Prevalent+Issues+SEA&SP+AK+JL



 **Issues.**

There are issues throughout the globe, one only has to turn on the TV to see a wide range of stories all concerning various issues. There are some issues that are present everywhere: for instance pollution.

However, these issues will not be discussed here. The issues on this page are specific to the region of Southeast Asia, are the issues that are currently shaping the region, and are the issues that the governments have been dealing with and are still dealing with
 * in the past**
 * in the present.**

//These are the prevalent issues of Southeast Asia and the South Pacific//



Logging is one of the most important issues in this region.

Logging to a certain extent is fine, and is, in fact, needed for the economy of many countries. However, logging becomes a problem when the logging is occurring at a pace so rapid that it is unsustainably destroying a irreplaceable environment. The destruction of rainforests in this region is the fastest in the entire world - more so than the Amazon, which receives more attention. The size of the total rainforests has decreased from 250.000 million hectares in 1900 to under 40 million in the present day - a staggering 62,500% decrease.

Although many people are protesting this abuse of the region's natural resources, the governments of many nations turn a blind eye to this environmental injustice because the companies that are involved in this industry are usually bribing the government behind the scenes or are connected with influential people within the ruling body who can overrule the legislation. Due to this it is extremely difficult to combat deforestation. In order to combat it the governments must enforce stricter policies to stop the companies, yet the organizations such as the UN cannot force this upon the governments of these countries for fear of infringing on national sovereignty.

As this topic has already been talked about in Human & Environment Interaction, it seems redundant to repeat the same information. In order to see the direct effects that logging has on the region again please see here.



Terrorism is prevalent in Southeast Asia, as in recent years the center of terrorism has begun to transition to this region from the Middle East.

A great deal of this is due to the relative ease with which terrorism is able to **grow** in Southeast Asia. The borders are more porous and immigration control is much less stringent than in countries such as the US. For instance, one can easily pass into the Philippines by marrying a Fillipino - an immigration method that no longer works in the United States. Furthermore, Until 2008 Malaysia did not require a visa from foreigners entering from the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC), a problem since terrorists are often from extremist Islam groups. Another lure of this region is that Southeast Asia has a sizeable supply of weapons, which are, evidently, required by terrorists.

Once these groups infiltrate the region, they can easily gather a substantial number of followers. This can often be done with the use of economic incentives alone, since many nations in this region are underdeveloped, and as the citizens are poorer than most, they respond well to such incentives. Islam is also the most practiced religion in Southeast asia, and it is much easier for Al-Quaeda to convert Muslims to their extremists beliefs, since their principles are mainly based upon those of Islam.

Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines are the particular centers of terrorist activity, and it appears as though Al-Quaeda, a terrorist group previously located in the Middle East, is moving themselves to these nations. The relocation began in earnest after the US disrupted their operational network in the Middle East after the occurrences of September 11th 2001. Yet Al-Quaeda is not the only terrorist threat the region faces, and many other terrorist groups have sprung up in Southeast asia, for instance: the Front Pembala of Islam, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and the New People's Army.

The most notable instance of terror in Southeast asia is the 2002 Bali (an island in Indonesia) Bombings, which was conducted by the terrorist group Jemaah Islamyah. Due to this incident 202 people were killed, and a further 243 people were injured. It was comprised of three detonations. The first, a suicide bomb in a backpack, and the second, a car bomb, caused the most damage after they were set off outside a packed night club. The third was a comparatively smaller detonation in Denpasar where only two people were injured.

The terrorism base in Southeast Asia is still growing, and this is a threat that should not go unheeded. Indeed, many predict that we are soon to face a second war on terror - just in a different location. If the terrorism base completely transfers to Southeast Asia, the South Pacific will be terribly affected as a consequence due to the very close proximity.

Click on the picture below for more information regarding the location of Al Quaeda in Southeast Asia





The majority of this region's economy relies upon foreign countries and is not **self reliant**.

Southeast Asia's economy is said to be doomed to fail due to its overemphasis on exports. A prime example of this is Singapore, as Singapore is the transportation hub of Southeast Asia. Most of the produce made throughout Southeast Asia is sent here and exported all over the world, and this is Singapore's primarily source of income. It is evident just how reliant Singapore is on exports when one looks at Singapore's economy during the global financial slump. As exports from Singapore decreased 30%, Singapore's economy contracted by 12%, and as exports continue to decrease in a continuous pattern, it appears as though Singapore's developed and wealthy economy is set to collapse in the near future. Thailand is also dependent on exports, and 60% of its income is generated from exporting goods.

Furthermore, China is intrinsically involved in the economy of Southeast Asia, which also relies heavily upon foreign investments. China and Japan are also important trading partners of Australia and New Zealand. In Southeast Asia, after deforestation (see issue 1) most of the produced wood is sold to China, and companies make a large portion of income through this. After the sub-prime mortgage crisis of 2008, China lent Southeast Asia 15 million dollars to rebuild their economy in an attempt to forge alliances across Asia.

In the future, Southeast Asia has to separate their economy from the global economy to a certain degree in order to become a more independent and powerful region. If they do not, and carry on building their economy on exports, then if another global financial crisis hits the world, Southeast Asia's economy may completely collapse.

Click the currency of Singapore below to find out more about this issue:





The Paracel Islands refers to a collection of thirty islands in the region of Southeast Asia, in the East Vietnam Sea. There has been conflict about which nation controlled these islands ever since the early 20th century, especially between the nations of China, Taiwan, and Vietnam - although France has also been involved. Although China currently controls the collection of islands, they are still under dispute.

To read the full arguments of each nation, click on the picture of the Paracel islands beneath.





// by // Ashley Kim and Jae Lee // Blog: http://worldgeoakjl.blogspot.com //