Peace and unity top Loy Krathong wishes
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Most Thais say that their Loy Krathong wish would be for unity and love to return among Thais and for political conflicts to be brought to an end.
An Abac poll released yesterday showed that 93.3 per cent of the respondents want Thais to love one another again; 87.3 per cent want the economy to improve; 85.2 per cent want an end to corruption; and 66.4 per cent hope for a drop in drug abuse and crime.
The survey was conducted on 1,258 Bangkokians from last Friday to yesterday. All respondents were above the age of 18.
The annual full-moon festival of Loy Krathong falls on November 28 this year.
Yingluck very popular
When asked who they would want to celebrate the festival with, 55.9 per cent of the respondents chose Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, 30.1 per cent opted for opposition Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, while 9.8 per cent went for former PM Chuan Leekpai.
In a separate poll conducted by the Srinakarinwirot University, up to 71 per cent of the respondents said they would not have sex on Loy Krathong, 16 per cent said they were unsure and 13 said they would indulge.
Of the respondents, 51 per cent said they did not believe young people should choose Loy Krathong as the day to lose their virginity, while 49 per cent said they disagreed.
The poll, conducted from Tuesday to yesterday, involved 1,134 youngsters who are in a relationship.
Meanwhile, Dr Narong Sahamethapat, permanent secretary for Public Health Ministry, said that the number of fireworks-related injuries had almost doubled over the past five years.
In 2011, 642 people sustained injuries from fireworks during Loy Krathong and New Year celebrations, up from 364 in 2007.
Campaign for the environment
Also, the Culture Ministry has launched its “One Family One Krathong” campaign in a bid to cut down on the use of natural resources used to make these krathongs, as well as to prevent the canals and rivers being overrun with them, the ministry’s permanent secretary Somchai Seanglai said.
