Stories about East Asia from October, 2011
Taiwan: Photos from the LGBT Pride Parade 2011 in Taipei
On October 29, more than 50,000 people joined the annual Taiwan LGBT Pride parade in Taipei, which is the biggest in Asia. This year was the 9th parade since 2003. Here are some great photos from the day.
China’s Stability Machine and the Detention of Chen Guangcheng
As waves of visits to fight for the release of China's blind activist Chen Guangcheng are turned back by the violence organized by the local government, Chinese bloggers explore the stability machine that is at play behind Chen's detention.
China: Open letter to Relativity Media
C Custer wrote an open letter to Relativity Media, a Hollywood Film Producer, criticizing its plan to cooperate with the Linyi government to shoot a movie there. Linyi government has...
China: Woman activist beaten by local thugs and police officer
Tom Lasseter interviewed Wang Xuezhen, a woman activist beaten by local thugs when she tried to visit Chen Guangcheng. She was slapped by a police officers when she reported on...
China: Questions Following Mekong River Massacre
Thirteen Chinese sailors were killed earlier this month in an attack on two cargo ships. Nine Thai soldiers have claimed responsibility, which the Thai government says is theirs alone, but contradicting points in the case have left many with lingering doubts.
Thailand: Floods and Social Media
Many parts of Thailand are still flooded as the country continues to face the worst flooding disaster in the past half century. But some bloggers believe the flooding disaster has been exaggerated by the media - social media in particular.
Japan’s IT Exodus: A Personal Perspective (Part 1)
37-year-old software architect Ryo Asai writes at his blog “Becoming a Master Programmer” about his reasons for leaving his previous job, a Japanese system integration company, to work at Amazon Japan. In explaining his reasons for the move, Asai provides a unique perspective on the underlying roots of Japan's failure to keep up in the new digital economy.
Myanmar Netizens to BBC: Apologize Now
Some Myanmar netizens are asking BBC to apologize for publishing an ‘inaccurate' map of Myanmar's ethnic groups. BBC has already updated the map but netizens still want a formal apology
History of Medicine in Southeast Asia
A new website was created to gather research and more information about the history of medicine in the Southeast Asian region.
East Timor: Investing in Creativity and Culture
Barcelona artist David Palazón ended up in East Timor as a break from his career. Now he is coordinating a project to research Timorese culture in hopes of creating a school for the creative industries, to stimulate jobs in the non-oil economy, small businesses, and tourism.
Taiwan, Taipei: Occupiers’ last front torn down
Green Party member Wang Zhong-ming posts his picture on facebook of he sitting in a damaged tent torn down by the police near Taipei 101, the counterpart symbol of WallStreet in...
Taiwan: The Story of Chiou Ho-shun
Chiou Ho-shun, a death row inmate in Taiwan, may be executed at any time. He said in the mini-documentary, “I hope you can save me, but if it’s too late,...
South Korea: Warning to Twitter Influencers Fails to Discourage Voters
South Korean capital, Seoul, elected a new mayor on October 26. The mayoral race was a fierce battle between an elitist female candidate from the ruling party and an outsider from democratic party. Despite warnings from the authorities, influential Twitter users continued to encourage people to vote throughout.
Overview of Occupy Southeast Asia
‘Occupy’ protests are also spreading in Southeast Asia. Inspired by the global ‘Occupy’ movement, assemblies were organized this month in Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, and Singapore. Here is an overview of the 'Occupy' actions in the region and their online impact.
China and Brazil: On anacondas and dragons
Johan Lagerkvist from ChinaRoader looks into the dynamic between the authoritarian China and democratic Brazil in the future international politics.
China: Internet Management and the 6th Plenum Report
Bill Bishop looks into the 6th Plenum Report and highlights the part that discusses the strengthening of Internet management in China.
Hong Kong: Sexual Orientation Conversion Advocated by Government
In June 2011, the Hong Kong Government Social Welfare Department invited Christian Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy organisation New Creation, to train its social workers. The move has caused anger in the LGBT and wider community.
Myanmar: Local Politician Allows Opium Production
The Palaung Women’s Organization reports that an elected official in the Palaung region of Shan State North in Myanmar has allowed the cultivation of opium in the area which generated...
Myanmar: Video of Dissident Comedian Blogger Zarganar
Reporters Without Borders posted a video interview with the dissident comedian and blogger Zarganar from Myanmar who was released from jail early this month. Zarganar discussed media freedom and the...
Thailand: Video Animation About Flood Crisis
roosuflood uploads a short video animation on YouTube which explains the flood crisis in Thailand.
Thailand: Government Censored Thaiflood Website?
The Committee to Protect Journalists has issued a statement expressing concern about the reported attempt of the Thailand government to censor the citizen-journalist website Thaiflood which has been provising useful...
About our East Asia coverage
