Showing 1 - 10 of 106
The spirit of Bengal
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 13/06/2019
» As the first rays of light shone on the Bangladeshi morning, the new dawn brought hope and optimism. I got out of the van and walked down the street in Dhaka with other international journalists, the ground still wet after the rains of the previous night.
A cure-all for their wallets
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 08/02/2021
» The notion of "panacea" has long captured the human imagination. In Greek mythology, Panacea was the goddess of healing. She was the daughter of Asclepius, the god of medicine, who was the son of Apollo the physician and a mortal woman. With the blood of Gordon, Asclepius can bring the dead back to life, which angered the gods and culminated in his downfall.
Who wants a child amid such instability?
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 01/03/2021
» A few weeks ago, the Ministry of Public Health launched a programme titled "Life Balance Smart Family" to pair singles and support soon-to-wed couples in childbearing. The policy came after Thailand was found to have the lowest total fertility rate in its history, dropping below 600,000 infant births for the first time last year. This has brought the birth rate down to 1.51, which is far below the World Health Organisation's recommendation of 2.1.
Revolution toolkit – a model for pro-democracy protesters to follow?
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 10/03/2021
» Anti-government protesters have adopted a wide range of tactics from flash mobs to banners in order to defy the powers that be. Last weekend, demonstrators gathered outside the Criminal Court surrounded by barbed wire on Ratchadaphisek Road to call for reforming the monarchy, the ouster of the military from politics, and a shift towards a welfare state. They first dumped garbage and then performed the symbolic act of setting it ablaze.
Where the wild beasts roam
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 29/03/2021
» The bumpy path snaked down from the winding road to the sun-baked Ruam Thai village in Prachuap Khiri Khan's Kui Buri district. Here is where Thanasit Phiboonwatthanakorn's mother bought a small cabin and ran a rubber plantation because she wanted to live in the woods. When she passed away, Thanasit inherited the 28-rai farmland and knew that he would have wild guests.
When party and play goes wrong
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 05/04/2021
» Ten years ago, Pong* went to a party that would change the course of his life. Inside the dim-lit room were a group of five people who were drinking alcohol and taking drugs. When Pong got high on meth, he was caught off guard and ended up having condomless sex.
Snacking towards bad health
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 20/04/2021
» After working all day, a worn-out mother does not have time to buy something fresh for dinner on the way home. Instead, she raids a convenience store in her condo and puts frozen food in a trolley. She also picks up her son's favourite potato crisps because it can keep him busy in front of a tablet while he waits for his dad to come home from work late at night.
Always spread your bets around
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 03/05/2021
» The World Health Organisation had hailed Thailand's handling of the novel coronavirus at its peak early last year, noting that cooperation and health measures are the keys to success. However, the third wave of the viral pandemic has thrown us into chaos. It has raised the number of infections to over 65,000 and deaths to more than 200, stretching the country's public health system to its limit. What can we learn from this?
Joy amid hardship
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 10/05/2021
» Rusty tin shacks sprawl under high-rises and billboards. Rubbish scatters and floats down the foul-smelling river. Last year, fire broke out near a local mosque. With the third wave of the coronavirus outbreak, the Klong Toey neighbourhood is hanging by a thread.
The verdict is in
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 19/05/2021
» With Thailand's Covid-19 mass vaccination programme expected to kick off next month, many people are pondering which vaccine is best for them. So far, the country has given over 2.2 million doses of the Sinovac and AstraZeneca shots to priority groups, such as frontline medical and healthcare workers.