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Published on February 22, 2008

The Nation has a full and complete understanding of the political situation in Burma, which is reflected in your excellent editorial. The UN cannot play an effective role in a Burma-like situation. The generals in Haiti also repeatedly insulted the UN envoy there and the UN Security Council, which eventually led to a US military invasion. UN Envoy Gambari, as you say, "is useless" because he is either in denial or simply pretending that the UN can facilitate a political settlement in Burma.

You correctly stated that the opposition party, the National League for Democracy, may be "annihilated" by the sham national referendum and the subsequent sham national elections. But the NLD did not participate in, let alone lead - and even initially objected to - the national uprising in 2007. The hard reality is that the NLD is no longer an active participant, but has  simply become an observer of Burmese politics.

I am hopeful about Burma's future. I have confidence in "Our Three Sons". They will soon "Save Burma".

Myint Thein

Bangkok

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Computer policy needs fine-tuning

The upbeat news that government schools will get 20,000 computers is indeed encouraging and will, hopefully, jump-start efforts to meet the urgent need to provide self-access IT capabilities to each and every motivated learner. Distribution priorities should be clarified, however. Citing Phang Nga as a fortunate example of post-tsunami benevolence, a significant number of directly affected schools were granted state-of-the-art computer labs thanks to the kind generosity of caring patrons. More than one-third of the most remote schools, however, have fewer than three computers. In order to remedy the imbalance, deprived rural schools should receive top priority rather than redundantly overloading the 900 "dream schools", most of which have adequate computer resources.

Another problem that must be addressed is the demand to increase Internet speed to two megabytes per second as well as extending basic Internet service to those seemingly forgotten schools long awaiting connections. Salaries for computer specialist teacher/monitors should be budgeted, as well.

Finally, virtually every rural district school has discarded, obsolete computers that are no longer usable. Therefore, the allocation of computers should be accompanied by local discretionary funds designated for maintenance, repair and replacement of defective parts.

Chanchai Prasertson

Bangkok

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Misuse of plastic is the problem, not plastic itself

A world trend is taking place to ban plastic bags. Unfortunately this may be unwittingly creating even more problems. Recent reports on biofuels and greenhouse gasses reflects this in a very real way. Bioplastics are made from the same resources as biofuels. Plastic per sè is not the problem, it is the misuse of the product and the lack of waste resource management that is the challenge. Plastic as a product has an excellent score card, but handing out a plastic bag for a can of soda is misuse of the product, and not re-using, recycling or ensuring energy recovery is a waste-management issue. This is not solved by a ban. Two tons of garbage is equivalent in energy to half a ton of coal. Thailand produces 14.8 million tons of garbage annually, and assuming that recycling can reach 50 per cent, therefore has the potential of garbage energy recovery of between 1.5 to 2 million tons of coal. This may represent a 500-megawatt energy generating potential (or more). Maybe Thailand can manage to avoid a nuclear power plant (or two) if garbage is incinerated and used for energy and, at the same time, avoid both a plastics ban and solve a major problem with waste that cannot be re-used, recycled or composted.

Nils B Vogt

Bangkok

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Think of your family before lighting up

Re: "Anti-smoking lobbyists never deterred by the facts", Letters, February 19.

It's his loss if an author bases his letters to the editor on a denial of the facts, but it concerns me when his denial may be seriously harming his family.

I agree with Mr John Arnone that bars where smoking is banned should provide convenient areas for those who wish to smoke. In a democracy, it's majority rule, but the rights of the minority must be respected.

Mr Arnone holds that the restrictions on smoking are all "based on a contrived report from the surgeon-general of the US some 20-odd years ago that determined that second-hand smoke is killing people. How any logical person can believe that it is possible to prove such a thing is beyond me…"

Sir, in the 20-odd years since you evidently last read about smoking, much has been researched and written about how second-hand smoke can seriously harm one's health. Since you smoke, for your family's sake you should search the Internet for research results. For example, the world-famous Mayo Clinic site (http://mayoclinic.com/health/secondhand-smoke/CC00023) notes: "Compelling evidence indicates that second-hand smoke is a health hazard. And it's nearly as bad as smoking itself. Rich in toxic chemicals, second-hand smoke may play a role in causing or contributing to a number of health problems, from cardiovascular disease to cancer ..."

It's your right, Mr Arnone, what to do with your life. But, I suggest that decisions on life-threatening matters should be based on facts, not wishful thinking. I encourage you to go to a teaching hospital and talk to the lung specialists about how your smoking may prematurely deprive your family of your company. Ask the doctor why all life insurance companies give discounts to non-smokers. Think of your family as well as yourself before you smoke.

Burin Kantabutra

Bangkok

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