Diesel must die

So, Pol Gen Aswin is going to "spearhead a campaign to tackle fine dust particles", (BP, Jan 25).

To help him solve this problem he could start by reading the Bangkok Post. He should first look at the table in the Jan 24 edition, which sets out the restrictions, imposed by several European cities and countries on vehicle emissions -- which all scientists agree are the single biggest source of particulate matter.

The table shows that Paris, for instance, will ban all diesel vehicles by 2024, Madrid and Athens will impose the same ban by 2025. Several countries have Euro standards for emissions, covering, for example, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, etc., that apply to all vehicles and severely limit the types of emission. Each year these limits become progressively tougher until eventually all diesel and petrol engine vehicles' emissions are eliminated.

The Post on Jan 15 carried a story headlined "Two-wheelers power EV revolution", which highlighted the switch in India from petrol to electric scooters. The story went on to say that there is a proposal for the electrification of 30% of all new Indian vehicles by 2030.

In China, there is now a massive push to electrify public service vehicles. Several cities, for instance, already have all electric taxis and bus fleets.

The solutions for Pol Gen Aswin are therefore clear. He needs to impose cast-iron obligations for municipal vehicles to become all-electric, say, by 2025. For other vehicles, he needs to set fixed targets setting out what emissions will be allowed each year. To encourage the switch to electric vehicles, he should advocate financial inducements for private vehicle owners to make the change.

Pollution is a problem that can be solved. It simply requires regulation and the enforcement of these regulations.

David R

What a stink

Bad air in Bangkok? Need a scapegoat? Blame diesel vehicles. Don't of course blame the Ministry of Transport for permitting ancient jalopies on the roads throughout the country that have not had maintenance or vehicle inspections since they were put on the road. Need a scapegoat? Blame the Ministry of Transport for not doing anything about those buses in the capital that have been belching black smoke and exhaust particles for years, with of course full knowledge of the Ministry of Transport. Need a scapegoat? Blame the BMA for not bothering to move earlier to acquire more modern buses in the name of saving money. Need another scapegoat? Blame all those drivers of both diesel- and gasoline-operated vehicles who are knowingly irresponsible and never gave a damn. Still need scapegoats? How about those who turn a blind eye to burning rice and sugar cane fields under the noses of those who are paid to enforce the no-burn ban. How about starting with those in Lop Buri who burned cane fields, deliberately ignoring the ban on burning, causing the closure of a school. Don't scapegoat drivers who maintain their vehicles properly, who use diesel fuel, and who do regular maintenance. The governments, both national, provincial and local should all blame themselves for the disgusting, sorry mess they've put us in, and then blame us for being the cause.

Bronx Boy

Pitiful protesters

It seems to me we focus more on the tactics of protesters than on what they are protesting against. During the civil rights movement in the 1960s you had civil rights leaders ranging from Martin Luther King, who talked about peace and love, to H Rapp Brown who urged people to burn down the country. Yet to me the issue wasn't the black leaders but the white racism which caused this turmoil.

Most people will condemn a Palestinian suicide bomber. But do they ask themselves why would someone who is treated well be a suicide bomber in the first place. The Buddhists say every action has a reaction. So wouldn't it be better to focus on the action (injustice) to prevent the reaction (protest)?

Eric Bahrt

Survival instincts

Our world has enthusiastically adopted the capitalist economic system and its inherent inequalities. Capitalism facilitates the same forces of nature that drive evolution; the strongest, smartest and most energetic survive. Of course there is in us a parallel motivation to join together in groups, care for all members of the group, cooperate and share resources to mutual advantage.

Samanea Saman expresses that motivation in his recent letter. It is our survival challenge as a species to reconcile these two deep evolutionary impulses in order to organise humanity in a way faithful to both. At present, this era of self above all else does not bode well for our success in getting along with each other. Tolerance and cooperation seem an unattainable dream for global society and that is a shame. There is a most urgent need for us to understand ourselves individually and collectively.

Michael Setter

Raw deal

It was a shame to learn Thailand has been kicked out of the 2020 Olympic Games weightlifting -- over continued doping violations by lifters including medallist Duangaksorn Chaidee Chaidee. But this case has killed our national pride as we look to participate in the events to come. The committees of weightlifting associations should report or at least take full responsibility for this. We athletes should compete by pure strength, sports ability and willpower.

Somwut S

Cold Thai hearts

This is very bad concerning Thai immigration, the detention of a genuine refugee with all the right papers and visas, who came from Australia to Thailand for a holiday, but was arrested on behalf of Bahrain on trumped-up charges of destroying a police station, even though it has been shown that he was playing football at the time of the attack.

Thailand should remember what Australia did for this country during the cave drama, saving the lives of 12 schoolboys and their coach from certain death. Is this how Thailand treats its friend? The next time I travel outside of Thailand, I would be very worried coming back, never knowing if I would be arrested on some false charge.

You made a mistake with the Saudi fiasco and you still haven't learnt your lesson.

Barry Wallace

Bravo Prayut

Felix Qui in his Jan 23 letter, "Eyes on Prayut", suggests the prime minister's popularity is dwindling. Not so. While Gen Prayut might not be elected should he run for office, his popularity is still high, and a few polls show the majority of those polled would prefer Prayut to be the next prime minister over anyone else.

Now is the time we are listening to political rhetoric and muscle-flexing, promises galore, to do this, to do that. Once elected, the politicians have absolutely no idea how to fulfil what they promised, and they, as well as those who voted for them, wind up with egg on their faces.

Prayut is not a promiser. He is a doer. He does not promise, but tells what he intends to do, and gets it done.

Bravo Prayut. If I could vote, you'd have my vote without question. The only thing I'd pin you down with is your lack of concern for much-needed immigration reform, and its obvious this is something you do not wish to address. Pity.

449900

10-year visa

Thank you to new immigration chief Lt Gen Surachate Hakparn for his initiative of having a new 10-year visa and removing the requirement of 90-day reporting. May I suggest also, the removing of the TM30 when the resident is returning from an overseas trip to his/her, already on record, abode.

As to the requirement for medical insurance cover, may I suggest the 800,000-baht requirement becomes a mandatory fixed deposit held by a Thai bank for the duration of the retirement visa. This to be used only in an emergency by a registered hospital approved by the immigration police. It is also envisaged that all hospitals would have access to the immigration database and entry of the patient's passport number, a copy of which must be carried, would identify the holder's ability to pay via the fixed deposit or payment by medical insurance. Any amount used would need to be replaced within one year. It is envisaged the monitoring of this would be much less onerous than the staff required for 90-day and TM30 reporting.

The other main benefit would be the end of the current scam-visa lawyer trade in obtaining visas when no money is seasoned in the bank, at a cost of 20,000 baht to the applicant. All deposits, which are held in the retiree's name, would be released on departure or death.

The marriage visa would be identical, with a 400,000-baht deposit.

This would raise the level of the retirees to a level more suited to Thailand's aspirations in the world as a high-end retirement destination.

Blodger Bangkok

Ghost train?

Re: "Train crushes pickup, killing woman, son", (BP, Jan 23).

I seriously question how anyone can fail to see or hear an oncoming SRT train. I have never seen a vehicle of any kind stop before the tracks for the driver to look both ways before proceeding to cross. There are no visual obstructions for at least 100 metres on either side of SRT tracks, guarded or unguarded, thereby giving a driver ample space for observation. SRT trains blast those whistles prior to coming to any crossing and have one or two very bright headlights. In the US, railroad signs are posted throughout the unguarded crossings in the Midwest, where there are miles of straight-aways saying, "stop, look, listen, prior to proceeding". When I stop prior to a crossing in town, drivers behind me blow their horns impatiently. Many even drive around lowered barriers as a train is approaching.

Jack Gilead

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