Showing 1 - 10 of 24
Bangkok's clean streets, empty souls
Oped, Sirinya Wattanasukchai, Published on 10/11/2025
» Banthat Thong used to be a neighbourhood, not a concept. You could live here and find everything: restaurants, bookstores, hardware shops, clinics, banks -- even a place to have your shirts made. It was one of those streets where life unfolded upstairs and business happened downstairs. Today, it is something else entirely.
Rising Leaders
Life, Sirinya Wattanasukchai, Published on 13/01/2025
» In a meeting room at Wat Khao Mai Kaew School in Chon Buri one morning in late December, five young observers sat attentively, taking note of the discussions and dynamics before them. They were watching Mechai Viravaidya, a celebrated social innovator and education advocate, as he led a talk with the school's management about their current activities and future plans.
Put culture first in old town revamps
Oped, Sirinya Wattanasukchai, Published on 28/03/2024
» Will Thailand's old towns include their old communities as they are renovated? In many of these important districts, institutional owners of land are apt to evict legacy tenants to make way for redevelopment, threatening vintage architecture and eroding vibrant local cultures and ways of life.
Capital needs a new approach to tree surgery
Oped, Sirinya Wattanasukchai, Published on 17/02/2021
» Pictures of numerous chopped down tree trunks scattered near the walls of Wat Po in the Rattanakosin old town area were shared on social media and immediately triggered public outrage.
Can one little plaque do that much 'damage'?
Oped, Sirinya Wattanasukchai, Published on 23/09/2020
» Less than 24 hours after the anti-dictatorship activists installed a plaque symbolising democracy at Sanam Luang before wrapping up the rally, state agencies managed to remove it, explaining that the brass item "damages" the historical site. Wow! Such swift action by state agencies is rare.
Vulnerable and struggling
Life, Sirinya Wattanasukchai, Published on 20/05/2020
» Suthat Namgasa is relieved to discover he still has one packet of instant noodles in his relief bag. He will eat tonight, but he has no idea how he will find the money to pay the next instalment on his taxi.
Tomorrow's citizens
Life, Sirinya Wattanasukchai, Published on 23/12/2019
» Two years ago, when Nao Lungwi was sitting for the Onet (Ordinary National Education Test) exam in her last year of primary school, the young student thought her ethnic background was a weakness and she didn't expect to be among the top students.
There are better ways to realise riverside dream
News, Sirinya Wattanasukchai, Published on 07/12/2019
» If the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has its way, the capital city will soon have its own riverside promenade like many other metropolitan cities. Except that the Bangkok version is riddled with controversy.
White elephant spotted on new walking streets
News, Sirinya Wattanasukchai, Published on 30/11/2019
» The Bangkok Metropolitan (BMA) is planning to bring back popular walking streets in the city's three commercial hubs, namely Silom, Yaowarat and Khao San. The reason for the move is simple: to promote food shops and boost tourism as well as the economy.
Food apps trade convenience for plastic waste
News, Sirinya Wattanasukchai, Published on 22/11/2019
» Last week when my friends and I were hungry, we began to discuss possible options. Should we go out to a nearby restaurant, or grab leftovers from the refrigerator? One friend suggested using a food delivery service and everyone reached a consensus and agreed.