I mostly write about my research on civil society organizations.
During a conversation over a cup of coffee, a friend who works in a local reputable commercial bank made a mid-sip interjection that caught me off guard: ‘Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) fabricate their reports to make money.’ The statements that ensued from this initial comment highlighted his deep-rooted skepticism of NGO work. Given his limited encounters …
Following the fatal accident in Chiang Mai that killed three cyclists and injured two others, demands for stiffer punishments have escalated, especially given the likely influence of alcohol. One idea is bicycle licenses, a proposal which led to a group of bicyclists meeting Assistant Police Chief Prawut Thawornsiri on May 15 to submit objections. Licensing …
The catastrophic earthquake of 7.9 magnitude and the powerful aftershocks that hit Nepal last Saturday and Sunday took the lives of more than 6,000 people — and the death toll continues to rise. The devastation that affected a quarter of the Himalayan nation’s population has caused unprecedented loss of life, physical property and heritage sites. …
The recent 7.3-magnitude aftershock which followed the earlier 7.8-magnitude earthquake that devastated Nepal has again drawn global attention. The death toll has already surpassed 8,100. Still, it is hard to imagine the scale of devastation had the earthquakes occurred 15 years ago. Several thousand more people would have died, and much of the world would …