The Bulletin

Stephff's world

Media freedom in the Mekong region

Briefing, report launch and discussion
Friday, 28 February, 4pm

While much has been written about the jailing and repression of independent media in the Mekong region, comparatively little detail is known about the actual conditions and legal processes that have seen many journalists and bloggers receiving heavy prison sentences -- often for little more than a blog post exposing an environmental crime or challenging actions such as land grabbing by local authorities.

On this afternoon, representatives of some leading media research and advocacy groups will brief on the latest situation in some of these countries, including the launch of a new report and the release of recent data on prison conditions, cases and charges.

The briefing comes amid growing concern among media advocacy and human rights groups about the deterioration of media freedom in the region. Most Mekong region countries rank poorly on global media freedom rankings, including indexes compiled by Freedom House and Reporters Without Borders, with Myanmar, Vietnam and Laos among the lowest in the world.

Vietnam was ranked as the seventh worst jailer of journalists worldwide at 178th, while Myanmar was ranked 174th, in the latest annual global prison census compiled by the International Committee to Protect Journalists, with at least 16 reporters behind bars on Dec. 1, 2024. By other measures, Myanmar ranks among the worst in terms of levels of violence against media, while Laos observes some of the most stringent official restrictions against media operations.

Join us for this informal discussion.

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Complimentary coffee and tea will be served, and the regular

FCCT menu will be available.

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Members who wish to book in advance should email info@fccthai.com or call the FCCT office on 02-652-0580.

Non-members can use this link.Members free, non-members 150 baht.

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Bar and restaurant open.

Securing the future of Thai media: Tools for success

Seminar,
Wednesday, 26 February, 2.45pm

How can media outlets in Thailand secure their future success amidst a rise in concerning trends?

Threats such as declining audience trust, changes to revenue models, more competitive advertising markets, the rise of AI and the growth of non-traditional news content are challenging news organizations worldwide and have led to a search for solutions.

What tools and methods can responsible media outlets use to continue their essential role as providers of trustworthy information in this new world?

Join Reporters Without Borders and the National Union of Journalists in Thailand for an in-depth look at solutions which can secure continued success and sustainability for Thai media outlets.

Host: Mitch St.Hilaire, Asia-Pacific representative, Reporters Without Borders's journalism trust initiative.

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To confirm your attendance, please email mmcanally-ext@rsf.org.

Event live stream will take place on FCCT’s Facebook page.

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This is not an FCCT-organized event.

Free and open to all. Light catering will be provided.

Board games night

Tuesday, 25 February, 7pm

Join us for a chilled night of board games with The Boring Club. Try your luck with classics like chess and backgammon or modern games including Catan and Pandemic.

The bar and restaurant will be open. Try our pizzas from the new pizza oven. The Boring Club meets at the FCCT clubhouse for games every Tuesday at 7pm.

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Free and open to all.

Decriminalisation of same-sex acts effort in Asia and the Pacific: Enabling legal and policy environments for better health outcomes

Monday, 17 March, 6pm

Since its formation in 2007, APCOM has been calling for the removal of punitive and discriminatory laws, including the criminalization of same-sex relations and gender identity and/or expression.

In Asia and the Pacific region, we have seen positive efforts in terms of decriminalisation of same-sex sexual acts in India (2018), Bhutan (2021), Singapore (2022) and most recently Cook Islands (2023). However, seventeen countries still have colonial laws prohibiting consensual sex between men.

The prohibition impedes the HIV response in Asia and the Pacific including government’s leadership and investment into modernizing and scaling up HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care services; leveraging innovative solutions such as pre-exposure prophylaxis and virtual interventions; removing barriers to accessing services; prioritizing key populations particularly young people; and also, empowering community leadership and community-led response.

Implementing legal and policy reforms and decriminalisation will address the inequalities and the epidemic trends affecting progress in the HIV response in Asia and the Pacific, in particular the young people (aged 15-24) and their sexual partners that is driving the HIV infections in the region.

As part of the celebration of Zero Discrimination Day, a Day that is dedicated to the right of everyone to live a full and productive life, and live it with dignity and free from discrimination -- this session the eminent speakers share strategies and the need to decriminalization and reminded us to be vigilant, constructive, rational, engaging and empathetic at the same time.

Speakers:

‍The Hon. Michael Kirby: Michael Kirby is an international jurist, educator and former judge. He served as a deputy president of the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission (1975-83); chairman of the Australian Law Reform Commission (1975-84); judge of the Federal Court of Australia (1983-4); president of the New South Wales Court of Appeal (1984-96); president of the Court of Appeal of Solomon Islands (1995-96) and justice of the High Court of Australia (1996-2009).

‍Eamonn Murphy: Eamonn Murphy is the director, regional support teams for Asia Pacific and Eastern Europe and Central Asia regions. He leads UNAIDS’ efforts in promoting an expanded and integrated United Nations system response to HIV at the country and regional levels for Asia Pacific and Eastern Europe and Central Asia regions. He provides the strategic direction, advocacy, coordination, and technical support needed to catalyse and connect leadership from governments, communities, and key partners to deliver life-saving HIV services.

‍About APCOM: APCOM works to improve the health, rights, and well-being of the diverse and dynamic communities that we serve. APCOM wants a world where people of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics can fully participate in and achieve sustainable development in all aspects of their health, rights and wellbeing.Celebrating its 18th anniversary this year, and recently launching its new strategic plan Relentless, APCOM is a regional organisation covering Asia and the Pacific region based in Bangkok, Thailand. Our work centers on Advocacy & Research, Education & Innovation, and Community Engagement & Empowerment.

FB: https://www.facebook.com/apcom.org‍

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apcom_org

‍X: https://x.com/apcomLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/apcom-foundation

‍Website: https://www.apcom.org

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‍This is not an FCCT-organized event.

Free and open to all but limited seats.

FCCT pub trivia

Friday, 28 February, 7pm

Gather your friends and colleagues for a night of pub trivia at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand.

Come for a bite and a beverage and test your knowledge. 1,000 baht bar tab up for grabs for the winning team, to be redeemed on the night.

Advanced table bookings encouraged here.

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Free and open to all.

The FCCT is grateful for the support of corporate sponsor Bitkub. For more information about the club's corporate sponsorship program contact: info@fccthai.com.

The FCCT expresses appreciation for the support provided by corporate sponsor Bumrungrad International Hospital. For more information about the club's corporate sponsorship program contact: info@fccthai.com.

Heart valve disease: A possible hidden danger!

The heart consists of 4 chambers with the valves opening and closing to let blood pass through between the upper and the lower chambers in one direction, and not backward.

Heart valve disease occurs when one or more of the heart valves do not open or close properly. This causes the heart muscles to work harder to pump blood for the body’s requirements. This can result in heart failure and death.

What are the symptoms of heart valve diseases?

• Fatigue, tired when doing daily activities.
• Difficulty breathing while doing activities or lying down.
• Rapid weight gain.
• Swelling in various organs such as the abdomen, legs, ankles and feet.
• Cardiac arrhythmia such as fast or irregular heartbeat.
• Fever and body aches, if due to infection.
• In severe cases, too much fluid in the lungs, difficulty breathing and loss of consciousness.

What is the treatment for heart valve disease?‍

There are many ways to treat heart valve disease. Currently, Bumrungrad Hospital has the technology for heart valve replacement without surgery, offering good results and highly safe.

Learn more about heart valve disease and treatment option here.

Send us an enquiry today by clicking here.

FCCT’s new podcast: Dateline Bangkok episode three

For this week's episode of the Dateline Bangkok podcast, Tommy Walker speaks with Mookdapa Yangyuenpradorn.

This interview will discuss Mookdapa’s work as an activist, Thailand’s marriage equality bill and the LGBTQ+ community.

Mookdapa talks about how she got into activism for gender rights, including her studies in London, her work at Fortify Rights and her participation in Thailand’s 2020 protests.

Mookdapa also explains the importance of Thailand’s marriage equality law, why it matters and what other gender related issues she continues to advocate for.

Watch the full episode here.

Also now on Spotify.

New to Bangkok? Under 35?

Are you under 35? Check out our special offer below! For further details, please contact info@fccthai.com.

New FCCT merchandise

Advertise in the FCCT's Bulletin at special discount rates

Individuals and organisations are welcome to take out advertising in the weekly FCCT Bulletin which reaches nearly 4,000 people in the club’s network. Guidelines

• Write a catchy headline, followed by a maximum of three sentences + contact email/phone number/ link to a website for further details if applicable.

To book an ad please email: info@fccthai.com