nder The Radar is a special series and newsletter offering from Diplomatic Courier bringing you compelling, under–the–radar stories from around the world over the past month. This month across Oceania and SE Asia: Thailand’s lacking infrastructure implicated in a school bus tragedy, the haka performance world record returns to New Zealand, and an unexpected twist in a tale of gender and discrimination at an Australian museum. You can sign up to receive the newsletter here.
Thailand's infrastructure challenged after horrific school bus deaths
On 1 October 2024, 20 children and three teachers died after a school bus crashed and caught on fire outside Bangkok. In the resulting investigation, authorities discovered six gas canisters legally installed in the back of the bus and five gas canisters illegally installed in the front. A pipe on one of the illegal gas canisters had broken upon the impact of the crash, causing the deadly fire. Authorities also noted that the rear exit couldn’t be opened during the emergency. As a result of the investigation, authorities ordered all public and private buses running on compressed natural gas to be inspected.
The discovery illustrates Thailand’s struggle with its traffic infrastructure. Although Thailand has been gradually incorporating the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) regulations for bus safety, most manufacturers in the country cannot meet the regulation standards, stalling progress as they are given time to adapt. Similarly, while the regulations apply to manufacturing new buses, old buses—around 80% of the buses used in Thailand—do not need to adhere to the same standards.
Thailand’s road fatality rate is currently in the top 20% of countries globally. While the National Assembly has launched a Parliamentary Advisory Group on Road Safety, only time will tell if the group can enact lasting change to Thailand’s infamously dangerous traffic infrastructure.
New Zealand sets a world record for haka
New Zealand has set a new world record for the largest haka performance, reclaiming the title from France. Haka originates from the Mãori—Indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand. The Mãori people used haka to welcome visiting tribes and invigorate warriors before battle. Nowadays, haka is a source of pride for New Zealanders, making reclaiming the world record “vital” for New Zealand.
France previously set the world record for the largest haka performance with a 2014 performance of 4,028 French rugby fans performing the traditional dance, organized and sponsored by Yves Hunt for Mazda Automobiles France. The performance was inspired by New Zealand’s national rugby team’s incorporation of the dance during international matches.
However, the New Zealand cultural ambassador for haka felt that it was “vital” for New Zealand to reclaim the world record—which they had previously set in 2008—returning the haka record to its country of origin and “ensuring it was performed correctly and with integrity.” 6,467 people showed up for the record–breaking performance in New Zealand’s national rugby team’s stadium. The performance included children and elderly people, according to the stadium's chief executive, who all gathered to “[honor their] cultural legacy on a global stage.”
Australian museum genders (forged) art
The Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) in Australia is hanging up—forged, as was later revealed—Picasso art in their women’s restroom after a lawsuit claimed gender discrimination. Initially, the “Ladies Lounge” opened in 2020 as part of curator Kirsha Kaechele’s installation open “to any and all ladies.” The installation focused on creating a lavish space, showcasing three Picasso artworks, while a male butler served the women who had entered the exhibit. However, the exhibit was eventually closed as the museum refused entrance to anyone who did not identify as a woman, and a lawsuit showed that the installation violated Australia’s 1998 Anti–Discrimination Act.
However, curator Kirsha Kaechele’s intention with the installation was to have men experience some of the discrimination women have faced throughout history. Thus, the artwork was moved into a women’s restroom—the “Ladies Room”—while the exhibit underwent necessary changes.
In a shocking twist, curator Kirsha Kaechele later revealed that she had forged the three Picasso artworks. In a confessional post on her blog, Kaechele explained that she had forged the artwork to match the color scheme of the “Ladies Lounge” and that it was so convincingly done that it had fooled the museum’s staff. Other pieces in the exhibit, like furniture, were also revealed by Kaechele as fakes. But, according to Kaechele, these forgeries stayed on message with the “Ladies Lounge” as she even had hoped to be exposed by a guest; the illusion of priceless art creates a boundless fantasy for both those invited and those excluded.
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Tragic school bus accident underscores Thailand’s infrastructure woes
Bangkok, Thailand. Photo by Hanny Naibaho from Unsplash.
November 5, 2024
Diplomatic Courier staff writer Stephanie Gull brings you three under–the–radar stories from Oceania and SE Asia this month: Thailand’s lacking traffic infrastructure leads to tragedy, the Haka performance world record returns to New Zealand, and forged Picasso’s in an Australian museum.
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nder The Radar is a special series and newsletter offering from Diplomatic Courier bringing you compelling, under–the–radar stories from around the world over the past month. This month across Oceania and SE Asia: Thailand’s lacking infrastructure implicated in a school bus tragedy, the haka performance world record returns to New Zealand, and an unexpected twist in a tale of gender and discrimination at an Australian museum. You can sign up to receive the newsletter here.
Thailand's infrastructure challenged after horrific school bus deaths
On 1 October 2024, 20 children and three teachers died after a school bus crashed and caught on fire outside Bangkok. In the resulting investigation, authorities discovered six gas canisters legally installed in the back of the bus and five gas canisters illegally installed in the front. A pipe on one of the illegal gas canisters had broken upon the impact of the crash, causing the deadly fire. Authorities also noted that the rear exit couldn’t be opened during the emergency. As a result of the investigation, authorities ordered all public and private buses running on compressed natural gas to be inspected.
The discovery illustrates Thailand’s struggle with its traffic infrastructure. Although Thailand has been gradually incorporating the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) regulations for bus safety, most manufacturers in the country cannot meet the regulation standards, stalling progress as they are given time to adapt. Similarly, while the regulations apply to manufacturing new buses, old buses—around 80% of the buses used in Thailand—do not need to adhere to the same standards.
Thailand’s road fatality rate is currently in the top 20% of countries globally. While the National Assembly has launched a Parliamentary Advisory Group on Road Safety, only time will tell if the group can enact lasting change to Thailand’s infamously dangerous traffic infrastructure.
New Zealand sets a world record for haka
New Zealand has set a new world record for the largest haka performance, reclaiming the title from France. Haka originates from the Mãori—Indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand. The Mãori people used haka to welcome visiting tribes and invigorate warriors before battle. Nowadays, haka is a source of pride for New Zealanders, making reclaiming the world record “vital” for New Zealand.
France previously set the world record for the largest haka performance with a 2014 performance of 4,028 French rugby fans performing the traditional dance, organized and sponsored by Yves Hunt for Mazda Automobiles France. The performance was inspired by New Zealand’s national rugby team’s incorporation of the dance during international matches.
However, the New Zealand cultural ambassador for haka felt that it was “vital” for New Zealand to reclaim the world record—which they had previously set in 2008—returning the haka record to its country of origin and “ensuring it was performed correctly and with integrity.” 6,467 people showed up for the record–breaking performance in New Zealand’s national rugby team’s stadium. The performance included children and elderly people, according to the stadium's chief executive, who all gathered to “[honor their] cultural legacy on a global stage.”
Australian museum genders (forged) art
The Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) in Australia is hanging up—forged, as was later revealed—Picasso art in their women’s restroom after a lawsuit claimed gender discrimination. Initially, the “Ladies Lounge” opened in 2020 as part of curator Kirsha Kaechele’s installation open “to any and all ladies.” The installation focused on creating a lavish space, showcasing three Picasso artworks, while a male butler served the women who had entered the exhibit. However, the exhibit was eventually closed as the museum refused entrance to anyone who did not identify as a woman, and a lawsuit showed that the installation violated Australia’s 1998 Anti–Discrimination Act.
However, curator Kirsha Kaechele’s intention with the installation was to have men experience some of the discrimination women have faced throughout history. Thus, the artwork was moved into a women’s restroom—the “Ladies Room”—while the exhibit underwent necessary changes.
In a shocking twist, curator Kirsha Kaechele later revealed that she had forged the three Picasso artworks. In a confessional post on her blog, Kaechele explained that she had forged the artwork to match the color scheme of the “Ladies Lounge” and that it was so convincingly done that it had fooled the museum’s staff. Other pieces in the exhibit, like furniture, were also revealed by Kaechele as fakes. But, according to Kaechele, these forgeries stayed on message with the “Ladies Lounge” as she even had hoped to be exposed by a guest; the illusion of priceless art creates a boundless fantasy for both those invited and those excluded.
