THAILAND

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Context

Thailand poised to become first Southeast Asian country to legalise same-sex marriage.

Details

Thailand

• Thailand is located in the middle of southeast Asia.
• A unified Thai kingdom was established in the mid-14th century. Known originally as Siam, the country was renamed Thailand (Land of the Free) in 1939.
• Thailand’s population is currently 70 million, its capital city is Bangkok, its currency is the baht (THB), and the official language is Thai.
• It is bordered by Myanmar to the north and northwest, Lao PDR and Cambodia to the east, Malaysia and the Gulf of Thailand to the south, and the Andaman Sea to the southwest.
• Thailand is the world’s 50th largest country, with a total area of 513,120 sq km.
• The majority of Thailand's population is ethnically Thai, accounting for around 95% of the total population.
• Buddhism is the predominant religion in Thailand, with around 95% of the population adhering to Theravada Buddhism.

Geography

Mountains

• The highest peak in Thailand is Doi Inthanon. It stands at approximately 2,565 meters (8,415 feet) above sea level.
• Thailand's mountainous regions also include other notable peaks such as Doi Chiang Dao and Doi Luang Chiang Dao.

Rivers

• Chao Phraya River: It flows through Bangkok, the capital city, and serves as a vital transportation route and source of water for irrigation.
• Mekong River: The Mekong forms a natural boundary between Thailand and Laos in the northeast region of Thailand. It is one of the longest rivers in Southeast Asia.
• Other major rivers : Mae Klong River, Nan River, Ping River.

Climate

• Thailand's climate is influenced by seasonal monsoon winds (the southwest and northeast monsoons).
• Most of Thailand has a "tropical wet and dry or savanna climate" type (Köppen's Tropical savanna climate).
• The majority of the south as well as the extreme east have a tropical monsoon climate. Parts of the south also have a tropical rainforest climate

 Natural Resources

• A leading exporter of rubber, Thailand also exports crops such as rice, vegetables and fruits.
• Other natural resources of Thailand are: tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, and fluorite.

World Heritage Sites:

• City of Ayutthaya, Sukhothai Historical Park, and the Temple of Wat Pho.

International environmental agreements

• Party to: biodiversity, climate change, climate change-Kyoto Protocol, desertification, endangered species, hazardous wastes, marine life conservation, Ozone layer protection, tropical timber 83, tropical timber 94, wetlands
• Signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

The Recent news

• In a landmark decision, the lower house of Thailand’s parliament overwhelmingly approved a marriage equality bill bringing the country closer to becoming the first nation in Southeast Asia to legalise same-sex marriage.
• The Thai bill amends the Civil and Commercial Code of the country and proposes replacing gendered terms like “husband and wife” with gender-neutral language such as “spouses” and “individuals”.
• Thailand has long been considered an LGBTQ+ haven; Phuket, Thailand is often called the epicentre of all the transgender surgeries in the Asian world.
• Thailand has earned a reputation as a pioneer in gender reassignment surgery. It is also considered one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly countries to travel to in Asia.
• Other country in Asia: Taiwan was the first Asian country to legalise same-sex marriage in 2019. More recently, Nepal became the first South Asian nation to formally recognise and register a same-sex marriage in November 2023

PRACTICE QUESTION With which of the following country Thailand does not shares its land boundaries? Cambodia Malaysia Myanmar Vietnam Answer D