In a country composed of 7,641 islands and one of the world’s longest coastlines, a bizarre phenomenon stands out—around half of Filipinos can’t swim without assistance. This puzzling contradiction raises questions about how residents of an archipelagic nation could be so disconnected from the waters that surround them. Why is it that so many people […]
We live in an archipelago. Why can’t Filipinos swim? Read More »
HBO’s hit series White Lotus casted Thai global sensation Lisa and shot in Thailand, inciting a tourism frenzy at the inundated islands of Phuket and Koh Samui. Local communities struggle with soaring rents, water shortages, and waste buildup from overtourism. Phuket, for instance, earned the title of the world’s most over-touristed city, with 118 tourists
The ‘White Lotus Effect’ Makes Overtourism in Thailand Worse Read More »
In a year marked by unprecedented climate challenges and social transformations, Diinsider Life’s top stories illuminated themes of empowerment, climate action, and community building in Southeast Asia. From solution stories to green job transitions, here are the top 10 articles that resonated most with readers in 2024. 1. The Nature Conservation and Renewable Energy Conundrum
Diinsider Life Roundup: Most-Read Impact Stories of 2024 Read More »
Philline van der Wolk-Donggay calls Mindanao home, where over 1 million people have no access to electricity. Mindanao has the lowest number of electrified households among the Philippines’ three island groups. As the co-founder of Greenergy Solar PH, Philline builds resilient energy systems to make “distributed, decentralized, and democratized electricity” a reality. When Philline and
The woman building Mindanao’s green energy future Read More »
After nearly a decade in the Philippines’ oil and gas industry, Ana Santos found herself in an unexpected place: she became a UX designer and vegan content creator. Her story reveals a different path to impact—one that begins with lifestyle choices and ripples outward to influence others. The Petroleum Pipeline Ana didn’t envision a future
The shift from a petroleum career to plant-based living Read More »
Even as nations set sustainability targets and consumers take a stand with their wallets, Asia faces a trillion dollar funding gap in its pursuit of sustainable development. The region needs to invest US$1.5 trillion every year or about 4% of its GDP from now until 2030 to meet its SDG targets, according to UN ESCAP.
Explainer: Why is there a trillion dollar funding gap in sustainability? Read More »
“I entered this space really by accident,” says Hannah Fernandez, a chief correspondent at Eco-Business. Seven years ago, she traded her 9-to-5 corporate job for a remote role covering sustainability. The pivot came while searching for work that could grant her time for family. This is just one example of the diverse but often unexpected
The Rise of Impact Jobs You Never Knew Existed in Asia Read More »
Sachets, food waste, and crumpled paper fester and mix inside a residential trash bag in Vietnam. A middle-aged woman rummages through the trash. She wears a long-sleeved, patterned garment and a cone-shaped hat traditionally referred to as a nón lá. Before, waste workers didn’t take sachets because it had no trade value. It’s only until
How to Formalize a Hidden Workforce of Waste Workers Read More »
At the break of dawn, millions of boats dot the coastlines of Asia, their occupants ready to set out for the day’s catch. These are not big commercial vessels nor industrial fishing fleets, but the backbone of a hidden subsector that feeds nations and supports countless livelihoods. Small-scale fisheries contribute 40% or 37 million tons
The Untapped Potential of Small-Scale Fisheries in Asia Read More »
A fisherman from oil-slicked Batangas flew to Europe and Japan to protest before companies financing fossil fuel projects along the Verde Island Passage (VIP). Sixteen gas facilities are expected to rise, despite one of the largest oil spills occurring in the area just last year. “I am most afraid that my children and grandchildren would
Filipino fisher flies internationally to protest fossil fuel financing Read More »
