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Chris Hutchings of ‘Premier Cru’ -- recognised as one of the premier wine investment clubs, which has been successfully leading the sector for more than 15 years -- will explain how with a growing demand and a limited, finite supply for fine wines, this non stock market investment option is attracting a lot of interest and that everyone should be aware of.

Topics of discussion include:

- How Premier Cru selects the best wines
- Increasing demand in China and Japan
- What qualifies as a vintage wine
- Correct storage
- Tax free investments

So please come along to find out why most millionaires have their own fine wine collection as part of their asset portfolio. Entry levels are as lows as £10,000.

This seminar is sponsored by EMM Consulting, who offer a wide range of advice and services on investments, banking, wills & trusts and wealth management options.

RSVP: emmconsult@gmail.com

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The Hong Kong-based Dragon Foundation and the Institute of International Education (IIE) will hold a talk to launch the 2009 Dragon Foundation’s Global Citizenship Program, which is being held in Bangkok for the first time.

The Opening Ceremony will feature a keynote speaker on Citizen’s social responsibility as well as a student’s perspective.

The Director of The Foundation, Mr David Lan Hong-tsung, will be present as the guest of honour together with the IIE-Southeast Asia’s Regional Director, Dr. Chalintorn N. Burian.

The week-long series of conferences, lectures and other activities related to the theme of “global citizenship” will be attended by 30 selected students from Hong Kong universities. As in the past, the Program will be specifically designed to give students both the background and the skills to develop leadership with a specific emphasis on creativity, innovation, and community leadership.

Please confirm attendance with Ms Laksana Siriwat (Business Officer, Institute of International Education (IIE)), tel: 02-652 0653 ext. 112, email: laksana@bkk.iie.org

Read More

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The FCCT is holding an exclusive wine-evening, where the three wine-companies will offer two choice wines each, and give details of their up-coming Wine Tour.

Khao Yai, in Nakhorn Ratchasima province, two hours from Bangkok, is home to three top Thai wine companies, who contribute to nearly 70% of the country's wine production: GranMonte Estate, the Village Farm Winery, and the PB Valley Khao Yai Winery.

The Granmonte Estate is located on the flower-studded Asoke Valley , the PB Winery is on the neaighbouring PB valley, while the Village Farm Winery is located in one of the highest parts of Khao Yai.

The following vineyards will be represented and their experts will introduce their wines:
- Visooth Lohitnavy, the owner of the exclusive GranMonte Estate and his daughter Nikki Lohitnavy, the first female ‘oenologist’ of Thailand.
- Viravat Cholvanich, the owner of the 70-acre, French-style Village Farm Winery.
- Prayut Piangbunta, director of the 200-acre PB Valley Khao Yai Winery


The lush wine-estates are set against pure skies and large mountains, the weather is cool, the arresting atmosphere is conducive to wine-drinking. The drive through the vineyards is exhilarating, the tour of the wineries exciting, and each of the wine-companies boasts a scenic, stunning restaurant that serves impeccable food, to match the varied wines.

Granmonte’s VinCotto restaurant, PB Valley’s Great Hornbill Grill restaurant, and Village Farm Winery’s Village Old Barn, set in their Chateau des Brumes estate, are already popular with week-end visitors from Bangkok. The latter’s Red Wine Hydrotherapy spa treatment is popular too.

As for their wine-shops in the estates, the three companies sell a wide range of products, from grapes to jams, to wine-glasses, and of course a grand range of wines, at varied prices.


The three wine-companies are organising a week-end Wine Tour next month, 25-26 July. Starting at Bangkok, which will cover the three lush wine-estates, a tour of the state-of-the-art wineries, with wine-tastings of their red, white, rose wines, conducted by a reputed sommelier, with an unlimited supply of wine, accompanied by superb gourmet food.


FCCT members will be offered a special discount on the Wine Tour, and so will non-members, if they sign up on the same evening.

The rate includes transport to Khao Yai from Bangkok , overnight-stay at the scenic wineries, gourmet food, and unlimited wine.


Normal Price- 4,900 baht /head (Twin sharing)


Discount-offer for Non-members, on 1 July - 4,600 baht (initial deposit 1,000 baht)


Discount-offer for Members, on 1 July - 4,000 baht ( initial deposit 1,000 baht)

(Book early, as the three wine-companies have a limited number of rooms.)


For more details, check: www.granmonte.com, www.khaoyaiwinery.com, www.villagefarm.co.th

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Director Stefan Haupt

This is the story of Rafael, a fun-loving Swiss youth on the verge of manhood who is trying to make his dream of total freedom become reality. He realises that it’s not easy even in a utopian city like Zurich. Rafael dreams of becoming a musician and starting a band called ‘Utopia Blues’. He feels repressed by his teachers at school and his mother at home, and shares a bond only with his ailing grandfather who is in hospital. Rafael breaks all the rules, and must pay the price for it. But he discovers love in the most unexpected of places and plays music in the most unexpected manner. However, his life must remain upside-down.

The film won the top Swiss Film Awards in 2002, including Best Film and Best Actor.

It went to various festivals around the world, including the known Berlin, Locarno, Thessaloniki, Pusan, Seville, festivals.

Lead-actor Michael Finger was chosen as a ‘Shooting Star’ at the Berlin Film Festival.

Stage and film-director Stefan Haupt, president of the Swiss Filmmakers’ Association since 2008, will fly in for the film and will do a Q&A after the screening. Haupt plans to shoot his next film in Thailand.

To welcome him and to celebrate his much-lauded film, the Ambassador of Switzerland, HE Rodolphe S Imhoof, will serve some Swiss wine.

Don’t miss yet another exciting movie, in our Contemporary World Cinema series.

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This is the story of a mother whose gay son Jay is murdered, but who is not allowed to mourn in private because the producer of a reality-show, also called Jay (who is also gay), wants to publicly record her sorrow for his show, claiming it will help to find the killer.

He and his camera follow the victim’s family, his male friend, and the town's mayor. At the end it seems more like a scripted drama than a real-life tragedy

The sensational film, based on the real-life murder of the producer of a reality-show points fingers at the media's unscrupulous games. But it also points fingers at the media-savvy ‘victims’. It seems that today’s media-manipulation ensures that nothing is real any more: life, death, murder or sorrow.

The quirky ending points to the fact that even the reality-show producer forgets to put the shutter in his personal life.

The debut film of talented indie director Francis Xavier Pasion, ‘Jay’ stars two of the country's top actors, Baron Geisler and Coco Martin.

It swept up most of the awards at the well-known Cinemalaya film festival in Manila, last year, before creating waves at major festivals around the world, including Venice and Pusan. It also won a Special Mention, at last year's Bangkok International Film Festival.

The Cinemalaya Jury commended the film for “Its sheer originality, energetic story-telling, mastery of digital technology, in order to tell a story that is a trenchant commentary on the technology itself. ”

The Financial Times said: “Jay is an acutely funny tale of intrusive telly reporters, bearing down on a family bereaved by a gay son’s murder, to make their grief part of a nation’s infotainment.”

To celebrate the small but strong film of yet another award-winning Filipino director, and to celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Philippines, the Ambassador of the Philippines HE Antonio V Rodriguez, will present a grand Filipino buffet meal of adobo, lumpia, bibingka, and various other delicacies.

Don't miss yet another unforgettable movie, in our Contemporary World Cinema Series.

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On World Press Freedom Day the Commission is officially launching the Lorenzo Natali Prize for 2009. The prize is awarded in partnership with Reporters Without Borders and the World Association of Newspapers to journalists who have demonstrated a commitment to human rights, democracy and development.

The European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel, said: "Democracy cannot exist without freedom of information. Lack of information makes for an unhealthy society. The ideals of development, human rights and democracy cannot be achieved without free and independent media to raise questions and stimulate debate. The European Commission's aim in organising the Lorenzo Natali Prize is to support committed journalists who contribute to the cause of development, democracy and human rights through the quality of their work."

The Natali Prize is an international press award dating back to 1992. In 2008 over 1500 journalists from 151 countries took part. It is open to journalists working in TV, radio, the press and online.

Interested journalists have until 30 June 2009 to apply (www.nataliprize2009.eu). The winners will receive their prizes at a special award ceremony in Stockholm in October, in the presence of the European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid.

Prizes worth a total of €60 000 will be awarded to the winners in the different sections: Africa, Europe, Maghreb/Middle East, Asia and Latin America/Caribbean.

Background:

The Lorenzo Natali Prize is an integral part of the Commission's development policy, reflecting its belief that defending freedom of expression, democracy, human rights and development is a way of promoting good governance, peace and progress and improving living conditions in the poorest countries.

For the organisation of the Lorenzo Natali Prize, the European Commission is once again working with two of the most prestigious world press associations:

* Reporters Without Borders, winner of the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 2005;
* the World Association of Newspapers, which represents over 18 000 publications in all five continents.

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The Associated Press is seeking a Thai correspondent for its Bangkok bureau.

The position calls for reporting and writing general news from Thailand and neighboring countries. The candidate must be fluent in English and a native Thai speaker with several years of experience in journalism. All candidates will be given a standard AP test.

Please send a CV and a covering letter to dgray@ap.org and klaohavirojana@ap.org

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Asia City Media Group is looking for a Thailand country manager, responsible for the P&L, operations and management of BK Magazine, Splash Communications Thailand as well as new print/digital business. The country manager will head a young and talented team of 35 and report to the CFO in Hong Kong and CEO in Thailand.

Those interested should email: countrymanager@asia-city.co.th

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The Australian Broadcasting Corporation is looking for a reliable driver to join our Bangkok-based news team. The successful candidate will be required to provide driving services during regular weekday hours but will also be required to respond to breaking news emergencies outside of regular hours and on weekends. Carrying out of some administrative tasks might also be required.

Necessary Skills:
Clean driving record and up-to-date driver's licence
Knowledge of Thai road rules and routes to key landmarks
Proficiency in English-language

The ABC is offering competitive pay and conditions.

The successful candidate:
Must be willing to gain a First Aid Certificate
Will be required to hold a Thai passport, at ABC's cost, and be willing to travel out of country if required


For more details please contact:
Karen Percy, ABC Correspondent on 02 652 0595 or percy.karen@abc.net.au

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The FCCT's successful publishing project, The King of Thailand in World Focus, a 280-page collation of articles and photographs covering the life and reign of HM King Bhumibol Adjuladej, Rama IX, is back in the shops after selling out last year.

The third edition is more than a reprint, and includes 20 extra pages covering the king's 80th birthday celebrations, the death of his older sister, HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana, some of the recent political turmoil, and an extended profile of the Crown Property Bureau. There is also a transcript of the remarkable comments made at last years launch at The Oriental by former prime minister Anand Panyarchun regarding the past, present and future of the Thai monarchy.

The King of Thailand in World Focus is the only comprehensive reference work on the current reign as reported over the years by correspondents, journalists and photographers working for the overseas media.

Although the latest edition is better and larger, the price remains the same. It is available from Asiabooks, Kinokuniya, B2S, Chulalongkorn University's Chulabooks at only 1,450 baht.

Club members can do even better and buy up to three copies each for 1,200 baht apiece from the FCCT office. There are also special discounts for bulk purchases of over 25 copies. Hurry while stocks last.

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The FCCT gratefully acknowledges the generosity and support of our sponsors. Please support our sponsors when you can, as they support us!


Major Sponsors - Thanks for their generous contributions to the Club's programs and activities

* Coca-Cola Company and Thainamthip Ltd., authorized bottler for products including Coca-Cola, Fanta, and Sprite
* Maneeya Realty
* Pfizer (Thailand) Limited
* Diageo Moet Hennessy (Thailand) Ltd., distributor of Johnnie Walker Scotch whisky
* Star Alliance for air tickets which make it possible to bring exceptional guest speakers to the FCCT and for our Wi-Fi Internet Service
* Unilever Thailand


Sponsors

* Nation Multimedia Group for daily delivery of The Nation
* Post Publishing Co., Ltd., for daily delivery of the Bangkok Post
* True Visions Public Company Limited for providing TrueVisions cable television access
* Heineken Thailand

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The Bulletin is published weekly by the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand, Penthouse, Maneeya Center, 518/5 Ploenchit Road, Patumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand. President: Marwaan Macan-Markar. First vice-president: Jonathan Head. Second vice-president: Patrick Barta. Treasurer: Dominic Faulder. Clubhouse manager: Thanutra Teerasuphaset. Office telephone: 02 652-0580-1; fax: 02 652-0582. Clubhouse telephone: 02 254-8165. E-mail: info@fccthai.com. Web site: www.fccthai.com. Opinions expressed may be entirely those of an individual writer or organization, and do not necessarily represent the policies, positions or opinions of the FCCT, nor does the FCCT, by virtue of publication in The Bulletin, assume any liability therefor. While all reasonable efforts are employed to ensure accuracy of announcements appearing in The Bulletin, including but not limited to dates, times and cover charges, the FCCT is not bound by those announcements and occasional errors or omissions may appear; we apologize for any inconvenience. Copyright © 2009, Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand and others. All rights reserved.

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For five decades, the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand has played a vanguard role as Southeast Asia's most active press club. The club advocates press freedom as a cornerstone of civil society in emerging democracies and is a vital venue for an open exchange of information. Our speakers range from heads of state to local activists to international advocates, many of whom address issues that might not get a full hearing without the support of the FCCT.

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