Showing 1 - 10 of 36
Bribes to secure school places 'rampant'
Jon Fernquest, Published on 26/06/2017
» Asset declarations for school directors & transparency in school donations, first step to real parent involvement in education, not just position-buying with wealth.
Sangha reform: Monks getting rich off of temple donations
Jon Fernquest, Published on 24/03/2017
» Monks accumulating wealth from temple donations goes against ancient Sangha rules, but govt laws to regulate & audit donations & monk wealth have sparked protests.
Sangha Act: Changes in laws on monks & money
Jon Fernquest, Published on 24/02/2017
» New prohibitions on monks receiving large amounts of money or inheriting assets & property from their family as well as improving the management of temple funds included in new law.
'World's largest' pearl emerges in Philippines
Jon Fernquest, Published on 25/08/2016
» Poor Philippine fisherman finds world's largest pearl but hid it under his bed for a decade without knowing its worth.
Three-parent baby coming soon
Jon Fernquest, Published on 10/06/2016
» Scientists currently working on problem of creating baby with DNA from three people. Why would anyone want to do this?
Student mini-rebellion in Korat yields results
Jon Fernquest, Published on 25/08/2015
» Students demanded transparency & how money collected from their parents had been spent. After protest on football field, slapping of 11-grade student leader & verbal abuse by vice principal, students did get their money back.
Chequebook Buddhism: Threat to Buddhism in Thailand?
Jon Fernquest, Published on 09/04/2015
» From private jets to multi-million dollar donations from corrupt businessmen, Thailand's monks are being criticized for increasing commercialism.
Dhammakaya is only a symptom
Jon Fernquest, Published on 25/02/2015
» "Its promise of heaven in return for donations is rooted in traditional belief. Its rise to prominence stems from the clergy's failure to speak to the middle class and respond to their needs. Meanwhile, its successful infiltration of the council derives from the elders' and the system's own weaknesses."aya is only a symptom
Doctors cleared in organ harvesting scam
Jon Fernquest, Published on 10/11/2014
» Thai surgeons didn't know kidney donor was linked to cross-border organ trafficking. Document given to doctors stamped with fake logo of Cambodian embassy.
Chinese conman hid as monk, donated 34 million baht
Jon Fernquest, Published on 03/11/2014
» With Thai ID card but unable to speak Thai, the fake monk's 34 million baht temple donation was impressive, but came from 9 billion baht fraud in China & 3 billion in Malaysia.