Chiang Mai logic

Re: “Chiang Mai installs 5 more air monitors”, ( BP, April 3).

Over the past week, lots of local logic has crossed my path while in Chiang Mai.

Firstly, I was bitten by a dog. Said the owner, a house painter: “The lady pays for it. I work here for her.” Said I: “But it is your dog, right?”

“Wonderful” local logic, like always. He also could have said: “The pedestrian over there pays for it — because he just passed by.” The main thing is, one immediately has to find another culprit. In person one is never responsible.

Second came a songthaew driver who demanded 100 baht for the trip. “There is a traffic jam,” he said. I replied: “Let’s see.” And without a moment of standstill, except in front of a traffic light, we reached the destination. I said: “No traffic jam, right?” “But sometimes there is,” he responded and hastily rushed off. My payment was like an insurance premium: If there’s a traffic jam, I’m on the safe side. If not, the money’s gone anyway.

This is all topped off by the news that Chiang Mai is now getting five more air-monitoring stations across the province. At first, it seems to be very good news, since there are obviously not enough of these stations. But will this be the end of it? Will we only end up with more precise data on the pollution front? Will the evaluators of this data only be able to tell us how well the instruments can track the deterioration of the air?

I fear, from the place of local logic, it will be like this. I do not see any concrete and urgent plan of action, which is long overdue. I read about how northerners have the lowest lifespan in the country and double the national average for lung cancer. Five new air-monitoring stations. Well, thanks to those who are involved. But now, please wake up and make sure that these stations will, as time goes by, monitor constantly improving air quality. Should that not be the ultimate goal? WR