ASIAN Geographic Magazine - Issue 5 2010

In this issue

Welcome to ASIAN Geographic’s Rice Edition. It is also our green issue as it is almost impossible to talk about one (rice) without the other (environment). I must say, before beginning this daunting issue, I had doubts as to whether it could be an exciting collection. As I close it now, I think it may be considered one of the best issues I have put together. On my journey through this production, one of the biggest concerns was throwing out dozens upon dozens of photographs of rice paddies and terraces. The end result you see within these pages contains some of the best representations of the otherwise banal rice fi elds across Asia. People that have stuck in my mind are those who were integral in making this issue a heavyweight espousal of the worth of rice today. Patricia Artadi-Facultad, the Partnerships Manager (Asia) of the World Food Programme (WFP), was a huge help in providing contacts, facilitating interviews and projects, and providing some of the most beautiful photos from their archive. (Selamat po, Pia!) Having chatted with the folks from the United Nation’s WFP, the gorilla staring me in the face in this situation is the stunning lack of support from corporations. There are, however, happy stories. Three years ago, Yum! Brands – the parent company of KFC and Pizza Hut, among others – launched the fi rst “World Hunger Relief Campaign” to raise awareness and funds in ...