Naewna on April 13, 2019

Thai Songkran Festival: A Global Event

Please beware of safety and morality.

When I was young, Songkran Festival was not organized in wider area of Thailand.

There was none in Bangkok. Those who wanted to enjoy it had to go to the North. Now, Songkran Festival is a global event.

I well remember that, more than 50 years ago, my father went to study visit in Chiang Mai so I could enjoy Songkran Festival. It was a tradition which was full of mutual respect. It is not capitalistic Songkran Festival relying on the number of tourists. The teenagers lack understanding in good culture. Several times, they violate morality and inappropriately dress. We cannot stop the world turning around. Now, the world changes very fast. Xi Jinping says that changes have 3 dimensions: fast, uncertain and unpredictable dimensions.

When I write my weekly article, I must think carefully. Now, Thai and global societies focus on technology. Everyone can become media. Each of them is good and bad. Then, there was “WE the Media” Book.  It means that everyone has freedom of expression. I write an article once a week. I also have a Radio Program on FM 96.5 MHz on 6.00 a.m. every Sunday.

This week, besides Songkran Festival and safety, I would like to emphasize on the Value Diversity concept. This may be a new concept but reality and relevance. If we do not do it well, we still face risks. The Yellow and Red mobs conflicts greatly have improved from the past. Many Thammasat University friends and some of them who have passed away said that there would be more Red mob supporters all over Thailand. I strongly disagreed with them that it would not happen. Thai society does not have as serious conflicts as we thought. This phenomenon is called “Manufacture”. The political groups made it up to gain more votes.

Some famous advisors used to be in the forest. I know nearly all of them. They know how to propagate to attract a lot of supporters. Before they have social media, these groups of people own community radio stations in the Red Mob villages. Thais have been very tolerating these bad politicians. Now, their roles start fading.

It is still lucky that the class conflict has not yet happened. The leaders who won the election did not really love the country. They loved only money so they had policy corruption which was never found somewhere else. They did it systematically. Only the rice mortgage led to nearly 500-600 Billion Baht loss. This lessened trust in these groups of people.       They involved civil servants and independent organizations as their networks. Now, all of these do not happen anymore.

This time, Value Diversity in politics greatly improves more than 80%. The parties which could not go for the election campaigns in the North East can now go everywhere. This phenomenon reflects that the society accepts more diversity.

There is a Value Diversity case study which I think as a reality and advise to my EGAT students. I have been continuously working on leader and community projects for more than 15 years. The targets were on the senior level only. These people will become the deputy governor or governor of EGAT within the next 10 years. Then, they will be retried soon. They cannot finally generate impacts on people in EGAT. They have not shared community understanding to the new generation people of EGAT. Their works lack continuity.

EGAT greatly contributes to the country. The world has changed. Communities’ roles and global warming issues are involved. Now, Thailand has more forest fire. PM 2.5 dust situation gets worse. Good environment and energy security must coexist.

I succeed in self-adjustment or mindset development for the maximum number of 100 people. Several leaders say that the young EGAT staffs should be taken to study visit on King Philosophy or EGAT’s Chivavithee Projects at several dams. They want all EGAT people to have shared vision. All groups and all levels must have the same understanding. This creates Value Diversity in EGAT. This should be concretely done. However, it has not yet happened because the trainings have been organized for particular positions.

Organizational culture has not yet permitted this. They have not yet met the criteria. They are too young. In fact, the world has changed. The new generation of people can be important forces. They should also get an opportunity to learn about EGAT’s works with communities.

In the morning, I exercise by walking. Sometimes, I talk to motorcycle taxi riders and get a lot of knowledge. Several people have interesting points for me to talk about reality. This is Value Diversity. It links every group to cooperate in problem solving. Top leaders must also listen to the grass-root people.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is arranged to meet only his supporters. He lacks opportunities to see the reality or 2R’s: Reality and Relevance. He has not solved the real problems. He is always surrounded by only his supporters. I often see he joins the small meeting with several senior government officials. A weakness is that he lacks opportunities to listen to the problems from diversity of people.

Bureaucracy is command and control. They think without listening to people. This is called “Top-Down” approach. I cite this example to promote Value Diversity. There should be more idea diversity.

I am going to develop leaders of all levels and age groups of Phuket Rajabhat University for 9 days. I will promote idea exchange in all levels.

The final point is Songkran Festival and safety.

First, think about safety. It is important thing to be aware of. We should change mindset that it must not happen. We must be always well-prepared for safety.

Second, drunken people do not drive.

Finally, the worst is drowsy driving. It is better to stop to take a nap.  Otherwise, drowsy drivers will not survive.

It is regretful for human capital to die young every year. People from 20-30 years of age have to be injured or killed. Even though Thailand has the small number of working age people, it has lost a lot of smart people of this age group during this accident. The loss will be hundred billion Baht.

The government should not care for the festival safety only. There should be the daily figures about dead toll or injury people from road accidents. There should be daily report. Every year, there are a lot of accidents. Thailand must lessen road accidents.

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Prof. Dr. Chira Hongladarom

Source: Learning from Reality Column. Naewna.Saturday 13 April 2019, p.5