Researchers have described an ancient skull recovered from a cave in the Annamite Mountains in northern Laos as the oldest modern human fossil found in Southeast Asia, pushing back the clock on modern human migration through the region by as much as 20,000 years.

The discovery indicates that ancient wanderers out of Africa left the coast and inhabited diverse habitats much earlier than previously appreciated.

The scientists, who found the skull in 2009, were likely the first to dig for ancient bones in Laos since the early 1900s, when a team found skulls and skeletons of several modern humans in another cave in the Annamite Mountains. Those fossils were about 16,000 years old, much younger than the newly found skull, which dates to between 46,000 and 63,000 years old.

No other artifacts have yet been found with the skull, suggesting that the cave was not a dwelling or burial site, said University of Illinois anthropologist Laura Shackelford, who led the study with anthropologist Fabrice Demeter, of the National Museum of Natural History in Paris.

It is more likely that the person died outside and the body washed into the cave sometime later, she said.

The find reveals that early modern human migrants did not simply follow the coast and go south to the islands of Southeast Asia and Australia, as some researchers have suggested, but that they also travelled north into very different types of terrain, Shackelford said.

“This find supports an ‘Out-of-Africa’ theory of modern human origins rather than a multi-regionalism model,” she said.

“Given its age, fossils in this vicinity could be direct ancestors of the first migrants to Australia. But it is also likely that mainland Southeast Asia was a crossroads leading to multiple migratory paths,” she noted.

The discovery also bolsters genetic studies that indicate that modern humans occupied that part of the world at least 60,000 years ago, she said.

“This is the first fossil evidence that supports the genetic data,” she said.

The researchers used radiocarbon dating and luminescence techniques to determine the age of the soil layers above, below and surrounding the skull, which was found nearly 2 1/2 meters (about 8.2 feet) below the surface of the cave.

Researchers at Illinois used uranium/thorium dating to determine the age of the skull, which they determined was about 63,000 years old.

“This fossil find indicates that the migration out of Africa and into East and Southeast Asia occurred at a relatively rapid rate, and that, once there, modern humans weren’t limited to environments that they had previously experienced,” said Kira Westaway, of Macquarie University in Australia said.

“We now have the fossil evidence to prove that they were there long before we thought they were there,” she added.

The team described its finding in a paper in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Source: ANI

Domestic and foreign experts have urged for joint efforts to brush aside some traditions of Lao culture which they say hinder the progress and development of society in the country.

The experts made this claim yesterday at the international scientific seminar in Vientiane entitled “Cultural Value and Human Resource Development”.

“We should raise the issue on alienation and the hindrance of culture, and put it on the national agenda to be addressed under unity throughout the country,” Ministry of Education and Sports’ Personnel Department Deputy Director Gerneral, Mr Chansamoud Keosouttha said.

He reminded the participants that social behaviour which is familiar and may have cultural value, does hinder progress.

He said Lao tradition has both positive and negative sides, so Lao people should adapt to become integrated regionally and internationally by reducing festivities and holidays.

“We should eliminate the tradition of Bounbanhao Khoylin Khoykin (No need to hurry) by raising comprehensive measures to address it,” Mr Chansamoud said.

According to Lao national artist Mr Xayasin Sikhotchounlamny, the promotion of the culture of the Lao multi-ethnic people has mobilised the unity and the powerful weapon of the Party in the mission of national liberation.

Director of Vietnam’s Institute of Social Sciences Information Prof Dr Ho Si Quy reminded that Laotians live without worry, satisfying their own easiness.

He said that even though Lao people have adapted to a change of lifestyle through globalisation over the past 20 years, they’re still in no hurry.

“They live simply, in no hurry to reach development like the Vietnamese, Chinese or Cambodians,” he said through an interpreter.

He added that the positive points of the traditional identity show the good image of Lao people and the country, however when globalisation and market economy strongly penetrated Lao society, this identity itself became an obstacle to the development of society, Lao people, and the country.

Many other seminar participants expressed the common point of view on conserving the fine aspects of Lao tradition while also striving to reach the best in a globalised world.

The Lao National Institute of Social Science Acting Chairman, Associate Professor Dr Thongsalith Mangnormek, who chaired the seminar, suggested that a balance between holding on to cultural traditions and breaking free from hindrances would have to be found in order to develop and prosper.

Vientiane Times
August 22, 2012
Photo: Steve Saba

The oldest part of Talat Sao (Morning Market) will soon be demolished to allow the site to be incorporated into the new development, spelling the end of an era for the old market site. Vientiane authorities have issued a deadline to merchants and retailers in the U-shaped block of Talat Sao to move by August 30 when demolition will commence to make way for the upgrade. More than 400 shops and retailers will be moved into the new Talat Sao Mall 1 and 2, the ASEAN Mall and other locations.

Vientiane Vice Mayor Dr Anouphap Tounalom announced the imminent closure of the old part of Talat Sao on Wednesday. He said Talat Sao was built and opened in 1953, located in the heart of Vientiane, providing a valuable service to Vientiane shoppers for many years. Morning market traders have sold goods, industrial and handicraft products, fruit and vegetables, meat and fish as well as various other goods to members of the public, satisfying their shopping needs. In 1989, merchants raised funds to repair and build the market into a U-shaped block which was completed in 1991, Dr Anouphap recalled.

“Our country has opened itself to foreign investment and trade and the exchange of goods has expanded dramatically,” he said. “This has required us to develop modern services and infrastructure, provide competitive and also suppress disorderly and illegal marketplaces.” With this in mind, the government gave a Singaporean investor approval to redevelop Talat Sao into a modern shopping centre in 2003-2004.

Talat Sao Malls I and II

Dr Anouphap said the project to redevelop Talat Sao has been divided into three phases. In phase 1, the investors built a five-storey building with 200 rooms covering 23,000 square metres. For phase 2, the investors built an eight-storey building, containing 1,200 rooms with a floor space of 65,000 square metres.

Phase 3 will commence soon, with the investors planning to demolish the existing U-shaped block surrounding this site and integrate it with the new two buildings. Vientiane authorities, Talat Sao Shopping Mall Company, and merchants met to discuss contracts and rental fees at the mall. At the meeting they agreed to exempt the rental fees for relocated retailers for the first six months, but after that they will be required to pay US$150 per month.

In the second year, the company will charge US$200 per month and US$ 300 per month for the third year. The rental fees for the following years will be adjusted according to GDP of the country. The investors will be required to pay the government about US$1.7 million for property compensation. Authorities urged merchants to move immediately because the company will cut off electricity and fence off the construction site at the end of the month.

ຈະໄດ້ດຳເນີນການກໍ່ສ້າງຕຶກໃໝ່ຢູ່ຕະຫຼາດເຊົ້າຊອບປິງມໍ

ວັນທີ 22 ສິງ­ຫາ 2012 ທ່ານ ດຣ. ອາ­ນຸ­ພາບ ຕຸນາລົມ ຮອງເຈົ້າຄອງນະ­ຄອນ­ຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ ໄດ້ໃຫ້ສຳ­ພາດຕໍ່ນັກຂ່າວພວກເຮົາວ່າ: ປັດ­ຈຸ­ບັນ ນະ­ຄອນ­ຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ ແມ່ນກຳ­ລັງເປີດກວ້າງການຮ່ວມມືກັບຕ່າງ­ປະ­ເທດ ການລົງ­ທຶນກໍຄືການແລກ­ປ່ຽນສິນ­ຄ້າເຊິ່ງກັນ ແລະ ກັນ ແມ່ນນັບມື້ນັບຂະ­ຫຍາຍ­ຕົວ ຊຶ່ງມັນຮຽກ­ຮ້ອງໃຫ້ພວກເຮົາຕ້ອງມີການພັດ­ທະ­ນາໄປສູ່ຮູບແບບສູນການຄ້າທີ່ທັນສະ­ໄໝ ບໍ່ວ່າຈະແມ່ນລະ­ບົບການບໍ­ລິ­ການ ການຈໍລະຈອນແຈກຢາຍສິນ­ຄ້າທີ່ສະ­ໜອງໃຫ້ສັງ­ຄົມຢ່າງເປັນລະ­ບົບ ຫຼີກ­ເວັ້ນການຊ-ຂາຍຊະ­ຊາຍ ຄ້າ­ຂາຍເຖື່ອນ ກ້າວໄປສູ່ລະ­ບົບບໍ­ລິ­ຫານທີ່ທັນສະ­ໄໝ ການບໍ­ລິ­ການຊື້-ຂາຍສິນ­ຄ້າໃຫ້ມີຄຸນນະພາບ ແລະ ໃນລາ­ຄາທີ່ແຂ່ງ­ຂັນກັນໄດ້ຍຸ­ຕິທຳຕໍ່ສັງ­ຄົມ.

ຕະ­ຫຼາດເຊົ້ານະ­ຄອນ­ຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ ແມ່ນຕະ­ຫຼາດທີ່ເກົ່າແກ່ ໂດຍເລີ່ມສ້າງ ແລະ ເປີດນຳໃຊ້ມາແຕ່ປີ 1953 ແລະ ມາໃນປີ 1989 ຊາວຄ້າ­ຂາຍໃນຕະ­ຫຼາດເຊົ້າ ໄດ້ອອກ­ທຶນກໍ່­ສ້າງ ແລະ ສ້ອມ­ແປງຕະ­ຫຼາດເຊົ້າຄືນ­ໃໝ່ ກໍ່­ສ້າງເປັນຕຶກໂຕຢູ (U) ສຳ­ເລັດໃນປີ 1991 ຕໍ່ກັບການອອກ­ທຶນກໍ່­ສ້າງ ແລະ ສ້ອມ­ແປງຕະ­ຫຼາດເຊົ້າຄືນ­ໃໝ່ຂອງຊາວຄ້າ­ຂາຍນັ້ນ ລັດ­ຖະ­ບານໄດ້ມີການຍົກ­ເວັ້ນຄ່າເຊົ່າຫ້ອງໃຫ້ແກ່ຊາວຄ້າ­ຂາຍເປັນໄລ­ຍະເວ­ລາ 5 ປີ ນັບແຕ່ປີ 1991-1996ຕໍ່ຈາກນັ້ນ ຊາວຄ້າ­ຂາຍຕ້ອງໄດ້ຈ່າຍຄ່າເຊົ່າຫ້ອງໃຫ້ລັດ­ຖະ­ບານ ແລະ ຕຶກໂຕຢູ ກໍເປັນຊັບສິນຂອງລັດ ແລະ ມາຮອດປີ 2004ລັດ­ຖະ­ບານໄດ້ຕົກ­ລົງໃຫ້ນັກລົງ­ທຶນຕ່າງ­ປະ­ເທດ (ປະ­ເທດສິງ­ກະ­ໂປ) ເຂົ້າມາສຳປະ­ທານຕະ­ຫຼາດເຊົ້າ ເພື່ອກໍ່­ສ້າງເປັນສູນການຄ້າແບບໃໝ່ທີ່ທັນສະ­ໄໝກວ່າເກົ່າ ຊຶ່ງໂຄງ­ການໄດ້ດຳ­ເນີນໄປເປັນ 3ໄລ­ຍະ ຄື: ໄລ­ຍະທີ 1ສ້າງອາ­ຄານຊອບປີງມໍ 1ສ້າງສຳ­ເລັດ ປະ­ກອບມີ 5ຊັ້ນ ແລະ ໄລ­ຍະ 2ອາ­ຄານ ຊອບປີງມໍ 2ເປັນອາ­ຄານ 8ຊັ້ນ ກໍ່­ສ້າງສຳ­ເລັດໂດຍພື້ນ­ຖານ ແລະ ໄລ­ຍະ 3ກໍກຳ­ລັງກະ­ກຽມກໍ່­ສ້າງ ຄາດວ່າຈະໃຫ້ສຳ­ເລັດພາຍໃນ 2ປີຂ້າງໜ້າ.

ໃນເມື່ອບໍ­ລິ­ສັດຊອບປິງມໍ ຈະມີການພັດ­ທະ­ນາຕຶກໂຕຢູປັດ­ຈຸ­ບັນ ໃຫ້ເຊື່ອມເຂົ້າກັບຊອບປິງມໍ 1 ແລະ 2 ຕາມສັນ­ຍາ ດັ່ງ­ນັ້ນ ທາງລັດ­ຖະ­ບານໄດ້ຕົກ­ລົງໃຫ້ນະ­ຄອນ­ຫຼວງ ລົງໄກ່ເກ່ຍປຸກ­ລະ­ດົມໃຫ້ຊາວຄ້າ­ຂາຍຢູ່ຕຶກໂຕຢູ ຈຳ­ນວນ 270 ສັນ­ຍາ ມີທັງໝົດ 413 ຫ້ອງ ໃຫ້ຍົກ­ຍ້າຍມາຂາຍຢູ່ຊອບປິງມໍ 1 ແລະ 2 ທີ່ທາງຄະ­ນະຈັດສັນຈັດໄວ້ໃຫ້ນັບແຕ່ວັນທີ 20-30ສິງ­ຫານີ້ ໃຫ້ສຳ­ເລັດ ເພາະນັບແຕ່ວັນທີ 31ສິງ­ຫາເປັນ­ຕົ້ນໄປ ຈະໄດ້ເລີ່ມມອດໄຟ­ຟ້າ ແລະ ຮົ້ວອ້ອມ ເພື່ອດຳ­ເນີນການທັບມ້າງອາ­ຄານໂຕຢູເກົ່າ ແລ້ວດຳ­ເນີນການກໍ່­ສ້າງອາ­ຄານຮູບໂຕແອວ (L) ແລະ ມາຮອດປັດ­ຈຸ­ບັນ ໄດ້ມີຊາວຄ້າ­ຂາຍ 82ສັນ­ຍາໄດ້ຍົກ­ຍ້າຍແລ້ວ ສ່ວນທີ່ຍັງເຫຼືອນັ້ນໃຫ້ຮີບຮ້ອນຍົກ­ຍ້າຍໂດຍໄວ້.

ທ່ານ ດຣ. ອາ­ນຸ­ພາບ ຕຸນາລົມ ຍັງໃຫ້ຮູ້ຕື່ມວ່າ: ຕໍ່ກັບຜູ້ທີ່ຍົກ­ຍ້າຍມາເຊົ່າຫ້ອງຂາຍ­ເຄື່ອງຢູ່ຊອບປິງມໍ 1 ແລະ 2 ນັ້ນ ທາງພາກລັດ ແລະ ບໍ­ລິ­ສັດ ມີນະ­ໂຍ­ບາຍໃຫ້ ຄື: ປີທີ 1 ໃນ 6 ເດືອນທຳອິດ ຈະບໍ່ເກັບຄ່າເຊົ່າຫ້ອງ ຄ່ານ້ຳປະ­ປາ ເວນ­ຍາມ ແລະ ຄ່າໄຟ­ຟ້າ (ຄ່າໄຟ­ຟ້າ 3 ແສນກີບຕໍ່ເດືອນ) ຖ້າໃຊ້ເກີນ 3 ແສນກີບ ຕ້ອງຈ່າຍເອງ 6 ເດືອນຕໍ່ມາ ໃຫ້ຈ່າຍລາ­ຄາປະ­ມານ 1,21 ລ້ານກີບຕໍ່ຫ້ອງຕໍ່ເດືອນ ປີທີ 2 ຈ່າຍໃນລາ­ຄາ 1,61 ລ້ານກີບຕໍ່ຫ້ອງຕໍ່ເດືອນ ພ້ອມຄ່ານ້ຳ ຄ່າໄຟ­ຟ້າ ເວນ­ຍາມ ປີທີ 3 ຈ່າຍໃນລາ­ຄາ 2,42 ລ້ານກີບ (ຫຼືປະ­ມານ 300 ໂລດາສະ­ຫະ­ລັດ) ຕໍ່ຫ້ອງຕໍ່ປີ (ຂະ­ໜາດຫ້ອງ 4 ຄູນ 4 ແມັດ ຫຼື 16 ຕາແມັດ) ແລະ ປີທີ 4 ໃຫ້ຈ່າຍຕາມອັດ­ຕາຄ່າເຊົ່າຕາມການຂຶ້ນລົງຂອງ (GDP) ແຕ່ລະປີ.

Vientiane Times, Vientiane Mai
24 Aug 2012
Photos: Webshots, File Photos

The Nam Phou fountain redevelopment project in central Vientiane is now completed and will serve as additional facilities for tourists and locals. With a concession lasting 30 years, the developer, Asia Investment and Finance Service Company – has been approved by Vientiane authorities to develop facilities for tourists ahead of the Asia and Europe Meeting(ASEM) in November.

The project, which covers an area of 4,000 square metres, began construction late last year and the developer has said that they have spent more 10 billions kip to create Nam Phou fountain opens to the public a new Nam Phou fountain area in Vientiane to welcome international tourists. According to the agreement between city authorities and the developer, the fountain will remain a public space where local people and tourists can come to relax and enjoy the facilities. Prior to this, the public complained about the project, fearing that it would have a negative impact on the appearance and amenities of the popular public space. These concerns caused the developer to modify the original design six times before the authorities gave the go-ahead.

Company deputy director Mr Pheutsapha Phoummasak said during the opening ceremony yesterday that his company not only aimed to develop Nam Phou fountain to be a tourism hub in the capital but also planned to turn Pangkham Road from Lao Plaza to the National Library into a walking street in the near future. Nam Phou has a history of more than 100 years. During French colonialism, the area was designed as a fresh market before being developed into a fountain 50 years ago. Located in Xieng gneun village in Chanthabouly district in Vientiane, Nam Phou serves as a focal point of the city and a meeting place for local residents. Nam Phou is very well known as the fountain of Vientiane where many Lao people spend time relaxing and enjoying their free time. The government had already spent several million kip to improve Nam Phou ahead of the 25th South East Asia games in 2009. Due to financial constraints, authorities decided to allow the private sector to develop facilities in the fountain area including a restaurant. According to the authorities, the developer will be responsible for maintenance of the area to ensure it remains clean and tidy.

ໄຂນຳໃຊ້ສວນນ້ຳພຸບ້ານຊຽງຍືນ

ສວນນ້ຳ­ພຸແຫ່ງນີ້ ໄດ້ຖືກສ້າງຂຶ້ນມາໄດ້ຫຼາຍປີແລ້ວ ເພື່ອເປັນບ່ອນພັກ­ຜ່ອນຂອງຊາວນະ­ຄອນ­ຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ ກໍຄືແຂກທັງພາຍໃນ ແລະ ຕ່າງ­ປະ­ເທດ ສວນນີ້ໄດ້ມີການປັບ­ປຸງມາແລ້ວຫຼາຍຄັ້ງ ເຊິ່ງໄລ­ຍະມໍ່ໆມານີ້ເຫັນວ່າສວນດັ່ງ­ກ່າວ ມີຄວາມຊຸດ­ໂຊມສົມ­ຄວນ ດັ່ງ­ນັ້ນ ບໍ­ລິ­ສັດເອເຊຍລົງ­ທຶນ ແລະ ບໍ­ລິ­ການຈຳ­ກັດ ຈຶ່ງໄດ້ຮັບອະ­ນຸ­ຍາດໃຫ້ສຳປະ­ທານ ໄລ­ຍະ 30 ປີ ແລະ ລົງ­ທຶນກ່ອນ 100% ເພື່ອປັບ­ປຸງໃຫ້ມີຄວາມສວຍງາມຄືນ­ໃໝ່ ພ້ອມທັງສ້າງໃຫ້ເປັນສະ­ຖານ­ທີ່ໆສາ­ມາດດຶງດູດຄວາມສົນ­ໃຈຂອງມວນຊົນ ທັງພາຍໃນ ແລະ ຕ່າງ­ປະ­ເທດ ສະ­ແດງອອກເຖິງວັດ­ທະ­ນະ­ທຳລາວ ແນ­ໃສ່ເຮັດໃຫ້ເປັນແຫຼ່ງທ່ອງທ່ຽວທີ່ສຳ­ຄັນອີກແຫ່ງໜຶ່ງ ໃນນະ­ຄອນ­ຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ ເພື່ອສ້າງລາຍຮັບ ການປັບ­ປຸງກໍ່­ສ້າງສວນນ້ຳ­ພຸແຫ່ງນີ້ ໄດ້ເລີ່ມແຕ່ທ້າຍປີ 2011 ເປັນ­ຕົ້ນມາ ໂດຍແບ່ງເປັນ 2 ໄລ­ຍະຄື: ໄລ­ຍະທຳອິດໄດ້ກໍ່­ສ້າງຮ້ານອາ­ຫານ ຕິດຕັ້ງໝໍ້ແປງໄຟ­ຟ້າ ແລະ ຕູ້ຄວບຄຸມ ປັບ­ປຸງລະ­ບົບສູບ-ສີດນ້ຳ­ພຸໃໝ່ ພ້ອມທັງຟື້ນຟູເດີ່ນ ປູກຕົ້ນ­ໄມ້ປະ­ດັບ ແຕ້ມເສັ້ນ­ທາງຈະ­ລາ­ຈອນ ແລະ ລະ­ບົບແສງສີສຽງ ມາຮອດປັດ­ຈຸ­ບັນ ສຳ­ເລັດແລ້ວ 95% ລວມມູນຄ່າການກໍ່­ສ້າງ 10 ຕື້ກວ່າກີບ ສ່ວນໄລ­ຍະທີສອງ ຈະກໍ່­ສ້າງຫ້ອງນ້ຳສາ­ທາ­ລະ­ນະ ບ່ອນແລກ­ປ່ຽນເງິນ­ຕາ ແລະ ສິ່ງອຳ­ນວຍຄວາມສະ­ດວກເພີ່ມເຕີມ ເຊິ່ງຄາດວ່າຈະໃຫ້ສຳ­ເລັດໃນທ້າຍປີ 2012 ແລະ ຈະໃຊ້ທຶນຕື່ມອີກປະ­ມານ 3 ຕື້ກີບ.

Vientiane Times, Vientiane Mai
Photo: Lae Vongphouthone

Lao wooden furniture manufacturers are losing domestic market share amid an inflow of cheap and modern furniture from foreign countries. “We have stopped producing  TV cabinets because Lao people  don’t buy them. They now like  to buy the imported ones,” said one wooden furniture maker in Sihom village, Chanthabouly district.  “What we can sell at  present are dining tables, chairs  and other pieces of wooden furniture. Most of our customers are people who like real wood.”

She is not the only one struggling to maintain sales.  A number of other furniture  manufacturers and retailers  located in the same area admitted that they were struggling to sell certain lines due to the rapid  inflow of modern designs and attractive furniture from China, Thailand and South Korea. “Our sales volumes are  not as big as in the past,” said another furniture maker. However, he admitted the value of wooden furniture products is better now than in the past due to a shortage in timber supplies. According to a study funded by the Asian Development Bank, the wood processing industry will be one of the Lao businesses which will face negative impacts from the Asean-China Free Trade Area in 2015 because import tariffs on furniture products will be removed.

Foreign furniture makers are producing the latest designs of furniture and have strong marketing campaigns on local and foreign media, making it easier for them to enter the Lao furniture market. The ADB funded study suggests there is a need for local producers to create more modern product designs emphasising more efficient raw material use, lighter weight designs, and greater value adding. They should also be attempting to incorporate international designs according to ever changing global trends and fashions in order to maintain and build their customer base. At present, most Lao furniture is based on traditional designs, doesn’t always meet the expectations of modern home builders.

Despite the fact that Lao furniture makers are losing domestic market share a number of businesses said that they have found success in foreign markets, particularly in China, and expressed hopes that the Asean-China Free Trade would boost their export sales. “We have received a lot of orders from Chinese partners but we cannot sign supply contracts at the moment as timber volumes available to domestic firms are unstable,” said the Vice President of Lao Furniture Association, Mr Yothin Vetsaphong. He said that the Lao furniture makers want the government to take serious action to stop the export of unprocessed timber to secure a supply for Lao furniture makers so they can add value by processing the timber before it leaves the country. According to the ADB funded study, measures should be taken to ensure clear policies that promote greater value adding in the wood processing industry, and the fair allocation of raw logs quotas consistent with factories’ prior production outputs.

Vientiane Times,
August 24, 2012
Photo: Chaoborus

ມີຫຼາຍຄົນອາດຈະເລີ່ມຕັ້ງຄຳຖາມວ່າ ເຮົາຄວນເປັນພະນັກງານ ຫຼື ຄວນເປັນຜູ້ປະກອບການດີ? ທ່ານບໍ່ຕ້ອງແປກໃຈດອກ ມີຄົນອີກຈຳນວນຫຼວງຫຼາຍໃນໂລກນີ້ກໍ່ຕັ້ງຄຳຖາມນີ້ຄືກັນ ເຮົາຈຶ່ງຂໍນຳສະເໜີເລື່ອງຂອງການທົດສອບຄວາມເປັນຜູ້ປະກອບການ (entrepreneurship) ມາໃຫ້ອ່ານຫຼິ້ນໆກັນກ່ອນ. ເນື້ອໃນສ່ວນໃຫຍ່ແມ່ນຮຽບຮຽງມາຈາກບົດຂອງອາຈານ Daniel Isenberg ເຊິ່ງໃນເວລາທີ່ຂຽນບົດນັ້ນເພິ່ນເປັນສາດສະດາຈານທາງດ້ານ Management Practice ທີ່ Babson College.

ທ່ານຄິດວ່າໝູ່ຂອງທ່ານເປັນຜູ້ປະກອບການ ທ່ານກໍ່ເລີຍຢາກເປັນນຳເຂົາບໍ່ ? ຄວາມຈິງແລ້ວໃນຖານະທີ່ເປັນຄົນເຮັດວຽກຄົນໜຶ່ງ ຄັ້ງໜຶ່ງໃນເສັ້ນທາງອາຊີບຂອງທ່ານ ທ່ານກໍ່ຄວນຈະຕັ້ງຄຳຖາມນີ້ກັບຕົນເອງເບິ່ງໃດ໋. ຈາກປະສົບການການເປັນຜູ້ປະກອບການຂອງເພິ່ນເອງ ບວກກັບການເປັນນັກວິຊາການທາງດ້ານນີ້ ອາຈານ Daniel Isenberg ໄດ້ພັດທະນາການທົດສອບຄວາມເປັນຜູ້ປະກອບການທີ່ເອິ້ນວ່າ Isenberg Entrepreneur Test ຂຶ້ນ. ມາ ທ່ານຜູ້ອ່ານ ມາລອງຕອບແບບທົດສອບນີ້ນຳກັນເບິ່ງ ຫາກທ່ານຢາກໄດ້ຄຳຕອບທີ່ກົງໄປກົງມາ ທ່ານກໍ່ຕ້ອງຕອບຄຳຖາມເຫຼົ່ານີ້ຢ່າງກົງໄປກົງມາເດີ້ ຕອບງ່າຍໆວ່າ ແມ່ນຫຼືບໍ່ແມ່ນ ກໍ່ພໍ.

1.    ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ມັກໃຫ້ຄົນອຶ່ນທີ່ມີຄວາມສາມາດໜ້ອຍກວ່າຂ້ອຍບອກວ່າ ຂ້ອຍຄວນເຮັດຫຍັງ .

2.    ຂ້ອຍມັກທ້າທາຍຕົນເອງ.

3.    ຂ້ອຍມັກການເອົາຊະນະ.

4.    ຂ້ອຍມັກເປັນນາຍຂອງຕົນເອງ.

5.    ຍາມໃດຂ້ອຍກໍ່ມັກຄົ້ນຫາວິທີການເຮັດວຽກທີ່ໃໝ່ ແລະ ດີກວ່າເກົ່າ.

6.    ຂ້ອຍມັກຕັ້ງຄຳຖາມກັບກົດ ຫຼືວ່າ ລະບຽບປະຕິບັດທົ່ວໄປທີ່ທຸກຄົນເຮັດຢູ່.

7.    ຂ້ອຍມັກຊວນຄົນຫຼາຍໆປະເພດມາຢູ່ຮ່ວມກັນ ແລ້ວເຮັດສິ່ງໃດໜຶ່ງນຳກັນໃຫ້ແລ້ວ.

8.    ຄົນອຶ່ນມັກຈະຕື່ນເຕັ້ນໄປກັບຄວາມຄິດຂອງຂ້ອຍ.

9.    ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ຄ່ອຍພໍໃຈກັບຜົນງານຕົນເອງ.

10.  ຂ້ອຍຢູ່ລ້າໆບໍ່ເປັນ.

11.  ເມື່ອພົບກັບຄວາມຫຍຸ້ງຍາກ ຍາມໃດຂ້ອຍກໍ່ມີທາງອອກໃຫ້ຕົນເອງສະເໜີ.

12.  ຂ້ອຍຍິນດີທີ່ຈະຫຼົ້ມເຫຼວໃນສິ່ງທີ່ຕົນເອງເຮັດ ຫຼາຍກວ່າໄປປະສົບຄວາມສຳເລັດກັບເລື່ອງຂອງຄົນອຶ່ນ.

13.  ຍາມໃດທີ່ມີບັນຫາ ຂ້ອຍຍິນດີທີ່ຈະໂດດເຂົ້າຫາທັນທີ.

14.  ຂ້ອຍຄິດວ່າ ແມ້ແຕ່ໝາແກ່ ກໍ່ສາມາດຮຽນຮູ້ຫຼືວ່າຄິດຄົ້ນເຕັກນິກວິທີການໃໝ່ໆໄດ້.

15.  ມີສະມາຊິກໃນຄອບຄົວຂອງຂ້ອຍເຮັດທຸລະກິດຢູ່.

16.  ຂ້ອຍມີໝູ່ຫຼາຍຄົນເຮັດທຸລະກິດສ່ວນຕົວ.

17.  ໃນເວລາທີ່ຍັງເປັນນັກສຶກສາຢູ່ ຂ້ອຍຊອກວຽກເຮັດໃນໄລຍະພັກຮຽນສະເໝີ.

18.   ຂ້ອຍຮູ້ຕື່ນເຕັ້ນຫຼາຍຫາກໄດ້ຂາຍເຄື່ອງ.

19.  ການບັນລຸເປົ້າໝາຍເຮັດໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍເບີກບານສະເໝີ.

20.  ຂ້ອຍໜ້າຈະຂຽນໂຈດທົດສອບໄດ້ດີກວ່າອາຈານ Isenberg.

ເປັນຈັ່ງໃດ ທ່ານຜູ້ອ່ານ ມີຈັກຂໍ້ທີ່ທ່ານຕອບວ່າ ແມ່ນ (Yes) ແລະ ບໍ່ແມ່ນ (No).

ຫາກວ່າທ່ານຕອບວ່າ ແມ່ນ (Yes)  ຮອດ 17ຂໍ້ ຫຼືຫຼາຍກວ່າ ໝາຍຄວາມວ່າ ທ່ານຄວນພິຈາລະນາໃຫ້ດີໆວ່າທ່ານຍັງຢາກນັ່ງເຮັດວຽກໃຫ້ຄົນອຶ່ນຢູ່ບໍ່ ຫຼືວ່າ ຫາກທ່ານຍັງບໍ່ທັນຮຽນຈົບ ເມື່ອຈົບແລະເລີ່ມເຮັດວຽກແລ້ວ ທ່ານກໍ່ຈົ່ງຈື່ໄວ້ວ່າທ່ານມີໂອກາດກ້າວໄປໄດ້ໄກກັບເສັ້ນທາງຂອງການເປັນ ຜູ້ປະກອບການ (entrepreneur) ເຊັ່ນກັນໃດ໋. ຕອນຕໍ່ໄປ ເຮົາຈະມາລົມສູ່ຟັງຕຶ່ມວ່າ ຫາກວ່າທ່ານເໝາະສົມແລ້ວ ຍັງມີຂໍ້ຄວນລະວັງຫຍັງແດ່ທີ່ທ່ານຄວນເອົາໃຈໃສ່.

ເອົາລະ ສຳລັບທ່ານທີ່ໄດ້ຕອບວ່າ ແມ່ນ (Yes)  ຮອດ 17ຂໍ້ ຫຼືຫຼາຍກວ່າ  ທ່ານຄວນເລິ່ມກວດສອບເບິ່ງບັນຊີເງິນຝາກ ຫຼືວ່າ ໄຫເງິນໄຫຄຳທີ່ເຄີຍໄດ້ຝັງໄວ້ ຈາກນັ້ນກໍ່ແມ່ນຂັ້ນຕອນການທີ່ຕ້ອງຖາມຕົນເອງຄັກໆແນ່ໆແລ້ວວ່າ ທ່ານເອົາແທ້ບໍ່? ທ່ານມີໜີ້ບໍ່? ພາລະທາງການສຶກສາຂອງລູກເດ່ ທ່ານໄດ້ກຽມໄວ້ແດ່ແລ້ວບໍ່?  ລອງລົມສູ່ສະມາຊິກໃນຄອບຄົວ ໝູ່ເພື່ອນເບິ່ງວ່າເຂົາເຈົ້າໃຫ້ການສະໜັບສະໜູນທ່ານບໍ່ ? ຫາກວ່າທ່ານໄດ້ຮັບຄຳຕອບໃນທາງທີ່ບວກ ກໍ່ຈົ່ງຢ່າລໍຊ້າ ເລິ່ມຕັ້ງໜ້າຄິດຫາທຸລະກິດທີ່ຕົນເອງຢາກເລິ່ມຕົ້ນໄດ້ເລີຍ.

ອາຍຸເປັນພຽງແຕ່ຕົວເລກ ຜົນການສຶກສາຂອງ Kauffman Foundation ສະແດງໃຫ້ເຫັນວ່າທຸລະກິດທີ່ສ້າງໂດຍຜູ້ທີ່ມີອາຍຸ 50 ປີ ຫຼືຫຼາຍກວ່າແຮ່ງມາແຮ່ງຫຼາຍຂຶ້ນ. ຫາໂອກາດລົມກັບບຸກຄົນທີ່ເຄີຍສ້າງທຸລະກິດຂອງຕົນເອງ ຊອກຮູ້ວ່າເພິ່ນວາງແຜນຈັ່ງໃດ ແລະ ຈາກແຜນນັ້ນເພິ່ນໄດ້ພັດທະນາໃຫ້ກາຍເປັນຜະລິດຕະພັນແລະບໍລິການທີ່ຈັບຕ້ອງໄດ້ຄືແນວໃດ. ນອກນັ້ນ ທ່ານກໍ່ຄວນຫາເວລາລົມກັບຜູ້ທີ່ອາດຈະເປັນລູກຄ້າ ຫຼືວ່າຜູ້ສະໜອງໃນອານາຄົດຫາກທ່ານ         ເລີ່ມກິດຈະການຂອງຕົນເອງ.

ໃຫ້ສັງເກດວ່າ ຄຳວ່າ “ຂ້ອຍຢາກສ່ຽງ” ຫຼືວ່າ “ຂ້ອຍກ້າສ່ຽງ” ບໍ່ໄດ້ນອນຢູ່ໃນຂໍ້ສອບຖາມ ເພາະວ່າ ໂດຍທົ່ວໄປຄົນເຮົາບໍ່ໄດ້ເລືອກເປັນຜູ້ປະກອບການຍ້ອຍຢາກສ່ຽງໄພ ແຕ່ວ່າທີ່ສໍາຄັນແລະເຂົາເຈົ້າປຽບທຽບລະຫວ່າງ

ຄວາມສ່ຽງໃນການເຮັດວຽກປະຈຳ ເຊິ່ງອາດຈະປະກອບມີ  ຄວາມເບື່ອໃນວຽກ ເຮັດວຽກກັບເຈົ້ານາຍທີ່ບໍ່ດີ ຂາດຄວາມເປັນອິດສະລະ ບໍ່ສາມາດຄວບຄຸມຊະຕາຂອງຕົນເອງໄດ້ເຕັມທີ່ ອາດສ່ຽງຕໍ່ການຖືກໄລ່ອອກ ກັບ

ຄວາມສ່ຽງໃນການປະກອບການ ເຊິ່ງອາດຈະປະກອບມີ  ຄວາມຜິດພາດທາງທຸລະກິດ ຄວາມບໍ່ແນ່ນອນທາງດ້ານລາຍຮັບ ຄວາມອາຍ ຫຼື ຄວາມສູນເສຍທາງການລົງທືນຫາກວ່າທຸລະກິດລົ້ມເຫຼວ

ໃນທີ່ສຸດແລ້ວ ຜູ້ທີ່ເລືອກທີ່ຈະເປັນຜູ້ປະກອບການແມ່ນຜູ້ທີ່ເຊື່ອໜັ້ນວ່າ ຄວາມສາມາດຂອງຕົນເອງ (ເຊັ່ນ: ຄວາມເປັນຜູ້ນຳ ຄວາມຮອບຮູ້ ຄວາມກ້າຫານ ແລະ ຄວາມດຸໝັ່ນ) ຫຼືວ່າ ຊັບສິນອຶ່ນໆທີ່ມີຕິດໂຕ (ເຊັ່ນ: ເງິນທຶນ ຊັບສິນທາງປັນຍາ ຂໍ້ມູນ ຖານລູກຄ້າ)

“ຂ້ອຍຢາກກາຍເປັນບຸກຄົນລໍ້າລວຍ” ກໍ່ບໍ່ໄດ້ຢູ່ໃນລາຍການຄຳຖາມເຊັ່ນກັນ. ຄວາມຈິງແລ້ວ ບໍ່ແມ່ນທຸກຄົນທີ່ເປັນຜູ້ປະກອບການແລ້ວຈະກາຍເປັນຄົນລໍ້າລວຍໝົດ ມີພຽງຈຳນວນໜ້ອຍໜຶ່ງເທົ່ານັ້ນທີ່ປະສົບຄວາມສຳເລັດຢ່າງລົ້ນເຫຼືອທາງດ້ານການເງິນ ແລ້ວຖາມວ່າເປັນຄົນເຮົາຈຶ່ງຍັງເລືອກເປັນຜູ້ປະກອບການ ມັນແມ່ນເລື່ອງຂອງຜົນໄດ້ຮັບທາງດ້ານຈິດໃຈຕ່າງຫາກທີ່ເຮັດໃຫ້ເປັນທາງເລືອກທີ່ໜ້າສົນໃຈ ນັ້ນໝາຍເຖິງການມີໂອກາດທີ່ໄດ້ທ້າທາຍ ໄດ້ຮັບຄວາມອິດສະລະ ໄດ້ຮັບການຍອມຮັບ ໄດ້ປົດປ່ອຍຄວາມຄິດສ້າງສັນ ພ້ອມໆກັບການທີ່ໄດ້ປະກອບສ່ວນສ້າງປະໂຫຍດໃຫ້ສ່ວນລວມ.

Re-published from ວາລະສານ 108ອາຊີບ ສະບັບທີ 18 (01-15 Aug, 2012) ໜ້າ 20-21 ແລະ ສະບັບທີ 19 (16-31 Aug, 2012) ໜ້າ 8-9 

ອ້າງອີງ: ຮຽບຮຽງຈາກ “Should You Be An Entrepreneur? Take This Test”

by Daniel Isenberg, Professor of Management Practice, Babson College

http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2010/02/should_you_be_an_entrepreneur.html

Should You Be An Entrepreneur? Take This Test

Re-published from 108job Magazine #18 (01-15 Aug, 2012) pages 20-21 and #19 (16-31 Aug, 2012) pages 8-9 

Some of your friends are doing it. People who do it are in the front pages and web almost every day. Even President Obama is talking about it. So should you do it? Should you join the millions of people every year who take the plunge and start their first ventures? I’ve learned in my own years as an entrepreneur — and now an entrepreneurship professor — that there is a gut level “fit” for people who are potential entrepreneurs. There are strong internal drivers that compel people to create their own business. I’ve developed a 2–minute Isenberg Entrepreneur Test, below, to help you find out. Just answer yes or no. Be honest with yourself: the worst lies are the ones we tell ourselves.

1. I don’t like being told what to do by people who are less capable than I am.
2. I like challenging myself.
3. I like to win.
4. I like being my own boss.
5. I always look for new and better ways to do things.
6. I like to question conventional wisdom.
7. I like to get people together in order to get things done.
8. People get excited by my ideas.
9. I am rarely satisfied or complacent.
10. I can’t sit still.
11. I can usually work my way out of a difficult situation.
12. I would rather fail at my own thing than succeed at someone else’s.
13. Whenever there is a problem, I am ready to jump right in.
14. I think old dogs can learn — even invent — new tricks.
15. Members of my family run their own businesses.
16. I have friends who run their own businesses.
17. I worked after school and during vacations when I was growing up.
18. I get an adrenaline rush from selling things.
19. I am exhilarated by achieving results.
20. I could have written a better test than Isenberg (and here is what I would change ….)

If you answered “yes” on 17 or more of these questions, look at your paycheck (if you are lucky enough to still get one). If the company that issued the check isn’t owned by you, it is time for some soul searching: Do you have debts to pay? Kids in college? Alimony? Want to take it easy? Maybe better to wait. Do you have a little extra cash in the bank and several credit cards? Do you have a spouse, partner, friends, or kids who will cheer you on? If so, start thinking about what kind of business you want to set up. It doesn’t matter what age you are: research by the Kauffman Foundation shows that more and more over–50s are setting up their own businesses. Talk to people who have made the plunge, learn how to plan and deliver a product or service, think about that small business you might buy, talk to people with whom you would like to work, and talk to customers.

“I like to take risks” is not on the list. People don’t choose to be entrepreneurs by opting for a riskier lifestyle. What they do, instead, is reframe the salary vs. entrepreneur choice as between two different sets of risk: the things they don’t like about having a steady job — such as the risk of boredom, working for a bad boss, lack of autonomy, lack of control over your fate, and getting laid off — and the things they fear about being an entrepreneur — possible failure, financial uncertainty, shame or embarrassment, and lost investment. In the end, people who are meant to be entrepreneurs believe that their own abilities (e.g. leadership, resourcefulness, pluck, hard work) or assets (e.g. money, intellectual property, information, access to customers) significantly mitigate the risks of entrepreneurship. Risk is ultimately a personal assessment: what is risky for me is not risky for you.

“I want to get rich” is not on the list either. All else being equal (and all else is rarely equal in the real world), on the average, people who set up their own businesses don’t make more money, although a few do succeed in grabbing the brass ring. But the “psychic benefits” — the challenge, autonomy, recognition, excitement, and creativity — make it all worthwhile.

DANIEL ISENBERG

Daniel Isenberg is Professor of Management Practice, Babson Global, and founding executive director of the Babson Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Project. His most recent HBR article is How to Start an Entrepreneurial Revolution.

Lao Airlines, the national carrier of the Southeast Asian country of Laos, is maybe unexpectedly one of Asia’s fastest-growing airlines in terms of seat capacity offered, as capacity has grown by 50% in the last year.

The reason is the arrival last November and December of two A320 aircraft to the airline’s fleet, which greatly have increased capacity on the airline’s services. The two brand-new 142-seat aircraft complement the airline’s remaining fleet of eight relatively new turboprops – four ATR 72s and four MA60s – that are spread across the airline’s two bases in Laos’ capital Vientiane in the south of the country and the UNESCO World Heritage Site Luang Prabang in the north.

On several of Lao Airlines’ biggest routes, capacity has nearly, or even more than, doubled in the last year. However, there are two notable exceptions to the growing trend in the top 10. On two routes, Lao Airlines has in fact reduced capacity; the domestic route between Vientiane and Pakse as well as from Pakse to Siem Reap in Cambodia.

Two new routes have also been launched in the last year; the route between Laos’ capital Vientiane and Singapore was launched as soon as the airline took delivery of the first A320 last November, while the domestic service between Vientiane and Savannakhet already is the airline’s sixth-largest, having launched at the end of October last year, but not operating between February and May this year.

The longer range of the new A320s have opened up destinations such as Singapore to Lao Airlines, which otherwise focuses on the domestic market (43% of capacity) and international flights to neighbouring countries; Thailand (25%), Vietnam (15%), China (10%) and Cambodia (4%).

In Laos’ capital Vientiane, Lao Airlines has a 50% share of total seat capacity, competing with Vietnam Airlines, Thai Airways, the private local airline Lao Central Airlines, AirAsia, Jin Air and China Eastern, while the state carrier has a larger 65% share at Luang Prabang, where the only competitors are Vietnam Airlines, Bangkok Airways and Lao Central Airlines.

Source: Anna Aero
Photo: Jetphotos.net

Around 7,800 students were awarded degrees and diplomas yesterday from the National university of Laos after proving themselves through years of rigorous study. NUOL President Prof. Dr Soukkongseng Xaignaleuth, presented degrees and diplomas to the graduating class at the presentation ceremony yesterday. It was the 12th batch of graduates from the NUOL since the university commenced teaching in the 1995-96 academic year. The ceremony took place at the university’s campus and was attended by Minister to the Government Office, Professor Dr Bountiem Phissamay, relevant officials, teachers and students’ relatives and friends.

Of the 7,794 graduates, 2,997 are female. the number of graduates rose from 6,600 students last year, according to the university. The numbers of new graduates from the different faculties are: sciences – 463 students; Education – 936; social sciences – 611; Economics and Business management – 1,485; Engineering – 1,102; Law and administration – 840; Letters – 629; architecture – 160; Environmental sciences –440; agriculture – 329 and Forestry – 637. Another 152 students graduating from other institutes under the university also received degrees and diplomas from Dr Soukkongseng.

For this academic year, the university’s faculties intake will be: sciences – 650 students; Education – 1,263; social sciences – 667; Economics and Business management – 936; Engineering – 1,506; Law and administration – 657; Letters – 537; architecture – 318; Environmental sciences – 340; agriculture – 258 and Forestry – 480. In his opening remarks, Dr Soukkongseng said the university has produced strong graduates ready to serve society and contribute to national development. “It is certain that today is a happy day for the new graduates, but it will also be a sad day for the students who couldn’t pass the final exam,” Dr Soukkongseng said.

However, Dr Soukkongseng encouraged all students who didn’t pass the exams to pay more attention to their studies and to challenge themselves again. “Despite facing many difficulties and challenges in the 2011-12 academic year, under the leadership of the university and the Ministry of Education and sports, the university’s lecturers educated them to get past any obstacles they may have faced during their study,” Dr Soukkongseng said. He encouraged the graduates to continue to do their best in their careers, saying: “the degrees and diplomas are not only to show that you have finished school, they’re only theoretical learning. The future holds many real challenges, not just theories.”

Vientiane Times
September 01, 2012
Photo: Vankham Vongsavanthong, Phoungeun Xayabout, Khouannakhone Souliyabapha

Health officials are gearing up to upgrade Mahosot Hospital to turn it into a modern facility, offering improved medical services to members of the public. Deputy Director of the hospital, Dr Aphone Visathep, told the Vientiane Times yesterday that the improvements at the hospital were at the behest of the government’s desire to transform it to a modern facility by next year. “We aim to upgrade the hospital facility to an international standard,” Dr Aphone said. It is expected the hospital will be financially self sufficient and won’t need government funding. One major aim is to attract doctors and nurses to work at the hospital by providing better conditions, higher salaries and overseas training courses. The objective of the hospital’s upgrade is to reduce the number of people seeking treatment in neighbouring countries.

Doctors expect that the services provided will be of a similar level to those at private hospitals in neighbouring countries. So far, the hospital has already implemented part of the medical staff’s plan, including constructing new buildings for the patients, improving service standards, training medical staff and building a parking lot. The hospital also manages a budget dedicated to buying new equipment to upgrade the standards of medical service. In addition, hospital staff have concentrated on medical ethics in a bid to reduce the number of complaints from the public about its services. Dr Aphone said one major difficulty is the management of the doctors’ time, who are needed to not only treat patients, but also to train and teach at various institutions and healthcare centres around the country.

In addition, the hospital still has other problems that need to be solved, particularly the shortage of nurses needed to provide the daily services required at the upgraded facilities. Mahosot Hospital was the first hospital in Laos, established in 1910 by French medical doctors. It has 31 wards with 450 beds, and employs more 700 medical staff, all of whom are Lao nationals. Many have received training overseas.

Vientiane Times
August 31, 2012

BFL (Banque Franco-Lao) opened a new service center at next to Khop Chai Deu restaurant near Nam Phou in July, making it the 6th branch in Vientiane. It is the only branch in the city to remain open late, operating from 8:30am to 8:30pm. It’s also the only branch open 7 days per week, meaning banking is now possible on weekends. Customers of BFL can make any ordinary transaction at the Nam Phou branch such as account openings, deposits, withdrawals and currency exchanges or even  savings and loan requests.

The ATM at the Nam Phou branch allows cards from other banks to withdraw funds with a fee of 30,000 kip, less than some other banks in the area that charge a non-customer fee of 40,000 kip.

You can find a list of all BFL  branches here or visit the website at www.bfl.la. Open an account within the next few weeks and receive a special gift like a BFL T-shirt, umbrella or pen.

Laos will become a rice exporter over the next decade if it can maintain current grain production and consumption growth rates, according to an Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded study.

The Asean and Global Rice Situation and Outlook, which was released on the ADB’s website recently, shows that Laos will be able to shift its status from rice importer to a minor rice exporter over the next 10 years, if it can maintain the growth rate of rice production above the growth rate of consumption.

At present, Laos has 821,000 hectares of paddy fields with an average production capacity of 1.76 tonnes per hectare. In 2011, the country produced 1.44 million tonnes of milled rice – an increase of 3.61 percent compared to the previous year.

The increasing rice production growth rate is mainly due to an average annual yield gain of 2.88 percent, with the harvested area increasing only by 0.71 percent. In 2011, total rice consumption stood at 1.46 million tonnes – an increase of 1.67 percent on the previous year. This is mainly due to population growth, as per capita rice consumption grows only 0.10 percent annually over the baseline.

At present, Laos has a total population of 6.48 million, which is projected to grow at 1.56 percent per year to reach 7.55 million by 2021.

The study highlights that if Laos can maintain the rice production growth rate at 3.61 percent and consumption growth rate at 1.67 percent over the next 10 years, the country will have surplus rice for export and become a minor exporter in the region.

The demand for rice in the Asean and world markets has been increasing over the past five years due to population growth, creating the possibility for Laos to export rice within the region. Thailand has already convinced Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar to establish a rice exporting federation, aiming to protect the interests of these rice growing nations.

In keeping with Thai government policy, the federation would agree on the price of rice, planning to sell it to regional and world markets for a price that could increase by about 10 percent annually, which would be extremely beneficial for rice exporting countries. At present, Thailand and Vietnam are the major rice exporters both in the region and the world.

It is the Lao government’s policy to boost investment in agribusiness to make the most of the country’s fertile land. One of the potential rice production areas is Savannakhet, and the government has set up a pilot project to grow organic rice in the province for export. A number of countries, including Kuwait, have expressed interest in investing in rice cultivation in Laos.

Vientiane Times
September 09, 2012
Photo: freedigitalphotos.net

Dell has introduced its digital education products to the Lao market, giving schools across the country the chance to revolutionise the way children are educated in the classroom. DATACOM, who will distribute the products in Laos, made the announcement at the “Education Solution” workshop held in Vientiane on Wednesday. Public and private school principals, as well as representatives from other institutes and companies, attended the event.

“These advanced solutions are an expansion of our connected classroom portfolio that combines innovative technology, products, services and software; turning digital learning into a reality,” DATACOM representative Ms Kingkeo Kanlaya said. Head of Education Practice for Dell South Asia, Ms Rani Burchmore, explained the growing role of technology in the classroom. “Technology in education is just a tool, but an essential tool. However its real success will depend on the skills and experience of those who implement it,” Ms Burchmore said. “When we invest in such tools we seek a balance of specialisation, budgets and scalability, we want the right tool for the job.” “I’ve been in Laos to meet with education stakeholders and to share my knowledge on global best practices for technology in education,” she added.

Dell’s Country Manager Ms Lertluk Kunlasutti said the idea behind the Dell connected classroom is simple. “It gives the ability to stimulate learning on multiple levels: technology can enhance the classroom experience for both teachers and students,” Ms Lertluk said. “We believe that if we can inspire students to utilise technology to learn inside the classroom, we might be able to inspire them to use it for learning throughout their lives. “Today’s announcement underscores Dell‘s commitment to helping schools integrate information and communication technologies beyond the PC lab and into all aspects of the teaching and learning environment.”

DATACOM is not only the leader in providing maintenance and support for business and enterprise in Laos, but is also the only authorised distributor for some of the world’s leading brands, including Dell and Toshiba. DATACOM Lao was established in 1996 and has become one of the fastest growing companies providing  products and services to the ICT market throughout Laos.

Vientiane Times
September 07, 2012

More than 80% of adults do not properly maintain their immunization status, however when living in or travelling through rural areas in Southeast Asia, taking the time to review your immunization status is essential. The following are just a few of the diseases that the World Health Organisation recommends vaccinations against:

Hepatitis A: Exposure via food or water or by faecal-oral route, ingestion can lead to severe liver damage. Prevention includes good personal hygiene, ensuring safe water supply, eating well-cooked foods and peeling your own fruit.

Hepatitis B: Exposure to blood or bodily fluids, sexual contact, or being exposed through medical treatment (e.g. accident). Infection can lead to severe liver damage.

Typhoid: Exposure via food or water, it is transmitted from person to person primarily through ingestion of contaminated food and water, especially in areas with poor sanitary conditions. Prevention includes good personal hygiene such as washing your hands frequently, a safe water supply, eating well cooked foods and peeling your own fruit.

Rabies: This viral infection is transmitted though the saliva of infected animal bites or scratches. It affects the brain and the spinal cord, and may be fatal. A series of three pre-exposure rabies vaccination shots is advised for persons planning to spend a lot of time outdoors and in rural areas.

Japanese Encephalitis: This viral infection is transmitted by Culex mosquitoes in Southeast Asia. Transmission occurs throughout the year in tropical and sub-tropical climates, and during late spring, summer, and early fall in temperate areas. The mosquitoes breed in flooded rice fields and irrigation projects. Insect-bite prevention measures include applying permethrin spray or solution to clothing and gear. Sleeping under a mermethrin-treated mosquito net will also decrease risk of infection.

Malaria: Malaria still exists in the tropics especially in areas far from major cities. If you will be visiting risky areas, we recommend that you take anti malaria drugs; two relatively common choices are atovaquone/ proguanil (Malarone) or doxycycline.

Seasonal influenza vaccine is recommended for children, persons over the age of 50, or those of any age suffering from chronic heart disease, emphysema, asthma, renal disorders, immune-suppressive disorders, and organ transplant recipients.

Pneumococcal Vaccine is recommended for person over the age of 65 or for those of any age suffering from cardiovascular disease, diabetes, renal disorders, liver diseases, sickle cell disease, asplenia, or immune-suppressive disorders.

The WHO recommends travelers are fully vaccinated against measles, rubella, mumps, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough) and poliomyelitis before starting their travels.

For more information please consult your medical doctor or contact Alliance International Medical Centre.

ວັກຊີນປ້ອງກັນພະຍາດ

ກ່ອນທີ່ທ່ານຈະເດີນທາງເພື່ອທ່ອງທ່ຽວຫຼືຍ້າຍຖິ່ນທານໄປຢູ່ໃນເຂດສ່ຽງໄພ ທ່ານຄວນຈະໃຊ້ເວລາທົບທວນວ່າ ທ່ານມີພູມ ຕ້ານທານຈາກພະຍາດທີ່ສາມາດພົບເຫັນໄດ້ງ່າຍໃນເຂດດັ່ງກ່າວແລ້ວຫຼືຍັງ. ທ່ານຮູ້ຫຼືບໍ່ວ່າຄົນເຮົາຫຼາຍກວ່າ 80% ບໍ່ສາມາດຮັກສາລະດັບພູມຕ້ານທານໃນຮ່າງກາຍໄດ້.

ອີງຕາມຄໍາແນະນໍາຂອງອົງການອະນາໄມໂລກ WHO ສໍາລັບຜູ້ທີ່ອາໄສເຂດອາຊີຕາເວັນອອກສ່ຽງໃຕ້ ຄວນໄດ້ຮັບວັກຊີນປ້ອງ ກັນພະຍາດຕ່າງໆ ດັ່ງຕໍ່ໄປນີ້:

ໄວຣັສຕັບອັກເສບ A: ສາມາດຕິດຕໍ່ໄດ້ຜ່ານອາຫານ ຫຼື ນໍ້າ ຫຼື ຜ່ານລະບົບຂັບຖ່າຍ, ການຕິດເຊື້ອພະຍາດດ່ັງກ່າວສາມາດກາຍ ເປັນອັນຕະລາຍຂັ້ນຮ້າຍແຮງຕໍ່ຕັບໄດ້. ການປ້ອງກັນສາມາດເຮັດໄດ້ດ້ວຍການຮັກສາຄວາມສະອາດຢ່າງສະໝໍ່າສະເໝີ, ນໍາໃຊ້ນໍ້າສະອາດ, ຮັບປະທານອາຫານທີ່ເຮັດສຸກດີ ແລະ ປອກໝາກໄມ້ດ້ວຍຕົນເອງ.

ໄວຣັສຕັບອັກເສບ B: ສາມາດຕິດຕໍ່ຜ່ານເລືອດ ຫຼື ທາດເຫຼວໃນຮ່າງກາຍ, ການມີເພດສໍາພັນ, ຫຼືໄດ້ຮັບເຊື້ອຈາກການຮັກສາ ພະຍາບານ (ຕົວຢ່າງ: ຈາກອຸບັດຕິເຫດ) ການຕິດເຊື້ອພະຍາດດ່ັງກ່າວສາມາດກາຍເປັນອັນຕະລາຍຂັ້ນຮ້າຍແຮງຕໍ່ຕັບໄດ້.

ໄຂ້ທໍລະພິດ: ສາມາດຕິດຕໍ່ຜ່ານອາຫານຫຼືນໍ້າ, ສາມາດແຜ່ເຊື້ອຈາກຄົນສູ່ຄົນ ເຊື້ອພະຍາດດັ່ງກ່າວ ເຂົ້າສູ່ຮ່າງກາຍໂດຍການ ຮັບປະທານອາຫານຫຼືດື່ມນໍ້າທີ່ປົນເປື້ືອນ ໂດຍສະເພາະໃນຂົງເຂດທີ່ສຸກຂະອະນາໄມຍັງບໍ່ໄດ້ມາດຕະຖານ. ການປ້ອງກັນສາມາດ ເຮັດໄດ້ໂດຍການຮັກສາສຸກຂະອະນາໄມຢ່າງສະໝໍ່າສະເໝີເຊັ່ນ: ການລ້າງມືເປັນປະຈໍາ,ການນໍາໃຊ້ນໍ້າສະອາດ, ຮັບປະທານອາ ຫານທີ່ເຮັດສຸກດີ ແລະປອກໝາກໄມ້ດ້ວຍຕົນເອງ.

ພະຍາດຫວໍ້: ໄວຣັສຊະນິດນີ້ເຂົ້າສູ່ຮ່າງກາຍໂດຍຜ່ານການກັດຫຼືການຂູດທີ່ມີນໍ້າລາຍຂອງສັດທີ່ມີເຊື້ອພະຍາດຫວໍ້. ພະຍາດດັ່ງ ກ່າວມີຜົນກະທົບເຖິງລະບົບສະໝອງແລະເສັ້ນປະສາດສັນຫຼັງ, ອາດເປັນອັນຕະລາຍຖິງຂັ້ນເສຍຊີວິດ. ທ່ານສາມາດປ້ອງກັນດ້ວຍ ການຊັກວັກຊີນປ້ອງກັນຈໍານວນສາມ ເຂັມ, ໂດຍສະເພາະແມ່ນຜູ້ທີ່ມີແຜນຈະເຮັດກິດຈະກໍາພາຍນອກຢູ່ເຂດຫ່າງໄກສອກຫຼີກ.

ໄຂ້ເຫຍື່ອຫຸ້ມສະໝອງອັກເສບ: ໄວຣັສຊະນີດນີ້ເຊົ້າສູ່ຮ່າງກາຍໂດຍຜ່ານການກັດຂອງຍຸງ Culex ໃນເຂດອາຊີຕາເວັນອອກ ສ່ຽງໃຕ້. ການແຜ່ຂະຫຍາຍເຊື້ອແມ່ນມີຕະຫຼອດປີໃນຂົງເຂດອາກາດຮ້ອນ. ສາມາດປ້ອງກັນດ້ວຍການທາຢາກັນຍຸງ, ນອນໃນ ມຸ້ງກັນຍຸງ ເປັນຕົ້ນ.

ໄຂ້ຍຸງ: ໄຂ້ຍຸງຍັງສາມາດພົບເຫັນຢູ່ໄດ້ທົ່ວໄປໃນຂົງເຂດອາກາດຮ້ອນ ໂດຍສະເພາະເຂດຫ່າງໄກຈາກຕົວເມືອງໃຫຍ່. ຖ້າຫາກ ທ່ານຈະຕ້ອງໄດ້ເດີນທາງໄປເຂດທີ່ມີຄວາມສ່ຽງສູງ ຂໍແນະນໍາໃຫ້ທ່ານຮັບປະທານຢາປ້ອງກັນໄຂ້ຍຸງກ່ອນການເດິນທາງ, ຢາປ້ອງກັນໄຂ້ຍຸງ ມີ ສອງຊະນິດຄື Atovaquone/ proguanil (Malarone) ຫຼື Doxycycline.

ໄຂ້ຫວັດໃຫຍ່: ມີການແນະນໍາໃຫ້ຊັກວັກຊີນປ້ອງກັນໄຂ້ຫວັດໃຫຍ່ໃຫ້ແກ່ເດັກນ້ອຍ, ຜູ້ທີ່ມີອາຍຸ 50 ປີຂຶ້ນໄປ, ລວມເຖິງຜູ້ທີ່ ເປັນພະຍາດຫົວໃຈ, ພະຍາດຫອບຫືດ, ພະຍາດໝາກໄຂ່ຫຼັງ, ຄວາມຜິດປົກກະຕິຂອງພູມຕ້ານທານ ແລະຄົນເຈັບທີ່ຜ່ານການ ຜ່າຕັດປ່ຽນອະໄວຍະວະ.

ປອດບວມ: ວັກຊີນຊະນິດນີ້ແມ່ນຖືກແນະນໍາສໍາລັບຜູ້ທີ່ມີອາຍຸ 65 ປີຂື້ນໄປ, ລວມເຖິງຜູ້ທີ່ເປັນພະຍາດກ່ຽວກັບລະບົບຫົວໃຈ ແລະຫຼອດເລືອດ, ຜູ້ທີ່ເປັນພະຍາດເບົາຫວານ, ຜູ້ທີ່ເປັນພະຍາດໝາກໄຂ່ຫຼັງ, ແລະ ຜູ້ທີ່ມີຄວາມຜິດປົກກະຕິຂອງພູມຕ້ານທານ.

ສໍາລັບທ່ານໃດທີ່ກໍາລັງຈະເດິນຄວນໄດ້ຮັບວັກຊີນປ້ອງກັນພະຍາດກ່ອນອອກເດີນທາງ, ອີງຕາມການແນະນໍາຂອງອົງການ ອະນາໄມໂລກ (WHO) ທ່ານຄວນມີພູມຕ້ານທານພະຍາດດັ່ງຕໍ່ໄປນີ້: ໝາກແດງ, ຫັດເຢຍລະມັນ, ໝາກເບີດ, ໄອໄກ່, ບາດ ທະຍັດ, ຄໍຕີບ, ໂປລີໂອ.

ຖ້າທ່ານມີຂໍ້ສົງໄສ ຫຼື ຢາກໄດ້ຂໍ້ມູນເພີ້ມກະລຸນາປືກສາແພດ ຫຼື ສອບຖາມໄດ້ທີ່ ສູນການແພດ ອະໄລແອນສ

­

Red Lotus Technologies is now refining and pitching its PETALS technology for real-world use around the world. Short for Pattern Enhancement Tool for Assisting Landmine Sensing, the system connects acoustic sensors to smartphones, outputting a silhouette of what lies below onto the phone’s screen. The company has expanded from an initial research project that paired mine-detecting sensors with the processing clout (and availability of) smartphones. It’s now developed some tablet-based training equipment for de-miners and, working alongside the Landmine Relief Fund, aims to field-test the devices in Cambodia before launching them next year.

Originally published in Engadget,
September 28th 2012

177 brand new police motorcycles were unveiled at a ceremony yesterday at the New Chip Xeng Honda Centre (near the Alliance International Medical Center) in Vientiane. The bikes have been purchased for use in security escorts of important visitors during the ASEP7 Summit in October and the ASEM9 Summit to be held in November this year. Two types of bikes were purchased from New Chip Xeng; the larger Honda ST 1300cc to be ridden by male police officers and the more compact and lightweight Honda CBR 250cc for female members of Vientiane’s police department. The bikes will be used primarily for escorting heads of state as well as traffic control and road clearance during the summit.

Photos: Bouphamany Chounramany

You may remember our post about the Mekong Women’s Entrepreneur Challange (MWEC) back in June this year. MWEC is a competition designed to give Lao businesswomen the opportunity to enter a program facilitating the growth of Women-Owned Enterprises. In order to encourage female entrepreneurship, the competition targets businesses that are either majority owned or primarily supervised by women. Potential business sectors included handicrafts, tourism and hospitality, coffee production, garment production, and the service industry. Candidates entered the competition by writing and submitting a business plan which was judged

After a huge response to the competition, 25 applicants were selected from a total of 138 candidates.  These winners may receive grants of up to USD $10,000  to support their businesses as well advice, one-on-one support and the opportunity to attend seminars by industry experts. The selected candidates are currently attending a workshop in Vientiane on innovation, competitiveness and creativity.

Selected Applicants are:

1. Mely Bounthalath – Viengsy Sinniyom Transportation, Vientiane Capital
2. Nongnut Foppes – Xao Ban Group (Yogurt, Jam production), Vientiane Capital
3. Soudaly Silaphet – Poppy’s Pharmacy, Vientiane Capital
4. Nanthida Chanthavong – Savankham Brick Factory, Savannakhet province
5. Siriphone Phanthavong – Electrical Civil Mechanical Engineering Sole Company Limited (ECME), Vientiane Capital
6. Somephone Vongduean – Lao Savang Garage, Vientiane Capital
7. Aluna Thavonsouk – Thavonsouk Resort, Vientiane province
8. Phonesavanh Vilivong – Le Trio Coffee (roasting), Vientiane Capital
9. Daraphone Kiatsritanakorn – Dala Spa, Vientiane Capital
10. Ornta Keopanya – 2PK restaurant (Meal box delivery), Vientiane Capital
11. Vannaphone Sitthirath – Lao New-Wave Cinema Production, Vientiane Capital
12. Naly Yotnhai – Naly Rice Mill, Savannakhet
13. Xaynhalith Vongsalavanh – Duck Farm, Champasack
14. Bouathip Hormchandee – Thipsavang Noni Juice, Vientiane Capital
15. Maniphay Chanthalang – Maniphay Furniture, Vientiane Capital
16. Chintakone Xaysana – Thanva Ice Factory, Champasack
17. Latsamy Vetsaphong – Sep-ee-lee Purple Noodle Franchise , Vientiane Capital
18. Samlarn Chanthavong – LTB Plastic Manufacturing, Savannakhet
19. Chanthachone Khodsymueng – Pig Farm, Vientiane Province
20. Khamsen Phimmavong – Herbal Beauty product group, Savannakhet
21. Misone Vilaysarn – Design and Sewing Clothes, Vientiane Capital
22. Sengmany Oupathanar – Organic Rice Milk, Vientiane Capital
23. Manola Sisouphanthavong – Lao-Kitchen, Vientiane Capital
24. Vilay Sanguantrychan – Luke Interior Design, Vientiane Capital
25. Souksakhone Sayyasone – Kanida Import – Export, Vientiane Capital

Congratulations to all the MWEC winners! WorkLiveLaos wishes you all the best with your entrepreneurial endeavours!

ຂໍ້ຄວາມນີ້ໄດ້ແປໂດຍ GOOGLE TRANSLATE! Remember our post about Google Translate for Lao and the hard work that so many volunteers have put into the program? Well, Google added Lao to its Google Translate tool today as its 65th officially supported language! Click here and select Lao from the list of language and use Google translate Lao to translate from or into Lao!

According to Google’s official Google Translate blog, Google is “excited to bring Lao content to users around the world, and to help Lao speakers access more of the world’s web content in other languages.”

The Google Translate team is constantly working to improve automatic translations, both for languages that have been available for some time, and for currently unavailable languages whose translation quality has yet to meet launch standards. This work includes collecting new data from which the system can learn and grow smarter; changing the algorithms behind Google Translate; and improving the grammaticality of translations. There are many languages that Google works on that are not there yet but that they hope to launch them in the future.

Support for Lao language meets launch standards, but translation quality is at the lower end compared to that of other languages offered. Lao has therefore been designated with an “alpha” status until Google can make further improvements. While the Lao translations will be usable in some situations, like providing an English reader with the gift of an article written in Lao, they will fail in other situations where more precise translations are needed.

Google needs your feedback in order to improve the quality of Lao translations. Click here to see ways in which you can directly help Google improve the quality of Lao translation, or that of any other language.

ວິທີກວດສອບຄົນລັກໃຊ້ Facebook ຂອງເຮົາ - There is a way to change your Facebook settings to see if your friends, colleagues or anyone else has sneakily entered your account and viewed your private information. If you have a feeling that other people might be using your Facebook account, it could be that you have used a password that is too easy to guess or you have stored your login information somewhere on your computer where others can easily find it. To avoid constant worry that your Facebook account has been compromised and be sure that it is secure, use the below method to check if others have entered your Facebook account or not. It is a setting offered by Facebook itself so you won’t need to download any extra apps or programs.

How It Works:

Log in to your Facebook account and click the triangular down-arrow at the top right of your screen near your name and then click on Account Settings. Choose Security (second from the top) and you will see settings for different security procedures on the right hand side.

Click on the Active Sessions menu and it will bring up information about your current Facebook session as well as previous sessions, detailing the date and time of when your Facebook account was last used, as well as the location which is given via the IP Address. It will also tell you the web browser used to view Facebook. If you encounter any active session that you believe may be being accessed by someone else, you can choose to end the session immediately by clicking End Activity.

You can increase your Facebook security by enabling some other security settings: secure browsing using the prefix “https” and creating Login Notifications that will email or SMS you the time and date when your account is accessed. Finally, choose a secure password and keep your passwords and login information completely secret.

Follow this advice and you will never have to worry about other people accessing your private Facebook account or information ever again

This article was written by Jimmy JKM and first published in Issue 18 of eCorner Lao IT Magazine who have agreed to its republication here. View the original article at their website.

 ວິທີກວດສອບຄົນລັກໃຊ້ Facebook ຂອງເຮົາ

ມື້ນີ້ມີວິທີກວດສອບ Facebook ເຊິ່ງຜູ່ຂຽນຄຶດວ່າຫລາຍຄົນອາດຈະເຄີຍຖືກຫມູ່ຮ່ວມງານຫລືແຟນ ແລະ ບຸກຄົນບໍ່ປະສົງດີລັກເຂົ້າຂອງເຮົາໄປຫລິ້ນ (ໂດຍສະເພາະເພື່ອນຮ່ວມງານຂອງຜູ່ຂຽນຖ້າໃຜເປີດປະໄວ້ມີ ຫວັງຖືກກວນຕະຫລອດແທ້) ຫາກທ່ານມີຄວາມສົງໄສວ່າກຳລັງມີບຸກຄົນອື່ນລັກໃຊ້ Facebook ຂອງທ່ານຢູ່ ອາດເປັນເພາະທ່ານໃຊ້ password ທີ່ງ່າຍຕໍ່ການຄາດເດົາຫລືອາດຖິ້ມ login information ໄວ້ໃນເຄື່ອງຄອມບ່ອນໃດບ່ອນນຶ່ງ ເປັນ ເລື່ອງສຳຄັນຢ່າງຍິ່ງທີ່ຈະຕ້ອງກວດສອບໃຫ້ແນ່ໃຈ ຈະໄດ້ບໍ່ຕ້ອງຫ່ວງກັງວົນຢູ່ຕະຫລອດເວລາຈຶ່ງຢາກແນະ ນຳວິທີງ່າຍໆ ໃນການກວດສອບວ່າມີບຸກຄົນອື່ນລັກໃຊ້ Facebook ຂອງທ່ານຢູ່ຫລືບໍ່ ເຊິ່ງເປັນບໍລິການທີ່ Facebook ມີໄວ້ໃຫ້ໃຊ້ບໍ່ຈຳເປັນຕ້ອງໄປຕິດຕັ້ງ apps ຫຍັງເພິ່ມເຕີມ.

ວິທີການກວດສອບ

Login ເຂົ້າໃຊ້ Facebook ຄລິກເລືອກບໍລິເວນສາມຫລ່ຽມມຸມຂວາເທິງຂອງໜ້າເວັບ ແລ້ວເລືອກຕັ້ງຄ່າ ບັນຊີຜູ່ໃຊ້ (Account Setting) ໜ້າການຕັ້ງຄ່າຈະປະກົດຂຶ້ນມາໃຫ້ສັງເກດທີ່ເມນູດ້ານຊ້າຍ ເລືອກຄວາມປອດໄພ (Security) ຈະເຫັນຫົວຂໍ້ຕ່າງໆກ່ຽວກັບການຕັ້ງຄ່າຄວາມປອດໄພທາງດ້ານຂວາມື.

ເລືອກເວລາການເຂົ້າໃຊ້ (Active Sessions) ຫລັງຈາກນັ້ນເຮົາຈະເຫັນຂໍ້ມູນການໃຊ້ໃນປັດຈຸບັນ ແລະການໃຊ້ຫລ້າສຸດ ຂໍ້ມູນຈະປະກອບດ້ວຍ ມື້/ເວລາທີ່ໃຊ້, ສະຖານທີ່ນຳໃຊ້ເປັນແຂວງ (ກຳນົດຈາກ IP address), ເວັບບຣາວເຊີທີ່ໃຊ້ ຖ້າຫາກພົບວ່າມີການນຳໃຊ້ທີ່ບໍ່ປົກກະຕິ ສາມາດຢຸດການນຳໃຊ້ໂດຍເລືອກ”ຢຸດກິດຈະກຳນີ້” (End Activity).

ເຮົາຍັງສາມາດເພີ່ມຄວາມປອດໄພໃຫ້ກັບ Facebook ໃຫ້ຫລາຍຍິ່ງຂຶ້ນ ໂດຍການຕັ້ງຄ່າຄວາມ ປອດໄພຢ່າງອື່ນເພິ່ມເຕີມເຊັ່ນ: ການເຂົ້າເວັບຢ່າງປອດໄພໂດຍ https, ການແຈ້ງເຕືອນເມື່ອມີການ login ເຂົ້າໃຊ້ຜ່ານທາງອີເມລ ຫລື SMS (Login Notifications), ການຢືນຢັນໂຕເອງກ່ອນການເຂົ້າລະບົບອີກ ເທື່ອ ໂດຍການໃຊ້ password ແລະການລົງທະບຽນຄອມພິວເຕີທີ່ເຮົາໃຊ້ຢູ່ປະຈຳໃຫ້ Facebook ຈື່ຈຳໄວ້

ເທົ່ານີ້ທ່ານຄົງສະບາຍໃຈຫາຍຫ່ວງກັບເລື່ອງທີ່ຈະມີບຸກຄົນອື່ນລັກຫລິ້ນ Facebook ຂອງທ່ານແລ້ວ

Re-published from ວາລະສານ eCorner Lao IT Magazine ສະບັບທີ 18. ຜູ້ຂຽນ: Jimmy JKM. ອ່ານ ບົດຄວາມຕົ້ນສະບັບ ທີ່ນີ້.

Vientiane Police Headquarters announced a new emergency number – 1191 – at the biyearly crime report meeting in Vientiane yesterday. The Headquarters Deputy Chief, Lieutenant Colonel Khamkeo Manola, said the previous emergency call number has been out of service for a long time while their office was rebuilt.“1191 is now the emergency call number, 24 hours a day. We welcome all information about crime, social problems and other information related to security in Vientiane,” Lt Col Khamkeo said. The new Vientiane Police Office is now operational and the emergency number is up and running.“But don’t call us as a prank, because our phone records the number of the caller. If someone is doing that, we will penalise them,” he said. No one had yet made a prank call on the new number, Lt Col Khamkeo added. However, in the past this was a common occurrence – but at that time, they couldn’t be caught. He asked people to cooperate with the police and to pass on information if they saw something suspicious or a crime in action in Vientiane. “Everyone has a mobile phone and can dial 1191 to tell us what’s happening. This is very valuable information to us and it is also free.”

The Vientiane Times called the new number yesterday and received the response “This is an emergency number for transport emergencies.” But don’t worry, 1191 is used for both traffic problems and social issues. “Social problems seem to have increased in Vientiane, from the end of 2011 to early 2012, including robbery, bag snatching, vehicle theft and drugs. At that time, we were getting one or two calls per day giving reports on these problems and several cases were solved,” Lt Col Khamkeo said

Vientiane Police Department also recently moved into a new Police Headquarters, constructed by the Saonang  Construction Company and funded by the Ministry of Public Security, costing a total of 25 billion kip. The five-storey building is located in Xiengyeun Village, Chanthabouly district, Vientiane with a total area of 7,500 square metres.

As well as the new headquarters, the police department also recently received a fleet of new motorcycles.

Vientiane Times
18 September, 2012

The Muay Lao Association has received a certificate from the World Martial Arts Union (WoMAU), after becoming the latest country to join the worldwide union of unarmed combat sports. The association’s President Mr Saysamone Sayasone received the accreditation while attending the 10th anniversary celebrations of WoMAU in Chungju in the Republic of Korea, which took place from September 9-14. The presentation to recognise Laos as the 39th member country was made by Mr Soh Byung Yong, the president of the World Martial Arts Union. The Muay Lao Association agreed to join the World Martial Arts Union during a visit by Mr Soh and other union members to the Lao National Olympic Committee last April, and the move has now come to fruition. The meeting was sponsored and supported by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Culture Organisation, which established the WoMAU.

Representatives from 40 nations attended the meeting in Korea, and took turns to explain a little more about the martial arts of their respective countries. Mr Saysamone talked about the history of Muay Lao. He said the discipline has been built up gradually over time in Laos, since the post revolutionary period after 1975, and the sport is now coming to prominence. ‘Muay’ derives from the Sanskrit word mavya meaning ‘to bind together.’ It is very similar to Muay Thai, the kickboxing discipline which is popular in neighbouring Thailand. Muay Lao is known in some quarters as the ‘art of eight limbs’, referring to the eight points of contact one can use to strike an opponent, those being the hands, feet, elbows and knees.Due to their long history Indochinese kickboxing styles are thought to have influenced
each other over time and Muay Lao bears similarities to Pradal Serey from Cambodia and Lethwei from Myanmar. In 2002, the Republic of Korea held a martial arts festival in Chungju, which was attended by fighters from 32 countries competing in various disciplines. It was the success of this event that led to the formation of the World Martial Arts Union, at an agreement reached during the festival. Since that time, the Asian Muay Federation has cooperated with the World Martial Arts Union, to further their common goals and see the
sport go from strength to strength.

In 2005, Thailand hosted a regional martial arts competition, where the Muay Lao team won five silver and two bronze medals, finishing in 18th place among the 45 countries that attended. Two years later they finished in 26th place in Macao, China, winning two silver medals.Planning for upcoming tournaments, the association plans to hold a friendly tournament on October 27, giving local fighters a chance to face off against each other and hone their skills at the Xokxay ring in Vientiane. Kickboxers from the National University of Laos and Thailand are set to take part, as preparations for the upcoming Asean University Games ramp up.The Muay Lao kickboxing team won three gold, five silver and three bronze medals at an international tournament held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in July.

Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientiane Times
18 September, 2012