Stories about East Asia from July, 2007
China: Blogging summer floods
As floods continue to rise up across China this summer, leaving hundreds dead and millions fleeing from their homes, citizen reporter bloggers in China have been keeping a close eye on the developments.
Japan: Ground Zero at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa
On July 16, shaken by a massive earthquake originating in a fault line that apparently runs directly underneath it, one of the power generators of the world's largest nuclear power plant, Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, burst into flame and started billowing black smoke. This week's post includes a report from Diet member and blogger Kondo Masamichi, one of the first to arrive on the scene, and the reaction of another blogger who questions the government's handling of the crisis.
Reactions to kidnapping of Koreans in Afghanistan
South Korean Christian missionaries were abducted in Ghazni, south-west of Kabul, on the 19th of this month. The abductors who kidnapped 23 missionaries are Taleban fighters. The hostages were abducted from a bus travelling from Kandahar to Kabul. What the Taleban fighters demand to the Korean government is first to...
Hong Kong: Cyber bullying
A newspapers editor and blogger Chow Chauli was attacked by some netizens in her blog's comment section because of her criticism in the newspapers about a B.T user “Nike” who uploaded pornographic films in the internet. Some bloggers defined the case as cyber bullying. Florence who was very sympathetic with...
China: Fake baozi news turned into media control
Yang Hang-jun from Horizon 360 comments on the reaction of the party and government officials on the fake baozi news: the propaganda about the news had affected beijing and party image, etc. The writer felt that the issue would turn into an excuse for stricter media control (zh).
China: How to run a standalone blog legally
Joel Martinsen from DANWEI translated William long's blog post which explains the steps and conditions for legally setting up a blog on a standalone domain in China, as the current policy requires standalone websites / blogs have to be registered.
China: Wrong Chicken in the death penalty
Will comments that the death penalty of former head of the State Food and Drug Administration, Zheng Xiaoyu, is a killing of “wrong chicken” that may fail the purpose of scaring the monkeys: was Zheng's execution effective as public communication? This depends who the audience was. If the audience was...
China: The complicated issue of abandoned children
Jemimah Steinfeld from Shanghaiist reports on the effect of one child policy that makes domestic adoption of abandoned children more difficult.
China: Fascinating & Urban Collection T-shirt?
Kenneth Tan from Shanghaiist blogs a story about a T-shirt design that “greatly hurting the feelings of the Chinese people”.
China: Soft Advice In a Harmonious Society
Wang Lin noticed that there are many “soft and warm advice notices” around China, such as: “Soft and warm advice: please take care of your belonging, if you lose anything, we won't take any responsibility” (zh). The blogger felt that such kind of “soft and warm advice” were a characteristic...
Malaysia: Scaring Online Writers
Rocky's Bru comments on a Malaysian minister's statement that he will use all possible laws and acts to stop bloggers from writing on sensitive issues.
Thailand: Anti-Coup Protest
Bangkok Pundit comments on an article in Bangkok Post. The article criticized United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), the body that organized an anti-coup protest on Sunday.
Malaysia: Police Report Made Against Political Commentary Site
Susan Loone writes about a Malaysian commentary site Malaysia Today. The current ruling party in Malaysia, UMNO, filed a police report against Malaysia Today. UMNO alleged that the site had material that insulted the King and Islam.
Philippines: State of the Nation Address
Inside PCIJ blogs about the reactions to Philippines president President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s state of the nation address.
Japan: Face recognition system
Edo from Pink tentacle reports: on July 19, electronics giant NEC announced it has developed the world’s first automated border control system that uses facial recognition technology capable of identifying people inside their automobiles. The system is already in operation at checkpoints on the Hong Kong – Shenzhen border.
Hong Kong: TELA mission statement
Sun bin digs out Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority's mission statement and points out that the department has deviated from its mission and value.
Hong Kong: Hand off from culture and moral censorship
Erynnyes from Those were they days gave the SAR government an advice that it should keep its hand off from culture and moral censorship. If a piece of work is really unacceptable, it will have to confront public criticism.
Vietnam: Vietnam's BPO Aspirations
With more that half of its population less then 25 years old, Vietnam has a potential to be a good outsourcing center says SaigonNezumi
Philippines: Getting over your ex-boyfriend
SexyRexy has some tips that will help get over your ex.
Myanmar: Martyr's Day
Fifty Viss and Nyein Chan Yar remember Burma's Martyr's Day
Thailand: Attractions along the Sky Train
Richard Barrow has posted a guide on exploring Bangkok along the Sky Train route.
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