Thailand’s worsening PM2.5 problem is lost in the fog of politics

[webfact]

 

By Thai PBS World

 

Despite making Thailand’s haze crisis national agenda in 2019, the government has made little progress in meeting people’s need for clean air.

 

The slow response has allowed seasonal PM2.5 dust – the most dangerous form of haze pollution – to choke many parts of Thailand in recent years. Earlier this month, PM2.5 levels soared so dangerously high that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) pleaded with businesses in the capital to reactivate the “work-from-home” mode.

 

Thailand sets the safe limit of PM2.5 (dust particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less) at 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air. Red health-hazard flags are raised if PM2.5 levels go above 100 micrograms.

 

The Pollution Control Department reported that PM2.5 hit health-hazard levels in more than 70 areas of the country on February 2. The dangerously high smog concentrations continued into February 3 and 4.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailands-worsening-pm2-5-problem-is-lost-in-the-fog-of-politics/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2023-02-10

 

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[Tropicalevo]

9 minutes ago, webfact said:

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) pleaded with businesses in the capital to reactivate the “work-from-home” mode.

Come on you lazy politicians.

Stop treating the symptoms with band aids, and fix the problem.

[mikebell]

34 minutes ago, webfact said:

the government has made little progress in meeting people’s need for clean air.

The politicians are doing their bit by not turning up for work.

[Tarteso]

Land of F smog

[Gknrd]

Nobody that has the money to travel much goes to Thailand during the dry season! Thailand is a SH about 6 moths a year.  You would have to be and idiot to live there year around. 

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Despite making Thailand’s haze crisis national agenda in 2019, the government has made little progress in meeting people’s need for clean air.

Little progress?

I bet all the politicians are a lot wealthier than in 2019.

Stuff the people.

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

Come on you lazy politicians.

Stop treating the symptoms with band aids, and fix the problem.

Maybe if Bob Geldof and Bono came over for a holiday and remarked about the smoke something would be done?

[PETERTHEEATER]

I thought DPM Anutin took into account the pollution increase as part of his cannabis legalisation drive.

[SoilSpoil]

1 hour ago, Gknrd said:

Nobody that has the money to travel much goes to Thailand during the dry season! Thailand is a SH about 6 moths a year.  You would have to be and idiot to live there year around. 

Do you live here year round?

[J Branche]

2 hours ago, Gknrd said:

Nobody that has the money to travel much goes to Thailand during the dry season! Thailand is a SH about 6 moths a year.  You would have to be and idiot to live there year around. 

Some of us had to renew with new 52 page passport because we were almost out of pages.  There are some very nice places in this world but after exhaustive traveling there is no better place than Thailand for someone at retirement age.  Somethings in some places may be better but factoring everything it still ranks the best overall for me.  If is not your cup of tea it is understandable.  We hope you can find happiness before you run out of time to look for it.

[kidneyw]

3 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Maybe if Bob Geldof and Bono came over for a holiday and remarked about the smoke something would be done?

Smog Aid 2023.

[spidermike007]

The haze of politics is a very diplomatic way to put it. It is more like callous indifference and an extreme lack of creativity and ability to govern. This administration is the bottom of the barrel, and the extreme lack of talent requires Thailand to pay a very heavy price daily. 

[fusion58]

Just like everything else in Thailand, as long as the powers that be can be paid by the polluters to look the other way, then nothing will ever change.

[Tropposurfer]

I wonder if a govt subsidised co-op harvester system nationwide would help deter farmers from seasonal burning of cane fields?

They cost a lot to buy but not crazy costs to maintain.

In Oz they do this in concert with the sugar mills, sub-contractors who come in for 'the cut', as well as small co-ops of farmers owning harvesters. They don't burn in Oz anymore (well on the east coast anyways) and haven't for many years. 

[Joseph98765]

And this will be like every single year, when June comes with the rain and the Levels of PM 2.5 drop...this problem will be forgotten, nobody will talk about it and the next February will be too late to find a solution because we are already breathing the F******* haze again. And talk again Prayut or whoever is in charge, saying the same nonsense sh** until June that everyone will be happy that the burning season is over. 

[samtam]

Wash, rinse, repeat. Burn, rain, repeat.