Death by electrocution

Phlai Singthong, the 24yo elephant, lies dead. 
 

One of Tuesday's leading stories in Thailand was the death of Phlai Singthong, the 24 year old elephant. He was happily eating bamboo when he accidentally grabbed hold of a high voltage power line and that was the end of him.  It is a sad end. 

Thais have a great love and respect for elephants and whenever one dies through misfortune it is a big story.  Reading the story tickled my fancy, as we say back home, as with all the tragedies and disasters in our world, this simple but sad tale still attracts the attention of the media and the people in a Thailand. 

Then I think - what is it that makes the news and how and why? 

In a world surrounded by the Syrias, shootings and bombings, and the bad politicians, it gives one a soothing moment of relief to read about the death of a loved elephant.  But then in the same week in the same part of the world, Cardinal Bo of Yangon gave an incredibly challenging and blunt message about the plight of refugees, displaced persons and migrant workers from his country floundering at home and in Thailand.  Yet where is that story?  There is no sign of it anywhere here.  What did he say?  Here is a sample. 

On Migrant Workers:
Fishing slaves "are made orphans by an inhuman system. ... They have become the slaves of South east Asia.  I urge the government to become their parents and bring them home.  They are not orphans."

On Camp Refugees: 
"The camp conditions are abominable. ... They are black holes of despair sucking our people into a bottomless pit of despair and inhumanity.  These are children forgotten by Mother Myanmar.  I urge the governments of Myanmar and Thailand and the UN to accelerate the process of safe return."

So he goes on.  He may not have gotten into the news here but Cardinal Bo I am surely doing my bit to see that your message is heard by as many as possible.