Stories about Laos
Lao Startup Wins ASEAN Award
Lao IT Dev, a startup based in Laos, has won the 1st Asean ICT Award in the Digital Content category. It publishes the e-corner magazine which is the major source of IT-related news in Laos.
Activists Reject Southeast Asia’s Human Rights Declaration
More than 50 human rights groups in Southeast Asia issued a statement criticizing the recent signing of a Human Rights Declaration drafted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The groups rejected the declaration for allegedly containing provisions that subvert the general principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Laos: Low Power Rates but Many People Still in the Dark
Despite the presence of several large hydro power plants in Laos, electricity access remains a problem for many people in the country. Power rates, however, are lower compared to other countries
Singapore: Charity Group Targets Poor Children in Laos and Vietnam
A group of seven professional Swedish women based in Singapore have formed the charity organization Together for Charity. Today, the group gathers donations to support an orphanage in Laos and an English school in Vietnam. The group's founders discussed with Global Voices how their charity work is helping poor children in the region
Southeast Asia: Initiatives to Celebrate International Day of Peace
Various youth groups and individuals in Southeast Asia are initiating several activities to celebrate the International Day of Peace on September 21. The campaign is timely and relevant since many countries in the region are troubled by long running civil wars, border disputes, and separatist movements.
Laos: Participation in 2012 Olympics
Laos sent three athletes to the 2012 London Olympics. An employee of the United Nations World Food Programme in Laos also represented the country when she was invited to become an Olympic torchbearer early this month
Laos: Environmental Impact of Xayaburi Dam
Kirk Herbertson explains the environmental impact as construction of the controversial Xayaburi Dam along Mekong River in Laos begins.
Laos: Prison or Drug Detention Center?
The Human Rights Watch is asking the United States to stop the funding of the Somsanga Drug Detention Centre in Vientiane, Laos until the Laos government has investigated the reported human rights abuses in the facility
Chinese Investment: Boon or Bane for Southeast Asia?
The emergence of China as a global economic powerhouse is bringing tremendous benefits to its cash-strapped neighbors in Southeast Asia. But some of its investments have been mired in various controversies involving land disputes, village displacements, environment destruction, and corruption.
Southeast Asia: Home to the World's Longest Ongoing Civil Wars
Southeast Asia is more than just white sand beaches, temples and resorts: it’s not often mentioned that the region is actually home to the world's longest ongoing civil wars, the most heavily bombed countries in the world, and the world’s longest communist insurgency.
Laos: Luang Prabang Airport
Sao Darly posts photos and a video clip of the new airport of Luang Prabang in Laos
Laos: Creative Minds Come Together to Produce Children's Programming
Through a workshop on Innovative Communication for Early Childhood Development, creative minds in Lao People’s Democratic Republic came together with UNICEF to generate quality media for children, as can be seen on video in Young People's Media Network's post.
Southeast Asia Digital Library
The Southeast Asia Digital Library provides educators and students with materials published in Southeast Asia. The online library contains digital facsimiles of books and manuscripts, as well as multimedia materials and searchable indexes of additional Southeast Asian resources.
Southeast Asia's Golden Triangle: From Opium to Casinos
Tan Kai Swee presents a video on EngageMedia about the opening of new casinos in Southeast Asia's infamous Golden Triangle in Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos which used to be the center of opium production in the region.
Haze in Indochina
Thomas Wanhoff links to a satellite image showing the extent of smog and haze in Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos.
Southeast Asia’s Three-Wheeled Vehicles
Tuktuk, Beca, Kuliglig, Trishaw, Pedicab, Becak, Tricycle. These are the famous three-wheeled vehicles in the Southeast Asian region. They can be seen in the streets of urban centers but governments are trying to ban these ubiquitous pedicabs and motorized rickshaws in major throughfares.
Southeast Asia: Climate Change and Smallholder Farmers
The World Agroforestry Centre has released a study on the climate change adaptation options for small farmers in Southeast Asia.
Fourth Friendship Lao-Thai Bridge
This youtube video gives an overview of the fourth Friendship Bridge which was designed to link Laos and Thailand across the Mekong River
Cambodia: How to Cook in a Bamboo Tube
Dorothy blogs about a unique cooking practice using bamboo tubes in Bunong village of Mondulkiri province in Cambodia. This was also common in Laos
Flood Forecasting in Mekong River
The Mekong River Commission has a special page on its website that provides flood forecasting information that can help resident in Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand
Laos According to WikiLeaks
WikiLeaks has released a set of Laos files that confirmed the country’s underdevelopment, endemic corruption in the bureaucracy, and the fragile state of its environment. Here are some online reactions and excerpts of the Laos cables.
