All posts tagged: Development

Fast Laos and the quiet movement of Lao diaspora

Published by littlelaosontheprairie

2013 was a year that brought out Laos on many forefronts in the literary arts, film, and human rights issues. 2014 is now shaping up to be the year that the Lao diaspora movement is being defined by many from the post-80s immigration wave. They are back in Laos, trying to making sense of the memories that connect their identity and journey. They are the stories that our families have held so close, yet so far from each other with every passing year.  The Lao diaspora are special for a reason. We have a unique role in Laos’ current state of mind. What is ‘diaspora’ and why do we matter? While scholars of social sciences might debate about it, in the basic sense, ‘diaspora’ is a catchy term that has been used as the metaphoric definition of the dispersal of those from the homeland– the expatriates, expellees, refugees, alien residents, immigrants, displaced communities and ethnic minorities. Recently, I came across a definition of ‘diaspora’ that best describes the very real and common internal tension and negotiation that happens …

10 Things You Can Do to Help Find Sombath Somphone

Published by littlelaosontheprairie

Anyone who’s been following the news or lives and works in the world of development in Laos has heard of the disappearance of well-respected community leader, teacher and humanitarian; Mr. Sombath Somphone. The founder of PADTEC Laos, a participatory training center focused on sustainable development, has been missing since December 15, 2012. Sombath’s wife Ng Shui Meng, family and friends have tirelessly asked for the community-at-large to help find his whereabouts. There’s been increasing media coverage from Vientiane Times to The New York Times. Mr. Sombath’s colleagues, human rights activists, and public officials of neighboring countries have organized efforts asking for the international community to mobilize and help bring pressure on the government of Lao PDR to investigate his disappearance. Below is a great list of 8 things you can do to get involved from our friends at www.sombath.org. They have been closely monitoring the situation as the attention grows and updates come in. I added two more things you can do to further the conversation on a local level with your Lao community members and public officials. 8 …