Stanislaus Jude Chan interviews STEVE VAN BEEK, explorer and author of several books on Asian culture who describes himself as being fascinated by rivers. Continue Reading

Day One of the Mekong Media Forum on Dec. 9 kicked off with debates and discussions, some of them quite heated, on issues like changes in media trends, and how the media can be challenged to hold states accountable. Continue Reading

By Tess Bacalla

CHIANG MAI, Thailand, Dec 9 (TerraViva) – Countries in the Mekong region have indeed opened their borders and former foes become friends, but several of them are still ruled by authoritarian governments that put limits on media and other freedoms.

Aung Zaw, exiled Burmese editor of ‘The Irrawaddy’ magazine, stressed this contrast during in his opening remarks at Wednesday’s opening of the Mekong Media Forum in this northern Thai city, where he has lived and fought for Burma’s freedom since fleeing the repressive state 21 years ago as a student activist.

In this kind of environment – where openness has filtered through all economies in the region but not necessarily into their political environments — the founder and editor of the magazine focusing on Burmese and South-east Asian issues said journalists need to raise fundamental questions to authorities lest they remain buried and allow the region’s repressive regimes to remain in power unchallenged. Continue Reading

By Marwaan Macan-Markar

CHIANG MAI, Thailand, Dec 9 (TerraViva) – A heated debate about the future of the Mekong River at a media conference in this northern Thai city exposed a fault line triggered by the regional giant China’s plans to build a cascade of dams on the upper stretches of South-east Asia’s largest waterway. Continue Reading

Colourful trinkets seem to be providing Mekong Media Forum participants little welcome breaks from the books and DVDs about the Mekong on display at the conference. On the first day of the Forum on Dec. 9, the MMF staff manning the bazaar booth reported brisk sales of the beaded bracelets, cloth business card holders and batik handkerchiefs, made by streetchildren in Chiang Mai, with prices ranging from 100 to 300 baht. Continue Reading

By Joel Chong

CHIANG MAI, Dec. 9 (TerraViva) – Live Aid, Hurricane Katrina, Obama. Media have traditionally been a

UNICEF's Keele

powerful rallying force for change and action. However advocates warn that sensationalisation and irresponsible reporting might do more harm than good for issues such as child migrants and human trafficking.

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