Life is unfair to elephants and other living things

COMMENTARY

Tangled web we weave

Published: 10 Mar 2013 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

Not only is Leonardo DiCaprio an award-winning actor, he's also an admirable philanthropist. But life is rarely fair.

In 1999, he was in Thailand filming The Beach. My brother got the job of babysitting the star for 80,000 baht per week. All he had to do was hang out with Leonardo and make sure he didn't get into trouble.

At the time I was getting paid 9,000 baht per month as a university lecturer, grooming the young minds of the nation. Life is not fair. It never was.

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genii
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Discussion 29 : 10 Mar 2013 at 21.1629
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You are what you believe and what you do be it right or wrong. An American Indians grandson had a stomach ache. The grandfather told him there are two wolves fighting inside you one good and one bad. The grandson ask him which one would win the fight. The grandfather told him the winner would be the one you feed more.
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dao
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Discussion 28 : 10 Mar 2013 at 21.1128
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Diss 12
I talk of all parties .I thin k we all agree corruption is multicolored as are the excuses .
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paullane
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Discussion 27 : 10 Mar 2013 at 20.3727
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Thailand seems to love to host these conventions and talk the talk. In 2005 it hosted the convention for the internationl rights of the child. The governor of Bangkok (Apirak) and the deputy minister of education both stood on stage and gave solemn promises that abuse and corporal punishment in schools would be abolished. Later that year a law was passed making all forms of corporal punishment in schools a criminal offence.........the rest, my friends, is history.
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Woof
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Discussion 26 : 10 Mar 2013 at 17.5926
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Have you ever been fishing with a bait caster, not one of those egg beaters, but a real reel that is controlled by the thumb. Even those with experience can still make a faulty cast and end up with a "birds nest" tangle of line. You have to WANT to untangle the mess. Is there any one who has the want to change a social structure that is the Thai condition? Is there any one who has the ability? And ultimately, do those who live it want it changed? I marvel at the development of Thailand and how it prospers in spite of, or perhaps because of, its condition. When your on a good thing...If you find a better thing...
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JustHuman
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Discussion 25 : 10 Mar 2013 at 17.5125
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Very well written and all are facts! There is nothing anyone can do, at least not in Thailand, not the way it is going.
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DonAleman
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Discussion 24 : 10 Mar 2013 at 17.1824
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I have read, and agree with, all the comments particularly #7 which parallels and old clich'e " Putting Lipstick" on a pig.The Thai govt.,military, and Thai "power brokers" have all put Houdini/David Copperfield to shame with their superior Smoke and mirrors,deception,and, making things, ( primarily money ), disappear !As a recent poll indicated that 67% of Thais condone or approve of "shared" corruption, I don't forsee any changes unless..........
unless the author of this article "steps into the ring " !
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begin
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Discussion 23 : 10 Mar 2013 at 16.0523
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well written article but how do we get to the solutions. lots of viewers have added in their 2 cents and lots of very accurate issues. This is a shame as in the near future none of these animals will be left apart from in zoos and enclosed for their own protection.
that is truly SAD and all of us should do more to awake the powers to eradicate this senseless butchering of animals all over the world
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wantmyony
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Discussion 22 : 10 Mar 2013 at 15.3822
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Thailand has been running illegal wild life rackets for centuries, her own backyard is empty of endangered species. All these illegal activtities like drugs and guns have some power connection behind it otherwise it would not have been so easily available or display in full view of public. It will take a strongman to put thailand on right path but no bangkokians would welcome such a person, so its a neverending story. One of best way to reduce task trade is to flood the market with high grade imitations by the millions which china will gladly produce millions of it. The desire of owning a elephant task will wane when there are cheap real copy
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lungstib
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Discussion 21 : 10 Mar 2013 at 15.2121
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Quite simply there is money in hosting a big meeting in Bangkok. But there is more money in ivory. Everything that makes money continues here.
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watchdog
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Discussion 20 : 10 Mar 2013 at 14.2620
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Naming and shaming is the easiest strategy for ordinary citizens. You can do it anonymously (without fear of reprisal) at a website called "bribespot" (Google it). Social media is already causing Thai politicians to go apoplectic. That is why they are putting forth crazy ideas international control of content. They don't like to lose face. It will take time, but its already working. The problem hasn't been changed, but by tremendously increasing transparency, the internet will be a game changer. That is why we see vain efforts like the Cyber-Crimes Act to control it.
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Life is unfair to elephants and other living things | Bangkok Post: opinion

Tangled web we weave

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