• OPINION

  Time to stop trashing the place

  Spectrum, Published on 11/05/2014

  » Unfortunately, the anti-littering ethos has not taken hold in Thailand. Municipal workers with their oversized bamboo brooms work hard to overcome the barrage of junk being constantly and carelessly tossed on the ground by pedestrians. A long-tail boat ride to a beautiful beach in Phangnga may lead to disappointment when the beach is strewn with washed-up wrappers and plastic bottles.

• THAILAND

  Righting the waterway wrongs

  Spectrum, Angus Mitchell, Published on 16/02/2014

  » Last week, we began wading into the issue of water pollution in Bangkok by taking a look at the laws and government agencies that regulate the waterways. After defining the different factors that are tested for when determining the level of water pollution in a given area, we compared the statistics found by the Pollution Control Department (PCD) to the standards set forth by the US EPA. This week, we will try to trace that pollution back to its source and discover why the waterways are as filthy as they are, as well as look at a couple of high-profile cases of citizens fighting back against the polluters that illegally dump toxins where fishermen fish and swimmers swim.

• THAILAND

  Breathing easier in bangkok _ Part III

  Spectrum, Angus Mitchell, Published on 02/02/2014

  » Over the past couple of weeks we have been examining the legislative and public policy changes from the early 1990s to today that have together resulted in the improvement in Bangkok's air quality. However, more still needs to be done to bring Bangkok's air quality up to par with the rest of Thailand and to reach the standards being set by cities like Tokyo and Singapore.

• THAILAND

  Breathing easier in bangkok _ Part II

  Spectrum, Angus Mitchell, Published on 26/01/2014

  » Last week we began our series on the reasons for the dramatic improvement in Bangkok's air quality in the past 20 years. The capital serves as a model for other mega cities throughout the region because it has taken a multi-pronged approach to tackling air pollution; an approach rooted in the adoption of the increasingly stringent emissions standards set forth by the European Union for its own citizens.

• THAILAND

  Children in the workforce

  Spectrum, Angus Mitchell, Published on 12/01/2014

  » While cycling through the outskirts of Bangkok recently, I passed a construction crew working very early on a holiday morning. What piqued my interest was the apparent youth of some of the workers.

• THAILAND

  Aliens have Landed: Part 1

  Spectrum, Angus Mitchell, Published on 22/12/2013

  » Thailand is one of the most desirable countries in the world in which to live, in part because the cost of living is relatively low. Yet unless they are with an employed partner or are drawing upon savings, pensions, lottery winnings or the largesse of indulgent parents, any foreigner who wants to stay in Thailand needs to work to sustain their lifestyle.

• THAILAND

  Choose your words wisely

  Spectrum, Angus Mitchell, Published on 15/12/2013

  » These days there is an almost constant stream of invective being hurled by protest leaders against certain government officials. In some other countries defamation cases brought by sitting government officials or politicians, with potentially ruinous damages or even criminal sanctions, have arguably had the effect of limiting vibrant political debate and probing press coverage. Is this possible in Thailand; or is it already the case? A simple Google search will yield numerous examples of the increase of defamation charges in Thailand's political arena. Yet to better understand what all the fuss is about, let's look at what defamation is and the relevant Thai laws.

• THAILAND

  Flying with furry friends

  Spectrum, Angus Mitchell, Published on 01/12/2013

  » Moving to a new country can be difficult; moving to a new country without a family pet can be downright traumatic. Though there is no shortage of soi dogs and cats in need of a good home, if you already have a furry friend with whom you would like to share your Thai adventure you are free to have them join you. You will, however, have to complete some paperwork and follow certain procedures related to their health.

• THAILAND

  WAGERING YOUR FREEDOM _ Part three

  Spectrum, Angus Mitchell, Published on 03/11/2013

  » To wrap up our series of articles on gambling, this week we will look at the law in practise, and see how it is applied to real-world situations. Regular readers will recall that gambling in Thailand is regulated by the Gambling Act and its implementing legislation. The act prohibits betting on games of chance or skill unless the organiser possesses a licence or an exemption has been made where a licence is not required. It is not required for promoters to display their licence when hosting an event. However, most organisers do so as the knowledge that a gambling event is sanctioned by the government and is therefore legal, and would be an obvious marketing drawcard for participants. In practice, if you don't see a licence prominently displayed, it would be wise to check with the organiser as to the legal status of the event.

• THAILAND

  GAMBLING IN THE KINGDOM _ Part two

  Spectrum, Angus Mitchell, Published on 27/10/2013

  » Last week we introduced the Gambling Act BE 2478 (1935), which prohibits all forms of betting and games of skill or chance where a wager, either in the form of money or goods, is placed on the outcome. Providing an overview of the only two legal forms of gambling in the Kingdom, the national lottery and domestic horse racing, we explained how each operates and how the public can engage in legalised gambling through these outlets.

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