Concerned over lack of concern over environment

Sir:

An action that I observed today, while walking with my wife and son along the Beach Road promenade, causes me to speak out. A farang, with three little white poodles, paid no attention when one of them decided to ‘poop’ right along the walk-way. When walking your dog, a plastic container and a ‘pooper scooper’ is mandatory.

This obvious ‘don’t care’ attitude, combined with all of the other ‘don’t care’ attitudes shown by the many people who hang out along this walk-way, by throwing trash anywhere they please, is like a cancer. This is a beautiful path along the ocean, and all I see is garbage everywhere.

"When done with something that comes in a container, just drop it anywhere". Where does this attitude come from? Are these the same people who do not wash after using the toilet; those who live and act like pigs at home. I might also mention that many men ‘pee pee’ on a fence along the beach in Jomtien, like it is a toilet; smells in the hot sun, too.

I would think that the community of Pattaya would be better served by policing these flagrant acts of disrespect, rather than worrying about helmetless motorbikers, vendors trying to eke out a living, and bars closing at 2 a.m. I think that priorities here are really ‘out of whack’ and something should be done about it.

I am so angry at these displays of stupidity. Are these real people or just monkeys that look like people?

Thank you,

Don Ward

Food for thought

Editor,

It’s nice it is to walk into an inviting looking restaurant, choose a table near the window, select an appetising meal from the menu, settle back and enjoy the surroundings whilst your meal is being prepared. The air-conditioning is at a comfortable temperature as you sip on your favourite beverage. A mouth-watering aroma of cooking smells tantalises your nostrils as you eagerly await your nutritious meal from the kitchen.

More diners arrive and take the table next to yours. They immediately light up cigarettes and blow the tobacco smoke into the air. A build up of cankerous cancer causing chemicals wafts all around you and enters into air-conditioning unit. This lethal cocktail of toxic fumes soon overpowers the cooking smells, nullifying your appetite. The "No Smoking" signs that were clearly and conspicuously displayed inside the restaurant are now difficult to see as the second hand rancid cigarette smoke thickens like a deep fog. You soon begin to cough and splutter as your eyes water and your nasal passages become blocked.

Yes, this scenario has been exaggerated somewhat but the underlying message is there. Smokers need to be more considerate of others, especially inside an enclosed, air conditioned restaurant. Surely it is no great imposition for a smoker to walk outside to satisfy their nicotine cravings or to choose an open-air restaurant to indulge in their life threatening habits. Pattaya has an abundance of open-air eateries.

We all go to restaurants to satisfy our hunger for food, not to be subjected to another person’s unhealthy practices.

Mick from Down Under

Report baht bus bullies

Sir;

Last week I boarded a baht bus on regular route at Big C, car number 606. I handed over the ordinary fare of 5 baht in 1 baht coins.

What happened? This demon-driver threw the coins violently and brutally right in my face. I was of course immediately just only shocked and confused. What to do? I realized that this was one of those spineless, shamelessly strange people who are allowed to work in a public transport system.

I tried in vain to remind him that the fare on regular routes within Pattaya is actually five baht. I speak fluent Thai but that seemed to make this monster even more aggressive so I had to endure a barrage of insults in Thai.

I gave up the idea of solving the problem with the savage and tried to cross the road. Then the criminal backed the car in an obvious attempt to obstruct me crossing. When I managed to cross he continued his threats and insults. But I disappeared into the shopping plaza.

I left and walked southwards on Second Road. Suddenly the criminal bully in the blue baht bus 606 appeared and threw a full bottle of water at me. But missed.

I felt that enough was enough. I made a report to police on duty and authorities who deal with enforcing the behavior baht bus drivers. This bully driver will be fined or fired. Thank God for justice.

I would like to appeal and suggest to all foreigners visiting or living in Pattaya to do the same thing as I did and will always do. Make a report to the tourist police or phone 038-727 500 as soon as you experience any trouble with reckless and dishonest baht bus drivers. Please do that not only for yourself but to help protect tourists and foreigners living here from future danger. I say we should "crash the baht bus bullies."

(Name supplied)

This is a free country

Dear Editor,

In issue 38 you published a letter from (Dutchman) Al Deins "Shameful t-shirt sales" about the Bin Laden portraits trade. It is again an old topic rising, why only Thais have to cry about their victims of rebels, Japanese about their victims of atom bomb strike, Russians about their sons who lost their lives in Chechnya, Europeans about their losses in floods, also Yugoslavs, Africans, Vietnamese, Afghanis. Every nation has its own sorrow and has to carry out lessons from it.

Stop about it. Look more practical. There is free market. And there is tender of darn Usama’s portraits. According to the rules of free market development, there should be demand on his portraits. Authorities can suppress traders but they will never suppress folk’s thoughts. And the thoughts are not in favour of your country as you see. Pattaya is a multinational city and Islam’s are in minority here as well as your countrymen. You don’t have to generate public opinion polls just come out to the street and see with your eyes.

It is not shameful t-shirt sales but shameful and ignorant attitudes. If you proclaim freedom, get it full. Here is the free country, free market and free people’s opinions. Or you believe only your country deserves freedom?

Amasu Nedal

Looking for a long lost mate

Dear Sir:

I was stationed in Thailand for a year in 1968 and part of 69. I had a wonderful time there and was very fortunate to have met a wonderful girl named Puongtong Suvannachote. Her family was from Chonburi and we made several trips there from my post i Sattahip. After my tour was over I returned home but never forgot her. Have you any ideas? I will appreciate any help you can offer.

Thanks,

Dennis B. Freeman

Death Railway and Hellfire Pass

Dear Sir,

I refer to the article in the Pattaya Mail of 30 August concerning the Death Railway and Hellfire Pass.

Without in any way diminishing the contribution Rod Beattie has made to the restoration of the Hellfire Pass site and the exploration of nearby areas, I find it somewhat astounding that neither Mr. Beattie nor your writer makes any mention of the work of the Australian-Thai Chamber of Commerce in this regard. Indeed, it was the Chamber, under former President Ken Bradley, that not only undertook the initial clearing and restoration of the Hellfire Pass site in the late 1980’s, but actually re-discovered it. Mr. Beattie’s own work in the mid-1990’s was undertaken at the behest of the Chamber - and funded by the Chamber.

Throughout the 1990’s the Australian-Thai Chamber carried out multiple works at Hellfire Pass, including clearing, maintenance, restoration of tracks, the construction of paths and stairways, etc. Funding came from donations by veterans organizations in Australia plus proceeds from sale of the Hellfire Pass book produced by the Chamber and sold at the site. The Chamber continued to do this until the site was taken over by the Australian government and the current memorial building constructed in the late 1990’s.

The Chamber still raises funds from sales of its book at the memorial (which book is not to be confused with certain unauthorized copies on sale elsewhere). Proceeds are now used for community service projects at nearby schools. These projects include a small library building at one school, a kitchen at another, provision of kitchen equipment, new doors, lighting, and a myriad of small improvements.

Information on the role of the Chamber at Hellfire Pass, past and present, can be obtained from the Chamber on 0 2210 0216-8 or by email austcham @loxinfo.co.th

The current Committee is headed by Mr. David Wright.

Yours sincerely,

Gary White

Ausctham Hellfire Pass Committee

Where is the outrage?

Editor;

I read with despair your recent article titled "Mother of the one-day-old baby found dead earlier this month was herself found dead". Two lives destroyed by nothing more than complete and utter poverty.

Thailand is not a basket case 3rd world country; this just should not happen. Where is the outrage? Where is the concern? Surely incidents like this should be of greater embarrassment to the government than lewd shows and foreign businesses ownership?

Hoping for a better future for Thailand.

R. Hardy

Brisbane, Australia