Stories about East Asia from November, 2014
Selfies, ‘Sandwich Parties’ and ‘The Hunger Games': How Activists Have Challenged Thailand's Martial Law
Six months have passed since the army grabbed power and declared martial law in Thailand. During this time, Thai citizens have used various forms of protests against the junta.
Adorably Ugly Cats Take Over Tokyo Train
Winners of a popular contest have taken over trains in Tokyo. The goal of the contest? The most adorably ugly cats (busukawa neko) in Japan.
From Apathetic Software Programmer to Award-Winning Hong Kong Citizen Journalist
Chan Chak To won Hong Kong In-Media's Best Journalism award for his first-hand account of being arrested during a rehearsal sit-in for Occupy Central earlier this year.
Lovers of Myanmar's Architecture, Feast Your Eyes on These Photos From Yangon
Feast your eyes on these photos of Myanmar's "rich architectural heritage," found in Yangon, the nation's former capital.
Fighting for Climate Justice From the Front Lines of Disaster
Given that climate change is causing increasing extreme weather, better waste management actually helps to prevent events like Super Typhoon Yolanda, which killed more than 6,000 people in the Philippines.
China Touts Local Ground Rules for the Global Internet
While attendees at last week's World Internet Conference in China enjoyed relatively open Internet access, thousands of websites were blocked throughout much of the country.
Strong Earthquake in Japan's Nagano Injures Dozens, Topples Homes
Forty-one people were injured during the magnitude 6.8 temblor, but no deaths were reported. Twitter users snapped photos of public transportation gone dark and disheveled supermarkets.
Young Independent Candidates Are Shaking Up Taiwan's Local Elections
Many young activists are throwing their name into the pool of candidates for local village chiefs in an effort to combat the "rotten" culture of community politics.
Japan's Snap Elections Overshadow a Faltering Economy
While some commentators are calling Abe's move "self-serving", others think Abe is facing political oblivion anyway and that the snap elections may be the spark that reignites Japan's moribund opposition.
Waited All Year for That Christmas Cake? If You're in Japan, Welcome to the Butter Shortage
The shortage in the lead-up to Christmas has coined a new Internet meme in Japan: butter refugees.
Dream Trip Around the World Becomes a Nightmare for an American Tourist in East Timor
American Stacey Addison is detained in a prison in East Timor, located between Indonesia and Australia. The tourist was arrested after sharing a taxi with a passenger carrying drugs.
Is the ‘Sky Cycle’ Japan's Weirdest Theme-Park Ride?
Every nation has its own unique theme-park customs, and some build them in rather unexpected places. Meet Japan's "Sky Cycle" ride in Okayama Prefecture's Brazilian Washuzan Highland park.
Why an Open Letter Attacking China's Professors for ‘Blackening the Motherland’ Is So Worrisome
Some observers fear the letter, published in a local Chinese Communist Party newspaper, is a sign that a purge of free-thinking professors is coming.
Japan's Appetite Is Pushing Bluefin Tuna to the Brink
The International Union for Conservation of Nature has placed bluefin tuna on its Red List of endangered species. Japan consumes about a quarter of the world's tuna catch.
At Home and Around the World, Supporters Demand Justice for Vietnamese Blogger Dang Xuan Dieu
A former inmate released from detention last month revealed that the activist blogger is being tortured in prison. Supporters in Vietnam and around the world are campaigning for his release.
Tens of Thousands Demand Justice for Typhoon Haiyan Victims in the Philippines
"They cry every time they retell their stories. And not just because they lost loved ones and what little properties they had during the storm."
There's a Dark Side to Alibaba's Massive Profits in China
Alibaba made $9.3 billion on China's Single's Day, a popular online shopping day. But much of its success is due to its cooperation with the Chinese government in punishing dissidents.
Why Obama is Wrong About Myanmar
Young Burmese activists displayed banners during a forum attended by United States President Barack Obama in Myanmar. The activists reminded Obama that the so-called democratic reforms implemented by the military-backed government are either fake or illusory. Obama’s Second #Burma Visit Falls Flat | Via @IrrawaddyNews http://t.co/mwY57URyGm #Myanmar pic.twitter.com/sGotp6XLnH — Sonny...
TV Host Replaced on Orders of Thai Junta
The program host was dismissed after featuring interviews with farmers and rural villagers about their thoughts on the country's political situation.
Chinese Fishermen Are Poaching Coral From Japanese Waters
"Beautiful coral that has taken years for nature to create are being uprooted. The maritime ecosystem of the sea around the Bonin Islands is being destroyed."
Japanese Police in Full Riot Gear Raid Kyoto University Dormitory
"The police look just like the stormtroopers from Star Wars. It's disgusting that we're living in a police state like this."
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