Dislike for clean energy

Re: "Coal-fired plants back on agenda", (Business, May 16).

The announcement by Thailand's Energy Ministry to consider two new fossil-fuel and highly carbon polluting power stations demonstrates an inability of the nation's leaders to take a fresh path towards a clean, renewable energy future.

At at time where major economies and even many developing nations around the world are shifting rapidly to solar and wind power, Thailand lags behind with little to no ambition.

The late King Bhumibol Adulyadej championed sustainable energy projects, so why isn't the government building upon such a legacy?

Energy security for Thailand requires far-sighted policies and commitment, especially through cost effective solar power with efficient battery storage.

There must be a decentralised approach to power generation which better meets community needs while fulfilling global obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions for combatting climate change.

Pablo Bateson

Duty to stop fake news

I was pleased to read the recent front page announcement from The Editors of the Bangkok Post stating the newspapers ongoing commitment to editorial autonomy. I have also been surprised by respected news organisations such as The Guardian and The Financial Times publishing one-sided reports that the recent change at the editorial level was due to "political pressure". The Bangkok Post has a long history of hiring talented and inspirational editors. Theh Chongkadikij, Paisal Sricharatchanya and Pichai Chuensuksawadi come to mind, all having served as editors for many successful years. News organisations such as the Bangkok Post have a valuable, indeed essential, role to play in keeping society properly informed as social media platforms struggle with the infiltration of peddlers of "Fake News".

I trust the Bangkok Post management will consider wisely in the appointment of its next editor, and I wish whoever is appointed much fortitude and success in the coming years.

Nigel Oakins

No room for bias

I, like many of your subscribers, support the Bangkok Post and its deserved reputation for fair and non-partisan reporting of the news. Individual journalists should, of course, still be able to express their own views in signed articles, but any hint of political bias in news reporting should never be deemed acceptable in a civilised society.

T G Kent

Stop evil corporations

Re: "Ban toxic farm chemicals", (Editorial, May 18).

Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide in the world despite the fact that it has been proven to cause cancer, autism and numerous other serious diseases. Glyphosate also decimates the environment, including killing honeybees. Made by Monsanto, deservedly referred to as the most evil corporation in the world, glyphosate containing products are still sold due to Monsanto's ruthless marketing strategies and corrupt practices which include bribing government regulatory agencies worldwide and falsifying scientific research.

Glyphosate is found in virtually all foods in America, including ice cream and wine.

That the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives will continue to allow glyphosate and other highly toxic farm chemicals to be used is a testament to how easy it is for business giants to buy influence in Thailand. It's simple -- a handful of people are getting rich by allowing corporate profiteers to kill us, poison our food and destroy the natural world.

Michael Setter

Fishing for the truth

What an astute comment on behalf of an ignorant and extremely naive person.

The "white helmets" are an off-spring of al-Qaeda -- and partially controlled and financed by the BBC and hence the British taxpayer. The inhumane organisation which has created havoc on the Syrian nation also has backers in the CIA.

How inane is to surmise then that Bashar al-Assad gassed or abused his own citizens? It is totally incredible to implicate him while he is still the president elected by a majority vote under more "democratic" principles than in most countries. This is rather unbelievable considering the Syrian army is on the verge of total defeat. Would it not make more sense if these murderous gang of hired mercenaries paid by Saudi Arabia, US, Britain and France, were the real culprits, if there was a gas attack to begin with.

Robert Fisk -- one of the most respected Independent journalists, ZDF (the German TV) reported that there was no gas attack whatsoever. It was another incident of fake news news perpetrated on the dumbed-down public, as was last year's gas attack around the same date, proven to have been carried out by al-Qaeda.

HHB

Lessons from Trump

Re: "Southeast Asia-US relations under Trump", (Opinion, May 18).

One thing that separates Donald Trump from the rest of the flock in Washington is that he is not a career politician. He has been fighting the establishment for a long time. After winning the presidency, he has been trying to change the establishment from the inside. Unfortunately, it is not very easy. In some ways, the situation in Thailand is also the same. The role of military and hold on power by the elite remains a big obstacle in cultivating any alternate form of governance, especially a progressive society with human rights and free speech. The stranglehold of the military and rampant corruption, cronyism and nepotism, which is the hallmark of Thai governance, remains intact.

So far, Mr Trump has been fighting his battle alone and it is quite possible that he may bring about a few changes in political culture in Washington. But he will be paying a heavy price for rocking the boat, more so, when he is fighting his own scandals and indulging in daily tirade against the American media.

I do not see any resemblance between Asean leaders and Mr Trump's approach to governance. Asean polity is all about "non-interference" which simply means, "you do your thing, and we will do ours". Asean leaders do not have any collective vision, power or leadership. They look like strange bedfellows trying to remain relevant.

Kuldeep Nagi

A photo-op summit

Re: "Playing Trump", (PostBag, May 17).

Trump is a fool, as Eric Bahrt says, but he smells a "win".

Both leaders want this summit in spite of Kim Jong-un's recent posturing. It is a one-off photo opportunity for them and both will likely come away smiling. A fudged compromise is inevitable. Mr Kim offers to get rid of a handful of nukes which can -- maybe -- reach the mainland US and promise no more tests.

Mr Trump waffles about reducing the number of troops in South Korea, finalising a peace treaty on the peninsula and reducing economic sanctions.

Endless meetings will follow. Never mind, the next US president can sort out the mess.

Barry Kenyon

A case for cannabis

Thailand demonises a plant with no history of harm or death. The same plant has been used for millennia regionally in cooking and traditional medicine.

It is categorised as dangerous just because the US say so. Marijuana was made illegal in the west for financial and elitist control, not out of concern for the health and well being of the citizens.

The economic viability of hemp products threatened the profits of entrenched elitists within the paper industry, the textile industry, the pharmaceutical complex and politics. One would think that a culture that prides itself on independence would not fall victim to ignorant global group-think.

If Thailand really wanted to help the farmers and improve the economy of the country, legalising marijuana would be a spectacular strategy. Even the standard reason of protecting citizens from the "evils of intoxication" has no relevance or data to support this position.

Addiction to smart phones and video games is more detrimental to the mental health and physical well being of people. Cell phone usage is creating socially dysfunctional people, causing accidents due to inattention, and increasing cancer through exposure to Wifi and EMF. Yet, nobody is going to jail for dealing and promoting these products.

I am still awaiting anyone to rationally justify how a plant with so many positive uses and potentials should be illegal.

Darius Hober

Pure customer service

The BBC recently ran a news story: "Japanese train departs 25 seconds early -- again". In response, the management offered profuse apologies to customers for inconveniencing them. Now, just imagine this happening with the SRT, which rarely leaves on time or arrives on time. As for an announcement? Never. Apologies? Unheard of. No wonder the SRT went down the tubes ages ago.

Samurai Mango

Impractical outlook

It appears letter contributor PG is replacing Eric Bahrt for being unrealistic. I'd suggest PG personally give Syria a try. I'm sure he will not find beautiful beaches, happy people, lots of temples or tourists, and a relaxed population, care-free, and more. I'd suggest PG take a gas mask for good measure. The Israelis treat many Syrian children who have suffered in gas attacks for free -- totally humanitarian. PG would probably have denied the use of mustard gas during WWI, if he were on the German side of the conflict.

David James Wong

Too much innovation

This is my beef with the current trend, they fix everything. Microsoft is the main offender.

Using Outlook as my mail server, I used to be able to simply right click and select "print" and it would print everything on screen.

Now, I have to click where the cursor is pointing in the attached screenshot only to be shown a small menu. When I click "print" on the pop-up, can I print what's on the screen.

Thanks Google for helping me find this, but not before being inconvenienced by the change.

Let's not forget that you are offered a "send" button to click on when you wish to send a message but at other times you are offered a picture of a paper plane instead. Even something as simple as that creates an unnecessary air of confusion. I have been quite happy clicking on "send" for the last 20 years. Maybe they are softening us up for a permanent change to the paper plane or perhaps they are simply "feeling the water?" This time I see the paper plane at the foot of my page.

The same applies to Skype. They are forever changing it. Simple actions like saving a number or editing a number became impossible until you learn the new way. For a while, I could not even find my list of phone numbers or a keypad. The new way is duly replaced by a newer way after a very short time. Sometimes they realise they have made a serious blunder and change it back.

Skype was, simple and efficient once. I am quite sure it is no better now, just different.

They have further "improved" Skype by removing the facility of sending video messages. They promise to re-instate it one day. How odd. You can still send a voice message.

Is there a solution? Or is it just going to get worse? Is this simply a symptom of being 77 years old? I wonder if Dr Mahatir does his own emailing? God help him if he does.

George

No retirements please

The interesting article on Roger Crutchley (Life, May 18) highlights that he should be declared a national treasure. I love his column on Sundays which makes better reading than the letters in PostBag by the same contributors.

Do not let Roger retire!

Martin R

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