Please Help Improve Air Quality in Chiang Mai

[Forza2002]

Excert from CityLife News. As part of Chiang Mai Province’s ongoing program by government, private sector and civic society to improve air quality and reduce smoke haze pollution, several Consulates in Chiang Mai have joined together to conduct a survey of the international community to gather information on air quality and health and how it affects the willingness of the international community to live, work or invest in Chiang Mai. https://www.chiangmaicitylife.com/citynews/general/please-help-improve-air-quality-in-chiang-mai-by-taking-part-in-our-survey-of-the-international-community/

[bwpage3]

Due the the farmers burning fields, this will never change. Continues to get worse every year with the increasing traffic as well.

 

[Logosone]

Thanks for posting this. I will be taking this survey.

[watgate]

It is hopeless. Things have gotten progressively worse each year and it is a case of money over health. Nothing can or will be done and anyone who can has left Chiang Mai to escape the toxic smoke which envelops Chiang Mai for at least 4 months each year. Chiang Mai has a lot going for it but it is not worth ruining your health by living there full-time.

[jak2002003]

We have lived in CM many years. The pollution seemed to be getting better a one point a few years back, but now each year it lasts longer and longer...and last year we have had enough. 

 

We intend to sell up and move once things improve with the virus / tourist and travel restrictions. Won't be easy now though. 

 

Apparently the burning by the farmers is just the tip of the iceberg. The reason it never gets sorted is money as usual...because it's the big business (won't name any names for obvious reasons) they are the ones making most of the pollution...

[Trujillo]

Please explain how taking a survey will "improve air quality in Chiang Mai."

 

Do you need to ask about the pollution to know it's there and increasing and a serious problem? What a farce. 

[Antonymous]

Air pollution is a serious problem in SE Asia and it affects 30 provinces in Thailand severely every year. Chiang Mai is just one of them. There are measures that can be taken in Chiang Mai specifically, or better still in all of Thailand, but they cannot control the pollution effectively without concerted, coordinated regional efforts.

[worgeordie]

Nothing is going to improve anytime soon, as the Government are

more serious about Covid 19, than seeing that clean air at certain

times of the year for the people of Chiang Mai.

 

They know when it's going to occur, in the areas where burning 

will happen,they need to get Police,Army,and any volunteers up in

the hills,roadblocks,visiting the villages and letting people know if

they are caught burning the forests, they will be charged as Arsonists,

and go to prison.....for a long time

 

Having an App, turning on fountains on in the moat,a couple of air purifiers

in City centre, are not enough,as these solutions occur AFTER the burning

has started, they need to be proactive,will anything change next year,I doubt

it,as its the same year after year.

regards Worgeordie

 

 

 

 

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

1 hour ago, Antonymous said:

but they cannot control the pollution effectively without concerted, coordinated regional efforts.

and that will never happen. If Singapore can't get Indonesia to stop burning it's a lost cause to even bother trying.

[NotEinstein]

The 'burning problem' in SE Asia is a symptom of the civilizational model in place. The dire need for critical analysis of the model, and adjustment/change has yet to be applied in any objective way, hence all the problems that are only going to multiply until collapse. Maybe this time enough information will be left behind to build from. Probably not this survey though......

[LawrenceN]

On 6/26/2020 at 8:54 AM, Trujillo said:

Please explain how taking a survey will "improve air quality in Chiang Mai."

 

Do you need to ask about the pollution to know it's there and increasing and a serious problem? What a farce. 

Foreign consulates are behind the survey. They have standing in the community. I'm glad to see them asking for our views. Now they will go into meetings with Thai government officials armed with real data. For example, "X number of our nationals, who bring Y millions of baht into the local economy each year, are threatening to leave." Multiply by 20 or so consulates and there's some leverage. 

[Genmai]

On 6/26/2020 at 12:42 PM, NotEinstein said:

The 'burning problem' in SE Asia is a symptom of the civilizational model in place.

 

Which of these is the more feasible solution:

 

1) - The jailing of a minority of selfish irresponsible morons who continue to shorten the lifespan of everybody else around them despite being told time and time again that what they're doing is illegal and harmful

 

2) - Pouring money into investments and development to give these people the tools to dispose of agricultural (and household) waste properly - while also expecting them to expend extra effort on actually being responsible and using these tools 

 

3) - An entire overhaul of the "civilizational model"

 

???

 

Plenty of other civilizations out there that don't <deleted> up the air. Japanese eat (domestic) rice 3 times a day. Lived there for a number of years - never seen any farmer burn their fields. 

 

For all its talk of being the most Buddhist nation Thailand is populated by an overwhelming majority who clearly do not behave in a compassionate responsible manner towards their fellow citizens - unless it serves their self interests. Things like rampant soi dogs, murderous driving, and this toxic air speak to a lack of moral fortitude. 

 

Just look at this research paper (https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/7/2553) detailing the popular nationwide pastime of burning household garbage. Even when there's a relatively inexpensive alternative for proper disposal Thais still choose to burn. They love it.

 

Honestly after several years here I've given up and don't think any of the 3 above-mentioned options will be implemented in our lifetimes, or the lifetimes of our children. Like many here I've realized that improving anything is a hopeless pursuit because neither the institutional/political structures nor the cultural proclivities to engage in certain patterns of behavior can sustain any meaningful effort over time, and this is compounded by the most popular internal mantra of them all - "take it easy, don't rock the boat, you think too much".

 

Sorry to sound so cynical but this is the conclusion I've come to. You can get every single resident in CM to complete that survey. It won't make one bit of difference. I'd love to be proven wrong, but I won't be sticking around to find out at the cost of my health and sanity.

 

 

 

 

 

[xtrnuno41]

8000000 tons of plastic in the oceans every year, whole world responsible, nothing done about it

China , USA biggest polluters increase global warming, nothing done about it

Thailand burning for 4 months, nothing is done about it

Netherlands making earthquakes, nothing done about it.

The earth stratosphere lots of waste, nothing done about it.

Mount Everest getting taller of all waste over there, nothing done about it.

Listing is way much longer, but nothing is done about it.

Thats why Mars is so populair, we can move and start over gain there, polluting. 

[lee b]

Nothing will improve, no matter of any survey being done and who is backing it. End of story.

[4MyEgo]

On 6/26/2020 at 12:04 PM, Antonymous said:

Air pollution is a serious problem in SE Asia and it affects 30 provinces in Thailand severely every year. Chiang Mai is just one of them. There are measures that can be taken in Chiang Mai specifically, or better still in all of Thailand, but they cannot control the pollution effectively without concerted, coordinated regional efforts.

The strangest thing is, they will throw everything at Covid-19, the invisible killer, but the smoke under their very own eyes doesn't bother them, it's a part of life for them, go to the doctor and they will tell you to wear a surgical mask, go figure !

 

Best decision we have made is to exit back to our homeland come end of year, even if it does cost more, you can't put a cost on your health and I will not contribute to an economy that wants to allow those to burn everything from fields to rubbish, I would be made too.

[4MyEgo]

2 hours ago, LawrenceN said:

Foreign consulates are behind the survey. They have standing in the community. I'm glad to see them asking for our views. Now they will go into meetings with Thai government officials armed with real data. For example, "X number of our nationals, who bring Y millions of baht into the local economy each year, are threatening to leave." Multiply by 20 or so consulates and there's some leverage. 

Would "up to you" be their reply I wonder, loss of face here is something Thai's don't understand in my opinion when it comes to monetary values, you are just a stupid farang, what would you know, leave and take your businesses with you if you don't like it comes to mind. I hope I am wrong.

[George Aylesham]

I was glad to have had the opportunity to complete the survey and obviously hope that it can be used to some effect . . . . .

[digger70]

Please Help Improve Air Quality in Chiang Mai 

 

Thats why we don't live Up there . We got Normal air and  don't run out of water. 

Maybe time for you to Move. 

[malibukid]

On 6/26/2020 at 8:23 AM, watgate said:

It is hopeless. Things have gotten progressively worse each year and it is a case of money over health. Nothing can or will be done and anyone who can has left Chiang Mai to escape the toxic smoke which envelops Chiang Mai for at least 4 months each year. Chiang Mai has a lot going for it but it is not worth ruining your health by living there full-time.

sounds like the U.S.

[jvs]

4 hours ago, xtrnuno41 said:

Netherlands making earthquakes, nothing done about it.

Oh yes they are doing a lot about it!!!Time for you to do some reading.

[HaleySabai]

I'm certainly looking forward to the next 8 or so months of 'green' AQI ....currently it's absolutely beautiful here in Chiang Mai.

Can't imagine wanting to be anywhere else in this sad,violent and chaotic world.

[runamok27]

The funniest thing about the toxic air is that they ban smoking everywhere and frown on it and then let everybody in the country smoke for 3 or 4 months of the year, whether they want to or not. 

[Hayduke]

On 6/27/2020 at 2:04 PM, LawrenceN said:

Foreign consulates are behind the survey. They have standing in the community

 

Sorry…but there is only one foreign presence in Thailand that matters….and that is China.

 

If China ‘suggests’ that the Thai government address the air pollution question, then you’ll see some sort of action. But China has never demonstrated any real interest in controlling air pollution at home…let alone in their economic colonies. They simply don't care about these things. The rest of the foreign consulates may have an ‘honorary’ sort of standing in the community, but they have no real influence.

 

This survey may generate some polite smiles and a bit of lip service from the Thais. But barring an (unlikely) interest from China…nothing will be done.

 

 

[Trujillo]

"...or example, 'X number of our nationals, who bring Y millions of baht into the local economy each year, are threatening to leave.'"

 

You forgot the Z axis: They don't care. 

 

Those who are apt to take the survey are not tourists, and that is the only group the government has any interest in. Even those are a necessary evil. If Thailand could get the same income from oil and gas exploration, for example, tourism here would be like going to Bhutan. 

 

Bhutan travel: 
In high-season months (March, April, May, September, October, and November), the cost of visiting Bhutan is $250 US per person per day. If you are travelling solo, you unfortunately have to pay a surplus of $40 US a day, bringing your total to $290 US a day.