Showing 1 - 10 of 24
Rainbow capitalism takes hold
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 28/06/2021
» Rainbows are washing over the city. It's Pride Month. On streets, walkways, walls, shoes, T-shirts, scarfs -- basically anything -- vivid colours of the rainbow have been splashed on the surface of places and things. It seems that many people -- in the private sector at least -- are very eager to celebrate Pride.
Light flickers in US, fades in Thailand
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 30/11/2020
» For a good part of November, the world was gripped by a tumultuous fanfare that is the US election. And even before the very last votes were counted, relief and joy were already felt in many communities, not only in America but perhaps across the world. For better or for worse, Donald Trump's reign is coming to an end, and the world now looks to President-elect Joe Biden in the hopes that his win will let voices from the marginalised LGBTI community become louder. Biden promised to enact the Equality Act, a civil rights law that will protect LGBTI people from discrimination within his first 100 days in office among other things.
Equality falls short
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 27/07/2020
» Push to legalise same-sex civil partnerships a step in the right direction but work still remains to ensure LGBTI have the same rights as everyone else
Truckload of goodwill
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 15/06/2020
» A giant white truck stands tall on the ground. At first light, its cargo area is soon filled with sacks of rice and food items packed by a group of volunteers and staff who had gathered at the Thai Elephants Conservation Centre in Khao Yai on a recent weekend. With their collective effort, the packing and loading process is completed in no time and the truck is ready to roll.
Pandemic heightening discrimination against LGBTI
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 25/05/2020
» It's May. Normally, we would have had a big celebration this month for the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, which falls on May 17 annually. But, of course, with Covid-19 still running rampant, the activities and commemorations have migrated online. Several organisations held a Facebook Live session to discuss the situation they are facing in their communities to reflect this year's theme, "Breaking The Silence". And silence, indeed, must be broken, especially when the pandemic has taken the heaviest toll on vulnerable populations.
A crisis for workers
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 01/05/2020
» Venue closure, curfew and state policies enforced to contain the spread of Covid-19 are affecting the labour force severely. Workers experience the impact in different magnitudes, with some getting less pay and seeing their working hours reduced. Others manage to work from home. Some lose their jobs entirely.
How to pass time at home during the holidays
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 30/04/2020
» After much speculation and confusion, the verdict is in. Our May holidays remain in place, but we have been discouraged from leaving our homes. Oh, the plethora of choices we have. What to do? I guess we could binge-watch TV series, eat and sleep, or do a combination of the three as they have seeped and blended into one long sequence that is interspersed with work over the past month. So if we're forced to be at home, what are some ways we can spend a long holiday in quarantine? Let's find out.
Humourising angst during the pandemic
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 09/04/2020
» It's not too far off to say there are Line stickers that befit every step of our lives. From annual festivities and daily activities to the latest slang and trends, Line stickers capture and reflect them all in the form of cute characters we can send to one another to express ourselves. And, of course, the Covid-19 outbreak is no exception.
Japan's plastic man
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 06/08/2019
» Hiroshi Fuji turned a piece of toy in his hand from side to side. His eyes gleamed with childlike curiosity as he inspected the colourful plastic that will be incorporated into his upcoming exhibition Jurassic Plastic at ChangChui Creative Park. Fuji's creation of vibrant dinosaur sculptures made from plastic toys have made appearances in different countries and will soon come to Bangkok at the end of this month. The exhibition is organised by the Japan Foundation Bangkok and Chang Chui, with the support from the Embassy of Japan and the Japanese Association in Thailand.
The eyes can lie
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 05/08/2019
» Thai people are considerably kind. We like making merit to help unfortunate souls. And especially in an era when everyone can easily connect through social media, the ways of merit-making have changed and expanded even further. From previously making physical donations at temples and charities, people now reach out to help individuals -- many times a stranger -- they see online. Pictures of sick dogs, cats, humans, or even a call for blood donations appear on our Facebook feeds often on a weekly basis. The plea for help -- coupled with touching stories and photos -- always tugs at our heartstrings. And it doesn't take long for many of us to lend a helping hand, mostly through making a swift donation to help with the cause.