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“The Pandemic Is Deepening the Divide"

The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and the global economy are dramatic. The virus is shaking all major economies simultaneously. Rescue packages are being adopted, billions are being spent. Capital is being diverted away from the emerging economies. At the same time, the fight against the pandemic is increasing the national debt of many countries enormously and the crisis is acting as an accelerator for the developing countries that were already highly in debt. An Interview with Barbara Unmüßig, President of the Heinrich Böll Foundation, on the latest developments.

The Heinrich Böll Foundation’s office is monitoring air quality in Yangon and publishing real time data by using airveda device. Air quality measurements will serve as an indicator for us to know how safe the air we are breathing.  Click here for details, past data and more background.

"Dealing with the Dragon": A China-Myanmar Road Movie

“Dealing with the Dragon” is a documentary road movie that follows the emerging China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC) all the way from Muse at the China border to Kyaukphyu at the Bay of Bengal. The CMEC includes pipelines, special economic zones, a deep-sea port, new roads and high-speed rail infrastructure, connecting China to the Indian Ocean. The film records the opinions of local people, talking about their experiences and about the opportunities and risks of CMEC investments. Who will be the winners, and who will be the losers, of this mega-project?

Duration
41:53

Dossier: The Dangers of Coal

Coal is one of the most polluting forms of energy production - dangerous for the environment, for health, and for the climate and thus the planet as a whole. Still, in Myanmar, the use of coal continues and is even envisaged to expand, for power production as well as for industrial process heat. This dossier presents two documentary videos that look at the current usage of coal in Myanmar and in Thailand, respectively, and at the plans to expand coal use for power production and industry purposes. It also includes an article that shows how plans for coal power plants in Myanmar have emerged and changed over time, not least as a result of popular resistance against coal.

Music Video Sachet

Environmental Governance

climate change

The climate crisis is currently the biggest threat to all beings on earth

The climate crisis is becoming the biggest threat to all beings on earth. Myanmar is also suffering severe impacts of climate change. Groups of youth are active for climate strike movements in Myanmar inspired by Fridays for Future movement initiated by Greta Thunberg . Heinrich Böll Foundation Yangon Office, Myanmar interview Kyaw Ye Htet and Zay Lin Mon two organizers of “Strike for Climate Myanmar.” The interview took place on July 26, 2019.
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Political Culture

Uncalculated risks

Uncalculated Risks: Threats and Attacks against Human Rights Defenders and the Role of Development Financiers

Compendium
A new report from the Coalition for Human Rights in Development and the Defenders in Development Campaign reveals the impact of ill-planned investments in infrastructure, energy, and development activities through 25 case studies around the world. The case of limestone quarry in Karen State in Myanmar with the loan of ADB is included as one of the 25 case studies in the report.
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Publications

Perspectives Asia: Asia for Future

Perspectives Asia: Asia for Future

This edition of Perspectives Asia presents the work of climate change activists in Asia who are calling their governments and people to action. With contributions from Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, India, China, Malaysia, South Korea, Vietnam, and Hong Kong.

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CMEC

China-Myanmar Economic Corridor: Challenges and Opportunities

The workshop on Belt and Road Initiative; Challenges and Opportunities was conducted in Sagaing, Magway and Mandalay region. With the support of HBS Myanmar, local and international experts were invited and discussed on the challenges and opportunities of economic corridor of Myanmar and China, and its potential benefit and loss. This proceeding report written in Burmese included detail discussion of parliamentarian and CSO in three workshops.

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Perspective Asia: Nationalisms and Populisms in Asia

The issue of this 7thPerspectives Asia aims to draw a fine line between different forms of nationalism. The articles from various Asian countries focus on strategies and political styles adopted by populist leaders and explain how nationalistic and religious ideas are distorted by politics.

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Perspectives Asia: DigitalAsia

Over the last years, Asia has undergone an impressive digital transformation. Large parts of the continent have turned from the world’s factory into a creative industry.The different contributions across the continent highlight both the opportunities and risks of digitalization in Asia.

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The Contribution of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Advancing Women’s Political Participation and Effectiveness: A Case of the Mon Women Movement in Myanmar

Following decades of military dictatorship which denied Myanmar the benefits of an inclusive democracy, the new government continues to fall short: Women remain underrepresented. This paper focusses on the contribution of a growing CSO-led women’s movement to political participation and effectiveness, and highlights opportunities to maximize such efforts.

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