dinsdale

Nup. Not very obsessed. Not even obsessed. Not sure how you come to that conclusion. I don't wear a mask and hopefully Thais will see the light and stop paying for and wearing them. They serve no purpose. Worn properly, worn improperly or not at all it's all the same. Covid-19 is an airborne virus. Masks will stop spittle and that's about it. The virus will happily escape the mask through breath. I've always had a bit of a giggle when I see people lining up at the local shabu restaurant all wearing masks, all crowded together and then the masks get taken off when they're inside. Pretty pointless really and as more information comes out may have been completely useless from the very beginning.

What a silly comment. The pandemic is over, this is a fact, and mask wearing is not necessary, this is also a fact.

It is not necessary to wear a mask in 711, Lotus'ssssss, BigC etc, however, it's mandated that the staff do. As for the "coughing in the ear" I have seen since the beginning of this thing sooooo many Thais pulling their masks down to sneeze. Sad truth is that most Thais are just sheeple and have absolutely no idea about the reality of mask mearing (absolutely no longer necessary) and the reality vis a vis Omicron. I was in a 7 the other day and a Thai had forgotton their mask. Pulled up their shirt to cover mouth and nose. Absolutely no idea but trying to do what is still considered to be the right thing to do. Girl at 7 told him to nevermind. You do not have to wear a mask.

Yep. The pandemic is over everywhere. It's now endemic. No need for masks that don't work and no need for boosters unless you are at risk then you should also be getting a flu vaccine. It's been pretty much over since Omicron kicked out Delta. Few weeks ago had a shocking head cold or maybe it was Omicron for the 2nd time. Didn't test. What's the point. It was all over in a few days. I've been posting for some time now to TAKE OFF THE MASKS. Wearing a mask or not wearing a mask is exactly the same. I guess the warehouses are still full and there are profits still to be made.

Yes mental health is a serious issue but a spoilt manchild is down to society. Plenty of examples of this when a so called adult throws a baby tantrum, has a gun and kills or shoots to kill. No gun? Nevermind a knife will do. This is more than just a mental health issue. Even the PM Prayut has thrown tantrums.

Misleading headline. This is only a sample but I would be suprised if only 80% had been infected.. Some didn't get infected, some were asymptomatic, some had minor symptoms, some had severe symptoms and some died. Some reported and some didn't. No idea when this figure comes from but I would suggest that a figure of around 100% exposure would be close to the mark now. Omicron is super infectious, endemic and not life threatening to the majority of people. For me I tested positive for 10 days, wasn't too good on day zero, better day 1 and pretty much all over by day 3 except for extreme bouts of tiredness.

I support their actions only in that what alternatives do they have that is not a financial negative to them. As I have previously posted there are times that the cost of production of rice has been greater than the price recieved for the crop. A net loss. Big stick or carrot approach? Big stick will not work. Curfew? Well this is some thought bubble of an empty headed idiot. Carrot? Subsidies, assistance etc for the farmers is the correct direction but the govt does nothing. Blame the farmer or blame the govt? As for illegal burning in forrested areas this does need the big stick but who is doing the burning and how well connected they are is an altogether other issue.

Agree but it's helping them that's needed. Do the farmers want to burn or is it they see no sound finacial alternative?

I guess the poor farmers dont have children that need food on the table. Get a grip. Change is needed it's undeniable but punitive measures WILL NOT work.

You say apologist I say I understand where the (rice) farmers are coming from. I am not advocating in any way. As for the few there are some 3,700,000 rice farming households in Thailand. Some of these would be super rich and some rather poor. Burning is the easiest for the poor. It's quite simple in this respect. Change is what is needed and as I have stated the govt needs to subsidise. If you think this is being an apologist for the few then your entitled to your point of view.

This is a total misreading of what I am saying. Please show me one of my posts where I have said burning should continue. What I have been doing is trying to point out WHY burning continues.

Sufficiency Economic Philosophy which is practiced by many is meant to be sustainable. I will link the document again that I posted previously on rice straw burning. It is very informative. It is as you say the age of information so for anyone who wishes to be be informed here it is....again... ALTERNATIVES TO OPEN-FIELD BURNING ON PADDY FARMS https://www.siani.se/wp-content/uploads/files/profile/key_papers/alternatives_to_open_field_burning_on_paddy_farms.pdf

No you didn't say fine them. Your idea is to deny them the abilty to make income and food from their land for a year. A big hit to the wealthy farmers with 100's of rai but I would suggest absolutely crippling for the small farmer. The 26,000 air related deaths is indeed a bad statistic but with your method another stat may well be farmer suicides after being denied use of their land.

There are other regions where 2 crops a year are possible because these places have access to irrigation. Generally the 1st crop is sold and the 2nd is mainly for domestic consumption. So not just greedy famers but yes these areas do burn off.

Good idea. Stop all rice, sugar etc production immidialtely. Well thought out comment.

I just found this. Quite interesting and worth a read to put some things into perspective. https://www.siani.se/wp-content/uploads/files/profile/key_papers/alternatives_to_open_field_burning_on_paddy_farms.pdf

People's health Vs People's livelihoods. It's an interesting ethical and moral dilemma. As for your analogy I remember an article about a teenager being beheaded and a boy having his hand chopped off for 'stealing' some bread out of a supermarket bin. They did what they did because they had no food.

I can only speak for rice but the paddy does need to be prepared for planting. Burning is done to get rid of the rice straw and control weeds and it is thought to help with the next crop. The straw can be ploughed in but from what I know there is a possibilty of damage to the plough disc (which the farmers would have to pay for) and that the straw in the ground is not ideal when it comes to planting. Neighbouring countries must also be considered as wind and smoke are not bound by borders. The straw could be harvested but this is an extra cost and there would need to be a market for it. If farmers still used buffalo it could I guess be used as fodder but this is no longer the case as farming proccesses are for the most part mechanised. Burning is considered the cheapest and thought of as beneficial. It's how to change this way of thinking and the practice of doing it that needs to be tackled not only in Thailand but Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar before any real progress can be made .....IMO.

You are advocating taking income and food away from some of the poorest people in the land. Burning is the cheapest way. As it is depending on the price of rice the cost of production can be higher than the incoming money from sales. A net loss in other words. Margins are always thin for rice producers and many farmers only have a few rai so they they don't make much money or sometimes lose money. Your suggestion would see these families who already struggle be put into abject poverty. Rice farmers need to be subsidised for a cleaner way to deal with their paddy fields post harvest and pre-planting rather than have draconian penalties placed upon them.

Hopefully after Songkran Thais will stop wearing masks. I'm not talking about tourist Thailand I'm talking about the rest of Thailand. Almost 100% where I am wear masks and of that 100%, 100% would not wear masks at home. Will Songkran make a difference or will the old covid fear mongering come in so the profits can still be made from selling masks?

Seems you don't understand that being correct and trying to be clever are two different things.

If little fatty really wants people to laugh maybe "No more corruption" would be better.

If you keep taking eyes you end up with "the one eyed man is king among the blind."

Not being clever just correct.

Let's not try to be too clever. You might get something wrong. It is extrajudicial not judicial and this was not extrajudicial. Thaksin's war on drugs involved extrajudicial killings.