A tad confused
Re: "Cultural confusion", (PostBag, Oct 11) & "Off to a dancing start", (BP, Oct 10).
Mr Vichai believes tourism should focus on Thai culture and achievements, and suggests Ban Rak Thai should be excluded because it's Chinese.
But the fact is, it's a tourist attraction -- try finding somewhere to park your car there at a weekend -- and that's because it's Chinese.
But at the same time it is an example of Thai hospitality in action. At the end of the Chinese civil war in 1946 various Kuo Min Tang (losing side) armies were left marooned in Burma.
The UN offered to fly them to join their comrades in Taiwan, and Thailand offered to take in those who chose not to go, provided they left their guns at the border.
Ban Rak Thai is one of the consequences. Its name, "love Thai village", expresses the inhabitants' gratitude.
Colin Roth
Can't help but gloat
Re: "Opposition leader wins Nobel prize", (BP, Oct 11).
Karma is real and alive. The Nobel Peace Prize for 2025 has gone to Maria Corina Machado "for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy"
A wonderful winner for her work for democracy by making positive contributions rather than another candidate who has been working against democracy. He had been quietly promoting his right to win a medal but it would have been the destruction of the credibility of the award.
Oh dear, President Donald Trump didn't win, but he could look for inspiration from this and many other prior winners.
Well done Maria, thank you for your work.
Dennis Fitzgerald
Healthy minds
Re: "Tackling mental health woes", (Editorial, Oct 5).
The unprecedented rise of mental health issues across Thailand and across South & South East Asia is quite alarming. It reflects how mental health is affecting our life and how important it is to our existence.
World Mental Health Day is observed every year on Oct 10 to raise awareness about mental health issues around the world and to mobilise efforts in support of mental well-being.
Education institutions, organisations, and community groups across the world conducted seminars, interactive workshops, art exhibitions, and awareness rallies. Psychologists and counsellors addressed common mental health issues such as stress, anxiety, and depression, emphasising the need to seek help without hesitation.
At the local level, students and teachers participated in discussions and shared personal reflections on maintaining emotional balance and empathy in daily life. Posters, slogans, and creative performances highlighted the theme, "Mental Health is a Universal Human Right."
The observance of World Mental Health Day 2025 reminded everyone that mental health awareness is not limited to a single day -- it requires continuous care, compassion, and community support.
The day reinforced the message that mental health matters for everyone, everywhere. By spreading understanding and kindness, we can build a healthier, more inclusive, and emotionally resilient world.
Saikat Kumar Basu
