Thai Govt Welcomes Global Killer Flu

It’s flabbergasting how fervently the Thai government embraces the swine flu, ehm, the Mexican human flu – in a globally acclaimed attempt to show that a) Thailand is clean; b) Thailand is very safe to travel to (to fill those emptied tourism coffers again; c) Thailand will host a regional swine flu summit (to reenter the world of international politics); to d) divert from the political mess; to e) have an Asean photo opp after the Pattaya fiasco; and to finally f) quietly celebrate that other countries can be humiliated too.

What, that old bird flu? That was under Thaksin. Sars? Again, Thaksin. But as The Nation back then called Thaksin’s handling of Sars “a classic example of how one can turn crisis into opportunity – even at the expense of one’s neighbors,” here we go again: A Thai official suggests to “transform (the) swine flu crisis into opportunity (…) He said the Mexican swine influenza outbreak had repercussions around the globe, making many people reduce their travel and tourism activities,” Thai News Agency reports.

“The flu outbreak crisis is an opportunity for Thailand to prove its competence to manage the response, and prevent the outbreak of the disease. As the government contains the outbreak, Thailand would again come to the attention of tourists and foreigners.” Sounds familiar? So often in the past Thailand’s success was built on the misery her neighbors … But wait, compassionate Thailand will even send 5,000 face masks to Mexico:

As if this 5th world medieval republic wouldn’t have 5,000 extra face masks for Thais living there. The gleeful swine flu proactivity of the kingdom says much about the eagerness of the Thai authorities to reestablish Thailand on the global stage as a reliable, responsible partner. Not that we want to belittle the flu, who knows, but how many people are dying each day of plain simple flu.

“All humanity is under threat,” I just heard a World Health Organization WHO representative declare on CNN. Well, Thailand is here to help prevent the extinction of mankind in a few weeks … Don’t call me a scandalmonger. Got my wife in hospital with full blown Dengue fever. Still no real remedy against Dengue fever whereas swine flu remedies such as Tamiflu are already widely stockpiled.

Maybe the world media get out of hand … A “pandemic is imminent,” the WHO warns. Let’s be grateful to those “World Media Soldiers,” Thailand’s leading news source Not The Nation tells us:

World Media Soldiers on as Killer Virus Destroys Humanity

Reporters performing selfless acts of heroism while global civilization collapses before their eyes

THE SCARY WORLD – Wire agencies, newspapers and television networks have continued to bravely produce journalism in spite of overwhelming evidence that man will be extinct in only a few weeks.

As the swine flu reaches “pandemic” proportions and “spreads quickly around the globe,” reporters, editors and producers have heroically continued to perform their daily duties as if they themselves will not be consumed by the very “outbreak of the easily transmitted, fatal disease” on which they are reporting.

“It’s courageous really,” said media analyst Tom Becker of Northwestern University. “Journalists throughout history have gotten a negative rap, but now, in the moment when the world is coming to an obvious end, they will go out as selfless messengers who without hesitation or fear delivered us this bad news.”

Many people about to die everywhere agreed that the media deserved praise for their stoicism. Said one: “Every day, when I read about the impending decimation of populations around the world, and indeed about my own imminent death, I am in awe of these reporters who just carry on as if there will still be a tomorrow.”

“Imagine the focus it must require to write or edit copy when you know better than anyone that we’re goners,” said another person whose days on this earth were clearly limited. “Most people wouldn’t bother. They’d be with their family or friends, or in Vegas or something, but the journalists – what do they do? They get up and they go to work.”

Members of the world media are being typically humble and reserved about what is without a doubt the biggest story of their careers.

“This is not about me, Christiane Amanpour,” said CNN’s Christiane Amanpour.

Amanpour also denied that swine flu was being overblown by the media due to a bad economy and desperate need for increased circulation, revenue and relevance.

“That doesn’t make sense,” she said. “Given that a Mexican toddler has just died in Texas, it’s pretty clear that the extinction of the human race is just around the corner. So let me ask you: Once we are all dead, how would the billions in extra advertising money help us then?”




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April 30, 2009 | Filed Under Health, Body & Mind, News & Media, Seriously, Not ..., Society, Travel & Tourism 

Comments

8 Responses to “Thai Govt Welcomes Global Killer Flu”

  1. bosunj on May 2nd, 2009 1.23 am

    Most likely it’s being blown out of proportion to preserve the power of the Mexican president who came to power under suspicious election results and who’s problems make Abhisit’s look like a sandbox conflict. The Faux News wankers are exploring the “need” to suspend the American constitution and institute martial law after ONE confirmed death on American soil. All together this flu “pandemic” has the stink of a contrived crisis. Thinking people just don’t believe anything any government says anymore.

    I frankly don’t get the increasing farang “distaste” with Thai’s decisions about how they manage their affairs. I like it here. Allot. Are there problems? Sure. Thankfully Thais, unlike their farang detractors, didn’t cause the global economic collapse and aren’t about to blow up the whole planet.

    I left the country of my birth, America, the country that is the greatest threat ever to world peace to live what few remaining years I have in relative peace in a place I love. I resent farang who bring their farang ideas about how the rest of the planet should look and act here and miserably try to force those ridiculous ideas on people who clearly don’t want to hear them.

    One wonders why farang that are so disgusted with Thais and Thailand remain here?

  2. Making the best of the Swine Flu « Werewolf’s Lair on May 2nd, 2009 3.53 am

    [...] http://absolutelybangkok.com/thai-govt-welcomes-global-killer-flu/ [...]

  3. BangkokDan on May 2nd, 2009 9.08 am

    Maybe you should read the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s site instead bosunj.

    Two more things – an illustration found on The Nation’s site:

    And Samitivej hospital calls the flu North American Flu:

    BangkokDan

  4. Global Voices Online » Southeast Asia: Reactions to the H1N1 virus on May 5th, 2009 11.59 pm

    [...] Bangkok reports how the Thai government is using the “swine flu” scare to win some diplomatic points It’s flabbergasting how fervently the Thai government embraces the swine flu, – in a globally [...]

  5. Global Voices on May 16th, 2009 2.52 pm

    [...] (in Russian) [...]

  6. Jade C on May 17th, 2009 7.28 am

    Thai media really need to stop blowing this swine flu thing out of the freaking proportion because now it’s effecting me and I’m more than freaking pissed off. Now my parents want me to go back to Bangkok asap!!! This freaking thing does not involve me so stop ruining my life.

  7. laura on May 17th, 2009 9.08 am

    You’re a big girl Jade? Can decide for yourself? Or still live off mum’s and pop’s money? Maybe it’s time to take your life into your own hands.

  8. Swine Flu, Turning a Crisis into an Opportunity « Asian Correspondent on October 22nd, 2009 3.23 pm

    [...] Bangkok has the details on how the Thai government is embracing the [...]

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