A new joint report by two international wildlife organisations to encourage “managed” wildlife trade as jobs for the poor, came under fire by local wildlife groups.

“This concept should not be adopted. The ones who would benefit are big traders not small ones, and certainly not endangered wildlife,” shot Surapol Duangkhae, former secretary general of Wildlife Fund Thailand.

Last week Traffic, a wildlife trade monitor, and World Wildlife Fund International issued a report called “Trading Nature: the contribution of wildlife trade management to sustainable livelihoods and the Millennium development goals”.

It said a managed trade on wildlife and wildlife products can offer opportunities to poor people and communities.

The report recommended governments explore “semi-intensive production methods”, experiment with management regimes, develop “pro-poor” approaches to standards and certification schemes, and consider co-ordinated approaches to different components of wildlife trade. Read the rest of this entry »

After a nationwide spate of thefts and damage done to important cultural sites, Phuket Vice Governor Wora-poj Ratthasima visited the Thalang National Museum yesterday to ensure its collection and other sites looked after by the Fine Arts Depart-ment remain safe. Thalang Museum Curator Atjima Nukong told him all the museum’s items were accounted for and properly protected. Fine Arts Department director-general Kriengkrai Sampat-chalit called earlier for better security measures at ancient sites nationwide, after high-profile incidents of damage or theft reported in Nakhon Ratchasima, Buri Ram and Rayong. After meeting with staff at the Thalang museum, Vice Governor Worapoj and his entourage stopped to inspect the condition of the nearby Heroines’ Monument. Built in 1967, the statues of Thao Thepkrasattri and Thao Srisoonthorn were found to still be in good condition. Read the rest of this entry »

Thai Airways International plans to push Don Muang Airport to be the regional maintenance hub.

Pilot Officer Apinan Sumanaseni, Thai Airways Plc’s president, revealed the government had a policy to use Don Muang Airport to be the regional maintenance hub after the launch of the Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Mr. Apinan said increasing the number of flights to Don Muang Airport would be against the government’s policy to promote the Suvarnabhumi Airport as the regional hub.

Thai Airways will further propose this issue to Transport Minister Santi Prompat.

Don Muang was an important hub of Asia and the hub of Thai Airways International prior to its closure.

Handling over 38 million passengers and 700,000 tons of cargo in 2005, it was the 18th busiest airport in the world and 2nd in Asia by passenger volume.

The airport was replaced by Suvarnabhumi Airport on September 28, 2006.

Gay activists are joining with worried parents to urge doctors to stop castrating minors who want to take the first step toward a sex change.

Leading gay activist Nathee Teerarojanapong said he and a group of parents will submit a letter Thursday to the Medical Council urging stricter controls on private clinics that castrate teenagers, according to AFP.

Underage boys who hope eventually to have sex change operations are increasingly seeking castrations as a first step toward becoming women, he said.
Read the rest of this entry »

Bangkok accepted Sydney mayor’s invitation to join the Earth Hour activity which twenty four cities worldwide will turn off lights for one hour to raise awareness about global warming.

The “Earth Hour” initiative started in Sydney last year when 2.2 million people flicked the switch.

Bangkok is one of the eight latest cities to join “Earth Hour” campaign apart from Atlanta, San Francisco and Phoenix in the US; Ottawa, Vancouver and Montreal in Canada and Dublin in Ireland.

Mrs. Bansopit Mekwichai, Deputy Bangkok Governor, met with 43 delegates from the WWF, Metropolitan Electricity Authority, Electricity Generation Authority of Thailand, Education Ministry, department stores and the owners of high-rise buildings last month to discuss the issue.

Street lights will be turned off on March 29, from 8-9 pm at the Central World Plaza.

Normally, Bangkok will consume five million kilowatts per hour of electricity on Saturday.

About one million kilowatts per hour or 25% of electricity consumption will be reduced during the Earth Hour, which means up to two million baht per hour of power cost will be cut.

New Phetchburi, Rajadamri, Silom, Yaowaraj, Ratchada and Kao Sarn Road are included in the Earth Hour campaign.

Bangkok Experimental Film Festival (BEFF5)

A co-production between the Thai Film Foundation, independent arts organization Project 304, and Kick the Machine, this year’s festival (BEFF 5) will focus on new work by Thai artists, although some international work will also be featured.

The theme of the festival, ‘The More Things Change’, will explore the cycles – economic, natural, political, and spiritual – that are shaping life in the 21st century.

26 Mar 08 - 28 Mar 08, Esplanade Cineplex (Core program base)
4th Floor
Ratchadapisek Road
MRT: Thailand Cultural Centre
Tel: +66 (0)86 311 6062 (Organizer, Thai and English)

Source: thaiasiatoday.com

‘The more things change …’

Announcing the 5th Bangkok Experimental Film Festival (BEFF 5)

The Bangkok Experimental Film Festival has announced it will stage its fifth program (BEFF 5) in March, 2008. BEFF is a co-production by Kick the Machine, the Thai Film Foundation, and independent arts organization Project 304.

BEFF was first held in 1997 to address the lack of local platforms for filmmakers working beyond mainstream conventions and the limitations of market concerns. Since then, it has played a pivotal role in the invigoration of Bangkok’s independent film community, exposing innovative work by video artists, animators and experimental filmmakers.

BEFF 5 will focus on new work by Thai artists, though some international work will also be featured. The program, entitled ‘The more things change …’, will explore the cycles – natural, spiritual, political and economic – that shape life in the 21st Century. Curator David Teh says, “Experimental film can highlight the connections between the ordinary and the extraordinary, between public and private, between everyday life and the big picture of society.”

The BEFF 5 announcement comes amid debate about the relevance and regulation of local screen culture. A government official recently called Thai audiences ‘uneducated’, suggesting that they were only interested in lightweight comedy. This view does not fit with the breadth and depth of Thai screen culture, which wins awards and acclaim worldwide – not just in advertising and mainstream film, but also in independent and non-commercial fields. BEFF 5 will tap the wealth of experimental screen culture produced in Thailand, and present it to a wider audience in Bangkok and other Thai cities, and overseas. Past BEFF programs have toured to the US, Europe, Singapore and Australia.

BEFF 5 aims to stimulate all levels of the industry, from filmmakers and cinephiles to students and the general public. According to BEFF’s directors, “BEFF 5 is about the promotion and creative development of Thai art and culture. It will be a hot-spot linking filmmakers, the arts community, and the public.”

Source: kickthemachine.com

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