Stories about East Asia from May, 2011
China: Netizens Declare Candidacy In Upcoming Elections
Their chances may not be good, but a small and growing number of Internet celebrities and microbloggers have decided to run in grassroots elections this coming September in constituencies around the country.
China: French Students Encountered Chinese Chengguan
Fanua from ChinaSMACK translated a local news about two French students selling crepes in Shanghai – the chengguan came, and the French street vendors fled like everyone else.
Japan: Tokyo after the earthquake
Photographer Francis Harrison published a photo essay [en] that portrays Tokyo in the first few weeks after the earthquake.
Thailand’s First Female Prime Minister?
Yingluck Shinawatra, who is the sister of deposed leader Thaksin Shinawatra, has emerged in the past week as a popular candidate in the coming July election in Thailand. She could be Thailand’s first female Prime Minister.
South Korea: Social Media Controversy Surrounds Sports Broadcaster's Death
The suicide on May 23, 2011, of national television channel MBC sports announcer, Song Ji-seon in South Korea has sparked considerable controversy regarding social media in the country. South Korea has one of the highest suicide rates in the world, but this latest case has opened a new debate on the public health issue.
World Economy: Women Weigh in on Poverty, Work and Debt
The International Museum of Women's online exhibit on women and the economy, features slideshows, podcasts, videos and essays on women from countries such as Sudan, Denmark, Philippines, USA, Costa Rica, Mexico, Argentina and how they view issues such as poverty, business, family, rights, money and much more.
North Korea: Kim Jong Il in China
Adam Cathcart from Sinologistical Violoncellist blogs about various economic and political implications of Kim Jong Il's visit in China that might have been missed by western media.
South Korea: Protecting World Heritage Site from Construction Work
Local residents and activists have strongly protested against the government's plan to construct a naval base on the Jeju island, one of the World Heritage sites. Twitterer Kim Se-ri, an assistant movie director, has been tweeting [ko] about the ongoing protest for over a month now.
Archive of Southeast Asian Music
The Archive of Southeast Asian Music provides plenty and rich materials about the music of Southeast Asian nations especially in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand.
Myanmar: Profile of jailed journalists
Mizzima News has uploaded on Scribd the profiles of imprisoned journalists in Myanmar. There are about 21 journalists in the country's prisons.
Myanmar: Assessing the new government
S.H.A.N. assesses the 50-day old Thein Sein government in Myanmar. S.H.A.N. notes that military rule has strengthened in Myanmar despite the election of civilian leaders last year.
Myanmar: Political prisoners hold hunger strike
Ba Kaung reports that political prisoners in Insein Prison in Myanmar have gone on hunger strike after the government released only 47 political detainees. There are more than 2,000 political prisoners in the country.
Myanmar: Farmers receive lengthy prison sentence
Aye Nai reports that farmers involved in a land dispute in Myanmar were given 8 to 12 years of prison convictions by a court. The land is owned by the military. The farmers are accused of stoning, cursing, damaging property, trespassing and violation of export/import law.
Philippines: K+12 education reform
Sarah Maramag discusses the new education program of the Philippine government. Two more years of schooling will be added to the basic education cycle.
China: Three Gorges Dam, A Time To Reflect
Through 17 years of construction until its completion in October 2008, China lauded the Three Gorges Dam as one of the engineering marvels of the world. At a State Council steering committee meeting on May 18, 2011, a statement was issued acknowledging serious flaws in the project.
China: War Game Between China and the U.S
Patrick Keefe from Shanghaiist blogs about the debate a computer war game, Glorious Mission which pits Chinese forces against U.S. Combatants. The game is developed joint handedly by Chinese software company Giant Interactive Group and the People’s Liberation Army.
China: “We Chinese”
Scott Brauer introduces a project, “We Chinese”, which aims to develop a portrait of the country by looking at the individual people that make it up.
China: Fang Binxing Shoegate: Responses Within China
Fang Binxing,the Father of the Great Firewall, and was pelted with shoes by students protesting Internet censorship. The China Digital Times has translated Chinese netizen's responses to the act.
Japan: Video Haiku
Vimeo user Stephen Niebauer presents a project called Video Haiku. A haiku is a short form of Japanese poetry that usually consists of three verses of 5,7 and 5 morae. “So, for this project, your video structure should be like this: 5 second shot, 7 second shot, 5 second shot.”
Technology for Transparency: Final Report
The Technology for Transparency Network is proud to announce the release of its final report, "Global mapping of technology for transparency and accountability". The report is being published by the Transparency and Accountability Initiative (@TAInitiative) along with a over a dozen other reports on the global transparency movement.
Japan: Aiding the Aid Workers
After more than two months from the earthquake around 110,000 people are still living in evacuation centers. Along with victims of the disaster, some of the volunteers, doctors and aid workers helping them are beginning to suffer from emotional stress and fatigue.
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