Air In Mae Sai Thick With Dust

[webfact]

HAZE

Air in Mae Sai thick with dust

PRAPAPORN KREUNGEW,

WARATTAYA CHAILANGKA

THE NATION

MAE SAI: -- Chiang Rai's Mae Sai district was blanketed by 441.6 micrograms/|cubic metres (ug/m3) of fine particle dust for a second day in a row yesterday, while six other provinces suffered from PM10 dust above the safety level of 120 ug/m3, the Pollution Control Department said yesterday.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra expressed concerns over the situation at the Cabinet meeting yesterday. She instructed the Interior, Agriculture and Science ministries to have teams visit the affected areas and launch a campaign to stop fires from being lit outdoors and implement harsher punishment for violators.

Downtown Chiang Rai recorded 226.5 ug/m3, Mae Hong Son 344.8 ug/m3, and Chiang Mai reported 187.4 ug/m3 downtown and 192.5 ug/m3 at City Hall. Lamphun had readings of 179.1 ug/m3, Lampang 120 ug/m3 to 135.9 ug/m3, Nan 126.3 ug/m3 and Tak 122.8 ug/m3.

The Northern Meteorological Centre, meanwhile, expects a moderate high-pressure ridge from China to cover the upper part of Thailand from March 23-25 resulting in rainstorms with possible hail in the Northeast and the East.

Chiang Rai-based weather forecaster Sawaeng Jaiyai said satellite images showed many hot spots, especially in the country's eastern region along the Burma and Laos-border as well as Chiang Mai's Fang and Mae Ai districts and Chiang Rai's mountainous areas.

Visibility is about 1,500 metres due to the haze. Water sprayed by Phitsanulok Wing 146's three flights yesterday was not able to introduce much humidity.

Chiang Rai's tourism director Atcharipa Maneesin lamented that many Japanese tourists had changed their travel plans to avoid the haze.

Lamphun Hospital director Dr Thani Limthong said patients suffering from haze-related problems had risen by 10 per cent to about 100 people daily.

-- The Nation 2012-03-21

[skybluestu]

If more people signed this then maybe, just maybe, it might not be as bad next year. http://www.breathecampaign.net/sign-our-petition/

[alant]

If more people signed this then maybe, just maybe, it might not be as bad next year. http://www.breatheca...n-our-petition/

I think the wording on the petition stating "we demand" is unlikely to be helpful especially when a number of signatures appeared to come from guests of Thailand rather than just Thai nationals. Don't get me wrong I would love to have clean air but I questioned my right to demand action from the government and allows me to stay here.

[skybluestu]

If more people signed this then maybe, just maybe, it might not be as bad next year. http://www.breatheca...n-our-petition/

I think the wording on the petition stating "we demand" is unlikely to be helpful especially when a number of signatures appeared to come from guests of Thailand rather than just Thai nationals. Don't get me wrong I would love to have clean air but I questioned my right to demand action from the government and allows me to stay here.

I think you'll find 'we demand' is often used on petitions the world over and it shouldn't matter whether the people who are demanding action are Thai nationals or not. The smoke is, once again, horrendous all over the north and very little (nothing?) is being done to prevent it. Personally I doubt the Thai governement will take any notice of this petition but if there's a chance they will then the more signatures demanding action the better.

[sidelines]

Agree with the petition, and have signed it, but also see "alant's" point about the wording.

"We demand" is not the right opening gambit particularly when the majority of signees are guests in Thailand. Split infinitive aside, "respectfully request" would come over better.

Also, pressure should be put on other Governments besides Thailand's. The US, UK and Japan, in particular, show concern about the well-being of their nationals at times of crises - terrorist threats, tsunamis and severe weather.

Well, the smog in northern Thailand has been well above internationally recognised (health) safety limits for more than a month so surely it is time for these Governments and others to issue a travel warning for the area.

Personally, I am reconsidering my decision to resettle in northern Thailand. I have a rental agreement in place and was going to move my family up in early May but we visited in early March and are still coughing and spluttering as a result. Shockingly, the air in Bangkok is better than around the hills of Chiang Rai.

Edited March 21, 2012 by sidelines

[villagefarang]

I marvel at the notion some foreigners have that they can in any way affect the government of their host nation or the citizens there of. I guess if it make one feel less impotent then go ahead but realistically I can see no other benefit over and above the feel good aspect.

If things are this bad and the locals continue to ignite new fires daily, then clearly they don’t care and value their work over their health. A few ranting foreigners aren’t going to make an impact.

[dindong]

I marvel at the notion some foreigners have that they can in any way affect the government of their host nation or the citizens there of. I guess if it make one feel less impotent then go ahead but realistically I can see no other benefit over and above the feel good aspect.

If things are this bad and the locals continue to ignite new fires daily, then clearly they don’t care and value their work over their health. A few ranting foreigners aren’t going to make an impact.

Agreed but maybe they will listen to the cancellations of tourists coming to the north of Thailand.

They may also listen if our various embassies start issuing travel warning to Thailand..

Please contact your relevant embassy to get them to ussue warnings to all potential tourists.

[piewarmer]

Not so many tourists in CM this high season, I mainly blame the smog but there is many more reasons to go elsewhere.

[belg]

hope this gets spread a bit more in the world news all over... tourism, oh, not import for thailand's economy

[rmacdon61]

I flew out March 20 from CR and we climbed above it pretty quick (it's a jet isn't it) and once above it, could not see any of the surrounding hills (mts) or anything within view. Completely blanketing the north. Seems the air is OK here on the west coast of BC Canada, go figure eh?