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Published on November 4, 2007

It made me realise that our Earth is changing so much because of global warming and I really want to be a part of the effort to make our planet a better place.

I think that everyone has to realise that we - everyday people - are the main cause of global warming. We are the ones that are producing carbon dioxide, the main gas causing this problem. And global warming affects our lives through floods, drought, hurricanes and famine etc. Our planet is getting worse every day; maybe it will get far worse than we've ever imagined! We can do very simple things to help save our planet, for example walking or biking instead of using cars for a short distance, using less electricity to save energy and reduce carbon dioxide, or switching to biodiesel in our cars. Stopping global warming starts in everyday lives!

The government should also have measures to limit carbon dioxide.

 It's never late to start thinking of changing our minds and our habits. Starting to think about it is a good beginning. We are the ones who cause global warming and we are the ones who can solve it. Let's do so before it's too late and the Earth is beyond saving.

Kasamon Sriburanasorn

Bangkok

Writer may have a future in veggie restaurants

Re: Why the failure to promote vegetarianism? Letters, November 3.

In answer to Eric Bahrt's letter, can I suggest that preaching does little to change people's lifestyles. I would suggest that promoting the positives of a vegetable-based diet rather than continuously pointing out the evil effects of meat might be more effective.

Perhaps Eric should raise some capital and start a restaurant chain called "McEric's". Make it a fun, relaxed place that serves delicious vegetarian food and I'll eat there several times a week, I promise.

Michael Clowes

Bangkok

Conspiracy theory about food hard to swallow

Eric Bahrt continues to promote his alternative lifestyle with tales of conspiracy and intrigue. Now he again reminds us that the meat, poultry, fish and dairy industries, in total collusion with the worldwide medical establishment, conspire to let millions of people needlessly die from eating food.

He fails to mention the millions of men, women and children that die each year from starvation.

Some of the conspiracies that come to mind when reading these theories on food are the belief that the Apollo moon landings were faked, the 9/11 attacks were orchestrated by the US government, the militaries of the US and India deliberately caused the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunamis with electromagnetic pulse technology and Kentucky Fried Chicken makes black men impotent. All of these conspiracy theories are widely circulated. However few really believe they are true.

David Barkdull

Bangkok

Warning: circular debates can harm your health

Yet another letter from Eric Bahrt repeating the same everyone-should-eat-veggies-and-avoid-meat-and-fish-or-else-die-a-horrible-death message.

According to the World Research Centre on Obnoxious Repetition, the more letters people are forced to read from health fanatics who don't know when enough is enough, the more likely they are to get heartburn and headaches and the less likely they are to read letters to the editor columns.

Dean Barrett

Bangkok

China enriching junta with Burma dam projects

In Burma, China-owned corporations are rapidly raising their investments in the energy sector, particularly in hydropower development projects. Indeed, those investments are not environmentally friendly, are ecologically unsustainable, and the benefits would definitely flow to the military regime's pockets.

Moreover, there would be a dramatic negative impact on the environment, society and economy of the communities where large dams are going to be built.

This letter requests the following actions from the Chinese government regarding their investments in Burma:

l That they carry out comprehensive environmental and social-impact assessments on projects abroad and make those publicly available in order to adequately determine the feasibility of projects before concluding any agreements.

l That they keep affected communities informed from the outset of all plans regarding hydropower development projects and makes sure that they are involved in decision-making regarding those projects. This includes publicly releasing dam feasibility studies, investment and financial agreements and memorandums of understanding and providing clear information regarding responsible parties.

We, the Burma Rivers Network, need your solidarity. If individuals want to sign a petition to this effect they can do so at: http://www.petitiononline.com/BRN/petition.html

Burma Rivers Network

Bangkok

Generals trying to divert attention from brutal acts

In a bid to divert attention from the brutal crackdown on monk-led protests last month, authorities within the military junta have begun a campaign in the rural areas by showing a video clip about a military officer's trip to the Buddha Gayar, in Nepal.

The video was about a trip by the former southeast command commander Maj-General Thura Myint Aung to Nepal and about the funds he donated in 2005. The first show was held in Kwan-hlar village in Mon State.

The monks in the rural areas said the junta is doing this because they want to cover up what they did to the monks. They are trying to show only the good things.

Now the authorities are holding the video show in Kwan-hlar village, sources said.

The villagers were not interested in the show. They went to the place where the show was being held but didn't look at it, the source said.

Most elders in the township are very interested in the earlier protests led by monks and hope that protests will be revived. They talked to each other about the protests and offered yellow robes to the members of the Buddhist order for a special purpose (kahtain khin in Burmese).

Independent Mon News Network

Bangkok