Showing 1 - 7 of 7
More taxes may not be a bad thing
News, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 21/12/2018
» On Monday, I spent an unusually long time -- more than half a day -- just to get my car tyres replaced at a shop. Usually, it takes about two hours to get the old tyres replaced with the new ones.
Open economy evangelist
Asia focus, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 14/08/2017
» New Zealand has long been known for kiwi fruit, lamb and the invincible All Blacks, the fearsome national rugby team. But in the global economic sphere, the country is also known as a champion of open economies and free trade. Last year, the country was rated the world's second-best place to do business by Forbes magazine. That helps confirm its reputation in the field of trade -- and explains why the British government chose a New Zealander to head its post-Brexit trade negotiating team.
No rhyme, no reason
Life, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 02/05/2016
» There's a beautiful piece of prose in a Thai poem that reads: "Kavee rue lang laeng Siam" -- (Siam never runs out of poets). Composed over 120 years ago by Prince Paramanuchit Chinoros, the verse is part of Samuta Koj Kam Chan, and it describes the golden age of Thai literary culture, in which poetry was ingrained as part of people's speech. It was a time when rhyme and stanza were infused in normal dialogue. Men wrote poems, or sang them for courtship.
History not as advertised
Life, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 29/06/2015
» Non-fiction historical books are becoming more and more popular among Thai readers. The latest report from Publishers and Booksellers Association of Thailand (Pubat) stated that there was a rise in sales of books with historical subjects, while figures for self-help and dhamma literature were going down.
Elephant in the room
Life, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 16/07/2014
» For the majority of the population of Thailand, the elephant is a much-loved and revered animal that has been elevated to almost national status. Problems concerning the majestic animal have, however, long-dogged the country and late last month wildlife trade monitoring network Traffic unveiled a research paper that criticised Thailand for encouraging the massive slaughter of elephants in Africa by failing to control the domestic ivory market.
Classroom citizens
Life, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 10/02/2014
» Professor Murray Print is an Australian expert on civic education in Asian countries. Lecturing on sociology and civic education at the University of Sydney, Prof Print has also madetime to travel across Asia during the past decade to conduct research and offer advice on what educational programmes should be used instil deep-seated values of democracy in students. He also attends workshops at Chulalongkorn University on developing a curriculum for civic education in Thailand. He works as an advisor for Thai Civic Education, a campaign to develop and strengthen democracy education in Thailand.
Dam if you do, Dam-if-you-don-t
Life, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 24/07/2013
» The farming village of Sa-iab in Phrae province has been known for its staunch anti-dam protests. A visit to the village gives one a sense of entering a quasi-autonomous area. At the entrance, strangers are regularly asked to present their identity cards and sometimes questioned, but the obvious sign is a banner warning that officials and those who support the Kaeng Sua Ten Dam _ now the Northern Yom Dam and Lower Yom Dam _ are not allowed to enter the community.