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Red Cross proving disaster relief to flood victims

Sawanit Kongsiri, Assistant Secretary General for External Relations for the Thai Red Cross Society, shares the history of the Red Cross in Thailand and its many activities.

The Thai Red Cross Society provides disaster assistance to flood victims. This was the topic of Sawanit Kongsiri, Assistant Secretary General for External Relations for the Thai Red Cross Society, when he spoke to the Pattaya City Expats Club at their November 13 meeting.

Club Chairman Michel de Goumois introduced Sawanit noting he has had a distinguished diplomatic career, having served as Thailand’s ambassador to several countries including China and Australia and has also held several posts in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs including Deputy Permanent Secretary.

Sue K. of Pattaya Mail TV interviews Sawanit after his excellent presentation.

Sawanit gave some background on the Thai Red Cross Society and the worldwide Red Cross and Red Crescent organizations, which are represented in some fashion in most countries. The Thai Red Cross Society was founded over 117 years ago and its Council President is Her Majesty Queen Sirikit. The Executive Vice President is H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. Red Cross and Red Crescent societies are guided by seven fundamental principles: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity, and Universality.

He then described the four core areas of the Thai Red Cross Society; those being (1) Medical and health care services, (2) Disaster preparedness and response, (3) Blood transfusion services, and (4) Quality of life promotion.

He pointed out that they operate two teaching hospitals; one in Bangkok and the other in Sriracha. They also have 12 centers throughout Thailand for blood donations. In promoting the quality of life, he stated that they do this mostly in rural areas to help the elderly and disabled. They also produce snake anti-venom for all of Thailand.

Sawanit then got into the heart of his topic, the devastating floods in Thailand and the assistance being provided by the Thai Red Cross Society through its volunteers. With the aid of pictures, he described their various activities to assist flood victims. He also pointed out they also wear the distinctive Red Cross to show that they are there to provide assistance and do not represent any particular government agency or political party.

The Amari provides a sumptuous buffet with red and white rice and omelets cooked to order, for Pattaya City Expats members and guests.

One of their activities is the Mobile Medical Units. These are flat bottom boats that can travel in the flooded regions; they are staffed with a doctor, nurse, and pharmacist to provide medical and health care.

Red Cross Relief Kits are also being distributed by many volunteers. These kits contain many things including non perishable food and other essential items. He noted that in preparing the kits, they take into consideration the area where they will be distributed. For example, in the Northeast, they provide sticky rice instead of regular rice. Each kit is also in a plastic bag that can float. These items are transported by large trucks that were provided by various companies and others to aid in the relief effort. He pointed out in several of the pictures, the volunteers were wearing red Coca Cola T-shirts; this was because Coca Cola sent many of their employees to assist as volunteers.

Mobile Kitchen Units are also set up and can provide hot food for many. He again mentioned that all of this is done by volunteers. In one location that was close to a prison, he said the warden allowed prisoners to volunteer to help with the kitchen. He also described how they had set up areas where volunteers pack the relief items in assembly line fashion. Much of the items are donated and these volunteers take special care to ensure that items are not past their “use by” date. They also have available if needed, mobile water purification trucks. Likewise, they have the Vejapaha, a floating clinic that was donated many years ago by His Majesty the King. However, it is of limited use at present because the flooded areas are too shallow.

Sawanit concluded by commenting on the amount of donations they have received for flood disaster assistance. As of November 11, they had received cash donations of around 406 million baht. But, they also had received many donated items of food, clothing, etc. Sawanit also pointed out that the areas where the Red Cross is assisting are not the same areas that are receiving government assistance, so that they are not working at cross purposes or duplicating effort.

After Sawanit answered many questions, Master of Ceremonies Richard Silverberg called on Pat Koester to update everyone on upcoming events and to conduct the always informative Open Forum where questions are asked and answered about living in Thailand, Pattaya in particular.


Miss International Queen visits Pattaya Mail

(L to R) Suwanthep Malhotra, Paul Strachan, Sripassorn Athayakorn, and Kamolthep Malhotra exchange pleasantries at the Pattaya Mail offices.

Manoon Makpol

The winner of this year’s Miss International Queen transvestite pageant thanked the staff of the Pattaya Mail for our support as she made her post-contest media tour of the city.

Sripassorn Athayakorn, 21, a communications arts major at Bangkok’s Ramkhamhaeng University, met with Pattaya Mail Publishing Co. business development manager Suwanthep Malhotra and employees at the paper’s Second Road office Nov. 10. The woman-of-the-second-category thanked the staff and presented a bouquet of flowers.

Company staffers chatted with Sripassorn and wished her well before presenting a commemorative Miss International Queen edition of the newspaper, which she signed with “a signature is not enough. There must be heart, too.”

Sripassorn said she never imagined she’d win the pageant and thanked the media that has followed her story. She pledged to do her best to uphold Thailand’s good reputation.


BCCT goes for the Pullman experience

Mike Diamente, Bruce Hoppe, Neil Maniquiz, Judy Hoppe and Roseanne Diamente seem to be having a wonderful time.

Dr. Iain Corness

The British Chamber of Commerce (BCCT) held their latest meeting at the Pullman Aisawan Resort on November 18. With all the traffic jams in Pattaya currently (a combination of additional traffic from Bangkok and some inexplicable restrictions put up by the Traffic Police), it was a wonder anyone managed to get through to the resort, but the hardy ones did manage it. The numbers were also swelled by the Automotive Focus Group which joined the BCCT members and friends after their meeting had concluded.

The Pullman’s GM Clinton Lovell attended, making sure everything went like clockwork, and it did. Mention must be made of the great food (and drink). The Pullman Aisawan has been setting a consistently high standard in their hospitality, and considering that the BCCT networking venue had to be changed just before the date, it made Clinton’s team effort even more outstanding.

Jerry Stewart (left) gets cooking lessons from Dusit Thani Executive Chef Adrian W. O’Herlihy.

Many new faces attended, including some networkers new to Thailand, such as Anthony Collier, who has set up a branch of his architectural business in Chonburi, with his 30 year old head office in the UK.

Looking at the fact there will be need for staff recruitment after Thailand gets over the floods and re-building commences, JAC Recruitment Eastern Seaboard had Branch Manager Wilasinee Towijit and consultant Krisana Thongbu-rarn on hand to make their presence known.

These networking evenings would not be the same without the dynamic CEA group, and this time it was Projects Director Andy Hall who represented the company.

Alain Deurwaerder enjoys a drink with Russell Pang.

The Bangkok Hospital Pattaya was represented with Neil Maniquiz explaining the heavily discounted ‘Father’s Day’ check-up packages to those who were interested.

A very busy networker was J. Bou van Kuyk, with his card suggesting that as an international business consultant he could find solutions yielding 25 percent return on investment. He ignored my B. 100 as not being the level at which he operated!

George Strampp (back from Italy) and Ron Kosinski brightened up the evening, as they always do, while BCCT Chairman Graham MacDonald ensured everyone was enjoying themselves.

One group that really did let their hair down was Dr. Iain (celebrating his 70th birthday that evening), wife Som and their friends from Australia John English, Rainey Cherry and Ian Munro. Peter Malhotra, MD of the Pattaya Mail Media Group gave an eloquent speech about Dr. Iain’s contribution to the Pattaya Mail and to Pattaya itself, after which Clinton Lovell arranged a cake in less than five minutes! It was demolished in even shorter time!

For those who missed this very good networking evening, the next BCCT event will be a joint networking with the Australian-Thai Chamber of Commerce on December 9 at the Amari.

Clinton Lovell GM of the Aisawan Pullman presents the winner with his lucky draw prize.

Dr. Iain Corness (2nd left) entertains his long time friends from Oz, Ian Munro, John English and Rainey Cherry.

Graham Macdonald congratulates the birthday boys, Maurice Bromley and Dr. Iain.

Som is moved as the Doc beams on being presented with his birthday cake.

Maurice Bromley is a happy fellow with wife Renita and Som Corness in his arms.

Nigel Quinnell loves to pose with pretty girls.

Boys about town, John Hamilton, Craig Muldoon, Garry Irvin, Peter Malhotra and Paul Strachan.


HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]

Red Cross proving disaster relief to flood victims

Miss International Queen visits Pattaya Mail

BCCT goes for the Pullman experience
 

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