dcutman

Reduced output has forced farmers to bear heavier financial burdens to maintain the health of their livestock and their yield. Operators said they had to spray water on their cows as often as four times a day to cool down the animals, leading to higher utility bills.

So the lower milk yield is not about drought, but heat stress. I do believe it gets extremely hot during this time every year. Is this year that much different than any other year?

200-240 kilograms. First time i've seen milk in weight, normally in litres.

It pretty much works either way. 1 liter = 1.03kg

she said the Commerce Ministry has prepared alternative markets, such as Eastern Europe and the CLMV group, to accommodate Thai fishery products in place of the EU market.

Got to love Thai thinking. The CLMV group, really? Thailand enslaves their people, illegally fishes in their waters (except Laos).not to mention some of the poorest people in the world. I wouldnt think this group would be the ideal alternative customers.

If not for the coup, elected PM and ministers will be actively travelling and engaging in trade talks to find and expand new export markets. Unfortunately, junta PM and ministers are not welcome in many countries.

If I recall correctly the last govt did just that, quite extensively. How was the export growth during that time again?

The overwhelming stock piles of rice, measuring 18 million tonnes, is expected to be lowered to 8 million tonnes by the end of 2015.

The only why this could happen if this years crop(s) was reduced by nearly 30%.

This AP reporter must be the only person on the planet that doesn't understand how things work in the US. Corporate America are the ones that have the say on how US laws are enforced, not the govt.

And corporate America sells to the American public and the American public doesn't like slavery, so Corporate America needs to heed to gov't attempts.

Bigger fish, so to speak, than this have had to bend to the will of others. Nike, I believe was one.

Unfortunately Nike's PR campaign is most likely smoke and mirrors, and many Americans actually believe what they are being fed. Just like all the BS the US seafood wholesalers and retailers try to convince us all that their sources of supply are free of slavery and caught through sustainable practices.

Obviously we are in a lime crisis. Would not concentrated lime juice be a good alternative? TB50 per liter at Makro.

IMHO the reason is:

"oh, the Thai Baht is strong, the fish we are buying from Thailand is getting expensive, lets ban it to have the prices down. we can always blame the policies on illegal and unregulated fishing."

You of course are entitled to you opinion, but I think its a bit way off. I do believe the following article would be a more accurate concern for the EU. Its a shame more countries do not take the same stance. Some day, not in the far future, only people with great wealth will be able to eat seafood.

http://www.philau.edu/collegestudies/Documents/Elizabeth%20Jones.pdf

Currently in Thailand it's perfectly legal to sell ivory from domestic elephants. But the numbers just don't add up. Experts estimate that Thailand might legitimately have about 2,000 pounds of ivory to sell within the country, but Thai border authorities confiscate over ten tons of ivory being smuggled out of the country each year. Clearly something's amiss. http://www.takepart.com/article/2013/04/12/ivory-trade-thailand-ban-dead-elephants

Currently there it has been estimated that fewer than 5000 wild and domesticated elephants remain in Thailand. http://www.cites.org/sites/default/files/eng/com/sc/65/E-SC65-42-09.pdf

The US has it's own human-trafficking problem and deflect attention at home by calling attention to other countries problems...

The reason Thailand should continue tackling their human-trafficking problem is because it is the right thing to do for a humane society and culture...

The US ability to force their will on other countries is in decline...and that is a good thing...

The USA has many problems. But they do allow the press to be transparent about the problems, and they are proactive about correcting the problems. The USA is a large, diverse country, and any laws passed, any actions taken, must be considered carefully. The world judges the USA more than any other country. They do their best to ensure fair treatment of their legal citizens.

Possibly you have that round the wrong way, how about :

"The US judges other countries more than any other country"

And if other countries don't do what the US considers they should do they will be either sanctioned or attacked.

Possibly you should consider Thailand is completely F@#ed when it come to human trafficking. But your hatred for another country clouds your judgment.

Thailand has inquired assistance from the U.S. to send its specialist to help solve the problem effectively although such a request is yet to be responded.

If this or any one of the previous governments had ever bothered to read the report, past the ranking, there is always a section near the bottom of the report that says "recommendations".

That might be a good place to start .

One has to wonder how many of these elderly people complaining now were raised by their grandparents or other family members. Or how many of these same people had their children raised by others.

Its a very short trip to the nearest mirror when asking why your children are so screwed up.

Meanwhile security officials have not established the car bomb attack and the huge fire at Surat Thani Cooperative were related although both cases happened almost at the same time.

But a cooperative staff said electrical short circuit was likely the cause rather than arson attack.

The fire destroyed the entire food centre and warehouse building. Nobody was hurt in the inferno.

Initial damage was put at 40 million baht, mostly on cargoes which were bought and stored for sale during the Songkran festival.

The cooperative is owned by Suthep Thaugsuban, now is a monk at a temple in Surat Thani.

How coincidental. A business owned by Suthep burning down.

Many farmers are forced to grow only a single crop, which is a rising issue. It is suggested that many animal-feed companies are buying land and able to cut down forests to plant corn on the slopes. It’s recommended that these corn plantations on slopes change to local crops, such as coffee beans, to offset the immense smog in the region and put a stop to the corn burning.

Instead of suggesting things that farmers will not do, why not mandate education in modern farming practices? Obviously this guy has not took the time to read up on the hundreds of proven studies and programs to farming in these conditions without burning.

Just had a good storm rip through Hang Dong (just south of CM) I dont know about the tropical part of this storm that hit us, its down right chilly at the moment. Much appreciated.

The Labour Ministry will be bolstering its efforts to resolve human trafficking issues in a new plan, which is expected to be revealed in the very near future.

So no actual plan yet but just in the process of writing one.

It's another top priority but will this one actually come to fruition in terms of arresting those responsible ... they know who the perpetrators are so why do you need a plan or is the top priority plan just an plan to see how they can make some token arrests while leaving those responsible to carry on with impunity?

Prayut talks about trust all the time and if he really wants the trust of the people and the international community then he'll have to show that he is not cut from the same cloth as the rich and untouchables.

At this point a few token arrests would be welcome, unfortunately I dont think that is even gonna happen.

Thai delegation reported from a visit to Benjina earlier this week to find trafficked Thai nationals. They denied mistreatment on the boats and said the crews were all Thai, even though the AP found many migrant workers from other countries are issued fake documents with Thai names and addresses.

"We examined the boats and the crews, and the result is most of the crews are happy and a few of them are sick and willing to go home," said Thai police Lt. Gen. Saritchai Anekwiang, who was leading the delegation. "Generally, the boat conditions are good." http://news.yahoo.com/fishermen-rush-rescued-amid-indonesian-slavery-probe-053153555.html

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The findings documented by Indonesian officials and the AP came in stark contrast to what a Thai delegation reported from a visit to Benjina earlier this week to find trafficked Thai nationals. They denied mistreatment on the boats and said the crews were all Thai, even though the AP found many migrant workers from other countries are issued fake documents with Thai names and addresses.

"We examined the boats and the crews, and the result is most of the crews are happy and a few of them are sick and willing to go home," said Thai police Lt. Gen. Saritchai Anekwiang, who was leading the delegation. "Generally, the boat conditions are good."

http://news.yahoo.com/fishermen-rush-rescued-amid-indonesian-slavery-probe-053153555.html

Apparently Indonesian officials and the international press didnt get this report.

Happy to be held in detention when not on the trawler?

Dear general please take a look at Lt. Gen. Saritchai Anekwiang, who was leading the delegation.

Thai fishing vessels run by Thai captains owned by Thai companies operating under Thai law and this is the report we get from the men that enforces these laws. Makes me want to vomit.

The findings documented by Indonesian officials and the AP came in stark contrast to what a Thai delegation reported from a visit to Benjina earlier this week to find trafficked Thai nationals. They denied mistreatment on the boats and said the crews were all Thai, even though the AP found many migrant workers from other countries are issued fake documents with Thai names and addresses.

"We examined the boats and the crews, and the result is most of the crews are happy and a few of them are sick and willing to go home," said Thai police Lt. Gen. Saritchai Anekwiang, who was leading the delegation. "Generally, the boat conditions are good."

http://news.yahoo.com/fishermen-rush-rescued-amid-indonesian-slavery-probe-053153555.html

Apparently Indonesian officials and the international press didnt get this report.

Really!!!!

35 tons of gold is a good trade off for the possible likely destruction of the entire eco system around these islands. unfuckin believable

Are temples and it residence that tortured these bears for so long immune from prosecution for animal cruelty?