Asia Insight

An 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

As most parts of Shanghai become more modernized, one district retains its pre-war landscape. TianZi Fang, which used to be a French settlement before World War II, maintains an international feel. Its old-fashioned narrow alleyways are filled with shops and restaurants owned by foreigners, making the districta popular tourist spot that attracts 3 million visitors a year. This cultural melting pot has seen some friction between multinationals who run the stores on the ground floors and local Chinese residents living on the second and third floors of those buildings. This episode ofAsia Insight follows the localChinese residents and the foreign community.

500-year-old Vietnamese Nha Nhac court music was recently recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage and is undergoing a revival. Including Nha Nhac, there are currently 12 World Cultural Heritage Sites and Intangible Cultural Heritages recognized by UNESCO. This episode of Asia Insight focuses on the efforts of the Vietnamese people as they passionately strive to revive their heritage and culture.

When Hong Kong was returned to mainland China from the U.K. in 1997, it was promised 50 years of autonomy and different political, judicial and economic systems than mainland China. This gave freedom of speech to mainland writers as well because they could publish banned material in Hong Kong. But as the Chinese economy grows, and gains stronger ties with Hong Kong, writers publishing in Hong Kong have been receiving various forms of pressure. Some writers have even been detained after their works have been published. Others have had emails checked and phone calls bugged. This episode of Asia Insight followed many Hong Kong and mainland-based writers and publishers fighting to protect their freedom in a changing region.

More and more people from rural areas are moving to the slum district of Mongolia's capital, in search of a better life. Migrant children are often forced to give up school and work collecting garbage to support their families. This episode of Asia Insight depicts their lives and the dedication of a former slum dweller who is now helping to get them back to school.

A new group of writers is capturing the hearts of young readers these days. The so-called "80's writers" are those born in the 1980s. These writers and their readers have a different perspective on their country compared with older generations because they were born after the enforcement of the one-child policy and amid China's rapid economic growth. As the rest of the nation looks down on their literature as mere pop culture, these writers depict the realities and feelings of their generation. This episode of Asia Insight followed several prominent "80's writers" and their readers.

About one third of population of Indonesia lacks access to electricity, especially in rural areas. A social entrepreneur has started cooperative projects that involve residents in building and managing their own small-scale hydropower plants. The projects have raised living standards, enabled villagers to launch new businesses and given them a much-needed route out of poverty.

Nepal is developing the use of alternative energy sources such as biogas and solar power due to a chronic electricity shortage that has plagued the nation. The government has instigated a long-term comprehensive solution to exploit the rich water resources from the surrounding Himalayas and has plans to become a major energy supplier in the future. This episode follows the efforts of the energy-hungry Nepalese as they search for ways to power their lives.

The number of college graduates has been increasing steadily in China. But the nation known as "the world's factory" needs manual laborers. Managers are needed only a handful. This is making it extremely difficult for college graduates to find their dream job. To help these fresh grads, one apartment complex in Zhejiang Province, allows young job seekers to stay at low cost and offers career advice. This episode of Asia Insight follows the job-hunting efforts of several tenants staying at this so-called "job-hunting inn" as they deal with challenges of a tough job environment in China today.

2012 is the year of the dragon. This is triggering a baby boom in China. More than 17 million babies are expected to be born this year, an increase of 1 million compared to last year. Would-be parents believe that giving birth during this auspicious period will bring good fortune and happiness to them and their babies. Businesses are taking advantage by offering unique events and services such as live-in nannies who are considered an essential part of the baby's first month of development. This episode of Asia Insight follows the lives of several couples in the midst of the year of the dragon baby boom.

Dance has always been an integral part of Philippine culture and Filipinos love to dance. Now it is being used as a way to rehabilitate inmates serving time in prison. Being part of a dance troupe gives inmates a sense of belonging and accomplishment with authorities reporting that regular dance sessions contribute to their better physical and mental health and also improves discipline. With special permission to film inside these prison communities we focus on this unique rehabilitation program through the lives of several current and former inmates.

In Guangzhou, a group of university students have formed a choir and are singing about their discontent with society. But what would normally be considered a mild form of protest in most countries could be a radical social movement in China. Following pressure after their first performance last year students are divided on whether to be more assertive or milder in the tone of their lyrics for their next show. In this episode of Asia Insight we focus on the Guangzhou Complaints Choir as they prepare for their second ever performance, ending with them boldly attempting to raise awareness by singing out in the streets of Guangzhou.

South East Asia's Golden Triangle used to be notoriously known as the world's largest opium producing region. For some time now authorities have been trying to halt the cultivation and trade of this deadly narcotic. The Thai royal family went as far as taking the initiative to start a program to provide technical support and financial incentives to encourage farmers to switch from opium to coffee growing. But although such bold steps are admirable, the trafficking of illicit substances continues. This episode of Asia Insight focuses on the ongoing battle against drugs and the changes taking place across the region.

Some 80% of students now go on to college in South Korea, but many graduates are struggling to land jobs. To alleviate the problem, the government is implementing programs to help budding entrepreneurs. Some universities have even started offering courses related to launching new businesses. This episode of Asia Insight follows several young entrepreneurs as they strive to realize their dreams.

The free market economy continues to grow vigorously in China but at the cost of traditional values. In cities, residents feel a sense of indifference to each other as greed and materialism takes over. In a bid to revive ethical behavior and promote good deeds, a new movement called the Good Deeds Banks has emerged. The bank allows members to save up good deeds as if they were deposits with the points they accumulate entitling them to various discounts and services. This episode of Asia Insight follows a Good Deeds Banks founder and its members.

Thailand is increasingly accepting into society transgender women or "ladyboys" as they are commonly known around the country. One school has created separate washrooms for transgender students because nearly 20% of its male population is considered "third gender." In northeastern Thailand a transgender entrepreneur was recently elected as a local council member. In a bold, historic move, a Thai airline company became the first to hire transgender flight attendants. In this episode of Asia Insight we follow several transgender women as they remain true to their identities and strive to affirm their role in Thai society.

In the Greater Mekong Subregion, the bordering countries of China, Thailand, Laos Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar are working hard to stimulate and increase trade. Asia Insight will devote three episodes to measures implemented by nations as they battle for economic control. The first episode focuses on China and its efforts to build infrastructure, develop a massive trade center, and train entrepreneurs. We also highlight the growing trade between China and Myanmar and the lives of local workers endeavoring to realize their hopes and aspirations.

In the Greater Mekong Subregion, the bordering countries of China, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Myanmar are working hard to stimulate and increase trade. Asia Insight will devote three episodes to measures implemented by nations as they battle for economic control. This second episode focuses on Laos, a lowly populated, agricultural nation landlocked by five other countries. We look at how the country is going through a rapid transformation as it becomes more developed with increasing foreign investment and government initiatives.

In this program in the Greater Mekong Subregion series, we focus on the economic strategies of Cambodia. We highlight the country's endeavors to develop infrastructure and construct special economic zones as it attempts to make the transition from its recent dark history into a bright new era.

These days, more and more Korean kids are setting their sights on becoming pro golfers. There are now over 3000 young golfers, from elementary school to high school students-double the number of just ten years ago. In this episode, we tell Kim Hyo-joo's story: how her devoted father helped her achieve her dreams, and reveal the hard training she is undergoing now as she prepares to turn pro.

Traveling handymen, who live and work from their vans, travel from town to town to fix leaking roofs and ceilings when called upon. This used to be a common profession in China about 20 years ago but as the country gets more developed and homes become better built, the need for such services is decreasing. But these traveling migrants from poor rural areas still prefer this nomadic lifestyle and feel it pays better than farming or factory work. This episode follows the lives of China's traveling handymen as they struggle through a summer of scarce work.

In the Philippines, brightly coloured housing complexes are springing up all over the country. This is due to the efforts of a non-governmental organization that is providing slum dwellers with new homes in a bid to help them rebuild their lives and pull them out of poverty. In this unique project, residents are given responsibility for helping build their own homes and for managing their own communities. This episode of Asia Insight follows the NGO's efforts and the lives of slum dwellers turned homeowners as they take the first steps toward a better life.

10 years after gaining independence from Indonesia, East Timor is slowly rebuilding itself but basic infrastructure is still largely unestablished. A severe shortage of doctors and nurses is resulting in alarmingly high mortality rates for infants and pregnant women. To try and alleviate this, the East Timorese government has been offering mobile health check-ups nationwide since 2008. Some villagers support these efforts by serving as volunteers. They go door to door to check on the health of women and children, and encourage them to get examinations at the mobile health clinics. This episode of Asia Insight follows the endeavours of the mobile health workers and volunteers and depicts some of the difficulties facing this young nation.

In the Philippines in recent years, merchant seaman has been gaining popularity as a profession among young people, adding to the thousands of Filipino workers already working overseas. This is good news for the rest of the world, which depends on Filipino sailors to keep the global shipping industry afloat. Filipino sailors now make up one-third of all maritime workers worldwide as youngsters in advanced shipping nations shy away from the occupation. This episode of Asia Insight highlights one of the many maritime schools in the Philippines and focuses on the life of a young cadet who has dreams of becoming a ship captain.

A social enterprise in Vietnam is giving deprived children the opportunity to become professional chefs. It offers them free culinary training, accommodation and ultimately a route out of poverty. The organization is developing a business model in which profit from the youngsters' work is invested into efforts to help them rebuild their lives. This episode of Asia Insight focuses on the group's endeavors 10 years after its founding.

The Kingdom of Thailand has managed to get through recent economic crises and continue to enjoy steady growth. But with the country facing a chronic labor shortage, workers from neighboring Myanmar have been flooding into the country to take on low-paid, unclean and hazardous jobs, which most Thais prefer to avoid. These migrant workers put up with discrimination, deportation threats and mistreatment by employers on a daily basis. This episode of Asia Insight focuses on the struggles of the Myanmarese migrant workers in Thailand and the efforts being made to support them.

Singapore faces a declining birth rate that could threaten the stability of the nation.