Stories about Laos
Interview with Wife of Laos NGO Leader Sombath Somphone Who Went Missing in 2012
Writing for the Southeast Asia Globe, Kearrin Sims interviewed Shui Meng, wife of the disappeared Laotian development worker Sombath Somphone. Sombath, a prominent NGO leader in Laos, went missing in 2012. Various global groups suspect that local state forces have something to do with his mysterious disappearance. In the interview,...
Laos Development NGOs Silent on Human Rights
Writing for The New Mandala, Randall Arnst bemoaned the silence of Laos devleopment NGOs over the disappearance of prominent NGO worker Sombath Somphone: …while UN rights bodies have repeatedly raised concerns, their sister agencies working in development have said virtually nothing. At the bi-lateral level, while diplomats have spoken up,...
Human Rights Situation in Laos
The International Service for Human Rights has prepared a briefing paper on the human rights situation in Laos: Human rights defenders prefer to be known as ‘community workers’ and are afraid of reprisals if they are associated with regional and international human rights organisations. As Laos is scheduled to undergo...
VIDEOS: Vintage Southeast Asia in the British Pathe Archive
Many of the films in the British Pathe collection are valuable resource that could teach us a lot about Southeast Asia's recent past and even the present.
Video Shows How the U.S. Dropped 2.5 Million Tons of Bombs on Laos
Mother Jones uploaded a video which simulates the 600 bombing missions conducted by the United States in Laos between 1965 to 1973 during the Vietnam War era.
Laos Landmine Victims Appeal for Help
Landmines planted during the Vietnam War era continue to hurt and kill Lao residents today HI's Phongsavath Manithong is challenging the int'l community to support UXO/mine victims in #Laos #Commit2Complete pic.twitter.com/hXI659LRfu — ICBL (@minefreeworld) March 11, 2014
Saving Elephants in Laos
There are only several hundred elephants in Laos today, a country which was once known as the 'land of the million elephants'. Animal welfare groups vow to save the elephants
One Year in Asia
Antoine Lavenant, with his girlfriend spent a year in Asia – China, Laos, Cambodia, Thaïland, Malaysia, Philippines and Sri Lanka. The video is a brief record of their exciting journey.
Human Trafficking in Southeast Asia
The Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development has published a policy briefer that tackled the extent of human trafficking in Southeast Asia. Many Southeast Asian countries are at the bottom of a lot of the world's supply chains, including for food, garments, and technology. Yet few countries in...
PHOTOS: Humans of Southeast Asia
Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York Facebook page has inspired many photographers in Southeast Asia to share photos and stories of ordinary people in the streets in their respective countries
Popularizing the Hmong Qeej Musical Instrument through YouTube
Catherine Falk studied how Chinese and Laotian Hmong diaspora groups maximized the YouTube to preserve and popularize their culture, in particular the playing of qeej, an iconic Hmong reed mouth organ.
Abducted a Year Ago, Sombath Somphone Case Highlights Human Rights Abuses in Laos
Sombath Somphone, an NGO leader and educator, remains missing a year after he was abducted in Laos. His case puts a spotlight on other enforced disappearances in Laos
Saving Mothers and Babies in Laos
The group CleanBirth.org is committed to improving the maternal health care situation in several Laos rural villages by providing birth kits, training of new nurses and mobilizing village volunteers. In a recent update, the group highlighted why many rural Laotians are choosing homebirths over delivery at health centers. Among the...
Sticky Rice is Bad for Babies, Lao Mothers Told
@LaotianMama reminds Lao mothers not to give sticky rice, a traditional Lao food, to hungry babies: Sticky rice for infants is the Laotian equivalent to what we know as rice cereal in Western culture. The idea is the same as well where the introduction of solid foods will fill out...
Why Laos Has High Maternal And Infant Mortality Rates
Dee Harlow cites several factors that explain why Laos has the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in Southeast Asia: Many factors contribute to the inaccessibility of the care expectant mothers need including, geographic remoteness, lack of infrastructure and seasonal limitations for travel on rough roads, lack of transport or...
Gender Inequality in Laos and Cambodia Schools
Laurence Bradford studied some statistics about female education in Southeast Asia. She highlighted the problems and discrimination faced by young girls in Cambodia and Laos. For example in Cambodia, 50 percent of young girls are laborers instead of students. In Laos, male literacy rates are 20 percent higher than those...
Laos Defines National Dress
To further promote Lao culture, the government has organized a seminar which defined the country's national dress to be used during formal events. For men the suit will be made from Lao silk fabric and cut in a Lao style. The women’s suit is also from Lao silk fabric cut...
Helping Laos Recover from Cluster Bombs
Bryan Thao Worra, a Laotian American writer, reflects on his last trip in Laos where he witnessed the impact of cluster bombs in rural villages. Laos was one of the most heavily bombed countries during the Vietnam War and thousands of unexploded bombs continue to be a threat today.
Traveling in Pre-Modern Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia Visions is a collection of historical travel narratives of pre-modern Southeast Asia from Cornell University Library's John M. Echols Collection. The digital collection includes 10,000 images, drawings, photographs, prints and maps.
Laos: Where is Sombath Somphone?
Sombath Somphone, a development economist and educator from Laos, was last seen on December 15, 2012. A month after his mysterious disappearance, his friends and supporters from around the world are asking the Lao government to intensify the search for Sombath.
Animal Welfare Groups Step Up Campaign in Laos
Animal welfare groups in Laos have stepped up their campaign to promote protection of animals and public awareness about animal care. Their campaigns include better veterinary care, providing shelter to injured animals, and the stopping of illegal dog meat trading.