Thonburirom Park in Bangkok extends opening hours to suit locals
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2023
Opening hours of Thonburirom Park in Thung Khru district, central Bangkok have been extended to 4am to 9pm daily to increase service opportunities for the public, said Bangkok spokesman Aekvarunyoo Amrapala on Wednesday.
He said the move is part of governor Chadchart Sittipunt’s policy to make public parks convenient and safe spaces for Bangkokians by adjusting opening hours to suit people in each area.
Normally, public parks under Bangkok’s Environment Department open at 5am and close at 9pm daily. However, opening hours at the following parks have been adjusted:
Suan Luang Rama IX Park, Prawet district: open 5am to 7pm daily
Nong Bon Lake Park and Water Sports Centre, Prawet: open 5am to 6.30pm daily
Lumpini Park, Pathum Wan: open 4.30am to 10pm daily
Chatuchak Park, Chatuchak: open 4.30am to 10pm daily
Benchasiri Park, Khlong Toei: open 4.30am to 10pm daily
Thonburirom Park, Thung Khru: open 4am to 9pm daily
Bangkok signs Asia declaration for clean water, land and air in cities
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2023
The Thai capital has joined other Asian cities in a binding agreement to improve the quality of their environment for citizens.
The Indore 3R Declaration of Asian Mayors on Achieving Clean Water, Clean Land and Clean Air in Cities was signed during the 11th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in Asia and the Pacific, held last week in Cambodia.
Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt’s representative Pornprom Wikitset signed the declaration during the February 8-10 event at Sokha Siem Reap Resort & Convention Centre.
The forum was co-hosted by the UN Centre for Regional Development, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, and the environment ministries of Cambodia and Japan.
The Indore 3R Declaration is a binding agreement between agencies at city and urban government level to employ the 3R principle – Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle – to improve the quality of water, land and air in the city.
The 3Rs promote sustainable waste management, circular economy, and efficient use of resources to make cities clean, safe, and ready for future change.
The declaration was first acknowledged at the 8th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in Asia and the Pacific held in Indore, India on April 11, 2018. So far, representatives from 50 cities in Asia have signed the declaration.
Thai tobacco trade rocked by boom in online sales of illegal cigs
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2023
Internet sellers are flooding Thailand with illegal, untaxed cigarettes and exposing children to the habit, the tobacco industry warned on Wednesday.
Thai Tobacco Trade Association (TTTA) director Thanyasarun Sangthong said illegal tobacco products have gone viral online due to low operation costs and the ability to avoid inspection by police or customs.
“Meanwhile, illegal tobacco sellers can access as many different groups of customers [online] as they want,” she said.
Online trade of illegal tobacco grew 97% from July to September last year, Thanyasarun said, citing findings from a TTTA survey.
The jump in illegal online trade is blamed on contraband cigarettes smuggled over the border to avoid tax duty before being sold via the internet.
She said 91% of illegal tobacco trades were performed via Twitter, followed by Facebook (9%).
“There are three reasons why illegal tobacco is popular among netizens: the cheap price compared to legal products, the taste, and convenient trade channels,” she said.
She added that TTTA conducted the survey after the Tobacco Authority of Thailand announced a price rise for cigarettes to 66 baht per box following a tax hike.
Illegal online sellers are also free to advertise their products or cut prices, unlike their legal counterparts, she added.
The TTTA chief pressed the Excise Department, Finance Ministry, and Technology Crime Suppression Division to urgently tackle the growing illegal online tobacco trade.
Turkey receives relief supplies donated by Their Majesties
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2023
Relief supplies donated by Their Majesties the King and Queen were transported to Turkey by the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) on Wednesday.
Privy Councillor Chirayu Isarangkun na Ayuthaya was assigned by Their Majesties to deliver the relief supplies to Turkey’s ambassador to Thailand, Serap Ersoy, at the RTAF’s Military Air Terminal 2, Wing 6 in Bangkok.
The ambassador expressed her gratitude for Their Majesties’ generosity.
The supplies were then loaded onto an RTAF Airbus 340 and flown to the Turkish capital of Ankara to relieve the suffering of people affected by the massive earthquake on February 6.
The donated relief shipment comprises tents, duvets, winter sleeping bags, small power generators, dried food, milk, and drinking water.
The RTAF Airbus is due to arrive back in Bangkok today, bringing back Thai nationals from Turkey.
The death toll in Turkey and Syria climbed above 41,000 on Wednesday, with more than 100,000 people also injured and over 12,000 homes and buildings destroyed.
Bangkok governor rewards ‘active citizens’ for tracking down smog sources
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2023
Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt has thanked “active citizens” for helping to identify sources of air pollution in the city.
The governor invited eight citizen whistleblowers to lunch at the City Hall on Tuesday after they provided vital intelligence on sources of PM2.5 fine dust via the city’s online Traffy Fondue platform.
PM2.5 refers to dust particles that are 2.5 micrometres or smaller in diameter and linked with lung and heart problems.
“Anyone who provides such information is considered an ‘active citizen’ who enables the city to tackle the problems at their source,” said Chadchart. The governor added he was happy and surprised to see so many people using Traffy Fondue to contact authorities, despite hiccups reported at the platform’s launch.
On January 16, Chadchart invited Bangkokians to alert the city via Traffy Fondue if they saw vehicles, factories or other sources emitting black smoke or other air pollution.
Citizens have responded in huge numbers over the past month, prompting the governor to invite eight Traffy Fondue whistleblowers for lunch and a chat at the City Hall in Din Daeng district.
Chadchart said useful information disclosed via the platform included burning of garbage in Nong Chok district, public buses belching black smoke in Thonburi, and misreporting by air-quality monitoring stations in several districts.
In response, black-smoke traffic checkpoints were set up, and air-quality monitoring stations recalibrated for accuracy.
“Some of the fixes are temporary, but at least it makes responsible agencies aware of the problems, which will lead to a permanent solution in the future,” said Chadchart. “With cooperation from all related parties, together we can make Bangkok a better city.”
City authorities said over 220,000 complaints have been posted via Traffy Fondue, 180,000 of which have already been addressed. It has also forwarded complaints on issues that are not under its jurisdiction to relevant agencies.
Bangkok emergency services on standby as thunderstorms hit city
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2023
Bangkok emergency and response teams have been put on standby as thunderstorms are forecast for the city until Friday, said city permanent-secretary Khajit Chatchavanich.
The Thai Meteorological Department forecasts thunderstorms, strong winds and hail in areas of central Thailand from February 14-17.
The city has placed emergency teams in all 50 districts on 24/7 standby, with equipment readied to tackle emergencies such as fallen trees blocking public roads or cutting power lines, Khajit said on Tuesday.
City firefighters and rescue teams are also on standby to help people affected by thunderstorms, floods or hail. Municipal police officers have been instructed to monitor the flood situation in their jurisdictions and follow Thai Meteorological Department updates until Friday.
District offices will deploy traffic officials to flooded roads to assist affected motorists and may dispatch vehicles to help transport stranded commuters, Khajit added.
He also asked people to check trees on their properties and contact the city to take care of any at risk of falling in the storms. Bangkok officials can be reached at any district office, the hotline 1555 or via the Traffy Fondue application.
For emergency assistance, call the 199 hotline at any time.
Giant leap for Thailand as S Korea joins space project
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2023
Thailand and South Korea have agreed to study the feasibility of building and launching a spaceport in Thailand, the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency said.
“Aviation and aerospace are among targeted S-curve industries which will become new engines to boost Thailand’s economy in the future,” the agency wrote on its Facebook page, referring to technically advanced and innovative industries.
It will work with the Korea Aerospace Research Institute to help develop space technology in Thailand and had a signing ceremony for the partnership at the Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Ministry in Bangkok on Monday.
“This signing ceremony will lead to construction of a spaceport in Thailand,” the agency said, adding that Thailand is a suitable country for building a spaceport.
The agency began cooperating on space technology and research with the South Korean institute in May last year and the feasibility study will be completed in three years, it said.
The study will be conducted thoroughly, with intense focus on geographical suitability, the site for construction, avoidance of natural disasters, environmental impacts, infrastructure, facilities, rocket types, regulations, and a business model, the agency said.
The study also aims to generate confidence among investors interested in Thailand’s spaceport, the agency said.
“This will be an important step for Thailand’s space-infrastructure development to create jobs, generate revenue and improve people’s quality of life,” it added.
A spaceport is a site for launching or receiving spacecraft.
Thailand cuts the use of plastic bags by over 148,000 tonnes in three years
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2023
The Pollution Control Department (PCD) on Wednesday credited its campaigns among the public for the sharp reduction in the use of single-use plastic and plastic shopping bags, totalling more than 148,000 tonnes in about three years.
PCD director-general Pinsak Suraswadi said the department had launched the campaigns in cooperation with the Environmental Quality Promotion Department (EQPD) in 2018 with the aim of reducing single-use plastic bags and plastic shopping bags by 43% by 2021.
Pinsak said the campaigns had succeeded in reducing the use of plastic bags by 148,699 tonnes, according to an analysis by the Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris, or the Material Flow of Plastic Analysis, at the end of 2021.
Pinsak said the campaigns for the reduction of plastic bag use is being carried out under the roadmap from 2018 to 2030 with two major goals:
– To replace the use of plastic bags with environmentally friendly containers
– To recycle plastic garbage by 100% within 2027.
Pinsak said the PCD and the EQPD have been campaigning with the public to reduce the use of plastic bags since July 21, 2018.
He said the first campaign for reducing the use of shopping plastic bags and foam food containers in markets, shopping malls and convenient stores nationwide from July 21, 2018 to December 2019 led to the reduction of 3.414 billion pieces of plastic bags and foam boxes, or about 9,824 tonnes.
The two departments then carried out the second campaign targeting 90 large department stores, convenience stores and supermarkets. The second phase was carried out from January 1, 2020 to December 2022.
Pinsak said the second project reduced the use of plastic bags by 14.349 billion pieces, or about 81.531 tonnes.
After the first phase of the campaigns ended in 2022, the PCD has drafted a plan for the second phase from this year to 2027. The plan was approved by the National Environment Board and endorsed by the Cabinet on February 7, Pinsak said.
He said the second phase has three major goals:
– To reduce the disposal of plastic garbage in landfilling by 100%
– To recycle plastic garbage by 100%
– To prevent plastic garbage from polluting the sea by 50%.
Thai boy saved from flooded cave dies in UK accident
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2023
One of the 12 boys rescued from a cave in Chiang Rai in 2018 died in an accident in the United Kingdom, a monk and former teacher of the boy wrote on Facebook.
“May the soul of Duangphet rest in a good world. I hope Dharma accompanies you everywhere and you become my student again in a future life,” Supatpong Methigo wrote on Facebook.
Duangphet “Dom” Promthep was one of the 12 members of the Wild Boar football team trapped in Tham Luang Cave in 2018.
Thai-language media reported that the 17-year-old died from a head injury sustained in a fall.
Supatpong said Duangphet’s grandmother told him Duangphet had died. She gives him alms every morning, the monk said.
Duangphet was a good boy who studied hard, he said.
After being rescued from the cave, Duangphet went to Chiang Mai to study sports and later received a scholarship to study in England, the monk said.
In June 2018, the world was transfixed for 17 days as an elaborate international mission unfolded to rescue 12 members of the Wild Boars football team and their coach after they were trapped by rising water in the Chiang Rai cave system.
The 200-metre-deep Chamber 1, which visitors use to enter the complex, was the command centre for a rescue operation led by Chiang Rai Governor Narongsak Osotthanakorn and Thai Navy Seals. Duangphet was part of the second group of boys carried out of the cave on July 9.
The Wild Boars have since become celebrities, depicted in a series of films and documentaries about their ordeal.
Duangphet received a scholarship to study at Vachiralai Bee School in Chiang Mai’s Saraphi district. He became a member of Chiang Mai’s youth football team.
In August last year, he used Instagram to announce that he won a football scholarship in England.
Duangphet said his dreams had come true after being accepted by the prestigious Brooke House College Football Academy, located about 150 kilometres north of London.
The academy nurtures talented footballers aged 12-19 for professional careers at clubs in England and globally.
Duangphet thanked the Sports Education Foundation, Zico Foundation, and Brooke House for granting him the scholarship.
He also thanked Vachiralai Bee School, Thai football manager and ex-player Kiatisuk “Zico” Senamuang, for their support, saying:
Meet Sierra and Sahara – Thailand’s search-and-rescue stars in Turkey
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2023
Two Golden Retrievers from Thailand’s Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team are playing a starring role in the international mission following the earthquake disaster in Turkey and Syria.
The death toll from the 7.8-magnitude quake and aftershocks that hit southern Turkey and northern Syria on February 6 rose to more than 41,000 on Wednesday, with millions more affected in both countries.
Thai female sniffer dogs Sierra and Sahara quickly became social media stars after starting their mission on Saturday in Hatay, a southern Turkish province on the Mediterranean coast that borders Syria.
Both come from the Environmental and Social Foundation. Its director, Alongkot Choukaew, said the seven-year-old Sierra and six-year-old Sahara had passed training certified by the International Rescue Dog Organisation (IRO).
Thailand’s sniffer dog organisation
Alongkot said the National Rescue Dog Organisation (NRDO) was established a year after the tsunami hit Phuket on December 26, 2004. The organisation grew out of its predecessor, K9 USAR Thailand.
NRDO went international when it began working with the United Nations’ USAR project three years ago.
For their latest mission, Sierra and Sahara have joined 40 human members of Thailand’s USAR team in Turkey and Syria.
Why Golden Retrievers?
Alongkot explained that Thailand’s USAR team launched with first-generation sniffer dogs trained by two foreign expert handlers decades ago.
However, the first-gen dogs died of old age,” he said.
Sierra and Sahara arrived from Sweden six years ago as Thailand’s second generation of sniffer dogs.
“We have trained these dogs since they were puppies in line with IRO standards,” he said. “They have worked as sniffer dogs for three years now.”
Temperatures have dropped below freezing in parts of the disaster zone, but Alongkot said people shouldn’t worry as Sierra and Sahara can adapt to the cold.
Golden Retrievers were originally bred in Scotland, where winter temperatures often drop well below zero.
“We are confident that these dogs are ready for this mission,” he added.
Other dogs in Thailand’s USAR team
Alongkot said Thailand’s USAR team currently has six sniffer dogs in total. Four are currently on standby back home. He added that nine handlers are taking turns accompanying the dogs on their mission in Turkey.
“International rules limit the time human rescuers can spend on search and rescue missions to 10 consecutive days,” he explained.
Alongkot said special safety shoes have been designed for sniffer dogs to wear in disaster zones. However, Sierra and Sahara had not worn the shoes during the first two days of their mission in Turkey as they had to climb and jump around the rubble of collapsed buildings.
“If we put safety shoes on the sniffer dogs, they wouldn’t be able to keep their balance while climbing.”
He added that the shoes are designed to protect the dogs from sharp objects as they search the rubble.
They are worn only on their front paws, to protect them as they land after jumping through the piles of masonry and glass left after buildings collapse.
Mexican dog’s death underlines dangers
The dangers were underlined when a search dog from Mexico died after rubble collapsed on top of him in Turkey.
Alongkot said he had joined the mourning for the dog, named Proteo, who was crushed while trying to help earthquake victims.
“The death of the Mexican dog has heightened the need to evaluate each situation.”
He added that the Thai USAR team will only deploy their sniffer dogs once they are confident the situation is safe.
Hope for survivors
Alongkot said there is normally only a slim chance of finding survivors 72 hours after the earthquake, but Thailand’s USAR team still has hope.
“Survivors were found in Syria after five days or more than 150 hours had passed,” he said.
Silence is golden
Alongkot said Sierra and Sahara have been trained to keep still and listen for sounds from the rubble.
“Teaching dogs to obey orders and be disciplined, as well as to live with happily both humans and other animals, are keys of dog training.”
Sierra and Sahara were disciplined because they had been trained since puppyhood, he said.
However, the dogs are also allowed to play and answer the call of nature under the supervision of their handlers.
“This obedience is a characteristic of Golden Retrievers,” he said.
He said the first campaign for reducing the use of shopping plastic bags and foam food containers in markets, shopping malls and convenient stores nationwide from July 21, 2018 to December 2019 led to the reduction of 3.414 billion pieces of plastic bags and foam boxes, or about 9,824 tonnes.
He said the second phase has three major goals:
SootinClaimon.Com 