kwilco

great opportunity for the "could've, should've, would've" brigade

THwn you don't know how a Merc is built - which tallies with everything else you've said. - you speak like an American.

I amazes me that people with absolutely no evidence (or reason) are prepared to make totally outrageous comments on this fatal crash

You're trying to say "nope"? - that doesn't make sense.

So just bigorty then?

total nonsense - you have no way of gauging damage on that photo and you don't even know if another vehicle may have hit it and the combination speeds thereof.

It's a sub frame - now what are you trying to say? Most Mercedes-Benz saloons (sedans) typically have a unibody (monocoque) construction. In this design, the body and frame are integrated into a single structure, which provides strength and rigidity. However, many of these vehicles also have subframes, particularly in areas like the front and rear suspension. The subframe is a structural component that mounts to the unibody and supports critical parts like the engine, transmission, and suspension, helping to isolate these components from the rest of the vehicle to reduce noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH). The unibody construction allows for better crash safety, weight savings, and improved handling, which were important considerations in the design of 1990s Mercedes-Benz models. So, while the primary structure is a unibody, subframes are used to support specific components within that structure. this is in common with most Thai sedans but not pickups. some 1990s Mercs had a rear sub frame recall.

Probably monocoque construction so no chassis - Merc were pioneers of crumple zones.

What source are you using for this information? I suspect none?

Hardly a scientific remark!

normally it's Koh Samet and the coast along there that gets it - this will be spilled by a vessel or driven by wind and tide. Don't think most of Pattaya realises how close they are to major industry and its concomitant dangers.

Have to say the reporting and comments are of a very low level. The article is full of very "dramatic" language but is hardly informative or even accurate. Most of the comments are as always, a series cynical comments to cover an underlying ignorance. The truth is that Sattahip is a naval base and the area to the East is one of the biggest oil and gas import terminals in S.E. Asia.. There is a huge amount of heavy shipping in this area. The problem the authorities have to address is how quickly this leak was spotted and how quickly they have taken action to mitigate the situation. It should also be remembered that almost any process of removing the oil can be just as devastating to the marine environment. As this is a tourist area, one has to be concerned that they will pursue and "out of sight, out of mind" policy of sweeping it under the carpet .

So this is a competition? " My oil spill's bigger than yours"?

What do you know that the rest of us don't?

You don't seem to have a grasp on the situation, but are trying to cover your ignorance with cynicism?.

no conuntry has ever had a successful dog cull - Culling stray dog populations is ineffective in the long term. Here's why: Population rebound: Culling often leads to a rapid rebound in the stray dog population. This is because it disrupts the natural social structure of the pack, leading to increased breeding and territorial disputes. The result is strong dogs and more aggression as they take over – and an increased chance or rabies coming in from another area. Ineffectiveness: Culling does not address the root causes of the stray dog problem, such as irresponsible pet ownership, lack of spay/neuter programs, and inadequate waste management. Ethical concerns: Many people object to culling on ethical grounds, viewing it as inhumane and a failure to find more peaceful solutions. Also culling is NEVER anywhere near 100% - can you imagine what BMA would do with 800,000 dog carcasses?? Catch-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (CNVR) programs, on the other hand, have proven to be a more effective (and humane) approach to managing stray dog populations. Here's how it works: Capture: Stray dogs are humanely captured using traps or other methods. Neuter/spay: Dogs are sterilized to prevent future reproduction. Vaccinate: Dogs are vaccinated against rabies and other diseases. Return: Vaccinated and sterilized dogs are returned to their original location. Over time, CNVR programs can significantly reduce the number of stray dogs in a community. Additionally, restricting the food supply can help to reduce the number of stray dogs. By making it more difficult for stray dogs to find food, people can discourage them from congregating in certain areas. SDF is doing this in various locations as we speak – targeting 680,000 dogs in BKK aone It's important to note that both CNVR and food restriction should be implemented as part of a comprehensive strategy to address the stray dog problem. This strategy should also include responsible pet ownership education, spay/neuter programs, and adequate waste management.

No - you are completely wrong

The Netherlands is the first country in the world without stray dogs, and has achieved this through a combination of programs and initiatives: without culling. CNVR (Collect, Neuter, Vaccinate, and Return)

As soon as someone starts bandying about the word "expert" in a derogatory manner you know they have realised they have no idea what they are talking about Almost everything you say is either wrong or contradicting yourself – you clearly have never studied the roaming dog problem in Thailand Culling the dogs doesn't work. Yes it does - why are there no stray dogs in the UK ? You don’t see how illogical that is???? The UK has never had a roaming dog population on the same scale as Thailand. Culling doesn’t work – it actually increases the problem in a relatively short period of time. The only place culls work is on small islands (e.g. rats or invasive species) The population of stray dogs to be reduced to manageable proportions requires control of the food supply and an effective CNVR program “Who are underfunded and cannot resolve the issue - they just feed the problem.” “ – HOW?? – in fact Soi Dog Foundation have ridden Phuket of rabies and reduced the stray dog population from 70000 to 7000 by CNVR – but I’m guessing you haven’t noticed. In BKK funded by donations and the BMA they are in the process of CNVR about 680000 dogs – again if you’ve noticed you didn’t understand how it happened. “... I noted that an area of Bangkok that lived in hardly ever had stray dogs... I don't remember any around... walking at night or day time” – you didn’t see any change – according to you, that’s “stupid”! Turkey As of July 2024, Turkey is debating a new law that would require municipalities to collect stray dogs and house them in shelters for vaccination, neutering, and spaying. The dogs would then be available for adoption, but any that are terminally ill, infectious, aggressive, or pose a health risk to humans would be euthanized. The legislation was drawn up by the ruling conservative AK Party. The bill has been called a "massacre law" by activists, who argue that it would result in the mass extermination of unadopted dogs. Some say that the government has misread the national mood and has begun to back down from the original plan. The legislation that was introduced in July 2024 is a watered-down version of the initial proposal, which reportedly called for the strays to be euthanized if they were not adopted within 30 days. The new legislation would put to sleep strays who are at risk of rabies, have become aggressive, or cannot be rehabilitated. Some say that local municipalities are largely to blame for the country's stray dog problem because they have failed to neuter the dogs in their areas. Others say that at least 75 people, including 44 children, have been killed as a result of attacks or by traffic accidents caused by dogs since 2022

THere is NO COUNTRY IN THE WORLD where culiing has worked. To suggest it's carried out in the UK - is complete nonsense. THe roaming dog population in UK is a fraction of Thailandd's due to well established reasons - stray dogs are caught in very small numbers kept and rehoused or euthanised - that is not a cull.

Everything you've posted just shows how profoundly ill-informed you are about the roaming dog issues in Thailand and the rest of the world. Why not educate yourself before posting such nonsense?

totally illogical. obviously a minority I've lived in Thailand for over 20 years normally in middle class closed village developments i.e. the majority of Thailand and there has always been a dog problem. "disposing of dogs doesn't address the problem at all. at best it shifts them around temporarily. there are around 860,000 to 2 million "roaming dogs in Thailand - about half a million in greater bangkok. THey pose health and safety threats all over the country - zoonotic disease (e.g. Rabies) road safety and public inconvenience as above. Culling the dogs doesn't work THe care organisations are largely funded by donations. THere are campaigns to varying degrees of success around the country. One of the things about stray dogs is if the problem gets better peple don't notice their absence or reduction in numbers.

Unfortunately there are still too many dogs in Thailand to do this.

you have absolutely no idea! You can be a couple of metres from elephants in forest and be completely unaware they are there.

When I suggested this a few weeks back I was snootily told how wrong I was and the idea was loudly rejected