Cambodia

Cambodia’s laws for preserving indigenous land were enacted over 20 years ago but are increasingly difficult to navigate and achieve official legal recognition for its indigenous peoples. But the more time passes, the more the land has become encroached upon, and the effects of this loss will be compounded.

In 2004, Cambodia's electricity grid was dominated by fossil fuels -primarily heavy-fuel oil and diesel; by 2013, it was completely transformed with 82% renewable sources: mostly hydropower. The government has also committed to net-zero by 2050, making this plan difficult to achieve as energy emissions keep increasing.    

The short film “Further and Further Away” is portraying a brother and sister who belong to the Bunong ethnic minority in Cambodia. We spoke with director Polen Ly and producer Daniel Mattes about the process of making the film, youth in Cambodia and the opportunities for independent film making in the country.

Across the banks of the Mekong River, by the sprawling grounds by the majestic Royal Palace, Cambodians are sitting on the grass or strolling about, sipping coffee outside the cafes that line the riverfront, as motorcycles and ‘tuktuk’ zip by. Traffic on Phnom Penh’s roads is returning to pre-COVID-19 levels of congestion. Many are heading to coastal provinces to reconnect with friends and family.

The disappearance of the honey bee is widely publicized, especially in Europe and North America, with colony collapse disorder observed in apiaries of the western honey bee, Apis mellifera. Much less interest, however, has been paid to Southeast Asian native honey bees whose fate also deserves attention. This article explores the conservation challenges of the eight native honey bee species of Southeast Asia.