Bridget Welsh
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dririshsea.bsky.social
Bridget Welsh
@dririshsea.bsky.social
Independent Scholar & Political Analyst focused on Southeast Asia / Consultant Geopolitics/Governance / Podcaster - Straight Talk Southeast Asia / Columnist Malaysiakini/Benar News/ Love Food, Nature and Animals / w/beloved dog Surya / Global Citizen 🇮🇪🇲🇾🇺🇲🍉
Elon Musk's Starlink enabling criminal exploitation of thousands of victims in scam compounds, many from SEA/South Asia who are facing truly despicable conditions and millions targeted by online fraud, writes @wired.com Echo call for link to be immediately severed. www.wired.com/story/starli...
Elon Musk’s Starlink Is Keeping Modern Slavery Compounds Online
A WIRED investigation reveals that criminals who make billions from scam compounds in Myanmar—where tens of thousands of people are enslaved—are using Starlink to get online.
www.wired.com
March 1, 2025 at 12:58 AM
Pleasure to meet three inspiring parliamentarians from Ukraine last week. Heroism and bravery takes many forms.
I stand with #Ukraine 🇺🇦
February 24, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Important call for need for ASEAN to rethink its approach to Myanmar by Yuyun Wahyuningrum.
www.thejakartapost.com/opinion/2025...
Time to end ASEAN’s accommodative approach in Myanmar - Academia - The Jakarta Post
The junta government thrives on violence, deception and a systematic erosion of Myanmar’s democratic institutions.
www.thejakartapost.com
February 12, 2025 at 7:14 AM
Caught a beautiful rainbow over UK's parliament today in London. Hope it brings good luck!
January 6, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Reflections on a crisp morning walk Southbank, London.
January 4, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Happy New Year

Sharing this - a coin toss brings good luck. www.nytimes.com/2025/01/01/w...
At Trevi Fountain in Rome, Tourists’ Coins Go to Good Cause
Who gets to spend the millions of euros in change tossed into the Roman landmark?
www.nytimes.com
January 2, 2025 at 6:12 AM
In 1992 as part of election observation w/Carter Center in Guyana had honour of long conversation w/President Carter abt baseball, peanut farming, peace, compromise, rights & democracy. His wisdom & decency inspired me. Still does. A good man, a moral leader. RIP
www.theguardian.com/us-news/gall...
Jimmy Carter – a life in pictures
The former US president has died at the age of 100. Born in 1924, he became the 39th president of the United States in 1977, and won the Nobel peace prize in 2002 for his dedicated work for human righ...
www.theguardian.com
December 30, 2024 at 3:30 AM
Beautiful blue Newhaven Harbour, Edinburgh.
December 28, 2024 at 11:07 AM
Merry Christmas to friends celebrating. May your holiday be joyful with some time to play.
December 25, 2024 at 6:37 AM
Malaysian PM Anwar appoints Thaksin as his personal ASEAN 'advisor' as he aims for 'inclusive' grouping. May forge closer ties with current Thai govt while pushing others away.
December 16, 2024 at 9:13 AM
The power of love. Great story of conservation efforts working. 120 Miles of Russian Forest Couldn’t Keep These Two Tigers Apart www.nytimes.com/2024/12/11/s...
120 Miles of Russian Forest Couldn’t Keep Two Siberian Tigers Apart
Boris and Svetlaya were raised together as orphaned cubs, and then reintroduced to the wild separately. But Boris went on a trek that surprised the researchers who were monitoring him.
www.nytimes.com
December 11, 2024 at 9:22 PM
Views of the Melbourne skyline from across the bay, morning and evening.
December 7, 2024 at 6:47 PM
A ray of orang sky.
Good morning from Darwin as the sun rises..
December 5, 2024 at 9:09 PM
A night for democratic resilience in South Korea - as parliament, parties and the people protected democracy against a president and military acting unconstitutionally. Hope this example serves as a reminder to democratic leaders globally who attempt to centralize power.
apnews.com/article/sout...
South Korea lifts president's martial law decree after lawmakers vote against it
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s government has lifted the martial law he imposed during a tense night of political drama in which troops surrounded parliament and lawmakers voted to reject mili...
apnews.com
December 3, 2024 at 10:04 PM
Popi playing on Jerman Beach in Bali. Adorable.
December 3, 2024 at 10:54 AM
Recent floods in Malaysia have been devastating with those in Kelantan considered to be the one of the worst in her history.
Malaysia: This is what's left of one of the roads in a village in Tumpat, Kelantan. The floodwater must have been so strong to do that...

Credit: IRDK

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December 3, 2024 at 1:00 AM
KL Blue Sky morning, contrasts as the sun rises in the horizon.
December 2, 2024 at 11:11 PM
Poke-Thanksgiving.
Leftovers are the best!
December 2, 2024 at 12:45 AM
Happy Thanksgiving friends! Made my first pumpkin pie with two secret ingredients a pinch of Sarawak pepper and a big splash of love. My dinner guests loved it.
November 29, 2024 at 12:19 AM
Great morning start to Thanksgiving. Surya asking to play.
November 28, 2024 at 12:42 AM
ICC warrant request a positive step in accountability for the Rohingya long overdue.
November 27, 2024 at 3:56 PM
As many of you know I have a regional podcast - Straight Talk Southeast. The latest episode -47 season 2 - on Indonesia's regional elections is out, and details about the episode can be found here: @straighttalksea.bsky.social.
November 26, 2024 at 2:40 PM
My @malaysiakini.bsky.social column on 2yr anniversary of Anwar's Madani government discusses political trends - modest increase electoral support, tethered alliances, growing consolidation of a 'Madani cartel' & personalisation of power. Change but no change.
www.malaysiakini.com/columns/726813
COMMENT | Year Two of Anwar Ibrahim's Madani
Umno remains dominant while parties consolidate for a second term.
www.malaysiakini.com
November 25, 2024 at 11:06 PM
Loving Blue Sky. Sharing the view from my morning walk.
November 24, 2024 at 2:48 PM
Great piece by Thin Lei Win @thinink.bsky.social connecting climate change and conflict in Myanmar. What she aptly describes for Karen is happening across the country and globally in sites of conflict.
So I want to ground this issue in the minutiae of what’s happening in a small corner of the world.

A small corner of my world, I should add, written by an exiled journalist from Myanmar who is seeing the physical and material deterioration of their home state.

#FoodSystems #ClimateChange
November 24, 2024 at 10:10 AM