Accessibility Is Freedom

Lectures

Articles

  • Speeding Up Local Transit Accessibility – Sukoi

    Speeding Up Local Transit Accessibility – Sukoi

    Tokyo passed an amendment to the Local Public Transport Revitalization Act on March 10, with a clear goal: fixing over 2,000 areas nationwide with no public transport services. The numbers reflect the urgent need: 50% of people in Japan experienced travel difficulties in the past 6 months, and 8 million people face transportation challenges every single week. Tokyo Metropolitan Government is funding transport providers through shared vehicle programs. School buses and hospital shuttles can now serve the public during off-peak hours. DPI-Japan views these efforts as “necessary but not enough.” Their 2030 vision is safe transport for everyone. I want…

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  • Pai’s AQI Crisis: A Call for Collective Action for Clean Air

    Pai’s AQI Crisis: A Call for Collective Action for Clean Air

    We’ve received concerning news from Pai District, Mae Hong Son, where the AQI has reached ‘Severe’ levels, posing a significant health risk. Data shows this air pollution crisis in Northern Thailand is an annual problem, causing numerous illnesses and deaths. The primary cause is agricultural burning and forest fires—a regional issue affecting us all. It’s time to accept that the solution begins with us. We want to see strict law enforcement, coupled with incentives to change burning behaviors, and most importantly, an understanding that “we are the cause of these problems” and a collective effort to reduce overall consumption. We…

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  • Singapore: A Model for Accessible Cities and Inspiration for Thailand

    Singapore: A Model for Accessible Cities and Inspiration for Thailand

    Singapore shows us that creating an equitable city is possible. Today, 100% of their public buses are wheelchair-accessible, and 98% of bus stops are barrier-free. Seven years ago, I visited Singapore and saw their Ministry of Transport clearly outline plans for inclusive transit. Today, they have successfully achieved those goals. Moreover, they are pushing further under the ‘Enabling Masterplan 2030,’ requiring new buses to feature automatic ramps and integrated audio-visual Passenger Information Display Systems (PIDS), aiming to cover 70% of the fleet within the next four years. I hope to see Thailand adopt these clear standards and policies. Accessible travel…

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  • This World Belongs to Everyone: When We Reduce… The World Cools Down!

    This World Belongs to Everyone: When We Reduce… The World Cools Down!

    Today, many areas are experiencing temperatures exceeding 40c, a clear sign that our world is increasingly facing a critical climate change crisis. Data from the past 10 years (2014-2024) marks this as the hottest decade on record. 2023 was the warmest year, and 2024 is the first year global temperatures have exceeded 1.5c. Atmospheric CO2 levels have also surged to 422.1 ppm. Wildfires, dust, smoke, and toxic air pollution are worsening every year. I have always said that ultimately, all of us are part of the solution. Reducing personal energy consumption, especially driving private cars less and switching to public…

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