On 28 January 2019, a courageous citizen took action to solve the problem of a pile of trash littering the front of Soi Lad Phrao using supernatural methods. The solution proved to be temporarily effective, showing the possibility of using superstition to address other social problems.

Thailand's landscape is littered with supernatural artefacts of Buddhism, Hinduism, and animism. Every few steps, tourists may see shrines filled with flowers, incense and candles, and the obligatory bottle of red Fanta (a blood substitute – yes, I know, but its Nazi origin proves to be quite apt.) to worship the spirits so as to bring good luck and keep bad luck away. 

Sometimes, superstition is used to solve problems. Tree ordination, for example, has been practiced for the past 25 years to combat deforestation. As illegal loggers are afraid of cutting down sacred trees, the practice has spread across Southeast Asia.

Methus Keawsaikao has taken action to solve a social problem through superstition. Faced with a pile of trash in front of Soi Lad Phrao every day, he decided to create a holy area around a fire hydrant by placing offerings to worship its spirit.

He reported the result of his supernatural innovation for urban development on his Facebook page. The post has gone viral with 23k likes and 7.4k shares, and a deluge of support: 

"It’s because I got so annoyed by the pile of trash in front of Soi Lad Phrao. Why don't they find a proper place to put it? The litterers don't go looking for bins.

So I started my black magic campaign - worshipping the guardian spirit of the fire hydrant, hahahaha. The first day, I put a red Fanta there. Turns out that it was picked up by the garbage truck at 5 a.m.

Red Fanta to worship the guardian spirit of the fire hydrant
Source: Methus Keawsaikao

I updated a new version by adding a doll and yellow flowers, and also told the garbage collectors please not to take them. (I put them there at 5 a.m. when they arrived.)

Supernatural method with more features
Source: Methus Keawsaikao

I just dropped by to check. There is still no garbage, but we can't declare victory yet - we have to wait and see.

When victory comes, I will raise funds to put flower, incense sticks and candles there, and buy bins for every soi - hahahahaha.

P.S. Anyone or any organization can donate garbage bins - better just donate bins, I don’t want money.

Superstition proves to be effective
Source: Methus Keawsaikao

Latest update [1] The shrine has gone and the garbage has come back again (Picture 4), but we cannot give up. Incense sticks, gold leaf, and zebra doll are needed. Anyone who has them, please send them to me."

The shrine has gone and the garbage has come back again.
Source: Methus Keawsaikao

Think locally, act globally at its finest. We Thai people enthusiastically wait and see if his initiative will be successful and if the practice is about to spread nationwide.