kwilco

"If a beachfront well is too deep the water can become salty" is not the specific cause of saltwater intrusion or beachfront even. There are various causes. What you experience is not universal.

THe freshwater aquifer is not at one level - it is a wavy layer and may not even exist in some areas. There are 4 basic soils on Samui and characteristics can vary within relatively short distances, and local variations can occur within that. Sandy soil is by far the best for filtering out bacteria and pollutants - that's why they use stuff like that on sewage farms.

Wells on Samui - which has a sandy composition are bored to varying depths into the aquifer. How the aquifer is supplied in not just depth. THe problem of salt water intrusion depends on things like storm surges and sea inundation. BUT also is you take large amounts of freshwater out of the aquifer it can be replaced by salt water is the levels change to much. The other problem for the freshwater aquifer is pollution from unsuitable garbage disposal. Many houses have neither main water nor drainage and use sceptic tanks and soak-aways. These work up to a point but if overloaded then they cause problems.

Please explain. Tofu has a higher protein content than milk. as for other foods above, they are more suited to growing i the tropics. Remember milk was not readily available in Thailand too....until an industry was set up About 40 years ago.. How many dairy farms do you see around Thailand? What's your favourite Thai cheese?

here are some alternatives.... In the tropics dairy farming is limited, there are alternatives to milk that can provide proteins and calcium for growing kids.: Some are natural some like milk are processed… Plant-based milk alternatives: Plant-based milks such as soy milk, almond milk, coconut milk, and oat milk are commonly available in many regions. They are even fortified with calcium and other nutrients to make them nutritionally similar to cow's milk. Soy products: As well as soy milk, soy-based products like tofu, can be excellent sources of protein and calcium. These can be used in various dishes, including stir-fries, soups, and salads. Greens: Vegetables like kale, spinach, collard greens, and pok choy are rich in calcium. They can be included in meals, salads, or blended into smoothies to increase calcium intake Pulses: Beans, lentils, chickpeas, and other legumes are excellent sources of plant-based protein. Easy to keep and cook yet not that common in Thai cuisine. Nuts and seeds: ­nuts and seeds are packed with protein and minerals like calcium. They can be consumed as snacks, added to other dishes, cereals or smoothies, or used as ingredients in recipes. Grains: Whole grains like quinoa, amaranth, and fortified cereals can contribute to a child's protein and calcium intake. These can be used as side dishes, in salads, or as a base for porridges. You can fortify fruit juices Some juices, particularly orange juice, may be fortified with calcium and vitamin D, which are essential for bone health. You can use juices with minimal added sugars.

Rather than just pick out milk, they should look at the general diet offered to kids - There is plenty of protein and calcium available without just using milk.. Milk is not. naturally occurring food in the tropics but I'm sure there are alternatives.

they are also a lot more hairy - what are they adding to cattle feed that comes out in dairy products and meat???

Cows milk..... Although for most people milk is not inherently bad for them it has drawbacks. .It is a good source of protein, calcium, and other nutrients. but there are also potential health risks. Milk contains a lot of saturated fats - it is basically a suspension of animal fat in water., which may contribute to heart disease. Some people are allergic to milk, and drinking milk can cause symptoms such as hives, swelling, and difficulty breathing.. Lactose intolerance: Lactose is a sugar found in milk, and many people are unable to digest it properly. This causes symptoms such as bloating, gas, and diarrhoea. Inflammation: Studies have shown that milk can increase inflammation in the body. This is a concern for people with autoimmune diseases and other conditions that are associated with inflammation. Health risks of milk are often underplayed as milk is so common in the West. Health risks also vary with the kind of milk you drink. For example, whole milk is higher in saturated fat than skim milk. For some people, goats milk and other types might be easier to digest for those who are lactose intolerant. Drinking too much milk can increase your intake of saturated fat and calories. Notice how in the states obesity kicks in once people hit 25 years and continue to consume huge amounts of milk.

This is a very sweeping comment What kind of milk ?- Humans are the only mammals that drink milk after being weened. Historically about half the world is lactose intolerant.

So what's this? An OP by the Thai milk marketing board?

as far back as the 1970s and 80s it was predicted that wars of this century would be fought over water rather than oil.

Certainly run off is a problem especially as a result of building roads and housing. Also a major source of water for inducidual housing in the aquifer and also some communal wells as well. Apart from water shortage there is also potential for subsidence. I think the pipeline supplies somewhere between half and 2 thirds of the island's water...or that is the intention.... whether or not that caters for the future I couldn't say ...

There is now a mains water pipeline supplying Samui from the mainland It was completed in 2022. It was expected to help mitigate the problem of freshwater scarcity in Koh Samui, which has been a major issue for years. There have always been water shortages on Samui – an island that had a tiny population until the tourists started arriving in numbers in the 1980s/90s by 2019 rising to around 2.7 million per annum is bound to have problems. The reservoir for the pipeline is located in Surat Thani Province It is hoped it will supply about 70% of the water to Koh Samui. But this year El Niño promises drought throughout Thailand and so even the new sources of water for the island will have to be restricted. Many people on Samui get their water by boring down into the sandy water table. Unfortunately that is becoming less accessible and some of the water table has been polluted by the massive garbage back up at the improperly prepared tip in near the border of Maret and Namaeung. The tankers around the island usually fill from reservoirs. The reservoirs on the isand need constant dredging dur=e to the silt from run-off from the hills. The other tankers you see are the ones that empty sceptic tanks and other waste systems – the big question is where they dispose of their toxic cargos…

This is not true - the amount of water thrown is less than a single days rain and only in a few restricted areas - just look at the roads during Songkhran to get an idea of how much is used. compared to that used by industry or tourism, hotels etc. on a single day it pales into insignificance.

Thailand is a major generator of plastic waste. In 2020, the country generated an estimated 2 million tonnes of plastic waste, ranking it 10th in the world. Of this amount, only about 500,000 tonnes was properly retrieved and recycled. The remaining 1.5 million tonnes was either mismanaged or disposed of in landfills.

Like they did with Pol Pot????

So as ever a banal comment from you - You' were OK with Pol Pot. then?

'bout time, eh?

Myanmar is looking more and more like Cambodia under Pol Pot. Thailand ignored that too...

to improve road safety you have to adopt the "Safe System" - and the 5 precepts. The "5 Es" of Implementation: To successfully implement the Safe System, the following five principles, often referred to as the "5 Es," must be implemented: Engineering: Focus on designing safe vehicles and roads. Education: Emphasize road safety education in schools, through testing, public information campaigns, and lifelong learning. Enforcement: Strengthen law enforcement through trained police, an effective court system, practical legislation, and penalties. Emergency: Ensure the presence of well-trained first responders and establish universal emergency response systems and hospital departments. Evaluation: Conduct examinations, measurements, and calibrations of crash scenes, and compile internationally recognized statistics.

This isn't lack of funds - someone is clearly syphoning off money.

The Title of this thread is “What can be done to make Thai roads safer?” The first thing we notice is your comments are cliched and have been rolled out before for over 30 years. The effect they have had on road safety statistics in Thailand is ZERO – therefore it is safe to conclude they have no effect. The problem with successive governments is reflected in the comments on this thread – a gross lack of knowledge of the sciences of road safety. Many countries have reduced their road safety records from figures similar to Thailand to single figures and are now looking at a zero option in road safety….what have they done? They have given up the idea of blaming “bad drivers” racial stereotypes and single issues. They realise that road safety is a public health problem and they need to take a holistic approach to at entire driving environment. All some posters are doing is regurgitating clichés and anecdotes (“I saw this and I saw that”) but they are not analysing why, they are just jumping to baseless conclusions and assumptions with no real evidence. History has shown us that this is patently NOT how to make Thai roads safer. It’s all been said before and to no effect. Nothing has changed for 3 decades. We need to realise this and take a scientific approach based on evidence and logic. We can actually see how other countries have successfully approached the problem (and the ones that haven’t) – then we can address the problem. Like many on this thread, the Thai authorities have fallen short of understanding the problem and in a “Dunning Kruger” fashion failed to realise their own inadequacies and instead stuck with their own erroneous prejudices and instincts that do nothing but prolong the status quo

you haven't even approached the question of WHY? - all you have done is suggested a facile prejudged point of view based on a total lack of appreciation of the topic which you support with anecdotal evidence that you don't seem to realise is of no value. THe plural of anecdote is not data. I'm sorry to say to don't appear to have done the intellectual groundwork to voice anything close to an intelligent appraisal of the situation. This is why very little progress has been made over the past 3 decades - you are part of the problem, not the solution.

Not even close! It is clear from this that you have no concept whatsoever how to do anything about road safety in Thailand. It is this profound lack of understanding and thought with a blind reliance of prejudice and assumption that contribute to the lack of change in Thailand's roads

I HAVE read the road traffic act and most of the amendments. I also have the ability to think critically, and have a huge experience of road safety. I can tell when someone hasn't made sense of what they've read - you apparently can't. all you have done is make claims that all Thai people are ignorant. You are implying that because you have read the Thai Highway laws dated 1979, you have drawn to conclusion that Thai people are ignorant and this is why road safety is so bad in Thailand. It would be hard to find a more facile argument about road safety. Road safety is a science and is dependant on so much more than one persons false dichotomy. all you are doing is pandering to an innate racist sense of self-superiority