Stories about East Asia from November, 2011
Japan: Clouds over Tokyo
@yoisin compiled [ja] a list of over 70 tweets with photographs that capture the ominous clouds that drifter over Tokyo today.
China: United States Begins ‘Pacific Century’, Online Nationalism Follows
As the US quickly asserts its position in the Asia-Pacific region, nationalist sentiment has leapt at similar speed from somewhat marginalized online communities to the top of China's largest blog portals.
Interview with Izumi Mihashi from GV Lingua Japanese
Izumi Mihasi is leading recruitment and team building at Global Voices Lingua Japanese. Here are her thoughts on its next steps, and on the Internet landscape in Japan.
Japan: Top 60 buzzwords this year
Gakuranman explains (translation+context) to each of the words that made it into the annual list of top 60 Japanese buzzwords from the publisher Jiyu Kokuminsha.
Philippines: Former President Arrested
Former Philippine President Gloria Arroyo has been placed under 'hospital arrest' after she was charged with electoral sabotage. Online reactions made the hashtag #ArroyoArrest one of the trending topics worldwide.
Philippines: Anti-budget Cut Campaign
A round-up of the 2011 anti-social services budget cut campaign in the Philippines.
Singapore: Government Social Media Directory
Government Social Media Directory allows the public to search for social media initiatives by Singapore government agencies.
Petition for ‘Support a Debt-Free Timor-Leste’
An online petition opposes the plan of the East Timor government to obtain foreign loans next year. East Timor is urged to learn from the mistakes of other developing countries whose economies were crippled by huge foreign debt.
Thailand: Impact of Flooding on Colleges
Suluck Lamubol writes about the impact of the Thailand flooding disaster to the country's higher education system. Aside from damages in facilities, many schools are postponing the start of the new school semester.
Philippines: Hillary Clinton visit met with protest
United States State Secretary Hillary Clinton's November 15-16 visit to the Philippine capital Manila was met with protests against the ‘continuing U.S. stranglehold over the Philippine economy, military, politics and foreign relations.’
North Korea Opens its Door for Tourists, But Cellphones are Not Allowed
North Korea, one of the world's most reclusive states, opens its door a tiny crack for tourists to earn hard currency. But tourists are forbidden from bringing cellphone, sending an email and talking to ordinary North Koreans. A travel blogger from the Tripified.ca left sarcastic comments on North Korea's tourism...
China: Nanjing sanitation workers on strike
On November 16th, Nanjing sanitation workers went on strike and dumped huge piles of garbage in the street to protest their poor treatment and unsatisfactory pay. More from Shanghaiist.
China: Reactions to the Police's Clearing Out of Wall Street Protesters
Fauna from ChinaSMACK has translated some online discussion about the clearing out of Wall Street protest by the New York Police force.
China's Real Estate Bubbles
Sascha from Chengdu Living has written down some frontline observations of the real estate bubble in China.
Korea: Benetton's New Ad Campaign Features World Leaders Kissing
Italian clothing giant Benetton is getting heat for its ad images of world leaders locking lips with their rivals or enemies, such as an image of President Obama kissing his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao. Robert from the Marmot's Hole blog commented on a photo-shopped image of South Korean President smooching...
China: Suicide Civil Servants in Depression or ‘Being Depressed'?
It is well-known that ordinary people who petition against injustice and corruption have been diagnosed as having mental illnesses in China. Recently, a similar diagnosis, this time depression, has been given to civil servants and government officials who have committed suicide.
China: “Elimination of ‘Ai Weiweis’ is the Trend of Society”
Siweluozi translated Chinese government's mouthpiece Global Times‘s commentary on netizens’ action in lending money to prominent artist-activist Ai Weiwei for paying his tax.
China: Photo Captures Plight of 58 Million ‘Left Behind Children’
A photo showing a little girl caring for her baby brother in a classroom in rural China has caused an online stir. It reflects the country's long-standing social problem of children who are left behind by their parents going to work in the cities.
North Korea: Did Gaddafi's Execution Scare Kim Jong-il?
Joo Sung-ha is a North Korean defector-turned-journalist who also blogs. This post is his critique of numerous news reports suggesting Kim Jong-il, North Korean dictator was scared to hear of his fellow dictator, and rumoured friend, Gaddafi's fall.
China: Mapping the Petroleum and Mineral Deposits of the Tibetan Plateau
Tibetan Plateau blog published a preliminary map and database of petroleum and mineral deposits of the Tibetan Plateau, which seeks to provide an overview of publicaly available information regarding petroleum and mineral deposits in Tibet.
Hong Kong: Towards Economic Interventionist Attitude
David Webb noticed that Hong Kong government is adjusting towards an Interventionist approach to the city's economic and financial market. First of all, the Securities and Futures Commission and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange will be moved to the old government campus. Secondly, the government has shifted to a sealed-bid...
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