· November, 2009

Stories about East Asia from November, 2009

China: Children who are left behind

  25 November 2009

On November 12, several days before the International Children's Day, an explosion erupted in an illegal fire cracker factory in Guangxi which resulted in 2 children workers dead and 11 others injured. According to the Southern Weekend's report, these children victims were left behind by their parents, who are migrant...

Japan: Secondhand books to loose yourself in

  24 November 2009

Photographer Damoncoulter presents some pictures of the Secondhand Book Fair in Shimbashi (Tokyo). In the heart of the Tokyo business district, the fair (held in middle November) was mostly attended by “salarymen” looking for rare pieces of literature to read on the way home.

China: Protest against garbage incinerator

  24 November 2009

Cochina posts a series of videos showing yesterday's protest against the construction of garbage incinerator in Guangzhou Panyu. ESWN has translated the details of the protest.

Japanese concepts through images and videos

  23 November 2009

Lee at Tokyo Times defines the Japanese notions of wabi-sabi through photographs while the Through Eyes From Afar blog posts some videos to explain the concept of tsundere and yandere.

Malaysia-Singapore Water Agreements Under Review

  22 November 2009

Singapore sources about half of its water supply from its neighbor, Malaysia. It has two major water agreements with Malaysia. One of these agreements will expire two years from now. Malaysia’s former Prime Minister, through his blog, asks if the current government will negotiate for a better deal.

China and Japan: Feng Zhenghu at Narita airport

  22 November 2009

Shanghai human rights activist Feng Zhenhu has been living and waiting in the hall of Japan's Narita airport since November 4 when he was barred from entering his own country by the Shanghai immigration the eighth times. Feng is an economist and a human rights activist. After the Tiananmen Massacre...

Taiwan: Science park expansion dispute

  21 November 2009

Recently, the Executive Yuan in Taiwan has passed a bill in favor of Central Taiwan Science Park (CTSP) fourth stage expansion. The construction plan has drawn the attention of ecologists and caused heated discussion in the Taiwan blogosphere. Jeremy explains the problem of the construction plan in a blog post...

Malaysia: Democracy and governance

  20 November 2009

Reacting to a statement made by Malaysia's former Prime Minister about the “mistake of being too democratic”, Art Harun asserts that “The real danger to the State is the leaders not understanding the limits of their powers.”

Vietnam: Taxi fare refund

  20 November 2009

RantingsbyMM shares a story on how she was able to get back her money from a taxi driver who overcharged her in Vietnam.

Indonesia: Some groups want to ban ‘2012’ movie

  20 November 2009

Several regional branches of the Indonesian Ulema Council want to ban the movie ‘2012’ claiming the film's content is “unsuitable to be viewed by Muslims because only Allah knew when the world would end, not heathens like the Mayans.”

Thailand: Extravagant temple toilets

  20 November 2009

Richard Burrow from Thailand reported that temple toilets at Wat Bang Phli Yai Nai in Samut Prakan have recently built a toilet which cost as much as 5 million baht.

About our East Asia coverage

Oiwan Lam
Oiwan Lam is the North East Asia editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.

Mong Palatino
Mong Palatino is the South East Asia editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.