Showing 51 - 60 of 174
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.
Queer nights at the cinema
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 23/06/2020
» LGBTI Pride Month celebrations are alive on the big screen.
One great hope
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 27/05/2020
» As Covid-19 continues to wreak havoc around the globe with more than 5.5 million cases and about 350,000 deaths so far, the race to find a vaccine has never been more pressing. Globally, different institutions and companies are working hard to develop a vaccine, with over 120 candidates currently in development. While most are still in the pre-clinical stage, a few have already progressed into clinical trials.
Culture of rape
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 01/06/2020
» A recent rape case in Mukdahan province shocked the entire nation when it was brought to light that two underage female students were raped by five teachers and two school alumni. While the case was devastating on its own, it was all the more enraging when some netizens showed outright support to the perpetrators and shifted blame to the young victims.
All aboard the train to nowhere
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 03/06/2020
» A new train has left the platform, plunging its passengers through a frozen wasteland on board the engine that perpetually circumnavigates the planet.
Break the silence for Idahot 2020 (online)
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 15/05/2020
» The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (Idahot) is celebrated annually on May 17. Usually, in Thailand, there'd be celebrations and events with talks and music to commemorate the day. However, due to the pandemic discouraging physical gathering, we're unavoidably seeing a more quiet affair this year, with activities migrating online this weekend.
Restaurateurs adapt to new normal
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 20/05/2020
» For Somsak Rattanawanwimon, the owner of Kuai Tiao Pak Mor Yon Yook, a vintage-style steamed rice dumpling noodle restaurant in Bang Yai market, running a food business during the pandemic has been challenging. Once filled with diners and people queuing outside on a busy day, at one low-point during the pandemic, his shop had no customers at all.
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.
Will we learn from the pandemic?
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 04/05/2020
» I don't think any of us could have anticipated that we would be where we are now. A year ago, or even months ago, nobody would have thought it possible for a modern society like ours to be hit by a pandemic on a level that seemed to exist only in the long-gone past and in movies. Panic buying. Toilet paper hoarding. Convenience stores no longer open 24/7. People ordering hair clippers online to cut their own hair. Face masks becoming a necessary entry pass for most public venues. They're now normal. A new normal, so to speak. Life has surely changed a lot.