, apparently based on information information supplied by the Thai Meteorological Bureau yet their website still gives no indication of the predicted weather change so I sent Thai PBS this message:

"Just over 6hrs ago you posted the report of a major imminent weather change, apparently based on information supplied by the Thai Meteorological Bureau. The Bureau's website still provides no indication of this weather change. How can you explain this?"

[Public health ministry concerned over smog in 9 northern provinces]

While in no way disagreeing with the harmful effects of breathing atmospheric particulate matter produced by burn-offs, there is another potentially serious open air pollutant which seems to go unmentioned and for which face-masks are useless. This is ground level ozone, a gas which is generated when pollutants emitted, for example, by motor vehicles, power stations, and various industrial plants react with sunlight. In other parts of the world, vehicle exhausts are seen as a major source of the chemicals from which ozone is produced by sunlight, and ground-level ozone is therefore particular problem in urban areas. Breathing ozone is very far from harmless, especially in children and those already suffering from respiratory conditions such as asthma. The gas also appears to cause long-term lung damage even in those who have no immediate symptoms of its effects.

For further information, see: http://www.epa.gov/groundlevelozone/resources.html

[Thai Health Ministry to give free false teeth and roots to over 40,000 people]

While I strongly support this, I thought that the junta was against populist policies to which this scheme certainly belongs:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Populism

[BoT blames politics and export slump for slow economic growth]

By 'political turmoil' is BOT including the impact of the military coup on 22 May?

[PM Prayut reiterates importance of English skills ahead of AEC]

Mr PM (or anyone here),

What is it about the AEC next year that means Thais will need better English?

Mr Macanello (and anyone else here),

What change in the AEC will means that Thais get a shock? In what way will this happen and what specific rule or change will create the shock?

FYI - I have heard that the PM speaks English very well - but as a cautious individual, he does not want to make a mistake in public so chooses to use translators. Many of us do the same in business meetings where Thai is spoken I guess.

Rightly or wrongly, ASEAN has already decided that English is to be the official working language of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) when it is formally established towards the end of 2015, Whether or not Prayuth understands and speaks English well is somewhat irrelevant unless it is his intention to be the sole communicant with the AEC. Perhaps it is - who knows?

[Pheu Thai fully cooperating with govt, former MP assures Prayuth]

The junta's action in taking absolute power was illegal under the existing Constitution and a number of articles under the Criminal Code. Is Pheu Thai now conceding that its performance as the legitimate government of Thailand was so bad that it justified the coup and that they are now repenting on the creation of a situation in which treason was in some way a legitimate response?

[British activist goes on trial in Thailand for defamation]

It's not his business to be pointing fingers in Thailand. He is holding Thailand to an EU standard which in an idealistic utopian world is fine, but the real world is simplistic. And it's a bit foolhardy during a coup.

Actually, the standard is very clearly provided in the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Human and Political Rights. As a member of the UN and a ratified signatory to the Covernant, Thailand has international obligations. If it is unable to comply with these, especially in the light the recent coup, then it is perfectly free to leave the UN - and the same goes for all the many other UN members and signatories who are in breach of their international agreements. The suggestion that the UN standards apply only to an idealistic utopian world may well be correct, but unless we are all prepared to accept universal hypocrisy (currently wearing the euphemistic disguise of 'realism'), the only appropriate responses are either to promote amendments to the Declaration and any of the subsequent covenants or to bite the bullet and cancel membership of the UN.

Now, of course, you might argue that there is no universal morality against hypocrisy and deceit - anything goes because of different cultural values and beliefs. So, why in Thailand is there the objection to any particular breach of promises and clearly stated commitments? In Thailand the answer seems to be clearly stated in the eight-fold path of Buddhism. If the junta chooses to ignore the dharma, then it must explain its reasons for this. If Buddhism is not the basis or Thai morality what is? In Thailand, what exactly is the moral justification for breaking formally agreed commitments?

[Bagged rice prices expected to increase by 5-10 baht per pack]

"Nonetheless, the prices of Jasmine rice are expected to decrease due to a large production output. Besides, Thai Jasmine rice prices remain relatively higher than those of other countries, which would lead to lower exports. For this reason, prices of Jasmine are set to drop slightly, indicated the Association President."

 

Like a number of the previous posters, I am confused by the logic of the reason for an anticipated rise in the cost of rice (other than Jasmine rice) for Thai consumers. We have all been led to believe that there is a vast amount of stockpiled rice which no-one outside Thailand wants to buy. The quality of this stockpile is likely to be continually degrading, and its size disappearing due to theft. If it cannot be exported at the present asking price, surely either the export price should be reduced to a level which will be purchased outside Thailand or the product should be  released for sale in Thailand at a price which is at least equivalent to the maximum price which could currently be realistically achieved by exporting it. The point at issue is that, if that price is lower than the actual current prices, someone is 'making a killing' at the expense of Thai consumers.

[Buddha Issara defends guards' brutality]

This nasty fascist is a disgrace to humanity, nevermind the Songha.

[Thailand aims at producing 3 million automobiles a year by 2017]

Goodbye ozone layer, hello global warming.

Components of vehicle exhaust gases are converted to ground-level ozone by UV light, and this type of ozone is a major source of open-air pollution which seriously damages the health of all those who breath it.

[Ukraine crisis: Jews ordered to register in Donetsk]

@anantha32. What are the lies in the posted news report?

[Red Shirt group calls off planned major rally on Aksa Road]

It seems like a very sensible decision to me. At this stage this is no specific reason to hold a rally. That, of course, may very well change when the Constitution Court delivers its decision. If the consequence of that is the removal of the Caretaker PM, then we shall all be able to hazard a more informed opinion about the possibly dwindling support for the UDD.

['Special Way' to end conflict possible, Thai Army Chief says]

["I will not overtly criticise anyone, because I have to keep my status, so that I can work in every job," Gen. Prayuth insisted."}

So, how would he characterise labelling the new UDD leader as a bandit?

[Bang Saen hit with oil slick]

There will be no outcome to the investigation. There never is Thailand. Any 'culprit' will, of course, pay 'tea money' to the investigating officials long before things get to that point.

[Disappearance of Malaysian jet appears 'deliberate': PM]

Now the story changes again.

Sounds like bs to me.

The 'story' has changed as new information becomes available. That's how investigations proceed.

[Advocates of separatism warned by army chief]

If there is one person who needs to be removed completely from attempts to influence the political situation in Thailand, it is this very unpleasant, arrogant man. Exactly who is his boss?