Stories about East Asia from December, 2011
Philippines: Typhoon Sendong and Social Media
Typhoon Sendong victims, their families, and friends, in the Philippines are using social media to look for missing victims, coordinate and document relief efforts, and record images and accounts of the destruction.
Online Highlights from the Portuguese-Speaking World in 2011
2011 has been another year in which bloggers and activists from a number of Portuguese-speaking countries have come together to report, translate and promote blogs and citizen media from all over the world. This article selects the highlights in the coverage of Lusophone countries on Global Voices over the last year.
Singapore: Is it Flooding, or Just Ponding?
Singapore's Public Utilities Board used the term “ponded” rather than "flooded" when heavy rains caused flash floods in various parts of the city last week. The use of the word has led to much scorn and ridicule from Singaporeans online.
South Korea: Respected Leader of Korean Democratic Movement Dies
Kim Geun-tae, a leading South Korean democracy activist, died December 30, 2011 at the age of 64 from a brain disease. More than three thousand net users have already paid their deep condolences in Daum Agora page [ko], the nation's most famous public forum. Kim was repeatedly tortured and jailed under authoritarian regimes.
China: Police border control servers got hacked
Feng37 from the Nanfang.com reports on the hacking of the Entry-Exit Department of the Guangdong Public Security Bureau (PSB) which has resulted in the leaking of 4.44 million pieces of information on the legal names, passport and ID numbers, dates of birth, home addresses and telephone numbers of those who...
Indonesia: Activist Dies After Self-Immolation in Front of Palace
Indonesian bloggers have been discussing whether activist Sondang Hutagalung, who burned himself to death in front of the state palace, is a hero or a reckless man.
China: Dairy Company's Website Hacked by Angry Netizens
The latest round of tainted milk scandals broke out last week in China. The country's biggest dairy producer, Mengniu Dairy Co., admitted that some of its milk products contained aflatoxin – a cancer-causing substance. To express their anger, Chinese info-activists hacked Mengniu's official website last night (December 28, 2011). Below...
China: Dream and Reality
Jing Gao from Ministry of Tofu translated a local feature story on Chinese photographer Fan Shunzan's photo series, How Much Time Does the Reality Allow For A Dream. In the photo series, the reality of common people is placed against the backdrop of their dreams, which results in a striking...
China telecommunications market
Tricia wang discusses about the anti-monopoly infringement investigation against the China Telecom and its implications on the China telecommunications market.
Philippines: Blog of Detained Cultural Worker
Jailhouse Blog is the online prison diary of Ericson Acosta, an artist and activist who was arrested by the Philippine Army while conducting human rights documentation in Samar province. He faces charges of illegal possession of explosives.
Cambodia: One Province, One Product Trade and Exhibit
Sreisaat blogs about the One Province, One Product Trade and Exhibit in Koh Pich, Cambodia. Some of the featured products were giant cassava crops and squash from Kampong Speu, assorted gemstones from the mine pits of Pailin, and mixed spices from Siem Reap.
Cambodia: Impact of Organic Farming
Maylee Thavat studies the impact of organic rice farming and fair trade production in Cambodia. The author warns that it could ‘impose First World consumer ideals and tastes that are out of step with the larger realities of agrarian transition’ in the country
Cambodia: Petition to Withdraw Pardon of Convicted Pedophile
A petition is being circulated urging the Cambodian government to withdraw the pardon given to convicted pedophile Alexander Trofimov who had been serving an eight-year sentence for sex crimes against 17 under-age girls.
Southeast Asia Indie Music
Southeast Asia Indie aims “to unite and promote the great indie scenes in the Southeast Asian Region: Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.” It specializes in releasing free digital mp3 compilations and singles that include indie tracks from the region.
North Korean State Websites Started Praising the Heir after Kim's Death
North Korea’s state-run websites have begun to print the regime's young heir, Kim Jong-un's name in a style previously reserved for lately deceased dictator, Kim Jong Il, reported North Korea Tech blog.
Taiwan: Crowd-funded investigative journalism website kicks off
weReport, a Taiwan media project that tries to boost disappearing investigative journalism using crowd-funded and crowd-sourced mechanism, kicks off today with its first fully funded proposal proposed by China famous blogger Zola. His proposal to investigate the situation of registration fee for cross-strait marriage derives from his personal experience.
Singapore: Animal Lovers Rally to Save Stray Dogs
Animal-lovers in Singapore have been rallying to save the lives of stray dogs in Punggol, after authorities stepped up efforts to round up the strays, possibly for culling.
China: Rural Migrant Workers’ Protests
Archer Wang from Ministry of Tofu translated an online special feature report on Chinese migrant workers’ protests for collecting their due salary from employers.
China: Top 10 Problems in 2011
Paul from ChinaSMACK translated Chinese Academy of Social Science's survey on the top 10 problems in 2011 as perceived by Chinese people.
China: Ticket for Noah’s Ark 2012 Sold Online
Jacky Huang from ChinaHush translated a local report on the selling of Noah's Ark 2012 ticket at Taobao, an online shopping platform. The price of an one-billion Euros ticket is sold at 3 RMB (less than $0.5).
China: Only Talking About a Revolution
Han Han, supposedly the world's most-read blogger, has succeeded in getting netizens to debate the possibilities (or lack thereof) for greater political freedoms and democracy in China through three new controversial blog posts. Public figures and intellectuals have joined in, many challenging Han's somewhat pro-government stance.
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.
