Days of rampant greed can't last

The path to self-immolation that most of the modern world is clearly following need not be the way here. There’s a better way than believing in business acumen as a guiding light.

If it seems cliché to tout the benefits that hemp could bring, perhaps that’s because of the obvious truth involved. Southeast Asians have been loath to follow the absurd Western copyright dictates – why, after so long, do Mickey and Minnie Mouse receive the forceful, imposed “protection” they do? Only because Western business interests remain in a colonial mindset. Thais need to think for themselves. And perhaps first by asking what new ideas has Nai Thaksin provided in the last couple of years? Mega-projects for flood control? Clearly, hemp to replace lost forests would do much more, much better.

More solar-panel utilisation would be beneficial too, as would less reliance on plastics. Can’t government help, instead of manipulate, coerce and toady to foreign interests?

We all love having gas-powered vehicles, but we’re going to have to pay more to use them. We like convenience, but must accept that we can’t have everything. If we don’t do more to protect nature and biodiversity, well, again, that it sounds a cliché is because it’s so true – we lose the good things we have through selfish short-sightedness.

One way or another, the days of rampant self-indulgence are ending. Thailand and Asean can lead – or follow into the grave.

Joel J Barlow

Chiang Rai