Ashley Westerman

Protesters hold posters calling for protection of Indigenous lands amid growing number of development projects in the Philippines.

The Philippines is among the most dangerous places in the world for environmental activists

The international nonprofit Global Witness has ranked the Philippines at the top of its list of deadliest countries to be an eco-activist. Dozens of environmentalists and land defenders also die each year or end up on government watch lists.

The Philippines is among the most dangerous places in the world for environmental activists
Men place their hands over their heads as they are rounded up during a continuing "war on drugs" police campaign of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in Manila, Philippines, Oct. 7, 2016. 

A rare murder conviction in the Philippines reveals a 'broken' justice system

A rare murder conviction in the Philippines reveals a 'broken' justice system
Kea Sokun is a rapper who sings about social justice issues in Cambodia.

‘I cannot give up’: Cambodian rapper says he will sing about injustice despite threats from govt

‘I cannot give up’: Cambodian rapper says he will sing about injustice despite threats from govt
sculpture outside

'My art is not soft anymore': A Ukrainian sculptor reshapes his vision in response to war 

'My art is not soft anymore': A Ukrainian sculptor reshapes his vision in response to war 
A worker fills up a plastic container with gasoline at a gas station in Pasay, Philippines, Oct. 11, 2022.

Record-breaking inflation rates in the Philippines are pushing people to take on extra jobs

Record-breaking inflation rates in the Philippines are pushing people to take on extra jobs
Kiribati Minister of Justice, Hon Takarabu Tofinga, speaks at a panel discussion on climate security in the Pacific, in the Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion of the COP27 UN Climate Summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022.

Kiribati rejoins collective of Pacific Island states after ‘crisis’ withdrawal period

The island nation of Kiribati says it will return to the Pacific Islands Forum, ending over six months of turmoil for the strategic bloc that represents nearly 20 nations and territories across the Pacific Ocean.

Kiribati rejoins collective of Pacific Island states after ‘crisis’ withdrawal period
White Sand beach on Boracay Island, in the Philippines.

The return of Chinese tourists restores hope in the Philippines' tourism industry

When the Chinese government made the decision to relax its pandemic restrictions and allow for travel abroad again, tourism professionals in the Philippines welcomed the news, but concerns linger about the expected increase in mass tourism.

The return of Chinese tourists restores hope in the Philippines' tourism industry
people onstage

Philadelphia's Ukrainian diaspora puts a unique spin on holiday classic in solidarity with Ukraine

The Ukrainian community in Philadelphia is the second-largest in the United States. As members of the diaspora celebrated the holidays with a special Ukrainian version of “The Nutcracker,” they reflected on a year of worry and solidarity.

Philadelphia's Ukrainian diaspora puts a unique spin on holiday classic in solidarity with Ukraine
A visitor feeds straw to the zoo's four giraffes from outside their enclosure.

Ukraine’s zoos struggle to stay afloat during war, with traumatized animals and dwindling resources

Due to depleted money reserves and uncertainty on when Russia's war in Ukraine may end, zoo staffers at Zoo XII Months say they’re in worse shape than ever before. The animals remain distressed and, with virtually no visitors, the privately owned zoo isn’t making money.

Ukraine’s zoos struggle to stay afloat during war, with traumatized animals and dwindling resources
Hundreds of thousands of displaced people have ended up in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, near the Polish border, where prefabricated homes have become a fast and affordable way for the city to house refugees.

Modular housing in Ukraine provides shelter — and hope — for internally displaced people

Hundreds of thousands of displaced people have ended up in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, near the Polish border, where prefabricated homes have become a fast and affordable way for the city to house refugees.

Modular housing in Ukraine provides shelter — and hope — for internally displaced people
woman in front of store

‘We’re just breaking even’: Small businesses in Ukraine reopening in uncertain climate

​​​​​​​Nearly half of the country’s small businesses closed when the war began. Now, many Ukrainians are returning home, and businesses are reopening. But they’re faced with serious financial challenges, among other concerns.

‘We’re just breaking even’: Small businesses in Ukraine reopening in uncertain climate
An apartment building that holds families from some of Ukraine's most devastated communities: bombarded Karkhiv near the Russian border, obliterated Irpin, and Kyiv, the capital itself, in Lviv, western Ukraine, Sunday, April 3, 2022. 

Lviv rents skyrocket as displaced Ukrainians scramble for housing 

Rent prices in the western city of Lviv have nearly quadrupled in some cases since the war began, making it very difficult for displaced people fleeing war to find stable, affordable housing. 

Lviv rents skyrocket as displaced Ukrainians scramble for housing 
President Joe Biden participates in the US-ASEAN Special Summit to commemorate 45 years of US-ASEAN relations at the State Department in Washington, Friday, May 13, 2022.

US 'walks fine line' at Southeast Asia summit to strengthen ties

US President Joseph Biden pointed to a host of global challenges that make the ASEAN-US partnership “critical" at this time. But some experts who focus on Southeast Asia say the administration came up short at the summit. 

US 'walks fine line' at Southeast Asia summit to strengthen ties
Boxing legend and presidential candidate, senator Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao greets the crowd in Pasay city, Philippines Monday, March 14, 2022. 

Candidates go ‘green’ on the campaign trail for Philippines national election

Climate change is taking center stage on the campaign trail in the Philippines as candidates talk about renewable energy more than ever before.

Candidates go ‘green’ on the campaign trail for Philippines national election
In this photo provided by the Australian Defense Force, debris from damaged building and trees are strewn around on Atata Island in Tonga, on Jan. 28, 2022.

Tonga reconnects with the world after massive volcanic eruption

For nearly 40 days, telecommunications were extremely limited across the small Pacific island nation of Tonga, after a volcanic eruption displaced and cut an underwater fiber optic cable.

Tonga reconnects with the world after massive volcanic eruption