Struggling for a breath of fresh air

[snoop1130]

 

It’s November and a cool breeze is blowing. While this should be welcomed as it heralds the cool season, instead it signals that burning season is making a comeback and smoke-laden haze that contains fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) is returning. Parts of Thailand are under threat again.

 

People in many areas are now at risk as poor air quality conditions caused by hazardous haze have started to harm their health.

 

A news report released this week showed that people in 31 provinces including Samut Sakhon, Nakhon Pathom, Uthai Thani, Suphan Buri, Chai Nat and Bangkok are living in a blanket of smoke. The areas had levels of air pollution way above the unhealthy level.

 

Full story: Thai PBS 2023-11-24

 

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[richard_smith237]

This is a very real issue... 

 

Something we read of and /or witness every year. 

Something the government makes announcements about resolving each year with 'crack-downs' etc..

 

Nothing changes, yet the issue to health is as serious as it ever has been. 

 

I truly wish those in positions of decision making power weren't so completely apathetic that the'd effect change and genuinely do something this rather than the annual photo op.

Edited November 24, 2023 by richard_smith237

[sirineou]

1 minute ago, richard_smith237 said:

I dont know who gave that the 'confused emoji'....  but this is a very real issue... 

 

Something we read of and /or witness every year. 

Something the government makes announcements about resolving each year with 'crack-downs' etc..

 

Nothing changes, yet the issue to health is as serious as it ever has been. 

 

I truly wish those in positions of decision making power weren't so completely apathetic that the'd effect change and genuinely do something this rather than the annual photo op.

Yea I don't like these emojis also , but I think the above is a Sad emoji and indeed appropriate. Or perhaps it was changed to the intended sad emoji after your comment. 

I agree with everything you say, more has to be done , but the locals here use fire like we in the west use a weed wacker, grass to high? when dry set it on fire. I see it every day. If I do I am sure the authorities do also. 

So far so good here in Khon Kaen, lets cross our fingers,!

Usually this time of the Year we go to Florida for  Holidays with family . Usually we stay longer but this year we are coming back for the new year, So we will see.    

[richard_smith237]

1 minute ago, sirineou said:

Yea I don't like these emojis also , but I think the above is a Sad emoji and indeed appropriate. Or perhaps it was changed to the intended sad emoji after your comment. 

I agree with everything you say, more has to be done , but the locals here use fire like we in the west use a weed wacker, grass to high? when dry set it on fire. I see it every day. If I do I am sure the authorities do also. 

So far so good here in Khon Kaen, lets cross our fingers,!

Usually this time of the Year we go to Florida for  Holidays with family . Usually we stay longer but this year we are coming back for the new year, So we will see.    

 

Yeah... I edited my reply after noticing it is the 'sad emoji' in which case - I agree completely.

[sirineou]

1 minute ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Yeah... I edited my reply after noticing it is the 'sad emoji' in which case - I agree completely.

I understand your reaction though, I also hate those confused emojis .

What is their purpose, anyway? 

If you are confused what is the use of telling me so? What can I do , if I don't know why one is confused?

To me they makes no sense a should be eliminated. The only purpose the serve is to limit participation, and why Asean Now would want to limit participation is also beyond me. 

[Lacessit]

I just wonder how on earth 1-2 pack a day smokers get on when it's a 400 API day.

I button up the condo, and crank up two air purifiers.

[hotchilli]

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

A news report released this week showed that people in 31 provinces including Samut Sakhon, Nakhon Pathom, Uthai Thani, Suphan Buri, Chai Nat and Bangkok are living in a blanket of smoke. The areas had levels of air pollution way above the unhealthy level.

And the government, including provincial governors do diddly squat to stop it.

[jts-khorat]

13 hours ago, sirineou said:

I understand your reaction though, I also hate those confused emojis .

What is their purpose, anyway?

 

As there is no 'thumbs down' to disapprove of often completely crazy or wonky posts, the confused emoji is the next-best thing to apply.

 

I use it often in this sense (although not in this particular case).

 

It really would make a lot of sense, if those emojis would not be anonymous, so they are not mis-used for stalking and trolling.

[Tarteso]

And here we go.. Again 🎶 

[NorthernRyland]

Last week my neighbor cut down a tree on his property and systemically cut it in to pieces and burned every last twig down to charcoal. Stunk like hell all day for 4 days but guess what? no one cares except for pesky farangs that don't understand Thai culture. Obviously Thailand is going up in smoke. That's what they want isn't it?

[shackleton]

Nothing changes over the burning season here  in Thailand 

It's the same thing every year the Thai people just put up with it 

It's a way of life here  how ever  unpleasant  

Same with the PMI in Bangkok answer wear a face mask 

[spidermike007]

And Sretta seems as apathetic as Prayuth was, about cleaning up the place. If China could clean up the air in Beijing, these goons can do it here. It the health of the people meant anything.

 

The public urges government assistance in tackling air pollution. If you goons were not bought and paid for by big agra, the burning would stop. It is your compromised nature and your unwillingness to put up a good fight, that is the major cause of the air apocalypse we are facing. People are dying and suffering in hospitals on your watch, and their blood is on your hands. You are cowards. You are incompetents. You deserve to be voted out with a vengeance. Oh, I forgot, you were not elected, LOL.

How Chiang Mai became the world’s most polluted city-

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/4/12/how-chiang-mai-became-the-worlds-most-polluted-city

At least one NGO is calling it what it is. Field burning, not forest fires is the main cause of bad air here.

[Captor]

The only thing that would help to make the governments to take action in order to stop the burnings, is if the tourists would stop coming to Thailand due to the bad and dangerous air. That would directly hit the economy and could not be ignored. Actually I can't understand that families comes with their children to this health risk. PM2.5 stays in the body and accumulates  also after they have left Thailand.

[Enzian]

After two days, on Wednesday I got out of hospital with a diagnosis of lung infection. A mild pneumonia caused by bacteria in my case. I'll keep taking antibiotics for days, and in 4 days have a follow up chest x-ray; and take it from there. Even if the doctors in the coming weeks say I've reached a point where the infection is cleared, I don't see how I can justify staying through the upcoming season.