Welcome

Photos by HBS SEA
The Heinrich Böll Stiftung - Southeast Asia Regional Office
The Heinrich Böll Stiftung is part of the Green political movement that has developed worldwide as a response to the traditional politics of socialism, liberalism, and conservatism. The headquarters of the Heinrich Böll Stiftung is located in Berlin, Germany, yet we are an international actor in both ideal and practical terms. Our international program is implemented through 28 offices worldwide, six of them in Asia. Our namesake, the writer and Nobel Prize laureate Heinrich Böll, personified the values we stand for: freedom, civic courage, tolerance, open debate and the appreciation of art and culture as independent spheres of thought and action.

The Southeast Asia Regional Office in Bangkok carries out programs in Thailand and Myanmar/Burma:
»The Media for Democracy Program aims to promote freedom of expression through various forms of media, including community radio and internet.
»The Climate Change and Energy Policy Program promotes a sustainable energy policy based on social and gender justice and responsive to our joint climate change responsibility.
»The Myanmar/Burma Program focuses on the scholarship program and alumni network and on the cooperation with Burmese artists.

For us gender democracy is a guiding political principle, a social vision, and an organizational directive all at once. To that end we have made the systematic integration of a gender perspective into all aspects of our work and that of our partners a cross-cutting task.

Democratization

ARTICLE

Claiming their Space

April 10, 2012 -

The people of the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) have held their 8th Peoples Forum (APF) /ASEAN Civil Society Conference (ACSC) in Cambodia from March 29-31, 2012 in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia where the ASEAN Summit took place beginning of April.

Elaine Haller more»

Publication

Gender Discourse in Thai Politics

- February 27, 2012 - Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra’s sudden rise to the highest position in the Thai    political hierarchy is phenomenal and significant. That Thailand now has its first  female prime minister has provoked reactions from almost everywhere. To fully understand the phenomenon of the first-female-premier, it is firstly required to examine how women in politics and gender discourse are related. This article has summarized the discussion from academics, writers and civil society activists on the issues.
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Publication

New Media and Political Mobilization

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The publication “New Media and Political Mobilization” is the work under Media for Democracy Program of Heinrich Böll Stiftung, Southeast Asia Regional Office. It has covered the summary report (Thai and English version) and the transcribe note (Thai version) of the public discussion organized in prior to the July 3, 2011 election. The goal of the forum was to stimulate discussion on the current role of new media between representatives of government agencies, academics, professional journalists and members of civil society groups. Download FULL publication

Stereotypes dominate debates about Yingluck

- January 26, 2012 -  Six months have passed since Yingluck Shinawatra was elected to the first female Prime Minister in Thailand. Since her election she provoked a variety of debates, which are connected to her femininity. The article summarize some debates on Gender in political context which were highlighted in Thailand during the past months. Elisabetha Huber more»

Report

New Media and Political Mobilization

- Under the circumstance of political conflicts in Thailand, new media (e.g. online media, cable TV, satellite TV, community radio) have been widely used as tools in public discussion and many have faced censorship. Questions have been raised about the provision and protection of freedom of expression. The report summarizes the three main debates from a public forum with various stakeholders, organized before Thailands recent general elections. More information on the seminar (in Thai)

Download report in English

Download report in Thai

Climate Change & Energy

DISCUSSION PAPER

A FUTURE FOR INTERNATIONAL CLIMATE POLITICS

May 10, 2012 - Two years after the Copenhagen summit and only shortly after COP 17 in Durban, the real world is moving away from a safe and equitable climate future faster than ever. Political leaders are busy fighting the global financial crisis. But the lack of public interest and disengagement of relevant actors in the UN climate negotiations (UNFCCC) has – in light of the rise of the G-20 as the new and powerful global governance forum – the potential to conceal what is really at stake. If the G-20 is “the premier forum for international economic development” and we are serious about stopping climate change, we have to ensure that G-20 politics do not undermine our objectives for the climate, the environment, poverty eradication, and global justice. Lili Fuhr and Barbara Unmüßig more»

PUBLICATION SERIES ECOLOGY, VOLUME 21

The Future We Want- A Feminist Perspective

- The Future We Want – the motto chosen by the UN in the run-up to the June 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) – is certainly forward-looking. Rio+20 is supposed to define routes towards a safer, fairer, greener, and cleaner world. But the blueprints for a green economy are devoid of gender perspectives. Christa Wichterich’s essay takes a closer look on the relations between feminism and ecology. more»

ARTICLE

Nuclear Waste: An Unsolvable Problem

- The article is a reflection of a trip to Germany in 2010 in order to learn more about nuclear energy and it's implications for Thailand, as well as the problem of nuclear waste. Written by former hbs staff Vorawan Wannalak. Vorawan Wannalak more»

ARTICLE

Lessons from Fukushima

- Mr. Santi Chokechaichamnankit from Nuclear Monitor Thailand visited Japan for the "No Nukes Asia Forum 2011". Following this visit, he wrote this  summary of the nuclear accident in Fukushima and and its' aftermath. Santi Chokechaichamnankij more»

Exhibition

To Live or to Live a Good Life by Nino Sarabutra

- What do we need to be happy? Do consumerism and luxury really make our life precious or do the small and simple things, like having a good meal with family and friends, make life valuable? These questions are addressed in Nino Sarabutra’s new exhibition “To Live or to Live a Good Life” more»

Event update

No Nukes Asia Forum 2011: Lessons Thailand must learn

- September 20, 2011 - Heinrich Boll Stiftung Southeast Asia Regional Office supported seven Thais participating in the No Nukes Asia Forum 2011 during July 29-August 7 to gain insight exposure and be part of regional anti-nuclear movement. The seven Thais included three local villagers from three provinces of Ubon Ratchathanee, Trad and Chumporn, where nuclear power plants are proposed; one nuclear activist, and three media. This article is from a discussion with Mr. Santi Chokechaichamnankit, Nuclear Monitor, Thailand. more»

Debates about the nuclear future in Thailand

- March 24, 2011 - In 2010 the Government of Thailand adopted the Power Development Plan. It provides the construction of five nuclear power plants. But the nuclear disaster in Japan has opened up the discussion about the nuclear future of Thailand again. Jost Pachaly more»