Asia

One of the greatest problems in Pakistan is the availability and access to clean water. This not only limits agricultural production and industrial growth, but it is also the leading cause of disease and child mortality in the country. People, particularly in the rural areas, do not have access to clean drinking water. By resorting to drinking from the locally available water sources, the poor people are plagued with water-borne diseases, which is an immense financial burden in health care costs and also results in the loss of poor household incomes.

ASTANA, 4 April 2011 – Yesterday’s presidential vote in Kazakhstan revealed similar shortcomings as those noted in previous elections in the country, international observers said in a statement issued today. They noted that reforms necessary for holding genuine democratic elections have yet to materialize.

While the election was technically well administered, the absence of opposition candidates and of a vibrant political discourse resulted in a non-competitive environment. A limited field of candidates did not seek to challenge the incumbent.

Ai Weiwei is a Chinese artist, activist who is also active in architecture, photography, film, and social and cultural criticism.

Information about Jasmine Revolution in China 中國茉莉革命訊息

Troops in Bahrain have fired live rounds to break up anti-government protesters. News outlets are reporting that at 25 people have been injured. Todays violent crackdown came as protesters left funerals for protesters killer earlier this week.

The protests, calling for human rights in the small Middle Eastern country, are part of widespread unrest in the Middle East and North Africa which Tunisia and has since resulted in a regime change in Egypt. For Bahrain, it also reflects an ongoing crack down on the rights of civil society to express and assemble that started months ago.