Showing 1 - 10 of 220
Tracking air quality the right way
News, Published on 19/09/2024
» Every year, the World Health Organization (WHO) summarises global progress on malaria control. It details the number of cases in affected countries, shows year-on-year changes, outlines goals, and assesses the current funding landscape. The United Nations puts out a similar annual report for HIV/Aids. This regular tracking of serious public-health concerns is essential for addressing them effectively, because it can help channel resources to where they are most needed and identify interventions that are working.
Revamping development strategy
Oped, Peerasit Kamnuansilpa, Published on 17/08/2024
» Thailand's economic trajectory is teetering on the edge of regression, demanding immediate attention. Thailand's growth rates in the first quarter of 2024 fell behind all Asean member countries except Myanmar. These facts cast serious doubts on the efficacy of traditional economic development strategies. The primary goal of enhancing the well-being of Thai citizens is at stake.
A non-native threat to Thai waters
News, Published on 31/07/2024
» Thailand boasts some of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet. From the lush forests of the North to the mangroves of the South, this country is a sanctuary for a plethora of wildlife species. These natural systems have evolved over millennia, during which time plant and animal species have slowly moved across the landscape as climatic and ecological conditions changed. These species adapted to their new environments, and the systems adapted to them. But times have changed, and species now move from their native environments across the globe at the speed of shipping, air transport, and rail. This results in the rapid invasion of new species into environments that have few natural mechanisms to keep them in balance with native species or the built environment.
Sex content spurs debate
News, Editorial, Published on 29/07/2024
» The recent proposal by the Move Forward Party (MFP) to amend the Criminal Code and legalise the adult entertainment industry in Thailand has ignited a nationwide debate. The proposal, which aims to regulate and decriminalise adult materials and sex toys, reflects the changing dynamics of technology and society.
Tackling a toxic waste crisis
Editorial, Published on 07/07/2024
» When the cadmium waste scare erupted in early April, the government attempted to allay public fears by returning the waste from Samut Sakhon to its original landfill in Tak province. However, recent soil inspections in Samut Sakhon show the impact of the pollution caused by the toxic waste might be more serious. Just moving the toxic waste out of the area is not enough, and more must be done to mitigate the pollution risks.
Old guard prevails in Senate elections
Oped, Chairith Yonpiam, Published on 29/06/2024
» For those wishing for a wind of change in Thai politics, the Wednesday Senate election was a disappointment. Old power factions made substantial gains, dominating some 70% of the seats for the 200-member Upper House, while those representing the pro-democracy force grabbed just a few.
Time to prepare for 'Disease X'
Oped, Published on 04/06/2024
» On Dec 12, 2019, a group of patients in Wuhan, China, started showing symptoms of an atypical pneumonia-like illness that did not respond well to standard treatments. Ninety days later, with more than 118,000 cases reported in 114 countries and 4,291 deaths, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Covid-19 a pandemic.
The popular decimation of India's democracy
Oped, Pranab Bardhan, Published on 18/05/2024
» India's ongoing parliamentary election, in which nearly a billion people casting their votes over a six-week period, should represent an extraordinary exercise of democracy. The bleak reality, however, is that the election appears poised to consolidate a decade-long process of democratic decay, which has included the decimation of liberal institutions and practices and weakening of political competition. After all, the leader who has presided over this process -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) -- remains wildly popular.
Control weed, don't kill it
Oped, Editorial, Published on 16/05/2024
» Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin may mean well in attempting to re-list cannabis as a narcotic, but his aim only attests to his mediocre knowledge about the plant and the dilemma facing the country.
A turning point for clean cooking
Oped, Published on 15/05/2024
» For most of her life, Florence Auma Ode cooked over an open fire in her Kenyan home. The resulting smoke coated the walls with a layer of soot and filled her lungs -- and those of her family members -- with particulate matter.