The Chiang Mai burning season & the Bangkok smokey season, 2024 | Judge makes air quality order.

[@RetiredGlobalLife]

🔴 I hope you will subscribe and ring the notification bell. 😊: www.youtube.com/@RetiredGlobalLife?sub_confirmation=1 And if you are American, join my movement to get Medicare internationally: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJzJe4upZsSjh6s

[@jenniferkopp2923]

Did a great job explaining everything I’m forwarding this video to my son Justin, who lives in Thailand. Thank you so much I’m sure I’ll be delighted to watch your video.

[@RetiredGlobalLife]

Thanks, Jennifer. Glad to hear you have a son there so you have a waiting guide. (:

[@jeffandlucywilliams5082]

As a Chiang Mai resident, I have been hospitalized by bad reaction to the smoke. Many others have as well. The smoke season has been so bad, it is estimated that 4000 to 6000 people die a year to various smoke related illness. The government has said for years they would do something about it, but every year nothing happens, so we have to leave and head south for 2-3 months (Feb./March to May) every year. Also, the slash and burn often happens due to locals wanting to stimulate the growth of a certain mushroom in the forest. Outlaw the mushroom from being sold in local markets may help with that as a short term measure. The RoyalbProject could also look into other ways to cultivate the forest mushroom so the forest needs not be burned every year. This would probably be better than the 'pot' idea as the pot market is already saturated. There are other produce that would be better to substitute with. The farm machinery idea is probably the most important- they need combines and plows to turn the soil rather than burning their fields.

[@RetiredGlobalLife]

I think we all support any strategy that greatly reduces the smoke, whatever it is. Thanks for commenting and good luck with your health.

[@rebeccad8568]

Very very interesting. I have not heard anything positive on this for a long time. I keep thinking that in the future I will retire in Chiang Mai but leave for burning season every year. Please do more videos like this when the opportunity arises. It makes me feel more connected to the land of smiles while I’m not there 😊

[@RetiredGlobalLife]

Yes, a good plan. Live here but leave when we must. Hopefully the problem will lessen in time. Thanks for watching. (:

[@michaelrohland3008]

Great video. I'm so glad to see videos addressing this enormously underestimated problem. Of course, I and many others don't trust governments and big business to do the right thing. They are too insensitive and greedy for that. Instead I voted with my feet. I'm moving out of Chiang Mai as soon as my lease is up. I already have met many other expats doing the same or have already done the same. We are never coming back. And if the problem spreads to where we are moving to we will live Thailand for someplace that respects clean air. Clean Air is a right of the people and a government that doesn't protect that right is useless.

[@RetiredGlobalLife]

Thanks, Michael. Yes, the issue is huge and the government, and neighboring governments must address it. The mentality of the people here is to just survive and put up with things, rather than go to the courts and protests and the like as one would see in the west. I still love Chiang Mai but try to be gone for Feb/March/April.

[@sofiamartina8735]

Thanks for all your info. We have booked to come from 29 to 31 of Macrh this 2024. We have a 2 years olds. We are now thinking if we should cancell this trip... What would be your recomendation?

[@RetiredGlobalLife]

I can't make that call for you. All I can tell you is the air is terrible now, PM2.5 readings around 280 on the air quality index. You should google it and check out the levels. It is possible the air will clear but usually the safe bet is wait until mid-May. Or go to other parts of Thailand where the air in not affected, like the islands and many coastal areas.

[@GuyMonroeVoice]

Thank you brother! Appreciate you! Many Blessings! You are Jai Dee! 🙂

[@RetiredGlobalLife]

Very kind of you. Thanks!

[@mangostickyrice555]

Thumbs up 👍 Randy, not so sure about the growing of the cannabis though

[@RetiredGlobalLife]

Well, they are already growing it and millions of others have filed requests to be approved. What do you worry about? Even when only medicinal use is legal, I bet anyone can still get it for any excuse: headache, insomnia, etc. so just a political step away from recreational use. Of course, I come from a state, California, where it has been legal for some time and no one seems to care after the initial politicization of the issue.

[@2kkto2]

Thanks

[@RetiredGlobalLife]

My pleasure. Thanks for writing.

[@randyirvine5858]

I'm pretty sure in Australia we dig the stubble back into the soil. The waste from sugar cane is called bagasse which has other uses. I think the mechanical harvesters & ploughers could allow the farmers to stop burning but with surrounding countries involved might take some convincing. Maybe Uncle Sam could do a contra deal supplying John Deere equip for the cultivation of Mary Jane Thai stick?😊

[@RetiredGlobalLife]

Haha, crazier things have happened. If John Deere declines there is always Catapillar...

[@eu7435]

Counties are just going to not enforce burning rules to get an edge on other countries. What official with not take kickbacks to disregard burning? How will a country like Burma tell farmers what to do when the government doesn't have control over part of the country?

[@RetiredGlobalLife]

No easy answers to convince people to not harm others even for their own economic gain.

[@eu7435]

@@RetiredGlobalLife The burning areas are part of the Golden Triangle. Do former heroin producers and poppy farmers seem like folks concerned about the health of others? Sorry for sounding a bit jaded about possible political initiatives.

[@eu7435]

Your point about the area being former poppy farmers with little concern about others is also a valid point. The PPM of the area during burning season is the highest in the World. The locals have a huge gamut of health problems in addition to asthma.

[@whistler1056]

Excellent and informative video. You're right, not your typical, run-of-the-mill travel video but extremely important none the less. We must remember: someone else always lives downstream, sometimes it's us, sometimes it's a stranger, but we all deserve a healthy life! I'm afraid I don't have anything new to add to your suggestions right now but I'll keep looking.

[@RetiredGlobalLife]

Very insightful... Someone else always lives downstream. I like that. Of course, someone will now put it on a t-shirt and ruin it. (:

[@SharonThomas-re3td]

Very interesting and an extremely important topic with regard to the population, including visitors, in Thailand. Some solution must be implemented to protect the health and well being of the people in Thailand. This is also an important topic for anyone considering vacationing in Thailand - a serious health concern. In my estimation, the best solution would be to provide farming equipment to allow farmers to chop down what is left after harvesting the crops, thus preventing a serious health epidemic after the burnings.

[@RetiredGlobalLife]

Thank you Sharon. I have submitted you name as a presidential candidate in Thailand's next election.

[@KeilikoGreg]

This seems like an extremely difficult problem to address, for all the reasons you stated including that it is a regional problem and that it is driven by economics. The countervailing economic issue - loss of tourism dollars - may be the ultimate motivation to take effective action. On a personal note, what do you and Joy do during burning season? Do you relocate to another spot in Thailand, visit other countries or decamp back to San Diego for a few months? Thanks!

[@RetiredGlobalLife]

Thanks for your wise comment. I return to California usually. Joy has a full time job and can't do so. She is "escaping" for her first trip to CA early April to join me.

[@ianpatrick23]

Oh wow, I hope you all get some relief from that air pollution

[@RetiredGlobalLife]

Thanks, Ian. Not too bad so far, but who knows what 2024 will be like.

[@consulthai]

Hi Randy,good video and good of you to offer some solutions.. some of which I don't agree with..🤔 As you said it's a regional problem.. and because of that the Thai court's ruling is not going to solve it. The other countries,like Myanmar,Laos, Cambodia are much poorer and unlikely to change their customs . Currently the problem is focussed on the central region and Bangkok where the pollution is added to from Cambodia . How much is added to is also depending on wind directions . But since you and I are in Chiang mai and the Court sat in Chiang mai,lets focus on this region . The problem in Chiang Mai isn't just the slash and burn but its geographical location . It lies in a valley surrounded by mountains in a horsehoe shape which traps the pollution . So it sits there and depending on winds or lack of them , remains . It coincides with lack of rainfalls which would be helpful to cleanse this dust. So if you can't stop slash and burn outside your borders we're talking about mitigation . Two ways I'm thinking of, one is cloud seeding which at times was used by the government in past times and maybe wind farms to move air direction dissipating the volume of PM2.5 They could be placed in strategic locations to blow this stuff out from the valley. At the same time these wind farms could generate electricity .. Think of giant concentration of fans.. The other thing you mentioned, substitution crop of marijuana. This idea I'm opposed to on grounds of this weed which ,while supposedly used for medicinal purposes, would be open to abuse for recreational purposes as growers would supply it on the black market . Ofher crop substitutions without this risk would be better offered . The pollution in Chiang Mai is somewhat similar to Los Angeles due to geography. American environmental experts could be consulted on how to mitigate this problem . Generally speaking pollution in SEAsia ,the Far East and the Sub Continent is a huge problem and the disposal of rubbish by burning is widespread too . It's a multifaceted problem due to overpopulation and density . Then we enter into the greater problem of climate change , don't get me going!. I think the problem needs to be tackled by experts but your video is good to highlight the issue and what brainstorming is needed to tackle it . Well done!

[@RetiredGlobalLife]

You have a lot of insight, as always. Yes, the fact Chiang Mai is in a bowl somewhat makes it worse. I worry less about farmers selling some mj on the side than all the stuff I read is being smuggled in, in huge quantities. But the recreational use does not concern me much. I have not seen a decay in society (anymore than already exists) in those countries or states where it is legal. As you say, the real key will be how to convince surrounding countries to stop this practice. I've heard a few interesting ideas by people smarter than me so let's see. Regardless, the lack of humanity from one person to another, when one's actions cause such discomfort or even death to others, is appalling. As one subscriber wrote, we all have to be aware there are other people downstream from us, so our actions affect others.

[@consulthai]

@@RetiredGlobalLife admittedly I am biased against marijuana as I know of cases where addiction to it lead to mental illness. Plus as an advance to harder drugs . Call be opinionated. For me any mind altering substance is a no no . For instance ,there is some medical evidence on it that it can lead to schizophrenia. It maybe a minority of cases, maybe most people aren't affected but my concern for society is about the use of drugs to numb the mind for reasons of stresses we expose ourselves to . There you go, another ailment of our times, the mental health of society. But I digress , you posted about our lungs . If I was in favour of marijuana as a substitute crop for corn, sugar crane,etc.. the amount of acreage would probably depress the crop's value so much it would not replace farmers income.. I'm guessing. Furthermore, if millions took up potsmoking , would that not damage their lungs.?

[@mikelalor424]

It's a good video on an important subject for all of us living in Thailand. You have seen the burning map. The problem is less Thailand and more the surrounding countries. The government has failed the Thai people. First enforce the law in Thailand. Second negotiate with the surrounding countries to stop burning. It's pointless if those countries do not participate. Once farmers and customers realize the change is coming, they will find the best solution. It's common for customers to support suppliers with equipment loans and such. Prices will find the proper equilibrium based on the supply that will be available by enforcing the law. Let suppliers and customers work that out. Lastly, make the issue known in western countries and possibly obtain ban s of imports from burnt fields.

[@RetiredGlobalLife]

Thanks, Mike, well said. As one subscriber wrote, we all must think of the person downstream. It's basic humanity.

[@briandumont7272]

You are correct. Having the ability to till the biomass back into the soil does just as much for feetilizing as burning does, and with modern farm equipment amd methods they can grow more food on the same amount of ground. Clean air, more efficient growing. Win, win.

[@RetiredGlobalLife]

Thanks, Brian.

[@davepennington3573]

There is a very practical solution: biochar. Look into it! The crop residue can be converted into charcoal in a clean way and that charcoal acts like fertilizer, making soil more productive and sequestering carbon. The small investment in simple machines to make the biochar should be paid for with carbon taxes levied on fossil fuel.

[@RetiredGlobalLife]

Thanks, Dave. Now if we can just get you an audience with the King and the parliment and CP...

[@davedaniels4967]

I have a couple of suggestions. Like you said, get them tractors so they till the corn stocks under. That will fertilize the ground and protect the soil from blowing away. The second is to let the buffalo eat the stocks, they will also poop to fertilize the ground and till the remainder under. Farmers in America have been doing that for decades.

[@RetiredGlobalLife]

Wow, Dave... love the buffalo idea.

[@Knight8365]

Great videos with many points to consider. Another technology which may help in this situation is an Anaerobic Digester, which is fed with the waste organic material, and produces soil improver, liquid fertiliser and biogas. Indeed, pairing this with a hot compost pile and using the heat in the anaerobic digester speeds up the process. The biogas can be used as multipurpose fuel, such as for cooking, or running a vehicle. No chemical pesticides can be used in this system tho.

[@RetiredGlobalLife]

Thanks for teaching me something new.

[@jduncan48]

Excellent video EXCEPT: Rama 9 spent a great deal of time and money getting northern farmers to convert their crops from poppies to tea, coffee, corn, vegetables and fruits. He was worried about rural hunger …and getting enough food to his people. So asking them to reverse that to marijuana might take a cultural mind shift.

[@RetiredGlobalLife]

Good point, and I'm all for growing food for locals to eat. But the massive corn crops are not from people but feed for livestock, so it's really a cash crop, if that is the correct term. I'd love to see them get off their agri-biz contracts and move to other non-burn products, or have collectives organized to share equipment needed to help eliminate burning as clearing.

[@jduncan48]

@@RetiredGlobalLife they eat corn when they eat the pigs…..

[@mauimixer6040]

Hard to do much without the cooperation of Cambodia, Vietnam , Laos and all others as the winds blow the smoke up against the mountain range in the N.West, sadly.

[@RetiredGlobalLife]

For sure. But it has to start somewhere, and Thailand, as being more successful than its poor neighbors, could set an example to follow and work out some financial concessions. I'm sure it is damaging to their tourism and thus their economy, not that that should be priority one. But it is a motivator for the gov.

[@davedaniels4967]

Yes, the buffalo will eat most of the stocks. And they will eat any leftover corn and the cobs.

[@davidmeyer188]

Hua Hin not great either, yesterday 167 US AQI (41 in Beijing China.)

[@RetiredGlobalLife]

Wow, that's amazing. I don't track other cities. Thanks for letting me know. Sad to hear.

[@davidmeyer188]

@@RetiredGlobalLife I don't generally, but it showed up on the AQI app for comparison I suppose.

[@jimhaas9983]

Corn feeds cows which Thailand encourages. In America wheat farmers ban together in coops to lease combines to harvest the wheat. The farmers are the low man in the process of get the crop from farm to the store. Everyone in the process should contribute to alternatives to burning.

[@RetiredGlobalLife]

Smart words, Jim. Thanks for commenting.

[@annchurchill2638]

IF Thailand doesn't want to suffer health and economic losses it will ENFORCE this.

[@RetiredGlobalLife]

Yes, it's a big big problem. Not sure if it will change soon. Quite sad.

[@gameplayfirst-ger]

I have 10 years left until retirement. If Thailand can solve the air pollution in that time frame, I will spend my ~$1.000.000 in Thailand - first in Bangkok, later in one of the nursing homes in Chiang Mai - otherwise I chose a different country. And I guess I'm not the only one.

[@RetiredGlobalLife]

Itis a real issue here. Like most big cities, Bangkok will likely always have some pollution from cars/industry etc. I hope in Chiang Mai and all of Thailand the burning season will one day disappear but that will take time and politics. Til then CM is a great place... we just try to leave for Feb/March/April for the islands or a visit home.

[@gameplayfirst-ger]

@@RetiredGlobalLife I guess I won't be able to leave once I'm weak enough to need a nursing home, so this is not an option for me.

[@anna_m59]

You may remember that I mention it my stay in CM last year. I rented an apartment for a few months. I want to know if I can live in CM.. there are two reasons why I wouldn’t live in Thailand . 1. Air quality 2. Foreigners can’t own property more the 49% ..

[@TheBuddyShowWorldwide]

However will we live without you? 😅

[@RetiredGlobalLife]

Hi Anna, yes many of us escape for a couple months when the air turns bad and "vacation" elsewhere.

[@franek1643]

What I don't understand: Nobody in Europe is burning the crop waste, although farmers grow similar crops here and there. Straw can be used in various ways: as bedding for the livestock, as starting material for the biogas production, or even to produce biofuel .... Thai farmers should learn to value this "waste" material and try to look at it as a natural resource out of which you can generate some income.

[@RetiredGlobalLife]

Good question. I imagine the answer is availability to more equipment to clear the biomass and a system in place for disposal. Thailand and even more in the poorer countries surrounding them, simply don't have that.

[@nicolelouis8968]

Exactly, it didn't happen 10 years ago and only lasted a month or a month and a half done bby local farmers. That changed including the severity and length of time of the burning when the last Government (the military) came to power and bought up huge amounts of land. So began expansion of Corporate Agriculture, also growing many GMO crops and deals with China. They blame the surrounding countries, and local farmers but that's the lesser of the two evils since that wasn't such a problem before. It is not the local farmers to blame but the masses of Corporate Agriculture land. There have been many suggestions to deal with the massive burning that often lasts 4-5 months now, which has been ignored. I will be leaving if something isn't done, everybody suffers. Other countries manage it, why can't Thailand?! I think the Corporations don't want to invest money into dealing with it, and typical of Corps they care more about the money than people..I truly hope something is done but for the last 7 years it has been all talk.

[@RetiredGlobalLife]

Nicole, I agree with everything you said. I hope my videos help reach people to alert them of the problem.

[@nicolelouis8968]

@@RetiredGlobalLife I hope and pray so too. I really respect your bravery to address this important topic which I know is not easy as a foreigner here. It is upsetting to see and live in a great city which is slowly becoming degraded and unbearable to live under the long burning seasons and unbreathable, polluted air. Not forgetting the detriment and terrible impact on health and business to locals who are lovely people and give a lot to the reputation of Thailand. I know I can't bare another year of suffering through a burning season and am empathetic for many who can't leave. I couldn't either for many years. I'm guessing the kind way won't be effective in changing this. No one listens. I hope I am wrong.

[@jesdakosol1797]

Growing weed to replace corn is not a good idea. Beside Thai government might reverse weed become illegal. Subsidies farmer to use the machinery. And passing the cost to the consumer. Is much better idea. And should forward that idea to become real. It will increasing productivity and save time. It will save money in the long run. The neighbor countries will follow naturally.

[@RetiredGlobalLife]

Let's hope you are right!

[@dleister1]

HaHaHa you must be from northern California!

[@RetiredGlobalLife]

SoCal, close.

[@wj8066]

You are right. Very simple ? you introduce n tax and hospital insurance as Thai government for tourists and expats and you buy good agricultural mashines from my country....The Netherlands...everyone happy? IF...we end... that visa war for ordinary tourists.

[@RetiredGlobalLife]

Thanks!

[@TWCH]

People burn crops (and anything else they don't want) from the east coast of India to western Indonesia. This is an issue for, and caused by, approximately 3 billion people from several nations. Every year there is an outcry and some political headline similar to the one you are covering. And this outrage occurs in other countries as well. Then nothing happens. I hope this court ruling makes a difference. But I do not expect it will.

[@RetiredGlobalLife]

We will see. Yes, often nothing happens, but when enough headlines appear, sometimes change does occur. And if tourist dollars goes down, that is even more motivation for a government.

[@Trahloc]

The problem is you can't eat cash crops. If you promote those and your people listen, you might move from a net exporter to a net importer (33b vs 3b) along with making your country dependent on others for its base survival needs vs just luxury goods. Thailand hasn't really been conquered by a foreign power and the one time it happened they merged together by marriage. So, I can see them being reluctant to push for cash crops at the risk of being dependent on foreign aid. It could weaken their diplomatic relations.

[@RetiredGlobalLife]

Yes, I know the prior movement to grow what you can eat. But the burning has to stop. So grow food corn fine, but don't burn. And we will all be happy (:

[@Nah_Bohdi]

Foreign owned Thai companies can own land and a shack just sold for $500,000. Its been sold, you should travel more. A lot of things have in the last 15 years.

[@Trahloc]

@@Nah_Bohdi I think you might have intended to respond to someone else. I was talking about cash crops vs food crops and diplomatic relations if you become too dependent on foreign imports to feed your population.

[@STAXBITCOIN]

Leave it alone before they poison your food like in the US.

[@RetiredGlobalLife]

Hmm... I'm afraid to ask...

[@samhavoc1066]

Idiotic. How is requiring farmers to reduce this hazard going to cause toxins in food? U.S. farms don't mass burn their biomass left over from harvest; they plow it under and mix it back into the soil. Burning is the lazy, cheap, and ignorant way to do it. Tired of finger pointing at the U.S. for stupidity in other countries.

[@chinesecrested9528]

Large fans.... asking border countries to stop burning "biomass" is useless. Massive ecological impact will also occur when china starts change the flow of rivers into vietnam, cambodia and Thailand

[@RetiredGlobalLife]

Ah well... we can't just give up. Actually one of the biggest agri-biz companies just did a deal with China about feed, so maybe that will relieve Thailand, but hurt China. I am ignorant about the flow of rivers you mentioned, sorry.

[@chinesecrested9528]

Going to Thailand in February for 30 days to set up shop, maybe see you round

[@chinesecrested9528]

@RetiredGlobalLife I appreciate your succinct videos and the information you provide. You mentioned that practiced law, I practiced engineering. Brevity is meaningful.