Asia-Cast

Asia Cast for Saturday 27th March

In this Bulletin …

- China faces diabetes epidemic;
- UN unhappy with Myanmar’s election process; and
- Australian town water making residents ill.

But first we have our Shen Yun quote of the day.

[audio]

For more information please visit www.shenyunperformingarts.org.

Our SOH focus on China is next

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China is facing a diabetes epidemic, with almost one in 10 adults having the disease.

Tests show that diabetes was more widespread than previously thought with most cases remaining undiagnosed.

Thorough new tests suggest that more than 92 million Chinese adults have diabetes and that nearly 150 million more were showing early symptoms, researchers said.

Researchers believe that rapid economic growth has affected public health through urbanisation, changed diets and more sedentary lifestyles.

This represents a major public health problem for the authorities in Beijing as diabetes is a major factor in illnesses such as heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.

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Drought has now seriously impacted the provinces of Guangxi, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, the city of Chongqing, and the surrounding areas.

Over sixty-three million people have been affected, according to a disaster briefing released by the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs on March 23.

The drinking water supply for 18 million people and water for 11.7 million large livestock and five million hectares of farmland has been compromised. More than 1.15 million hectares (2.9 million acres) of farmland has already been destroyed.

In response, the Chinese Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Civil Affairs have allocated 155 million Yuan for drought relief, which is an average of merely three Yuan (US$0.5) per person.

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And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast

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Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s lawyers filed an appeal against the $1.4 billion dollar asset seizure.

They claim they have new evidence to reopen the high-profile case.

Thaksin’s chief counsel said they lodged a 500-page appeal with the Supreme Court.

The appeal was also filed on behalf of Thaksin’s ex-wife and his two children.

Thaksin’s chief counsel also said the Supreme Court would establish a five-judge panel to decide whether to accept the appeal.

Thaksin had been found guilty by the court for conflict of interest while he was prime minister between 2001 and 2006. They confiscated 1.4 billion dollars of a 2.2 billion dollar fortune in frozen assets.

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Key UN member countries are not pleased with Myanmar’s lack of progress toward establishing a fair and transparent election process

The Asian nation plans to hold its first general elections in 20 years.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon says the current electoral laws do not measure up to what is needed.

The electoral laws disqualify anyone serving a prison term from joining a political party. This included Aung San Suu Kyi, pro-democracy activist and leader of Myanmar’s opposition party, the National Democratic Front.

The group stressed the need for elections to be participatory and transparent. They called for the release of all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi.

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You’re listening to Asia Cast on the SOH Radio Network

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As the Philippines congressional race formally begins, former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos has launched her campaign for a seat in parliament.

The 80-year-old widow of Ferdinand Marcos is in quest of a lower house seat in polls. Mrs Marcos said she was running to uphold political integrity and the truth.

In 1992 she lost a presidential bid. Other high-profile candidates are also running for seats in congress. Boxing star Manny Pacquiao and the country’s current leader, President Gloria Arroyo, are also running for election.

The elections will begin on May 10.

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Residents of Meredith, north of Geelong in Australia, complain their town water is so salty it is making some of them sick.

Local resident, Carol Broadhurst has had seven sties in five weeks, irritation all the time, weeping discharge out of both ears and the top of her eyelids are slimy.

She now relies on rainfall to fill her tank.

Other residents say they suffer chronic stomach cramps. The water is sourced from the Moorabool River and services 370 households.

Reduced flows have almost pushed salinity levels above Australian drinking standards. But Carl Bicknell of Barwon Water says the water is safe to drink.

The local water authority says a new pipeline to be put in next year will make a big difference.

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“Asia Cast … Keeping you across the top headlines from Asia and the world.”