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Thailand Live Sunday 6 Nov 2011


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Thailand Live Sunday 6 November 2011

News, Bits and Tweets

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Keep up to date with live updates from the news, hour by hour.

For breaking news,national, regional and international news updates on a daily basis only, this thread is closed to commentary so that those who wish to follow the news can find it here...

Commentary is still open for Thailand news in the relevant thread posted in News Clippings.

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Related topic: Thailand Live Saturday 5 Nov 2011

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WELLNESS

Mudding the waters

Khetsirin Pholdhampalit

The Nation on Sunday

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More than 200 good-hearted folk turn out to a dharma centre each day to make EM mud balls

Baan Aree, a dharma sanctuary and wellness centre on Soi Aree 1 off Phaholyothin Road, is providing a much-needed boost for the spirits by inviting people to spend their time producing about 5,000 EM (effective micro-organism) mud balls every day to help disinfect contaminated floodwater.

The project, which was launched early last week, is drawing more than 200 volunteers of all ages each day, who work together mixing the ingredients and moulding the balls that are later distributed free to flood-affected people and institutions.

"The main problem of all flood-affected people is that the water is polluted and smells terrible. The EM balls are one of the environmental solutions to reduce water pollutants and improve water quality. Once thrown into the water, one EM ball can generally disinfect about five cubic metres of polluted water," says Suwit Chansirirat of Baan Aree.

Developed by University of Ryukyus professor Dr Teruo Higa, EM has a wide range of applications such as water and sewage purification, improving recycled water and solving sanitary problems. It is also widely used in agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries and food production.

Microorganisms are crucial for maintaining the ecological balance. They carry out chemical processes that make it possible for all other organisms including humans to live. The fermentation emitted from the mud balls alleviates or destroys the ammonia nitrogen found in human effluents and sewerage leakages into the water system.

Each day, Baan Aree spends about Bt5,000 to buy the ingredients. The EM ball is made from fine and rough rice bran and sandy soil in a ratio of 3:2:2 before pouring in the liquid mixture containing EM activated solution and water to ensure it's not too wet or too dry.

The volunteers are divided into groups of five and each group has a plastic container containing the ingredients.

Volunteer Monthita Rojtinnakorn enthusiastically mixes the soil, liquid and rice brans together and compress them firmly in a small bowl before thoroughly kneading and forming the mixture into a tennis ball. To make sure the ball is compressed firmly and tightly enough, she is told to hold it by her knee then drop it on the floor.

"This is my first time here. The process of making EM balls is simple yet meaningful, everybody can do it. I wanted to do something meaningful. Before this, I'd volunteered to fill sandbags at Siriraj Hospital and Suvarnabhumi Airport and also packed relief bags at the Thai Red Cross. I've kept updated through Twitter and Facebook to see which venue requires volunteers," says the Chulalongkorn University student.

Once the balls are made, we are told not to leave them in direct sunlight. They must left in an open but shady area for five days. During fermentation, there will be white spots covering the mud balls: this is normal. The white spots are fungus, which is important for a successful ball that is ready to use. A ball under ideal conditions is effective for three months.

"Our problem right now is that the factory in Nong Chok district that supplies us with the ingredients has just been submerged by floodwaters. We are facing a shortage of supplies and what we have now is coming from donations. If anyone has a source where we can buy a large amount of rice bran, please call us," says Suwit.

"Another problem is we cannot produce enough balls to meet demand. Due to the shortage of supplies and our limited space, we can only produce about 5,000 balls a day. We also don't have a big enough space to dry all the balls we produce so the recipients need to dry them in the shade by themselves," he adds.

Kneading Needed

<< You can help make the EM balls at Baan Aree daily from 10am to 5pm. Donations of the ingredients to make the balls are also welcome.

<< Interested flood-affected people can ask for the EM balls by calling (02) 619 7474.

<< Baan Aree is on Soi Aree 1 off Phaholyothin Road (BTS: Aree). Visit www.BaanAree.net.

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-- The Nation 2011-11-06

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Water-treatment powder distributed

The Nation on Sunday

The Pathum Thani Provincial Natural Resources and Environment Office yesterday gave 60,000 Dasta balls and 20,000 bottles of EM (effective micro-organisms) to Pathum Thani's administrators to be used for wastewater treatment in flooded areas of the province.

Soi Jai Ua up to the Chakri Bongkot Royal Residence will be the first flooded area in which the treatments will be used.

Meanwhile, the Flood Relief Operations Centre (FROC) is preparing to hand out 1 tonne of EM powder with the help of the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) to be used in contaminated floodwaters. The GPO plans to produce another 5 tonnes of the powder.

Each of the packets under the GPO Klean brand contains 200 grams of the powder. FROC claims it is more effective than EM balls.

Centres will be set up to distribute the packages to Bangkokians.

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-- The Nation 2011-11-06

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Parliamentary mobile kitchen

The Nation on Sunday

Parliament House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont yesterday presided over a ceremony to launch a mobile kitchen project put on by the Parliament. It will serve cooked food to people in flooded areas. The project was due to run from yesterday until November 24, kicking off in Bang Phlat district of Bangkok.

In related news, about 50 orphans aged between 3 and 13 at an orphanage in Angthong were rushed to Pamok Hospital after suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting after eating canned spicy fish salad.

Thirty of them with severe symptoms were admitted to the hospital.

nationlogo.jpg

-- The Nation 2011-11-06

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Courts, offices closed for week

The Nation on Sunday

The Courts of Justice yesterday declared tomorrowNovember 7 through FridayNovember 11 as special holidays due to the floods.

The holidays will be in effect for the Ratchadapisek Court, the Government Complex on Chaeng Wattana Road, the Taling Chan Provincial Court, the Office of the Chief Judge Of Region 1, the Pathum Thani Court and the Office of the Courts of Justice.

nationlogo.jpg

-- The Nation 2011-11-06

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Boat-transport firm extends service suspension

The Nation on Sunday

Chao Phraya Express Boat Co Ltd yesterday extended the suspension of its services until November 14.

The company earlier announced its boat transport service would be halted until November 7. By the new date, the suspension will have lasted three weeks, costing the firm an estimated Bt10 million in income. The company assisted the Royal Thai Navy's evacuation of Siriraj Hospital patients to Klong Toei Port and the Royal Thai Naval Academy in Samut Prakan.

In related news, Transport Co Ltd yesterday said its bus service would remain open at the Mor Chit2 Bus Terminal unless the flood water rose to 50cm.

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-- The Nation 2011-11-06

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Migrant labourers relocated

The Nation on Sunday

The Labour Ministry yesterday moved 500 migrant labourers from Nakhon Pathom’s Wat Rai Khing shelter to Ratchaburi’s Institute for Skill Development Region 4, as the temple shelter was flooded.

The workers, who boarded 15 buses provided by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority, were Cambodian and Burmese, including Karen and Shan people. There are now more than 3,000 people taking refuge in Ratchaburi's 27 shelters.

nationlogo.jpg

-- The Nation 2011-11-06

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Safe against shock

Pattarawadee Saengmanee

The Nation on Sunday

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Stalking perilous electric current in the floodwater, the FloodDuck could save lives

Not quite as cute as the name implies and certainly not a toy for kids, the FloodDuck could save some lives during the current crisis. The cylindrical plastic case capped with a yellow duck contains circuitry to test the water for dangerous electrical current.

The electrocution deaths of two brothers in high water last month inspired Professor Dusit Sukawat to design the prototype from materials he had at home. Then, with third-year electrical-engineering students, he finished the gadget, which can float well away on its own in search of electrical leaks.

If the FloodDuck finds anything, from 10 to 220 volts, its red LED light is activated.

Dusit, from King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Lat Krabang, is giving 1,000 of the ducks to hospitals, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the Army and rescue squads.

"We're trying to develop a better model that can identify five different levels of leaking electrical current," he says.

With support from the university, private organisations and the government, the ducks are also being made for Bt300 apiece.

"It's not difficult," says Krisada Somsup, one of the students. "We have volunteers with no electrical knowledge helping us. Only the processes like testing and soldering have to be done by specialists."

Krisada says the dirty water engulfing much of the country "is actually a good electrical conductor" because of several elements it contains.

The FloodDuck makers gather every afternoon at the university and form an assembly line whose functions are charted on a whiteboard.

Nichapa Taechathanompong, a 27-year-old hotel receptionist, is among the more experienced volunteers showing the rookies how the parts fit together.

"I wanted to help in the crisis and I saw the FloodDuck page on Facebook. Anyone can help make these, and we still need lots more ducks for people living and doing rescue work in the flooded areas."

Nuttapatch Chanitsriphoom, 64, is busily installing resistors in the ducks. "I'm a volunteer at Public Health Centre on Soi Ladprao 41," she says. "I saw the FloodDuck mentioned on TV and realised how useful it could be."

BUILD A BIRD

<< Help make FloodDucks in Room 311 of the ECC building at King Mongkut in Lad Krabang.

<< Or send them some money via "floodduck54" on Facebook or by calling (088) 873 6859.

nationlogo.jpg

-- The Nation 2011-11-06

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Flooding Situation in Thailand: Latest Updates (06/11/2011)

The flooding situation in Thailand is mainly affecting the central provinces along the Chao Phraya River including Bangkok and Ayutthaya. Other popular tourist destinations in the central region including Pattaya, Hua Hin, Kanchanaburi and Koh Chang have not been affected by the floods. Tourist destinations in the south of Thailand including Phuket, Krabi, Surat Thani, Koh Samui, Hat Yai and Phang-Na; and in the north including Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Sukhothai, also have not been affected by the floods.

Flood waters in Ayutthaya and some other central provinces have begun to subside, although many areas are not yet fully accessible. Tourist attractions in Ayutthaya will reopen once they have been restored.

Events relating to Loi Krathong, an ancient tradition that has been celebrated since the Sukhothai Era, will still take place in many locations throughout Thailand including Sukhothai, Chiang Mai, Tak, Hat Yai and Surat Thani during November 8 to 10. Some Loi Krathong events have been cancelled in Bangkok, Ayutthaya and Suphan Buri due to the flood.

Situation in Bangkok

Areas flooded in the Bangkok Metropolitan Area includes suburbs in the east and west, the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, and districts in the northern part of the city.

In central Bangkok, businesses, hotels, shops and tourist attractions remain open as per normal in areas including:

Khao San Road

Ratchaprasong (Central World area)

Phetchaburi Road

Sathorn

Ploenchit/ Chidlom

Siam Square/ MBK/ Siam Paragon

Pratunam

Silom/ Surawongse

Rama 1 Road

Sukhumvit Road/ The Emporium

Rama 4 Road

Yaowarat (Chinatown)

Given the rapidly changing nature of the flooding situation in Bangkok, visitors should also check multiple sources of information to make an informed decision about whether they should visit central Bangkok at the present time.

The BTS Skytrain and MRT subway are operating normally at this time. Visitors are advised to check with the BTS and MRT regarding the current status of their operations. Taxis and tuk tuks are available as per usual. Many BMTA bus routes have been rerouted or suspended due to the flooding. Express boat services on the Chao Phraya River have also been suspended, as have most water-related tourist activities.

Transportation

Airports

Bangkok is served by two airports. Suvarnabhumi Airport, the main gateway to Thailand with 120 international and domestic airlines, remains open. It has considerable flood protection measures in place. Suvarnabhumi Airport is also the main connector for international arrivals to domestic flights serving tourist destinations throughout Thailand such as Phuket, Chiang Mai and Surat Thani. Domestic flights are operating as per normal between Suvarnabhumi Airport and other airports in Thailand.

Transportation to and from the airport into central Bangkok including taxis, buses and the Airport Rail Link have not been affected by the floods and are operating normally. Highways from the airport to tourist destinations southeast of Bangkok such as Pattaya, Rayong and Ko Chang are open.

Don Mueang Airport, the old international airport, is closed due to flooding. The two domestic airlines operating from Don Mueang have temporarily switched their operations to Suvarnabhumi Airport.

A “Tourist Assistance Center” is set up on the 3rd floor of Airport Rail Link’s Makkasan Station to facilitate tourists’ transport from hotels in central Bangkok to the airport. TAT and Thai Hotels Association (THA) are providing free transportation from hotels to Makkasan Station. The Tourist Police will assist tourists at Makkasan Station and at the airport. Tourists who would like to use this service can contact the Tourist Assistance Center via the TAT Call Center at 1672, or the Tourist Police at 1155.

State Railway of Thailand and inter-provincial bus services:

State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and inter-provincial bus services are operating as per usual in areas that are not affected by the floods. In Bangkok and other areas affected by the floods, the SRT and inter-provincial bus service operators are adjusting their routes to best serve passengers given the disruptions caused by the flooding. Inter-provincial buses from Bangkok to southern provinces are leaving from a temporary station with shuttle services to and from the Southern Bus Terminal, also known as Sai Tai Mai.

Train services to northeastern Thailand are operating as per normal. Train services to the northern provinces are operating between Hua Lamphong station in central Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Trains to the north are being rerouted around flooded areas, adding approximately two hours of travel time. Train services to the southern provinces are operating from Hua Lamphong station or Nakhon Pathom if required due to flooding in Bangkok’s western suburbs. The SRT is providing shuttle bus services between Hua Lamphong station and Nakhon Pathom when needed. Travelers are advised to check in advance with these operators and may want to consider flying to their destinations within Thailand.

Information sources:

English-language sources

The Government Public Relations Department

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA)

Thailand Meteorological Department

Thai- language sources

Flood Relief Operations Center

BMA Flood Control Center

Airports of Thailand

State Railway of Thailand

English-language newspapers offering continuous updates on the flooding situation

Bangkok Post

The Nation

Useful contact numbers:

TAT Call Center: 1672

Thai Airways: +66 (0) 2356 1111

Bangkok Airways: +66 (0) 2265 8777

AirAsia: +66 (0) 2515 9999

Nok Air: 1318 or +66 (0) 2900 9955

Orient Thai Airlines: 1126

State Railway of Thailand (SRT) Call Center: 1690

Transport Co.,Ltd. Hotline: (Inter-provincial bus service) 1490

Source: Tourism Authorithy of Thailand (TAT), as of 5 November 2011

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Suvarnabhumi Airport Is Operating as Usual (05/11/2011)

Despite flooding in several districts of Bangkok, Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thailand’s national airport, is operating as usual. It has also been well-protected from flooding.

Because some news agencies had shown pictures of passenger airplanes surrounded by high water, the Committee on Public Relations for the Flood Relief Operations Center explained that the airplanes had been decommissioned prior to the flooding and were, in fact, at Don Mueang, not at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Bangkok is served by two airports. One is Suvarnabhumi International Airport, with 120 international and domestic airlines. The other is Don Mueang Airport, which is located about 30 kilometers northwest of Suvarnabhumi Airport. Handling only domestic flights, Don Mueang has been closed temporarily because of flooding. Two domestic airlines, Orient Thai Airlines and Nok Air, have temporarily switched their operations from Don Mueang to Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Thailand now has 28 airports for commercial flights. Nine of them handle international flights; they include Suvarnabhumi, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Hat Yai, Krabi, U-Tapao, Samui, Surat Thani, and Udon Thani. Apart from Don Mueang, all other airports are open and operating normally.

The Senior Executive Vice President of Airports of Thailand and Acting General Manager of Suvarnabhumi Airport, Mr. Somchai Sawasdeepon, is confident that Suvarnabhumi Airport will not be affected by flooding, thanks to the airport’s efficient flood protection measures. Among these measures is the earthen embankment, 37 meters wide, 3.5 meters tall, and 23.5 kilometers long. Originally three meters high, it was raised to 3.5 meters in October 2011, with assistance from the Department of Highways and the Department of Rural Roads.

Mr. Somchai said that in order to be fully prepared for the flooding situation, Suvarnabhumi Airport has set up a special team to monitor the situation around the clock. Another monitor team was also set up to patrol the floodwall to make sure that the barrier is strong enough to prevent flooding.

He said that the airport still operates as usual, with about 130,000 passengers and 800 flights, both domestic and international, every day. The 30-plus additional flights of Orient Thai and Nok Air, who carry 2,000 passengers a day, are well-served at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Thai Airways International will increase its seat capacity in order to support the demand of travelers to destinations in Thailand. Passengers can travel in and out of Suvarnabhumi Airport and connect to other major cities, such as Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Khon Kaen, Phuket, Ubon Ratchathani, and Udon Thani.

Many tourist destinations in Bangkok and the provinces have not been affected by the current flooding and tourists can travel there safely and freely.

Foreign Office, The Government Public Relations Department

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Social media use soars in flood-hit Thailand - Focus

by Michelle Fitzpatrick

BANGKOK, November 6, 2011 (AFP) - Thais struggling to make sense of the kingdom's deadly flood crisis are turning to social media like never before, spurred by confusing official information about the disaster, observers say.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/510410-social-media-use-soars-in-flood-hit-thailand/page__view__findpost__p__4825467

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