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A Matter of Rights |
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Economic Development |
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37. The river route -- What are cheap, safe, extremely environment-friendly, and able to move millions of people every day all over the Asia and Pacific region? We’re not talking about space ships but simple boats and vessels using the region's numerous rivers and waterways for transportation. More than one billion tonnes of cargo and half a billion passengers are moved by inland water transport each year in the Asia and Pacific region. And yet, as this report shows, the potential of this mode of transport is grossly underutilized by most Asian governments. (Cambodia) 38. Building networks of the poor -- “Collective effort” and “empowering communities” are the key mantras of the Urban Community Development Office or UCDO. A unique organization set up in 1992 by the Thai government, it helps to organize savings groups, supports income generation projects, and builds countrywide networks of urban poor groups. Its philosophy is simple- to put people at the centre of the development process. (Thailand) 39. Informal and yet important -- Petty traders, street vendors, small artisans, barbers, shoeshine boys and domestic servants all make up what is known as the informal sector of the economy. Neglected in the past by Governments, the crucial role of this sector in providing employment and services is slowly being realized by developing countries all over Asia. In Thailand one NGO is addressing problems of this sector by helping unorganized garment and handicraft workers form cooperatives and market their products for better rates. (Thailand) 40. Space applications -- As a result of regular availability of satellite remote sensing data, farmers in Sri Lanka have improved their use of existing water resources, reduced dependence on the monsoon and increased production of rice as well as other cash crops. Their experience is yet another example of the way space technology has the potential to change people’s lives. (Sri Lanka) 41. Trade fairs for prosperity -- The Asia Pacific Trade Fair (ASPAT) is organized by UNESCAP every year. It is designed to help small and medium-scale entrepreneurs from developing countries gain greater exposure to international business. This report looks at how attending fairs like this has helped a woman entrepreneur from Bangladesh succeed in the world of business. (Bangladesh, Republic of Korea) 42. Asian highway -- The Asian Highway is somewhat of a dream project- to link Europe all the way to South-East Asia. Today the Asian Highway transits 25 countries, covers a distance of about 90,000km, and is composed of five international and 37 sub-regional routes. This feature looks at two components along the highway- a four-lane stretch linking New Delhi to Agra in India, and a new bridge over the Mekong River on the Thailand-Lao border – and the benefits they bring to the lives of ordinary people. (India, Thailand) 43. Occupational safety -- Every year thousands of Asian workers are victims of a variety of industrial accidents due to poor working conditions and lack of safety procedures. This report looks at a deadly accident in Thailand involving the exposure of several people to radioactive material, and at a project in the Philippines to improve safety for workers in small and medium enterprises. (Philippines, Thailand) 44. The magic of Lao handicrafts -- If there is any one activity that captures both the natural and human splendour of a country, it is the art of traditional handicraft. From woodcarving and weaving, to silverwork and sculpture, the richness and variety of Lao handicraft is impressive. In recent times this largely home-based handicraft industry has become a major export earner for the country and a source of income for families that practice this art. (Lao DPR) 45. Silk - a tradition for the future -- The silk industry in China is an integral part of the life of the countryside. Its silk industry provides work for over half a million people. And in the countryside, 20 million more are involved in raising silk worms. More than a wage earner, it’s a tradition that’s passed on from generation to generation. (China) 46. Skills of survival -- The Underprivileged Children’s Educational Programme is an NGO working among poor urban youth. From modest beginnings as a provider of general education on a limited scale in Dhaka City, UCEP now helps hundreds of disadvantaged youth throughout the country with a network of general schools, technical schools, and training centres. (Bangladesh) 47. Economy and environment -- More and more governments in the Asian and Pacific region are waking up to the urgent need to incorporate environmental considerations into economic policy making. This report looks at one example where keeping ecology and economy both in mind while planning is helping preserve a pristine national park in Nepal. By providing alternative sources of energy to people living within the boundaries of the Annapurna Conservation Area, authorities are improving the local economy while slowing down environmental degradation. (Nepal) |
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