Thailand Constitution Rewrite
Posted by Tawan , Reader : 310 , 10:45:15
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The Constitution is only a framework designed to provide check and balances, accountability and transparency to fight the sins of our past history of corruption. Those against this framework wants to return to the sins of our past because it is a successful business model for them and the only game they know in which they have evolved into masters. Since the elections this inner circle has observed that the sins of the past can be returned to and continued into the future because Thailand has not provided a workable alternative to the framework and this inner circle of people have joyously concluded that once again they are the only game in town.
The framework has given us valuable time in the past few months to provide an alternative model to the sins of our past. Instead of, taking advantage of the past few months in developing a workable alternative plan of action, we have sit on the sidelines and observed the slow but sure step by step return to the sins of our past. The people have played by the rules of Democracy by voting and sending politicians to represent the people. Now the people are waiting for a workable alternative to the sins of our past. In other words, where is our Senator Obama that has pledged to change the way Washington D.C. is influenced by special interest and lobbyist and finally let the voice of the people be heard in Washington D.C. also alongside special interests. With no workable alternative we are doomed to continue our sins of the past simple because there will be no alternative when there is only one game in town to vote for. The only one game in town has been made quite clear and under this scenario will continue to be voted for by the people.
The world record commodities prices as stated by the United Nations and many others, has given us a small window of opportunity to use the profits to develop our agriculture sector. The economy, financial sector, inflation and private and foreign investment have all been put on hold by the political crisis. This window of opportunity does not stay open long. Just as in Thailand some in the Global financial community are fighting efforts of a regulation framework to provide accountability, disclosure and transparency to avoid another global crisis. Simply because they have also become masters of the only game in town serving the needs of the few.
The people are anxiously waiting to see if this window of opportunity will be closed or will we have an alternative before the window is closed. Perhaps the foreign investors has posed the question better will the Thai Constitution be rewritten or not? For they two must first wait to see which rules of the game they will be forced to play by, the sins of our past or a workable alternative.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Issan Farmer's Shock with uS Farm Crisis
Issan Farmer's Shock with U.S. Farm Crisis
Posted by Tawan , Reader : 225 , 07:56:01
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Issan farmers may see the U.S. sub-prime crisis affecting their future as well. Conditions are very similar to the U.S. 1980 farm collapse. Increasing farm debt that caused the collapse of 300 agriculture banks in the U.S. Seeds and fertilizer are doubling in price. Worldwide increases in commodities prices leading more U.S. farmers to take on more debt. If commodities prices fall, recent investments in machinery and land will cause the debt to be more than the value of the farm exactly as the residential mortgage market.
U.S. subsidies for ethanol production have led more farmers to plant corn. The recent political backlash in the world with food riots from increasing food prices has shown rushing into bio-fuels production has been poorly planned.
Issan farmers will be affected by a new sub-prime farmer’s crisis adding more trade and financial sectors shock from the U.S.
Posted by Tawan , Reader : 225 , 07:56:01
Issan farmers may see the U.S. sub-prime crisis affecting their future as well. Conditions are very similar to the U.S. 1980 farm collapse. Increasing farm debt that caused the collapse of 300 agriculture banks in the U.S. Seeds and fertilizer are doubling in price. Worldwide increases in commodities prices leading more U.S. farmers to take on more debt. If commodities prices fall, recent investments in machinery and land will cause the debt to be more than the value of the farm exactly as the residential mortgage market.
U.S. subsidies for ethanol production have led more farmers to plant corn. The recent political backlash in the world with food riots from increasing food prices has shown rushing into bio-fuels production has been poorly planned.
Issan farmers will be affected by a new sub-prime farmer’s crisis adding more trade and financial sectors shock from the U.S.
Road Trip Back Home
Road Trip Back Home
Posted by Tawan , Reader : 166 , 07:29:15
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My every other month trip back to my fathers’ hometown was a pleasant two and a half hour drive from Udon Thani. It is a nice drive on a four lane highway all the way. I keep forgetting to stay out of the passing lane speeding tickets are 100 baht. My father always looks forward to our trip back home. It gives him a chance to relax and talk to his 10 brothers and sisters.
My duty is to collect our share of rice, fish, vegetables and fruits as much as we can carry. It is like going to Makro. Our farm village has grown to around one thousand people so many aunts uncles and cousins that I do not know. The rice farm does not look like a farm anymore; it looks more like a housing development than a farm with so many houses everywhere.
Makes me worry in a few years this generation will be too old to farm anymore. Although something must be up in the mechanization plans there were at least a dozen trucks unloading Kobuta tractors. In a few years time I will have to start buying rice and fish at Makro like everyone else.
Now that I am back, how is our country? Have we solved the political conflict, dealt with food and energy inflation, the credit crunch. The asset bubble, bank bailouts, regulations and standards, agriculture spillover effects, competitive exports. falling dollar, speculation and hedging, education in the knowledge based economy, risk management, stress testing and contingency plans?
Just a few questions to see where to start.
Posted by Tawan , Reader : 166 , 07:29:15
My every other month trip back to my fathers’ hometown was a pleasant two and a half hour drive from Udon Thani. It is a nice drive on a four lane highway all the way. I keep forgetting to stay out of the passing lane speeding tickets are 100 baht. My father always looks forward to our trip back home. It gives him a chance to relax and talk to his 10 brothers and sisters.
My duty is to collect our share of rice, fish, vegetables and fruits as much as we can carry. It is like going to Makro. Our farm village has grown to around one thousand people so many aunts uncles and cousins that I do not know. The rice farm does not look like a farm anymore; it looks more like a housing development than a farm with so many houses everywhere.
Makes me worry in a few years this generation will be too old to farm anymore. Although something must be up in the mechanization plans there were at least a dozen trucks unloading Kobuta tractors. In a few years time I will have to start buying rice and fish at Makro like everyone else.
Now that I am back, how is our country? Have we solved the political conflict, dealt with food and energy inflation, the credit crunch. The asset bubble, bank bailouts, regulations and standards, agriculture spillover effects, competitive exports. falling dollar, speculation and hedging, education in the knowledge based economy, risk management, stress testing and contingency plans?
Just a few questions to see where to start.
Godzilla & Subway
Godzilla & Subway
Posted by Tawan , Reader : 186 , 15:38:04
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My favorite mascot Godzilla. Another good one download from youtube.
Posted by Tawan , Reader : 186 , 15:38:04
My favorite mascot Godzilla. Another good one download from youtube.
Definition of the Farm Crisis
Definition of the Farm Crisis
Posted by Tawan , Reader : 159 , 11:23:22
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THE FARM CRISIS
Before discussing National Food Policy, we must first look at the history of agricultural crisis which seems to reoccur every 10 years and before deciding on the cause of the current crisis which has been suggested by the United Nations and the World Bank as a production problem or is it a distribution problem as suggested by the Asian Development Bank.
We begin by the definition of what is a farmer using the works of William D. Hefferman, PhD, Department of Rural Sociology University of Missouri and Mary K. Hendrickson,, PhD. The study uses current agreed upon definitions and trends from the 1960’s to 2004.
Webster’s Dictionary defines a farm as _a piece of land (house, barns, etc.) on which crops and
animals are raised._ This definition puts the emphasis on land, but the inclusion of house and barn implies particular type of farming system a dispersed farming system.
•A dispersed farming system is used in the United States.
•A village farming system is used in Thailand.
•An industrialize farm is used in globalization starting in the 1970’s with de-emphasis on house and barn and emphasis on managing and operations but does not provide labor or capital major managerial decisions are made in the vertically and horizontally integrated cluster food system.
•Key note small farms are now classified as hobby farms, retirement farms and part-time farms and not included in the USDA farm system. These farms have no access to marketing data or no marketing contacts beyond their local market. Studies in Parishes in Louisiana State indicate without access to markets poverty is passed on from generation to generation family and cultural ties to the land reinforces the cycle.
•The dictionary further describes a farmer as one that operates and manages a farm. In the industrialized model the farmer does neither therefore a farm does not need a farmer.
•Large grain farmers receive government subsidies, middle grain producers receive none small grain producers supplement income with non-farm jobs.
•Economist sees the trends as inevitable with only government tweaks needed since the market forces are so strong they cannot be changed as the world’s top 100 economies are designed and centrally planned to produce for the advanced markets that can afford an inconvenience as price increases are not life threatening NGO’s are in charge of food handouts to keep the population alive while waiting for investment funds to cultivate the land.
•Sociologists sees the trends as manmade and thus can be changed reason being the economic system is a social institution and its structure is a social design. The success of privatized central planning takes over markets and democracy.
Implementation of policy requires further discussion of the current food clustering industries in the global food chain and current local market developments that each country faces.
Posted by Tawan , Reader : 159 , 11:23:22
THE FARM CRISIS
Before discussing National Food Policy, we must first look at the history of agricultural crisis which seems to reoccur every 10 years and before deciding on the cause of the current crisis which has been suggested by the United Nations and the World Bank as a production problem or is it a distribution problem as suggested by the Asian Development Bank.
We begin by the definition of what is a farmer using the works of William D. Hefferman, PhD, Department of Rural Sociology University of Missouri and Mary K. Hendrickson,, PhD. The study uses current agreed upon definitions and trends from the 1960’s to 2004.
Webster’s Dictionary defines a farm as _a piece of land (house, barns, etc.) on which crops and
animals are raised._ This definition puts the emphasis on land, but the inclusion of house and barn implies particular type of farming system a dispersed farming system.
•A dispersed farming system is used in the United States.
•A village farming system is used in Thailand.
•An industrialize farm is used in globalization starting in the 1970’s with de-emphasis on house and barn and emphasis on managing and operations but does not provide labor or capital major managerial decisions are made in the vertically and horizontally integrated cluster food system.
•Key note small farms are now classified as hobby farms, retirement farms and part-time farms and not included in the USDA farm system. These farms have no access to marketing data or no marketing contacts beyond their local market. Studies in Parishes in Louisiana State indicate without access to markets poverty is passed on from generation to generation family and cultural ties to the land reinforces the cycle.
•The dictionary further describes a farmer as one that operates and manages a farm. In the industrialized model the farmer does neither therefore a farm does not need a farmer.
•Large grain farmers receive government subsidies, middle grain producers receive none small grain producers supplement income with non-farm jobs.
•Economist sees the trends as inevitable with only government tweaks needed since the market forces are so strong they cannot be changed as the world’s top 100 economies are designed and centrally planned to produce for the advanced markets that can afford an inconvenience as price increases are not life threatening NGO’s are in charge of food handouts to keep the population alive while waiting for investment funds to cultivate the land.
•Sociologists sees the trends as manmade and thus can be changed reason being the economic system is a social institution and its structure is a social design. The success of privatized central planning takes over markets and democracy.
Implementation of policy requires further discussion of the current food clustering industries in the global food chain and current local market developments that each country faces.
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