The Bulletin

Stephff's world

Boiled pangolin for lunch? The conservation and spillover threats posed by Laos’ rampant wildlife trade

Panel discussion, Wednesday, 13 May, 7pm

Pangolins have long been a symbol of the world’s conservation crisis, having been trafficked to the brink of extinction. The meat, blood and scales of the animals are considered a luxury product with healing properties – from boosting lactation in breastfeeding women, to treating rheumatism and psoriasis – in China and parts of Southeast Asia.

But a rampant, unregulated marketplace is growing at “an alarming rate” in Laos. According to recent investigations, the country has become a key node in international wildlife trafficking routes, as well as a destination for people wanting to consume forbidden foods.

This panel will explore the drivers of the trade, including transnational crime syndicates and a boom in low-price Chinese tourist groups. It will also look at the consequences for both wildlife and people. Beyond the risk of extinction, experts warn that this trade is “ground zero for disease emergence” – a viral pressure cooker with the potential to spark the next pandemic.

Join us at the FCCT to discuss the survival of the pangolin and the health security risks of the regional wildlife trade.

Panelists:
Hongxiang Huang, founder of Agent C Wildlife Initiative.

Dr Filip Claes, head of the Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases, UN FAO.

Dr Naomi Doak, regional coordinator for Counter Wildlife Trafficking at the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Avinash Basker, a legal and policy expert at the Environmental Investigation Agency.

Moderator: Sarah Newey, global health security correspondent, The Telegraph.

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 350 baht; students and local media with ID 150 baht.Bar and restaurant open.

Defying Expectations: Essays on innovation, resilience and sustainability in independent media in South and Southeast Asia‍

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Panel discussion, publication launch by the Media Development Investment FundThursday, 14 May 2026, 2pm - 4:30pm

Asia has one of the most vibrant media landscapes in the world that offers everything from oppressive media environments to an innate culture of innovation. Whatever your perception, Asia challenges it.

The Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) will launch ‘Defying Expectations: Essays on innovation, resilience, and sustainability in independent media across South and Southeast Asia’. This new publication brings together 12 essays from media practitioners working in diverse markets in South and Southeast Asia. Drawn from MDIF’s Amplify Asia and Myanmar Media Programme, the report highlights real-world examples of how independent media are strengthening business models, adapting to digital change and building resilient organizations, often in highly challenging political and financial environments.

From a Burmese media outlet operating and thriving in exile, to a legacy outlet in Pakistan leveraging AI to scale editorial output, these stories reflect a wide spectrum of geographies, audiences and approaches. Together, they offer practical insights not only for media, but for funders and mission-driven organizations navigating uncertainty and resource constraints. The launch will bring leading voices from media, civil society, academia and philanthropy to exchange ideas, discuss, debate and explore opportunities for collaboration to ensure a more sustainable future for Asian media.

MDIF is a not-for-profit impact investment fund specializing in the media sector. Since 1995, MDIF has invested around $340 million in 159 independent media companies in 50 countries, where press freedom is under threat and access to reliable information is limited. Through these investments, MDIF supports independent media businesses to strengthen their financial sustainability while safeguarding their editorial independence.

Speakers:

Yuliasri Perdani, director of collaboration, Project Multatuli from Indonesia.

Prayana Rana, founding editor, Kalam Weekly from Nepal.

An exiled Burmese media business expert.

Free and open to all.

Tired of the chaos in the US government? How to stop reacting and start acting.

Democrats Abroad Thailand (DAT) annual general meeting

Wednesday, 20 May 2026, 6pm – 8:30pm

Are you an American citizen living in or around Bangkok who is alarmed by what’s happening to democracy in the United States? Are you ready to stop reacting and start acting? This is your moment!

Join us for the Democrats Abroad Thailand Annual General Meeting, our most important gathering of the year and a chance for the American community in Thailand to take stock of where we stand, connect with fellow Democrats, and mobilize together as we head into the 2026 mid-term elections. By attending, you can get energized and volunteer to help plan concrete actions to register voters, turn out the vote, and be an important part of the 2026 Blue Wave election. Together, we can make a difference from right here in Thailand.

Attendees will get a live demonstration of the voter registration process for Americans abroad, and practical information on how to volunteer and make a difference in 2026. The AGM is also an opportunity to review DAT’s activities and finances over the past year, and hear from DAT leaders about the work being done.

The meeting will be fired up by a keynote address from Phil Robertson, a two-time DAT Chair and member for over 25 years, and a respected voice on democracy and human rights in Asia. As former deputy director of Human Rights Watch’s Asia Division and current director of Asia Human Rights and Labour Advocates (AHRLA), Phil will speak to the urgent state of democracy at home and abroad, and why the American expat vote from Thailand has never mattered more.

The evening closes with networking—an opportunity to connect with a passionate community of American Democrats across Thailand.

The event is free and open to Democrats Abroad Thailand members, and FCCT members. US citizens who wish to join Democrats Abroad Thailand can do so at the event.

Asia American Journalists Association (AAKA - Asia)

Annual conference: Upholding journalism’s values & viability in the age of AI

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May 21-23, 2026

The Asian chapter of the Asia America Journalists’ Association (AAJA-Asia) will hold the 16th New-Now-Next Media Conference (N3Con 2026) at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, from May 21-23. The event’s exciting program and a list of confirmed speakers (to date) are available online at https://www.n3con.com/2026/. Over the years, N3Con has become one of the most dynamic and influential gatherings of journalists across the Asia-Pacific region.

FCCT members wishing to attend can enjoy a 30% discount on all tickets. To get the special code for FCCT members for use in the online registration below, please call Khun New at the FCCT office or contact her at info@fccthai.com

This year’s conference will feature panel discussions, roundtables, keynote presentations, coaching sessions, workshops, and one-on-one clinics. It will gather more than 200 journalists from both international media organizations and local newsrooms. The program will explore topics such as the responsible use of AI in news production and distribution, lessons from content creators, cross-border climate reporting, investigative journalism, reporting in exile, and journalists’ safety and mental health.

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the very foundations of journalism - from how stories are produced to how audiences discover and engage with news. In this rapidly evolving landscape, the media industry faces a defining challenge: to reimagine what news and information products can and should look like, while remaining true to its core values and securing its financial future.

Journalists need to harness AI responsibly and cost-effectively to enhance their reporting, streamline workflows, and develop innovative storytelling formats. At the same time, they must sharpen their capacity to scrutinize the broader societal implications of AI systems, from automated decision-making and data governance to algorithmic bias.

Keynote speakers include:

Anjali Kapoor, director of AI, innovation and growth at the BBC;

Amy Mitchell, executive director of the Center for News, Technology and Innovation;

Jodie Ginsberg, chief executive officer of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

The agenda for the event can be found here.

Register before April 17 to enjoy early-bird discounts.

This is not an FCCT event.

Co-working at the FCCT

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Tuesday, 12 May, 10am

Need a change of scenery from your home office? Join us for a coworking day at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand (FCCT) -- a perfect space for working professionals, digital nomads and anyone looking to break free from the home-office routine.Enjoy a spacious, comfortable workspace with dedicated tables, a full restaurant, café and bar and exclusive lunch specials just for this event.Whether you're tackling deadlines or networking with like-minded professionals, this is an opportunity to be productive in a collaborative, social environment. Come work, connect, and enjoy great food because working remotely doesn’t have to mean working alone.

Free and open to all.Bar and restaurant open.

Board games night

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Tuesday, 12 May, 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.

Free and open to all.Bar and restaurant open.

"Not much space for independent media in Myanmar"
Toe Zaw Latt

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Dateline Bangkok podcast

Watch the full video at this link.

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