Climate change is no longer a distant threat; its affects are very visible today - erratic weather patterns, global warming, greater extreme weather events and natural disasters, and erratic rainfall. Countries in South Asia and Southeast Asia are the most affected by climate change. Natural disasters like flooding, droughts and cyclones have increased in frequency in this region and the situation is likely to get worse in the future.

If asked, even the most casual reader of the newspaper would be able to answer the following question: what are amongst the most pressing issues in Pakistan at present? Included in the list are likely to be the fissure between the civilian government and the establishment, the overwhelming presence of terror networks within the country, the rampant corruption, the failing economy and the disintegrating relationship with the United States. What the casual reader might miss is an issue that those outside of Pakistan may not be privy to: an almost paralyzing lack of electricity within the country. 

The 18th African Summit recently held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia saw the inauguration of an African Union Conference Centre in Addis Ababa – a USD 200 million gift from China marking the Africa-China economic and strategic relationship in stone. To understand the motivations behind China’s generous gift to the African Union one must take a closer look at Africa’s current economic scenario.

Recently, Bangladesh completed 40 years as an independent country. At the time of its birth, questions were raised about the country’s survival. Four decades later, Bangladesh is counted among the ‘Next Eleven Economies’, which along with the BRICS, are a group of countries poised for high economic growth in the 21st century. Though the country has witnessed political successes as well as failures, it is looked upon as a leader in the field of development. Bangladesh has led many innovations in the development sector including microfinance by Grameen Bank, and nation reconstruction in education, health and social enterprise by BRAC, the world’s largest non-governmental development organization. 

Countries in South and South East Asia can draw inspiration from the progress of community radio (CR) in Indonesia and develop it on similar lines. In the long term, the effective development of CR has the potential to help address community specific issues of the region. 

Sundeep Waslekar writes on the irony of cooperation, which seems most active in times of crisis or in search of solutions to impending crisis. However this spirit of collaboration disappears in the context of prosperity when greed and competition dominates human nature.

Reflecting on the year that has passed, Sundeep Waslekar looks at 12 things in 2012 that could influence the future of the world.

A radio play broadcast in 1938 about an invasion by Martians into New Jersey created pandemonium on Halloween evening. Structured as a series of radio news broadcasts, the play managed to create panic across North Eastern United States and Canada with thousands of people fleeing their homes in whatever transport that they could find- cars, trains and on foot.