Thai PM Says Floods In Parts Of Bangkok Inevitable

[softgeorge]

Here it comes! I don't care what you lot say. I am concerned now!

Concerned now???? So you weren't concerned when there was flooding in the north and now you are getting a little run off you are concerned??? Been through it and what you are getting is nothing so just relax.

[bulekee]

Hi everyone,I,ve been away for awhile,my Thai nickname is Ostrich.Is it safe to take my head out of the sand yet?????????????????????????/

[Mosha]

Looking at the government's actions (inaction) to date I am sort of reminded of Nero fiddling while Rome burned..

I'm more reminded of Bush 'fiddling' whilst New Orleans drowned. The inaction and lack of imagination shown by both governments and their support agencies is comparable.

Sadly for the people involved whatever is now done will be too little and too late.

A Southern perspective would more likely be Thaksin fiddling while Hat Yai drowned.

[PoPanda]

I have found this to be a useful site for information about conditions.

http://www.google.or...flood-2011.html

(What a concept! Sharing useful information during an emergency! It must be nice to have the luxury of being so far removed from the world around you, you can just sit and poke fun it it. And you wonder why the Thais can not wait to be rid of you! )

Care to explain who "you" is?

My pleasure. "You" is foreigners who came here for cheap sex, low cost of labor, a lazy life style and snobbish attitude toward the people of Thailand. "You" are those sitting far from the fray judging everyone and everything around them in a negative light. "You" is anyone who takes pleasure in this suffering, and thinks Thais have the time and energy to be your entertainment when constructive input would have real value. "You" are the hungry crocodiles at the mouth of the river, waiting for poor farm girls to come to your little playground to earn money to send home, hungry for desperate labor willing to make your $200 Nike's for 200 BAHT, hungry for the Baht to become cheap so you can hoard a few hundred thousand and skate for a few more years.

"You" are on your way "Out"

Well Said, Thank you

Second that

[NorthernNomad]

With Respect, if Australia couldn't deal with their floods, and every possible action was taken, what hope does Thailand have ?

Well put. Even the USA showed incredible government inaction by the Bush administration during the New Orleans flood disaster from Hurricane Katrina.

Here accurate and efficient communication needs to be quickly and efficiently improved. But the actual flood issue has been in place long before the current PM took office. In fact there was flooding in Central and Northern Thailand during the election campaign so that falls squarely on the shoulders of the former PM.

[blabla1]

Driving from Bangkok to Chiang mai,Tuesday 25th,anybody know which is the driest way please?????PS, should i hire a four wheel drive?

Edited October 20, 2011 by blabla1

[ChiangMaiThai]

I have found this to be a useful site for information about conditions.

http://www.google.or...flood-2011.html

(What a concept! Sharing useful information during an emergency! It must be nice to have the luxury of being so far removed from the world around you, you can just sit and poke fun it it. And you wonder why the Thais can not wait to be rid of you! )

Care to explain who "you" is?

My pleasure. "You" is foreigners who came here for cheap sex, low cost of labor, a lazy life style and snobbish attitude toward the people of Thailand. "You" are those sitting far from the fray judging everyone and everything around them in a negative light. "You" is anyone who takes pleasure in this suffering, and thinks Thais have the time and energy to be your entertainment when constructive input would have real value. "You" are the hungry crocodiles at the mouth of the river, waiting for poor farm girls to come to your little playground to earn money to send home, hungry for desperate labor willing to make your $200 Nike's for 200 BAHT, hungry for the Baht to become cheap so you can hoard a few hundred thousand and skate for a few more years.

"You" are on your way "Out"

I would like to add to the list, those who think that just because they've married a local and living in some moobaan who thinks they know what is best for Thailand and the Thais, those who are more well off financially than the locals, not because they are more competent and capable (which they thing they are) but just because they had the fortune to be born into a first world country with a social safety net (pensions) but for how much longer?

This reminds me of a phrase that was very common in Hong Kong a few years ago - FILTH - failed in London, try Hong Kong. "You" are those that have failed in your home countries yet too arrogant and ignorant to realise it.

I never even bothered trying in my home country LOL. What category do you put me in?

[rogerdee123]

With Respect, if Australia couldn't deal with their floods, and every possible action was taken, what hope does Thailand have ?

Well put. Even the USA showed incredible government inaction by the Bush administration during the New Orleans flood disaster from Hurricane Katrina.

Here accurate and efficient communication needs to be quickly and efficiently improved. But the actual flood issue has been in place long before the current PM took office. In fact there was flooding in Central and Northern Thailand during the election campaign so that falls squarely on the shoulders of the former PM.

Yeah ... and the Bush administration's incompetence re Katrina was publicly criticized as it should have been (and as this current Thai Govt is being criticized).

And in the US, Bush's party lost the next election.

Let's see what happens in Thailand.

[thaibeachlovers]

Looking at the government's actions (inaction) to date I am sort of reminded of Nero fiddling while Rome burned..

What do you think the government is not doing that they should be doing?

Evacuating people BEFORE they are up to their necks in water would be a good start.

Sending people to other, dry areas could be a good idea. I'm sure Chiang Mai could help out there.

Appointing an actual expert to be in charge of everything would be a really good idea.

Might be helpful if Yingluk stopped using helicopters for personal sightseeing trips too. I'm sure there are better uses for them.

Why would she imagine that being someone's sister equips her with any expertise in dealing with this, let alone any other crisis?

[Arkady]

They are deliberately mishandling the situation so that a few months from now (probably in December or January) she can resign (after first exonerating her brother) so that he can come back in a quick vote to take over. By January we'll have Thaksin back in power, I'd bet my bottom dollar on it. Or the situation will get so bad that some emergency legislation will magically be enacted to bring him back as a "co-PM" or something like that (a problem shared is a problem halved) and then some time next year she will quietly resign leaving him in charge.

I think the plan was something like that and the bumbling incompetencies of the government like the first time car buyer scheme were probably designed by Thaksin to deliberately blow up his own cabinet without out making him look bad. That would make him a shoe-in for a 2012 election and make it easy for him to get rid of expendable ministers like Kittirat and Thirachai to replace them with banned TRT politicians. However, I don't think the flood situation is helping his plan at all as it makes his clone look very bad (and him by implication) in the eyes of PT voters and is increasing the popularity of the military in the red shirt support base at a time when he urgently needs to curb their power to facilitate his own safety. It has also caused a huge distraction from the Nittirat group and the debate about the constitution. If he does come back soon, he will certainly wait until he is sure that the crisis is past. He cannot be a co-PM or deputy PM without being elected as a party list MP. I am not sure if people can be added to the party list after the elections. If so, someone could be forced to resign. If the military ever dared another coup, they would do it before they can be reshuffled under an amended Defence Act and would not let people like Thaksin get away easily again. The rules have changed and the stakes are a lot higher now that politicians don't just slink away and coup makers and top brass acting under emergency decrees might no longer be safe from prosecution.

Edited October 20, 2011 by Arkady

[Ron19]

Looking at the government's actions (inaction) to date I am sort of reminded of Nero fiddling while Rome burned..

What do you think the government is not doing that they should be doing?

Giving Moses a call.

[fantuzi]

I have found this to be a useful site for information about conditions.

http://www.google.or...flood-2011.html

(What a concept! Sharing useful information during an emergency! It must be nice to have the luxury of being so far removed from the world around you, you can just sit and poke fun it it. And you wonder why the Thais can not wait to be rid of you! )

Care to explain who "you" is?

My pleasure. "You" is foreigners who came here for cheap sex, low cost of labor, a lazy life style and snobbish attitude toward the people of Thailand. "You" are those sitting far from the fray judging everyone and everything around them in a negative light. "You" is anyone who takes pleasure in this suffering, and thinks Thais have the time and energy to be your entertainment when constructive input would have real value. "You" are the hungry crocodiles at the mouth of the river, waiting for poor farm girls to come to your little playground to earn money to send home, hungry for desperate labor willing to make your $200 Nike's for 200 BAHT, hungry for the Baht to become cheap so you can hoard a few hundred thousand and skate for a few more years.

"You" are on your way "Out"

Yes KhunRick,this is hard and bitter but ..true.

reading threads in TV today I see a bit too much contempt from posters,phrases like:"Thai arithmetics","Thai science" - we may hear from them soon: -" just go to he..ll!" or "Foxtrot Oscar!"

Boys! - behave yourself PLEASE!

[OzMick]

It's interesting to read all the criticism here of how 'badly' Thailand has handled the situation with the unspoken implication that that posters 'home' country would have done 'better'.

Think back to Katrina as an example, and the biggest country in the world did no better in a crisis situation.

Perhaps it's because I know that my home country has done, still does, and will always do better that this pack of clowns.

BTW though Katrina sounds Russian, she actually hit New Orleans.

Edited October 20, 2011 by OzMick

[jonnyscot]

What do you think the government is not doing that they should be doing?

They should not be taking more than a month to figure out that the following statement applies:::

"We cannot block the water forever," ."The longer we block the water the higher it gets," she said.

[plumeria]

Was there ever really any doubt by anyone with a working brain?

The thing of it is, this isn't the fault of the current government, but every government for the past 20+ years. Thailand is a country that has annual flooding. But it worsens each year when rampant deforestation is allowed for resorts and private mansions, which results is fewer trees and other types of growth which can soak up the rain, as well as provide stability for the soil. It happens when factories and housing estates are built in low lying areas, there by impeding the natural flow of water. And all of this is caused by the greed which permeates Thai society and thinking at every level. "Live for today, make as much money as you can, and who cares about tomorrow" should be the motto for Thailand, not "Land of Smiles". I don't see a lot of smiling going on now.

No, wait, I take that back. I see a few from those here in the north who are smiling and saying that it's about time that "precious Bangkok" is finally getting a taste of what the rest of the country has to deal with on an almost yearly basis.

This flood is a tragedy which I doubt any Thai government could effectively deal with, or could have prevented under the current circumstances. The loss of lives and property, as well as businesses is sad by any means. The best Thailand can hope for is that they will actually LEARN from this, and then take the necessary steps to develop a new water management program that will benefit ALL of Thailand, and not just BKK. Far too many in BKK think that they are the "center of the universe" when it comes to Thailand, and don't really care about the "provinces". Perhaps now they will wake up and realize that what happens in the provinces, CAN and WILL affect Bangkok.

Time will tell.

I agree with about 95% of this except that "a tragedy which I doubt any Thai government could effectively deal with".

An enlightened policy and approach from the beginning could have done a lot.

For example, as they now realize, trying to accommodate and guide the water was their only true option all along.

Trying to withstand and block it was, basically, man trying to play God once again.

But without the intricate, interwoven and interactive systems which keeps nature more or less in balance.

We have sown the wind and reaped the whirlwind.

Then the Pride of Man made the situation even worse.

The army could have done so much more if it had been allowed.

And will this result in dynamic reforestation policy and tearing down of results and settlements in the nation's meager remaining forests or ...

A flurry of cement pouring and dam making and dyke building and canal digging with lots of diversion of funds into the pockets of the already rich?

As some posters have already said: a bandaid on a cancer.

Maybe a true leader will arise with a VISION for the year ahead, a VISION of next five years and a VISION for the decade ahead as well as a VISION for Thailand's role in the world because it's an ancient tried and proven fact:

"Without a vision, the people perish."

[bigbamboo]

Hi everyone,I,ve been away for awhile,my Thai nickname is Ostrich.Is it safe to take my head out of the sand yet?????????????????????????/

Stop hogging the sand! There are bags to be filled.

Edited October 20, 2011 by bigbamboo

[Madivad]

Hi everyone,I,ve been away for awhile,my Thai nickname is Ostrich.Is it safe to take my head out of the sand yet?????????????????????????/

Stop hogging the sand! There are bags to be filled.

Edited October 20, 2011 by Madivad

[OzMick]

Was there ever really any doubt by anyone with a working brain?

The thing of it is, this isn't the fault of the current government, but every government for the past 20+ years. Thailand is a country that has annual flooding. But it worsens each year when rampant deforestation is allowed for resorts and private mansions, which results is fewer trees and other types of growth which can soak up the rain, as well as provide stability for the soil. It happens when factories and housing estates are built in low lying areas, there by impeding the natural flow of water. And all of this is caused by the greed which permeates Thai society and thinking at every level. "Live for today, make as much money as you can, and who cares about tomorrow" should be the motto for Thailand, not "Land of Smiles". I don't see a lot of smiling going on now.

No, wait, I take that back. I see a few from those here in the north who are smiling and saying that it's about time that "precious Bangkok" is finally getting a taste of what the rest of the country has to deal with on an almost yearly basis.

This flood is a tragedy which I doubt any Thai government could effectively deal with, or could have prevented under the current circumstances. The loss of lives and property, as well as businesses is sad by any means. The best Thailand can hope for is that they will actually LEARN from this, and then take the necessary steps to develop a new water management program that will benefit ALL of Thailand, and not just BKK. Far too many in BKK think that they are the "center of the universe" when it comes to Thailand, and don't really care about the "provinces". Perhaps now they will wake up and realize that what happens in the provinces, CAN and WILL affect Bangkok.

Time will tell.

A sensible post Just1. Yes, after the flood of 1942, MANY projects could have been implemented VERY economically and efficiently - Bangkok could have been still called The Venice of the East to this day.

If they had waited a bit, the Japs could have organized it with slave labour and land seizures - now that would be cheap, at least in money terms.

[pogal]

Was there ever really any doubt by anyone with a working brain?

The thing of it is, this isn't the fault of the current government, but every government for the past 20+ years. Thailand is a country that has annual flooding. But it worsens each year when rampant deforestation is allowed for resorts and private mansions, which results is fewer trees and other types of growth which can soak up the rain, as well as provide stability for the soil. It happens when factories and housing estates are built in low lying areas, there by impeding the natural flow of water. And all of this is caused by the greed which permeates Thai society and thinking at every level. "Live for today, make as much money as you can, and who cares about tomorrow" should be the motto for Thailand, not "Land of Smiles". I don't see a lot of smiling going on now.

No, wait, I take that back. I see a few from those here in the north who are smiling and saying that it's about time that "precious Bangkok" is finally getting a taste of what the rest of the country has to deal with on an almost yearly basis.

This flood is a tragedy which I doubt any Thai government could effectively deal with, or could have prevented under the current circumstances. The loss of lives and property, as well as businesses is sad by any means. The best Thailand can hope for is that they will actually LEARN from this, and then take the necessary steps to develop a new water management program that will benefit ALL of Thailand, and not just BKK. Far too many in BKK think that they are the "center of the universe" when it comes to Thailand, and don't really care about the "provinces". Perhaps now they will wake up and realize that what happens in the provinces, CAN and WILL affect Bangkok.

Time will tell.

Your first paragraph has some credibility.

The rest of your post fits right into the "burn Bangkok" mentality and contributes to the disunity issue that the current Govt claims to be trying to repair.

Did you ever think about where those workers in those industrial estates are from? It's not Silom Road.

Perhaps you should work on your reading comprehension skills. No where in my post did I express anything close to what you call the "burn Bangkok" mentality. I stated a FACT that there are some people here in the north who are happy to finally see BKK get a taste of what the rest of the provinces suffer on an almost yearly basis, with little to no real help, while those in BKK scream about saving their precious city, as if Bangkok IS Thailand.

I have seen more than one poster in the "other" newspaper who has clearly stated, they DON'T CARE about what happens to the rest of Thailand, but BKK must be saved AT ALL COSTS. From your comments to me, it would appear that's the camp you are in as well. The flooding situation in Thailand has been ignored for far too long by far too many governments, and while I am not in favor in any way of seeing more damage and destruction to ANY part of Thailand, if it takes Bangkok finally getting a sample of what the rest of the country suffers from to finally make the changes that will benefit ALL of Thailand, and NOT just Bangkok, then so be it.

Sorry if I upset you Just1Voice. No offense intended.

Bangkok city accounts for more than 40% of the country's GNP and if we include the suburbs and the industrial estates it's probably over 50%. This was the basis for my comments on the floods and the mentality of people (and I don't mean you) who have the "Burn Bangkok" or "let Bangkok suffer" mentality. When Bangkok floods, people living in Udorn or Surit Thani will suffer, even though they don't understand or realize it. For what it's worth, my home is a lot closer to Udorn than it is to Bangkok. And also BTW it isn't "Bangkok" or a "Province" that suffers, it's the people that suffer and there are quite a lot more THai people (from everywhere in Thailand) living in Bangkok than in any other Province.

In any case I didn't intend to attack you personally and am not going to do that now in this post either.

Are you guys STILL talking about the Romans!??? 555555555555555555555555555555

[Nilrem]

Was there ever really any doubt by anyone with a working brain?

The thing of it is, this isn't the fault of the current government, but every government for the past 20+ years. Thailand is a country that has annual flooding. But it worsens each year when rampant deforestation is allowed for resorts and private mansions, which results is fewer trees and other types of growth which can soak up the rain, as well as provide stability for the soil. It happens when factories and housing estates are built in low lying areas, there by impeding the natural flow of water. And all of this is caused by the greed which permeates Thai society and thinking at every level. "Live for today, make as much money as you can, and who cares about tomorrow" should be the motto for Thailand, not "Land of Smiles". I don't see a lot of smiling going on now.

No, wait, I take that back. I see a few from those here in the north who are smiling and saying that it's about time that "precious Bangkok" is finally getting a taste of what the rest of the country has to deal with on an almost yearly basis.

This flood is a tragedy which I doubt any Thai government could effectively deal with, or could have prevented under the current circumstances. The loss of lives and property, as well as businesses is sad by any means. The best Thailand can hope for is that they will actually LEARN from this, and then take the necessary steps to develop a new water management program that will benefit ALL of Thailand, and not just BKK. Far too many in BKK think that they are the "center of the universe" when it comes to Thailand, and don't really care about the "provinces". Perhaps now they will wake up and realize that what happens in the provinces, CAN and WILL affect Bangkok.

Time will tell.

A sensible post Just1. Yes, after the flood of 1942, MANY projects could have been implemented VERY economically and efficiently - Bangkok could have been still called The Venice of the East to this day.

Yes, a sensible post. Bangkok lost the chance to become the Venice of the East. But it could still become a world-class city with proper planning and good polity.

Now retired, I once held numerous positions as Commissioner for land management, city-country planning and integrated resource management. As such could hire Phd-types or get gov't ministries to do studies: like the effects of clear-cutting and chances of flooding in different areas, etc.

Seeing this tragedy today, saddens me that Bangkok has had no long-term planning and too much manipulation, too much corruption for short-term gain.

One recommendation I'd make that would make a big difference is a plan to move the industrial sites out flood prone areas. Turn them back into rice fields, which would be resilient to occasional flooding.

Now what would likely happen, over a generation, if this plan were put in place? I see Bangkok quantitatively shrinking with less population and qualitatively improving with sustainable development. The industrial sites would be de-centralized to rural areas. The Isan people could go home to work.

Of course, with little polity and too much politics in play this plan isn't practical. Still, in my opinion, it'd go quite a ways to resolve the city-country divide and 'burn Bangkok' mentality with a win-win state-of-affairs.

[OzMick]

I have found this to be a useful site for information about conditions.

http://www.google.or...flood-2011.html

(What a concept! Sharing useful information during an emergency! It must be nice to have the luxury of being so far removed from the world around you, you can just sit and poke fun it it. And you wonder why the Thais can not wait to be rid of you! )

Care to explain who "you" is?

My pleasure. "You" is foreigners who came here for cheap sex, low cost of labor, a lazy life style and snobbish attitude toward the people of Thailand. "You" are those sitting far from the fray judging everyone and everything around them in a negative light. "You" is anyone who takes pleasure in this suffering, and thinks Thais have the time and energy to be your entertainment when constructive input would have real value. "You" are the hungry crocodiles at the mouth of the river, waiting for poor farm girls to come to your little playground to earn money to send home, hungry for desperate labor willing to make your $200 Nike's for 200 BAHT, hungry for the Baht to become cheap so you can hoard a few hundred thousand and skate for a few more years.

"You" are on your way "Out"

I would like to add to the list, those who think that just because they've married a local and living in some moobaan who thinks they know what is best for Thailand and the Thais, those who are more well off financially than the locals, not because they are more competent and capable (which they thing they are) but just because they had the fortune to be born into a first world country with a social safety net (pensions) but for how much longer?

This reminds me of a phrase that was very common in Hong Kong a few years ago - FILTH - failed in London, try Hong Kong. "You" are those that have failed in your home countries yet too arrogant and ignorant to realise it.

I see, success in life is measured in monetary terms. This must be your "asian values" that you are so proud of - but not too proud to educate yourself and work in the a "western" country.

[softgeorge]

Was there ever really any doubt by anyone with a working brain?

The thing of it is, this isn't the fault of the current government, but every government for the past 20+ years. Thailand is a country that has annual flooding. But it worsens each year when rampant deforestation is allowed for resorts and private mansions, which results is fewer trees and other types of growth which can soak up the rain, as well as provide stability for the soil. It happens when factories and housing estates are built in low lying areas, there by impeding the natural flow of water. And all of this is caused by the greed which permeates Thai society and thinking at every level. "Live for today, make as much money as you can, and who cares about tomorrow" should be the motto for Thailand, not "Land of Smiles". I don't see a lot of smiling going on now.

No, wait, I take that back. I see a few from those here in the north who are smiling and saying that it's about time that "precious Bangkok" is finally getting a taste of what the rest of the country has to deal with on an almost yearly basis.

This flood is a tragedy which I doubt any Thai government could effectively deal with, or could have prevented under the current circumstances. The loss of lives and property, as well as businesses is sad by any means. The best Thailand can hope for is that they will actually LEARN from this, and then take the necessary steps to develop a new water management program that will benefit ALL of Thailand, and not just BKK. Far too many in BKK think that they are the "center of the universe" when it comes to Thailand, and don't really care about the "provinces". Perhaps now they will wake up and realize that what happens in the provinces, CAN and WILL affect Bangkok.

Time will tell.

A sensible post Just1. Yes, after the flood of 1942, MANY projects could have been implemented VERY economically and efficiently - Bangkok could have been still called The Venice of the East to this day.

Yes, a sensible post. Bangkok lost the chance to become the Venice of the East. But it could still become a world-class city with proper planning and good polity.

Now retired, I once held numerous positions as Commissioner for land management, city-country planning and integrated resource management. As such could hire Phd-types or get gov't ministries to do studies: like the effects of clear-cutting and chances of flooding in different areas, etc.

Seeing this tragedy today, saddens me that Bangkok has had no long-term planning and too much manipulation, too much corruption for short-term gain.

One recommendation I'd make that would make a big difference is a plan to move the industrial sites out flood prone areas. Turn them back into rice fields, which would be resilient to occasional flooding.

Now what would likely happen, over a generation, if this plan were put in place? I see Bangkok quantitatively shrinking with less population and qualitatively improving with sustainable development. The industrial sites would be de-centralized to rural areas. The Isan people could go home to work.

Of course, with little polity and too much politics in play this plan isn't practical. Still, in my opinion, it'd go quite a ways to resolve the city-country divide and 'burn Bangkok' mentality with a win-win state-of-affairs.

ah yes but a lot of the industry is in BKK because the infrastructure is there which they need ie deep sea ports for exporting. A little hard to build a deep sea port in Isaan.

[patjem]

Driving from Bangkok to Chiang mai,Tuesday 25th,anybody know which is the driest way please?????PS, should i hire a four wheel drive?

Jetski, longtail or helecopter would be other options.

[sirchai]

The last domino falls. We're all going to get wet.

"Flood waters are coming from every direction and we cannot control them because it's a huge amount of water. We will try to warn people," said Yingluck, a political novice before taking office barely two months ago."

What's the difference between trying to do something and to do it? Ying must have been good at school....

Only two things on earth are endless. Human stupidity and the universe. But I'm not sure about the universe.

Albert Einstein.

Edited October 20, 2011 by sirchai

[OZEMADE]

Hi everyone,I,ve been away for awhile,my Thai nickname is Ostrich.Is it safe to take my head out of the sand yet?????????????????????????/

Nah leave it there the water's coming. How much can ya drink.

Edited October 20, 2011 by OZEMADE

[kutjebu]

With Respect, if Australia couldn't deal with their floods, and every possible action was taken, what hope does Thailand have ?

That was Thaksin fault as well.They blame him for everything in Thailand,why not in Australia.

[raybal5]

Looking at the government's actions (inaction) to date I am sort of reminded of Nero fiddling while Rome burned..

Roman contributions include;

Architectural styles : the Roman were inspired by the Greeks. But they were the ones to use extensively the arch, mosaics and frescoes. They built the largest free-standing dome in the world until the 20th century (the Pantheon in Rome, 43m of diametre, or 1m wider than the Bruneleschi's Duomo in Firenze).

Aqueducts and viaducts merit a separate category. They were the ancestors of modern viaduct (suspension bridges, etc.). Aqueducts would bring drinkable water from hundreds of kilometres away and were designed with just the right inclination so that the water would not run too fast (and erode the stone), nor too slow (and evaporate or become muddy). Combined with canalisations and sewers, they enabled a city like Rome to sustain a population of over 1 million.

The Romans developed spectator sports beyond anything seen until then. The Greeks invented the Olympic Games (incl. stadiums), but the Romans gave us the idea of mass entertainment.

The Roman highways were so straight, plane and resistant that some are still used nowadays (e.g. Via Appia). Many modern European highways follow the old Roman highways, as they used the most direct route to connect cities (and most Roman cities still exist nowadays).

Wine-making was not invented by the Romans, but they planted so many vines throughout the empire, that they created a tradition in France, south-western Germany and Mediteranean countries lasting to this day. The world's greatest wines are direct heirs to Roman wines.

The Roman weren't the first to come up with central or floor heating or hot baths, but they certainly spread its used across the empire. Ironically, it is the Japanese who are fans of hot springs and baths nowadays, not the Europeans. But famous thermal springs still exist in Europe, and were especially popular in the 19th century. Some have Roman origins.

The Roman Senate was supposedly founded by Romulus 2756 years ago. The Republic is "only" 2514 years old, but was one of the oldest such system in the world, and one that deeply influenced modern democratic states. The Greek idea of "democracy" is probably further from the current "democratic" system than was the elitist Roman Republic (in fact, politicians nowadays are almost always the same few oligarchs, like in Roman times).

The Julian Calendar, name after its inventor (Gaius Julius "Caesar"), is almost identical to the modern Western calendar reformed by Pope Gregory 1600 years later, and still used by many national Orthodox churches. It has/had all the current months, which names all have meanings in Latin : January (from "Janus", god of the beginning of times), February (from "Februa" a Roman festival), March (from "Mars", the god of war), April (from "aprire" meaning "open", referring to the blossoming of spring), May (from "Maia", goddess of the fertility), June (from "Juno", goddess of women and marriage, hence the expression "June bride"), July (from Julius Caesar himself), August (from emperor Augustus), September ("7th", as March was the 1st month at the time, and September was thus the 7th month), October ("8th"), etc.

The Romans seem to have been the ones to introduce the system of 3-course meal (starter, main dish, desert), inherited by most Western cultures. Note that in India, China, Japan, etc. there is no such tradition.

Are you with the Judean Peoples Front or the Peoples Front of Judea?

[ChoakMyDee]

From the news thread:

Govt: Situation of Prapa Canal under control

Justice Minister Pracha Promnok, head of the Flood Relief Operations Centre, declared Thursday that the situation of Prapa Canal has been under control.

Pracha also allayed public fear that the water for making tab water had been contaminated by floodwaters. He said the quality of tab water would not be affected.

Late Wednesday night, floodwaters penetrated a dyed to enter the Prapa Canal, whose water is use for making editable water, causing the water on the Prapa Canal to overflow its banks at certain spots.

Pracha told a press conference that the level of water on the Prapa Canal has been reduced to prevent it from overflowing the embankments.

Why must the lies continue? I live 300m from a spot where this canal is STILL overflowing, going there to help with sandbags right now. The water level in our village next to the canal is increasing and only the local lake to saving us at the moment. Lying SOB's the lot of them.

Have they cancelled the necessary work permits for working in Thailand? If you're helping with sand bags you're probably going to need a work permit.

[GoldDust]

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<br>Was there ever really any doubt by anyone with a working brain? <br><br>The thing of it is, this isn't the fault of the current government, but every government for the past 20+ years.  Thailand is a country that has annual flooding.  But it worsens each year when rampant deforestation is allowed for resorts and private mansions, which results is fewer trees and other types of growth which can soak up the rain, as well as provide stability for the soil. It happens when factories and housing estates are built in low lying areas, there by impeding the natural flow of water.  And all of this is caused by the greed which permeates Thai society and thinking at every level.  "Live for today, make as much money as you can, and who cares about tomorrow" should be the motto for Thailand, not "Land of Smiles".  I don't see a lot of smiling going on now.  <br><br>No, wait, I take that back.  I see a few from those here in the north who are smiling and saying that it's about time that "precious Bangkok" is finally getting a taste of what the rest of the country has to deal with on an almost yearly basis.  <br><br><br>This flood is a tragedy which I doubt any Thai government could effectively deal with, or could have prevented under the current circumstances.  The loss of lives and property, as well as businesses is sad by any means.  The best Thailand can hope for is that they will actually LEARN from this, and then take the necessary steps to develop a new water management program that will benefit ALL of Thailand, and not just BKK.  Far too many in BKK think that they are the "center of the universe" when it comes to Thailand, and don't really care about the "provinces".  Perhaps now they will wake up and realize that what happens in the provinces, CAN and WILL affect Bangkok.  <br><br>Time will tell.<br>

<br><br><br>Your first paragraph has some credibility.<br><br>The rest of your post fits right into the "burn Bangkok" mentality and contributes to the disunity issue that the current Govt claims to be trying to repair.<br><br>Did you ever think about where those workers in those industrial estates are from?  It's not Silom Road.<br>

<br> I don't really think these mud floods are caused by resorts and private mansions in the mountains because these are well managed and maintained, hardly any soil or mud will come from there. The real cause is illegal agriculture in the mountains like growing cabbages till the soil is drained from nutrients and then move to make another path to grow again. You'll see flat top mountains and abandoned land were nothing will grow all over when you go there. Also pollution, illegal garbage dumping, arson and mining are the cause of these problems. Who are the people who are doing this?  Yes, the Thai people them selves.<br><br>

[chaoyang]

Was there ever really any doubt by anyone with a working brain?

The thing of it is, this isn't the fault of the current government, but every government for the past 20+ years. Thailand is a country that has annual flooding. But it worsens each year when rampant deforestation is allowed for resorts and private mansions, which results is fewer trees and other types of growth which can soak up the rain, as well as provide stability for the soil. It happens when factories and housing estates are built in low lying areas, there by impeding the natural flow of water. And all of this is caused by the greed which permeates Thai society and thinking at every level. "Live for today, make as much money as you can, and who cares about tomorrow" should be the motto for Thailand, not "Land of Smiles". I don't see a lot of smiling going on now.

No, wait, I take that back. I see a few from those here in the north who are smiling and saying that it's about time that "precious Bangkok" is finally getting a taste of what the rest of the country has to deal with on an almost yearly basis.

This flood is a tragedy which I doubt any Thai government could effectively deal with, or could have prevented under the current circumstances. The loss of lives and property, as well as businesses is sad by any means. The best Thailand can hope for is that they will actually LEARN from this, and then take the necessary steps to develop a new water management program that will benefit ALL of Thailand, and not just BKK. Far too many in BKK think that they are the "center of the universe" when it comes to Thailand, and don't really care about the "provinces". Perhaps now they will wake up and realize that what happens in the provinces, CAN and WILL affect Bangkok.

Time will tell.

Good post