On Saturday, around 700 activists gathered around Manila’s People Power monument, a commemoration of the 1986 mass demonstrations that ousted Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and put an end to his strongman rule. But as his son, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. maintains a grip on the country as president, some are reassessing the legacy of the uprising and the hopes for a new state and regime. Tristan James Biglete was on the ground to cover the protest and spoke to those continuing the fight for democracy in the Philippines.

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/people-power-uprising/

#Philippines #humanrights #protest #uprising

One landmark of Cambodia’s 2022 ASEAN chairmanship was the proposal of the ASEAN Green Deal, a push for greater Southeast Asian cooperation towards green economies and infrastructure and a more sustainable future. But the proposal’s significance stretches beyond intra-regional relations. It also highlights the significance of ASEAN - EU influence and collaboration. Chheang Vannarith, president of the Asian Vision Institute and EANAGE Project Partner discusses how the EU Green Deal acted as a source of inspiration for its ASEAN counterpart and why green economic development and sustainable transformation are vital for both Europe and Southeast Asia’s success.

#EU #ASEAN #greeneconomy #economicdevelopment #sustainability

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/green-deal-asean-eu/

Amongst the friendly chit-chat and activities of local older people associations in Cambodia, weave more serious conversations around the seniors’ future. Increasing urban migration, the lasting scars of political and social brutality and lack of education opportunities have contributed towards a disruption of traditional family dynamics and left many seniors in economic struggles. Globe’s Leila Goldstein shares on-the-ground reporting of the issues facing Cambodia’s senior generations as welfare systems, family structures and opaque policies are leaving a growing ageing population behind.

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/cambodia-elders-welfare/

#seniors #welfare #economics #cambodia

At the end of February, the delegation of the European Parliament’s human rights subcommittee finalised its human rights visit to the Philippines and, following meetings with politicians and judges, the verdict seemed to be favourable to current president Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. The EU deemed that human rights have improved since the era of Marcos Jr.s’ predecessor Rodrigo Duterte and his “war on drugs,” but, as Chris Fitzgerald explains, on-the-ground events tell a different story. In this opinion piece, Fitzgerald discusses how fatal drug raids continue under Marcos Jr. as journalists and activists are silenced, and why the international community needs to hold his administration to account. 

#Philippines #HumanRights #EU #Opinion

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/marcos-human-rights-violations-eu/

Cambodia is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, with heavy economic reliance on agriculture and high levels of poverty. The national Ministry of Environment reported in 2021 that the majority of Cambodians had already been impacted by climate change, with declining numbers of fish and agricultural production. For agricultural workers and their families, migrating to the city in search of a better paying job might at first seem like an effective way to escape poverty and climate disasters. But in this opinion piece, Thong Sariputta explores the challenges of future migration for these rural workers.

#Cambodia #Migration #Workers #Opinion

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/in-cambodia-climate-change-is-already-driving-migration/

On International Women's Day, we are recognising resilience and highlighting stories of women through Southeast Asia that drives positive change in the region.
#InternationalWomensDay #Risilience #Women #Empowerment #IWD2023 #equality

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/international-womens-day-the-persistent-hope-for-a-better-world/

Images of the recently captured New Zealand pilot Phil Mehrtens, surrounded by armed Papuan independence fighters, shone a spotlight on foreign forces’ entanglement in the conflict between Indonesia and the Free Papua Movement. But international involvement goes further than this chilling event. A Southeast Asia Globe investigation reveals a murky defence relationship between the U.K. and Indonesia. Rory James explores how British finances and resources have fed the violence in Papua and supported task forces accused of gross human rights violations in the area.

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/uk-papua-independence-conflict/

#papua #independence #indonesia #humanrights

After a public outcry caused Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen to reverse his approval on a project earmarking a protected area for development, the government hurried to begin a reforesting project. Globe’s Anton L. Delgado reports from Phnom Tamao Forest, where locals and conservationists worry that the outdated methods used to replant saplings mean many may not survive.

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/cambodia-political-reforestation/

#politics #Cambodia #phnomtamao #deforestation #reforestation

When Grab first launched back in 2012, drivers across Southeast Asia enjoyed the benefits of sizable incentives and large customer demand. But now, as the company pivots towards profitability, drivers wages have dropped, and the once-offered incentives are few and far between, leaving drivers in the dust. Globe’s Leila Goldstein spoke with Grab drivers and researchers on what these cuts mean for drivers, and what they could tell us about the future of the gig economy.

#technology #Grab #gigworkers #wages #labourights

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/as-grab-drives-towards-profitability-have-drivers-been-kicked-to-the-curb/

When you get up in the morning, how do you decide what to wear to work? For female lawyers in Thailand, their choices have just opened up, as the Thai Bar Association amended the women’s dress code section of their code of ethics. Previously, female lawyers were only allowed to wear skirts to court. Trousers would result in a violation of the Bar Association’s ethical code. But now, in an apparent move away from centuries of gendered dress codes, options are opening up. Globe’s Beatrice Siviero examines the change the Thai Bar Association made to their ethical code, and the questions that still remain.

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/female-lawyers-allowed-trousers-in-thai-court/

#law #Thailand #lawyers #gender

If successful with their latest plan, electric vehicle manufacturer VinFast would make its home country Vietnam Southeast Asia’s first and only economy to sell a domestic automobile brand internationally with success. However, issues pertaining to the cost and quality of the car have stymied ambitions for international expansion.

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/vingroup-too-big-to-fail/

#vietnam #vinfast #EV #electricvehicle

After the civil war in the 1970s, many of Cambodia’s Cham fishers were forced to live on boats in the country’s riverways. Since then, many of the Cham people have either chosen to assimilate into larger Khmer communities, or have been forced by economic pressures to return to land. In today’s story of the day, Daniel Zak reports on the impact climate change, hydroelectric dams, dwindling fish populations, and other environmental destruction has made on the lifestyles and livelihood of the Cham people.

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/cambodias-cham-fishers-lives-on-land/

#Cambodia #cham #landrights #fishers #climatechange

Happy New Year! For those of us living in Southeast Asia, this weekend saw new year celebrations across the region, from Songkran in Thailand to Khmer New Year in Cambodia.

We went on the ground in Laos to follow the festivities.

#Laos #newyear #celebration #elephants

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/laos-celebrates-new-year

Barring extenuating circumstances, Tangaraju Suppiah will be the first person Singapore executes in 2023. His case illustrates the incredibly pressing issue regarding the lack of access to justice in Singapore. Suppiah was arrested in 2014 and convicted of playing a role in trafficking a kilogram of cannabis. Activists fighting his execution, and relatives including his sister Leela, criticise Singapore’s continued use of the death penalty on the grounds that it is not an effective deterrent and is most often used against those from vulnerable backgrounds.

Globe's Amanda Oon spoke to those involved in the case as his execution on Wednesday approaches.

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/singapore-first-execution-2023/

#deathpenalty #Singapore #capitalpunishment #justice #humanrights

You would think researchers would know to keep out of animal habitats after learning of the potential zoonotic origins of covid. But a heady rush for vaccines during the pandemic has fueled a rise in international trafficking of Cambodian macaques. In our newest, Globe’s Anton L. Delgado reports on the U.S. demand driving illegal wildlife trafficking out of Cambodia. Due to a preference for macaques for use in pharmaceutical trials, the demand for these animals skyrocketed during and after the pandemic. While most companies have a memorandum on only using captive-bred macaques for use in pharmaceutical trials, recent arrests of Cambodian officials and American primate importers maintain that endangered primates were pulled from the wild and trafficked to the USA for use in pharmaceutical trials.

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/covid-vaccine-macaques/

#Cambodia #wildlife #wildlifetrafficking #monkeys #macaques

Are you ready to discover the incredible project of infrastructure development?
Our third podcast episode is live now and it's all about exploring the incredible #China Belt & Road Initiative in #Cambodia!

The team debut a brand new format and explore the Phnom Penh - Sihanoukville expressway to discover the real impact of BRI on China - Cambodia relations.

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/anakut-podcast-bri-cambodia/

#trade #traderelations #podcast #beltandroad

Meet Jeremy Holden, a naturalist and wildlife photographer who has spent nearly two decades working to promote amphibian conservation in Cambodia. As a lifelong frog enthusiast, Holden is passionate about shining a light on the importance of these creatures to the ecosystem. Recently, he published a field guide to frogs in Cambodia.

Through his work, Holden hopes to give frogs an identity beyond being barbecued or simply keeping people awake at night. His goal is to make people aware of the importance of frogs to the ecosystem and to encourage their conservation. Globe’s Anton L. Delgado spoke to Holden in an exlusive interview to dive into his fascination with these web-legged amphibians and how documenting Cambodia’s natural wonders can help the Kingdom’s future conservation.

To read more about Jeremy Holden and his work in Cambodia read the link below.

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/a-walk-in-the-jungle-with-naturalist-jeremy-holden/

#cambodia #frogs #wildlife #conservation #photography

Can you imagine what it would be like if the country you live in only had one psychiatrist? This is a reality in Laos - a small, landlocked country in Southeast Asia, with a population of 7.4 million people, of which only a single person is a licensed psychiatrist. This absence leaves people with little understanding of mental health conditions, and few resources to provide support.

Globe’s Beatrice Siviero reports on the mental health crisis in Laos.

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/lao-mental-health-issues-remain-taboo/

#laos #mentalhealth #health #education

The Javan rhino is one of the world's most critically endangered species, with an estimated population of only 70 individuals remaining. This small population lives exclusively in Ujung Kulon National Park on the Indonesian island of Java. While the Indonesian government has estimated the population to be at 76 in 2021, a Jakarta-based environmental advocacy group estimates real numbers are much lower.

Rory James investigates the under-reported sharp decline in Javan rhinos and how professional poachers are now targeting national parks in their hunt for the vulnerable species.

#conservation #rhinos #wildlife #sumatra #java #indonesia

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/disputed-javan-rhino-numbers-conservation-politics/

The Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh camps are facing a multitude of hardships, including the recent devastation caused by fires and the WFP's announcement that it is cutting food aid.

Some camp residents are opting to move to Bhasan Char, a desolate "prison island" about 60 kilometers from the Bangladesh mainland, obtaining false documents to integrate into Bangladesh, or even risking return to Myanmar.

There is a need for a more sustainable solution to ensure safe resettlement and access to basic services. Globe contributor Dayna Santana Perez shares experience from the camps as they remain in desperate need of support.

#rohingya #refugees #myanmar #bangladesh #humanrights

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/breaking-point-exit-from-rohingya-refugee-camps/