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Mail Bag |
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Boring and wrong
Editor;
Agreed Mr Arnone (MB 4/7) that this is now boring but it is you who is
missing the point.
The point is that cigarette smoking is repulsive and dangerous but nobody
objects to your doing it at home or away from others. After all, I don’t
suppose you would come and sit next to me and break wind, so why would you
puff smoke into my face which is even more objectionable and also harmful?
Yes, we all contribute towards pollution and we all pay the price, but this
is miniscule when compared to the effects of smoking as witnessed by the
dramatic fall in some smoking related diseases after the introduction of
stiffer controls a few year’s ago. Moreover, there is a continual attempt to
lessen the pollution; whereas the tobacco industry makes its product more
harmful, more addictive and more appealing to children. Second and third
hand smoke is now far more unpleasant and dangerous than ever before.
If anyone appeared with a cigarette to a person who had never seen one and
said, ‘set it on fire and inhale the smoke’, he would be thought to be a
joker or wildly insane.
The point is that smoking is contrary to nature, has no useful purpose,
holds land to hostage, is a waste of money and despite taxation is a drag on
the economy. Hardly anyone in any meaningful position in society smokes
today.
Go and smoke yourself to death on your own by all means but don’t forget
that you are then supporting an industry that is at least as evil as that of
the illegal drug trade, but more dishonest.
MN
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Burning bridges
Editor;
Re: Must live in Oz to receive age pension (PM Mailbag Friday, 04 July 2014)
- This brings out the point of “Burning your Bridges”. How did center link
know you were living overseas? Did you tell them? If you were not on a
pension there would not be any reason to tell any one. Were you receiving
some other benefit? With your residential address and other details you
could have applied for age pension and said you were living off your
savings. Sometimes it is best to act dumb. Honesty is not always the best
policy. Your story brings out the pitfalls ahead of those that fail to think
ahead. Hope everything works out for you.
Bryan
Pattaya beach refill project
Editor;
Having worked on land reclamation projects world wide for many years I feel
well qualified to give my opinion on the problem facing Pattaya Beach. It is
quite easily fixed: 1 Medium sized hopper dredger can deliver on to the
beach via a floating pipeline approximately 4000/5000 cubic metres of good
quality sand every trip, depending on the sailing time to the dredging area
an estimate of 6/8 trips per day. In a short period of time Pattaya could
have a beach to rival anywhere in Thailand.
The other alternative would be to have hundreds of trucks clogging up the
city delivering inferior quality sand and the job would never be completed.
Which option will Pattaya choose? I fear the truck option, as nothing seems
to be done the right way or easy way.
CRH
Message to all Skål members
Dear Skålleagues,
I would like to reassure you about the state of affairs in Thailand. After
several months of anti-government protests the military took control of
national affairs on 22 May. Inevitably, international media coverage raised
doubts in the minds of business and leisure travellers about the wisdom of
visiting Thailand.
Let me reassure you that the popular destinations in Thailand are safe,
secure and most definitely open for business. This was ably demonstrated at
the end of May when Skål International Bangkok hosted International Skål
Councillors and the Executive Committee. I have no doubt that both ISC
President Keith Murcott and our global President Karine Coulanges will
endorse my words of reassurance without hesitation.
We do, however, face a huge challenge in restoring confidence amongst
stakeholders in Thailand’s principal tourism source markets. Some
governments remain slow in amending their respective travel advisories and
we need your support in spreading the word that Thailand is not only open
for business but also remains the value destination for leisure travel and
MICE business in South East Asia. May I therefore, through your good
offices, share this positive message with your own travel and tourism
industry contacts?
Please do not hesitate to contact me, club presidents or any of our members
in Thailand if you need further information. Skålleagues in Thailand look
forward to welcoming you, your families, your friends and your clients.
With sincere thanks, good wishes - and Skål!
Dale Lawrence,
President – Skål International Bangkok
President – Skål International Thailand
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It starts before adulthood
Editor;
Re No real will at City Hall (PM Mailbag Friday, 27 June 2014) - It starts
way before adults become elected officials. It starts during childrearing
when children see their parents litter and older children hear stories about
some person or situation that was cheated and everybody laughed. A
commitment to standards is tough but it is the measure of an adult.
Dana
Work till you drop and
enjoy life? Not in Oz…
Editor;
Re: Keep an eye on residency status (PM Mailbag Friday, 27 June 2014) - Work
till you reach pension age then sit back and enjoy life? Not in Australia.
The old age pension is below the poverty line. So why would you not think of
moving overseas? Small as it is you have worked and paid tax over the years.
Yours is a genuine case.
On the other side of the coin, how many farangs do you see here in Thailand
living it up and receiving a Disability Support Pension? This has been
slowed down by the government now as after 6 weeks away the pension is
suspended.
I don’t doubt that there are hundreds of genuine recipients of DSP’s but
with a population of 23+ million there are 832,000 receiving this payment.
That means 1 in 27 Australians on this payment. While weeding out the
bludgers, sadly there will be some collateral damage and a few genuine cases
will have to be reassessed. When this mess is sorted out perhaps the
pensioners will receive a rise. (I can dream.)
Bill Neal
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Sweep the roads
Editor;
Re: Bidding begins on Pattaya Beach sand-refill project (PM Friday, 27 June
2014) - Well if they could sweep the roads, they would have a million tons
of sand to put on the beach. I take my life in my hands every day riding my
motorbike along Soi Siam Country Club. There is more sand on this road than
there is on the beach. Invest in road sweepers like every other country ...
save some lives.
Gary Long
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