European Colonialism - The modern countries of mainland Southeast Asia all existed in one form or another as indigenous kingdoms before the onset of European colonialism.  Considerable ethnic mixing occurred here as the result of wars fought more over the acquisition of slave labor rather than for land.  Island communities and societies were, for the most part, formed not around kingdoms, but rather organized at the village level.

Beginning in 1500, Europeans began arriving in Southeast Asia.  The Portuguese arrived first, lured by the cloves and nutmeg of the Maluku Islands (formerly Spice Islands).  A century later it was the Dutch who came to claim territory, and by the 1700s they had the most powerful force in the region, which occupied most of what is now Indonesia.  Other European powers in the region included France in what was called Indochina; the British in Malaysia, Singapore, and Burma; and the Spanish (later the Americans) in the Philippines. Colonial rule began to deteriorate after WWII, when countries were methodically granted independence.

Thailand's Floating Markets - Until only recently, shopping in Central Thailand would take place principally along the canals (or Klongs in Thai).  The Bangkok waterway network was so essential to people's lives that visiting Europeans dubbed it the "Venice of the East".  While most of these canals have now been filled or paved over, floating markets can still be found in the southwest area of Bangkok, mainly along the Mae Klong River.  One of these, the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is especially noted for its fresh fruits from surrounding orchards.

Cambodia's Floating Villages - In Cambodia, the unusual seasonal shifting of water in the Tonle Sap river and lake system means that communities like Chong Kneas go from landlocked to floating within days. Life is harsh for the desperately poor villagers but the water brings much-needed fish and irrigation to the drenched communities. The ancient Khmer capital of Angkor, with its remarkable Hindu-turned-Buddhist-temple complex, Angkor Wat, is situated nearby but upland; the entire city was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1992.

Tropical Forest Problems - In Southeast Asia, forests have been cut down primarily for commercial export use.  In fact, the region has long been a major resource for valuable tropical hardwoods.  Much of the tropical forests of the Philippines and Thailand, as well as the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra, have been destroyed by the logging process.  In Thailand alone, more than 50% of its forests were cut down in a 20-year period from 1960 to 1980. However, the current government of Thailand is now committed to preserving what remains.

Often referred to as "the lungs of the world", tropical rain forests are crucial to maintaining a healthy balance between carbon dioxide emissions and absorptions by Earth's ecosystems. Rain forest trees help absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and in exchange they emit a significant amount of oxygen. If too many trees are cut without replenishment, then carbon dioxide may accumulate in Earth's atmosphere, possibly contributing to global warming. While organizations have sprung up to help protect and reclaim Southeast Asia's natural ecosystems, they are engaged in a serious race against time.

See the Paradise Forests of Indonesia.

Visit Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. (Dissidents do not recognize the name change, enacted in 1989, and still refer to their country as Burma.)

Take a virtual tour of the Philippines, a diverse country with a rich history.

Take a virtual tour of Thailand, the only country in Southeast Asia to remain independent during the European colonial era. The people of Thailand have a special relationship to their royal family, which has existed for over 700 years.

Take a virtual tour of Vietnam, a country that endured decades of war and may someday become an economic leader in Southeast Asia.  View more photos from Vietnam.

Tour some of the many temples of Indonesia for a unique cultural view of this mainly Muslim country's Hindu and Buddhist past.

Radio:

Radio Vote Satellite - 93.5 FM - Bangkok, Thailand

Newspapers:

Philippines Post - Manila, Philippines
Nguoi Viet Daily News - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Bangkok Post - Bangkok, Thailand
Vientiane Times - Vientiane, Laos
The New Paper - Singapore
Singapore City News - Singapore
The Indonesian Observer - Jakarta, Indonesia
The Jakarta Post - Jakarta, Indonesia
The Star - Petaling Jaya, Malaysia

                [ Asia  |  Satellite image  |  10-Day Precipitation Outlook for South Asia ]

Embassies in Washington D.C.:

Thailand
Laos
Cambodia
Vietnam
Myanmar
Philippines
Singapore

For access to embassy Web sites worldwide, try the Embassy & Consulate Search Engine.

Additional Links:

Singapore Online Portal
Singapore Department of Statistics

This activity contains 2 questions.

	The United States has maintained a military presence in the Philippines since acquiring the islands in the 1898 Spanish-American War. Given the possibility of links between armed groups in southwest Philippines and the Al Qaeda network, the U.S. considers its forces in the region to be vital. Other voices question the U.S. role in the Philippines and note that a strong U.S. presence did not deter the terrorist bombing of Bali in 2002 nor does it provide any protection against terrorism-linked piracy in the South China Sea now. Basing your view on information from current news stories, what do you argue that the U.S. should do regarding its military bases in the Philippines?   To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

	Piracy of goods aboard ships (and sometimes theft of the ships themselves) is a growing trend in many of the world's waterways, but especially in Southeast Asia where shipping is a primary industry. As documented in the Weekly Piracy Report from the International Chamber of Commerce Commercial Crime Services Office, most piracy is conducted by organized crime and terrorist organizations. Based on your reading, should the costs of guarding and fighting against piracy be borne by governments or by private corporations?   To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

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