News Forum - Officials say 90% of northern Thailand’s hotspots caused by human activity

[Thaiger]

The director-general of Thailand’s Pollution Control Department says around 90% of the hotspots in northern Thailand are caused by human activities. Director-General Pinsak Suraswadi said the PM2.5 atmospheric pollution in the region is expected to increase before it improves. Pinsak said that 90% of the hotspots were detected in conserved forests, and that the problem would …

The story Officials say 90% of northern Thailand’s hotspots caused by human activity as seen on Thaiger News.

Read the full story

[kalyan]

it goes with the saying of " where there is a smoke there is a fire" to extend it , add there is a human who induce it too !

[KaptainRob]

38 minutes ago, Thaiger said:

The director-general of Thailand’s Pollution Control Department says around 90% of the hotspots in northern Thailand are caused by human activities. Director-General Pinsak Suraswadi said the PM2.5 atmospheric pollution in the region is expected to increase before it improves. Pinsak said that 90% of the hotspots were detected in conserved forests, and that the problem would …

The story Officials say 90% of northern Thailand’s hotspots caused by human activity as seen on Thaiger News.

Read the full story

Load of BS in that report.  Pinsak should study wind currents and topography before opening his mouth.  Forest fires in the North may be attributed to some human activity but sugar cane 'agri-burning' is in the lowlands well the south of Chiang Mai and also to the east in Isaan.

It's smoke, not industrial/chemical pollution in Chiang mai and doesn't even rate in the Top 10 most polluted cities in Thailand let alone the World.

True, it is smokey in the North, if you don't like it just leave.  

[HolyCowCm]

2 minutes ago, KaptainRob said:

True, it is smokey in the North, if you don't like it just leave.  

OMG. Did you really just say it?

[KaptainRob]

15 minutes ago, HolyCowCm said:

OMG. Did you really just say it?

Yes.  Easier said than done for families like yours but hey, you know the dry season will produce smoke most years.  Tourists and the more independent expats can always leave, better than expecting any quick fix.

[HolyCowCm]

5 minutes ago, KaptainRob said:

Yes.  Easier said than done for families like yours but hey, you know the dry season will produce smoke most years.  Tourists and the more independent expats can always leave, better than expecting any quick fix.

Just sounded like: Lighten up buttercup or leave. Naw, sorry KR, just giving you a tease. You are exactly right. Look before you come and if you do come and do not like it, then get quickly out. Or stay inebriated!

[HolyCowCm]

11 minutes ago, KaptainRob said:

Yes.  Easier said than done for families like yours but hey, you know the dry season will produce smoke most years

Yes ofcourse. We are stationed here. Only thing we do now is no major exercise outdoor and keep windows and doors closed in out house and jut wait it out until we have a freak rain or the season change after Songkran. I am betting on a freak offseason rain. 

[Rookiescot]

Wood smoke or sugarcane etc. is not really an issue for most people. Humans have been breathing that stuff for millions of years.

The pollutants from belching diesel engines which we see every day here in Thailand is far more likely to cause you problems. Along with Marble-eye's aftershave.

[Chatogaster]

2 hours ago, Thaiger said:

Pinsak said that setting up a command centre in each province, and deploying thousands of volunteers to fight the fires, is treating the symptoms without addressing the root cause. He urged the public to be on the lookout for people starting fires and to notify authorities.

 

That urging may also fall into the category of "treating symptoms", given that the article hasn't identified the main cause of air pollution.

Is the main problem that occasionally a badly managed fire gets out of hand, thus causing major portions of forests to go up in a lot of smoke, or is the main problem that very many controlled fires (with a bit of smoke each) jointly contribute to a lot of smoke? 

It's never just one or the other, but it's crucial to know how they relate in order to decide if certain actions (like urgings) make sense.

 

[KaptainRob]

13 hours ago, Chatogaster said:

That urging may also fall into the category of "treating symptoms", given that the article hasn't identified the main cause of air pollution.

Is the main problem that occasionally a badly managed fire gets out of hand, thus causing major portions of forests to go up in a lot of smoke, or is the main problem that very many controlled fires (with a bit of smoke each) jointly contribute to a lot of smoke? 

It's never just one or the other, but it's crucial to know how they relate in order to decide if certain actions (like urgings) make sense.

Chiang Mai has asessed it as 80% forest and 20% agri/human involvement.

Whether forest fires started from human carelessness, arson, or lightning strike is not easy to establish although poor villagers are often cited as the possible cause thru careless burning.  Hence a near 3 month fire ban with hefty fines.

[Sawarot]

36 minutes ago, KaptainRob said:

Chiang Mai has asessed it as 80% forest and 20% agri/human involvement.

Whether forest fires started from human carelessness, arson, or lightning strike is not easy to establish although poor villagers are often cited as the possible cause thru careless burning.  Hence a near 3 month fire ban with hefty fines.

Farmers are aware of the effect of burning the fields, and they still do it. Little men with big pickups belch black smoke while revving the engines of their male appendage substitutes, they understand the effect and they keep doing it.

Forfeiture of land and vehicle seems like the most obvious remedy, if somewhat Draconian. But I'm on the verge of requesting government hit squads be sent to these farmers' homes, to drag the owners out into the yard and shoot them (not fatally though). Because they knowingly kill people. 

[HiuMak]

Cheapest and fastest way to clear land, fertilize the land  for new planting season in developing countries.

Education and equipment investment may be needed to change. These local farmers has none. 

[Sawarot]

On 3/8/2023 at 10:25 AM, HiuMak said:

Cheapest and fastest way to clear land, fertilize the land  for new planting season in developing countries.

Education and equipment investment may be needed to change. These local farmers has none. 

They know what they're doing.