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Meechai inspires students at Asian University
Asian University’s Summer University started on August 4
with a traditional welcome and Bi See candle lit ceremony. This year
students have come from nine different countries in four continents and are
here to learn about Thai culture and the way business is conducted in the
region.
 Meechai
presents his amusing and informative speech.
So far they have enjoyed an introduction to Thai boxing, several lectures on
Thailand and its culture, and presentations of “My Thailand” from the Asian
University students’ perspective. On Wednesday evening, the visitors put on
presentations about their home countries, and the Thais were able to learn
about ways of life elsewhere. The guests treated everyone to samples of food
and drink from different parts of the world; it seems beer from anywhere is
welcome, but licorice sweets from Germany are an acquired taste!
As a part of this year’s Asian Experience, on August 5, Asian University
welcomed Meechai Viravaidya (known to many Thais as Mr. Condom) to speak on
some of the many activities he has been involved in.
Mechai was introduced by Dr Viphandh Roengpithya (Dr. Vip), the university
president, and Keith Cheeseborough, the director of the Summer University
programme. The presentation was entitled “Thinking out of the Box and taking
No as a Question”.
 Pedro
and Poppy learn Thai boxing.
The presentation was in four sections starting with Population. In 1974 the
average Thai family had 7 children, but as a result of Meechai’s Population
and Community Development Association (PDA) campaigns this had fallen to 1.2
children per family by 2005. A large family just meant sharing everything
between more people which was always going to lead to poverty. Mechai also
explained that it was necessary to think differently, not just copy western
ideas. Thailand’s medical services were already stretched, so why couldn’t
contraceptive pills be handed out or sold by trained nurses, or even trained
shopkeepers, hairdressers, dressmakers, etc? Even caddies, monks and the
police (the Cops and Rubbers campaign) were engaged to promote the use of
contraceptives. Interestingly, this programme began in the Banglamung area,
which includes Pattaya, before spreading throughout the countryside.
 Meechai
Viravaidya and Dr Viphandh Roengpithya share joke before the presentation.
The second part of the talk was centred on HIV and AIDS, and the campaigns
to prevent infection. Meechai explained his problems with the government of
the day, which denied there was a problem, but when a new government was
installed under Anand Panyarachun, he became a Minister and with Anand’s
support was able to promote the use of condoms, and safe sex. Mechai
referred to condoms as weapons of mass protection!
The third part was how to get rid of poverty. Mechai stressed that
population control is only part of the story. To get out of the poverty trap
people do not need handouts, they need to be taught how to run businesses
and have access to credit. With no collateral this has been difficult, but
local schemes were established to allow the poorer people to borrow money at
reasonable rates of interest and, if they hit repayment problems, they were
able to offer their labour as a form of security.
The fourth part of the presentation focused on non-governmental
organisations and how they can - and should - survive without always begging
for money.
The restaurants (Cabbages and Condoms), resorts, hotels and shops operated
by PDA have become well known, and successful in raising money to help the
projects. So it is appropriate that the farewell dinner for the Summer
University this year is scheduled to be held at the Cabbages and Condoms
restaurant in Bangkok.
One of the Summer University visitors, Deb, who is from Australia, thanked
Mechai and gave him a small gift. Dr. Vip also gave his friend Mechai a gift
to thank him for coming to the university.
Learning Thai dance from Ajarn Apple.
Fun at the international
night.
Kids treated to screening of famous movie
Vimolrat Singnikorn
More than 200 underprivileged children attended the movie of the
year, Nueng Jai Diew Kan (Where the Miracle Happens), for a Mother’s Day
celebration arranged on August 1 by AIS in cooperation with Major
Cineplex.
The students were from Banglamung Home for Boys, Wat Praprathanporn
School and Wanpiboon Sanhatham School, and were accompanied by school
staff.
Suchot Trilaksanawan, manager of the AIS Service Office in Sriracha said
that the special showing had been arranged for the youngsters because of
the popularity of the film and because of the strong moral background to
the story, which it was felt would have a beneficial influence.
The cinema visit, organized as an early celebration of National Mother’s
Day, which occurs on August 12, was free of charge and included lunch
for the children, provided by AIS.
Nueng Jai Diew Kan is a Thai film produced by Her Royal Highness
Princess Ubolratana and directed by Sirippakorn Wongjariyawat. Her Royal
Highness is the leading actress, with other key members of the cast
including Sukolawat Kanarot, Siraphan Wattanajinda, Nisarat Apiradee,
Sinam Sunthon, Rong Kaomulkadee, Somchai Sakdikul, and Wittaya Jaetapai.
The film is based on a story in the book written by Her Royal Highness,
Rueng San Tee Chan Kit (Short Stories From My Thoughts), about a woman
who tried to find real happiness in life, starting out from the Paing
Luang School, a small school surrounded by nature.
Nueng Jai Diew Kan was released on May 12, 2007 at the Aksara Theater at
the King Power Complex. Income from the film will be donated to the
Miracle of Life Project, with the aim of supporting the education of
underprivileged children and others who lack opportunities in society.
The film was screened at Cannes in France on May 15 of this year, and
has also been shown in Paris.
In addition to the visit for Pattaya’s youngsters, AIS organized a
special program for their customers to take their mothers for a free
showing of the film at various locations throughout the country, on
August 2, 3 and 6.
Children soak in the film
Nueng Jai Diew Kan (Where the Miracle Happens)
on the occasion of National Mother’s Day.
Yeah! Let’s go see a
movie!
Pattaya School No 7 stages walking rally to promote accident prevention
During the event, students
learn how to care
for accident victims before help arrives.
Fun and games are all part
of the learning process.
Students piece together a
puzzle teaching them
the consequences of carelessness whilst driving.
Grouped into teams, the
teens fill out questionnaires
to test their knowledge on road safety.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Pattaya School No 7 in cooperation with the Pattaya City
Prevention and Control of Non Communicable Diseases Office organized a
walking rally on July 25 to promote accident prevention, following a
study of accident records that revealed that on average, two to three
students are involved in accidents every month.
Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh opened the event, which started at School
No 7, with more than 200 high school students participating.
Lt Pitak Thongsuk, a physician from Queen Sirikit Hospital said that
there are four main causes of accidents involving high school students,
namely personal carelessness, vehicle driving, road use, and the
environment.
Over 90 percent of Pattaya City high school students go to school in
some kind of vehicle, and over 80 percent are riding motorbikes to
school.
Pattaya School No 7 students are involved in some kind of accident two
to three times every month, and the school administrators have become
seriously concerned about finding a way to reduce this statistic.
As a result, the walk rally was organized between the school and the
Pattaya City Prevention and Control of Non Communicable Diseases Office.
Policewoman Capt Pornpana Chothai, who is a nurse with the Non
Communicable Diseases Office said that traffic accidents are a serious
problem nationwide. So far this year, 12,492 people have been killed,
and 15,989 people injured in accidents. Most of those injured were
between 17 and 35 years of age, and the main causes of the accidents and
resulting injuries were drunk driving, speeding, reckless driving, and
not wearing a helmet. The most dangerous and accident-prone vehicles are
motorcycles.
A similar walking rally has also been held at Pattaya School No 6.
Many great items to go under the hammer
Jesters Care for Kids Party Night and Auction, Saturday 20th September 2008
Mott The Dog
Yes folks, it’s that time of year again. Once this year’s Jesters Care
for Kids Fair day at the Diana Driving Range and Resort is over on
Sunday 14th September, the following weekend on Saturday 20th September
is the Jesters Care for Kids Party Night at Jameson’s The Irish Pub.
 Item
Code 0005: Signed Framed Photo of Paula Creamer - named LPGA Rookie of
the Year in 2005 and currently has four wins on the LPGA Tour and six
total professional wins. Donated by Steve Ryser.
Kicking off at 6.30 p.m. with music, magic, dancing, and football
watching. Interspersed during the evening will be raffle ticket sales
for the magnificent Jesters Charity Drive Raffle with prizes including
airline tickets, motorbikes and flat screen TVs, with the ticket numbers
being drawn about 11 o’clock in the evening. You do not have to be there
to collect your prize, and if you so wish the wonderful Four Winds
removal company will deliver your winnings to your home for you.
Also during the night for our eleventh year running will be our grand
auction, this year being the most magnificent yet. Some of the items
included in the Auction are:
Item A00 Led Zeppelin’s Mothership Double CD
Item 0005 A signed Photo of Paula Cramer
Item 0010 Manchester United football
Item 0017 The signed Booby Charlton Autobiography
Item 0040 Cricket Memorabilia
Item 0044 Rice Straw Artwork
Item 0053 Jesters Care for Kids Helmets
Item 0018 Chinaman by Stephen Leather
These are just a selection of items from over sixty (with more items
being added daily along with new bids for items, which keeps the site
very active, and worth catching up with at least once a week) that we
have on offer, all with full authentication. To see a full list of all
the items please go to our Jesters Care for Kids Auction website at
either www. care4kids.info or www. jamesons-pattaya.com or 17 other
websites around Pattaya which carry links to our auction site.
We also have sixteen signed Premiership Football shirts, some great
items of furniture, several items of golf memorabilia, and many signed
CDs from some of the world’s great rock bands. There is pretty much
something for everybody. On the website there are even plenty of videos
for you to watch as you peruse your choices. The bidding has already
started and you can make your bids on your favorite item right now on
line. The bidding system is very user friendly, you will be informed if
your bid is successful, and of course Fourwinds will deliver your item
to your door as long as you live in Thailand.
 Item
Code A00: Led Zeppelin’s latest Greatest Hits Collection ‘Mothership’.
All songs have been sonically remastered by John Davis, and the whole
thing produced by Jimmy Page. The album has also been signed by Jimmy
Page with the words ‘Rock On Jimmy Page’ on the front and back cover and
Disc One. Donated by Peter Makowski.
But it is always much more fun to actually come to the Party Night at
Jameson’s and join in with the merry making.
Last year we raised nearly 500,000 baht with the auction with some items
being bid off for 500 baht or even less, whilst others of more obvious
value raised a lot of money, but again there is something for
everybody’s pocket. Of course this year we would like to raise more than
last year, and you can see where are all the much needed donations go by
logging onto our weekly updated website at www. care4kids.info which
will keep you up to date with all things with the Jesters Care for Kids
Charity Drive 2008.
Hope to see you all at the Fair at the Diana Driving Range and Resort on
Sunday 14th September, where there will be a stall displaying all the
auction items, and at the Party Night at Jameson’s on Saturday 20th
September to find out who made the winning bids. Of course I also hope
to hear from you in the meantime bidding from the auction site.
News Flash: The Canadian Jackalope Open charity golf tournament
has added to their Platinum Sponsorship (100,000 baht), and have now
become the fourth Diamond Sponsor (400,000 baht) for the Jester’s Care
for Kids Charity Drive 2008.
Item Code 0010: Manchester
United football signed by the current team with complete Authenticity
Pack. Donated by Mike Axford.
Item Code 0017: Sir Bobby
Charlton’s new book ‘My Manchester United Years’, signed by the great
man himself to the Jesters Care for Kids Charity Drive 2008. Donated by
Stephen Leather.
Item Code 0053: Fantastic
Jesters Care for Kids Airbrushed Crash Helmet - As described by the
artist - www.tatt2dude.com Donated by Steve Ponter.
Item Code 0044: Rice straw
art of ‘Lion in Grass’ from Bagan, Burma in frame 76 cm by 60 cm - A
stunning piece of artwork with a difference. With such great detail,
this would look great in anybody’s home. Donated by Bobby Taylor.
Item Code 0040: A
marvelous collection of Cricket memorabilia. The major piece, a cricket
ball signed on one side by two of the world’s greatest batsmen, Mike
Gatting and Brian Lara. On the other side the ball is signed by bowlers,
the great Shane Warne, Glen McGrath, and Anil Kumble. The collection
comes with a fine bottle of Broken Hills red or white wine from World of
Wines to sample as you appreciate these fine items. Donated by Glynn
Davies.
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