Tourism (Champasak)

http://www.bangkokpost.com/travel/intertrips/240155/the-charms-of-champasak

The area of the Champasak province is an area best explored by boat. It is less popular than the larger city of Luang Prabang but has it's own charm. The thing that catches the attention of the author the most is the shouting of children. The most famous attractions in the area are the Tad Fane, Tad Yuang and Tad Huay Champee waterfalls. Along with the numerous ruins to explore, this area of Laos provides a more low key way to explore the country.

I think that Champasak sounds like a fun place to explore. It seems like there is just as much stuff to do in this area as there is to in more popular areas of Laos, but you get a more intimate feeling. The most interesting attraction for me is the waterfalls. It seems like it would be fun to just go hiking and explore the area. Another thing I like about this area is that it seems like the villagers are very friendly and will talk to you and help you with if you ask them to. Overall, this seems like a very nice place to visit for a night or a month.

Important Person (Choummaly Sayasone)

http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2011/may/01/laos-holds-legislative-elections-no-shake-20110501/
Choummaly Sayasone voted at a poll the other day during a poll. They held elections for the national congress. Choummaly has a vision to bring Laos out of poverty by 2020 with an economic growth of 8 percent a year, fuelled by foreign investment. Choummally wants to help make the naton more unified. He is almost a given, to be reelected as president.

I think Choummally is a smart guy and is trying to better the nation. It will be tough since Laos is one of the poorest countries, but he will give it a try. I think he is the right person to fix the country. He already has a plan to fix it, that being 8% economic growth from other outside countries helping.

Sports

http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2011-05/19/content_12545836.htm

       The Chinese wanted to help the athletes of Laos do better at the 26th annual SEA games by donating quality sports equipment to the Laotian team. Laos thinks the equipment will help improve the overall fitness of the team. Lao athletes won more than 30 medals in 25 events at the 2009 SEA Games in Vientiane. The Laos team hopes to win even more medals in 2011.

        I think it was a nice gesture by the chinese. They can't compete in the games since China isn't in southeast asia, so why not help out the Laos people. The chinese did well in the Beijing olympics they hosted, so they must know what equipment is good to use. I think that the support from the chinese
will improve the medal count of Laos in the 2011 SEA games.

Politics

http://www.asiapacificms.com/articles/laos_political_turmoil/

            The current political situation in Laos isn't good. They are in a crisis because of severe  economic problems. The nations currency, the kip is loosing value quickly, and some fighting has occured in Laos. The Laotians are suffering from being communist, and are talking about turning into a democratic government.
     
        I believe the Laotions should swith to a democratic government, and than ask for foreign help to get there economy going. If it were democratic, people would like the government more, since the majority of the population voted for it and the people would have more power. People are protesting and asking for a change in the governmenet. If Laos wants to gain back its people it needs to start with a change in government and some help from the US.

Environmental Issues

http://www.mongabay.com/history/laos/laos-environmental_problems_and_policy.html
The main environmental issue in Laos is deforestation. Some of the problems contributing to this problem are commercial exploitation of the forest, expansion of hydroelectric facilities and agriculture. The goverment has started programs to preserve their forest, but they have had negative effects on the villagers that relly on subsustance farming.

I think that the government has to a better job of thinking out their policies. Although i think it is a good idea to try and stop deforestation, the plan they have now could go more harm than good. Some of the decrees that they have made do seems promising. The prohibition on cutting some sorts of trees sounds like a good idea but it sounds like the rules are not being inforced. Overall, Laos is moving in the right direction, but they still have work to do.