• 
• 

Published on February 18, 2008

This article makes some good points in favour of nuclear power plants being deployed in Thailand. Environmental concerns and economics are cited as reasons why the Kingdom should pursue the nuclear option. In a perfect world, cheap power produced safely seems almost too good to be true. Unfortunately it is too good to be true, and I fear nothing less than a nuclear disaster if even one facility were to be brought online here.

The upcoming feasibility study will be flawed because the government wants these facilities to be built. Once the decision has been made, all conclusions, cost figures and statistics will unerringly point towards whatever the government wants. We will see road shows targeting the poor, touting the "magic" of nuclear energy while at the same time passing out protective suits and dark glasses to these poor souls who will become the first victims when the accident occurs.

Because of the cost of each nuclear power plant there will be unprecedented opportunities for corruption at all levels. However, this time when substandard construction materials and shoddy construction practices are inevitably employed, lives will be lost. Not one government official will lose his life, nor will any company executive involved in the operation of these plants be injured. They will be nowhere near the disaster when it happens.

The required maintenance will be on a level unheard of here in Thailand. If the country cannot maintain the lights at its new world-class airport, does anyone think we can maintain a nuclear reactor and properly store nuclear fuel?

David Barkdull

Bangkok

----------------------------------

Get better informed on atomic-power debate

The debate over nuclear power in Thailand is a big topic, requiring a fundamental understanding of energy, energy production, and Thailand's choices. To help improve the dialogue regarding energy production in Thailand, I would like to make the following suggestion.

First, please take advantage of the information emanating from the University of California, Berkeley. Many of their current courses are being offered via webcast for free to any viewer with an Internet connection. One course being offered this term is a descriptive introduction to physics. The professor of that course offers information that any critical thinker needs to have in order to form a credible point of view in this energy dialogue. These courses are archived and can be watched at any time.

I am recommending that my engineering students at Chula watch this webcast to prepare for their in-class debates this week on nuclear-energy production in Thailand. My own guidance in the debates is also greatly improved by watching these lectures. Let's not be foolish in our public policy debates - those practised in the classroom and those by policy-makers - by choosing ignorance.

A web search for "webcast" and "UC Berkeley" will show links to the course list. Please enjoy the benefits of participating in an open society and being informed with fundamental awareness. Our decisions have huge effects on our generation and the many more that will follow.

Let's have all parties who have any interest in significant critical dialogue be well informed. Thank you UC Berkeley for your progressive and open-society ideals and actions.

David Brooks

Bangkok

----------------------------------

Lack of vision led to ineffectual smoking ban

The new non-smoking law didn't last a day in some nightclubs, including several in the Silom/Surawong area. It is a depressing lesson in people's incapacity for nuance and creative solutions, and a fresh reminder of how many people here react to restrictions by simply ignoring or circumventing them, and couldn't care less what anyone else - even the law - says.

If the government had enacted a law requiring separate smoking and non-smoking areas, it would have been easy to comply without denying anyone's desire to smoke. One can look around most venues and easily contemplate how a smoke-free area could be provided. But instead the law prohibited all indoor smoking, forcing a single choice on all venue owners between compliance and (so they think) their customers' wishes. Venue owners were not required to set up non-smoking areas, and it seems not to have occurred to them to do so on their own to at least "partially comply" with the law instead of flouting it altogether. Now everyone smokes anywhere they wish, as before.

It was bad enough that bars allowed their own staff to smoke when smoking was legal, but allowing them to smoke now gives the lie to the notion that the bars respect the law but cannot risk offending their smoking customers. There are no customers clamouring to have bar employees smoke. When the smoking employees outnumber the non-smoking customers, it is clear that the owners and staff do not respect the law - or their customers.

Farang Rak Thai

Bangkok

----------------------------------

Partial boycott of Beijing Olympics still possible

China could play a helpful and constructive role in Burma by simply stating that it will begin construction of the oil and gas pipeline when there is a political settlement in Burma.

The construction costs of the jungle capital at Naypyidaw now exceed US$2 billion (Bt65 billion) and a $90 oil price is creating significant financial difficulties for the generals. China has enormous economic leverage with the illegitimate military regime in Burma.

However, China favours doing "dirty deals" with dictators. This is why the headline in the New York Times of February 13 states "Spielberg drops out as Adviser to Beijing Olympics in dispute over Darfur conflict".

Steven Spielberg was appointed by China as an artistic adviser to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Spielberg's letter of resignation states his "conscience will not allow me to continue with business as usual".

While a complete boycott of the Olympics is not possible, a partial boycott will be acceptable to many American athletes. Some American athletes are already planning to stay in nearby countries and fly in only to participate in their individual events. Beijing's polluted air is harmful to everyone. A prominent Texas businessman stated after his recent visit to Beijing that the "100-metre dash will have to be a relay" due to Beijing's polluted air.

China won't help us and the UN is looking silly since the recently announced national referendum rudely excludes the services of UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari and thereby insults the UN Security Council.

The Burmese resistance welcomes the final showdown with Than Shwe. The only way the generals can pass this sham national referendum is by cheating. And cheating in national elections have led to national uprisings in many countries. The generals have chosen their poison.

Myint Thein

Bangkok

Send us your views in an instant

E-mail your opinion, with 'Letters to

the Editor' in the subject box, to:

letters@nationgroup.com

The Nation