Stories about East Asia from July, 2012
Brunei: ‘Heart of Borneo’ Project
The ‘Heart of Borneo’ Project “aims to protect the ecological and cultural richness of the rainforests of Borneo.” The island, shared by Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei, is the third largest in the world
Indonesia: Social Media Impact on Jakarta Polls
Tobias Basuki observes that social media played a less effective role in the recent local elections in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Thailand: University Launches E-Bookstore
Chulalongkorn University, Thailand's oldest university, has recently launched an e-bookstore as part of its program to become a digital university within four years
Japan: Photos of Mass Anti-Nuclear Protest
Tens of thousands Japanese citizens held a protest on July 16, 2012 urging their government to abandon nuclear power. People reportedly expressed rage over Japan's culture of obedience and the government's shirking responsibility towards worsening natural disasters. Totgazet, which is published by JVJA, a group of freelance photojournalists posted amazing photos...
China: Netizens Reaction to National Education in Hong Kong
Ministry of Tofu reports on mainland Chinese netizens comment and discussion on the debate about national education in Hong Kong. Many of them are sympathetic with the students and criticize the brainwashing nature of the new curriculum.
YouTube Show Brings China's Social Media to an English Audience
Want to know what’s going on on China’s social media but cannot speak Chinese? Keep on reading, then. It’s been four months since Elle Lee (@ElleIconLee) and Casey Lau (@hypercasey) opened a Youtube channel to broadcast Weibo Today, a weekly online show spotlighting trending topics from China's social networks in English. We talked to Elle Lee about their show.
China: Rage over Chengguan Again
Another bloody conflict involving Chengguan has spread around in Weibo last week. This time a woman peddler was hit by a glass bottle by the city management officers at Fuzhou city. To show their support, netizens fought with the web-censor to get the message out. Tea Leave nation has the...
Hong Kong: Former SCMP Journalists’ Open Letter to the Paper's CEO
23 former South China Morning Post journalists and editors issued an open letter to the paper’s group executive director, Hui Kuok, expressing their concern that critical coverage of China is being abandoned in order to please the Communist authorities in Beijing. (via Asia Sentinel)
South Korea: Net Neutrality Debate Re-emerges
Net neutrality debates in South Korea re-emerged after a recent government decision. South Korean online space erupted with complaints blaming the government for favoring telecommunication companies.
South Korea: False Letter Case Closed, Cover-up for President?
Political allegations and looming suspicions have taken over South Korea yet again, after the Prosecutor's office acquitted every one involved in the controversial 'false letter case', igniting accusations that they are covering up for the President.
United States Eases Sanctions on Myanmar
The United States Treasury and State Department have issued a joint fact sheet about the government's decision to ease financial and investment sanctions on Myanmar in response to the recent political and economic reforms implemented by the Myanmar government
Laos: Prison or Drug Detention Center?
The Human Rights Watch is asking the United States to stop the funding of the Somsanga Drug Detention Centre in Vientiane, Laos until the Laos government has investigated the reported human rights abuses in the facility
Hong Kong: Foreign Domestic Workers Protest Mandatory Live-in Policy
A popular singer's outrageous treatment of her maid, who is forced to sleep in a customized bed on top of a toilet bowl, sparked protests outside the immigration office against Hong Kong's mandatory live-in policy which makes foreign domestic workers vulnerable to ill-treatment.
China: Shifang Government Goes From Angel to Satan in Crackdown?
Chinese bloggers try to understand why the Shifang government went from angel to satan by brutally and savagely cracking down on a peaceful week-long NIMBY (not-in-my-backyard) protest in a small city in southwestern China's Sichuan province.
Allegations about the UN Tech Exports to North Korea
The North Korea Tech blog wrote about the latest revelation that the U.S. Government is looking into exports of computer equipment to North Korea by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
Myanmar: Netizens Cheer Release of more Political Prisoners
Myanmar netizens welcomed[my] the release of more political prisoners on July 3, 2012. About 24 activists/politicians were released and some believed that it boosted the country's transition towards democracy.
Myanmar, Malaysia: Football Fans Debating about Overaged Players
Football fans from Malaysia and Myanmar are intensely debating about Myanmar's U-22 National Team which was accused of fielding overaged players in the AFC U-22 Championship Qualifiers 2013.
Myanmar : Jackie Chan Visits Orphanage
Myanmar netizens discussed[my] Jackie Chan's visit to an orphanage in Myanmar in his capacity as a UNICEF Ambassador. Some are wondering why he didn't take off his shoes in Dhamma Hall in front of a Buddha statue.
East Timor: Photo Report of Vote Counting in Dili
Besides providing numbers of international observers and media correspondents on site for the July 7 elections, the Technical Secretariat of Electoral Management (STAE) used its Facebook page to share photos of personnel counting votes on paper ballots, in Dili. The procedure was followed by observers, members of political parties and...
Angola, China: Netizens Discuss New Development Ghost Town
The government of Angola hired a Chinese company to build 750 expensive apartments in Kalimba, about 30km outside the capital Luanda. Despite rich natural resources, many people in Angola live in abject poverty and cannot afford these apartments. Will Kalimba become Africa's biggest ghost town?
South Africa: Chinese Account of Attacks on Foreign-Owned Businesses
On June 27 riots started in Botshabelo in reaction to the eviction of street vendors, and the rioters attacked and looted foreign-owned businesses. In the following days the attacks spread to nearby Thaba Nchu. A Chinese employee of a factory in Thaba Nchu gave an eyewitness account.
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