[!!Aaroncheg]

"Even when the father is an alcoholic who beats his kids and the mother is an addicted irresponsible gambler - the Thais still prefer to turn a blind eye, and that is everyone and not just the police. Even the teachers can't be bothered to call up the authorities in charge after a grade 5 kid has been illegally taken out of school by a parent. I think this is one of the negative things about Thais."


I suspected that's the way it is.... and it surely needs a change in the way of thinking. maybe that change needs to be forced. well I know the police is not very effective..... but maybe a law could help. the situation was pretty much the same back home regarding abused children etc, but then a law was drawn up overnight obliging teachers to report any suspected cases of crime, abuse, whatever suspicious to the authorities (there are child protection officials who are not connected to the police in any way, they are more like a kind of social service), and despite the fact that the police is still not very effective at all, they do take crimes against children very seriously. teachers (and also doctors, social workers and some other community workers) are also held responsible if they fail to report something suspicious. I know Thais really hate to interfere with others' business, but an attempt should be made and some things need to be changed if Thailand wants to develop further.


as for beggars..... if I see a woman with a small child, and I have some food with me, an orange or some snacks, I give that to the child. I feel sorry for all who have to make a living like this, but I don't want to sponsor gangs. but it's hard to tell who is who. a good way to deal with my bad conscience is to sign up for a "sponsor a child" program and then I have a better chance of making sure where my money goes. I have recently found the website of an orphanage here in Chiang Mai and it looks like a good place to support, I mean, it's not some kind of huge organisation that takes your donations and finances the running costs of its offices and plane tickets for an international staff using the money etc. I'm planning on visiting and maybe I'll end up volunteering, who knows.