Art expo ‘The Spirits of Maritime Crossing’ sets sail for Venice Biennale

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The Bangkok Art Biennale (BAB) Foundation recently announced that 15 artworks by Southeast Asian artists were headed to Italy’s famed City of Canals.

Poster of the event

“The Spirits of Maritime Crossing” a collateral event of the 60th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia, will showcase 15 artworks by artists from Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines and elsewhere from April 20 to November 24.

A Scene from Spirit of Maritime CrossingB
A Scene from Spirit of Maritime CrossingB

Curated by Prof. Dr Apinan Poshyananda, it features paintings, sculptures, mixed media works, and video installations.

“The Spirits of Maritime Crossing” highlights themes of displacement, diaspora, colonialism, and cultural hybrids across Southeast Asia, with a focus on water and maritime journeys.

Curator Prof. Dr Apinan Poshyananda

Participating artists include established and…


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Bangkok Post – Self-doubt obstructs high-level career advancement

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Banker Narumon Chivangkur says many people build an ‘invisible ceiling’ that blocks their view of success

“What I see is the door open. The stage is there for you to come and dance,” says Narumon Chivangkur, country officer and banking head at Citi Thailand, of career opportunities. (Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb)

One key challenge people face when advancing their careers is the growth-hindering “invisible…


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Here’s Why The LGBTQ Representation In The Thai Entertainment Industry Deserves More Acknowledgment

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March 27 was a historic day in Thailand. With the lower house passing a measure recognising same-sex marriage legally, Thailand made a major leap towards LGBTQ marital equality. However, for it to become completely legal, citizens still need the Senate and the royal seal of approval. It is anticipated that by the end of 2024, Thailand will become the only nation in Southeast Asia to legalise same-sex marriage. It will solidify Thailand’s standing as a relative sanctuary for LGBTQ couples in a location where such perspectives are uncommon.

The Thai cabinet also adopted a civil partnership bill in July 2020, legalising LGBTQ couples to adopt children and inherit property. In the pop culture or lifestyle space, Thailand is one of the most welcoming countries, regardless of anyone’s sexual orientation or culture. This country’s openness is evident in the everyday lives of its…


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Bangkok Post – Women send message of determination

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Three of the featured speakers at the Bangkok Post Women Vision Forum prepare to take the stage on Thursday at Centara Grand at CentralWorld, from left: Anntonia Porsild, the first runner-up Miss Universe 2023; Suphajee Suthumpun, CEO of Dusit Thani Plc; and Paetongtarn Shinawatra, leader of the Pheu Thai Party. (Photo: Pornprom Satrabhaya)

Prominent women have shared empowering stories, inspirational messages and career experiences during the Bangkok Post Women Vision Forum 2024, encouraging all people to overcome challenges with strong mindsets and determination.

At the event held on Thursday under the theme “Empowering…


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Entertainment complexes – what are they?

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What the hell goes on in these buildings? Why are they the size of hotels? I’ve lived here 5 years and have never heard anyone even mention them.

The owners must be absolutely loaded to own these huge buildings and pieces of land but something about them seem strange. Maybe a bit of nefarious activity re: money laundering or brothel I guess?

Has anyone in this community been inside?


View Reddit by Plastic_Hospital_947View Source

Bangkok Post – BYD slows plans for Vietnam EV factory

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World’s biggest EV maker cautious amid signs that market growth is slowing

A BYD Seal electric vehicle is seen at the Thailand International Motor Expo in November 2023. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)

HANOI – The Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD has slowed down its plans to build an EV factory in Vietnam, according to the manager of the industrial park where the plant would be built.

The Vietnamese government said…


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Bangkok Post – First step taken to legalise casinos

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House approves study recommending establishment of entertainment complexes

A player holds chips on a Baccarat Super 6 table at Casino Filipino Citystate in Manila. The Philippines is among the countries in Asia that are counting on integrated resorts and casinos to help boost tourist arrivals. (Photo: Bloomberg)

Thailand has taken its first step towards legalising casinos, as the government looks to attract high-spending…


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Solutions sought for Thai oil spills

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On 3 September 2023, Thailand experienced its latest major oil spill in the Si Racha district of Chonburi province. The leak originated from a tanker owned by Thai Oil, a subsidiary of the state-run conglomerate PTT. Initially estimated at 45,000 litres, the company later revised that to 60,000 litres.

Oil spills of this magnitude are a recurring problem In Thailand. On 25 January 2022, around 47,000 litres of crude spilled from Star Petroleum Refining’s pipeline near Map Ta Phut town in Rayong province, south of Chonburi.

Between 2015 to 2021, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources documented 146 combined instances of oil spills and “tar balls” – blobs of semi-solid oil on the ocean surface – across 23 Thai provinces. In 2022 alone, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment reported 22 oil leaks in the Gulf of Thailand, mainly near Rayong and Chonburi in eastern Thailand. That same year, Greenpeace Thailand noted that over 240 oil spills had been recorded in the country since 1973.

Fishers and marine experts warn of the harm such spills are inflicting on marine life and coastal communities.

Risk of oil spills may be rising

“I don’t believe the recent major leak in Chonburi will be the last; it’s likely to continue,” Krit Silapachai, member of parliament for Rayong from the opposition Move Forward Party, tells China Dialogue. “As petroleum companies expand production due to growing energy demand, the risks will increase. Without changes to laws and regulations, people will endure ongoing consequences.”

Silapachai, who is also deputy chair of the Parliament’s Committee on Land, Natural Resources and the Environment, has been monitoring leaks in Chonburi and Rayong. He attributes them to ageing equipment, including pipelines, loading buoys and control systems, some of which have been in service for nearly 30 years. Inspections and maintenance occur only every five years, not frequently enough for equipment nearing the end of its useful life.

Silapachai’s sentiments echo those of a 5 billion baht (US$137.5 million) lawsuit filed in January 2023 by 837 villagers and business owners against Star Petroleum Refining (SPRC), Global Chemical which is a subsidiary of PTT, and government agencies. They allege that the oil leaks off Rayong’s coast in January and February 2022 resulted from inadequate maintenance of SPRC’s 27-year-old underwater pipeline’s loading buoys, scheduled for replacement in 2025. Locals seek compensation for the impact on their livelihoods and environmental damage.

The plaintiffs also accuse the companies of mishandling the leaks, particularly through excessive use of dispersant. This reduces the appearance of surface oil but has been shown to be toxic to fish. In the February oil spill, the company initially asked for 5,000 litres of dispersant. The Pollution Control Department denied this request before ultimately dispatching an unspecified amount.

Environmental impacts

The Gulf of Thailand boasts rich biodiversity on both land and sea, with national parks like Khao Laem Ya­-Mu Koh Samet sheltering dozens of threatened animal species. Oil spills put animals at risk of suffocation and chemical poisoning, as well as damaging fur and feathers.

At sea, they form a deadly barrier for marine life. As crude oil emulsifies with seawater, it forms a suffocating film on the surface, impeding oxygen dissolution and obstructing sunlight vital for ocean organisms and plants.

Fishers like Lamom Boonyong report halting activities for at least a month post-spill due to contamination fears, often receiving inadequate compensation. Meanwhile, seafood markets, coastal restaurants and hotels suffer from decreased tourism and seafood consumption. The recovery period for marine populations like fish, crabs and squids spans years, ­with some ecosystems never fully recovering.

Oil spills also harm coral reefs, which serve as crucial habitats for countless marine species, leading to bleaching, weakened structures and ecosystem disruption. Coral reef extinction might also have food-security implications, as a significant protein source may be lost, along with a decline in tourism, says Professor Suchana Chavanich, deputy director at Chulalongkorn University’s Aquatic Resources Research Institute (ARRI).

Chavanich has been leading a team of marine experts monitoring the impact of oil spills on corals in the Gulf of Thailand. Recent test results reveal long-term alterations in coral genes due to oil pollution impairing cells and hindering cell generation.

Oil spills can suffocate and poison marine animals (Image © Chanklang Kanthong / Greenpeace)

Dispersants exacerbate the damage. They release toxic by-products, posing risks to marine life, especially corals, and have been linked to mass marine animal deaths. Following the September 2023 Si Racha oil spill, there were calls for greater transparency in the clean-up operation, particularly on dispersant use. Chavanich warns against their usage near fish cages and sensitive resources like shellfish beds.

Solutions and restitution

In July 2013, an unprecedented 50,000 litres of oil leaked from a PTT Global Chemical pipeline near the town of Map Ta Phut in Rayong province. Before this incident, fishers regularly caught 30-40kg of prawns per day, says Boonyong, leader of the province’s fishers’ group, Pak Nam Baan Rao, a plaintiff in the 5-billion-baht lawsuits.

After the spill and subsequent use of dispersants in the clean-up, crustacean catches plummeted for two to three years, Boonyang says. “We couldn’t find any shrimp or crabs. Many other animals, like cuttlefish, also washed ashore.” Stocks took nearly a decade to recover, he says. “The catch reduces drastically after each spill; sometimes we cannot … find them at all.”

Our laws are too weak to protect the environment
Krit Silapachai, member of parliament for Rayong

Boonyong urges the government to establish a fund to support affected individuals and small businesses, in order to avoid the need for lawsuits against large companies with significant legal resources.

Silapachai highlights oil companies’ non-compliance with crude oil transportation regulations as a major contributor to severe leaks, particularly regarding the length of containment booms. These are required by law to be three times the boat’s length. In the Rayong incident, the boom measured only 800 metres, while the tanker was 800 to 1,000 metres long.

Companies violating regulations usually face fines, but these pale in comparison to the extensive damage caused by their oil spills. In the January 2022 leak, oil reached Rayong’s shores, causing environmental damage and impacting the livelihoods of residents, including fishers and tourism businesses.

Man and woman holding fishing nets

Fishers on Mae Ramphueng beach in Rayong, which was affected by the 2022 oil spill. Fish populations took nearly a decade to recover from a large spill in 2013, fishers say. (Image: Peerapon Boonyakiat / Alamy)

Currently, the maximum fine for oil spillage and causing environmental degradation is just 60,000 baht (US$1,695), alongside paying compensation to affected parties and clean-up costs. Silapachai recommends raising fines to at least 200,000 baht (US$5,650).

To mitigate the risk of leakage, companies should also invest in technology for better oil transportation control, such as computer-controlled underwater valves, he adds.

Silapachai notes that a bill is being drafted to enact stricter regulations nationwide, including a fund for compensation, cleanup and ecosystem restoration after future spills.

“Lawmakers and the government must give more importance to this maritime crisis, where our laws are too weak to protect the environment,” says Silapachai. “Otherwise, such incidents will keep on happening, and our natural resources will continue to decline.”

China Dialogue sought comment from Thai Oil on the oil spill of 3 September 2023 but has not received a reply.



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Thailand’s car production declined by 19.3% in February

Thailand’s automotive production industry experienced a 19.3% decrease last month compared to the same month last year, with only 133,690 units being produced.

Key Takeaways

  • Thailand’s automotive industry only had 133,690 units produced, with a 19.3% decline in the car production.
  • The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) explained that the drop in production was more pronounced than January’s year-on-year decrease of 12.46%
  • The increase in imported electric vehicles (EVs) and a decrease in the production of pickup trucks affected car production.

The decline in car production is attributed to a combination of different factors such as increase in imported electric vehicles (EVs) and a decrease in the production of pickup trucks, among others.

The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) explained that the drop in production was more pronounced than January’s year-on-year decrease of…


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Sony opens $66m Thailand fab for driver-assist image sensors

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BANGKOK — Sony Group has started operations at a new semiconductor fab in Thailand, the company announced on Thursday, boosting production of automotive image sensors that are in strong demand with the spread of driver-assistance systems.

The company invested around 10 billion yen ($66 million) to build the new fab on the premises of its existing plant in central Thailand’s Pathum Thani province.


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