Amnesty blind spot
Re: "Amnesty hopes rise", (Editorial, Oct 9).
The Post does its journalistic task in addressing the deeply flawed amnesty bill before parliament. That bill is better than none. The editor is, nonetheless, also spot on that "the elephant in the room is that Section 112 is excluded from amnesty". It is, in fact, not only that this law increasingly divides society and inevitably pushes those who value justice under democracy to, as the editorial puts it, "invite criticism against the monarchy that this law is meant to protect".
Those who value informed opinion will support putting LM violations at the top of crimes for which full amnesties should be granted every bit as much as those who value justice under a constitutional democracy.
Felix Qui
90-day confusion
Re: "Shoddy Thai service", (PostBag, Oct 10) & "Confidence declines as foreigners avoid Thailand", (Business, Sept 29).
In his letter published in PostBag, Michael Bell is annoyed that he cannot do his 90-day report online whilst abroad. He clearly does not understand that the day he arrives back here is day number one. The programme resets every time you leave Thailand.
Barry Kenyon
Whose story holds?
Re: "False equations", (PostBag, Oct 7).
Well, what a quandary. It seems we have to make a choice. Either we must choose to believe Frank Scimone and other contributors who write to support the Israeli government.
Or, we choose to believe the Israeli human rights organisation B'Tselem, The Red Cross, Jews United against Zionism, Oxfam, Save the Children, Pax Christi, the IPC, INARA, Professors Norman Finkelstein and Avi Shlaim, Rabbis Elhanan Beck and Yisrael David Weiss, the WFP and the Jewish Voice for Peace, to name only a few. So, who should we believe? Oh my goodness, that's a hard one.
Keith Barlow
Greener with CO₂
Re: "No CO2 Miracle", (PostBag, Oct 8).
I certainly hope Anna Aarts has not fled Thailand after reading this benighted reply to her fine contribution to PostBag. Ray Ban boldly says, "Carbon dioxide is not a plant food, and the 'aerial fertiliser effect' is, sadly, a myth."
Elementary biology tells us the CO₂ fertilisation effect causes plants to grow faster and larger when more CO₂ is available. Satellite studies from Nasa, NOAA, Landsat, and NDVI datasets show a measurable 15% increase in leaf area globally since the 1980s, much of it linked to CO₂ enrichment. Higher atmospheric CO₂ increases the rate of carbon fixation in plants through photosynthesis, thereby enhancing carbohydrate production and biomass accumulation. This means more food, more shade, and removal of atmospheric carbon dioxide in a balancing feedback loop protecting and nourishing all living things.
More CO₂ enhances plant water use efficiency, resulting in the expansion of vegetation in deserts like the Sahel, Inner Mongolia, and the Australian outback. Satellite imagery also confirms widespread greening has occurred in North America, China, and India. In short and happily enough, we have just enough carbon dioxide to afford Ray Ban the luxury of neglecting to eat his vegetables.
Michael Setter
Cultural confusion
Re: "Off to a dancing start", (BP, Oct 10).
No doubt it is commendable to be welcoming and accepting of different cultures and customs. However, if the intent is to promote tourism in Thailand, one would expect to showcase the myriad wonderful aspects of Thai culture that we have to offer. So I am perplexed at the ceremonial event in Ban Rak Thai in Mae Hong Son province, which would have looked perfectly in place in Beijing or Guangzhou were it not for the Thai-language banners.
Vichai
