Most Thais live now in Cities - a trend to come?

[The understudy]

A recent Article from the Bangkok post which is pretty interestin in deed.
CULTURAL CHANGE

Most Thais now live in cities, busy urban areas

Thailand is bracing for a ''third population explosion'', a term referring to a phenomenon in which more than half the country's population, or about 32 million people, live in the cities and urban areas, a research study has found. The phenomenon has led to change in sexual behaviour, particularly in women in urban areas as many live more independently and are more open to sex, according to the study.

Pramote Prasartkul, a demographer attached to Mahidol University's Institute for Population and Social Research, said the findings go against a traditional belief that most people live in rural areas. The trend, he said, is in line with a United Nations prediction that by 2008 more than half of the world's population will live in urban areas.

According to Dr Pramote, the urban population covers people who live in cities without transferring their house registration, and commuters.

He said urban growth should raise alarm about potential impacts on various issues including environment, quality of living, and crime.

Researcher Orathai Rucharoenpornpanich, who studied impact of urban growth on sexual behaviour, said women who live in urban areas tend to be more open to sex. She said there is no significant difference between sexual behaviour of men in urban and rural areas.

About 40% of single women living in Bangkok have sexual relationships and the number is 1.2 times higher than in the urban areas in the provinces and 3.3 times higher than those in rural areas, Ms Orathai said.

The findings also show higher cohabitation and higher divorce rates among people living in cities, she added.

''For cohabitation, women in Bangkok are educated and independent, so they do not see the need to commit themselves to marriage. Having several boyfriends is fine and spices up their lives,'' said Ms Orathai.

Her research work, Sex in the City, will be presented at a seminar, entitled Nakaratpiwat and Withee Cheewit Muang, to be held by the institute next Friday.

The researchers say the government should be aware of the change, and design a better HIV/Aids prevention scheme to cope.

''An HIV/Aids control unit exists only in Bangkok, but other big cities like Chiang Mai also need one,'' said Apichart Chamrasritthirong.

He said a stiff conservative social order may no longer be appropriate, given the change.

''For instance, we may have to admit the fact that condoms should be handed out in education outlets to combat HIV/Aids,'' he said

I like the second last Paragraph which interrim Govt should should take into account. ''A stiff conservative order may no longer be apopriate, given the change." I can only agree, The Junta Govt should work with the changes rather than fighting the changes which is inevitable!

Your's the understudy!!!

[Guess]

''A stiff conservative order may no longer be appropriate "

So will they be replaced by communists with brewers droop?

[deepee]

Understudy,

Went up to the wife's ancestoral area at Lop Buri last year. Had not been there for over 10 years.
We were both shocked to see how many beautiful houses were totally empty of people - the younger folk have been moving out for BKK or o"seas while the oldies have just died off.

We estimated maybe one in four places were empty. Seems the kids prefer to hold on to their homes in memory of their relatives and not to sell them off. There probably would not be a market to sell them off to anyway.

I do find this very sad. This place was such a delight to visit with it's bustling lanes and the pictuesque Lop Buri River flowing thru it full of day to day activity.Now it's all so very quiet.

There are constant funeral ceremonies daily as the oldies pass on. Won't be too long till it's just a ghost village at this rate

[richard]

Sad really but inevitable

My wifes family live in a small village 70kms north east of Khon Kaen and the village is 80 percent family. They own vast tracks of land and are completely rural and self sufficient. Ok, they don't make a lot of money, but they are happy and content with their lot

I've seen wealthy Bankokians arrive to offer to buy the land only to be told NO this is our livelihood. When I questioned it the response was 'What would we do? what will our children/grandchildren do?'

In my old age I can see it happening but hopefully not in my lifetime. I still love to go there to chillout. No bars, few farangs and real Thailand in my humble opinion.

Guess I'm biased as a Yorkshire country boy now into my 3rd childhood, but the writing is on the wall

Times they are a changing (BD)[/b]

[johnnyk]

Urbanization is one of the most significant and profound human events of the late 20th century and early 21st. Unstoppable everywhere.
Cities are where economic activity is.