Showing posts with label Business. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Business. Show all posts

Tuesday 3 November 2015

Feathers fly over Thailand's lucrative cockfighting pits


The cry of roosters drowns out the roar of engines beneath a Bangkok flyover as all eyes are trained on two sparring birds, a bloody, high stakes battle in a country where cockfighting is big business.

The birds do not usually fight to the death, as in many parts of the world, but they can still inflict fatal damage to their opponents in contests almost always accompanied by lucrative gambling.

For the few dozen men surrounding a technically illegal but tolerated underpass ring, cockfighting is as much a generations-old Thai tradition as it is commerce.

"Probably it's genetic as my parents like cockfighting too," a 42-year-old electrician from northeast Loei province told AFP as he cradled his battered but still-standing "Little Red" at half-time.

Like most of the working-class men priming their roosters, the pony-tailed and tattooed man -- who withheld his name -- began cockfighting in his rural birthplace before bringing the hobby to the heart of the Thai capital where he now lives.

While they risk up to two years in jail for gambling at an unregistered ring, authorities routinely turn a blind eye to such activities. Thailand is dotted with much larger, official cockfighting stadiums that draw vast, big-spending crowds.

At the Bangkok Cockpit in Samut Prakan, a province on the outskirts of the capital, a 1,000-strong throng cheers on a pair of avian fighters whose necks are locked in combat as bets furiously exchange hands.

"We don't think it's violence as it's a kind of sport," said regular punter Suwan Cheunchom, 35, after winning 500 baht on a round which ended in a tie.

His prize is on the lower end of a betting spectrum in a nation where most forms of gambling are outlawed.

A few weeks later the same stadium raked in 22.2 million baht ($618,000) for a record-breaking bet, venue manager Banjerd Janyai told AFP.

In this lucrative industry "good fighting birds" can sell for more than $85,000, he added, with Thailand exporting cocks to neighbouring countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia and buyers arriving from as far afield as France and Bahrain.

Exploiting culture
Unlike in the Philippines, where roosters can be seen fighting with blades attached to their feet, Thailand's birds usually compete with their spurs wrapped in fabric.

The cocks are judged on their fighting prowess rather than their ability to kill, with proponents like Banjerd arguing such protections mean "there are not many injuries".

"It's a way to preserve ancient Thai culture and pass it on to our children," said the 50-year-old.
Champion birds attract a cult following like "muay Thai" kickboxers, with entire magazines dedicated to the bloodsport.

But some Thais are fighting for an end to the practice in a country where the concept of animal welfare is only slowly emerging.

"It's torture, from any point of view. But the people who get involved claim that it's the nature of the animal to fight," said Roger Lohanan, founder of Thai Animal Guardians Association.
Late last year Thailand introduced its first-ever animal welfare law after years of campaigning by animal rights groups.

The legislation bans "torture and cruelty towards animals" but exempts activities deemed part of the country's traditions such as bull and cock fighting.

Roger says profit-mongers are "exploiting culture" to make money at a time when most Thais agree cockfighting is outdated.

"There are a lot of influential people behind cockfighting," he says, who benefit though the gambling as well as the industry that has risen around it from the hormones used to plump the birds to the wicker baskets they are reared in.

The official view supports cockfighting as an intrinsic part of Thai culture.
"We've had cockfighting since ancient times, for more than 700 years," said Pitsanu Prapatananun from Thailand's Interior Ministry, which encourages raising the birds in local communities as a form of "extra income".


 Back at the underground ring, men suck out blood pooled in the necks of their fowls in between bouts -- a sign, the Loei electrician says, that shows how much they all care for birds they have painstakingly raised.

"We suck out the blood from the neck so it feels refreshed and better," he said. "

The longer he can fight the stronger and more valuable he will be."


Source: Coconuts

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Thailand's internet ‘not free’ under military rule

Thailand's internet ‘not free’ under military rule, says Freedom House

Thailand's internet has received a "not free" status in rankings published yesterday by Freedom House, a US-based public organization that analyzes the state of freedom of expression around the world.
The military's acts of summoning people for interrogation and the draft of a single gateway means Thailand’s score of 63 is in the same range as Myanmar (63) and Russia (62).

The score is based on a set of methodology questions developed in consultation with international experts to capture the vast array of relevant issues that enable internet freedom such as banning access to particular websites and communication apps.



The report said more Thai internet users were harassed and arrested during the coverage period than ever before in the wake of 2014 coup as the junta issued orders forbidding traditional media broadcasts, censored online news, and arrested or monitored hundreds of critics. Many of these actions were justified as part of the "returning happiness to Thai people" campaign.

After the coup, internet penetration by the government is up to 29 percent in 2014 from 26 percent in 2013. Mobile penetration rose from 140 to 144 percent in the same period, the report cited.

Globally, China is ranked last with a score of 88. More countries started censoring information of public interest and placing greater demands on the private sector to take down offending content this year.

Source: Coconuts

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Friday 30 October 2015

What they talking about ?


What means "Pro"
NO more than a attack on your wallet.

When you have or make good content (not copy) you are on the good way.
The most SEO agents help for a short time, but this you can do by your self.
Not pay any expensive SEO agents or Pro programs.

Some people blame me to post only birds and bees.
But what is their "Rating" the also has a 100% facebook score ?
The powers is to make a mix with Business and fun.
http://www.empire.kred/go4quality


Facebook is the best way to connect your customers.
Use groups & Pages.

Google+ is on the moment bullshit, you become only a few likes (+1)
Google is usefull to make connections with Friendplus.me

Twitter is a good connecting tool.
But you must also pay when you are on the limit of 2000 followers.

LinkedIn is good for business, you can connect to the right people.

Pinterest is also a useful program, but you need the time for make a description, and not forget your weblink.  

When you need free advice, send me a message.
Quality Consulting
 

Friday 23 October 2015

South Thailand worst haze


Health of locals threatened as particulate matter far exceeds safe level; Flight to Trang and Krabi hit ; Indonesia apologetic.

 THE WORST haze crisis in 17 years hit Songkhla’s Hat Yai district hard yesterday, with the amount of PM10 particles far exceeding the safe level.

As of yesterday, the amount of particulate matter (PM) of up to 10 microns in size (PM10) reached 369.0 micrograms per cubic metre of air in Hat Yai, the economic hub of Thailand's South.

People are considered safe only when the PM10 does not rise above 120 micrograms.

In 1998, the PM10 in Songkhla skyrocketed to 459.5 micrograms per cubic metre of air. Locals had hoped that such a seriously hazy situation would never recur.


But yesterday, although the PM10 did not yet beat the previous record, air pollutants were clearly visible in Hat Yai, even to the naked eye. The problem is widely blamed on Indonesia's forest fires.

Officials in Songkhla province were busy handing out facial masks to help locals cope with the health impacts.

Government Spokesman Maj-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha had already instructed family-medicine teams to visit affected people.

"People need to get proper healthcare," he said, "They also need to get advice. For example, they should avoid staying outdoors with the haze raging on. If they develop tightness in the chest or have difficulty breathing, they should immediately seek medical help".

According to Sansern, the prime minister is very concerned about the haze, which has blanketed Thailand's South. All relevant authorities are now ordered to closely monitor the situation and extend help to people.

"Local administrative bodies, on their part, can help ease the pollution by spraying water in the air," the government spokesman said.


Sansern said the government has already contacted Indonesia about the haze, and Indonesia said it was sorry about the pollution caused.

Yesterday, haze was also a major problem in at least five other southern provinces: Satun struggled with a PM10 of 276 micrograms; Pattani with PM10 211 micrograms; Surat Thani with PM10 of 187 micrograms; Yala with PM10 of 172 micrograms; and Narathiwat with PM10 of 123 micrograms.

As haze significantly reduced visibility, flight services to and from Thailand's South have been affected.

Executives of schools in Songkhla are now allowed to decide whether temporary closure is necessary should the PM10 rise above 350 micrograms.

So far, Songkhla has not been declared a disaster-hit zone as authorities are worried that such a declaration may affect local tourism.

Halem J Marigan, director of the Regional Environmental Office 16 (Songkhla), yesterday evening said there were signs of improvement.


"The average PM10 amount during the past 24 hours has finally reduced. It dropped from 369 to 365 micrograms per cubic metre of air if we concluded the measurement at 4pm Thursday," he said.

He believed stronger winds had benefited Thailand, as the haze was pushed away faster.

In Surat Thani, several flights to Samui Airport were delayed yesterday because of the haze.

"Many flights could not land in the morning. They had to wait until the afternoon," said Surat Thani Governor Wongsiri Promchana.

He said he had also advised locals to turn on the headlights of their vehicles when driving in hazy areas.

Wongsiri said all tourist attractions were still open as normal as of now.

Flight services in the southern provinces of Trang and Krabi are also affected.

In Trang, locals yesterday urged relevant authorities to help tackle the haze problem that had recurred every now and then.

"It has affected us adversely. I feel uncomfortable because the haze has made it hard for me to breathe," Areerat Boonprasert, 52, said. 

Source: The Nation

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