Asia Insight S07E20 · Laos' Banana Boom

Overview

Laos is a small landlocked nation in Southeast Asia with a population of 6.5 million. Although 70% of the population of Laos still lives in rural villages, growing rice and raising livestock, a new affluence is being brought about by an increase of Chinese-run banana plantations. These have sprung up in response to a boost in demand for bananas in neighboring China, providing Laos workers with a ready source of income. However, behind this success, a darker reality lurks. In this episode of Asia Insight, we take a look at Laos' Banana Boom.

Torrents

Subtitles

Episodes

1. 1 1. Poachers Turned Eco-Guides in Cambodia2018-01-19 · 28mAfter the fall of the Pol Pot regime, Chi Phat Village became known as a center of illegal poaching and logging as its residents grew desperate among the declining economy. One day
2. 2 2. Hong Kong: Running Out of Space2018-01-26 · 28mIn the 20 years since control of Hong Kong was returned from Britain to China, access to the vast Chinese market has helped the territory grow into Asia's leading financial hub. Bu
3. 3 3. Counting on Red Fruit: China's One Belt One Road Initiative2018-02-02 · 28mChina's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, located deep inland, is one of the nation's poorest. Despite being left behind the country's swift economic development, the region has been
4. 4 4. Vietnam: Reviving the Water Puppets2018-02-09 · 28mWater puppet theater is a folk art unique to Vietnam. Puppeteers use poles to move their wooden dolls over a water "stage". This centuries-old tradition nearly died out during the
5. 5 5. The Next China: Young Perspectives on China's Role in the World2018-02-16 · 28mContinuing on from his first term, Chinese President Xi Jinping began his second term with popularity rivaling that of Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping, and stated that he would make C
6. 6 6. A New Page for Books in South Korea2018-02-23 · 28mAcross Seoul, the capital of South Korea, independent bookstores are on the up. 50 such establishments have opened in the last year alone, with many in the bohemian Hongdae neighbo
7. 7 7. Cambodian Migrant Workers: Searching for Hope amidst Uncertainty2018-03-02 · 28mEach morning, Cambodian day laborers in Phnom Penh line up to seek work for the day, hoping that they may find enough for them to eke out a living. But in recent years, the laborer
8. 8 8. Preserving the Hanji Tradition of South Korea2018-03-09 · 28mTraditional Korean paper, or hanji, was first made around 2,000 years ago. Made from paper mulberry bark, research suggests it is durable enough to last for over 8,000 years. It is
9. 9 9. A Dying Art: Taiwanese Ceremonial Performance Troupes2018-03-16 · 28mOne of the most vivid and unique forms of performance to be found in Taiwan is at risk of vanishing altogether. Taiwan's traditionally colorful processions, coupled with energetic
10. 10 10. Harvesting Hope in the Golden Triangle - Thailand2018-03-23 · 28mThe Golden Triangle, overlapping the borders of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos, is a major production center for opium poppies. In one area, however, the illicit trade has fallen sharp
11. 11 11. Bhutan's Hurdle to Happiness2018-03-30 · 28mAn in-depth portrait of Asia today, covering its dynamism as a center of growth as well as its traditions tossed around by the advance of globalization. Today: Bhutan's Hurdle to H
12. 12 12. Beijing's 706 Youth Space2018-04-20 · 28mAlthough the youth of China are not permitted to discuss the politics of their country openly, the 706 Youth Space offers them a rare under-the-radar opportunity to consider their
13. 13 13. An End to Nuclear Power in Taiwan2018-04-27 · 28mIn January 2017, Taiwan passed a measure stating that all of its nuclear power plants will be shut down by 2025. The change comes after Japan's Fukushima nuclear disaster and 30 ye
14. 14 14. South Korea's Dog Meat Culture2018-05-04 · 28mFor centuries, a unique culture has existed in South Korea around the breeding and slaughter of dogs for their meat. However, protests by animal activists during the Olympics sever
15. 15 15. Taiwan's Fairytale Wedding Industry2018-05-11 · 28mFor brides everywhere, the right wedding dress is a crucial part of their big day, and Taiwanese firms are key players in this global industry. As well as the world's top-selling w
16. 16 16. Defector Video Creators: Young North Koreans with Dreams2018-05-18 · 28mIn recent years, video sharing service YouTube has grown increasingly popular for the freedom it provides users in expressing their views. Through it, these "YouTubers" often commu
17. 17 17. The Amazing Electric Phin - Thailand2018-06-08 · 28mThe electric phin -- a modern adaption of a traditional stringed instrument -- is an essential part of any festivity in the villages of northeast Thailand. Inspired by the introduc
18. 18 18. Mongolians Set Sights on South Korea2018-06-29 · 28mIn the 25 years since Mongolia introduced a market economy at the beginning of the 1990's, the country saw growth fueled by rich mineral wealth, but since 2012 a fall in mineral va
19. 19 19. The Changing Chinese Society in Laos2018-07-06 · 28mIn 2016, Asia Insight reported on a flourishing Chinese mall located in Laos, known to locals as the "Chinese castle". It had served as the center of business for many Chinese merc
20. 20 20. Laos' Banana Boom2018-07-13 · 28mLaos is a small landlocked nation in Southeast Asia with a population of 6.5 million. Although 70% of the population of Laos still lives in rural villages, growing rice and raising
21. 21 21. China's Only Sign-Language Lawyer2018-07-20 · 28mThere are said to be 300,000 certified lawyers currently working in China. However, almost none of them are qualified to represent hard-of-hearing clients, who are often unaware of
22. 22 22. City Running Dry - Kathmandu, Nepal2018-07-27 · 28mNepal is famed for its many mountains, which include part of the Himalayan Range. But despite an abundance of crystal-clear snowmelt, and over 6,000 rivers and streams nationwide,
23. 23 23. The Long Road to Recovery - China's Sichuan Earthquake2018-08-03 · 28mIt is 10 years since the Great Sichuan Earthquake of 2008, which left 87,000 people dead or missing. The Beijing government has invested heavily in recovery efforts and according t
24. 24 24. Kids' House Opens Doors - Laos2018-08-10 · 28mIn Laos, despite the recent introduction of a 9-year compulsory education, many children are unable to attend school because their families are too impoverished to afford the neces
25. 25 25. New Steps Toward a Unified Korea2018-08-17 · 28mAn inter-Korean summit took place on April 27, 2018. It was a historic meeting – the first in 11 years – where Moon Jae-in, President of South Korea and Kim Jong-un, Chairman of th
26. 26 26. Eradicating Witch Hunts in Nepal2018-08-24 · 28mMany people in Nepal turn to local shamans for everything from the timing of weddings and moves to treating illnesses. Some shamans single out local women as witches, claiming that
27. 27 27. Banned Books Disappear from Hong Kong2018-08-31 · 28mJust a few years ago, Hong Kong was well-known as the location of many bookstores specializing in so-called "banned books" that were forbidden for sale in mainland China. However r
28. 28 28. Searching for Freedom of Speech in Taiwan2018-09-14 · 28mTaiwan began its democratization in the 1990's, paving the way for freedom of expression greater than in any other Chinese-speaking region. Now, Taiwan has grown into a haven for c
29. 29 29. Dreaming of a Diploma - South Korea2018-09-21 · 28mIlsung Women's Middle and High School is not an ordinary school. The average age of the students is 61. Many of these women missed out on the chance of an education during childhoo
30. 30 30. Fighting for Peace - Myanmar2018-09-28 · 28mMyanmar's government, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, is trying to end long-standing conflicts with ethnic armed groups. Talks are based on the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement reached unde
31. 31 31. Changing Status of Bachelorettes in China2018-10-19 · 28mTraditionally, single Chinese women over the age of 27 were made fun of and regarded as "being left on the shelf". But now, with healthy incomes, single women are financially indep
32. 32 32. A Sign of Hope: Indonesia's Rainbow Village2018-10-26 · 28mIn 2016 a new tourist hotspot was born in Malang, Indonesia: Rainbow Village. Once a poor slum, residents began painting their homes vibrant colors, creating trick art and handmade
33. 33 33. Hotline of Hope in Tianjin, China2018-11-02 · 28mOne Tianjin-based call center receives contact from over 10,000 people a year, spanning various ages and social groups. Known as the Hope Line, its counselors provide free advice t
34. 34 34. The Philippines: The People's Mayor2018-11-09 · 28mIn the Philippines, regional economic disparity drives people to the cities, where many live in slums. Mayor Johnielle Keith Pasion Nieto is taking a hands-on approach to improving
35. 35 35. Saving Indonesia's Orangutans2018-11-16 · 28mPalm oil plantations in Indonesia are ravaging local forests and destroying the habitats of orangutans, driving them towards extinction. The Centre for Orangutan Protection, or COP
36. 36 36. China's Internet Plus and Laborers2018-12-07 · 28mChina's Internet Plus Initiative has improved convenience and availability of technology nationwide, supposedly boosting quality of life through new industries such as bike sharing
37. 37 37. Trouble on the New Silk Road - Myanmar2018-12-14 · 28mRakhine, one of the poorest states in Myanmar, is receiving huge investment as part of China's Belt and Road Initiative. A pipeline to China is already in place. A special economic
38. 38 38. Mongolian Hip Hop2018-12-21 · 28mMongolia is a country strongly associated with the traditional nomadic farming lifestyles held by many of its citizens. But recently, a new and modern cultural movement has gained
39. 39 39. A Circus of Street Kids: Mongolia2018-12-28 · 28mIn Darkhan, northern Mongolia, is a circus group made up of street kids. Of the 30 performers aged between 8 and 25, nearly half once lived on the streets. The group's leader, Tumu