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We explore the transformative journey of The Asia Foundation's Books for Asia, now reborn as Let's Read. Director Kyle Barker, alongside team members from Indonesia, Aryasatyani Sintadewi and Haura Najmakamila, delve into the pivotal shift from distributing millions of physical books since 1954 to pioneering digital storybooks in local languages. This innovative leap into digital literacy aims to foster young readers' growth, reflecting the evolving landscape of publishing and the crucial role of digital access in education and development. Check out the full Let's Read digital library and read Kyle Barker's blog chronicling the history of Books for Asia. 

February 1 marked the anniversary of the military coup that upended Myanmar’s democracy and plunged much of the country into open conflict. Three years later, popular resistance, from peaceful protests to armed insurgency, remains strong, particularly among communities in the country’s border regions, where central control has been contested since Myanmar was a British colony. This week, we talked to independent researcher June N.S. about his latest publication about Chin State, Myanmar, Resistance and the Cost of the Coup in Chin State, Myanmar. 

InAsia explores Nepal's transformative journey into federalism following a civil war and political deadlock. With the 2015 constitution, Nepal embarked on a new governance path, decentralizing powers to provincial and local governments. We delve into the successes and challenges of this shift with insights from Professor Bipin Adhikari of Kathmandu University and Professor John Warhurst of Australian National University. They share perspectives from the recent International Conference on Federalism in Kathmandu, discussing the global implications and lessons of Nepal's federalism experiment. Join us for a concise yet enlightening discussion on Nepal's political evolution and the broader impacts of federal governance.

Meet two political activists who have secret literary lives—or is it the other way around? We talk to our 2023 Asia Foundation Development Fellows Shazia Uzman and Jan Mikael de Lara Co. 

At the half-way point for the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, where we are, how we can move forward, and a shout-out to Adam Smith. 

The irrepressible disability activist, Tanzila Khan, tries her hand at board game design. We take the game out for a spin. You can learn more and purchase the board game: Woopie Town – Mayor of Woopie Town

In a world grappling with climate challenges, Mongolia's nomadic herders have a unique perspective to offer. Join us for an engaging interview with Asia Foundation Development Fellow alum Badruun Gardi as we explore the enduring relevance of nomadism in Mongolia and its valuable insights for addressing today's climate crisis.

The Asia Foundation’s country representative in Indonesia, Hana Satriyo,  is a veteran advocate  for women’s and minority rights and a champion against disinformation who’s worked tirelessly with government ministries, civil society, and local governments across the Indonesian archipelago.  Dive into our impactful initiatives in Indonesia with Hana. Learn more about our work in Indonesia.

Young in experience, but passionate in their commitments: a six-month fellowship invests in young leaders from Asia, the Pacific, and the United States. We sit down with 2023 LeadNext fellow,  Temuulen Enkhbat, to talk about her experience this year. 

Delving into geopolitical dynamics: navigating the rise of rivalries in Southeast Asia. Could the escalating U.S.-China tensions potentially lead to the emergence of a modern cold war divide in the region?

This July marks the 30th anniversary of a legal decision in the Philippines that has reverberated far beyond those shores. In 1993, a young attorney named Antonio Oposa sued the Philippine Department of the Environment and Natural Resources and its secretary, “Jun” Factoran, to halt logging in the nation’s vanishing old-growth forests. The remarkable aspect of the case is that he sued on behalf of generations as yet unborn. The key holding of Minors Oposa vs. Factoran is now known as the Oposa Doctrine. It grants current generations legal standing to bring actions on behalf of future generations with respect to environmental rights. Joining John and Tracie to talk about his famous case is lawyer and environmentalist Antonio Oposa. Also joining us is his longtime friend Erik Jensen, formerly with The Asia Foundation in Manila and now at Stanford Law School, who had a first-hand view of the event.

Much work—and some play—on a U.S. study tour for 15 mid-career Asian diplomats. We caught up with two of the group in San Francisco, just as they were packing for home, to hear a few thoughts about their U.S. visit. Ms. Sujana Aryal is a protocol officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal, and Mr. Nguyen Dong Anh is vice-dean of faculty at the International Communications-and-Culture Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.