HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

It’s not stray dogs’ fault

Adaptation is the word

Smokers - step outside

Thai lady wins another award

It’s not stray dogs’ fault

Dear Editor:

Here we go again - two letter writers whining about the stray dog problem (March l9). Yet in neither letter is there one word of complaint about the people who breed the dogs, the public which buys from the breeders and pet stores, don’t get their dogs spayed or neutered and then often turn them loose in the streets. It’s so much easier to blame the dogs instead of demanding something be done about the people who are causing the stray dog problem.

As for the cruel suggestion by one of the writers that the strays should be starved, that would only make them more vicious and aggressive which is what the two writers were complaining about in the first place! Either crack down on the breeders and pass laws requiring dogs be spayed and neutered or just stop complaining. It’s put up or shut-up time!

Eric Bahrt

Adaptation is the word

Editor;

Robin complained that all media describe Thaksin as a “man in exile”. We all know that he is more than that. He is a convicted criminal who jumped bail. The Bangkok Post found a new standard name for him, to them he is simply the “fugitive”. An expression which does not say anything. Neither good nor bad.

The idea of being so non-committal is caution. In the case of Thaksin is it probably fear. The newspaper or indeed all media, have to consider that Thaksin just might one day come back and sit at the top again. The purpose of a newspaper, however, is not mainly to inform the readers, it is a business and the aim is to make money. To stay in business in spite of whoever is at the top or wields the big stick.

That’s how simple it is and that’ how some newspapers in Europe could survive many a government.

Adaptation is the word!
Jerry Thieme

Smokers - step outside

Editor;

Smoking inside public establishments has been illegal here in Pattaya for a long time now. What I fail to understand is why there is still so much going on? Are there any police that read English that want to make a ton of money? As I understand the law, the smoker is going to pay a fine of perhaps 2,000 baht. But the business will pay up to 20,000 baht.

When I go to play pool at a large well known place, I am always put off by the smokers there. If I am next to them and there are no other tables, I simply leave. But I would hate to prevent any motivated policeman from making an honest living by dropping in some afternoon.

Really, why in the world can’t smokers simply step outside for 5 minutes to smoke? As an ex-smoker myself, I understand the desire to smoke, but please, have some consideration for those of us that don’t want to breath your dirty exhaled smoke!

Harry Hacker

Thai lady wins another award

Editor;

It is my pleasure to announce yet again my wife of 23 years has won yet another award for business in the UK. As I have said in my last Mailbag contributions, not all Thai ladies are the same. My wife has worked constantly hard in her 14 restaurants in the past 23 years (she has now sold these) and now that she dedicates her time to running a not for profit community interest company educating British children into the culture & cuisine of Thailand she has won a gold medal in education & learning from the British Female Inventors & Innovators Network, the current O2x Award winner for the North West Female Entrepreneur of the Year; she has won the Smarta 100 Awards for the best business ideas 2010 and was a finalist at the Ethnic Minority Business Forum Awards last week at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral. She has also been nominated for the Inspiring Women Awards 2010 and her business has been voted No 1 Multicultural Educational Schools Road Show 3 years running in the UK.

There are some Thai ladies about that are a different breed to some others that are only after the good life of being treated to dinner, drinks, and money. I know of many Thai ladies that are now running their own businesses here in the UK and they are proud to be successful, employing other Thais and proving that only sometimes the grass can be greener on the other side (but not always has I have said in other comments in the Pattaya Mail Mailbag).

She will be having a meeting with some business owners when she comes to Pattaya in 2 weeks time to explain how some Thai nationals are doing really well in the UK running businesses and how a lot of ideas can be swapped between the two countries.
Yours,
John Rigg
Northern School of Asian & Oriental Culture & Cooking

Letters published in the Mailbag of Pattaya Mail
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