Government officials in Thailand confirm the government banned numerous web sites in 2008
A government official in Bangkok confirmed the Thai government has banned access to more than 2,300 web sites throughout 2008, citing multiple reasons why internet users can't view them.
Most of the web sites banned allegedly offend the Thai monarchy, with web sites hosting pornographic content and national security threats also recently banned. Most of the banned web sites -- around 90 percent -- were registered overseas, and weren't based in Thailand.
Insulting the monarchy in Thailand, described as "lese majeste," has a prison sentence up to 15 years according to Thai officials. The penalty is especially important now as the country undergoes political tensions as Thais supporting ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra continue to seek general elections in the nation.
The list of banned web sites in Thailand has been leaked online, with content including YouTube videos, cartoons, blogs and articles published online.
Several nations are notorious for blocking Internet access to certain web sites, which usually involve politics or defamation of a country's president or leader. The Communist-led Chinese government is best known for blocking access to web sites deemed inappropriate for citizens.
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Everyone must chip in A nicer approach to dealing with economic turmoil Souce : Bangkokpost.com By: By SRIWIPA SIRIPUNYAWIT Published: 11/12/2008 at 12:00 AM Ref URL : http://www.bangkokpost.com/life/financialadvice/7804/everyone-must-chip-in Somsak, a 42-year-old foreman, feels lost after hearing about his company's decision to lay off a few staff members. His name is on the list. At his age, he wonders: What could he possibly do? Will he ever get employed again? And, most importantly, when? With two sons at home, this is definitely one of the hardest times in his life. Twenty-eight-year-old Pinmanee is making a decision whether to stick with her company, which is having financial trouble, look for a new job or pursue a higher education. Her salary was recently reduced and definitely she can kiss her bonus goodbye. Lay-offs. Paycuts. No bonuses. A hire freeze. Over the past few months, thee have been regular news items due to the global economic crisis. Well, for Thailand, as if this isn't bad enough, the country has still encountered a severe political crisis that has become one of the biggest challenges the country has to get through. All these negativities have driven the country into a deeper economic disaster, which has forced many firms out of businesses and many job cuts. Though laying off and cutting pay is a common solution for many companies to deal with the downturns, unfortunate employees may be wondering if it is the only way out. Perhaps, there might also be other options that create win-win situation while at the same time boost the spirits of employees and promote sense of loyalty in the firms. According to Arinya Talerngsri, managing director at a consulting firm APM Group, laying-off should be a very last option the companies will implement. For past several months, she has attended meetings with client companies who are ready to lay-off staff as a first step in handling the crisis. However, she says, there are always other options. To boost the companies' morale and promote loyalty in employees, it's necessary that both top management/executives and their employees discuss about possible solutions together. It's time to create "synergy" and two-ways communication within the firms. She says before deciding to save the companies' costs by any means, the top management/executives need first to sacrifice. Initially, one way is to offer to cut back their own salaries and benefit packages during the times of crisis. However, the companies can always offer to pay back the amount anytime when the businesses start to recover. For instance, if the top management gets paid for 500,000 baht a month, offering to cut back half of it can mean a lot of save-up for the company. "It's quite useless cutting pay of the employees who already earn not much a month. Normally a one-month salary of a top management can even pay up 30 to 40 [lower level] employees' salaries or more," she notes, adding that she suggested a company about this option and it turned out that it could lower expenses by more than 50 per cent. Other luxurious benefit packages of the top management, if possible, should also be sacrificed. For instance, expensive golf club or gym membership, too generous petrol or transport allowance and other unnecessary entertainment allowances. "Usually there are allowances that considered unnecessary and management don't really use them. So why not save them?... There are firms that cut all benefits of [general] employees while those of top management remain unchanged," she explains. When the initial step of cutting back management's luxurious packages and benefit is done, then the firms can consider cost cutting in other areas including general operation and employees' benefits. Also, this must be done after the discussion of both parties. Generally the cut back should not, and must not, affect the work and working life of the employees, she emphasises. For instance, cutting back gas or mobile phone allowances of salespersons is considered unwise as it will definitely affect their work, which will end up ruining the productivity. These expenses are considered vital for their daily operations. Sometimes, the firms even have to consider changing the way of working to save costs, she suggests. For example, if the companies intend to save electricity and water bills and gas allowances, they may want to offer the employees to work from their homes. Moreover, it's time to review companies' performances and investments. "There are times that the firms have carried on the projects that aren't able to generate revenues yet tend to dry up their financial resources year after year. Perhaps it's time to consider to stop wasting money, which is now a very limited resource, on it and move on," she notes strongly. Ian Till, a country manager of Hewitt Associates (Thailand), has also witnessed the cost saving schemes implemented by many companies. Some decrease their travel budgets particularly for those regional companies where corporate travel and associated hotels are a big expense. Increasingly the companies are looking to use audio and video conferencing as an alternative to physical meetings. Traditionally training and development costs are also one of the first areas to be targetted with companies brining more training in house instead of engaging external vendors and decreasing the frequency of training. Besides, the firms may also adopt contract workers to increase flexibility and reduce costs. During this time of crisis, Till says it is always good to see desired behaviours being modelled by senior management - it shows that they are sincere and care about the workers. When they are not, the company quickly loses its brand in the market and may even become the object of derision. "There are different ways to demonstrate this during a downturn with the most obvious being taking a salary freeze, foregoing bonuses or taking a voluntary pay cut. We see these actions happening in some companies at this moment where CEOs are taking token $1 [30 baht] salaries and foregoing their bonuses and the press is lauding them. However, we also have seen situations where CEOs fly their private jets to Washington to ask for multi-billon dollar bailouts from the Government. Such actions show a fundamental lack of sincerity, a detachment from the reality of the situation and tend to creat animosity between management and employees," Till says. On top of that, it's important to communicate. In situations where an organisation is having to make tough decisions and retrench people, it's critical that the management communicate as openly and honestly as they can about the situation to their employees. Failure to do so results in internal rumour mungouring. An example of a proactive approach, he continues, to dealing bad news was a hotel that was going through tough times a few years ago. This hotel openly shared the situation with the employees, even to the extent of opening their financial books to all employees. They then posted daily room occupation rates and room rate statistics so all employees were aware of how the hotel was doing. Employees were asked for suggestions on how to save costs - many of which were implemented. "When job cuts were required, all employees were aware of the efforts that management take to try and avoid the situation. While sad to leave, they left feeling they had been well cared for. Once the economy improved, these were the first people to be re-hired back," he explains.
Life cycle investmentYour risk appetite usually changes with time
--Source :Bangkokpost.com By: SUTHEE LUANGARAMKUL Published: 18/12/2008 at 12:00 AM Ref URL : http://www.bangkokpost.com/life/financialadvice/8305/life-cycle-investment When you start planning your investments, you should develop a policy statement before making a long term investment decision. Generally, the financial plan should be designed to meet an investor's age, financial status, future plans and needs. Some investors have sized short term expenses such as tuition fees, housing installments or car loan, thus their savings should be invested in short term vehicles. Some investors plan to invest for life after retirement, then the suitable investment should be long term, rather than short term. An individuals' investment strategy will change over their lifetime and one's need and risk appetite usually change when time changes. Although each person has different needs and preferences, there are some common characteristics along one's life cycle which can be classified and developed as optimal investment strategies for life cycle. Four life cycles phases - Accumulation phase: This is the period career starting. It implies the period of accumulating wealth and assets to meet immediate needs such as purchasing a house, car and long term goals such as a child's education and retirement. Generally, their wealth is relatively small but usually may have huge obligations. As people in this phase of life generally have a longer investment period and longer income generating ability, the appropriate investment style is to invest in moderate to high risk investment like stocks and real estate in order to gain above-average returns over time. - Consolidation phase: It is normally during the middle of a working career. Financial characteristics are to pay off much of their debts and to gain extra income. Since this phase still possesses enough time before retirement, moderate risk investment is recommended. However, at this stage, investors would like to have a certain level of security in investment and are concerned about the level of risk. Investors may apply the investment diversification concept to lessen risk exposure. Don't put all of your eggs in a basket. - Spending phase: It starts at retirement, when none or little income is earned. Living expenses are met with an income from prior investments or/and pension funds. As their money-making years have ended, investors seek greater protection in their capital, with no loss or risk exposure. The major threat for investment at this phase is real value of money, which can be lost from rising inflation. Suggested investment scheme for spending phase is less risky asset but some portion of portfolio should invest in moderate risk assets to protect themselves from inflation. - Gift phase: The gift phase is similar to the spending phase. People in the phase have sufficient income and assets to cover their living expenses. They also have a financial cushion for unexpected needs. Thus, excess assets could be used for charity and providing financial assistance to family and friends.
Money can't buy happiness
This is what Danai Chanchaochai believes and has changed his life to make happiness his number one goal Source :.bangkokpost.com In the hall there is pin-drop silence. This scenario is almost impossible to find in the heart of Bangkok, at 5:30pm on a weekday. But, people still dressed in office attire, start to gather here to listen to the words of Phra Acharn Mitsuo Gavesako echoing from a stereo. Danai Chanchaochai, 42, chief executive officer of DC Consultants. There is a strange calm and peace that fills Bodhgaya Hall, which welcomes people from all walks of life Tuesday and Wednesday. It usually provides 170 seats for anyone wishing to take "off" after work to seek peace in their hearts through meditation and Buddhist teachings. "However, there was time when as many 800 people joined the session and our neighbouring office had to keep their door open so the people got more space to sit and meditate," says Danai Chanchaochai, 42, chief executive officer of DC Consultants, a strict follower of Buddhist teachings. This space on the 22nd floor of Amarin Tower, Chidlom, must be complete misuse of "office space", as there are no monetary gain from it. Danai thinks otherwise. Besides the spacious meditation hall, his office space is shared by a cosy bookshop that houses mostly books from his publishing house, DMG Books. While half of all the published books are for sale, the other half are for free distribution. And the income from selling books will also be donated. The first thing all his office staff do every morning isn't clocking in their ID cards, but request for precepts. Besides spending time coaching his staff at work, Danai spends time spreading the word of Buddha among students and office workers nationwide. Each year, he preaches at over 1,000 organisations. This may sound odd to many. Yet, to Danai, this is what he hopes for, a life that he is able to design for himself. Danai realised that money was so important, a long time ago. Yet, today he prefers to believe it's just a "life facilitator" that assists ones to live comfortably. And that should be all. "Money shouldn't be more important than other things in life ... honestly, I've hardly seen any billionaires finding true happiness in their lives." Certainly he doesn't want it to sound like a cliche, but the day he realised that being happy held topmost priority, his life changed. The day that changed his life came when he was a freshman at Assumption University. Being born rich, it was easy for him to have everything to keep up his luxurious lifestyle in university, including a beautiful house and a fancy car. However, things changed when his family's business went bankrupt leaving him with no income. Everything he owned was either sold or pawned. "It was quite an experience going to a pawnshop. One day, I remember leaving even a pen with a pawnbroker in exchange for some money," he reminisces, laughing. Things were tough yet life went on, including the payment for tuition fees. Young Danai decided to pay a visit to his old friend - a billionaire who had everything he hadn't at the time. "I still remember that day very clearly. When I entered his room, I found him sitting on his chair, looking so sad and worrying so much about not getting his money back from a friend who had owed him. "This suddenly hit me hard. This guy had billions in his pocket yet was so unhappy. So money can't really make one happy. Perhaps, the more you have, the less happy you are likely to be," he explains. His life's goal changed then - from making a lot of money to seeking true happiness in life. He decided to fund his own education by switching from a day to an evening programme and started working full-time. Eventually, he made his own way. People are too obsessed with money, he cites. "We create our own conditions in life - which is to have a lot of money. And when we become too obsessive with something, we tend to be unhappy as we'll want it more and more and become unhappy if we lose it - never ending need. So, money ends up using us, not we using it." His whole opinion doesn't go against people making money or suggest anyone to leave their palaces and live on a street or take a refuge and become monks. Yet, he says ones just shouldn't hold on to material things too tightly. He himself has spent, saved and invested. A house, a condo, land, a life insurance and some mutual funds, he reveals. And the rest of money usually goes to donations. He believes in diversification. Clinging on to just one asset may be too risky. Wise risk management should be implemented. "I don't put my money in stock market, it's too risky. And I don't believe in 'high risk, high return' - that only means greed." Currently many people are suffering from a loss of their wealth caused by economic depression and crashes of stock markets worldwide. "That's because people put their lives on it. However, things change all the times and people aren't likely to take changes well. So, they're unhappy." Rather than holding on to money so tightly and focusing on boosting ones' wealth, Danai suggests people to build 'richness' from within. The best investment is investing in ones' minds. "What ones should be managing and guarding well isn't their wealth but their hearts and minds... That's the only way to true happiness."
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