Indonesia’s New Capital
Jakarta has been the capital of Indonesia since August 17, 1945, when the country declared independence from the Dutch. The Ibu Kota Negara project is working to relocate the capital Read More …
Category: Culture and Society
Hope for Recovery from a Hard Colonized Past: The Pope Visits East Timor
In a country where 98% of the population is Catholic, a visit from Pope Francis is an enormous honor and a very big deal for those who live there. In Read More …
Thailand Becomes the First Southeast Asian Country to Legalize Same-sex Marriage
Love wins in Thailand! Beginning January 22, 2025, LGBTQ couples can register their marriages in Thailand. This amendment, long fought for by LGBTQ activists, received enormous support and was passed Read More …
Charting Paths to Peace: Reflections on the Jakarta Defense Gathering
In a significant gathering of defense ministers and officials in Jakarta on November 16th, 2023 , representatives from the United States, China, Russia, and Southeast Asia met in Indonesia’s capital Read More …
Sand Dredging and Destruction in Vietnam
The sidewalks, asphalt, and concrete we walk on stand solid and reliable under our feet. However, the most important material that comprises all these structures, sand, is not as structurally Read More …
‘Just Like Medicine’: A new Push for Divorce in a Nation Where It’s Illegal
‘Just Like Medicine’: A new Push for Divorce in a Nation Where It’s Illegal A Campaign in the Philippines that frames divorce as a basic human right is gaining momentum, Read More …
Navigating ASEAN’s Autonomy Amid US-China Tensions
In a recent AP News article, Southeast Asian leaders, led by Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo, pledged to maintain the region’s independence amid rising tensions between the United States and China. Read More …
Thailand Cabinet Approves Marriage Equality Bill
The Thai Cabinet has just approved an amendment to the civil code that will allow for same-sex marriage, provided that an additional draft law is approved in December. The change Read More …
Shadows Of Tolerance: Thailand’s LGBTQ Rights & The Ongoing Dialogue with Buddhist Values
Songstress and Legendary diva Diana Ross once boldly proclaimed, “I’m coming out. I want the world to know.” Unfortunately, young queer kids in Thailand might be whispering back, “I don’t Read More …
How Rabies Has Become an Epidemic Across Southeast Asia
As I’m currently writing this, rabies is ripping its way through Southeast Asia. For the majority of us in America, our separation from this illness causes us to conjure up Read More …