Southeast Asia Travel Notes

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter helped the housing charity that he champions, Habitat for Humanity, launch a campaign Monday to build homes for 50,000 families in the Mekong River region over the next five years. Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, are among 3,000 volunteers from 25 countries working with Habitat for Humanity this week to help build and repair homes along the Mekong River in Thailand, Vietnam, China, Cambodia and Laos. The homes in Cambodia are being built for families currently living in a garbage dump, the ones in Vietnam are for fishermen who now live on their boats, and the project in China ... Read Full Story

Japan from Friday hosts the leaders of Southeast Asia's five Mekong River nations as the world's number two economy looks to deepen ties with the resource-rich region amid growing influence from China. Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, who has pushed the concept of an EU-style Asian Community since taking office in September, will meet his counterparts from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam for the two-day meeting. Aside from broad regional issues, the Japanese side also highlighted the significance of Myanmar Prime Minister Thein Sein visiting, saying it would be a good opportunity for dialogue between the two countries. Much of the region along the ... Read Full Story

Asia-Pacific Indigenous Peoples’ Hearing On Poverty, Wealth, And Ecology: Public Statement AGAPE Consultation on Poverty, Wealth and Ecology in Asia and the Pacific Chiang Mai, Thailand, 2-6 November 2009 WCC-CCA-PCC The Indigenous Peoples’ Declaration We, Indigenous Peoples and church-based workers and organisations from Australia, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, and Thailand, have gathered together in Chiang Mai, Thailand for the AGAPE Consultation on Poverty,... For the rest of the article, as well as maps, images, related items, and videos, please visit Indigenous Peoples Issues & Resources. Read Full Story

Asia-Pacific Indigenous Peoples’ Hearing On Poverty, Wealth, And Ecology: Public Statement AGAPE Consultation on Poverty, Wealth and Ecology in Asia and the Pacific Chiang Mai, Thailand, 2-6 November 2009 WCC-CCA-PCC The Indigenous Peoples’ Declaration We, Indigenous Peoples and church-based workers and organisations from Australia, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, and Thailand, have gathered together in Chiang Mai, Thailand for the AGAPE Consultation on Poverty,... For the rest of the article, as well as maps, images, related items, and videos, please visit Indigenous Peoples Issues & Resources. Read Full Story

Some of the most amazing adventure destinations center around the great rivers of the world. Whether it's rafting the Rio Grande, kayaking the Congo, or simply taking a leisurely cruise down the Nile, we seem to have a fascination with these waterways that have played an important role in human development. One of those rivers is the Mekong, which stretches for more than 2700 miles as it meanders through Laos, Thailand, China, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Myanmar. Mekong River - Vietnam In Laos, the Mekong is known as the "Mother River" and it plays an important role in that country's culture and lore. Travel writer ... Read Full Story