2. Climate Regions

3. Today
Countries in SE Asia need to industrialize. There is a need for sustainable development. It is hard for the countries to balance industrialization and protecting the environment. It is hard to enforce the laws against poaching and logging. Soil erosion and deforestation are also serious environmental issues.

4. Culture
Chinese-style pagodas and Indian-style Wats (temples) are common Borobudur – 800AD Laquerware & batik are art types Legong – Bali

5. Governments
Republics – East Timor, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore Constitutional Monarchs – Brunei, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Thailand One-Party Communist State – Vietnam & Laos Dictators - Myanmar

6. Languages
Major language families: Malayo-Polynesian (Austronesian) Sino-Tibetan Mon-Khmer European influences

7. Papua / Irian Jaya:
Also known as Irian Jaya, was told by the Dutch that they could have independence when they left the colony. The following year, Indonesia invaded the area. The Free-Papua movement has been fighting a secessionist battle ever since. Indonesia has stationed a large military presence in order to quell violence. The local people are mainly Christian and Animists and have been in conflict with the Indonesian Muslim government. In 2001, Indonesia tried to appease Papua by allowing them to keep more of the profits from its sale of minerals and agricultural products, but the conflict still remains.

8. Southeast Asia Religions

10. SE Asian nations are mostly in the medium HDI category except for Brunei (oil wealth) and Singapore (free port) and Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia which are low HDI. Malaysia, Thailand, and Philippines are NICs. Indonesia is sometimes listed as a NIC. Many MDCs outsource work to SE Asia for the purpose of saving money on labor costs. Technology and communications in this region depend on the country’s level of technology. Singapore and Brunei have very advanced communications and transportation, but Laos and Cambodia have very little access to technology.

11. ASEAN
ASEAN – Association of Southeast Asian Nations is a free trade agreement between Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore Thailand, Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. Its aims are economic growth, social progress, cultural development, regional peace, and opportunities for member countries to discuss differences peacefully.

12. Arts
Variety of instruments – bamboo and bronze used to make instruments
Dances tell folk stories
Lacquerware
Architecture – mix of Indian & Chinese.
Borobudur is massive shrine built to symbolize Buddha’s journey to enlightenment