1. Income inequality: Be prepared to cite the following points in your speeches and interventions as appropriate... Four-fifths of Asia’s population live in countries where inequality has risen over the past 20 years. Calculations show that had Asian growth been achieved without rising inequality, an additional 240 million people would have been lifted out of poverty over the past two decades. Rapid growth has significantly improved living standards and reduced extreme poverty. During 1990– 2010, the region’s average per capita GDP in 2005 PPP terms increased from $1,602 to $4,982. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) conducted a survey on the inequality problem, asking ministries of finance, planning authorities, and other government agencies in l25 countries: the results? 2/3 say income inequality is high or very high and that it has increased from 10 years ago; 44% say the level of concern over inequality among policy makers is high or very high, and 70% indicated that the concern has increased; 95% say it is important or very important to have poli- cies in place to prevent rises in inequality in order to maintain stability and sustain growth Four-fifths of Asia’s population live in countries where inequality has risen over the past 20 years. Calculations show that had Asian growth been achieved without rising inequality, an additional 240 million people would have been lifted out of poverty over the past two decades. Rapid growth has significantly improved living standards and reduced extreme poverty. During 1990– 2010, the region’s average per capita GDP in 2005 PPP terms increased from $1,602 to $4,982. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) conducted a survey on the inequality problem, asking ministries of finance, planning authorities, and other government agencies in l25 countries: the results? 2/3 say income inequality is high or very high and that it has increased from 10 years ago; 44% say the level of concern over inequality among policy makers is high or very high, and 70% indicated that the concern has increased; 95% say it is important or very important to have poli- cies in place to prevent rises in inequality in order to maintain stability and sustain growth Source: http://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/publication/41630/inequality-asia-and-pacific.pdfwww.adb.org/sites/default/files/publication/41630/inequality-asia-and-pacific.pdf Source: http://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/publication/41630/inequality-asia-and-pacific.pdfwww.adb.org/sites/default/files/publication/41630/inequality-asia-and-pacific.pdf

2. Where is income inequality worsening fastest in asia? Korea's income inequality growth rate is fifth fastest among 28 Asian nations: ADB: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNkBz8e610k “China’s GINI co-efficient shows questionable wealth gap”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leLlJFnE2WU Income Inequality in China ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmgRfit1l_4 Korea's income inequality growth rate is fifth fastest among 28 Asian nations: ADB: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNkBz8e610k “China’s GINI co-efficient shows questionable wealth gap”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leLlJFnE2WU Income Inequality in China ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmgRfit1l_4

3. Access for women: Be prepared to cite the following points in your speeches and interventions as appropriate... According to the World Economic Forum, in Asia, women make up less than 6% of company board members, in contrast to 15% in the United States, and 17% in EuropeWorld Economic Forum Women’s share in senior management in the public and private sectors is still grossly unequal to that of men, except for the People’s Republic of China, an anomaly at 51%. In India, it’s a paltry 19%, and even worse in Japan— only 7% Women are missing from the ministerial levels (i.e. in Cabinet positions in government) across the region— ranging from 22% in Philippines to as low as 5% in Cambodia. A study of 2,360 companiesA study of 2,360 companies discovered that those with one or more female board members have delivered higher average returns on equity, and better average growth. In 2011, Malaysia’s cabinet approved a policy that women must comprise at least 30% of decision-making positions in the corporate sector, giving companies five years to comply.Malaysia’s cabinet approved a policy According to the World Economic Forum, in Asia, women make up less than 6% of company board members, in contrast to 15% in the United States, and 17% in EuropeWorld Economic Forum Women’s share in senior management in the public and private sectors is still grossly unequal to that of men, except for the People’s Republic of China, an anomaly at 51%. In India, it’s a paltry 19%, and even worse in Japan— only 7% Women are missing from the ministerial levels (i.e. in Cabinet positions in government) across the region— ranging from 22% in Philippines to as low as 5% in Cambodia. A study of 2,360 companiesA study of 2,360 companies discovered that those with one or more female board members have delivered higher average returns on equity, and better average growth. In 2011, Malaysia’s cabinet approved a policy that women must comprise at least 30% of decision-making positions in the corporate sector, giving companies five years to comply.Malaysia’s cabinet approved a policy Source: http://blogs.adb.org/blog/stupid-curve-asia-s-missing-women-leaders

4. What is the state of Women in Asia? Asia Foundation Women’s Empowerment program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeZTZUia05Y https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeZTZUia05Y The Lotus Circle “Tell her she CAN”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPVmGDN4U_U Malala speech to UN https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRh_30C8l6Y https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRh_30C8l6Y Asia Foundation Women’s Empowerment program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeZTZUia05Y https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeZTZUia05Y The Lotus Circle “Tell her she CAN”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPVmGDN4U_U Malala speech to UN https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRh_30C8l6Y https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRh_30C8l6Y

5. Managing Climate Crises & Eco-Refugees: Be prepared to cite the following points in your speeches and interventions as appropriate... ResearchResearch shows that the Asia Pacific region is more vulnerable to natural hazards than other parts of the world. The growing frequency of disasters, such as devastating floods or earthquakes, could derail the region's economic growth and poverty reduction efforts unless measures are put in place to reduce disaster risk and improve preparedness. Source: http://www.adb.org/news/features/asia-and-pacific-disaster- preparedness-and-management The International Red Cross estimates that there are more environmental refugees than political refugees fleeing from wars and other conflicts. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) says 36 million people were displaced by natural disasters in 2009, the last year such a report was taken. Scientists predict this number will rise to at least 50 million by 2050. Some say it could be as high as 200 million. Not only island dwellers are being forced from their homes by human-caused global warming: 2010 Pakistani floods, one of the largest displacement events of the last decade, drove millions from their homes powered by the additional heat generated by industrial greenhouse gas emissions (source: World Meteorological Organization).World Meteorological Organization ResearchResearch shows that the Asia Pacific region is more vulnerable to natural hazards than other parts of the world. The growing frequency of disasters, such as devastating floods or earthquakes, could derail the region's economic growth and poverty reduction efforts unless measures are put in place to reduce disaster risk and improve preparedness. Source: http://www.adb.org/news/features/asia-and-pacific-disaster- preparedness-and-management The International Red Cross estimates that there are more environmental refugees than political refugees fleeing from wars and other conflicts. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) says 36 million people were displaced by natural disasters in 2009, the last year such a report was taken. Scientists predict this number will rise to at least 50 million by 2050. Some say it could be as high as 200 million. Not only island dwellers are being forced from their homes by human-caused global warming: 2010 Pakistani floods, one of the largest displacement events of the last decade, drove millions from their homes powered by the additional heat generated by industrial greenhouse gas emissions (source: World Meteorological Organization).World Meteorological Organization Source: http://education.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/climate-refugee/ http://education.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/climate-refugee/ Source: http://education.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/climate-refugee/ http://education.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/climate-refugee/

6. How are Asian countries dealing with eco-disasters? Eco-refugees? Eco-refugee -- driven out by sands: http://www.theguardian.com/global/video/2009/may/19/china- eco-refugees-chinese http://www.theguardian.com/global/video/2009/may/19/china- eco-refugees-chinese Eco-refugee -- driven out by sands: http://www.theguardian.com/global/video/2009/may/19/china- eco-refugees-chinese http://www.theguardian.com/global/video/2009/may/19/china- eco-refugees-chinese

7. Nepotism & Corruption in Asia: Be prepared to cite the following points in your speeches and interventions as appropriate... Nepotism & Corruption as a way of life in India: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/12/world/asia/12iht- letter12.html?_r=0 http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/12/world/asia/12iht- letter12.html?_r=0 China plagued by corruption and nepotism:https://democracychronicles.com/china- plagued-by-nepotism/https://democracychronicles.com/china- plagued-by-nepotism/ Asia’s emerging countries need to move away from nepotism, cronyism: http://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Trends/Asia-s- emerging-countries-need-to-move-away-from-nepotism- cronyism http://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Trends/Asia-s- emerging-countries-need-to-move-away-from-nepotism- cronyism Nepotism’s a no-no in a ‘fair society’: http://atimes.com/atimes/Korea/LI22Dg01.html http://atimes.com/atimes/Korea/LI22Dg01.html Arab Regimes’ Nepotism Problem: http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/magazine/content/11_12 /b4220007540210.htm http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/magazine/content/11_12 /b4220007540210.htm Nepotism & Corruption as a way of life in India: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/12/world/asia/12iht- letter12.html?_r=0 http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/12/world/asia/12iht- letter12.html?_r=0 China plagued by corruption and nepotism:https://democracychronicles.com/china- plagued-by-nepotism/https://democracychronicles.com/china- plagued-by-nepotism/ Asia’s emerging countries need to move away from nepotism, cronyism: http://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Trends/Asia-s- emerging-countries-need-to-move-away-from-nepotism- cronyism http://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Trends/Asia-s- emerging-countries-need-to-move-away-from-nepotism- cronyism Nepotism’s a no-no in a ‘fair society’: http://atimes.com/atimes/Korea/LI22Dg01.html http://atimes.com/atimes/Korea/LI22Dg01.html Arab Regimes’ Nepotism Problem: http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/magazine/content/11_12 /b4220007540210.htm http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/magazine/content/11_12 /b4220007540210.htm

8. How does nepotism & corruption work in Asia? How can its negative impacts be remedied? Nepotism in South-east Asia: http://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2011/12/11/talk- asia-yingluck-politics.cnn http://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2011/12/11/talk- asia-yingluck-politics.cnn Nepotism in South-east Asia: http://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2011/12/11/talk- asia-yingluck-politics.cnn http://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2011/12/11/talk- asia-yingluck-politics.cnn

9. Religious Fundamentalism in Asia: Be prepared to cite the following points in your speeches and interventions as appropriate... Video entitled on right: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v =eoBRqK6hHcU

10. Debating Religious ‘fundamentalism’ Nepotism in South-east Asia: http://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2011/12/11/talk- asia-yingluck-politics.cnn http://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2011/12/11/talk- asia-yingluck-politics.cnn Nepotism in South-east Asia: http://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2011/12/11/talk- asia-yingluck-politics.cnn http://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2011/12/11/talk- asia-yingluck-politics.cnn