nder The Radar is a special series and newsletter offering from Diplomatic Courier bringing you compelling, under–the–radar stories from around the world over the past month. This month in Asia: workplace stress in India turns deadly, Japan gets the green light on a nuclear soil recycling scheme, and a look at Kazakhstan’s under–appreciated World Nomad Games.
The workplace inspires dread in India. Is it also deadly?
Nearly half of India’s workforce dreads going to work. This statistic, coming from a new report by SHRM, is largely suspected to be related to workplace culture in India and the lack of a work–life balance employees can maintain. In dramatic cases, this stress may be deadly—take the case of Anna Sebastian Perayil, a 26–year–old who, despite working her dream job, passed away from what her parents describe as “work pressure.”
Anna secured her dream job as a consultant at an EY firm based in Pune, India. According to a letter from Anna’s mother after her daughter’s death, Anna’s team manager warned her of how difficult the workload seemed to previous employees. Still, her manager encouraged her to “change everyone’s opinion about [their] team.” Anna’s mother and father detail how dedicated she was to her role, working excessive hours and regularly lacking sleep. She barely attended important life events, like her convocation, to avoid falling behind with her work. According to her parents, this “work pressure” eventually led to health issues attributed to Anna’s death.
In a similar tragedy, six months ago, Saurabh Laddha, a 25–year–old working at a major consulting firm in India, committed suicide in another case attributed to workplace stress. This alarming pattern is spurring a closer look at management and work-life balance among companies in India, with a pressing need to prioritize their employees’ mental and physical wellbeing.
Japan’s plan to recycle nuclear soil
In 2023, concerned Japanese citizens protested their government’s plan to recycle soil from the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster. After the disaster, steps were taken—including evacuating residents safely—to collect the soil that had been contaminated with nuclear waste. To properly dispose of the immense amount of soil affected, the government proposed a plan to recycle any soil that met acceptable, safe levels of radioactivity. Any soil that was too radioactive would be disposed of by 2045. At the time, despite the protests, the government planned to continue with its plan, promising to answer questions from residents but not intending to reach an agreement with them. In the meantime, the soil would be stored at interim facilities.
As of September 2024, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) finished conducting a 16–month safety review, ultimately concluding that the plan to recycle soil and dispose of the rest is “consistent with IAEA standards.” In accordance with the government’s plan, the soil that can be recycled—approximately 75% of the affected soil—will primarily be used for civil engineering structures, with the remainder to be permanently disposed of in a still–to–be–determined location.
Still, the International Atomic Energy Agency acknowledges that the plan may raise societal issues, acknowledging the residents’ protests as something the government must consider going forward.
Kazakhstan hosts the fifth World Nomad Games
The 5th World Nomad Games occurred in Kazakhstan from 8 September through 15 September, 2024. Although far less well–known than the highly anticipated Winter and Summer Olympics, the World Nomad Games offer something unique—insight into the rich history of the nomadic people of Central Asia.
Occurring every two years, the World Nomad Games features traditional nomadic sports—many of which involve equestrian and other skills needed to thrive in The Steppe—with 3,000 athletes representing 89 nations competing. But beyond the competition, the event also features cultural and scientific programs focused around nomadic tradition, skills, and history.
This year, the World Nomad Games included scientific conferences demonstrating the development of nomadic traditions and history in modern times, with visitors able to attend seminars like “Paleo–urbanism of the Zhetysu Nomads” and the “Nutrition of Nomads: traditions and their applicability in the modern world.” These conferences occur alongside the sporting competitions and displays of cultural arts and performances to preserve and protect nomadic culture in these times of modernization and changing climate.
This was the third year the World Nomad Games has been accessible to international audiences who can view the games on television. With this increased visibility, the event seeks to increase global awareness and interest in nomadic culture, allowing their skills, knowledge, and lifestyle to be shared with the world.
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Is workplace stress killing young workers in India?
An office building in New Delhi, India. Photo by Shantum Singh via Pexels.
October 8, 2024
Diplomatic Courier staff writer Stephanie Gull brings you three under–the-radar stories Asia in September: workplace stress in India turns deadly, Japan gets the green light on a nuclear soil recycling scheme, and a look at Kazakhstan’s under–appreciated World Nomad Games.
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nder The Radar is a special series and newsletter offering from Diplomatic Courier bringing you compelling, under–the–radar stories from around the world over the past month. This month in Asia: workplace stress in India turns deadly, Japan gets the green light on a nuclear soil recycling scheme, and a look at Kazakhstan’s under–appreciated World Nomad Games.
The workplace inspires dread in India. Is it also deadly?
Nearly half of India’s workforce dreads going to work. This statistic, coming from a new report by SHRM, is largely suspected to be related to workplace culture in India and the lack of a work–life balance employees can maintain. In dramatic cases, this stress may be deadly—take the case of Anna Sebastian Perayil, a 26–year–old who, despite working her dream job, passed away from what her parents describe as “work pressure.”
Anna secured her dream job as a consultant at an EY firm based in Pune, India. According to a letter from Anna’s mother after her daughter’s death, Anna’s team manager warned her of how difficult the workload seemed to previous employees. Still, her manager encouraged her to “change everyone’s opinion about [their] team.” Anna’s mother and father detail how dedicated she was to her role, working excessive hours and regularly lacking sleep. She barely attended important life events, like her convocation, to avoid falling behind with her work. According to her parents, this “work pressure” eventually led to health issues attributed to Anna’s death.
In a similar tragedy, six months ago, Saurabh Laddha, a 25–year–old working at a major consulting firm in India, committed suicide in another case attributed to workplace stress. This alarming pattern is spurring a closer look at management and work-life balance among companies in India, with a pressing need to prioritize their employees’ mental and physical wellbeing.
Japan’s plan to recycle nuclear soil
In 2023, concerned Japanese citizens protested their government’s plan to recycle soil from the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster. After the disaster, steps were taken—including evacuating residents safely—to collect the soil that had been contaminated with nuclear waste. To properly dispose of the immense amount of soil affected, the government proposed a plan to recycle any soil that met acceptable, safe levels of radioactivity. Any soil that was too radioactive would be disposed of by 2045. At the time, despite the protests, the government planned to continue with its plan, promising to answer questions from residents but not intending to reach an agreement with them. In the meantime, the soil would be stored at interim facilities.
As of September 2024, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) finished conducting a 16–month safety review, ultimately concluding that the plan to recycle soil and dispose of the rest is “consistent with IAEA standards.” In accordance with the government’s plan, the soil that can be recycled—approximately 75% of the affected soil—will primarily be used for civil engineering structures, with the remainder to be permanently disposed of in a still–to–be–determined location.
Still, the International Atomic Energy Agency acknowledges that the plan may raise societal issues, acknowledging the residents’ protests as something the government must consider going forward.
Kazakhstan hosts the fifth World Nomad Games
The 5th World Nomad Games occurred in Kazakhstan from 8 September through 15 September, 2024. Although far less well–known than the highly anticipated Winter and Summer Olympics, the World Nomad Games offer something unique—insight into the rich history of the nomadic people of Central Asia.
Occurring every two years, the World Nomad Games features traditional nomadic sports—many of which involve equestrian and other skills needed to thrive in The Steppe—with 3,000 athletes representing 89 nations competing. But beyond the competition, the event also features cultural and scientific programs focused around nomadic tradition, skills, and history.
This year, the World Nomad Games included scientific conferences demonstrating the development of nomadic traditions and history in modern times, with visitors able to attend seminars like “Paleo–urbanism of the Zhetysu Nomads” and the “Nutrition of Nomads: traditions and their applicability in the modern world.” These conferences occur alongside the sporting competitions and displays of cultural arts and performances to preserve and protect nomadic culture in these times of modernization and changing climate.
This was the third year the World Nomad Games has been accessible to international audiences who can view the games on television. With this increased visibility, the event seeks to increase global awareness and interest in nomadic culture, allowing their skills, knowledge, and lifestyle to be shared with the world.
