The metaverse - a network of immersive virtual domains - has been touted as a trillion dollar opportunity. Alongside gaming, avatar fashion and business networking, virtual real-estate is rising as a lucrative sector as investors eye a new field of digital assets. Southeast Asia has caught the eye of developers and financial backers as fertile ground for the virtual property market but in Singapore, a leading digital hub in the region, some industry leaders are balancing enthusiasm with concerns over governance, regulation and security. Globe’s Amanda Oon spoke to those making moves in the metaverse about the price of escapism, the digital property bubble and taking a gamble on the virtual Wild West. 
#Singapore #Metaverse #Technology #Digital #AmandaOon

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/metaverse-singapore-virtual-property/

Last month’s Singapore Tourism Industry conference focused on the country’s drive to become a “sustainable urban destination”. While the phrase reflects the city-state’s roots and founder Lee Kuan Yew’s vision of a “Garden City,” new technologies have brought Singapore’s sustainable vision into the present day and are laying the foundation for its future. Globe’s Amanda Oon explores how technology and tourism have formed a partnership in the Red Dot in celebrating the country’s nature and culture. 
#Singapore #Tourism #Technology #AmandaOon

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/tech-and-tourism-come-together-in-singapores-sustainable-vision/

Rice is a staple of Southeast Asia. The tiny white grain is integral to nutrition, agriculture and international food trade across the region. But short-term climate effects and longer-term yield and production declines are creating a conundrum for the rice economy. In this analysis, Paul Teng, adjunct senior fellow in the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Nanyang Technological University Singapore, discusses the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while increasing rice yield and the conflicting priorities driving a dilemma over the economics of the tiny seed.
#Region #Agriculture #Rice #Climate #PaulTeng

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/southeast-asia-rice-conundrum/

In Cambodia’s Battambang province, a unique Khmer language has survived for decades and is thriving and evolving amongst queer communities as a code to show solidarity and share banter. But pia saa Sor, or “white language,” holds a wider history. For older generations it was also a coded dialect for those living under the Khmer Rouge. Globe’s Fiona Kelliher was on the ground in Battambang to speak with those who speak pia saa Sor, track its journey through the Kingdom’s turbulent history and share an insight into other international overshadowed languages shared by marginalised communities.
#Cambodia #Language #History #LGBTQ+ #FionaKelliher

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/queer-language-survives-cambodias-history/

As Cambodia continues in its persistent pursuit of mine action and its goal to be landmine-free by 2025, fickle funding and rising environmental awareness are leading to an increased need for innovative, affordable and safe mine action methods. Globe’s Anton L. Delgado covers a unique ‘explosive harvesting’ programme which makes the Kingdom safer by repurposing unexploded bombs and landmines.
#Cambodia #Landmines #UXO #AntonLDelgado

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/recycling-the-remnants-of-war/

Over the last month, Globe readers may have dug into a special trilogy by our own Anton L. Delgado. A combination of rigorous on-the-ground reporting and striking and honest photography, the series gave a range of visual and narrative insights into the impact of landmines and unexploded ordnance on the Kingdom. From specially-trained giant pouched rats helping to clear high-risk areas to the farmers whose livelihoods remain ravaged decades after conflict, Globe covered the obstacles, innovations and resilience that has grown from the Kingdom’s contaminated ground. We conclude the series with a video that looks at the efforts made by one organisation to recycle remnants of war and develop new methods of mine action. 
#Cambodia #Landmines #Recycling #Video #AntonLDelgado

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/fighting-fire-with-fire/

The power of a condolence letter goes far beyond the words on the page. It can bring comfort, revive memories and, in the case of a correspondence sent from Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, spark minor conflict that temporarily rocked the Red Dot’s regional relations with Cambodia and Vietnam. In an extract from his forthcoming book, An International History of the Third Indochina War, Ang Cheng Guan, a professor of international history of Southeast Asia in the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Nanyang Technological University, explores how an expression of historical condolence over the Khmer Rouge era almost sparked a modern diplomatic incident.
#Singapore #Diplomacy #History #AngChengGuan

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/a-letter-of-condolence-that-shook-singapores-international-relations/

Amidst stagnant growth, Cambodia's agricultural sector struggles to reach its potential. But experts say many economic opportunities exist for farmers and agribusiness. In this investigation of the Kingdom’s fruit-rich farming sector, Globe’s Jack Brook explores the sector’s searches for markets and profits and the structural changes needed to enable the country to take back ownership of its domestic agricultural markets. 
#Cambodia #Agriculture #Farmer #JackBrook

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/cambodian-agriculture-holds-the-seeds-for-success/

For the roughly 3 million people living around Tonle Sap, climate change, overfishing and mass deforestation are just some of the ominous threats that have decimated fish populations and left their communities impoverished. As these families look towards the next generations, they worry about the uncertain future for their children and the heavy weight of the simple statement, “Ot mean trae, ot mean loy,” (“If there isn’t fish, there isn’t money.”) In the first part of a special two-part series focusing on life and livelihood around the vibrant water region, photo reportage by Nigel Dickinson and reporting by Fiona Kelliher and Chea Sameang share an insight into how Tonle Sap’s residents are struggling to supply both a sustainable living and a secure future.
#Cambodia #TonleSap #Fishery #Community #FionaKelliher #CheaSameang #NigelDickinson

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/children-on-the-tonle-sap-face-a-hazy-future/

Around Tonle Sap, Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake, communities are reeling from illegal fishing crackdowns. The Kingdom’s Prime Minister Hun Sen recently ordered an end to illegal fishing in the Tonle Sap, where the use of electric prods, oversized nets and other illegal equipment has contributed to the ongoing devastation of the lake. In the second part of a special two-part series, photo reportage by Nigel Dickinson combines with reporting by Fiona Kelliher and Chea Sameang to shine a spotlight on the impact of illegal fishing crackdowns on the local communities and the area’s conservation. 
#Cambodia #TonleSap #Fishery #Community #FionaKelliher #CheaSameang #NigelDickinson

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/fishing-crackdown-disrupts-tonle-sap-lives/

Thai rapper Danupha Khanatheerakul, also known as Milli, caused sticky mango rice sales to soar after eating the Thai dessert onstage at California’s famous Coachella festival in April. The hike in the sweet snack’s popularity signalled the capacity of ‘soft power,’ the ability to exert influence through appeal and attraction instead of force. But Thailand’s soft power capacity is stymied by its authorities’ approach to issues such as human rights. Globe columnist Mark S. Cogan explores how the Kingdom’s strength in culture, arts and hospitality is hindered by the hard power of the country’s military-backed government and why those banking on the long-term impact of Thailand’s soft power potential should look further than sales of sticky rice. 
#Thailand #SoftPower #Analysis #MarkSCogan

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/the-hard-side-of-thailands-supposed-soft-power-success/

The Philippines has a new face of leadership and a continuation of old problems. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s ascent to presidential victory was mobilised by manipulation of the media and a capitalisation of online platforms to spread false information. The control over the country’s information networks bears parallels with Marcos’ predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, whose rule put media platforms under surveillance and censorship and journalists under threat of harassment and attack. In this analysis, Lisa Garcia, executive director of the Foundation for Media Alternatives and Kian Vesteinsson, research analyst for technology and democracy at Freedom House, discuss why nurturing a healthy digital space is critical for the new administration and why independent media and online expression remain at risk under the new government. 
#Philippines #Politics #Election #Marcos #LisaGarcia #KianVesteinsson

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/rejecting-the-past-marcos-jr-must-uphold-free-speech/

In Thailand, a total area about the size of four and a half million football fields is dedicated to the growth of sugarcane. The cultivation of refined sugar is an important industry for the Kingdom and Thailand is one of the largest global exporters of the sweet substance. But an increasing network of illegal trade from Thailand into Vietnam is putting pressure on Vietnamese domestic sugarcane markets. Globe’s Govi Snell investigates the underground market smuggling sugar into Vietnam's southwestern provinces and how the trade of illicit food goods across Southeast Asia can support more ominous types of crime and terrorism.
#Vietnam #Sugar #Export #Market #GoviSnell

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/cross-border-smuggling-bogs-down-vietnams-sugar-industry/

DJ Khla reached the apex of Cambodian rap music fame. His unique style of music, combining traditional Khmer vocals with reggae funk and rhymes, brought him fame, popularity and a position under the Cambodian People’s Party as part of the prime minister’s bodyguard unit. But as the appeal of being a government puppet wore thin, the controversial musician turned his talents to support of the opposition and exposing the violence, exploitation and corruption in Cambodian society. Globe’s Jack Brook spoke to the rapper and charts his extraordinary political and musical journey and how his musical legacy has survived becoming an opposition icon in Cambodia’s landmark 2013 election. 
#Cambodia #Politics #Music #Opposition #JackBrook

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/he-was-cambodias-most-famous-rapper-then-he-changed-his-tune/

The recent political victory of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has re-thrust the legacy of Ferdinand Marcos Sr., the strongman known as “America’s Boy”, into the spotlight. But it is not just the U.S. that has established a long-standing arms trade relationship with the archipelago. The U.K. sold millions of dollars’ worth of arms to Ferdinand Marcos Sr. in the 1980s, continued to do so under the more recent Duterte regime and looks to carry this on under the rule of new president Ferdinand Marcos Jr. In this analysis, Tom Sykes, a senior lecturer at the University of Portsmouth in the U.K., discusses how the U.K. weapons industry made a killing from the brutal final months of the Marcos regime.
#Philippines #Marcos #Arms #TomSykes

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/arming-a-dictator-britain-provided-a-weapons-pipeline-to-marcos-sr/

The first duty of a police force is protection. But in Vietnam, justice and crime prevention come second to loyalty to “defend the primacy of the Communist Party in all matters.” Torture to force confessions, repression of activists’ free speech and fatalities from police violence are all being swept under the rug. Globe’s Govi Snell investigates the undercurrent of police brutality that leaves prisoners battered, broken and sometimes beaten to death, with their families bribed, misled or forced by fear into silence.
#Vietnam #Police #Brutality #GoviSnell

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/deadly-confessions-the-hidden-abuse-by-vietnams-police/

Tuak rice wine has been brewed for generations amongst indigenous communities in Borneo, an island shared by Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. The drink plays a significant role in religious and cultural festivals and is a source of local pride and identity. But commercialisation and government restrictions are creating hurdles for local brewers as they try to keep this important part of their culture alive. Liani MK dives into the traditions and history surrounding tuak and how local homebrewers are reginiting indigenous spirits and working to bring tuak outside Sarawak.
#Region #Culture #Brewing #Indigenous #LianiMK

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/sarawak-rice-wine-makes-a-comeback-through-creative-renditions/

Globe plans for a summer wind down to prepare for the second half of the year. We hope you enjoy our two original stories a week and look forward to full capacity soon with new content covering the most relevant issues in #SoutheastAsia.

Thailand’s government dealt a further blow to human rights recently with its “Draft Act on the Operations of Not-for-Profit Organisations.” Colloquially known as the “NPO Law,” activists worry the proposed legislation would allow authorities to intimidate and control the activities of NGOs and nonprofit organisations under claims of transparency. Globe’s Jack Brook covers the law, its potential impact and concerns that it may force human rights activism underground or force some organisations to close completely.
#Thailand #HumanRights #Law #JackBrook

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/thailand-seeks-stricter-controls-over-nonprofit-groups/

The continuing conflict in Eastern Europe has brought the International Criminal Court (ICC) back into the public attention, amidst calls for the Hague-based judicial body to bring a reckoning to Russian commanders and troops. But in Southeast Asia, despite similar pleas to take action against abuse of power under authoritarian regimes, the region and its leaders remain untouched by ICC prosecution. Globe’s Brian P. D. Hannon analyses the impediments to human rights cases in the Philippines and Myanmar and why justice will not land in Southeast Asia.
#Region #ICC #HumanRights #Justice #BrianPDHannon

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/southeast-asia-is-the-iccs-most-elusive-target/