Stories about East Asia from October, 2008
Corporations Agree to Standards for Internet Freedom
The Global Network Initiative has been launched. The Initiative is a code of conduct for corporations on privacy and free speech created by a coalition of human rights, media development and research organizations, and Internet and communications companies such as Yahoo, Google, and Microsoft. Its goal: to ensure that ICT...
Frightful Facts or Fantastical Fictions?
This third part of the "Lore, ghosts, demons and frights" series has arrived, and we are looking this time a bit beyond the Latin American borders. With this last installment, we seek out the Chupacabras, stick our heads into Voudou rites, observe examples of exorcism and inquire after a cannibal murderer who has become a Venezuelan legend.
China: Blog is Outdated?
The 4th Chinese Blogger Conference will be held November 15-16th, 2008, in Guangzhou, China. However, in the past year, there is a continuing discussion in the Chinese blogosphere on whether blog culture is dying down. Moreover, recently bokee.com and blogchina.com, the two earliest BSPs founded by Fang dong-xing (nickname blogfather)...
U.S and South Korea: Currency Crisis and Korean Students in the US
Yoon Jeong Kim writes on how the currency crisis affects Korean students life in the U.S at Ohmynews!
U.S and South Korea: Currency Swapping Plan
Andy Jackson from the Marmot's hole blogs about the U.S and South Korea currency swapping plan. The blogger finds it a win-win deal.
China and U.S: World of Warcraft
China Beat blogs an interview with UCI Professor of Informatics Bonnie Nardi on her research founding on WoW players in China and the U.S.
Japan: Thoughts on Itochu trading scam
On October 10th, Itochu Corporation announced that it had paid close to one hundred billion yen in false transactions valued at nearly 100 billion yen to Mongolian suppliers for construction machinery and materials. One blogger and chartered accountant offers their thoughts on what happened inside Itochu.
Japan: Response to Obama “Put down the Wii Remote” Ad
Comments from Japanese net users respond [ja] to an ad by U.S. presidential nominee Obama in which viewers are told to “put down the remote and go vote“. “Why Wii?” one asks. Another writes: “Anti-Japan policies before even becoming president?” And one person wonders: “Does Obama despise Japan?”
Japan: Spam mail from a chimpanzee
id:crystaline reports [ja] that she discovered a spam mail with the title: “It might seem unbelievable, but I am a chimpanzee”. The ‘chimp’ explains: “At first, I thought I was a human. Like the other humans around me. However, I acquired knowledge, and realized that I was different. And I...
Cambodia: Hero of the Year nominee
Nuon Phymean from Cambodia is one of the nominees for the CNN Hero of the Year Award. She has helped a lot of children in Phnom Penh by providing free education and job training.
Vietnam: Ancient capital as UNESCO heritage site
The ancient capital of Hoa Lu in the Ninh Binh province of Vietnam is being proposed as a possible UNESCO world heritage site.
Indonesia: Parliament approves anti-porn law
Indonesia now has an anti-porn law which critics say will curtail freedom of speech and traditional practices. Via Twitter, Aulia comments: “If only people would read the entire ‘porn’ law and understand its full consequences.”
SketchPAN: World without Words
SketchPAN, a service from Korea, aims to create a easy platform for people to express themselves with paintings. In the world without words, language is no longer a barrier for users around the globe.
China: Crisis and Opportunity
Chinayouren discusses the optimism and pessimism on the global financial crisis in China.
China: Uyghurs Speak Out on Hotel Restrictions
The New Dominion follows up the hotel restrictions against Uyghurs in Beijing by collecting more Uyghur thoughts over the issue.
Recession hits Singapore
Singapore is a major financial center in the world. It is also one of the richest countries in Asia. Unfortunately, it is not immune to the economic aftershocks caused by the Wall Street crash and the global financial crisis. Singapore’s economy is down today, the first Asian country to be hit by a recession.
Japan: Why is Halloween not popular in Japan?
id:nakakzs writes about the lack of interest in Halloween among Japanese people [ja] compared to other imported holidays such as Christmas and Valentine's Day, noting that many people only know that Halloween takes place “sometime in autumn”. id:nakakzs traces the lack of popularity to a number of factors: bad timing...
Malaysia's Jungle Spirits
Lush with primary and secondary virgin jungle, Malaysians have long held a respect for the forests. It also helps that myths, whether bearing down from the forefathers or from urban legend, has caused a lot of superstition surrounding the vast jungle of Malaysia.
Japan: Marriage with anime characters
(the) Road to the Deep East blogs about a signature campaign by a Japanese man demanding Japanese government to permit the marriage with anime characters, legally.
South Korea: National Struggle Day of Irregular Workers
CINA blogs photos of the demonstration on 26 of Oct – the national struggle day of irregular workers.
Malaysia: Press freedom ranking
Screenshots writes about the low ranking of Malaysia in Reporters Without Borders’ Press Freedom Index.
About our East Asia coverage
Oiwan Lam is the North East Asia editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.
Nevin Thompson is the Japan editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.
