PHUKET: The Kusoldharm Foundation gave to Phuket's poor yesterday, as it often does, acknowledging in rice packets the notion of supporting the less fortunate.
Although Phuket ranks among the most prosperous of Thailand's provinces, there are plenty of people who struggle on the margins.
For them, the glossy ads for high-end luxury villas and five-star resorts have no meaning. Tomorrow's meal is what matters.
There are certainly generous rich people on Phuket, people who acknowledge their good fortune by contributing to help others.
And globally, Bill Gates tends to set the standard, donating 90 percent of his income these days to worthy causes.
But the question has to be asked: where are Phuket's equivalents to Bill Gates, the billionaires who enjoy their second (or third or fourth) homes on sweet Phuket?
Do the poster boys of Phuket property and yachting, often portrayed as leading a jolly life involving luxury and leisure down to their designer shoes, ever consider providing footware for the barefoot?
There is a long and growing list of Phuket takers. Where are the Phuket poster boys for giving?
Perhaps they do give, and generously. Perhaps, as well as being loaded, they are just too modest to admit that they are super-generous as well as being super-rich.
We just never read about anything except the way Phuket has been super-good for them.
In the middle, between the very rich and the very poor, Phuket has plenty of givers, both Thai and foreign.
The Kusoldharm Foundation generously gives more than most, and was doing it again yesterday at its Phuket City headquarters.
The giving is a twice-yearly event. As well as food, 200 children from 18 Phuket schools were awarded 2000 baht scholarships.
Although Phuket ranks among the most prosperous of Thailand's provinces, there are plenty of people who struggle on the margins.
For them, the glossy ads for high-end luxury villas and five-star resorts have no meaning. Tomorrow's meal is what matters.
There are certainly generous rich people on Phuket, people who acknowledge their good fortune by contributing to help others.
And globally, Bill Gates tends to set the standard, donating 90 percent of his income these days to worthy causes.
But the question has to be asked: where are Phuket's equivalents to Bill Gates, the billionaires who enjoy their second (or third or fourth) homes on sweet Phuket?
Do the poster boys of Phuket property and yachting, often portrayed as leading a jolly life involving luxury and leisure down to their designer shoes, ever consider providing footware for the barefoot?
There is a long and growing list of Phuket takers. Where are the Phuket poster boys for giving?
Perhaps they do give, and generously. Perhaps, as well as being loaded, they are just too modest to admit that they are super-generous as well as being super-rich.
We just never read about anything except the way Phuket has been super-good for them.
In the middle, between the very rich and the very poor, Phuket has plenty of givers, both Thai and foreign.
The Kusoldharm Foundation generously gives more than most, and was doing it again yesterday at its Phuket City headquarters.
The giving is a twice-yearly event. As well as food, 200 children from 18 Phuket schools were awarded 2000 baht scholarships.
I've often wondered what people think when they see someone driving around in a car that costs more than their whole village would earn in 50 years.
Wealth is often flaunted in Thailand on the notion that money earns you respect.
To catch corrupt individuals would be dead easy if the authorities would just follow the money but when even close to Bt 1 billion in cash @ home can just be explained away as a dowry, it's not likely to happen any time soon.
Though I have always had a taste for fast cars, I would never drive a Ferrari, Lamborghini or Porsche in Thailand because I would feel too ashamed and guilty in front of those who have nothing.
Instead I'm happy to be part of a recently registered charity.
Just for the record, I'm certainly not wealthy, not even by Thai standards but I'm financially safe and secure.
Posted by Steve C. on May 9, 2012 11:22