Asia

Recently, the power of the Taliban in connection with the attitude of the society was widely discussed, but once again gender and women issues were not highlighted. Durre Ahmed, chairperson and senior research fellow at the Centre for the Study of Gender and Culture in Lahore, about the current situation and development of the gender discourse in Pakistan.

In collaboration with the Social Science Research Centre Berlin, the Heinrich Böll Foundation organised a panel discussion on the subject "Pakistan and the West" on October 26, 2009. The main focus was the ongoing “Talibanisation” of the country.

A group of Afghan women activists from politics, media and civil society in Afghanistan met in the office of the Heinrich-Böll-Foundation in Kabul. Now they adress an open letter to the Members of Parliament.

Pakistan is a war zone facing serious threats from militants and terrorists besides a number of other problems and difficulties that urgently demand the establishment of democratic structures as well as rule of law. In the light of the current crisis, high-ranking guests from Pakistan and various German experts discussed structures and deficits of rule of law as well as the current state of affairs.

On the 24th of October, 2009 Punjab University students in collaboration with Rotaract Club Lahore, Pakistan Youth Climate Network, and Heinrich Böll Stiftung organized an event, which had two fold agenda.

Although they may not be racing each other, India and Pakistan are in a full-fledged nuclear arms race. Today, they are the world’s only countries that are openly increasing their fissile material stocks.

In 2004 Musharraf’s government was determined to retain and expand its nuclear capabilities. U.S. visits from top officials of the Strategic Plans Division, which is charged with the possession, maintenance, and safety of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons, became routine, and still continue.

Climate change is not at the top of Thailand’s national agenda. So far, changes in policy not been made to prevent climate change but in order to economise. Yet, there are hopeful developments at a grass roots level.

China is believed to be better prepared for the consequences of the financial crisis than all other emerging countries. But how deeply has China’s economy really been affected by the crisis, and what measures are being taken by its government?

The financial crisis has exposed structural problems in the Chinese economy: Its export trade is suffering from the slump in global demand. Bejing has underwritten investments, social programs, and subsidies to stimulate domestic demand, with little regard to the long-term environmental consequences.