In Thailand, one of the world's most rapidly developing countries, sustainability often takes the backseat to economic growth. But rising levels of pollution and depletion could be disastrous.
Published September 10, 2012
Fishing is one of the largest industries in Southeast Asia, yet 80 percent of the region's fishermen operate on a small scale—canoes, motorboats, and small sailboats line the Mekong River and region's coasts. While fishing remains an important tradition as a business, hobby, and way of life, modern development is changing the environment. As areas once suitable for fishing become polluted and fish populations disappear, the future of small-scale fishing is in jeopardy.
Thailand is one of the world’s largest seafood exporters, but overfishing and human trafficking have caused the fishing industry to become entangled in a net of its own.
For decades, hundreds of thousands of Burmese have sought refuge in Thailand, a country with an economy highly dependent on illegal workers. But once there, they face a life of indentured servitude.
Student Fellow
Adam Janofsky is a junior at the University of Chicago, pursuing degrees in law, Letters & Society and political science. He has served as editor-in-chief of the university's newspaper, The...
