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Moderation not
always the answer
Editor;
If, as he intimates, Sean (Mailbag 6/12) enjoys life, I am sure he would not
smoke! There is no question of moderation when it comes to smoking. There
are many other substances which are always harmful. He also infers that
vegetarian food is less appetizing than meat, but I have never enjoyed my
food so much since becoming a vegetarian over forty years ago. I am
wondering if he has discovered a new vitamin as I only know of five K
vitamins and have never heard of vitamin K12. He claims that chimpanzees
kill for it, but even if it existed (or if it’s a different nutrient) how
does he know this? Why don’t orangutans or gorillas who do not eat other
animals do this? It has to be pointed out, as Mr Gordon has done, that there
is overwhelming evidence that vegetarians are, generally, healthier and live
longer than meat eaters.
The name Paracelsus seems to have got lost in cyberspace when in my previous
letter I cited him as the first to claim that poison was in the dose. Of
course we need sugar and of course moderation is important and of course
sugar is widely available in foods. However, we should aim to get most of it
that way and not take refined sugar which is harmful. The reason that some
diabetics need to take sugar (candy) about with them is that they are in
danger of a potentially fatal hypoglycaemia. This cannot happen to normal
people so his statement is meaningless.
I have never come across lists of supplements for vegetarians despite
reading many books and being a member of the Vegetarian Society (UK). Some
nutritionists advocate supplements on account of the poor quality of present
day food. The idea that vegetarians have to take supplements is utterly
ridiculous: countless millions of Indian vegetarians, for example, could not
afford them. I personally have never taken supplements as I dislike them and
can’t afford them.
I have tried hard to explain that people become vegetarian for ethical
reasons and “moderation” does not come into it. Would you eat a moderate
amount of human flesh if it was readily available? I hope the answer is a
resounding no.
Michael Nightingale
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It’s a myth that sugar
is the cause of diabetes
Editors:
It is a myth that sugar is the cause of diabetes. Dr James Anderson
was able to reverse the symptoms of Type2 diabetes to the point where his
patients no longer needed medication by putting them on a low-fat near
vegetarian diet. There is not even circumstantial evidence that a sugar free
diet could have similar results.
Dr Dean Ornish who reversed heart disease by using a similar diet, has said
the link between sugar and heart disease is “weak”. Ornish argues that
because sugar is often mixed in with saturated fats in the foods we eat, it
is often blamed for the damage caused by saturated fats.
Sincerely,
Steve Gordon
Who can save Thailand?
Editor;
Happy Birthday to King Bhumibol for whom Thai people have a deep respect and
reverence. He has done so much over a 60 year reign to define Thailand as a
peaceful nation of kind people.
One hopes that his towering stature will unify and empower the nation both
economically and as a people. Sadly, Thai society has split and swings from
one extreme to the other - from one election to the next coup or mass
demonstration.
How was it that Thaksin got elected in the first place and served out his
first term to be the only prime minister ever re-elected? Was Thaksin the
most corrupt politician in Thai history or was he just the next in a long
line of corrupt officials? Was the coup that overthrew him essential to the
future of Thailand, it’s Constitutional Monarchy, and civil society or just
another after the countless coups before? Did he bribe the ex-Bangkok
population or did he strike a true cord with a large disaffected mass?
The answers aren’t “yes” or “no” or “who cares” but how can Thailand move
forward.
Is it ironic that this is also the day that “Madiba,” the first President of
a democratic South Africa, passed?
He faced perhaps a greater divide but stood rock solid for basic principles,
especially a belief in the rule of law that had not served him well, then
found a way to bring a whole nation together. He inspired the world with his
morality and belief that a non-racist, non-sexist, non-homophobic democracy
was not only possible but essential.
Perhaps Thai people should take a page from Mandela’s book. There is no
clear moral leader capable of bringing both sides across the divide.
Maybe the future of Thailand lays not so much in one person as in the pure
hearts of all its people.
Take a deep breath, make real merit, and heal your nation for the good of us
all. Inspire us as Mandela did. Step from the mud of suffering and conflict
into the lotus of enlightenment.
PD view
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Rename to Burma
Editor;
Why doesn’t Thailand just change its name to Burma? Police refusing to help
trapped students, well we all know whose side they are on.
Red shirts threatening the media for broadcasting pro democratic speeches...
These red shirts are poor and uneducated and Thaksin and his cronies have
exploited them to the full.
SM
Review the Big Mac?
Editor;
Re: Review a venue that is suitable for low budget expats (PM Mailbag
Friday, 06 December 2013) - What do you want, a review of a Big Mac?
David
Why wasn’t she fined?
Editor;
Re: Bag-snatch suspect nabbed… (PM Friday, 06 December 2013) - Why was a
14-year-old unlicensed girl driving a motorbike anyway? She should have been
fined. (I’m) pretty sure a farang would have been, no matter how old.
TG
Congratulations
Editor;
Congratulations to the Pattaya Mail Group on their 20th Anniversary. Living
in New Zealand, we find it an easy and informative way to keep up to date
with all the news and stories of life in Pattaya while we are not at our
condo in Jomtien.
Chok-dee-na-ka,
Maz and Jeff
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