ASSIGNMENT 2: ARTICLE ANALYSIS

[William Lawrence]

Morag Ross, your findings were an interesting read, I am still so shocked that the total number of Asian countries that allow same-sex marriages are only 3, since this goes against so many couples not just across Asia, but across the world living under laws that prevent them from marriage, which could also be seen as an act against equality and their human rights, though it is a positive change that governments are finally starting to recognise this and finally allowing better and safer lives for same-sex couples in places around the world 🙂

[Sarah Childers]

Prae Pupityastaporn is a Thai landscape painter. Her works often showcase two similar images beside each other to show the balance between memory and the present moment. Her work has been exhibited at Frieze Seoul, alongside nine other Asian artists. She exhibited her work with the intent of showing the world a new perspective on Asian art instead of the traditional idea most Westerners hold. Her position in this art fair is large because this is one of her first times exhibiting outside of Thailand and she is part of developing an ecosystem for female artists in Thailand.
The works she selected for the show, are large acrylic diptych paintings titled ‘Way to Remember’ that capture different local landscapes. Diptychs allow her to create subtle differences in the landscapes between the two panels which relate to the idea of blurred remembrance. ‘Way to Remember’ captures both figurative and abstract designs with a subtle color palette. This style comes from her traditional German arts training, as well as, her Asian roots.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/31/arts/design/prae-pupityastaporn-frieze-seoul.html

[Sarah Childers]

Thank you Gwendie for the summary on festivals and traditions. I would love to experience the Fon Leb and the FonTen dances of Northern Thailand. As someone from the Southern United States, we often pray for rain for the farms but it is not nearly as exciting as Hae Nang Meaw. I love that the cat’s meows ensure the rainfall! Sart Duen Sib seems like such a wonderful tradition to spread joy and kindness.

[Hannah]

Elephants have been a celebrated part of Thai culture for a long time. These majestic creatures have been scientifically proven to have the same reaction in their brains towards humans that we do towards puppies: they think we are cute! Elephants create art and enjoy music, and they live in happy family groups as they make their way through their ancestral homelands. It is no wonder that they have enjoyed a special place in the hearts of humans for a long time. Unfortunately, these beautiful and intelligent creatures have suffered in Thailand for a long time as well. According to an article by the Baanchang Elephant Park, “Thailand has cleared almost all of its lowland forest, creating a huge void of wildlife habitat in the heart of the country, and as the country’s human population continues to grow, the elephants’ remaining habitat is shrinking fast…. Large development projects (such as dams, roads, and mines), agricultural plantations and expanding human settlements simply fragment elephant habitat” (baanchangelephantpark.com). Elephants have not only been watching their ancestral homelands shrink, they have been mistreated by being forced to log and destroy the very lands they have always lived on, and they have also been forced to become play things for human amusement, such as unethical elephant rides (for which their spines are not suited) (eleaid.com).

As someone who will be moving to Thailand, I can contribute to the protection of Thai elephants by ensuring that any elephant sanctuaries that I visit are ethical, as in they do not allow bathing with the elephants, elephant riding, etc. I have always adored elephants, and I plan to work in wildlife conservation in the future, so I will be ensuring that any and all interactions that I have with wild or domesticated/rescued elephants have the best interest of these incredible creatures in mind. These beautiful giants are precious and have such kind souls and deserve our upmost respect and understanding.

[Laura Nicholson]

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/8/18/thailands-paetongtarn-shinawatra-sworn-in-as-pm-after-royal-sign-off

Paetongtarn Shinawatra was sworn in as Prime Minister in August, making her Thailand’s youngest Prime Minister at 37 years old. She is no stranger to politics. Her father is the former prime minister and she is the niece of Yingluck Shinawatra – Thailand’s first female prime minister. Paetongtarn Shinawatra is Thailand’s second female prime minister. Al Jazeera’s Tony Cheng highlights that she has strong support from senior party leaders and coalition partners.
Thailand is struggling economically and this remains as a major concern for Thai voters. At Shinawatra’s first news conference, she pledged to continue the policies of her predecessor including measures to boost the economy, improving the country’s universal healthcare system and promoting gender diversity.
I read in another article that in January 2024, only 27 countries were led by women. Furthermore, women make up 15.3 percent of cabinet ministers in Eastern and South-East Asia. It gives me great comfort knowing that I am moving to a country that is led by a women who is committed to promoting gender diversity.

[Laura Nicholson]

Alexander Harvey,
This summary gave me great peace of mind as I prepare to move to a country that supports marriage equality. It is no surprise that this is expected to boost tourism as I’m sure many people give careful consideration to whether a country is welcoming to the LGBT+ community when choosing to holiday or live there. I was surprised to read that Thailand is the first country in South East Asia to make same sex marriage legal but hopefully it paves the way for other countries to follow. The Royal Family are highly respected in Thailand so it is pivotal that the bill is being endorsed by the King.

[Curtis McLaurin]

Related article:
https://achefstour.com/blog/bug-life-a-guide-to-eating-insects-in-thailand

Title: ‘Bug Life- A Guide to Eating Insects in Thailand’ Everything you need to know about
eating insects in Thailand.

Consuming insects is sometimes seen as strange and even outright disgusting
by some people from countries whose societies do not categorize it as normal. With me
being from the United States, this is not something that I am used to. While I am living in
Thailand, I am hoping to try out some fried bugs at least once. The article I chose to
analyze, ‘Bug Life- A Guide to Eating Insects in Thailand’, is a little dated, having been
uploaded in 2019. However, this article does provide a clear guide for travelers going to
Thailand that are looking forward to trying their hand at entomophagy. Entomophagy is
a term used for consuming insects. The article states that this practice originated
centuries ago from the northern provinces of Thailand. Farmers in these provinces
decided they would try and gain two advantages from removing the insects from their
crops. Meaning they would not only save their fields from the pest but also get some
extra protein from an abundant food source with little effort involved. This practice has
spread to many regions of Thailand and has now become a selling point to many
tourists.
The article does a great job discussing the many different delicacies.
Grasshoppers, bamboo worms, crickets, giant water bugs, and last but not least silk
worms, were all discussed in the article. According to the article, most are served in
cartloads at markets. The process in which they are usually prepared involves being
fried in soy sauce, dusted with seasonings, and salted. The article talks about the
differences with each bug. Some have different textures and flavors. The giant water
bugs in particular are seen as having a more distinct taste and involve extra work when
preparing to consume. These extra steps involve removing the wings, pulling off the
shell, and taking off the head so the consumer can reach the supposedly soft and meaty
center. Crickets and grasshoppers may also have certain parts removed such as the
legs before eating it. The article also provides a list of places to nd and purchase these
bugs. Each spot is shown on an interactive map of Thailand and details about
availability of certain insects were also provided. Some locations even have fried
tarantulas and scorpions!
I found this article rather interesting because I do want to try and eat some of
things that I would be unlikely to encounter back home. My main concern with this
endeavor is that I have a huge phobia of water bugs and roaches, so I am afraid that I
will be disturbed to see cartful’s of them fried and ready to eat at the market. Needless
to say, I will be staying away from those. However I would certainly like to try the other
insects the article mentioned. I found this article to be easy to read and very informing.
Still, I did nd my skin crawling a little during certain parts of this reading, mostly with
the parts about the giant water bugs.

[Curtis McLaurin]

Hello Hannah,
I had no idea that elephants were treated so badly by some people and organizations in Thailand. I will make sure that I remember to stay clear of places that practice harmful activities to elephants. Volunteer work is something that I am very interested in, so I’m hoping that I can do something with either local people or animals to help out. I’ll be adding elephant sanctuaries and such to my list of places that I could volunteer. Thank you for sharing this information with me.

[Vincent Causse]

Related article: https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/2927587/the-deadliest-tsunami-set-off-work-to-be-ready-for-the-next-big-wave
The article “The deadliest tsunami set off work to be ready for the next big wave” from the Bangkok post is dealing with the aftermath and lesson’s learned of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which was one of the deadliest catastrophe events in recorded history. We all have in mind the many tourists that were unaware of the destructive wave until it came their way. The tsunami, which was recorded as high as 16 storeys and in some places as fast as 300mph, raced towards the shorelines of South and Southeast Asia and East Africa. Earthquake sensors hinted at the potential for destruction and death, but tsunami experts did not know whom to tell. There were few, if any, monitors in the Indian Ocean, and no models of what could occur there. Organizations have fostered education and preparedness at both local and global scales to ensure that what happened in 2004 never happens again. Most tsunamis are caused by earthquakes, but anything that displaces a large amount of ocean water, including landslides, volcanoes, and meteor strikes, can trigger a big wave. The 2004 wave revealed that the world’s tsunami warning system needed a critical upgrade. Despite numerous efforts, other deadly tsunami occurred such as the 2011 Japanese tsunami that killed 20,000 people and led to a nuclear meltdown. As a conclusion, we could say that a lot of improvement has been done to build response plans, but there is still a lot of work to be done to develop efficient early warning systems and accurate contingency plans.

[Vincent Causse]

Related article: https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/2927587/the-deadliest-tsunami-set-off-work-to-be-ready-for-the-next-big-wave
The article “The deadliest tsunami set off work to be ready for the next big wave” from the Bangkok post is dealing with the aftermath and lesson’s learned of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which was one of the deadliest catastrophe events in recorded history as it killed over 220000 people. This article resonates with me as I almost could be among the death toll; as a matter of fact I was in Thailand in 2004 and supposed to go to Kho Phi Phi, Andaman Sea, for Christmas holidays. But at the last minute my friends and I luckily decided to go to Koh Samui instead, which most certainly saved our lives. We all have in mind the many tourists that were unaware of the destructive wave until it came their way. The tsunami, which was recorded as high as 16 storeys and in some places as fast as 300mph, raced towards the shorelines of South and Southeast Asia and East Africa. Earthquake sensors hinted at the potential for destruction and death, but tsunami experts did not know whom to tell. There were few, if any, monitors in the Indian Ocean, and no models of what could occur there. Organizations have fostered education and preparedness at both local and global scales to ensure that what happened in 2004 never happens again. Most tsunamis are caused by earthquakes, but anything that displaces a large amount of ocean water, including landslides, volcanoes, and meteor strikes, can trigger a big wave. The 2004 wave revealed that the world’s tsunami warning system needed a critical upgrade. Despite numerous efforts, other deadly tsunami occurred such as the 2011 Japanese tsunami that killed 20,000 people and led to a nuclear meltdown. As a conclusion, we could say that a lot of improvement has been done to build response plans, but there is still a lot of work to be done to develop efficient early warning systems and accurate contingency plans.

[Vincent Causse]

Please note the post #29964 has been superseded (by #29965) and should be removed.

[Vincent Causse]

Very interesting article thank you, I was unaware of the existence of an ancient ethnic religion among Thai people in Asia, nor have I had noticed the difference with Buddhism. As Tai Folk Religion is based on the cult of the ancestor’s worship, I was wondering if all the small shrines you can see everywhere in Thailand’s streets were related with this or Buddhism ?

[Lilly Myskey]

https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2023/11/29/focus-on-skills-education-regional-development-needed-to-create-a-more-equal-society-in-thailand#:~:text=Thailand%20can%20narrow%20relatively%20high%20levels%20of%20income,agricultural%20productivity%2C%20according%20to%20a%20World%20Bank%20report.

[Lilly Myskey]

Thailand is known for being a Southeast Asian country with delicious dishes, lush forests, serene landscapes, and clear water beaches. For several years, it was and is still considered to be one of the top tourist destinations in the world. Not only is the country providing the rest of the world with beautiful landscapes, but it is rich in culture as well. Known as the “Land of smiles”, the glee that Thai people have contagiously encompasses foreigners as well. Many people who have an outsider view of Thailand assume it to be a third-world country. I am Thai and I cannot even deny that I have shared these views before. However, learning about Thailand and its people has opened my eyes, as well as many others, to the richness that exists there. Many parts are urbanized and developed. By researching or visiting Thailand, you will quickly come to find out that almost anything you need is within arms reach such as clothes, food, trinkets, technology, transportation, malls, business centers, etc.. Despite the urbanization of Thailand and its provinces, there are still many places that do not get to reap the same benefits as the locals who live in the busiest cities. Thailand has one of the largest rates of social and economic inequality in Southeast Asia, with people in Bangkok being at least six and a half times richer than individuals and families in the rural areas. Many people would expect that the profits made from tourism would benefit everyone in the country overall, and while they help, this is not the case. There has actually been an increase in social inequality since COVID-19. Many studies have shown that this is generally because of school attendance, school curriculums, and low agricultural incomes. A large portion of Thailand’s GDP comes from its agricultural industry, however, this is not where income is centrally located. Although most children graduate from primary school, there is a rising rate of students who do not continue or graduate education after primary school. This is one of the reasons that income inequality is such a prevalent issue within Thailand. In some areas, the Thai school system and curriculum may fail to train students on intelligence and skills that could later be useful to maintain well-paying jobs. A revision of what is taught throughout the schools is necessary in order to begin to bridge this gap. This article was chosen because as a teacher who is planning to have a direct influence on the school system and children in Thailand, I can implement my best efforts by teaching English. Before arriving in Thailand, I learned that Thai individuals who learn English have increasingly higher chances of landing better jobs or adding more dynamics when it comes to their skill set to market themselves to wider ranges of employment. Going into my semester teaching individuals in Thailand English, I will hold this thought at the top of my head as I approach every day. Of course, I am grateful to be able to experience Thailand through this route, but I feel I have a large role in making students feel comfortable with their English speaking skills. Although I am aware that there are many paths to success, I will do everything to play my part and be a stepping stone to these students’ futures.

[Lilly Myskey]

Hello Hannah, I am so grateful to see someone sharing the knowledge of elephant abuse in Thailand. It is truly disheartening to see people treat such sacred creatures with little empathy. I hope that the tourism industry in Thailand (and other parts of the world) continues to spread this information about how to ethically see elephants before it is too late. The best we can do as individuals is not only abstain from such practices but promote how to see these creatures in the most ethical ways. Maybe one of us will work for or start an elephant sanctuary one day. I would also like to add that whale sharks are also being abused by the tourism industry in Thailand. In many parts of the south, tour guides will market swimming with whale sharks and get people to pay good money in order to do so. Many tourists don’t know, but they actually trap these whale sharks in certain areas by the beach by creating a barrier with boats and nets, not allowing them to escape freely. Although whale sharks seem to appear super friendly and accepting of humans swimming with them, this practice is inhumane and I hope to see the same message being spread for them as I do the elephants. Thailand is so unique, especially for its nature. I hope the world does its best to protect this at all costs beuase it cannot be recreated.

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