Stories about East Asia from September, 2009
China: Beijing students protest against parade rehersals
In the upcoming October 1 celebration of the 60th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing will be mobilizing over one hundred thousands secondary and university students for parades. As it is compulsory for students to participate in the prolong parade rehearsal, some are not happy about it. Apple...
Taiwan: Kaohsiung set to screen film amidst controversy
The Kaohsiung Film Festival came under pressure from China over its decision to screen The Ten Conditions of Love, a documentary about exiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer. As a result the Kaohsiung City Government decided to screen the documentary in advance of the film festival. Echo Taiwan criticises the Kaohsiung...
China: Mainland Blogger’s ironic review of shabby government buildings in Taiwan
Blogger Lv Se De Shou Cang recently ran a photo journal titled 'A look at some of the administrative buildings in Taiwan', which has also generated interesting comments.
Japan: DPJ on Press Clubs and Media Opennness
Blogger APEESCAPE covers the way the Democratic Party of Japan has gone back on their promise and closed off press conferences to foreign, internet, and independent press. The Hatoyama administration is now under close scrutiny and APEESCAPE says “Today’s news is an incremental step to media openness, but not nearly...
Vietnam: Sex Trafficking in Saigon
Fish Egg Tree is angry and disappointed to learn that sex trafficking is rampant in Pham Ngu Lao in District 1 of Saigon, Vietnam even though authorities are aware of the problem.
Vietnam: New roads and bridges in Saigon
The Final Word describes some of the new road projects and bridges in Saigon, Vietnam.
Laos: Monk Chat Blog
The Monk Chat program in Vientiane is a venue where Lao monks and foreigners can exchange in dialogue about their culture and religion.
Japan: Threats on Twitter
Angry and frustrated, Akihito from the Polar Bear Blog reports that his wife received threatening DMs on Twitter and decided to delete her account [ja]. He thanks everyone who responded through Twitter, where many expressed outrage and offered encouragement and similar tales.
Philippines: Deadly fight over a stuffed toy
A scavenger was killed by a fellow scavenger when they fought over a stuffed toy they both found in a dumpsite. Ka-Blog! points to this story as reflection of the grinding poverty in the Philippines.
Indonesia: Most wanted man confirmed dead
Noordin M. Top, Indonesia's most wanted man, was confirmed dead after being involved in a shoot-out with police forces. Indonesian twitterrers were quick to react to this story.
Japan: Japanese pickles
Ad Blankestijn from Japan Navigator introduced different types of Japanese pickling.
South Korea: Government sued activist with libel
Ohmynews! International has a report on South Korean government libel charge against a prominent activist lawyer Park Wonsoon. Part was charged 200 million won for damages from the National Intelligence Agency (“NIA”) last September 14.
South Korea: Protecting children
Matt from Gusts of popular feelings wrote an informative article on the ineffectiveness of certain policies for protecting children and youth.
South Korea: 6% of Kids Addicted to Internet
Korea Beat translated a local news on a report released by the Ministry of Health which affirmed: 6 out of 100 fourth-graders, over 34,000 in total, have an internet addiction serious enough to call for counseling and treatment.
Japan: The boyladies
An Englishman in Osaka introduced a theatrical troupe called the Takarazuka Revue Company. The group is famous for their boyladies – women performing man's role on stage.
China: Pretending to be a reporter
ESWN translated the Retrial of Wu Baoquan, a netizen sentenced to 2 year imprisonment for exposing a land dispute in Ordos city under the charge of libel. On 16 of September, the verdict of the retrial was released, apart from libel, the court introduced the new element of “pretending to...
Video: Call for submissions in Democracy Now Challenge
As the winners of the 2009 Democracy Now Challenge enjoy their reward in the USA, the submission period for the 2010 edition of the contest is opened to allow people from all over the world to complete the phrase "Democracy is..." in a video.
Indonesia, USA: Segway the symbol of US economy failure?
Jotman thinks the Segway PT, quoted as “the world's first self-balancing human transporter”, symbolizes everything that is wrong with the American economy.
Aceh, Indonesia: Adulterers will be stoned to death
Bad news for adulterers and homosexuals in Aceh, Indonesia: The Regional House of Representatives has passed a law that imposes a punishment of stoning to death against married adulterers and 100 lashes with a cane and a fine of 100 grams of pure gold against homosexuals.
Cambodia: Professional training for dentists
Details Are Sketchy criticizes a sub-decree by the Cambodian government which encourages dentists to undergo professional training but does not include a penalty for those who refuse to do so.
Myanmar: Heart-shaped Mountain in Sagaing Division
Nyi Lynn Seck had written an entry which shows a Google Earth image of a heart-shaped mountain in Sagaing Division, Myanmar.