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KOTO defends his way of doing things
Editor;
Re: KOTO to be commended, however ... (PM mailbag Friday 7th November 2014)
- Aloha Margaret: You must be a newbie to Thailand or at least to Jomtien.
KOTO has been doing this in the Jomtien Beach area for 13 plus years,
received certificates from the Governor of Chonburi, 2007, Pattaya City
Hall, 2011, Pattaya’s Expat Greatest Contributor, 2013.
The reason there are pictures on the posters, also written in Thai, English,
Russian, German, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, is so children or people that
can’t read, still get the message.
A tad more research before you talk the talk without walking the walk could
do wonders for you. KOTO has removed more plastic, Styrofoam, toxic
cigarette butts, bottle caps and other trash in one week, than all of his
posters put together. Some people read them, some change their bad habits,
some wake up; trust me, I see it happen daily.
Gerry KOTO Rasmus
Damaged by trucks
Editor;
Re: Sukhumvit Road patched (PM Friday, 14 November 2014) - Damaged by heavy
trucks, heh? Wouldn’t be the same trucks that are used by developers for
excavations at all the condos being built in Jomtien would it? They have
also damaged many of the minor concrete roads between the sites and
Sukhumvit - maybe they should be forced to pay a road repair levy before
they receive any construction permits?
Pattaya City Hall should urgently fix the south-bound lanes of Sukhumvit
near the Traffic Police Station, and Jomtien Second Road near Rompo Market
next.
John Guru
Re: KOTO to be
commended, however ...
Editor,
Re: KOTO to be commended, however ... (PM mailbag Friday 7th November 2014)
- I am also from Sydney and have seen the work that people like Ian Kiernan
have done since 1989. I quote: “In 1989 an ‘average Australian bloke’ had a
simple idea to make a difference in his own backyard - Clean Up Sydney
Harbour. The event received an enormous public response with more than
40,000 Sydneysiders donating their time and energy to clean up the harbour.”
KOTO is 76 years old now and has been cleaning Jomtien Beach, feeding the
stray dogs and helping the homeless Thai people with water, milk,
toothbrush/toothpaste and sometimes money for 14 yrs that I know of. I would
suggest not many 76 year old farang would spend 6 to 8 hours per day doing
this.
As far as laminated posters are concerned, if you really look you will see
that they are written in Thai, English and Russian and with simple pictures
to illustrate to people that cannot read.
I can in fact tell you that KOTO is very much loved by the Thai people in
Jomtien. I think you should show a little bit more respect for KOTO instead
of critising him from your ivory tower. The good he does far outweighs your
concerns for laminated posters.
You say you have worked on several ‘Eco’ type ads & campaigns, maybe it is
time “you walk the talk” and get down to the beach and help clean and
educate the people and also talk to KOTO, maybe then you will step down from
your ivory tower.
David Ward
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Complaining about local TV
Editor;
Re: Satellite television in Thailand (PM Mailbag Friday, 24 October 2014) -
I wish it just commercials contributing to dissatisfaction with Thai TV, but
the ages old programming combined with movies apparently bought for next to
nothing starring unknown children or even dogs. Thai TV producers should
forced to watch KBS from Korea which has current programming with English
either spoken or captioned and real, live entertainers, not Thai so called
“Super Stars”. Those producers realizing their shows are mid 1960’s would
voluntarily quit and find other work.
Don Aleman
Sticking up for KOTO
Editor;
Re: KOTO to be commended, however ... (PM mailbag Friday 7th November 2014)
- KOTO has been doing an excellent job over the past several years. Yes,
maybe they need to reduce their own environmental footprint. However, the
work they do in cleaning up the area, and more importantly the information
they pass on to thousands of people each year is of great value. We need
more people like KOTO.
Brian
Correction
Editor;
Ref: Story page 4, Gregory Scott Grinstead. I respectfully know you can only
print whatever is told to you in good faith but I will correct the story for
you. The deceased lived in View Talay 1A, Jomtien and not in Ocean View,
Naklua. His girlfriend contacted my wife while we were in Bangkok, she told
me and I phoned our Australian friend from Bangkok and asked him to gain
access to the condo. That is when he was found.
His death was an aneurysm caused by high blood pressure which burst a vessel
near his heart. I have today come back from the US Embassy and the Royal
Thai Police General Hospital with the all the paperwork concerning his
passing.
Thank you for printing the original story and I hope you don’t mind the
correction.
Very best regards, say hello to Doc for me,
Jules
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