Thread: Chiang Mai Residents Start Facebook Page to Report Burning

I found Bangers to be not bad at all these days, compared to the late 1980s / early 90s....far better since the Skytrain and subway were built.

Apart from the ignorant woman down the road who burnt plastic bags, my stay there was alright..

Originally Posted by VocalNeal

What I agree about is that it has been happening for generations. I'm not saying it is right or wrong and I am not bitching about it. Just a fact of life.

It is a fact of life? It's a man made phenomenon.

When the recommend pm10 rate is 50 and Chiang Mai averages 120, that's bad enough.

But burning season pushes it over 200.

Now, this is the third time I've asked: Do you agree that it is a serious public health issue?

Originally Posted by Kockupocket

You work with Thai food processors disposing of organic waste? Which company/companies do you work for? Do you find your lack of Thai skills a hindrance in this work?

Rice husk compost is the main, followed by corn cob mulch.

Who the companies are is for me to know.

My lack of Thai skills is no problem, as the Thai I deal with have good English language skills, as does my partner, and my smattering of Thai's enough to get by on.

I also rely a lot on my drawing skills to convey ideas, far more effective than words.

CHIANG MAI: -- A CHIANG Mai University heart specialist has raised concern over rising heart attack cases amid the recent surge in serious air pollution in the North.

Dr Rungsrit Kanjanavanit, a cardiologist at Chiang Mai University's Maharaj Hospital, said the number of patients suffering acute myocardial infarction dramatically increases at this time of the year - notorious for farm burn-offs and thick smog across the North.

The amount of tiny-particle dust now exceeds safe levels in Lamphun, Chiang Mai and Lampang provinces, while flights in Mae Hong Son were cancelled due to poor visibility.

"From my observation at this hospital, heart attack cases have risen from three to four a month to three to four a day. This phenomenon that happens every dry season and has been continuing for more than 6 years now," Rungsrit said.

Smog linked to jump in heart attacks - The Nation

The evidence is there, but the population is largely too thick to understand it.

Originally Posted by ENT

The evidence is there, but the population is largely too thick to understand it.

A two edged sword that is deeply complicated...not limited to the north.

Originally Posted by ENT

The evidence is there, but the population is largely too thick to understand it.

Yes...can you believe it ? Some people are so thick that they smoke cigarettes for 50 years !

Originally Posted by ENT

Originally Posted by Kockupocket

You work with Thai food processors disposing of organic waste? Which company/companies do you work for? Do you find your lack of Thai skills a hindrance in this work?

Rice husk compost is the main, followed by corn cob mulch.

Who the companies are is for me to know.

My lack of Thai skills is no problem, as the Thai I deal with have good English language skills, as does my partner, and my smattering of Thai's enough to get by on.

Your smattering of Thai might be lovely within your protected inner circle.....but is quite useless in the real Thai world.

Wrong.

I also teach in the "real Thai world", ...art and conversational English, and my students understand me well, and I them.

And, for your information, this imagined "inner circle" that you mention is no more than the average, successful, well educated, Thai entrepreneur.

Pollution Levels Soar to 255

CHIANG MAI - Following reports of pollution levels (PM10) reaching 161 yesterday, Chiang Mai Municipality has today released figures which are the highest recorded this year, with a pollution level of 255.



Pollution levels increased from last evening, measuring 196 at 7pm and reaching over 200 this morning.

A PM10 reading of 255 was taken at 1pm today at Sri Phum sub-district’s measuring station.

Chiang Mai Municipality told CityNews that there is a ban on burning in place until May 15, but is clearly being ignored. They also suggested that the pollution levels have increased due to the number people cooking food around the city.

However, they also acknowledged that readings can increase and decrease rapidly, depending on the amount of burning and changes to wind direction and other external factors.

NASA’s Fire Information for Resource Management System Web Fire Mapper has been shared across social media this week, clearly displaying vast amounts of burning in the South East Asian region.

You can observe near-real time burning locations across the globe or visit specific dates for backdated information by clicking here. https://firms.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/firemap/

CityNews - Pollution Levels Soar to 255 - Citylife

Yup, CM is a pea-souper today, yesterday was bad, CO and CO2 levels up, makes you drowsy, sleepy,

NO2 up, gives ya a tickly cough as does O3 levels,....all CM stuff.

Air con room, lotsa fruit, water and a touch of salt, relax.

Wear a mask outdoors, a good tight fitting one.

Wind came up right after noon and the visibility is quite good now with the levels down. With the nice wind blowing, I am sure the locals will head up into the hills to get some serious fires going tonight.

More likely than not.

Originally Posted by misskit

They also suggested that the pollution levels have increased due to the number people cooking food around the city.

Originally Posted by Little Chuchok

Originally Posted by misskit

They also suggested that the pollution levels have increased due to the number people cooking food around the city.

Thai will blame anything for the smoke, ...other than shitty pre-medieval farm and land management practices.

Originally Posted by Kaohsiung

Why does this only happen in the north?

It's not exclusive to the north - just gets most of the press.
Though, the smoking/smoggy conditions tend to be nastier with the northern mountainous valleys because of the geographical inversion that occurs naturally.

Songkran is coming up and it usually abates by then.

More forest fires break out as haze still prevails

The haze situation in Chiang Mai is still a matter for concern as new smoke plumes from forest fires have been discovered beyond the Mae Ngat Dam.
The new hotspot was detected as the Army flew in aircraft to inspect the forest fires situation in Chiang Mai today.

Maj. Gen. Suthat Jarumanee, the commander Seventh Infantry Regiment, flew in helicopter to assess the forest fires situation along the seams of the borders between Doi Saket and Phrang districts in Chiang Mai province.

Thick plumes of smoke was detected beyond the Mae Ngat Dam showing a new forest fire was ccurring again and could add seriousness to the current hazy sky over Chiang Mai.

The commander then duly mobilized firefighters to the area to put out the raging fires.

Authorities in Chiang Mai revealed that today alone, Chiang Mai province recorded no less than 25 forest fires which destroyed almost 200 rai (80 acre) of forests in 10 districts.

The haze situation also remains critical as measurements taken at the two major measuring stations showed readings of around 140 micrograms per cubic cm which still exceeds the maximum permissible amount of 120 micrograms per cubic cm.

In another development, a fire which broke out at a 5 rai (2 acre) garbage dump close to the Rom Sak housing estate located within the grounds of Chaing Mai University late last night has been put out by firefighters.

More forest fires break out as haze still prevails - Thai PBS English News

^ Glad to see they are arresting... wait.....assessing?

Never mind.

Singapore chopper joins in effort to douse forest fires in North

A Singaporean Chinook helicopter which took part in the COPE Tiger 2015 exercise in Thailand has joined the government’s effort to douse forest fires to ease haze which has blanketed several northern provinces and threatened the health of their residents.
Singapore’s help was in response to a request from Army Commander-in-Chief General Udomdej Seetabutr to combat the problem which seems to be getting worse. The army chief also ordered three more helicopters from the Third Army Region and a transport plane from the Royal Thai Air Force to help in the fire-fighting effort.

Colonel Sirichan Ngathong, deputy spokesperson of the army, said today that the problem of haze and forest fires in nine northern provinces namely Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lampang, Lamphun, Nan, Phrae, Mae Hong Son, Tak and Phayao remain serious and air quality in some of those provinces such as Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son is below standards.

She expressed hope that the additional aircraft would help ease the problem. However, she said that the fire-fighting effort should be complemented with ground operations and air surveillance to detect the fire spots, rain-making operations, the creation of fire guards and publicity campaign to educate rural inhabitants to refrain from clearing their farmland with fires or burning garbages.

Singapore chopper joins in effort to douse forest fires in North - Thai PBS English News