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Animal rights activists are urging PM Prayut Chan-o-cha to stop the practice of soldiers drinking snake blood and killing live animals during the Cobra Gold multinational training exercises which are held in Thailand and co-sponsored by the United States. PETA, or the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, also filed a petition with the US government to stop the “frat-like party masquerading as training in Thailand known as Cobra Gold.” They say the training violates the US Department of Defense’s policy on using non-animal methods. “During Cobra Gold, marines and training instructors in Thailand kill chickens with their bare hands, skin and eat live geckos, consume live scorpions and tarantulas, and decapitate king cobras – a species vulnerable to extinction – in order to drink their blood as part of purported training in food procurement.” PETA referred to video footage of US Marines learning jungle survival skills at last year’s Cobra Gold training at Sattahip Navy Base ... » Learn More about PETA calls for Thai and US militaries to stop killing animals in Cobra Gold training

THE ongoing approval, distribution and administration of Covid-19 vaccines around the world brings a sense of hope as we continue our journey through this pandemic. However, there are existing realities that need to be kept in view. Although the national Covid-19 vaccination campaign began in March with the prioritization of medical frontliners, the Department of Health recently confirmed the detection of a new coronavirus variant P3 that is unique to the country. Its relative transmissibility and severity of disease caused has yet to be established. This new variant along with the surge of daily cases pose questions and challenges not only to the public but to organizations as well. Over the last few months, International SOS has been working with numerous organizations worldwide by providing by assistance on how to facilitate the vaccination for entire workforces. Among the many considerations that organizations are navigating, companies are now considering how best to educate ... » Learn More about Covid-19 vaccine global distribution

Ratanaporn Promchoo, 35, is the president secretary of the Association of Thailand for Underwater Sports (ATUS) and has been working with the ATUS for ten years. She graduated from Rajabhat Nakhon Sri Thammarat University with a bachelor’s degree in science. Here she talks about what the ATUS does to help promote and protect the dive industry. PHUKET: ATUS was founded in December 2004 and registered as an official association in Thailand in March 2005. We are the national diving association of Thailand and are internationally recognized as a voting member of the world underwater federation CMAS (Confederation Mondiale des Activites Subaquatiques). We also work under the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT). There are three main responsibilities of the ATUS: to control and maintain CMAS standards throughout the industry; to conserve our marine natural resources; and to promote water sports throughout the country. We have committees that take care of each responsibility and work ... » Learn More about Opinion: ATUS protecting the dive industry