BrianCR

In similar flooding situations I have witnessed in the US, it is not unusual, it is in fact common for the government to call up National Guard forces to aid in construction, rescue, evacuation, sheltering efforts. Only the military has the cross regional organization, equipment, manpower and bases of operation to offer any really coordinated assistance to those millions affected by these floods.

edit: Also I love that first photo, showing the spirit of Thai people to face their challenges, often with no government assistance whatsoever.

Reminds me a lot of Government assistance given to New Orleans (Op's wrong Government!)

Just a small point regarding teaching qualifications. A degree and TEFL certificate (known as a non-stick frying pan certificate in the trade) does not make you a qualified teacher either, here in Thailand or in Western countries. A qualified teacher holds a teaching license (obtainable here after sitting four separate examinations). Degrees are supposed to confirm that you have the knowledge to pass on to a student but, not necessarily the knowledge of how to pass it on. Graduating in medical science gives you a degree but does not make you a doctor!! Many Westerners calling themselves teachers are completely unqualified hence, they spend their working day watching DVD's when, perhaps they could try studying child physiology using the same laptop and an on line course. Then, they might just understand the art of education!

Of course, the connection also needs to be made: if the teachers make peanuts salaries, why would anyone who had the mental skill and experience to be a physics talent, much less recognise a physics talent (as in the article) even consider being a teacher? Thailand is not the only country that makes this mistake. Pay your teachers little, watch your country wither.

It's not always true that they're making a 'peanuts salary'. The one I'm working with is the head of the English department, but she couldn't order a meal at Mc Donald's in English. She's on 59,600 baht/ month.

my friend is a unqualified teacher ,hired by a school because hes a white european and his job is to stand outside when parents are dropping off their children so they can see a farang in a suit and the school will have a bigger face

the kids play games and run riot ,he doesnt even try to teach them anymore AND THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO FAIL BECAUSE ITS An EXPENSIVE SCHOOL and theyre parents would be upset about the fees for the next term if their child didnt pass every test

if he failed them ,he would get fired anyway and someone new would take his job so he just goes in for the sake of appearance ,opens his laptop and watches dvds ,these young people are the future of thailand and more than likely will have the best positions and promotions available when they are old since their parents are already in these positions now

this is how they get the qualifictions !

so what is your point? that your "friend" is an utter fraud and a thief with little self esteem or pride, who does not even try to make good on his salary?

I know a fellow who is in the same situation, and while i do not like him, i can say that he has worked overtime to ensure that he needn't wish he could fail his children by ensuring they know the material they are supposed to know. He too is "unqualified" in the sense he has no teaching degree or tefl cert but still manages to use his DVD player as an educational tool to garner interest from his unruly students and ensure they actually do learn something.

you hold up this example of your friend as a condemnation of the Thai educational system. All i see is an example of a cynical parasite blighting an already heavily flawed system.

I too met many, nice friendly people in Thailand when I lived there (it also seemed to me the poorer they were the the nicer that they were) but it is the institutions, law enforcement, immigration and the people in power and influence that I found unpalatable. Thailand does really does have some very nice people and I like them but it is a crying shame that it is so corrupt and self serving. In many ways Thailand is a modern society, but in many ways it is still backwards and ignorant. I would like to see it change but I fear it never will! And this is why I chose not to live there anymore. I posted on another forum why I left Phuket and it ended up with people talking about the cost of beer, wines, cheese etc. Not really any of the important subjects

like this one.

If one chooses ones friends and business partners carefully you will not experience the pitfalls of many. many times it is the Westerner at fault in not trying to understand the country or it's people and by trying to assert so called Western values. Put your hands up those of you who would marry a prostitute whilst in their own Country? Now put your hands up those of you who did it here! Her fault, the countries or yours?

And people wonder why I left this godforsaken and morally bankrupt country!

Thailand makes me

Does that make Thailand a better place or you a better man?

I would like to suggest therapy for all that pent-up anger...

The typical response of the Thai apologist.

I don't see any anger. As sad as it reads, what he says is actually very close to the mark. The only addition I'd make is they don't realise they're being so.

If he is a Thai apologist, then that makes two of us. I would suggest you take your blinkers off and look around the rest of the World and then you will realise that greed (ambition if you like) is endemic in the human race. That is why we are so successful as a breed. I see many positives in the Thai way of life. The strength in the family union, which has largely broken down in many developed Counties. The willingness to smile - okay it may not be genuine all the time, but it sure as hell beats the pants off the scowls and anti social behavior you get in many other Countries. There is a lot of corruption, but it is not unique to Thailand. Remember the scandal over the British MPs allowances? One gets the impression there are quite a few members of this forum who are not happy here, or are just not happy anywhere? Take a couple of more pills, get off your lazy backsides and go see the World and try to be social - there are a lot of nice people out there, if you are prepared to be nice to them. Go on spoil yourself!:jap:

Can I make that three of us? For what its worth I have lived in the land of smiles quite freely for 30 years and have found 90% of the population to be very friendly, helpful and by and large quite well educated. I have spent many enjoyable evenings drinking cheap beers, laughing and joking and having fun with Thai friends. I've also had my banana days, such as during the collapse of the Thai Baht when I lost practically everything, only to be helped time and time again by THAI friends. I remember years ago when all foreigners staying in the kingdom for more than 90 days had to pay tax at the tax department and get a clearance before leaving. Not feeling well I went to the front of a long queue, explained to the tax lady my predicament and, after she promptly dealt with me, slid her a five hundred baht note. She promptly returned it, smiled and informed me that not everyone was corrupt, feeling very guilty I accepted it back.

The time my car blew a tyre and many Thai people came to my aid and refused to accept a payment. The time I lost my wallet and was offered money to get me home. Unlike a lot of Thai visa readers I seem to have had more good times and memories than most - I wonder could it be where you live, where you seek entertainment and who you socialize with that could be the difference?

Very good information for the public by the government.

A little disappointed it didn't include a few sentences at the end on measures people can take to prevent it.

Not to be a cynic, or perhaps it was simply the translation of the study by the newspaper and how it was presented.

1. The highlight of the study given does not support or even state a "warning" to the public. Perhaps this was journalistic flair to catch our attention, while the problem itself, IMHO, is fairly common knowledge in Thailand?

2. That the study was done from January to June this year - 6 months.

3. That the study's figures do not apparently support that small children and older people were most at risk.

4. That the most cases cited in the study were of young people 10-24 years old, thus they are seemingly the most at risk based on the data.

5. The study did not include the 2 month period cited as the most concerning due to seasonal rainfall = more mosquitoes.

As mosquitoes are the carriers, this should include information to help reduce the mosquito population such as limiting standing water breeding areas as much as possible. Especially in seasonal rain season.

Acknowledging that is difficult in Thailand, which has much standing water, then additional measures people can prevent being lanced by mosquitoes.

How the government might help by spraying in times we (all) know are high mosquito breeding times, such as the highest rainfall months cited in the study.

Then, the symptoms of infection, which was given in the article, was very good.

Could we ask the Department of Immigration to insist that all mosquitoes arriving from Laos or Burma carry a medical certificate, proving they are disease free before being given visas? This would help protect the health of the foreign community

This number is probably only from state hospitals.

Hi Jungle Jim

Just to add to your imminence knowledge of the Kingdom; the Thai Department of Health has absolute control of both Government and Private hospitals and both are obligated by law, to supply full details of all outbreaks of infectious and viral diseases including, Dengue fever, HIV, TB and others as demanded. Failure to do so can occur heavy fines and or suspension of operating license. However you can still apply for Viagra without it being reported to the Department of Health. Thank you and good night!

How about he does his full stint in prison like everyone else 'convicted' of a crime! How about being banned from politics forever no ifs or buts. This would set an example to the rich that they can't do what they please. Rich or poor - you are the same and will be treated the same.

Agree totally. The man is a convicted criminal, and very likely would have been found guilty of numerous other serious crimes if the judicial processes had continued. But any discussion / action today should / must be based on the current conviction.

He must be treated like any other convicted criminal. Special consideration for this man is totally wrong and totally unacceptable.

Anything else makes a mockery of the intent and the process of the law and creates highly undesireable precedents.

Scorecard, if you are right does that mean that the likes of Nelson Mandela - The Birmingham Six - The Cardiff Three and many others - 'all convicted' and found guilty of offenses, should have remained where they were imprisoned? Or perhaps the right of appeal should apply? So, if you agree with that, do you think that Nelson Mandela would have had an appeal upheld? Politically accused people do not have much reason to appeal when courts are controlled by those political persons who, for their own interests, have accused you of wrong-doing. Or, let me get this straight, TS is the only Prime Minister or Member of Thai Government to ever face charges so the rest are innocent right? Do you think that other politicians, suspected of a crime, should be treated like any other criminal? Thailand better start building a lot more prisons then!!

A very sad day. This is not a democracy, it is all about money.

Last night my g/f's mother confirmed that all 7 members of her family and virtually everyone in the village (Korat) received 300thb each.

It is a bloody disgrace.

Hey Swerv

Firstly, perhaps you should look in a dictionary and at the word 'corrupt' as you appear to be telling us that your family are exactly that and for Thb 300 per person? Corruption applies to both the giver and receiver and if you put your batteries in you perhaps may understand that one would not exist without the other!!

Second; I have never heard so much clap-trap from people who are obviously 'politically blind' as to the happenings in Thailand (or perhaps the world). I have lived and worked here for some 30 years and have seen (obviously acceptable by your standards) three corrupt military coups and possibly one Prime Minster who wasn't corrupt. Maybe, you can remember Chatchai (military coup) - thrown out by general Suchinda - reason corruption! Corruption is the word used for every coup I have witnessed and has never, until Taksin, ended in a prosecution. All of you Thai visa readers seem to do nothing other than write nonsense about a subject of which you obviously have very little knowledge. Possibly Taksin is corrupt (well he is according to the Thai judiciary but I don't believe in Father Xmas either), So as far as corruption goes why not prosecute all the others who, over the past 30 years have also been accused but never taken to court perhaps, over fear of what they could expose about others in defense?

Third; Taksin has done more for your Thai family (and millions of others) then anyone else before him (most of whom did nothing! For example a) social security - including medical care - pensions for other than government employees c) Thb30 hospital visits for the worst off d) OTOP - with Micro financing - helping millions of rural poor e) free education for all children up to high school level f) EP programmes introduced into Government schools - helping children compete with the better off! Now, please Thai visa readers, please tell me one other politician who has done anything for Thai people? Apart from Chatchai who, introduced the phrase, no problem, to the Thai electorate, after a massive storm killed 1000's in the south of Thailand!!!

Forth; So what is Taksin's crime? Greed! My belief is that he didn't share enough with the elite and so had to be disposed of, it is even possible that he was offered a deal regarding a non custodial sentence in exchange for not spilling the beans on the corruption in Thai politics which, after evidence had been given was back tracked on - Taksin is clever enough to now keep his mouth shut regarding others as their services will be required for his return to Thailand. Services that they will agree to offer in exchange for silence but, only after face saving has taken place all round! (Research Chatchai's return from English after the Suchinda coup)

Five; The above may have some arguable points and could be slightly off however, it will stand up to more scrutiny then just yelling nonsensical comments at others who after all, are more familiar with bar girls and various brands of Thai beer than Thai politics.

PS

I hope your family had a party with the Thb 300 they each received (tell them next time to vote with their heads and not their pockets!

By the way, that's how they get their corruption, by confusing the populous in both Thai and English languages. Whoever wrote that crap should return to the bar from which they came!!!

Did anyone understand that crap? If so, please translate for me!!!!