| Next Week Does modern life appeal to all? The story of a Vietnamese father and son found living in the jungle more than 40 years after they went missing during the American War has captivated people across the nation and around the world. Ho Van Thanh, 82, and Ho Van Lang, 41, apparently fled their home village after a bomb killed three members of their family. From that day until their discovery they avoided contact with anyone from the outside world. The pair survived by foraging for fruit and cassava from the forest and planting corn. They wore loincloths made from bark and lived in a hut located five metres above the ground. They have received medical check-ups, meals with salt, and exposure to TV and radio. However, now Lang insists he wants to go back to the jungle. A debate has been initiated online about whether they should be returned to their familiar living environment, with many observing the reality that some aspects of modern life do not appeal to everyone. What is your take on this story? Do you know similar examples from your country where individuals or a group of people refused to live with modern amenities? Do you think Lang should have a say in where he lives or should the authorities protect such individuals? Please reply by email to: opinion@vnsmail.com, or by fax to (84-4) 3 933 2311. Letters can be sent to The Editor, Viet Nam News, 79 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Ha Noi. Replies to next week’s questions must be received by Thursday morning, August 22, 2013. |
Last week, Viet Nam News asked readers their opinions about a pilot project to install loudspeakers at key intersections in Ha Noi which will raise public awareness of traffic rules. Here are some responses:
Laeticia Ock, Korean, Ha Noi
As an expat riding a bicycle in Ha Noi, I have to face two irritating things everyday – noise from the blare of car horns and disorder on the roads. Drivers honk their horns in the hope to move vehicles out of their way, but only make the situation worse, especially in rush hours.
Eleven loudspeakers at main intersections will only add to the rush hour din. They would serve as no more than annoying sirens which get on road users’ nerves. Unfortunately, they won’t be listened to in the rush hour noise. Even if they could be heard, Vietnamese people are too accustomed to loudspeakers to take a deep interest in them. That’s why I think loudspeakers are not an effective way to control traffic and inform road users of traffic rules.
Another thing to point out is that people’s awareness of traffic rules is actually quite high. The problem is that drivers do not obey the rules when they are free from the gaze of police or cameras.
What needs to be done to reduce the number of traffic offences is to educate people from an early age to be aware of the importance of complying with laws and rules in society.
I’ve heard it said that Vietnamese people tend to follow what they see others doing rather than following the law, while road users in more developed countries have a tendency to follow rules rather than what others do.
In addition, traffic congestion and fatalities from traffic accidents can be prevented by reducing the traffic volume in Viet Nam. Vietnamese have to take their motorbikes and cars on the roads to commute and earn a living.
A lack of a suitable transport system is the root cause of the ever-growing number of motorbikes and cars on the roads. In some cases, even young students are forced to take motorbikes illegally to go to schools because there is not sufficient public transport, such as a bus or metro.
Instead of installing loudspeakers, which will cost billions of dong, why not educate future road users and improve public transport to reduce the traffic volume?
After that, Viet Nam can slowly move on to improving roads and installing traffic lights and surveillance cameras to enforce laws more effectively.
Hai Huyen, Vietnamese, Ha Noi
People who obey traffic rules will stop at a red light and have the chance to listen to the rules from loudspeakers. The people who need to be educated about traffic rules will pass through the red light and hear nothing.
How can car drivers listen to the loudspeaker? Will people driving motorbikes with helmets on hear the words among all the noise pollution? I think it’s a big waste of money to install the loudspeakers. What a mistake!
Instead, awareness of traffic rules can be improved by raising the fines handed out for traffic offences.
Capital residents live with serious noise pollution, from the endless procession of motorbikes, four-wheeled vehicles, construction sites and the public broadcasting system of speakers. Now they must also suffer from another type of loudspeaker to disseminate traffic rules. It’s so stressful.
My nephew, nine years old and living in Australia, returns to Viet Nam on his summer holidays. He said that he hated the street loudspeakers in the early morning when he was still sleeping and he even told me that the people who installed them must have no concept of noise pollution.
More traffic police should be sent to crowded intersection to control the situation and authorised agencies should do more to improve the quality of roads. This might end the city’s traffic chaos.
Pete, tourist
This move proves once again that whoever is in charge of traffic safety is totally incompetent. In Viet Nam, traffic is a serious problem and implementing such a ludicrous idea is not going to save a single life.
Le Minh, Vietnamese, Ha Noi
At rush hours, road users have to suffer a lot of noise and it’s hard for them to decipher rules from a loudspeaker. Therefore, I think, the speakers should be turned on at other times in the day, not rush hour.
Agencies should also calculate the messages to be broadcast at the same that road users stop at a red light.
Viet Ha, Vietnamese, Ha Noi
Everyday I drive to school through the intersection of Pham Hung-Xuan Thuy, which received the loudspeakers from the project in June. The intersection is always crowded. When the traffic light turns red, the loudspeaker is also turned on.
I have seen many road users pay attention to the announcements. At first, it is strange to listen to traffic rules via this medium, but it is quite useful later.
I think it it’s a creative way to raise public awareness of traffic rules through clear and short messages. It is certainly much better than reading long, dull sentences.
Everyone, including the elderly, middle-aged parents, youths and children can listen to rules via loudspeakers.
I hope awareness rises and traffic jams reduce before long! — VNS
Đăng ký: VietNam News
