Mekong - U.S. Partnership
Charity Concert Supports Fin Free Thailand Campaign
On December 21st, Swissôtel Le Concorde Bangkok hosted the Fin Free Charity Concert in support of the Fin Free Thailand campaign. The U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Patrick Murphy spoke at the event and helped celebrate the group’s work to reduce the shark fin trade in Thailand. Through support from the USAID-funded Asia’s Regional Response…
Vietnam’s National Committee on Propaganda Supports Plan to Reduce Wildlife Consumption
The USAID-funded Asia’s Regional Response to Endangered Species Trafficking (ARREST) Program, in partnership with the World Bank and Global Environment Facility, supported Vietnam’s Biodiversity Conservation Agency (BCA) to develop a plan to reduce the illegal consumption of wildlife. The BCA plan was presented to Vietnam’s Central Committee for Propaganda and Education (CCPE) on December 17,…
Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI)
Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI), launched in 2009, is a multinational partnership among Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and the United States to create integrated sub-regional cooperation among the five Lower Mekong countries. LMI serves as a platform to address complex, transnational development and policy challenges in the Lower Mekong sub-region. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjLLkc3o6Uw
Building Community Response for Good
By Kristie A. Kenney, U.S. Ambassador to ThailandOne month ago, we were stunned by the natural catastrophe unleashed by Super Typhoon Haiyan on our friends nearby in the Philippines. Within days of the devastating storm on November 8, Thailand joined the international community in an outpouring of goodwill and humanitarian assistance. Thailand contributed to the…
Asia Saves Sharks, One Kitchen at a Time
There’s no getting around the fact that most people have a primal fear of sharks. It doesn’t matter that only a handful of the hundreds of shark species are even dangerous to humans. Sharks were getting bad publicity decades before the 1975 release of “Jaws.”The sad reality is that humans are a much bigger threat…
Lending Bednets to Migrant Workers Reduces Malaria in Cambodia
In rural Cambodia, Si Dara’s employee health coverage starts with nets covering beds. Each seasonal worker on Dara’s farm gets an insecticide-treated net—an effective way to keep biting mosquitoes from spreading malaria among her workers. It also saves time and energy caring for sick migrant workers.“In late 2011 until early 2012, on average, 10 of my…
USAID Assists Vietnam Province in Greening Growth with Low Carbon Planning
From December 9-10, the USAID regional Low Emissions Asian Development (LEAD) program and the USAID bilateral Vietnam Forests and Deltas (VFD) program, in partnership with the Thanh Hoa Provincial Peoples Committee and the Ministry of Planning and Investment, organized a technical workshop in Thanh Hoa, Vietnam titled, "Putting Policy into Practice: Development of Green Growth…
Lower Mekong Climate Study Projects Significant Impacts to Region’s Ecosystems and Livelihoods
The USAID-funded Mekong Adaptation and Resilience to Climate Change (ARCC) project finalized its Climate Change Impact and Adaptation Study for the Lower Mekong Basin. The study, undertaken by a team of more than 20 international and national scientists and researchers and peer reviewed by experts from globally respected research organizations, details anticipated changes to the…
U.S. Helps Vietnam Prepare for Climate Risks, Kerry Says
Washington — Ca Mau, Vietnam, is among three places on the planet most vulnerable to predicted adverse effects of climate change. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry visited the province December 15 to better understand the magnitude of the threat and the activity underway to mitigate the risks.The southernmost tip of Vietnam is just slightly…
ASEAN Youth Volunteer Experiences Aired in All Home Countries Media
The inaugural program for “The Development of ASEAN Youth Eco-Leaders through Volunteerism and Community Engagement” concluded successfully. The program, funded by USAID in partnership with the ASEAN Secretariat, the Malaysia Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, aimed at strengthening youth leadership skills in environmental conservation across the ASEAN region. A pilot group…
USAID Helps Public Awareness for Rule of Law in ASEAN
In anticipation of the establishment of an ASEAN community in 2015 and increased awareness on the importance of rule of law for business, the Human Rights Resource Center (HRRC), with the support of USAID, has engaged in a series of activities in Cambodia and Indonesia to highlight the impact any gaps in rule of law…
Prioritizing Education Reform to Prepare for ASEAN Integration
From October 7 to 15, 2013, Thai officials selected for the LMI Professional Communication Skills for Leaders seminar “Education Reform: Prioritizing Education Reform to Prepare for ASEAN Integration” participated in an intensive 40-hour course conducted at the Chulalongkorn University Language Institute (Bangkok, Thailand).The seminar series, developed to improve English language proficiency skills so government officials, lecturers…
