5 Reasons Why This Will Be The Deadlist Summer from Hua-Hin to Chaing Mai

[LetsCleanUpTHAILAND]

Hey Everyone,

 

I'm writing this to alert you about up coming events. I'm not a professional but I studied meterology as part of my undergraduate, I used to be a researcher on air polllution issues in Thailand in 2013 and I've been campaigning about air pollution issues in thailand since 2015. Last year, I completed my certificate in Waste Management for Developing Countries from a University in Switzerland (the name is long and difficult to type).

 

With that said, here's my 5 reasons why this summer will be dangerous. Please correct me if I'm wrong about any information.

 

1. More than 50% of Thailand's pollution is from open burning according to Greenpeace and the WHO. Burning trash is Thailand's traditional waste management practice - That includes not only waste-to-energy incineration but also back yard burning. The hot "rice bowl" of Thailand doesn't have Mother Nature blowing the steam out of the bowl so that's leaves us in a thick milk of smog.

2. In addition to the daily trash burning that happen across Thailand, there will be inscent burning nationwide for Chinese New Year; moreover, we have three months of crop burning in the entire SE Asian region.

3. Next, when ground-level pollution from burning trash, cars, festivals, street cooking/BBQ, factories emissions, ect is mixed with UV radiation from Sunlight, O3(ozone) is created as a byproduct. Having O3 akin to wearing a jacket in the dead of summer. The O3 is not only going to suffocate us with our pollution across Thailand from Hua-Hin up to Chiang Mai, but it's going to create abnormal heat waves which prevent wind or rain for forming due to high atmospheric pressure. Basically, the effects of global warming are going to happen on a nationwide scale here in the rice bowl. Smog makes global warming and global warming makes more smog in the form of o3.

4. Finally, I preside we will see +40C days for multiple weeks with humid air saturated in vaporized trash particles during Mar - May

are going to put a lot of citizens in the hospital. Your going to be hot and you wont be able to breath. Can you imagine how sweaty your face will be under your mask? And what about all of the additional air pollution from everyone running their air conditioner at the same time? What will that do the electrical grid? We'll need more coal to keep the electricity flowing and more coal = more pollution. More mining = more dust pollution in Saraburi where their air is the most toxic in Thailand. Understand?

 

Don't Panic!!! I have a plan!

 

The GREAT NEWS is that air pollution is the MOST PREVENTABLE type of pollution. ????

 

This is my plan. I know you guys like to complain and be entertained on this site, no offense, but we really NEED to mobilize and help out our adopted country. We all know someone influential in Thailand who can have some pull on this issue. Thailand has given us a chill kick-back lifestyle and Thai people need farang solutions to fix this problem because (1) they want the government to solve everything but (2) the government will lose too much money if they solve the problem. It's also almost elections too. Anyways, here's my solution.

 

My solution:

 

#1: Have the military to force Royal Police to educate and enforce all Thai citizens about the dangers of trash burning and announce the national law about how it's illegal to burn trash and how any burning will result in a 5,000THB fine or 1 month in jail as well as a score of at least 80% on a test that proves the individual understands the dangers of trash burning as well as the law. If the individual cannot read, a Royal teacher can be used to teach and read the material.

#2. Impose "No Car" days and start campaign about how to use public transportation. Create an app to make it super easy.

#3. Invest in composing facilities. 60% of waste in thailand is organic and we burn it. That includes crops. Several companies in EU and USA have state-of-the-art composing facilities that can turn food waste and crop waste into rich fertilizer in a few weeks. Let's make an economy from waste, not pollution. Have three main facilities: Chiang Mai, Ayutthaya and Khon Kean 

#4. Ban plastic bags and plastic straws. ICONSIAM is using paper straws. Single-use plastics in thailand are either burned (plastics are made from oil and toxic chemicals like BPA) or end up in the river.

#5. Phase our diesel buses and vehicles and make it more difficult for people to get a loan to buy a vehicle. Keep it cheaper to take public transit.

 

Any ideas?

[richard_smith237]

All good points.... 

 

Personally, I believe corruption and lethargy is the cause of this pollution. People just don't care enough because those in positions of decision making power don't care enough..... Thai's are too used to the idea that they can't change anything so why bother... 

 

Thus, people do what they want, when they want and they don't care about the consequences...  thats where the lethargy comes in....  Then you have existing laws which are excellent and on par with any modern nation, however, the enforcement of these laws is lax - this is where lethargy comes in again, but also the rich, powerful and connected can do what they want and get away with it - this is where the corruption comes in... its easy for the rich, powerful and connected to pay off the police to look the other way and ignore their polluting factory or polluting trucks. 

 

Those who could fine the farmers for burning can't be bothered, because that means they have to look for them !.... and how to fine someone who has no money anyway.

 

Viable alternatives to transport are missing.....  I could not get my Son to school in reasonable time without a car - so I'm not sure how the car free days would work (I'm not putting him in a tuk-tuk or Song Thew) the public busses are hideous, I wouldn't wish to be exposed to that heat for a journey along Sukhumvit road...   Alternatives are possible, but they also need to be viable... 

 

A cultural shift is required... significant development of the nations mindset is required... It is said that the measure of a countries development is not how many poor have a car, but how many rich use public transport... I'm happy to use public transport in Singapore, Tokyo, London etc... but in BKK its not yet a viable option, I find a car essential... 

[LetsCleanUpTHAILAND]

10 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

All good points.... 

 

Personally, I believe corruption and lethargy is the cause of this pollution. People just don't care enough because those in positions of decision making power don't care enough..... Thai's are too used to the idea that they can't change anything so why bother... 

 

Thus, people do what they want, when they want and they don't care about the consequences...  thats where the lethargy comes in....  Then you have existing laws which are excellent and on par with any modern nation, however, the enforcement of these laws is lax - this is where lethargy comes in again, but also the rich, powerful and connected can do what they want and get away with it - this is where the corruption comes in... its easy for the rich, powerful and connected to pay off the police to look the other way and ignore their polluting factory or polluting trucks. 

 

Those who could fine the farmers for burning can't be bothered, because that means they have to look for them !.... and how to fine someone who has no money anyway.

 

Viable alternatives to transport are missing.....  I could not get my Son to school in reasonable time without a car - so I'm not sure how the car free days would work (I'm not putting him in a tuk-tuk or Song Thew) the public busses are hideous, I wouldn't wish to be exposed to that heat for a journey along Sukhumvit road...   Alternatives are possible, but they also need to be viable... 

 

A cultural shift is required... significant development of the nations mindset is required... It is said that the measure of a countries development is not how many poor have a car, but how many rich use public transport... I'm happy to use public transport in Singapore, Tokyo, London etc... but in BKK its not yet a viable option, I find a car essential... 

I agree with you 100% about the culture.

About the car issue. Here are some ideas and maybe you can organize a carpool with parents where each parent agrees to take everyones kids on a scheduled day of the week?

 

(1) people who commute should drive to nearest parking lot for BTS and take BTS or MRT if possible.

(2) parents with kids... all the rich schools should provide air-con van to pick up students.

(3) poor parents with kids... all the non-rich kids should get FREE N95 masks. The thai government get 2 billion baht in royalties from the mining that's causing the worst air pollution in THailand. One N95 mask is like 30THB. give two for every student because each mask is good for about two weeks. Have those kids take songteaw.

(4) phase ALL diesel vehicles to be NGV. All other vehicles should be required to get a catalatic converter to filter the exhaust. Thats what we do in the west. annual smog checks must be enforced for the car to qualify for being registered.

(5) make it easier to use public transport by cleaning the Rapid Buses daily and expanding their routes. Invest in electric buses and make cleanliness a top priority.

 

Perhaps this pollution is a blessing in that it will force the developing countries of the world to clean up their act. Climate change is no joke and we need something to force polluting countries to take it seriously.

[NCC1701A]

1 hour ago, LetsCleanUpTHAILAND said:

I know you guys like to complain and be entertained on this site,

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

Thus, people do what they want, when they want and they don't care about the consequences...

You are right, but I think it is also a form of passive aggressiveness. The thinking is the cops are corrupt and are never there so why should I follow the law? I really think the Thais are acting out. Cops say don't do this, then they are sure to do it.     

Edited February 3, 2019 by NCC1701A

[NCC1701A]

1 hour ago, LetsCleanUpTHAILAND said:

#1: Have the military to force Royal Police

as I have said many times on this forum anyone growing up in California during the 60's, 70's and 80's knows what needs to be done.

 

nothing needs to be researched or invented. no studies made. just do what California did 50 frickin' years ago.    

 

I lived though it. But the difference is California has real police that enforce the law and 99% of the public understand they will go to jail or face a serious fine for whatever the issue is. That will never happen in Thailand because the entire police force is a mafia that turns every new rule or regulation into a opportunity to shake down the public. 

 

I salute you for your effort. I must have thoughts like this ten times a day living here.

 

 

Edited February 3, 2019 by NCC1701A

[ukrules]

1 hour ago, LetsCleanUpTHAILAND said:

Your going to be hot and you wont be able to breath.

Not me, I will turn the A/C to 25 degrees and chill out, same as usual.

 

[neeray]

"Who farang think he is. This our country, farang not tell us what to do. Farang go home, no come here".

 

I applaud your aggressive and energetic plan but the above is my guess as to what response you may receive. Others have commented correctly on why it would be difficult to enforce your rules and regulations. If there's nothing "tangible" in it for the enforcers, they won't enforce.

 

My observation is that the majority of Thais "live for today", not tomorrow. They can not see the freight train that is coming at them, "can't see the forest for the trees smog".

 

Thais do not want to be told (no matter how nicely) how to do anything by the outside world, especially the West. Example: Long ago on my first trip to Thailand, gf of the time and I were biking down steep, curving  mountain roads. A car had gone around a corner too fast and the rear wheels fish-tailed off the road, one wheel on each side of a swale. They were doing some ridiculous scissor-jacking to no avail. Including their male passengers, me and some other bystanders, I suggested 8 of us could just lift the rear across the swale. They spoke to my Thai gf in Thai saying "we no need farang help". Heh, I've been around situations like this many times, my plan was easy and effective. My guess is that they would have eventually called for a tow truck.

 

Revise your plan. Consider how to very gently implement it and 'go for it'.

Good luck. I and many others would support you. But not at the risk of getting deported for interfering with the Thai way of life.

[richard_smith237]

5 hours ago, LetsCleanUpTHAILAND said:

About the car issue. Here are some ideas and maybe you can organize a carpool with parents where each parent agrees to take everyones kids on a scheduled day of the week?

Quite difficult unless other kids live very close by...  A good idea in theory though... 

 

 

5 hours ago, LetsCleanUpTHAILAND said:

 

(1) people who commute should drive to nearest parking lot for BTS and take BTS or MRT if possible.

That could work for some and I imagine that many of those it does work for already do this... It requires 'free park and ride' parking...  Many commutes are not on the BTS line, so a drive to the BTS, the queueing for a taxi or motorcycle is not an option, especially in poor weather / rainy season.

 

5 hours ago, LetsCleanUpTHAILAND said:

(2) parents with kids... all the rich schools should provide air-con van to pick up students.

An option and many do... Not for my 5 year old, perhaps when he's 10 or so. But, the Int'l schools charge about 16,000 to 20,000 baht per term for this !!

 

5 hours ago, LetsCleanUpTHAILAND said:

(3) poor parents with kids... all the non-rich kids should get FREE N95 masks. The thai government get 2 billion baht in royalties from the mining that's causing the worst air pollution in THailand. One N95 mask is like 30THB. give two for every student because each mask is good for about two weeks. Have those kids take songteaw.

This is a help... but really, the pollution need solving....

 

5 hours ago, LetsCleanUpTHAILAND said:

(4) phase ALL diesel vehicles to be NGV. All other vehicles should be required to get a catalatic converter to filter the exhaust. Thats what we do in the west. annual smog checks must be enforced for the car to qualify for being registered.

Agreed...  OR better still a much better promotion of electric and hybrid vehicles... i.e. no import tax on electric or hybrid vehicles or no tax on locally made electrics.... (I'm thinking Tesla !)

 

5 hours ago, LetsCleanUpTHAILAND said:

(5) make it easier to use public transport by cleaning the Rapid Buses daily and expanding their routes. Invest in electric buses and make cleanliness a top priority.

Agreed... the public transport requires a huge investment, the skytrain and BTS is good...  but it needs a far better linking network of clean air-con busses.

 

First and foremost - heavy penalties for polluters: factories, busses, lorries, ECU modified trucks, those burning fields and rubbish.. 

[Berkshire]

With regards to open-air burning, if the government/law enforcement would just arrest violators/huge fine, this problem could be lessened significantly.  I mean immediate arrest, no muss, no fuss.  I'm not holding my breath. 

[LetsCleanUpTHAILAND]

On 2/4/2019 at 1:54 AM, NCC1701A said:

as I have said many times on this forum anyone growing up in California during the 60's, 70's and 80's knows what needs to be done.

 

nothing needs to be researched or invented. no studies made. just do what California did 50 frickin' years ago.    

 

I lived though it. But the difference is California has real police that enforce the law and 99% of the public understand they will go to jail or face a serious fine for whatever the issue is. That will never happen in Thailand because the entire police force is a mafia that turns every new rule or regulation into a opportunity to shake down the public. 

 

I salute you for your effort. I must have thoughts like this ten times a day living here.

 

 

I'm from "Nor Cal" and your right. The big reason why cops enforce the law (and are complete <deleted> about it) is because, and correct me if I'm wrong, they have Sacramento looking over their shoulder. Cops are mafia for the State. They need to make quotas (traffic tickets) and, unlike Thai police, they go through rigorous classes in law. They are all practically lawyers. So instead of collecting dues for themselves, they collect them for the state via tickets.

 

An idea I had was about incentivizing tickets and arming people to fight corruption. You see, there will be a LINE for the office of Anti-Corruption. If citizens are asked to give money to the police for their littering or trash burning fine, they should pay the officer and request a ticket. Then they take a picture of the ticket and send to the Anti-Corruption office or on social for everyone to see. As they say in Mexico - small town, big hell. No wife or mother wants people to gossip about her corrupt police husband/son in town.

 

All people should know that they should get a ticket and teach book of tickets is distributed on an officer-by-officer basis. Example: Officer Phet gets a ticket book that has his name and badge information on it.

 

Now, when officers comply with the original ticketing scheme, they will get a percentage. It's kinda like when you worked for Macy's and you got 3% commission for selling. This should offset the urge for corruption.

 

What do you think? Corruption-proof?

[LetsCleanUpTHAILAND]

On 2/4/2019 at 11:02 AM, Berkshire said:

With regards to open-air burning, if the government/law enforcement would just arrest violators/huge fine, this problem could be lessened significantly.  I mean immediate arrest, no muss, no fuss.  I'm not holding my breath. 

I used to think the same, but many people just don't know. Maybe we gotta treat this similar to cigarettes. (1) awareness (2) warning (3) big ticket.

[LetsCleanUpTHAILAND]

On 2/4/2019 at 6:55 AM, richard_smith237 said:

An option and many do... Not for my 5 year old, perhaps when he's 10 or so. But, the Int'l schools charge about 16,000 to 20,000 baht per term for this !! 

That's ridiculous!

[LetsCleanUpTHAILAND]

On 2/4/2019 at 6:55 AM, richard_smith237 said:

Agreed...  OR better still a much better promotion of electric and hybrid vehicles... i.e. no import tax on electric or hybrid vehicles or no tax on locally made electrics.... (I'm thinking Tesla !)

Fantastic idea! That's similar to what Obama did with Solar Cell in the USA. Thai's would love hybrids too. I've seen them a lot in THailand. In China, my expat buddies talk about electric motorbikes. I saw them in Malacca, Malaysia too. Perhaps that's a viable option. If you have facebook, maybe float that idea around and ask about if any Thai's would be willing to make a petition to request a company to make them www.change.org

 

[LetsCleanUpTHAILAND]

On 2/4/2019 at 6:15 AM, vinniekintana said:

All the pollution factors mentioned in the post were here  last year and for many years before that.

This year will be no more 'deadly' than previous years

Life's too short to try to fix Thailand's problems

Moving out of the pollution-prone areas is an instant solution...although trash-burning will be present wherever you may relocate.

 

Unfortunately, air pollution is NOT something you can run away from because ALL air on earth circulates worldwide. When someone farts in China, your inhaling it in Wales. That's why when there was a massive dust storm in the middle east, a lot of those dust particles floated them halfway around the world! In fact, it takes about a week for China's pollution to drift across the pacific before reaching Canada/USA. 

 

I predict it to be more deadly because we are in an El Nino. Basically, we are getting weather opposite to normal. Expect less wind, more heat, little rain. That all equals more greenhouse gases, more intense heat and more pollution blankets over our city.

[LetsCleanUpTHAILAND]

On 2/4/2019 at 2:27 AM, ukrules said:

Not me, I will turn the A/C to 25 degrees and chill out, same as usual.

 

Said 1 million people in Bangkok. Moment's later, blackouts echo across the city. Bamboo-woven

Thai hand-fan anyone?

[impulse]

On 2/3/2019 at 12:54 PM, NCC1701A said:

as I have said many times on this forum anyone growing up in California during the 60's, 70's and 80's knows what needs to be done.

 

nothing needs to be researched or invented. no studies made. just do what California did 50 frickin' years ago.    

 

I lived though it. But the difference is California has real police that enforce the law and 99% of the public understand they will go to jail or face a serious fine for whatever the issue is.

 

You're also forgetting 2 other factors:  1) The economy of California dwarfs the economy of Thailand- in absolute terms and especially per capita.  Environmental programs that California has implemented probably cost more in direct and indirect costs than the entire economy of Thailand.  That includes jobs that will never be in California because companies have to go elsewhere, the cost of compliance for automobiles, and the cost of compliance for everything that happens in California. 

 

Which brings #2.  California doesn't have to be self sufficient like Thailand.  They can "import" cars from North Carolina and other goods from states that aren't as strict.  So they don't have to suffer environmentally damaging industry.  They're NIMBYcrats.  Thailand can't be.

Edited February 11, 2019 by impulse

[Liverpudlian]

5 minutes ago, LetsCleanUpTHAILAND said:

Unfortunately, air pollution is NOT something you can run away from because ALL air on earth circulates worldwide. When someone farts in China, your inhaling it in Wales. That's why when there was a massive dust storm in the middle east, a lot of those dust particles floated them halfway around the world! In fact, it takes about a week for China's pollution to drift across the pacific before reaching Canada/USA. 

 

I predict it to be more deadly because we are in an El Nino. Basically, we are getting weather opposite to normal. Expect less wind, more heat, little rain. That all equals more greenhouse gases, more intense heat and more pollution blankets over our city.

Perhaps a world wide ban on stuff such as baked beans would be a start ? ????

[orang37]

On 2/4/2019 at 12:45 AM, richard_smith237 said:

... I believe corruption and lethargy is the cause of this pollution ,,,

I don't think "lethargy" is a good word to describe the outcome of the development of Thai society, and culture, over centuries as impacted by colonialism, modernization, westernization, etc. An outcome which appears to the western observer of explicit behavior as selfishness, indifference to collective social welfare and law, reckless  driving, etc.

 

I think it's important not to project onto Somchai, who is burning his trash now, an awareness he does not have because it has never been developed. In saying that, I do not intend to say said behavior is not stupid, amoral, and selfish ... by my standards.

 

~o:37l

[bkkgriz]

On 2/12/2019 at 12:31 AM, LetsCleanUpTHAILAND said:

Fantastic idea! That's similar to what Obama did with Solar Cell in the USA. Thai's would love hybrids too. I've seen them a lot in THailand. In China, my expat buddies talk about electric motorbikes. I saw them in Malacca, Malaysia too. Perhaps that's a viable option. If you have facebook, maybe float that idea around and ask about if any Thai's would be willing to make a petition to request a company to make them www.change.org

 

Do you mean solyndra? The Obama boondoggle that cost taxpayers billions of dollars for nothing?

https://solarenergy.com/solar-resources/the-solyndra-scandal-and-why-president-obama-was-involved

 

I think you have your heart in the right place, however, your head is in the wrong country. Do you really believe the RTP will do anything to stop pollution? They won't even stop a motorist after running a red light right in front of a police box.

 

The elite will only do something if there is profit in it. Deep down, if you truly understand Thailand, you know this.

 

I salute your efforts and I too want a better environment. But it will have to start with education in primary school and we all know how that will go. 

 

Thailand is corrupt to the core and I see nothing changing that, especially a farang. Good luck.

[freedomnow]

All good points, but trying to magnify it and get momentum going through TV community won't work...you have to find your leverage point through Thai social media.

 

Expat community is a blip on the *ss of the Thai population totals...the momentum needs to come from within, not finger pointing farangs telling them everything they know and do is wrong/backwards....

 

{Incidentally saw an Air Asia advert with the air hostess pointing to herself yesterday, under (no doubt) western photographer direction...didn't he brush up on his rude gestures in Asia 101 ?}

[Brunolem]

On 2/11/2019 at 10:31 PM, LetsCleanUpTHAILAND said:

Fantastic idea! That's similar to what Obama did with Solar Cell in the USA. Thai's would love hybrids too. I've seen them a lot in THailand. In China, my expat buddies talk about electric motorbikes. I saw them in Malacca, Malaysia too. Perhaps that's a viable option. If you have facebook, maybe float that idea around and ask about if any Thai's would be willing to make a petition to request a company to make them www.change.org

 

Solar would certainly be the way to go, given the weather conditions here. 

 

Yet, considering how Thais manage their regular electrical grid... have you seen the wires, the exploding transformers, the cables dangling all the way down to head level... I can't imagine them dealing with a much more complex solar grid. 

 

In short, besides the sun itself, they don't have anything ready to make good use of solar energy... and it is obviously out of question to ask for foreigners' assistance. 

 

As for electric means of transportation, they won't fix anything as long as the electricity itself will be produced from coal power stations...more electric vehicles will translate into more coal burning... 

 

Finally, the Thai population is blissfully unaware of any pollution problem, as it is unaware of anything else, except maybe for the lottery results... 

[Nyezhov]

On 2/4/2019 at 12:24 AM, LetsCleanUpTHAILAND said:

Don't Panic!!! I have a plan!

Me too. its called an airline ticket back to the world in April. Breathe clean USA air till I get tired of it (about 6 months) and come over here to suck up the dust for the winter. Works for me, my blood pressure is great.

[Wake Up]

On 2/4/2019 at 1:54 AM, NCC1701A said:

as I have said many times on this forum anyone growing up in California during the 60's, 70's and 80's knows what needs to be done.

 

nothing needs to be researched or invented. no studies made. just do what California did 50 frickin' years ago.    

 

I lived though it. But the difference is California has real police that enforce the law and 99% of the public understand they will go to jail or face a serious fine for whatever the issue is. That will never happen in Thailand because the entire police force is a mafia that turns every new rule or regulation into a opportunity to shake down the public. 

 

I salute you for your effort. I must have thoughts like this ten times a day living here.

 

 

And a 13 percent state income tax, double gasoline prices,  and a hundred billion dollar state debt and companies leaving in droves relocating to Texas. Thankfully Thailand will not become California. Seriously not meant as an attack on you just California.   I really like your funny posts keep them up. ????

[PerkinsCuthbert]

As a slight illustration on the attitude of Thai officialdom to foreign experience and expertise, I recall back in the 1980s that Bangkok traffic management was a hot topic for a while. Aside from messing around with traffic flows and changing road directions, which caused havoc, some bright spark at City Hall thought to employ the latest Western technology and knowhow, to bring comprehensive, computerised management to the traffic light system - at considerable expense. Well, after the lights had been tinkered around with for a while, without really giving the new, comprehensive network the chance to prove itself, the RTP decided that it knew better and reverted to what we have still today - interminable delays at the lights, incompetent coppers directing the traffic (when not hunkered down snoozing in their aircon boxes) and huge jams.

I believe a considerable sum was wasted in this manner, and unfortunately I see the same end result if Western methods are applied to the present problem.

The fact is, as long as it costs families a lot of money to buy their sons and daughters into positions of authority, those same people will look for ways to recoup that investment, and if one avenue of revenue is closed, another, creative one will be opened up. Corruption is rooted at the very fundament of Thai society, which makes it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to extinguish.

But let's give them credit for something: Thais have invented the almost perfect Perpetual Corruption machine.

Edited February 13, 2019 by PerkinsCuthbert

[runamok27]

From what I see Thailand is trailing the west by about 30 or 40 years, with regards to pollution and the environment. Pollution in California was horrific when I was a kid. They will catch up eventually and it most likely won't take 30 or 40  years, probably more like 20 years or less. You can see they are catching on by the banning of cigarettes in many areas and trying to use less plastic bags. Shoot, in most states in America they still give out all of the plastic bags you can handle and then some, so they really aren't that far behind. By far Thailand's biggest problem is enforcement but even in this area, there was massive corruption in law enforcement in America not too long ago, they are not all that far behind. The fact that people are wearing masks and they have been selling out at the stores is another tell tale sign that they are catching on. Education of the population is taking place and it will take hold eventually. 

 

For now, wear a mask when the pollution is bad and keep educating those around you. They're getting it, it's just going to take some time, just like it took some time in the west.

[Brunolem]

8 minutes ago, runamok27 said:

From what I see Thailand is trailing the west by about 30 or 40 years, with regards to pollution and the environment. Pollution in California was horrific when I was a kid. They will catch up eventually and it most likely won't take 30 or 40  years, probably more like 20 years or less. 

30 or 40 years ago, people in the West were not dumping their garbage on roadsides, from cars emitting black smoke because they never changed the oil... 

 

Like many third world countries, Thailand was given access to technology without the user's manual, and the education to understand the responsibilities going with it (a car is not a toy). 

 

There is no turning back from such mistakes. 

 

Terrible habits have been ingrained in the population and are not going away. 

 

20 years from now, expect worse than now, that is if the crazies in the Land of the Free let us live that long... 

 

[4MyEgo]

On 2/12/2019 at 2:26 AM, LetsCleanUpTHAILAND said:

I used to think the same, but many people just don't know. Maybe we gotta treat this similar to cigarettes. (1) awareness (2) warning (3) big ticket.

Congratulations on posting a topic that affects us at the core.

 

YES.....Awareness is key to and for change, but only if it is also if the law enforces its powers.

 

I have been coming to Thailand frequently, remembering the 1st time I came here in 2005 falling in love with the rawness, the backwardness, the relaxed nature of the Thai's as compared to the hussle and bussle of Sydney, as beautiful as her surrounds and the rest of the country are, but when comparing the cost of living, Thailand won hands down, hence the reason I have retired here with my family.

 

That is were the problem is, we, or perhaps I should say I chose to live here 3 and a bit years ago for my retirement, the plan in the making for a decade and it has worked out well, except I didn't see how bad things really are here, and unless your prepared to fit in with the Thai's and without picking on them, their ignorance and self righteousness, and selfishness, which is imbedded in their culture, no fault of their own, and the problem is, they can't be turned around, nor can they comply, or will they, they do what they want, after all, they only live day by day and do not challenge, they don't know how to, they don't want challenges/problems, authority is authority, and corruption is corruption, i.e. there is always a way out when it suites one, from school to cops to government.

 

Burning of rubbish, how can you make a change when they don't want the added cost, e.g. we live in a village in the north-east, our village is in the middle of two adjoining villages, one separated by a bridge heading east, the other west.

 

The burning of rubbish is horrendous as is the burning of crops that surrounds us, the village over the bridge does NOT allow burning of rubbish of any kind in the village, they have yellow bins which are collected by a garbage truck, our village and the adjoining village heading west do not have bins, it's burn at will wherever you like.

 

We raised the issue and benefits of bins with the mayor and his reply was, yes, yes, I have brought it up many times with the council but they do not want bins, thank you for coming to me about this, now I have to go, and off he went, where too, to gamble my wife told me.

 

We drive the kids to school 25 kilometres away, do not trust minivan drivers or anyone else for that matter as we see how they drive, with sardines (kids) jammed packed in vans.

 

When we drive through the villages at 7-7.30am we can see the smoke filled street, then the fields outside the villages, we cannot open our car windows, something I miss from back home. Dropping the kids to school at 7.45am one morning the smell of rubber thick in the air, who was burning that, the school, right next door to our daughter kindergarden and the kids had to stand there through assembly for 45 minutes breathing that in.

 

My wife's father got sick the other day and she rushed him to the local Dr in the village, he got sick from burning a heap of rubbish and stood there while the plastics he was also burning burnt, him breathing it all in, the doctor gave him some pills and told him to get a chest x ray and a blood test, do you think he went, nope, said to the wife to buy him some vitamins that he has run out of, cost 550 baht, and that he was sick because he ran out of those vitamins, she declined, although one of the other sister's came to the rescue with the vitamins, is he much better now, well that lingering cough is still there, just goes to show their mentality.

 

Thailand and the world in my opinion will not change, some parts will, but our species doesn't allow for ALL of us to unit and agree on a single issue, "climate change" while I believe it is real issue, politicians don't, even if they knew it was a real concern, they wouldn't stop the rich from polluting the earth, it's big business and they don't have the good of the people in their sights, they only have interest in filling their pocket linings.

 

This will all come to an end one day when we all kick the bucket and our kids or their kids are left to suffocate from the worsening pollution, as you say, it doesn't escape, it just travels to another corner of the world, like a bottle slowly filling up until one day, you cannot put in anymore smoke in it.

 

All we can do while we live out our remaining years here is to hope the kids don't get too ill, with a plan B to move back to the old country when it gets worse which is already being looked at seriously, although is 7 years away, but can be brought in, if things don't improve of which I dare say won't, excuse my pessimism, but you can only expect so much from people who have have limited schooling and don't question those above them, with there being no real leaders in this world, only followers.  

[Brunolem]

15 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

 

We raised the issue and benefits of bins with the mayor and his reply was, yes, yes, 

 

 

Thailand and the world in my opinion will not change, some parts will, but our species doesn't allow for ALL of us to unit and agree on a single issue, "climate change" while I believe it is real issue, politicians don't, even if they knew it was a real concern, they wouldn't stop the rich from polluting the earth, it's big business and they don't have the good of the people in their sights, they only have interest in filling their pocket linings.

 

This will all come to an end one day when we all kick the bucket and our kids or their kids are left to suffocate from the worsening pollution, as you say, it doesn't escape, it just travels to another corner of the world, like a bottle slowly filling up until one day, you cannot put in anymore smoke in it.

 

 

Not only my village has no garbage collection, but the whole amphoe doesn't. 

 

Thus, I separate my garbage in two bins: what I can burn (99% plastic containers) and what I can't. 

 

I do the burning myself, about once a week, in the garden where I have planted more than enough trees to absorb the small resulting emissions. 

 

As for the other part, I bring it to the city and drop it in a garbage bin in one of the streets. 

 

Now, garbage disposal is small potatoes compared to the ongoing soil, crops, air, water and food poisoning, which is killing (cancer) Thais in droves, and most probably not only Thais. 

 

In the last few years, it is incredible the number of Thai families around me who have lost at least one rather young member to cancer. 

 

As a matter of fact, my wife will go tomorrow visit her best friend's mother, who is dying from liver cancer. 

 

Of course, Thailand and the world, both terminally mentally ill and corrupt, won't change. 

 

The billionaires are in charge, with well paid politicians protecting their interests. 

 

They eat food not available to the serfs, and get a full medical check-up once or twice a year, so that like Soros, Buffett, Munger and others, they never die! 

 

They meet in Davos, each of them coming in his own private jet, to officially discuss the dangers of climate change, and unofficially to see how they can profit from it... 

 

 

[4MyEgo]

44 minutes ago, Brunolem said:

Not only my village has no garbage collection, but the whole amphoe doesn't. 

 

Thus, I separate my garbage in two bins: what I can burn (99% plastic containers) and what I can't. 

 

I do the burning myself, about once a week, in the garden where I have planted more than enough trees to absorb the small resulting emissions. 

 

As for the other part, I bring it to the city and drop it in a garbage bin in one of the streets. 

 

Now, garbage disposal is small potatoes compared to the ongoing soil, crops, air, water and food poisoning, which is killing (cancer) Thais in droves, and most probably not only Thais. 

 

In the last few years, it is incredible the number of Thai families around me who have lost at least one rather young member to cancer. 

 

As a matter of fact, my wife will go tomorrow visit her best friend's mother, who is dying from liver cancer. 

 

Of course, Thailand and the world, both terminally mentally ill and corrupt, won't change. 

 

The billionaires are in charge, with well paid politicians protecting their interests. 

 

They eat food not available to the serfs, and get a full medical check-up once or twice a year, so that like Soros, Buffett, Munger and others, they never die! 

 

They meet in Davos, each of them coming in his own private jet, to officially discuss the dangers of climate change, and unofficially to see how they can profit from it... 

 

 

YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD AS THE SAYING GOES, GLAD THERE IS SOMEONE ELSE OUT THERE AS PARANOID AS ME ????

 

 

[Ulic]

While I agree that trash/farm burning should be stopped by enforcing the laws that are already on the books as the right thing to do I don't see a catastrophe that is imminent. The monsoons winds and rain will come both cleaning the air and pushing the particulate away and everyone will quickly forget until next year.