Showing 1 - 10 of 40
Reform clergy with your wallet
Editorial, Published on 03/08/2025
» The recent sex scandal involving high-ranking monks has shaken public faith to the core. But the responses from the clergy, the state, and the public all miss the point. This crisis in Thai Buddhism is not about monks and sex -- it's about monks and money. Address the problem incorrectly, and the sex scandals and temple corruption will never end.
Uyghur atonement
Oped, Editorial, Published on 24/01/2025
» The surprise statement by new US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging Thailand not to deport 40-plus Uyghurs who are currently being detained in Thailand to China has shone a much-needed spotlight on these illegal entrants.
Past sins abroad
Oped, Postbag, Published on 23/08/2024
» Re: "What do they mean by ethics?", (PostBag, Aug 18).
Poorest countries can't be ignored
Indermit Gill & M Ayhan Kose, Published on 18/06/2024
» They are home to a quarter of humanity -- 1.9 billion people. They possess prized natural resources, including one-fifth of the world's copper and gold reserves, as well as many of the rare metals essential for the transition to clean energy. Their working-age populations are set to expand for the next five decades amid demographic decline nearly everywhere else. Yet a historic reversal is underway among the world's 75 countries eligible for grants and low-interest loans from the World Bank's International Development Association (IDA).
Developing nations sour on multilateralism
Oped, Pinelopi Koujianou Goldberg, Published on 23/03/2024
» Multilateralism is waning, and one of the world's leading multilateral institutions, the WTO, is in crisis because the US has been blocking new appointments to its dispute settlement mechanism's Appellate Body since 2018. In the run-up to the WTO's 13th Ministerial Conference last month, some optimists hoped to see progress on specific issues, such as an agreement not to impose tariffs on digital commerce, but expectations were generally low.
Israel must keep guard up amid Hamas assault
Oped, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 12/10/2023
» If you are wondering why Hamas launched its all-out assault on Israel on Saturday, I wrote it right here last week. "The Arab world has basically abandoned the Palestinians to their fate, whatever that may be. Six Arab countries have established diplomatic ties with Israel and several more, including Saudi Arabia, are on the brink of doing so."
Time to close the clean-tech gap
News, Benedict Macon-Cooney & Tone Langengen, Published on 04/09/2023
» In the debate about how to curb global warming, climate action is often confused for climate justice. Many European countries (including the United Kingdom) have taken to self-flagellation, atoning for their long history of burning fossil fuels by attempting to decarbonise their domestic economies as quickly as possible, no matter the cost.
Clergy reform long overdue
Oped, Editorial, Published on 09/05/2023
» The recent downfall of a well-known monk has again exposed a darker reality beneath the serene surface of Thai Buddhism: monks' sexual misconduct and the theft of temple funds.
Expose the culprits
Oped, Postbag, Published on 19/04/2023
» Re: "App won't end pollution", (Editorial, April 18).
Police reform an unmitigated failure
Oped, Chairith Yonpiam, Published on 11/02/2023
» Bribery, extortion, graft, abuse of power, a hand in illegal businesses — you name it, these are just a few of the sins committed by numerous bad cops. And quite a few of the offenders rank in the upper echelons of the police force, which is stripping public confidence and trust in the Royal Thai Police (RTP).