Perspectives
by Lia Sciortino
Perspectives
China’s PR Problem Rears Its Head
Johanna Son
.bmp)
CHIANG MAI, Dec 11 (TerraViva/IPS Asia-Pacific) - Powerful neighbour. A rising power. Old friend. Big, secretive investor. Big boy of the region.
These were some of the terms participants at a talk-show format discussion at the Mekong Media Forum used when asked to share the images of China they get from the media.
Reading Media
Johanna Son
BANGKOK -- Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia. What images might these words conjure up in the minds of international consumers of news? Perhaps war, maybe the Khmer Rouge. Or they might say, ‘Oh, it’s that those countries that had that war some time ago. . . they’re near one another, and they’re all the same’.
China: Benign Bully of the Mekong?
Johanna Son
SYDNEY, Oct 3 (IPS Asia-Pacific) – Over the last decade or so, China’s deft use of soft power has seen South-east Asian neighbours’ view of it change from a looming threat to a largely friendly, if still imposing, giant to the north.
Dreams Draw Lao Workers to Thailand
SAVANNAKHET, Lao PDR — Lod is all of 18 years of age, but bears the scars of having been beaten up and tortured by her employer over in Thailand. Like many young women who end up in similar situations, she had been drawn across the border by visions of bringing home more money, new appliances, and sending her siblings to school.
For four years, Lod worked as a thread cutter at the factory, getting up at 5 a.m. daily and working until midnight. If there were large orders from customers, they would be forced to work until 2 or 3 a.m. "Some days we slept for only two to three hours and would have no time to eat. Sometimes we would feel so tired that we would fall asleep at work," said Lod.
Scared, the boy did as he was told. He poured a bottle of bathroom cleaning fluid on Lod's body, and stuffed her into a black plastic bag, tied it and left her in the bathroom. "I was left in the bathroom for a whole day without any food," said Lod. Her friend’s punishment was to have chillies poured and rubbed on her.
Risking their lives, some of Lod’s Lao friends took her away from the factory and reported the physical abuse to the police. Her employers were arrested the following day. Lod spent two years in a local hospital and another seven months at a hospital in Bangkok for the treatment of her burns. In late 2003, with the help of Thai and Lao authorities, Lod finally went back to her hometown.
"I thought I would be able to save some money to support my family, build a new house, and send my younger sister and brother to school," added Lod.
A Thai man who lives in Mukdahan says there are jobs available in Laos but many think they will not be able to earn enough money. "I think it's easier to find jobs in Laos than in Thailand,” he said. “I can say this because during summer, I send my son and daughter to work with my relative in Savannakhet. After earning money, they come back home again in time for the opening of school."
According to Ms Bounhgueon Thippudthavong, vice president of the Women’s Union of Savannakhet, “Many people go to Thailand after failing to find jobs in their own communities. Some of them are enticed by friends who say they will get higher wages in Thailand. Some find work in restaurants, bars and pig farms. What's worse is that many of these workers become infected with HIV/AIDS. All these cost Laos its labour force."
Lod said, "Many Lao youth who go to Thailand earn more income than I did. Some work in garment factories, or in road construction projects, and many work in sugarcane or pig farms."
Thoummaly Vongphachanh, director of LWU’s consultation centre, said, "Many Lao youth who crossed the border to work in Thailand have been violated by their employers. To solve this problem, the government of Laos has forged cooperation with the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, LWU, Trade Union and Youth Union, and other concerned ministries. Together, they plan to set up a livelihood programme to lure people, especially the young ones, back from Thailand and, if possible, give them permanent jobs.”
Looking back, Lod feels fortunate that she was at least able to file a case against her employer, who pleaded guilty. The court ordered Lod’s employer to pay her 75,000 baht (1,875 dollars) in unpaid wages, and 700,000 baht (17,500 dollars) for her medical treatment.
This article was also published in the Vientiane-based ‘Mae Ying Lao’ (Lao Women) newspaper.
Mekong's Avian Flu
UID).jpg)
What's New
Mekong ICT Camp 2010
The Mekong ICT Camp (http://mekongict.org), a biannual training workshop on information, communication, and technologies for citizen media, community health, and civil society practitioners in Mekong subregion, is accepting applications until Mar. 31, 2010. Participants are welcome from the Mekong countries, including Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam.
COMING SOON: 'TALKING GENDER IN THE MEKONG MEDIA'
.jpg)
BANGKOK - Do media organisations in the Mekong Region think that gender sensitivity, including giving voices to women, is part of doing better stories? How do they define it within the context of their societies and how do they report on different genders and sexuality? Do they include the use of gender-friendly language in their stylebooks and training programmes? How much is using a gender lens a news habit?
Yingying4567
If you act fake Giverchy handbags on replica Franck Muller watches
confirmation you are trading a reality – NOT a something that may happen. For example, if prices dip to support,then you dont buy – you wait Chopard replica watches
and look for confirmation that it has held and then execute your trading signal. For confirmation you need to use somemomentum oscillators.
fake Rolex Watches We dont have time to go replica Cartier watches
through them here – but great ones are the stochastic and Relative Strength Index. If you use them they will give you changes of momentum which are advance warnings of trend changes Hublot replica watches
Once you learn how to do this you wont catch the turn ( you cant do that anyway) but you will get the chunk in the middle around 60 70% and if you do, you will make a lot of money. Now forget buy low sell high Replica Versace handbags –replica Franck Muller watches
a better way to make money and the ONLY way to catch the really big trends is to – Buy high sell higher FACT: replica Chanel watches Most big trends start from new market highs NOT market lows.
How to use Remote Desktop
How to use Remote Desktop Connection for the two systems which have same IP Address?
cheap vps
cheap hosting
windows vps
forex vps
ucvhost
Mens ZigTech Shoes
Reebok ZigTech Shoes is hottest new technology from Zig Pulse Shoes. Mens ZigTech Shoes delivers a unique wave of energy that propels you forward with each step, so can reduces stress to your leg muscles by 20% resulting in more endurance for athletes when cross training.
Reebok EasyTone Trainers
Do you really think the Reebok Easytone Shoes
will add tone to your glutes (the butt muscles) and legs? As Flava Flav once said, "don’t believe the hype!” Ladies, it's not going to work. Someone can walk behind you for 500 straight miles while you’re sporting a new pair of Reebok EasyTone and I’m telling you, they’d never notice any difference in your behind. Keep saving for that trendy pair of Jimmy Choos and take a pass on the Reebok EasyTone Trainers.
nfl jersey
Baltimore Ravens Jerseys
Tennessee Titans Jerseys
San Francisco 49ers Jerseys
Carolina Panthers Jerseys
Cincinnati Bengals Jerseys
Cleveland Browns Jerseys
Jacksonville Jaguars Jerseys
Arizona Cardinals Jerseys
Atlanta Falcons Jerseys
St Louis Rams Jerseys
Buffalo Bills Jerseys
Dallas Cowboys Jerseys
Houston Texans Jerseys
Indianapolis Colts Jerseys
Minnesota Vikings Jerseys
New Orleans Saints Jerseys
Oakland Raiders Jerseys
New York Jets Jerseys
Pittsburgh Steelers Jerseys
Seattle Seahawks Jerseys
Chicago Bears Jerseys
Denver Broncos Jerseys
Detroit Lions Jerseys
Green Bay Packers Jerseys
Kensas City Chiefs Jerseys
Miami Dolphins Jerseys
New England Patriots Jerseys
New York Giants Jerseys
Philadelphia Eagles Jerseys
San Diego Chargers Jerseys
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jerseys
Washington Redskins Jerseys
LeBron James Heat Jersey
LeBron James Jersey
mbt shoes
Want to understand the general MBT shoes to not feel? Welcome to our MBT website. Here you will find what you want, you will enjoy never feel the joy. MBT sandals is this summer's focus, mbt staka and mbt habari simple generosity, self-confident style show. mbt fumba and mbt ema of exquisite beauty, displaying graceful feminine. Summer vacation, MBT shoes clearance to occur, it is attracting a lot of friends in the eye, quickly to your actions.
In the traffic court of a
In the traffic court of a large mid-western city, a young lady was brought before the judge to answer a ticket given her for driving through a red light.
ed hardy mens
cheap ed hardy mens
ed hardy mens active wear
ed hardy mens t-shirt
She explained to his honor that she was a school teacher and requested an immediate disposal of her case in
cheap ed hardy mens hoodies
Ed Hardy men's Jeans
cheap ed Hardy Men's Jeans
ed hardy men's Underwear
cheap ed hardy men's Underwea
order that she might hasten on to her classes. A wild gleam came into the judge's eye. "You are a school teacher, eh?" said he.
ed hardy t-shirt
ed hardy women's t-shirt
cheap ed hardy t-shirt
cheap ed hardy women's t-shirt
"Madam, I shall realize my lifelong ambition. Sit down at that table and write 'I went through a red light' five hundred times."
SkecherSale
Well its an intresting post.
skechers salechloe bags
gucci online shopmbt shoes women
ugg wholesaleUGG Knightsbridgevibram fiveskechers shape ups
william
Listen as industry-expert MCTS Certification lectures on nearly every technology and protocol seen on the new CCIE Voice MCSE Certification. Vik's lectures are information-rich video training solution that consists of over 45 total hours of content. After each MCSE Certification is covered, Vik dives into lab exercises designed to demonstrate and explain the fundamentals and complex implementations of the MCSE Certification protocols that clients may encounter in the real CCIE Voice 3.0 Lab.
LISA One of the most
LISA
One of the most important supplies Nike Air Jordan that you must have is the bee suit. You need to wear this every time you will go near the bees because miu miu Coach Bags sale this will serve as your protection against their stings. This bee suit must be made of very special materials so that you will be sure that you chanel MBT Discount are protected when you are doing your work Cheap Jordans. However, miu miu bags be sure that marc jacobs nike dunk you are comfortable in wearing it. Aside from the bee suit, you also need to have a head gear and gloves Cheap Gucci Shoes. Just like the bee suit, these must also be made of very special and top quality materials so that your head, neck, and hands will also have the protection that they needed Jordan Shoes.
Post new comment