New Mandala

I am not sure if this will become a regular feature but The Nation must surely be recognised for the insensitivity of this headline:
Karen village loses popular tourist draw

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Extracts from today’s The Nation:
Kosit outlines idea of sufficiency economy
Deputy Prime Minister and Industry Minister Kosit Panpiemras said the interim government would ensure the public participation and social harmony in its economic policy to avoid the mistake done by the previous government.
…My idea of sufficiency economy which means that we would like to add quality [...]

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The Irrawaddy’s William Boot has recently penned an article on the Western tourism boycott of Burma and the junta’s continuing battle to attract foreign travellers.  It prompted me to ask some questions. 
The tourism boycott is one of those simmering, emotive, activist causes that appear simple to comprehend but - no matter what position an individual deigns to take – a lot [...]

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Nich Farrelly has raised some interesting questions about the potential economic benefits of preserving Southeast Asian forests in the context of international carbon trading. A similar market-based approach can be seen in relation to Rewarding Upland People for Environmental Services, a “program for developing mechanisms for rewarding the upland poor in Asia for the environmental [...]

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