Timor-Leste, formerly known as East Timor, is a small island nation in Southeast Asia. It gained independence in 2002 after a long and violent struggle with Indonesia, its former colonial power. Timor-Leste has a population of around 1.3 million people and is one of the poorest countries in the region, with many of its citizens lacking access to basic healthcare, education, and clean water. Despite its history of conflict, Timor-Leste has made significant progress in recent years, with a growing economy and improving infrastructure. Although the country still faces many challenges, including corruption and ongoing political instability, it is a resilient nation with a rich culture and a deep commitment to social justice. Timor-Leste's people are known for their hospitality and strength, and the country is a unique and fascinating destination for travelers looking to explore Southeast Asia.

This book focusses on the role of craft as a continuing cultural practice and the revival of disappearing skills in contemporary society. It includes twenty-five essays by highly regarded artisans, academics, technologists, entrepreneurs, businesspeople, curators, and researchers from many countries representing a wide range of global craft traditions and innovations. The authors explain their professional practices and creative pathways with knowledge, experience, and passion. They offer insightful analyses of their traditions within their culture and in the marketplace, alongside the evolution of technology as it adapts to support experimentation and business strategies. They write about teaching and research informing their practice; and they explain the importance of their tools and materials in function and form of the objects they make. The essays reveal a poignant expression of their successes, disappointments, and opportunities. This book offers case studies of how artisans have harnessed the traditions of the past alongside the latest design technologies. The authors reveal how global craft is not only a vehicle for self-expression and creativity, but also for being deeply relevant to the world of work, community and environmental sustainability. The book makes the vital link between skills, knowledge, education, and employment, and fills a much-needed niche in Technical, Vocational Education and Training TVET.

Reflecting on the legacies of Timor-Leste's remarkable journey from colonialism to sovereign and democratic Independence, the Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Timor-Leste provides a comprehensive and up-to-date reference work on all aspects of life in Timor-Leste. Following an introduction and overview of the country, the Handbook is divided into five parts: Politics and governance Economics and development Social policies and the terms of inclusion Cultural impacts Regional relations Written by an international team of experts, the Handbook covers the principle concerns that have contributed significantly to the shape and character of contemporary Timor-Leste. It offers a timely and valuable reference guide for students, scholars and policymakers with an interest in International Relations, Southeast Asian Studies and Peace Studies.

"The Complete Travel Guide Series" offers a comprehensive exploration of diverse destinations worldwide. Each book provides detailed insights into local culture, history, attractions, and practical travel tips, ensuring travellers are well-prepared to embark on memorable journeys. With vibrant illustrations, beautiful pictures and up to date information, this series is an essential companion for any type of traveller seeking enriching experiences.

This book makes a significant contribution to advancing post-geographic understandings of physical and virtual boundaries. It brings together the emergent theory of ‘border thinking’ with innovative thinking on design, and explores the recent discourse on decoloniality and globalism. From a variety of viewpoints, the topics engaged show how design was historically embedded in the structures of colonial imposition, and how it is implicated in more contemporary settings in the extension of ‘epistemological colonialism’. The essays draw on perspectives from diverse geo-cultural and theoretical positions including architecture, design theory and history, sociology, critical theory and cultural studies. The authors are leading and emergent figures in their fields of study and practice, and the geographic scope of the chapters ranges across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, South America, Asia, and the Pacific. In recognition of the complexity of challenges that are now determining the future security of humanity, Design in the Borderlands aims to contribute to ‘thinking futures’ by adding to the increasingly significant debate between design, in the context of the history of Western modernity, and decolonial thought.