As Thailand moves forward to cope with climate change in terms of its impact on ordinary citizens, especially farmers, some believe part of what is needed is the start of an environmental movement organised by a "Green Party".

The new political landscape that will emerge here in the near future can well accommodate such a formation, generating new ideas on how to deal with self-sufficiency in the economy, social equity for the masses, and a saner sustainable future for all.

For inspiration, those who build such a formation here in Thailand can look to the Green Party in New Zealand, a pioneer globally in green politics over the decades, and one of the most successful parties in bringing its message to the electorate. They can look to the Greens in Australia, the new Green Party in South Korea, the Greens in Japan, India, Nepal and Mongolia. Such a movement could become a significant force in the country for educating the public and formulating crucial future policy.

Bill Templer

Phitsanulok

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Westernisation inevitable, making the best of benefits key

Re: "State-religion ralliers betray tenets they claim to cherish", Opinion, April 25.

It is interesting that on the one hand The Nation discusses "the middle way" of Buddhism in its Opinion piece and on the other publishes a studied polemic on why Thailand should refuse to enjoy greater foreign investment ("Happiness in Thailand cannot be judged by economics alone", Letters, April 25). It seems to be justified enough in Vietnam.

One of the biggest debates among green libertarians is how to balance ecology with economics. This philosophy dodges conflict between the principles of environmental protection and economic free trade by stressing that the two can go hand-in-hand, but only with corporate responsibility and accountability.

Published a half century ago, in a political, economic, and social milieu that seems increasingly remote from the present day, George Orwell's "1984" is nowadays more often viewed as a warning against the dangers that technocratic modernism poses to privacy, freedom and "happiness". Many people believe that the relentless advance of science and technology in recent decades has brought us to the very brink of this Orwellian nightmare. But besides this celebrated dystopic novel, from the vantage point of the past, investment in the future of this country may offer huge advances in benefits: continued progress might bring greater life expectancies, cures for debilitating diseases, cognitive enhancements and for Thais to live much better and longer lives.

The Westernisation of Thailand is unstoppable and perhaps there is every good reason to encourage it but with greater personal, government and corporate responsibility.

James Groveway

Bangkok

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Foreign investment positive for those in relevant sectors

Re: "Happiness in Thailand cannot be judged by economics alone", Letters, April 25.

John Arnone does seem confused about what the debate on foreign investment is all about, though he has a valid point about the importance of personal happiness in the development of an economic future.

John says people don't holiday or retire in the US, China and Japan. Statistics show those three countries are all far more popular tourist destinations than Thailand. The number of international retirees settling in the US per year exceeds the number retiring to Thailand by a factor of 10.

John says tourism and retirement drove Thailand's growth. Government statistics show that the foreign investment that drove Thailand's growth occurred in clothing, toys, electronics and auto/auto parts manufacture (clothing, toys and electronics now almost completely eclipsed by China). Even today, tourism contributes only 6 per cent of GDP, with agriculture about 11 per cent and manufacturing a whopping 38 per cent.

So, is the point that somehow foreign investment makes people unhappier than domestic investment? I fail to see the connection. In manufacturing, my experience is that companies with foreign partners have better facilities, working conditions, pay and benefits than their 100 per cent domestic counterparts.

The key is to balance development with preserving quality of life - which includes things like the environment, public health and access to education, exercise and entertainment. That preservation has nothing to do with where the development money comes from.

Bruce Janis

Chiang Mai

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Seripisut well deserving of post as national police chief

Re: "Seri confirmed as police commander", News, April 25.

Congratulations to Seripisut Temiyavej for his appointment as national police chief. He has done an exemplary and exceptional job throughout his career. I hope that one day he will be appointed to head the Interior Ministry. Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont performs well under fire from opponents. With only five more months left on his calendar, please give him time to finish his term as promised. So, just hold your horses. That's fair enough, isn't it?

Surasak Piputtana

Bangkok

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Ostentatious engagement spectacle sets bad example

Re: "Paradorn's my ace: Natalie", News, April 25.

When people become engaged to get married, especially if they are celebrities and thus role models in a celebrity-obsessed society, they prove their love by displaying to the world gifts of Bt10 million plus - jewellery, etc.  This can be atrocious for onlookers, especially in a country that has a substantial gap in income and wealth because now with such role models we can't help but feel that love is proved by the value of assets that a guy is willing to give and to "sacrifice" for you as proof of love.

I wish Thai society, lead by the Thai media, would debate these issues and increase awareness around them. At least, we could discuss the positives and negatives of such displays and perhaps learn something from one another.

Debate-less

Bangkok

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Paradorn's wedding plans do not merit nation's rapt focus

There are a lot of funny (if I can put it that way) things about your placement of Paradorn's engagement on the front page of your newspaper.

First, usually, he is confined to the later Sport section (where I usually don't mind seeing him). One, however, might have thought to see him on the front page if he had won a grand slam. And now, miraculously, he's on the front page without having won a single major tournament. It's as though his engagement to a former miss universe is an accomplishment in itself, one worthy of national pride! Now, I wonder what message that conveys!

And, while I am trying hard not to treat your article as a gossip scoop, it's hard to accept the seemingly fawning and approving attitude of this: "Super Ball, as the high-profile star with a trail of broken hearts behind him is known, had quietly eased away from any efforts to get married despite the string of beautiful women he dated ... In the meantime, Asia's number one tennis player was wooing dozens of beautiful models and stars around the world, including pop singer Tata Young and supermodel Odette Henriette Jacqmin."

The funniest comment however came from his father, Chanachai: "We wish that everyone is happy for them." Not, "I am happy for them", which usually suffices. Does his father not know that the happiness of the marriage will depend on the two people in it?

Another important question is does the father really think that Paradorn is so important that everyone should be happy for him and his fiancee? I am sure there is a very proud and egotistical miscalculation there somewhere.

I am not a great fan of Odette or Tata but I am glad for them that they were able to get out of this tricky loop.

Banjapat La-Orkhun

Bangkok

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'Extreme culture shock' could have driven Cho to the brink

Re: "Blaming American culture an easy out to explain away Cho's demented actions", Letters, April 25.

 In his letter, The Longman seems to ignore another possible factor that may have put Cho Seung-hui on the road of mad resentment and of the massacre that ended with his suicide: the cultural shock caused by the overriding preposterous American way of life - I would not call that a culture.

Cultural shock is a real phenomenon that results in disorientation varying from light to very strong from individual to individual. In Cho's case, it would have been extreme.

Relevant to Cho's case, most Thai students overseas are strongly affected by cultural shock due to the parochial and monolithic nature of Thai society.

The brief biography published in the press suggests that Cho may have suffered rejection from his classmates and his young neighbours. That would have exacerbated his difficulties in adjusting to the new country and it would explain his hatred of his American fellow students.

Inadvertently, The Longman also throws light on an actual class environment so common in Bangkok where sociopaths, bullies, hoods and good-for-nothings can carry on unchecked. One or more of them in the usually over-bloated classes: the teacher cannot teach and the weaker students cannot profit from a proper learning environment, while school administrators only look for tea and fee money from overindulging parents and the Education bureausaurs slumber peacefully in their chairs.

But what about academic goals and performance, what about school certificates? Well, one can always buy them. Theoretically, in this way, a new-born baby may become a doctor of science from one of the non-accredited universities for having gone through birth.

Krabong Kuverakorn

Bangkok

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