The number of lawyers in China has risen from a few thousand to 230,000 in the past 30 years. However, in many places, licensed lawyers remain scarce. As a result, unofficial "citizen representatives", with little or no legal training, often fill the gap.
One of these is Bian Guanghua. In the city of Zibo, in the eastern province of Shandong, Bian takes cases that many official lawyers won't or can't take
As it prepares to appoint a new generation of leaders, China's ruling Communist Party faces increasing pressure to change. A series of scandals has chipped away at the party's image of unity and a weakening economy threatens to raise public dissatisfaction.
In this episode of 101 East, we look at the significance of this once-in-a-decade handover and explore the different visions for changing China's leadership. Will China stick to the status quo, or will it reform in a planned methodical manner or in a flurry of protests from a disgruntled populace?
A multipurpose cooperative is thriving in Manila's impoverished Smokey Mountain through recycling and other profitable enterprises.
Coffee farmers in Vietnam's Central Highlands join in efforts to protect forestland and biodiversity.