OPINION

Names muddled

For reasons unknown to me, the Bangkok Post insists on using oddly transliterated Thai, even where the meaning is unclear.

For example, in a recent article regarding a possible new political party, you gave the name as the "Thai Kao Mai Party". I had no idea what that meant. Google inexplicably suggested "Thai New Rice Party."

My wife suggested to me that the "Thai New Step Party" might be more appropriate.

The same issue exists with place names. The transliteration you use is often at odds with the version used by Google Maps, making it difficult to locate the place in question, especially when you rarely publish actual maps.

Including the Thai spelling would make finding the location much easier.

In this instance, including both in the article, like this: Thai Kao Mai Party, would have been immensely helpful.

Silence has costs

Re: "Thousands rally against Gaza 'genocide'", (World, June 17).

Regarding the destruction of Gaza, the United Nations has published a report by Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese naming dozens of companies -- including arms manufacturers and technology firms -- that profit from what she calls "the economy of genocide."

Here's an excerpt: "While life in Gaza is being obliterated and the West Bank is under escalating assault, this report shows why Israel's genocide continues: because it is lucrative for many."

Notably, prominent Israeli Holocaust and genocide scholars Amos Goldberg, Omer Bartov, Daniel Blatman, Raz Segal and Shmuel Lederman have all concluded that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

Other genocide scholars who have reached this determination include Martin Shaw, author of the book What is Genocide?; Melanie O'Brien, president of the International Association of Genocide Scholars; and Dirk Moses, senior editor of the Journal of Genocide Research.

When institutions and corporations ignore the clear assessments of these scholars, they abandon both moral responsibility and international law. The cost of this silence is measured in human lives.

Drugs need nuance

Re: "Booze not a narcotic", (PostBag, July 2).

I can't help but imagine a hysterical old man shouting at clouds when I read Jason Jellison's letter.

First, he tries to tell us that cannabis is a "gateway drug" when there is no evidence of this whatsoever, and in fact, studies have shown that cannabis use reduces alcohol-related aggression and violence -- surely a positive? Thailand definitely has a drug problem, but it is the widespread use of methamphetamine and harder drugs that are the problem, and this was the case long before cannabis was decriminalised.

Then he tries to tell us that cannabis has had a negative effect on tourist arrivals. Of course, the 33% drop in Chinese tourist arrivals is significant, but has more to do with excessive pricing and scare stories in their media, which falsely portray Thailand as a lawless country where tourists are randomly kidnapped off the street to work in scam call centres. Tourists aren't avoiding Thailand because of the free availability of cannabis, and for sure, many tourists come because of it.

With his earlier pearl-clutching tirades against Pride events, it's starting to sound like Mr Jellison needs to go and find himself a safe space. I wonder what's coming next from the Jellison Journal of Things That Didn't Happen?