FRIENDS EVERYWHERE

I recently won a prize for my speech on the topic Friends Can Make a Difference.

I realised that I have lots of friends all around the world � from the UK, the US, Germany, Brazil, the Philippines and Malaysia. I met them in exchange programmes and through other friends.

We keep in touch with email, letters, Skype and Facebook. My friends help me to improve my writing, listening and speaking abilities.

It�s a good idea for Thai students to have foreign friends because we don�t really use English in our daily lives. But you have to make sure that it�s safe before you contact anybody online.

Sunan Siriwutwiwat, Pathum Thani

Congratulations on your prize, Sunan. It�s great to have friends all over the world, and with the Internet, it�s never been easier to keep in touch with people. You�re right to point out that you have to be careful when you�re online. You probably wouldn�t share personal information with somebody you�d just met in the real world, so you need to be equally careful in the virtual world. � Editor

RIGHT RULE

There is now a rule in Thailand that stops people from talking on the telephone while they are driving. This rule saves drivers� lives because when they talk on the telephone, they lose concentration.

There used to be many accidents in Thailand. Now there are fewer accidents than before. I want everybody to follow this rule.

Warunrat Bamrungwate, Suphan Buri

I haven�t seen any figures that indicate that the occurrence of accidents is down since the mobile-phone ban went into effect, Warunrat. In fact, I�ve read stories about several studies that say talking on a hands-free phone � which is still allowed � is just as dangerous as talking on one that you have to hold. You�re right to point out that people shouldn�t be talking on the phone while they�re driving. From what I�ve seen around Bangkok, most people can�t even walk and talk on the phone at the same time. I think that should be illegal, too. � Editor

Ill EARTH

I�m in Matayom 3 at Suwanananwitthaya School. Many students in my class have a cold. Some students are absent because they have a fever and headache, while some just have a cough and a runny nose.

People get sick when seasons change. The problem is worse with global warming because high temperatures make viruses spread.

I would like to help reduce global warming by not discarding garbage on the road and by using cloth bags. We need to help our world before we don�t have a world to live in.

Kanpop Pinyo, Sukhothai

I know how you feel, Kanpop. Lots of people around the Student Weekly offices have been sick lately, too. While changing weather patterns can have an effect on the spread of diseases, I�m not sure that that�s what�s happening just yet. That being said, your tips about using cloth bags and not littering are good ones. � Editor


	improve (v): to become better than before virtual (adj): made to appear to exist by the use of computer concentration (n): the ability to direct all your attention on one thing without thinking of other things occurrence (n): the fact of something happening or existing absent (adj): not in a place because of illness, etc. discard (v): to get rid of something that you no longer want or need litter (v): pieces of garbage that people have left lying in a public place

We want to hear from you!

For pen pals, letters and any general comments you have about Student Weekly, contact us at Bangkok Post Student Weekly, Bangkok Post Building, 136 Na Ranong Road, Klong Toey, Bangkok 10110. You can also email us at [email protected]. Your words must be your own (except for quotations and well-known proverbs or sayings) and they may be edited. Letters of the Week win a prize of 150 baht.

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