Some quality time with children will avoid suicides

To learn that 8.5 per cent of young Thais aged 13 to 15 consider taking their own life is shocking proof that there is a problem in the very basic social institution - the family. This bitter fact should serve as a reminder to all Thai parents to allocate valuable time for their children.

"Time" does not mean dining out, watching movies or trips. Time means spending quality moments with the children, listening to what they say, knowing what they want and, most of all, understanding what they think and feel. Time can be a few hours at home, but it would be wonderful if, even for a few minutes, the children could let their true feelings be known. Only after parents know what's inside their children's minds and hearts can they decide what's best for them. Note: what's best for them, not what's best for you.

Some parents may say they can't find as much time for their children as they would like to because they are too busy working hard to earn enough to send them to a good school or a prestigious university so they can grow up to be engineers or doctors. This is good, but do the parents know if their children really want to become engineers or doctors in the first place? Maybe a mechanic or a nurse's life is much more peaceful and contented than that of a lonely, forlorn engineer or doctor.

Are parents expecting too much from their children, being ambitious for them to become someone or something they themselves had failed at, and in doing so making their poor children an extension of themselves? Hopefully, most parents will answer this question with a resounding no!

Some parents may say that they spend every weekend with their children. This is as it should be, but it's what really happens during these weekends that counts the most. Do the parents and children communicate, have discussions? If they do, are the parents' responses manipulative or affectionate and understanding? A parent's advice that is full of love and empathy almost always brings more fruitful results than that which is full of judgement and blame.

How many children can tell their parents that they have smoked a cigarette, had a drink, skipped school or worse, taken drugs? How many can dare confess to their folks that they have dated, kissed, or worse, even have had sex with someone? The truth is that not many will have done that because they fear being scolded, severely punished, wrongly judged or, worse, hated and abandoned. As a result, real problems remain unaddressed, and there is no honesty and trust between parents and children. The children often put on cheerful and well-mannered acts in front of their folks but become miserable and boorish otherwise.

Let this news be a firm reminder to all parents and maybe a lesson to a few. All parents should remember that children are there to be loved, cared for, cherished, and, most especially, they are there as individuals to be heard and understood. Children are the most precious of all gifts from God, a reason sacred enough for each parent to forever be thankful for.

MARSHALL NB

BANGKOK

Govt may be no good, but TAT is doing a decent job

After six months, though this government has little to show for itself, the Tourism Authority of Thailand deserves credit for its "Amazing Value" campaign. The agency is sending the right message of the Kingdom being a value destination, especially at a time when everybody is watching what they spend.

However, the government could be doing a lot more to explain its plans for the country's future. The younger generation really wants Thailand to recognise its great business potential. Everyone knows how good Thai companies are and that it is the government that is Nato (No Action, Talk Only).

In this connection, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's answer to Bahrain's request to invest in the farm sector was simply to recite the Alien Business Law like a robot. The reason for saying no to a country as important as Bahrain should be explained. There was no policy view as to why Thailand should or should not use its vast undeveloped agricultural land to open new business with the Middle East, already one of its biggest rice customers.

The Chinese bank's request for majority ownership of a Thai bank also did not result in a positive policy statement. This has just been dragging on for years while Thailand's banking sector is not innovative and overly protected from competition.

Closing gates to protect your own garden does not promote win-win solutions, which are the basis for trade, which will increase Thailand's wealth.

Singapore has five times the per-capita income of Thailand despite no resources and is ranked the most competitive country in the world, with more than a million people (25 per cent of the population) holding permanent-resident cards. Last week, former Singapore PM Goh Chok Tong gave a sweeping view of their future financial system, calling for leveraging Asian infrastructure needs and increasing intellectual capacity.

J PRINCEMAN

BANGKOK

Ignorance about veggies only wastes money

Re: Looking to invest in renewal energy, Finance, July 2

It is of concern to read of the ignorance of people who are in a position to make major investment decisions. In this case I am referring to the article about DEG, a German investment company. It quoted Turan Cagylayan, first vice president and head of new business in Asia, as saying that biofuels should be made from cassava and not food crops.

In many parts of the world, cassava is a major staple. In Thailand, known as man sabpa lang, it is certainly cooked and eaten. In fact, even though not used in large quantities, cassava, or tapioca, is definitely part of recipes from the West.

How can we hope to develop rational and efficient policies in the area of resource use when decision-makers are ignorant in an area related to their investment decisions?

GARETH CLAYTON

BANGKOK

Sadly, corruption is deeply ingrained in Thai society

Re: A dangerous erosion of our values, Talk of the town, Opinion, July 2

The Thai-language daily Khao Sod's editorial, citing the latest Abac poll about the Thai acceptance of corruption, does not come as a surprise at all. It's ingrained in every level of our society. The truth of the matter is it provides convenience on both sides, whether willingly or un-|willingly, depending on each situation. |I must confess that I have been on the |giving end. My earliest experience was when my American boss asked me to renew his and other co-workers' visas by attaching a letter from Dr Puay Ungpakorn indicating that these people were working on a government project. The excuse I got from the immigration was that his boss was not in and he didn't know when he would be available. I was naïve then but learned that all it took was a few hundred baht inserted in the passports. The officer whispered: "Brother, you just go down the stairs to find something to eat or drink. These [12 passports] will be done in 30 minutes."

I knew that I had done the wrong thing, but I also knew that nothing would be done otherwise. I hated myself and quit this job, and that was in 1968. I never again allowed myself to be caught in any situation just for the sake of convenience. Today, I am not rich, but I stand tall |and am very happy, something money |cannot buy. Never again will I take the easy route.

I am sad that most Thai people still think bribery and corruption is part of life. That is one of the worst excuses from people who have no pride or self-respect. With this attitude of acceptance as indicated by the poll, we as a country will remain part of the Third World.

SURASAK PIPUTTANA

BANGKOK

Stephff's defence is specious

Re: Cartoonist explains, Letters, June 26

Regarding Stephff's defence, I offer dictionary definitions: cartoon: humorously exaggerated comic strip.

Stephff's defence is "specious" or superficially plausible but actually wrong. Some of his cartoons are just not funny. They are not cartoons. They are subjective thoughts of the author. He sounds like an "old days gone by commie" who listened and was convinced by his own words.

AL EBERHARDT

BANGKOK