Showing 1 - 10 of 11
Virtuous circle
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 07/10/2019
» The circular economy -- an economic system aimed at eliminating waste and promoting the continual use of resources -- is not something that can happen in isolation. It requires everyone from the beginning to end of the supply chain to embrace the spirit and practice of 3R: recycle, reuse and reduce.
Army unwilling to yield to democracy
News, Erich Parpart, Published on 31/07/2019
» For the country like Thailand where the military staged two putsches within the past 13 years, a coup d'état should no longer be necessary.
Denial spells irrelevance for Asean
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 24/06/2019
» One big reason why members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) get along so splendidly is that they avoid talking about uncomfortable subjects, such as stunted democratic development or human rights abuses.
Scholars and dollars
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 08/04/2019
» When the international school market specialist ISC Research looked into its crystal ball in 2012, it predicted that the world would have 11,000 international schools serving 6.2 million students by 2022.
Dying and dignity
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 21/01/2019
» In rapidly ageing Asian countries, a growing number of people are starting to worry about what their old age will be like. Medical advances may make it possible for us to live to 100, but what if the last decades of life are filled with infirmity, pain and suffering?
Property pressure
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 01/10/2018
» Last year, the New Zealand government banned foreigners from buying existing homes to make property more affordable for its citizens. In June this year, it softened its stance to allow non-residents to own up to 60% of large, new apartment buildings.
Science of success
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 30/04/2018
» Back when astronomer Carl Sagan -- "America's most effective salesman of science" -- was making the universe easier for the world to understand, Rohan Mahadevan was busy working on his doctorate in astrophysics. A promising career in academia beckoned, but he heard the calling of business instead.
Lese majeste law and reality
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 26/03/2018
» The lese majeste law in Thailand is a sensitive subject that most people prefer to avoid talking about. Under Article 112 of the criminal code, anyone can file a lese majeste complaint against anyone else and the police are obligated to investigate every single complaint. The courts can sentence anyone who "defames, insults or threatens the king, the queen, the heir-apparent or the regent" to jail terms of between three and 15 years.
Green but greying
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 22/01/2018
» Visit a rice farm anywhere in Asia these days and you will see a life that has hardly changed in decades. Transplanting paddy sprouts into muddy soil, swatting itch-inducing stalks with a sharp sickle and lifting heavy rice sacks into a rickety truck are all part of the backbreaking routine.
Can you dig it?
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 16/10/2017
» Asia's most ambitious never-built megaproject is back in the news, this time with some high-powered backing and the potential to be blessed by China as part of its Belt and Road programme. But that won't make building a canal across Thailand any easier.