Stories about East Asia from March, 2010
Japan: Foreign trainees’ sad stories
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.
Chinese netizens’ open letter to the Chinese Government and Google
Rebecca MacKinnon has summarized the viewpoints of some Chinese netizens who have issued an open letter to express their stand in censorship.
China: Oxfam's ill-intentions
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
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...
Japan: Brussels sprout in Kyoto
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...
Malaysia: What's The Real Deal With Palm Oil?
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.
Singapore: Anti-Death Penalty Campaign
Singapore bloggers react to the death penalty sentence handed down by the High Court of Singapore to a Malaysian youth who was convicted of drug trafficking charges
China: Revaluing the One-Child Policy
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.
Russia: Filipina Babysitter and Moscow Police
English Man in Moscow recounts his family's Filipina babysitter's ordeal with the Russian police.
China: Urban Villages
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
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...
China: Verdict postponed in Fujian netizen trial
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
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’
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.
South Korea: Ohmynews feeling
Guilherme Lopes Neves tells the readers what's the difference between writing in Ohmynews! and professional media platform.
China: The first case of naked government
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...
China: Various aspects of censorship
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.
China: College students’ employment problem
PH from veggie discourse translated a local news story from Netease about how 5 college students beat out 395 Others to become feces diggers.
Malaysia: Unnecessary tests for children
Lilian from Malaysia questions the pedagogic value of giving too many competency examinations to primary school children.
Bangkok traffic maps
Media140 suggests websites that show online traffic maps of Bangkok, Thailand
Thailand: Newspaper spending on the rise
The Bangkok Bugle reports that newspaper advertising increased in Thailand. However, magazine ads went down.
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