Assignment Asia

Assignment Asia is a unique weekly magazine program. It features reports, interviews and first-person accounts to highlight issues and reflect the vibrant and diverse cultures that make up the vast continent of Asia. Assignment Asia is driven by strong characters. Through their personal stories, we uncover social issues that affect a wide population in one of the most vibrant areas of the world. Assignment Asia is visually stunning, using some of the most creative visual storytellers from across the region. Most importantly, Assignment Asia is about storytelling. Not just reporting facts.

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Drifting and Dancing In Strife - Torn Iraq

In a country plagued by conflict and poverty, it's difficult - if not impossible - for sports and the arts to thrive. But in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, some are escaping their dire situation by pursuing their passion right in the midst of strife. Reporter Stephanie Freid tells the story of Iraqi drifters and fans who spend their Fridays in Baghdad's empty parking lots to experience the thrill of the motorsport and momentarily forget the violence that too frequently rocks the city.

Coping with a Changing Climate

The poorest countries in the world are also the most vulnerable to climate change. But some developing countries are already taking steps to confront it and mitigate its impact. In Bangladesh, climate refugees - people displaced from their communities by natural disasters - have poured into the capital Dhaka, crowding its already congested slums. Yet far from merely suffering, the country is working to become more resilient. Reporter Rian Maelzer travels to areas in Bangladesh that experience some of the worst effects of climate change.

Ancient Cultures in a Modern World

Asia is home to some of the world's oldest cultures and ethnic groups. But in modern times many of them are on the verge of fading. In South Korea, female divers called the haenyeo have been scouring the seas for food for more than 1,000 years. Yet today's sea women are ageing, and there's a dearth of new divers. Reporter Jack Barton travels to Jeju Island to meet some of its oldest haenyeo and looked into efforts to stop their tradition from dying. Seafaring tribes long inhabited the waters of Thailand and its neighbors, Myanmar and Malaysia.

Challenging Gender Norms

Steeped in tradition, many Asian cultures have tightly conservative gender norms. But in some places, people are daring to challenge them. In Turkey, male belly dancing is making a comeback after generations of being kept in the background. It's an art usually associated with femininity. But in Istanbul, men are grabbing the spotlight and breaking stereotypes by swaying their bodies. As Reporter Natalie Carney reports, they are also raising the profile of Turkey's marginalized gay community.

Women Empowerment

Women in many parts of Asia remain vulnerable to abuse, but a few bright spots in the fight for empowerment and equality have emerged. In Pakistan, where thousands of women fall victims to violence every year, a law ensuring their protection was passed in early 2016. Reporter Danial Khan spoke with survivors of domestic violence who have risen above their ordeal and are now finding hope in the new law. Despite the reforms and changes sweeping the country, gender inequality persists in Myanmar, and women are particularly vulnerable to different forms of abuse.

Development

Asia has some of the world's most pressing problems, including poverty and disease. But despite the odds, progress is being made in some parts of the region. Pakistan is one of only two countries in the world where polio remains endemic. The Pakistani government has launched an aggressive vaccination drive, but workers on the ground face security threats, and sometimes, an unwelcoming public. Reporter Danial Khan meets the health workers who confront dangers and challenges in their mission to eradicate polio in Pakistan.

  • 2019-09-20T07:00:00-07:00
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