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Published on July 30, 2007

However, just now I feel sick. Not because of the film, but because of the cinema. My guess is that it was no more than 18 degrees Celsius at my seat in cinema No 3 at SF World Multiplex Cinema at 8pm on Saturday. And believe me, I think I can speak about temperature matters with some authority. I'm not a beach bum who feels chilly when the temperature goes below 25 degrees; I grew up in the snowy Swiss mountains! And considering all the sneezing heard during the movie, I think I can say I was not the only one freezing.

So what's wrong with a nicely chilled cinema where one can take a rest from Bangkok's steaming weather? Well, excuse me if I sound a bit harsh here, but I think the attitude of the owners of the SF World Multiplex Cinema - and they are not the only ones in this country - is criminal. Yes, criminal, for one simple reason: pushing air-conditioning to its limits - be it in the cinema, Skytrain, shopping malls or individual homes - wastes a huge amount of electricity. And how is electricity produced in this country? Primarily with imported natural gas and low quality coal. In addition to draining increasing amounts of foreign currency from the country (in 2005 Thailand imported Bt56,899 million worth of natural gas, an increase of 40.5 per cent from the previous year), this affects local communities (air pollution and relocation) and the entire world through the emissions of greenhouse gases.

The Thai government has already taken some valuable steps to promote renewable energy technologies (like solar, biomass, micro-hydro, etc) and to some extent to promote energy efficiency. However, much more needs to be done. Without going back to using candles for lighting, we must learn how to use energy efficiently. Regulations for the temperature in shopping malls, cinemas and office buildings would be easy to implement and monitor. Offenders could be fined, thereby raising money for the promotion of renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go to bed and try to get rid of my fever.

Samuel Martin

Bangkok

Get numbers right in news reports

 There is one problem with today's newspapers, especially with English language newspapers in non-English speaking countries: the writers of articles often do not get it right when it involves numbers.

I read on your front page report under the headline "Court orders mine closure to protect fossil site" (excellent and important information - congratulations on putting it on the front page!) on the plane from Bangkok to Munich on Friday. The second last paragraph says: "... a total of 265 tonnes of lignite worth about Bt132 billion ... ). Wouldn't that make it the most precious lignite ever, with a price of nearly Bt500 million a tonne, or Bt500,000 a kilo? Perhaps it should have read 265 million tonnes of lignite worth Bt132 billion (one tonne worth about Bt500)?

It is the old problem of relating numbers to reality. Many journalists simply write down what they get from their sources without thinking whether it is realistic or not. A German TV anchor once reported that police had seized a heroin load of 700 tonnes! Seven hundred kilos seemed too uninteresting for him, apparently. With our all present megalomania mixed with a lack of common sense, we ruin the image of journalism.

Prof Hans Pizka

Kirchheim, Germany

Alarming disregard for security by local bank

 Last week, my wife went to our local market and bought some khanom which was in a paper bag made from a discarded computer printout. Further examination of the printout revealed that it was from a Thai bank and gave the 16-digit card numbers and corresponding bank account numbers of ATM cards issued to customers at its branch in Chumsaeng.

I am surprised that such sensitive information is not more carefully guarded. Unwanted printouts should be shredded before being discarded instead of finding their way into the hands of the general public.

Andy Henderson

Nonthaburi

Arguments for fixing the baht exchange rate

 Thailand now enjoys the "benefits" of the flexible currency exchange. To name only some examples:

l A strong baht because of the surplus in trade and a huge capital inflow to the stock exchange (cheap price/earning ratio and the trust crises with the US dollar).

l Appreciation of the baht bringing problems of competitiveness in the export sector and negative consequences for farmers and export industries, including their workers.

l Negative influence on tourism, as foreigners have to pay more for the Thai currency.

Of course, there are limited advantages from the stronger baht, such as the lower cost of importing oil and big machinery.

The Bank of Thailand and the Finance Ministry tried to channel the negative consequences of the appreciation through measures such as the 30-per-cent capital reserve requirement. But is this sufficient? I don't think so. Letting the market forces work, ie letting the currency float freely, is a great danger to Thailand's economy and therefore bad for many people, especially the poor in our lovely country. Thailand doesn't have the financial means to resist the immense capital inflow; the BOT can intervene only perfunctorily. Those responsible should consider stronger measures to fight against the baht's appreciation.

I'm astonished that there is no public debate about a fixed currency rate. Maybe the BOT is afraid of fixing the baht to a calculated rate, remembering the 1997 crisis. At that time it was completely disastrous to stick to the fixed rate. But that doesn't mean it is wrong for all times.

My arguments for this idea are as follows:

l The economy has reliable dates for calculations of the international trade.

l Like in China, the central bank can give the exchange rate a margin of fluctuation, for example from 35 to 37.

l The speculative dollar inflow to the stock exchange will be limited. Don't listen to the outcry of the gamblers. They will claim the BOT is strangling investment. But it's only the money of grasshoppers, when the plate is empty they will jump on.

l Some experts say that only a floating currency is a guarantee of being able to deal with the future. But Thailand has not yet reached the status of a world economy, So first it has to protect the welfare of the country partially.

l If the currency rate is suited for the market, let it float again.

With the rate fixed to a key currency (US$) the BOT is obliged to guarantee full convertibility by intervention in the foreign-exchange market (Bretton Woods system) or by gold. Then the experts should take care to avoid a crisis like the previous one. The existing rules don't defend the baht against new currency crises.

Eckhard Helbig

Mae Hong Son

Cleared terror suspects left with shattered lives

 So the ludicrous terror charges brought against the Indian doctor Mohamed Haneef by the Australian authorities have been dropped after a review by the country's chief prosecutor found there was insufficient evidence and mistakes had been made. It seems that the charges were based on the fact that the good doctor had innocently given his mobile phone SIM card to a relative before leaving Britain to work in Australia.

The doctor has been released but the Immigration Department insists that they will not restore his Australian work visa. One wonders about their reasons.

This brings me to another more disturbing point, which is the growing tendency of Western governments, especially the British and eagerly followed by the Australians, of arresting suspects along with great fanfare and publicity and then releasing them some days later without charge once their reputation has been destroyed and very often their professional career ruined with no chance of compensation.

Curious that most of those arrested are immigrants or of non-Western origin.

Edward Duhigg

Bangkok