Does The Thai Culture Have To Change To Stop Future Flooding?

[up2you2]

When things go wrong here they have the potential to go very wrong, some say that's what makes it so interesting if not down right exciting.

In the land of no accountability, up to you laissez faire attitudes, where no one seems to mind their own business let alone others, the consequences that this can produce and is currently producing are simply devastating.

Here's just one classic example in the Bangkok Post Drainage plant slows flow:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/264631/drainage-plant-slows-flow

Bangkok was once described as the Venice of the East for a very good reason, so what has happened during the last fifty years since the last devastating flood, has Bangkok's climatic zone changed from tropical monsoon to arid desert.

In the rush to fill in these canals and simply not concrete over them, the surrounding areas have in the past acted nothing less like a huge dam, threatening the city on a daily basis during the run off season.

And in one of the token canals left to divert this enormous volume of water, 23 barriers are now obstructing it.

There's only one attribute that the Thais can claim from this crisis, that they have been consistent, consistently negligent in their own lives and as it's turning out in everybody else's to.

Does it mean that the Thai culture has to be effectively changed before change itself can be enacted.

If the predictions of climate change are to believed, then Bangkok could be facing annual tsunamis of flood devastation.

[Jingthing]

Bangkok won't last. Why not just plan on it and move the capital, starting NOW?

[Beechboy]

Bangkok won't last. Why not just plan on it and move the capital, starting NOW?

Easier said than done.

What is needed is a consistent approach to this re-accuring problem. There might not be such a gap (in years) between this disaster and the next, so this time that degree of complacency should not creep in.

Genuine experts on these matters need to be brought in (probably from Holland) to plan an efficient water diversion and flood protection system. Moreover, this work must start as a matter of urgency as soon as the current flooding is over. In short, it must be part of the re-construction programme.

A repeat in a few years will have dramatic social and economic consequences for the Country, to say nothing of the loss of life and the general misery that it would cause.

I consider all this stating the obvious, but as nothing is done and there is no real future planning here, I suppose we are back to Thai culture, which has some bad aspects alongside the many good.

[Beetlejuice]

We could consider this as Mother Natures Revenge, if there is such a thing.

For years in this part of the world they have been cutting down the forests, destroying vast areas of landscapes, shown no care or respect for it`s wildlife, polluting the rivers and reshaping the lands without any proper planning or controls.

We could say that now this is payback time as all these actions have knock on affects.

So unless the South East Asians begin to start caring for their environments and natural habitats, then these catastrophic events are going to worsen in the short-term future.

[ExpatJ]

"In the land of no accountability, up to you laissez faire attitudes, where no one seems to mind their own business let alone others, the consequences that this can produce and is currently producing are simply devastating."

Given that Thailand has a rapidly growing economy (far far more effective and well managed than its neighbours- cambodia, laos, vietnam) , zero bank bankruptcies since the crash (compared to 100s in UK/US) a capital that is more modern and cosmopolitan than most towns in the UK, a country that is one of the biggest tourist magnets in the world, is one of the worlds most successful expert based economies.

I dont think they have too much too worry about in terms of their culture relative to other countries- UK for instance that just had nation wide breakdown/rioting calls for a bigger change in culture i would say.

[theblether]

"In the land of no accountability, up to you laissez faire attitudes, where no one seems to mind their own business let alone others, the consequences that this can produce and is currently producing are simply devastating."

Given that Thailand has a rapidly growing economy (far far more effective and well managed than its neighbours- cambodia, laos, vietnam) , zero bank bankruptcies since the crash (compared to 100s in UK/US) a capital that is more modern and cosmopolitan than most towns in the UK, a country that is one of the biggest tourist magnets in the world, is one of the worlds most successful expert based economies.

I dont think they have too much too worry about in terms of their culture relative to other countries- UK for instance that just had nation wide breakdown/rioting calls for a bigger change in culture i would say.

Your comment about the UK is wrong and uncalled for. The riots were limited to very few areas and the rest of the country looked on in fury and disgust. Please be assured that there are several districts in the UK far more impoverished and volatile than Tottenham, and these areas remained peaceful.

As for the OP, it is patently obvious that you are correct in every point you made.Good luck with trying to change Thai culture though.

[nong38]

"In the land of no accountability, up to you laissez faire attitudes, where no one seems to mind their own business let alone others, the consequences that this can produce and is currently producing are simply devastating."

Given that Thailand has a rapidly growing economy (far far more effective and well managed than its neighbours- cambodia, laos, vietnam) , zero bank bankruptcies since the crash (compared to 100s in UK/US) a capital that is more modern and cosmopolitan than most towns in the UK, a country that is one of the biggest tourist magnets in the world, is one of the worlds most successful expert based economies.

I dont think they have too much too worry about in terms of their culture relative to other countries- UK for instance that just had nation wide breakdown/rioting calls for a bigger change in culture i would say.

Your comment about the UK is wrong and uncalled for. The riots were limited to very few areas and the rest of the country looked on in fury and disgust. Please be assured that there are several districts in the UK far more impoverished and volatile than Tottenham, and these areas remained peaceful.

As for the OP, it is patently obvious that you are correct in every point you made.Good luck with trying to change Thai culture though.

A lot of the rioters were not locals but foreigners who arrived for the event, the rest just opportunists on benefits, who have been dealt with.

Yes the culture here will have to change, try and stop the flooding at source not just see it cascade all the way down to Bangkok and hope it runs out of energy before it gets there. If the water had been managed better a lot less flooding would have occured, but we dont know what private interests some parties had in this and it remains to be seen who will be held to account for it. The PM guaranteed that Bangkok would not flood, but then we know what guarantees are worth here, not what we thought they were.

In this age would you not have thought computer simulations might have been employed? Then again maybe not.

Anyone for the re run next year?

[ExpatJ]

"In the land of no accountability, up to you laissez faire attitudes, where no one seems to mind their own business let alone others, the consequences that this can produce and is currently producing are simply devastating."

Given that Thailand has a rapidly growing economy (far far more effective and well managed than its neighbours- cambodia, laos, vietnam) , zero bank bankruptcies since the crash (compared to 100s in UK/US) a capital that is more modern and cosmopolitan than most towns in the UK, a country that is one of the biggest tourist magnets in the world, is one of the worlds most successful expert based economies.

I dont think they have too much too worry about in terms of their culture relative to other countries- UK for instance that just had nation wide breakdown/rioting calls for a bigger change in culture i would say.

Your comment about the UK is wrong and uncalled for. The riots were limited to very few areas and the rest of the country looked on in fury and disgust. Please be assured that there are several districts in the UK far more impoverished and volatile than Tottenham, and these areas remained peaceful.

As for the OP, it is patently obvious that you are correct in every point you made.Good luck with trying to change Thai culture though.

The fact that there was large number of foreigners involved makes it even worse- imagine the UK firstly let these people in the country and THEN let them riot- thats shambolic incompetence far more serious than some mismanaged flooding.

[theblether]

"In the land of no accountability, up to you laissez faire attitudes, where no one seems to mind their own business let alone others, the consequences that this can produce and is currently producing are simply devastating."

Given that Thailand has a rapidly growing economy (far far more effective and well managed than its neighbours- cambodia, laos, vietnam) , zero bank bankruptcies since the crash (compared to 100s in UK/US) a capital that is more modern and cosmopolitan than most towns in the UK, a country that is one of the biggest tourist magnets in the world, is one of the worlds most successful expert based economies.

I dont think they have too much too worry about in terms of their culture relative to other countries- UK for instance that just had nation wide breakdown/rioting calls for a bigger change in culture i would say.

Your comment about the UK is wrong and uncalled for. The riots were limited to very few areas and the rest of the country looked on in fury and disgust. Please be assured that there are several districts in the UK far more impoverished and volatile than Tottenham, and these areas remained peaceful.

As for the OP, it is patently obvious that you are correct in every point you made.Good luck with trying to change Thai culture though.

The fact that there was large number of foreigners involved makes it even worse- imagine the UK firstly let these people in the country and THEN let them riot- thats shambolic incompetence far more serious than some mismanaged flooding.

Excuse me sir, I get the impression that you are now trolling and looking for a fight. I have no idea of your nationality, however I will suggest that you should not worry about the UK. The country is far more sound and cohesive than many people are prepared to believe. We Brits will stick to what concerns to us in the UK, you stick to what concerns your country.

As for the topic at hand here, I think all of the members share a sense of frustration at some parts ( maybe many parts ) of how Thai society operates. The frustrating part is that we can do a lot to help but our help is not wanted.

[aneliane]

What you call Thai culture, here, is actually the influence of western culture.

Can we really blame them for wanting quick comforting life like we enjoyed for the past century ?

It's not because we just got an environmental awareness that we can reproach everyone else not to have one too ...

[travelmann]

"In the land of no accountability, up to you laissez faire attitudes, where no one seems to mind their own business let alone others, the consequences that this can produce and is currently producing are simply devastating."

Given that Thailand has a rapidly growing economy (far far more effective and well managed than its neighbours- cambodia, laos, vietnam) , zero bank bankruptcies since the crash (compared to 100s in UK/US) a capital that is more modern and cosmopolitan than most towns in the UK, a country that is one of the biggest tourist magnets in the world, is one of the worlds most successful expert based economies.

I dont think they have too much too worry about in terms of their culture relative to other countries- UK for instance that just had nation wide breakdown/rioting calls for a bigger change in culture i would say.

Your comment about the UK is wrong and uncalled for. The riots were limited to very few areas and the rest of the country looked on in fury and disgust. Please be assured that there are several districts in the UK far more impoverished and volatile than Tottenham, and these areas remained peaceful.

As for the OP, it is patently obvious that you are correct in every point you made.Good luck with trying to change Thai culture though.

The fact that there was large number of foreigners involved makes it even worse- imagine the UK firstly let these people in the country and THEN let them riot- thats shambolic incompetence far more serious than some mismanaged flooding.

Funny hahahhahaha you mean housed them fed them gave them money, yes we should be morer xenophobic I have an idea how about only allowing blond haired blue eyed........... Oh wait????

[jackr]

The fact that there was large number of foreigners involved makes it even worse- imagine the UK firstly let these people in the country and THEN let them riot- thats shambolic incompetence far more serious than some mismanaged flooding.

Excuse me sir, I get the impression that you are now trolling and looking for a fight. I have no idea of your nationality, however I will suggest that you should not worry about the UK. The country is far more sound and cohesive than many people are prepared to believe. We Brits will stick to what concerns to us in the UK, you stick to what concerns your country.

As for the topic at hand here, I think all of the members share a sense of frustration at some parts ( maybe many parts ) of how Thai society operates. The frustrating part is that we can do a lot to help but our help is not wanted.

He's very likely from the UK and getting a kick out of dissing his own... lots of them do that when they arrive in TiT land, putting it down at every opportunity unbeknownst to them that the Thais think they're rather weak for doing so.

The op is on the ball; when you have greng jai and face to take into consideration, there's no way to resolve such scenarios effectively.

[ExpatJ]

The fact that there was large number of foreigners involved makes it even worse- imagine the UK firstly let these people in the country and THEN let them riot- thats shambolic incompetence far more serious than some mismanaged flooding.

Excuse me sir, I get the impression that you are now trolling and looking for a fight. I have no idea of your nationality, however I will suggest that you should not worry about the UK. The country is far more sound and cohesive than many people are prepared to believe. We Brits will stick to what concerns to us in the UK, you stick to what concerns your country.

As for the topic at hand here, I think all of the members share a sense of frustration at some parts ( maybe many parts ) of how Thai society operates. The frustrating part is that we can do a lot to help but our help is not wanted.

He's very likely from the UK and getting a kick out of dissing his own... lots of them do that when they arrive in TiT land, putting it down at every opportunity unbeknownst to them that the Thais think they're rather weak for doing so.

The op is on the ball; when you have greng jai and face to take into consideration, there's no way to resolve such scenarios effectively.

I have been in thailand 8 years. The topic is hilarious- to strengthen flood management with some stronger dams better management there needs a culture change. Where as nationwide rioting and bankrupt and failing economic systems and institutions in UK does not . Is this the logical argument being presented? But i suspect deep down you realize this and that's why you live in Thailand and not the UK

[yermanee]

I have been in thailand 8 years. The topic is hilarious- to strengthen flood management with some stronger dams better management there needs a culture change. Where as nationwide rioting and bankrupt and failing economic systems and institutions in UK does not . Is this the logical argument being presented? But i suspect deep down you realize this and that's why you live in Thailand and not the UK

Exactly !

Natural disasters happen all over the world, some more predictable than others, but that doesn't stop humanity from building houses on crumbling shorelines, on the slopes of a volcano etc. etc. etc.

Nothing to do with culture but with shortsightedness of humanity.

Yermanee :jap:

[F1fanatic]

Nothing is going to change in the short-term.

Firstly, these floods are unusual - when was the last time Bangkok was flooded this way?

Secondly they know they are right and superior to every other nationality. A bit like every other nationality....

[wintermute]

I also say that nothing will change. The politicians here are not concerned with well being but vote buying, corruption money, and power. This administration will pass the buck on to the next who will do so on and so forth.

[exeter]

The Victorians would have sorted this out once and for all and 150 years ago.

Now they really were superior they contolled 1/3rd of the globe.

[yermanee]

I also say that nothing will change. The politicians here are not concerned with well being but vote buying, corruption money, and power. This administration will pass the buck on to the next who will do so on and so forth.

You just described the whole western political world.

Yermanee :jap:

[wintermute]

I also say that nothing will change. The politicians here are not concerned with well being but vote buying, corruption money, and power. This administration will pass the buck on to the next who will do so on and so forth.

You just described the whole western political world.

Yermanee :jap:

The corruption in Thailand makes the corruption in the western world look like child's play.

:jap:

People always say cultural relativist nonsense like this without considering how pervasive certain problems are in each country.

[nong38]

It would be interesting to see what has been built on what would normally be called the "flood plain", my guess is that a fair bit of the stuff underwater has encroached on those areas if I am right who granted the planning when it was known risk, of course no one will be losing face, money as it will be swept under the carpet. The same thing has happened in the UK, maybe thats where they got the idea from.

[yermanee]

I also say that nothing will change. The politicians here are not concerned with well being but vote buying, corruption money, and power. This administration will pass the buck on to the next who will do so on and so forth.

You just described the whole western political world.

Yermanee :jap:

The corruption in Thailand makes the corruption in the western world look like child's play.

:jap:

People always say cultural relativist nonsense like this without considering how pervasive certain problems are in each country.

We are way of topic here,

The corruption in the west is as rampant as here. It's just better hidden.

Yermanee :jap:

[up2you2]

It would be interesting to see what has been built on what would normally be called the "flood plain", my guess is that a fair bit of the stuff underwater has encroached on those areas if I am right who granted the planning when it was known risk, of course no one will be losing face, money as it will be swept under the carpet. The same thing has happened in the UK, maybe thats where they got the idea from.

Here are some of the answers:

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Many-city-canals-illegally-blocked-30169181.html

[nong38]

Encroahment is a worldwide problem but someone allows it go on, flood plains, national forest, parks etc. What surprises me seeing the pictures on tv is of these huge factories under water, did no one warn them when they took the site that there was a possibility thflooding could occur? Or were they told no problem. Well the price is good so how can we refuse? I saw no sign of any flood deences at any of the factories and we can now see and hear how this is going to affect Thailand's economy for some time come.

When will it be safe to buy anything here when you can be sure as you can be that the product you are looking at has not been in the floods and dried out, anyone like to guess? You know what a Thai guarantee is worth!