Bangkokpost.com : Opinion

Counterfeited dignity

Mon, 28 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Lady Gaga never fails to make headlines.

Searching for better food security

Mon, 28 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

The importance of food and agriculture to Thailand is indisputable. About 40% of the population depends on agriculture for their livelihoods and it contributes about 10% to gross domestic product.

Reconciliation risks our own Hunger Games

Mon, 28 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Can Thailand be compared to Panem? The thought briefly crossed my mind after watching The Hunger Games earlier this year.

Najib's sweeping reforms _ winds of change or hot air?

Mon, 28 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Since Malaysia Day last September, the administration of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has undertaken a whirlwind of legislative and policy reforms _ making Mr Najib arguably the most reformist Malaysian prime minister ever.

Arguing the B300 minimum wage case

Mon, 28 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

'The minimum wage will destroy the industrial sector of Thailand"...

Siam Rath Editorial

Mon, 28 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

In a free-market economy, the cost of living increases in line with growing consumption and inflation. With well-paid jobs, people can still enjoy a good quality of life. But economic development must come with a strong democratic system.

Getting out the Thai message

Mon, 28 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Another major week has kicked off in Bangkok of what some call the business of diplomacy. The much respected World Economic Forum (WEF) has brought its travelling road show to Thailand for what it calls the World Economic Forum on East Asia.

This doesn't add up

Mon, 28 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Re: ''Smart Milk Money'' (BP, Business, May 28). No doubt the Assumption College Smart Student Card system is one to applaud because it promotes convenience but it will also make students money-dumb.

First stop Thailand, then Europe for democracy icon

Sun, 27 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Myanmar's charismatic opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi is preparing to make her first foray outside the country in almost a quarter of a century.

Asia is crucial to ending poverty

Sun, 27 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Amid the economic distress emanating from the United States and Europe, no statistic better captures the broader dynamics of the world economy than the recent World Bank announcement that the first Millennium Development Goal (MDG) to cut extreme poverty by half was met globally in 2010. This was fully five years before the 2015 deadline.

The soundtrack to our lives

Sun, 27 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

The death of Robin Gibb last week struck me in so many different ways. I grew up on disco, with sparkling mirror balls, flashing dance floors, the gyrating hips of John Travolta dancing to those rhythmic beats and the high-pitched falsetto voices of the Bee Gees.

Gaga, Suu Kyi: icons of the fighting spirit

Sun, 27 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

First it was Lady Gaga; next is "The Lady". Thais no doubt will be able to draw a lesson or ten from two world-famous "Ladies" from vastly differing backgrounds, but who share a common virtue: never give up.

An act of expediency or a huge mistake?

Sun, 27 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

'There are no real friends nor permanent foes in politics, only shared interests." This popular Thai political saying has been proven true time and again as witnessed in the case between Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin, former coup maker and leader of the one-MP Matibhum Party, and the ruling Pheu Thai Party.

Khao sod editorial

Sun, 27 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

The dismissal last Monday of THAI president Piyasvasti Amranand has sparked a heated public debate over alleged political interference in the national airline's internal affairs.

Twisted logic

Sun, 27 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

It is disconcerting to see the one-eyed logic being applied to the reconciliation bill.

PAD takes a backward step

Sun, 27 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

The decision by yellow shirt leader Sondhi Limthongkul to return to street protests is lamentable. Sondhi has called for a rally on Wednesday at the Royal Plaza.

China's 'Expanding Core' squeezes

Sat, 26 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

China is now engaged in bitter disputes with the Philippines over Scarborough Shoal and Japan over the Senkaku Islands, both located far beyond China's 320km-wide territorial waters in the South China Sea. Indeed, so expansive are China's claims nowadays that many Asians are wondering what will satisfy China's desire to secure its ''core interests''. Are there no limits, or does today's China...

Geopolitics at the core of Escap forum

Sat, 26 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

The trials, tribulations, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the emerging new world order and the rise of the Asian century were on full display at the 68th session of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Escap) held in Bangkok last week. While the Asian countries see great potential for integrating their enormous social, economic, demographic and...

The red dilemma

Sat, 26 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

While UDD leaders and followers demand justice, Thaksin Shinawatra carefully pleads for reconciliation; and apparently the two cries are in conflict. Nonetheless, Thaksin hopes monetary compensation will soothe the reds' anger. You can't bring back the dead or reattach an amputated arm, but bank notes can dry many tears.

Disco queen and the volcano

Sat, 26 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

The sad passing of Donna Summer and Robin Gibb in the past two weeks inevitably stirred memories of those distant days of disco, scarily more than three decades ago. Composer Quincy Jones called Summer "the heartbeat and soundtrack of a decade", and she was apparently a very nice lady along with it.

111 should do a fade

Sat, 26 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

I don't understand why the return to politics of some of the banned 111 Thai Rak Thai party executives should have been so hyped by the Thai media.

Improve the education system

Sat, 26 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

The state of education in Thailand has been thrust into the headlines by extreme measures taken by Matthayom students and their parents to try to secure places in schools that are perceived to be favoured by good universities.

Gaga trumps 'The Lady'

Fri, 25 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Re: ''Lady Gaga hits cabaret amid Rolex tweet fury'' (BP, May 25).

Challenge the car culture

Fri, 25 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

It is understandable why the Thai Shopping Centre Association chose this week to launch a vigorous campaign to get the government to set up proper park-and-ride facilities throughout greater Bangkok to ease congestion. Traffic jams have been particularly bad due to the beginning of the new school year and, unless traffic police can perform miracles, the capital could sink into gridlock next week....

How can Thailand escape the populist policies trap?

Fri, 25 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Anyone who watches the TV news knows that Thai politicians seeking to gain or retain power like to be seen as bestowing money on the people.