Stories about East Asia from March, 2012
Southeast Asia's Golden Triangle: From Opium to Casinos
Tan Kai Swee presents a video on EngageMedia about the opening of new casinos in Southeast Asia's infamous Golden Triangle in Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos which used to be the...
Cambodia: The First BarCamp Angkor
Since 2008, BarCamps in Cambodia have been organized in Phnom Penh. But this year's BarCamp will take place in the provincial town of Siem Reap, the gateway to the world-famous Angkor temple complex.
China: Turning Duck into Goose
Ministry of Tofu translated a local news report about restaurant's trick by giving duck plastic surgery, making it looks like goose so as to making bigger profit.
China: Performance on Losing Weight
China Hush translates a local feature report on an artist's performance on losing weight. Beijing artist Wang Jun is to live on top of an electronic scale for a month,...
China: Political Rumors in Beijing
With the sudden removal of Chongqing party leader Bo Xilai, rumors continue to spread about the internal power within the Chinese Communist Party. David Bandurski from China Media Project describes...
Hong Kong Chief Executive Election: The Pig, the Wolf or Blank Vote?
The Hong Kong Chief Executive "election" is about to take place. Who are the 1200 privileged election committee members going to vote for? The 'Pig', the 'Wolf', a democratic token or will they cast a blank vote?
China: Debate on Kony 2012
The Kony 2012 viral video also drew significant attention in China. On the popular Chinese video site Youku, the same video harvested over 8 million views in a few days. Here netizens discuss their reactions.
South Korea: Photos of Politicians Staring at Revealing Photos of Ladies in National Assembly building
Photos of politicians staring at revealing photos of ladies have been widely viewed in South Korea, prompting net users to express their frustration and annoyance towards lawmakers doing meaningless web searches...
South Korea: Three Major TV Stations Protest for Fair Journalism
In South Korea, following one of biggest TV network’s desperate attempt to overthrow its president over unfair news coverage and corruption allegations, the nation’s two other major TV stations have joined forces in standing up against their management.
China and Koreas: North Korean Refugees
Mary Soo Anderson writes about the North Korean refugees issue in China and urges human rights organizations continue fighting for them.
China: Shanghai International Adult Products Expo
The 9th Shanghai International Adult Products Expo kicked off with pole dancers and adult movie stars from Japan on March 18, 2012. Off-beat China has posted a set of photos...
China: Reactions to India's Poor and Homeless
Fauna from ChinaSMACK translated Chinese netizens’ reactions to a set of photos that show India's poor and homeless.
Norway Hosts First Journalism Award for Indigenous Broadcasters
Norway is widely known for hosting the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize Awards. This month, the Scandinavian country is hosting the debut of another important yet largely unknown journalism award ceremony for the World Indigenous Television Broadcasters Network (WITBN) on March 29, 2012.
Postscript to East Timor Presidential Elections
The incumbent president of East Timor conceded defeat in the recent presidential election which was hailed by both citizens and international observers as generally peaceful and credible. Here are other online reactions using the hashtag #eleisaun2012.
Video: Surfers, Fishermen and Radiation in Post Earthquake Japan
Journalist Lisa Katayama and filmmaker Jason Wishnow are documenting the lives of people dealing with radiation in a post-earthquake Japan. In We Are All Radioactive, they are including 50% footage made by themselves in the areas around Fukushima Power Plant, and 50% footage made by residents who were given waterproof digital cameras.
Cambodia's First IPO
Sihanoukville Journal writes that the Cambodia Stock Exchange opened last year but no company has been listed yet. But three state corporations will soon trade stocks which are being keenly...
Hong Kong: Indie Music Made Illegal by Contradictory Policies
Contradictory to the government's policy in the development of the cultural and creative industries in Hong Kong, autonomous indie music venues and performances have become targets for harassment by a number of government departments, including the police force.
Philippines: Electric Jeepneys
Prime Sarmiento writes that the Philippines has recently launched the largest electric public transport fleet in Southeast Asia with its first commercial franchise of electric jeepneys (e-jeepneys). The jeepney is...
Philippines: Noynoying is the New Planking
Because planking protests are now banned in the Philippines, activists resorted to Noynoying. What is Noynoying and how did it replace planking as a popular protest pose in the country? Noynoying refers to President Noynoy Aquino who is accused by activists of doing nothing to stop the rising prices of oil and other basic goods. Noynoying pictures have gone viral already in the local cyberspace.
South Korea: Twitter Photos of One-Person Relay Protest against Jeju Naval Base Construction
South Korean Tweeters have joined rallies against the Jeju naval base construction that has been blamed for disrupting residents’ livelihood and destroying a rare ecosystem. Each Twitter user has volunteered to take turns...
South Korea: Cartoonists Protest against Censorship of Online Cartoon Contents
Cartoonists rallied against the Korea Communications Standards Commission's recent decision to more tightly censor the online cartoon contents and label innocuous cartoons as x-rated. NoCut_Toon.com blog [ko] posted related photos such...
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