Treatment protectionism
Re: "Cancer patients dying to survive", (Opinion, Feb 7).
Supara Janchitfah has written an emotionally compelling article that provides intimate insights into the economic and medical suffering of cancer patients in Thailand.
Unfortunately, this problem exists in various forms throughout the world because the cancer industry and Western medicine is focused on maximising profit by relieving the symptoms of cancer and not curing it. The statistics provided in Khun Supara's article demonstrate this clearly. "In 2022, there were 183,541 new cancer cases in Thailand, and the number of deaths was 118,829." But there is genuine hope on both the economic and medical front.
Dr William Makis, a highly accredited oncologist from Canada, has developed a treatment protocol for two inexpensive generic drugs (benzamidizole and ivermectin) combined with oral vitamin D and zinc supplementation. He has successfully treated over 1,000 cancer patients -- some of whom had metastatic stage 4 lung cancer -- with this protocol and has documented unparalleled results.
No doubt my many critics on PostBag, as well as conventional medical professionals, will view this news with scorn as it pulls the rug out from under the multi-billion-dollar business model religiously defended by governments, international health agencies, hospitals and drug companies.
Therefore, I anticipate the same kind of well-funded pushback that occurred during the Covid pandemic against ivermectin and vitamin D.
Michael Setter
The insidious nature of USAID
Re: "It's 'difficult to defend USAID': Rubio", (World, Feb 7).
Elon Musk's recent efforts to assist President Trump in streamlining the efficiency of the US government have inadvertently exposed the covert activities of USAID, an agency unfamiliar to most Americans. Few are aware of its involvement in covert foreign regime-change operations targeting countries deemed hostile or obstructive to the interests of the US deep state.
USAID was established by President John F Kennedy in the 1960s with the noble vision of improving the world. In its early years, the agency made significant contributions to global development.
However, during the Vietnam War era, its trusted relationships and networks abroad made it an ideal tool for the CIA's covert operations. This role expanded during the Cold War, and since the 9/11 attacks, it has grown even more entrenched.
Today, as the great power struggle intensifies, Thailand finds itself under increasing pressure from the West.
One manifestation of this pressure is the accusation that USAID has fostered political unrest in Bangkok by supporting street demonstrations led by small groups of youths and students.
Thailand narrowly avoided Western colonisation in the 1860s, though at the great cost of territorial concessions.
Yet despite this historical escape, the country remains a pawn in the Great Power struggle. The recent exposure of USAID and other Western-backed organisations, such as the National Endowment for Democracy, has revealed their true intentions.
This revelation should serve as a wake-up call for Thai NGOs and activists to critically assess the funding they receive from Western institutions under the guise of democracy and freedom of speech.
ML Saksiri Kridakorn
Farmers need to stay chipper
Re: "Thailand chokes while promises fade", (Opinion, Feb 3).
Hooray for Danny Marks who wrote: "Embracing affordable technology like straw collectors and mobile chippers, would help farmers manage crop residues more efficiently." I've said it before and I'll say it again: banning rice stubble burning -- and other crop residues -- is a great idea only if farmers have alternatives. Indeed, there are some, and here they are, listed briefly:
Plough in the straw -- the problem is that there is a lot of it, so won't rot quickly, and it needs ploughing in twice.
Next, bale it: fine if you have access to a baler and you or someone needs the bales -- not always possible on both counts.
Finally, when the rice is harvested use a chipper instead of a baler, which cuts the straw into tiny pieces and blows it round the field, making it easier to plough in and it rots much faster. Problem: I have yet to see a straw chipper in Thailand, although they are available on the open market.
We managed to bale our straw this year due to there being a new baler in the area, but we are still left with the problem of selling, disposing of or finding another use for the bales.
Straw chippers are the answer in my opinion, and a maybe cynical view is that a great many could be purchased for the cost of a single Gripen fighter jet or a Chinese submarine.
Johnny Thoyts
Korat
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