· March, 2010

Stories about East Asia from March, 2010

Japan: Foreign trainees’ sad stories

  22 March 2010

A photo-reportage by Buddhika on five Chinese female trainees who reportedly escaped from the fabric factory of Tode Bussan (in Toyama prefecture) where they were underpaid and exploited.

China: Oxfam's ill-intentions

  22 March 2010

CDT translated a notification issued the the CCP's education bureau back in February which defines Oxfam Hong Kong an overseas organization that infiltrates into China.

China: Shanxi Vaccine scandal

  22 March 2010

PH from Veggie Discourse puts together various local reports on the “undetermined” causes led to death, disability, or serious sickness among nearly one hundred children in Shanxi. Many believe that the sickness and deaths are result of vaccines that are exposed to high temperature.

Japan: Brussels sprout in Kyoto

  21 March 2010

Photographer and blogger Sigrid, author of one of the most popular Italian gourmet blogs, is in Kyoto. Wonderful pictures of the city and of the delicatessen she has, together with mouth-watering Japanese recipes for the Cavoletto di Bruxelles‘ fans.

Malaysia: What's The Real Deal With Palm Oil?

  21 March 2010

Palm oil has become the target of criticism from environmentalists and green activists in recent years. Daniel Chandranayagam sums up the issues surrounding the impact of palm oil production in Malaysia and Indonesia.

China: Revaluing the One-Child Policy

  20 March 2010

Amidst talk of an aging society and a depleting demographic dividend, appeals for a reconsideration of China’s One-Child Policy were voiced during the annual meetings of the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

China: Urban Villages

  19 March 2010

Maryannodonnell explains how “urban villages” appears in city, like Shenzhen, as a result of development and the negotiation of space between “farmers” and “city people”.

China and U.S: Rhetorics on Google's Exit

  19 March 2010

Kai Pan from china / divide criticizes western rhetorics in discussing Google's exit from China. The blogger in particular comments on Nicole Kempton piece on the Huffington Post that neglects democratic countries’ role in advocating Internet censorship.

China: Verdict postponed in Fujian netizen trial

  19 March 2010

A verdict expected this morning in a case which has seen three netizens in Fujian province held in custody for nine months was quickly postponed pending yet further investigation. Following the decision, locals gathered outside the courthouse had minor scuffles with police while netizens having traveled there from around the country reported.

Global: Furs And Fashion

  18 March 2010

Last month the fashion world went literally “wild” during the unveiling of fall collections. They had models strutting the catwalk in so much fur, it was scary enough to make animal rights activists and environmentalists jump out of their skins.

China: Confession of a ‘Second Generation Migrant Worker’

  18 March 2010

China’s hukou system, adopted in 1958 to control population movement, has long been criticized for tying the population to their place of origin. With the mass migration of rural workers to China’s cities and coastal regions, the system is under the spotlight. One blogger airs his grievances.

China: The first case of naked government

  18 March 2010

China Hush translated a local news story about a village government in Sichuan publicizing all of its expenses in detailed records in January of this year. Chinese netizens called it “the first case of naked government”.

China: Various aspects of censorship

  17 March 2010

March 12 was the World Day Against Cyber Censorship and Reporters Without Borders announced its latest list of "Enemies of the Internet," which points a finger at China, among other authoritarian states.

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.