|
Congratulations from HSH Prince Bhisadej Rajani
On this auspicious occasion, I have thought about your birthday, but then
a newspaper like Chiangmai Mail would have one every week.
Nevertheless happiness is involved, including mine, when I read and learn
about the happenings here, and what restaurants should be tried, which
mostly become a source of happiness. All the best, then, for your third
year.
Bhisadej
(His Serene Highness Prince Bhisadej Rajani)
Obituary
Jacques Valls, former
French Honorary Consul
Jacques Valls, the former French Honorary Consul in
Chiang Mai from 1990 to 1995, died at his home on Wednesday, November 2nd.
He was 80 and has lived in Chiang Mai for many years.
 Jacques
Valls 1925 - 2005
Born in Barcelona, Spain, in 1925, Jacques Valls trained
as a physical chemist. He worked for 20 years at Roussel-UCLAF, an important
French Research Centre before being honored in 1974 by UNESCO in Paris as an
expert in the field of scientific and technical information.
From 1976 to 1985, he was Director of the Regional Centre
for Documentation and Library Science at the Asian Institute of Technology
based in Bangkok. During his tenure, he spearheaded many projects, among
them the creation of specialized centers whose aim is to improve access to
information in Asian countries. In 1986, he was named Director of the
Regional Centre for Research and Development at the A.I.T.
Having retired in 1987, he moved to Chiang Mai where his
wife Rachanee, whom he married in 1975, was born.
Jacques Valls was the author of a great number of
scientific publications, many of them translated in different languages.
In 1990, the French Government named him French Honorary
Consul in Chiang Mai, a post he retained for five years until he really
retired at the age of 70. That year, in 1995, he received from His Majesty
the King of Thailand the title of Doctor “Honoris Causa” awarded to him
by the University of Chiang Mai.
Jacques Valls was a Knight of the Order of the “Palmes
Acad้miques”, a French honor for services to education, and a Knight
in the French National Order of Merit.
He is survived by his wife Rachanee.
Older people’s potential in using culture to fight HIV/AIDS
HDN
Older people are a critical part of Thai society. They
are significant and have the potential to play an important role in shaping
society but many people do not recognise this potential. The last NGO Forum
provided an opportunity for older people, especially those who are affected
by HIV/AIDS, to get involved in tackling HIV/AIDS related problems and to
show that they have the potential to do so with a little support. It was
organised and facilitated by four organisations, HelpAge International,
Mother and Child Concern, the Foundation for Older Persons’ Development
(FOPDEV) and Clear Sky.
 Some
of the performers from the older peoples group.
The NGO Forum started with a play performed by older
people representing Thai traditional culture, which emphasises the
importance of virginity and how young people should behave decently before
they get married. Traditionally, parents do not allow their daughters to go
out alone or with a man because they believe that a man and woman should not
be close to or touch each other because this behaviour would offend the
spirits. In the past, people believed in spirits and if a woman was touched
by a man, they both needed to apologise to the spirits by getting married.
After the play, the forum was led into a discussion on
abstinence (before marriage) that used to be very strictly maintained in the
past. One of the actresses, Junfong Mahamai, the 65 year old leader of an
older people’s group at Baanti, Lampoon, said, “I think the belief in
virginity is a good thing, unlike today’s teenagers that find love quick,
leave quick and change partners very often. This is the way HIV/AIDS is
spread.”
We also heard from Aud Suyaruan, 67 years old, who said
he had lost four sons to HIV/AIDS. Now he is left with two grandsons and he
needs to take care of them alone. “When my sons were alive, I used to tell
them to be careful but they made some mistakes and lost their lives to
HIV/AIDS.”
Many people have become HIV positive from having sex
without using condoms. A lot of older people believe that if teenagers do
not have sex too early or girls believe in keeping their virginity as in the
past, it will decrease HIV/AIDS.
However, Titus Paipilai, a 30 year old participant, who
works with teenagers, said “HIV/AIDS advocacy now has two flows, first
‘abstinence’ and second ‘safe sex’, such as using condoms to protect
ourselves from HIV. Both flows seem in conflict but actually we can merge
them together because we need to accept that society has changed from the
past and providing options to teenagers might be the best way. If you can
keep your virginity it might be good but if you can not do it you should
learn how to have sex more safely.”
Usa Kaewrod from HelpAge International said, “I
absolutely agree that we need to advocate for both flows together, to
decrease infection then decrease the number of affected people. However, I
would like to emphasise that there are a lot of older people affected by
HIV/AIDS, in the same situation as Aud, who lost his sons, who were of
working age. He has to take care of his grandsons alone on a low income.
There is a lot of older people who live like this but organisations pay
little attention to them.”
At the end of the session Usa said, “Finally, I would like to say thank
you to the older people who are involved with fighting HIV/AIDS. I am
speaking on behalf of people who are working on HIV/AIDS issues and would
like other sectors to be aware that older people have a lot of potential to
get involved with tackling these issues. If we can provide them with
knowledge about HIV/AIDS then when they understand clearly they can share
this information with older people’s groups. Older people are respected in
society so they can disseminate knowledge and information to many groups in
society, such as women and teenagers.”
Excellence in Nursing award for CMU’s Dr Darawan
Chiangmai Mail Reporters
Assoc Prof Dr Darawan Tapinta, head of the department of
psychiatric nursing at the Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, has
received the Excellence in Nursing 2005 award from the Thailand Nursing
Council. The presentation took place on October 16 at the Ministry of Public
Health.
The Excellence in Nursing awards take into account
practical work, social services, research, education, services and high-risk
areas.
Dr Darawan’s citation was for her work in nursing
research. She has with other researchers, been particularly concerned with
the nursing of HIV and AIDS patients, researching areas such as
vaccinations, medication, family and community support, mental health and
the care of terminal cases. Her research findings related to mental health
care have been published for both Thai and international nursing workers.
Exhibition evokes the past yet speaks of our modern era
Nopniwat Krailerg
Belgian artist Christian Develter, who has specialized in
creating images of Shanghai girls of the 1930s along with images of dragons
and themes taken from Chinese opera, is holding an exhibition at La Luna
Gallery in Jaruenraj Road from now until November 27.
 Christian
Develter and works from the exhibition.
Christian also likes to use images of Japanese girls in
the traditional kimono, and often works in strong contrasting colors to
evoke the old style prints while using modern techniques to create paintings
that are unmistakably of our present era.
His exhibition is entitled Daughters of the Dragon, and was opened on
October 29. La Luna Gallery is at 190 Jaruenrat Road, between Wat Ket and
Nakornping Bridge. For more information, tel 0 53 306678, mobile 09 6357667
or visit www.lalunagallery.com
Visitors
at the Daughters of the Dragon exhibition.
Concert to be staged by Yuparaj Wittayalai School in honor of HRH Princess Petcharat Rajsuda
Pinutda Suwanchaisri
(Student trainee MFLU)
Yuparaj Wittayalai School is to stage a concert in honor
of Her Royal Highness Princess Petcharat Rajsuda’s 80th anniversary.
 Deputy
Mayor Wilawan Woraputtipong (right) and secretary of the Cultural Council
Jakrawan Wannawong (left) make an announcement about the HRH Princess
Petcharat Rajsuda 80 Years Honor Charity Concert.
A press briefing to announce the event was staged on
November 2 at Royal Peninsula Hotel, led by Chiang Mai municipality deputy
mayor Wilawan Woraputtipong, secretary of the Cultural Council Jakrawan
Wannawong, and Thana Anontawilad, chairman of the 100 Year Pra Paramee
Poklao Yuparaj Wittayalai organizers under the patronage of HRH Princess
Petcharat Rajsuda.
The concert will take place at 7 p.m. on Saturday
November 19 at Kad Theater, 5th floor, Kad Suan Kaew department store.
Featured singers will include national artists Suthep Wongkamhaeng and
Ruangthong Thonglanthom, and Daojai Paijit, Wongchan Pairoj, Chomchay
Aroonchan, and Nitat La-Ongsri. Music will be provided by the YRC symphonic
orchestra, with more than 70 musicians in the lineup.
Earnings from the concert will go towards buying land for Yuparaj
Wittayalai School. Tickets for the event may be purchased at Yuparaj
Wittayalai School Alumni Association and the information center on the
ground floor at Kad Suan Kaew department store. Seats are 800, 400, and 200
baht. For information and reservations tel 0 5390 4919, 0 5322 4444 # 19008,
and 0 5389 4498.
|
