Cockfighting as economic stimulus?
By Jon Fernquest
"Give
the people what they want" may be the golden rule of the Roman
colosseum
and democratic politics but other factors sometimes take
precedence.
Thailand is a Buddhist nation.
Laws in Thailand are often written specifically to uphold Buddhist principles.
Thailand's strict abortion laws fall into this category.
(Note: Whether these laws are actually enforced or whether people regularly buy themselves out of the law with bribes is a separate issue.)
Blood sports such as cockfighting and fish fighting provide convenient pretexts for gambling.
Laws against these sports also uphold Buddhist principles.
Today's article is about new efforts to relax restrictions on cockfighting, a popular pastime in the provinces.
(Photo on right of cockfighting spurs, the weapons that the cock fights with)
a cock - an adult
male chicken
cockfighting - specially bred and trained chickens that fight until badly injured or dead, spectators place bets on which bird will win (See Wikipedia)
spectators - the many people watching sports or nother public show
blood sport - any sport or entertainment that involves violence against animals, includes cockfighting, bull fighting. dog fighting, Roman gladiator spectacles and for some even hunting (See Wikipedia)
fish fighting - (See Wikipedia)
economist stimulus - something that gets the economy moving and growing again (like a tax cuts or a temporary increase in government spending)
Roman colosseum - a place in ancient Rome where large audiences sat and watched horrific spectacles in which large numbers of animals and humans died (See Wikipedia)
a spectacle - a grand and impressive event, a strange and unusual sight
take precedence - come before, are more important
uphold a principle - follow and support a general rule
written specifically to uphold
a pretext - a reason that you pretend was the caused that made you do something
convenient - easy to do
provide a convenient pretext for - provide an easy reason (you can pretend was the real reason)
restrict - limit and control
relax restrictions - make it easier to do a restricted activity
pastime - an activity done in your free time for relaxation and enjoyment
spurs - small metal objects with points on a cowboy's boot, used to kick a horse and make it go faster
cockfighting spurs - small sharp blades attached to the feet of cocks in cockfighting, used as weapons in the fight
cockfighting - specially bred and trained chickens that fight until badly injured or dead, spectators place bets on which bird will win (See Wikipedia)
spectators - the many people watching sports or nother public show
blood sport - any sport or entertainment that involves violence against animals, includes cockfighting, bull fighting. dog fighting, Roman gladiator spectacles and for some even hunting (See Wikipedia)
fish fighting - (See Wikipedia)
economist stimulus - something that gets the economy moving and growing again (like a tax cuts or a temporary increase in government spending)
Roman colosseum - a place in ancient Rome where large audiences sat and watched horrific spectacles in which large numbers of animals and humans died (See Wikipedia)
a spectacle - a grand and impressive event, a strange and unusual sight
take precedence - come before, are more important
uphold a principle - follow and support a general rule
written specifically to uphold
a pretext - a reason that you pretend was the caused that made you do something
convenient - easy to do
provide a convenient pretext for - provide an easy reason (you can pretend was the real reason)
restrict - limit and control
relax restrictions - make it easier to do a restricted activity
pastime - an activity done in your free time for relaxation and enjoyment
spurs - small metal objects with points on a cowboy's boot, used to kick a horse and make it go faster
cockfighting spurs - small sharp blades attached to the feet of cocks in cockfighting, used as weapons in the fight
BLOOD SPORT
Cockfighting plan ruffles feathers3/09/2009
Constitution Court judge Jarun Pukditanakul has opposed an Interior Ministry plan to allow cockfighting to be held twice a week instead of every Sunday.
The plan had been greeted with enthusiasm by owners of cockfighting arenas in the provinces.
ruffles feathers -
makes people angry and upset
enthusiasm - very happy and interested in being involved in an activity
X greeted with enthusiasm - people were very happy and excited that X was happening
an arena - a place with seats where people watch a public event such as sports or entertainment
enthusiasm - very happy and interested in being involved in an activity
X greeted with enthusiasm - people were very happy and excited that X was happening
an arena - a place with seats where people watch a public event such as sports or entertainment
Interior Minister Chavarat Charnvirakul signed a new ministerial regulation on cockfighting and fish fighting on Aug6. The regulation was published in the Royal Gazette on Aug 31.
It replaced the 1982 and 1988 regulations on cockfighting which had been in force for more than 20 years.
The new regulation would allow cockfighting rings and fish-fighting tanks to open every Saturday and Sunday. Fights would not be allowed on days of Buddhist significance or the birthdays of Their Majesties the King and Queen.
The regulation would also make it easier to issue more licences for cockfighting and fish-fighting establishments.
But Mr Jarun yesterday said government leaders were duty-bound to encourage people to pursue decent careers and activities and should be trying their best to curb vice and unsavoury activities.
ministerial regulation - a
regulation or rule created by a government ministry (for example the
Finance Ministry or Ministry of Education)
fish fighting - fighting between a special breed of fish (See Wikipedia)
Royal Gazette - the publication where the details of new laws are published in
1982 and 1988 regulations on cockfighting - the regulations that currently govern cokcfighting in Thailand
in force - the law is active and being used, violators arrested and charged with violating the law
days of Buddhist significance - Buddhist holidays or holy days (See Wikipedia)
duty-bound to - must do this because it is your duty or responsibility
encourage - make people interested in and excited about doing an activity
a career - the series of related jobs in an area of work that a person has over their life (usually with increasing responsibility) (See Wikipedia)
pursue a career - actively create a career (series of better and better jobs) for yourself
curb - stop or reduce
a vice - bad or criminal things that people do (prostitution, gambling, pornography)
unsavoury - find unpleasant or morally unacceptable
curb vice and unsavoury activities - stop people from doing bad, unpleasant, and criminal things
fish fighting - fighting between a special breed of fish (See Wikipedia)
Royal Gazette - the publication where the details of new laws are published in
1982 and 1988 regulations on cockfighting - the regulations that currently govern cokcfighting in Thailand
in force - the law is active and being used, violators arrested and charged with violating the law
days of Buddhist significance - Buddhist holidays or holy days (See Wikipedia)
duty-bound to - must do this because it is your duty or responsibility
encourage - make people interested in and excited about doing an activity
a career - the series of related jobs in an area of work that a person has over their life (usually with increasing responsibility) (See Wikipedia)
pursue a career - actively create a career (series of better and better jobs) for yourself
curb - stop or reduce
a vice - bad or criminal things that people do (prostitution, gambling, pornography)
unsavoury - find unpleasant or morally unacceptable
curb vice and unsavoury activities - stop people from doing bad, unpleasant, and criminal things
Charn Khuanthalaeng, 39, a licensed owner of a cockfighting establishment in Ayutthaya's Bang Pa-in district, said the plan had provided a shot in the arm for licensed operators after the bird flu outbreak forced the closure of many arenas.
His arena in Ban Sang in Bang Pa-in was home to the biggest cockfighting matches in Ayutthaya. It had been closed for more than three years.
In its heyday, it comprised nine cockfighting rings which drew thousands of enthusiasts every Sunday.
Mr Charn said the reopening of cockfighting arenas and doubling the number of days to hold matches would create more jobs and spur more local trade.
Jiraphan Pimphan, head of a cultural network in Ayutthaya, opposed the plan to issue more cockfighting licences.
She said it would lead to more gambling and other kinds of vice.
an establishment - a
business or organisation located in a building or place
a cockfighting establishment - a place where conkfighting is done as a business
a shot in the arm - something that helps, gives new life and energy to (like an injection when you are sick)
licensed operators - businesses that have received official government permission to do (operate) the business
provided a shot in the arm for licensed operators - helped companies that have a license and do the business legally
In its heyday, ... - during the time when it was most popular
X comprises Y - X has parts or members Y
issue licences - give official permission to do a business or activity
a cockfighting establishment - a place where conkfighting is done as a business
a shot in the arm - something that helps, gives new life and energy to (like an injection when you are sick)
licensed operators - businesses that have received official government permission to do (operate) the business
provided a shot in the arm for licensed operators - helped companies that have a license and do the business legally
In its heyday, ... - during the time when it was most popular
X comprises Y - X has parts or members Y
issue licences - give official permission to do a business or activity
(Source: Bangkok Post, general news, BLOOD SPORT, Cockfighting plan ruffles feathers, 3/09/2009, link)
