More important priorities

Re: "Thailand should brand itself Asean's leader", March 7.

I'm sure advertising "guru" Philip Kotler has good intentions when he advocates spiffier "advertisement branding" of Thailand. He's the kind of guy who shows up at your house party wearing a star-spangled top hat and a big droopy red tie and blowing a kazoo - in order to gain everyone's attention for the whole visit. Yes, Mr Kotler, we know that blowing the biggest whistles and clanging the most bells attracts a lot of attention, but Thailand doesn't need gaudy publicity - it needs to get its ecological house in order. Already, there are no wild mammals in all of northern Thailand other than a few rats and bats. A walk along any stretch of Thai beach will guarantee rubbish at every step. Thai towns and cities have a dearth of parks and libraries, and a biking/jogging path is something a Thai person sees only in a foreign magazine. Need I go on?

Ken Albertsen

Chiang Rai