Showing 1 - 10 of 59
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.
Education woes aren't about funding
Oped, Published on 13/03/2024
» The education ministry has always received the largest share of the fiscal budget. The Thai government's investment in education is actually comparable to that of developed nations based on the percentage of national budgets.
Getting historic renovations right
Oped, Atch Sreshthaputra, Published on 09/11/2023
» There has been some good news about the conservation of heritage architecture in Thailand in recent years -- but bad news as well. First, the good part: our society is waking up to the value of heritage. Despite little public funding and weak legal protection, some old buildings and sites are being conserved. Many people, companies and institutions throughout the nation now recognise that preserving our historic architectural resources improves our economy, communities and quality of life.
Crumbling pride
Oped, Editorial, Published on 05/08/2023
» A debate surrounding the ongoing renovation of the iconic robot-shaped building on Sathon Road still persists, illuminating the challenges associated with the laws and mechanisms aimed at preserving modern-style architecture in the country.
Riots' deja vu raises the stakes
News, Published on 04/07/2023
» A teenager killed by police in a Paris suburb. A wave of anger that morphs into widespread rioting and opportunistic looting. A tough law-and-order response followed by an appeal for unity and calm -- and a political call for action that fades over time.
Will gentrification respect city's people?
Oped, Kong Rithdee, Published on 28/06/2023
» We've lived for over a century in the shadow of grandeur: near the Customs House, known to Thais as rongpasi. "We" means my maternal family and the community of Haroon Mosque. Each day before sunrise, the muezzin's sing-song call rings through the neighbourhood, carried on the river wind towards the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, the French Embassy and Assumption Cathedral.
Tragedy, farce in Mountain B saga
Oped, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 15/08/2022
» By now, many of us may have lost interest in the deadly fire at the Mountain B pub in Sattahip district of Chon Buri province because they are occupied with other more pressing issues such as inflation.
PM Prayut's future hangs in the balance
Oped, Chairith Yonpiam, Published on 26/02/2022
» Although the general debate earlier this month left the Prayut Chan-o-cha government with little, if any, bruises, the time ahead will be tough for the army chief turned politician.
Post-Covid and good governance
Oped, Published on 25/02/2022
» We are still in the midst of the Covid pandemic. We now know that it takes a few days for the disease to reveal any symptoms, but we may not realise that it has a profoundly negative effect in terms of our ability to trust others.
Park, pride and prejudice
Oped, Editorial, Published on 08/01/2022
» By the time Bangkok celebrated the festive season, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) had already introduced a canal renovation project -- the Klong Chong Nonsi public park -- with great pride.