Stories about East Asia from April, 2011
China: Privilege Zone
Mary Ann O'Donnell has translated an essay on “Why is creating SEZs a logical fraud? The “Special Economic Zones (SEZs)” was designed as a testing ground for reforming and opening China. However, the article argues that it is a privilege zone for multinationals to explore workers.
Zhao Lianhai: we will not be silent
China Media Project has translated Chinese activist Zhao Lianhai's video calls for the release of Ai Weiwei and other Chinese dissidents who have been jailed and detained in recent months. Zhao is a victim of the 2008 poisoned milk scandal and has been sentenced to 2.5 years for “provoking social...
Laos: Vientiane Vision 2030
Sao Darly links to a youtube video about the urban development masterplan for Vientiane, capital of Laos.
Singapore: Political website to shut down
The editorial team of The Temasek Review, a political website in Singapore, has confirmed that the website will soon be closed due to financial difficulties.
South Korea: Four Students Committed Suicides in KAIST
Four students at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology(KAIST), South Korea's one of prestigious universities, have committed suicides this semester, reportedly because of the pressure of competition and KAIST's penalty system which charges students extra fee for underachievement. Net users have filed an online petition[ko] urging the KAIST...
Singapore: Understudy MPs
Chua Chin Leng blogs about the training of understudy Members of Parliament in Singapore where rookie leaders are ‘understudying’ the job of senior politicians.
Singapore: Open letter to Opposition parties
Blogger Live.Life from Singapore writes an open letter to Opposition parties which will participate in this year's elections: “To win our hearts you have to offer concrete programs and ways to better Singaporeans’ lives.”
Singapore: Did Senior Minister ridicule farmers?
Cheong Wing Lee reacts to the report about the alleged comment of Singapore Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong about farmers in poor countries having no understanding about quality of life.
Southeast Asia: Why ‘exits’ are important for start-ups?
Bernard Leong explains why ‘exits’ are important for start-ups in Southeast Asia. He cites the small number of exits in the region as a reason why venture capitalists are not investing in Southeast Asia.
Video: Checking out the BOBs Video Channel Nominees
The Deutsche Welle International Blog Awards, known as The BOBs are one of the most important awards for content producers online. One of their 17 categories is the award for Best Video Channel and today we'll get to know a bit more about the 11 nominees to better cast your vote.
China: Everybody Can Become Ai Weiwei
A fellow filmmaker and activist, Ai Xiaoming, herself under heavy surveillance, tries to sum up the significance of detained Chinese artist Ai Weiwei's work: "Ai has managed to greatly legitimize the act of citizen filming, showing people that they have the right to film and record, as well as the right to scrutinize."
Japan: Earthquake catfish prints
Pinktentacle published images from the series of namazu-e (lit. “catfish pictures”) that was realized in the 19th century after the Great Ansei Earthquake. “These prints featured depictions of mythical giant catfish (namazu) who, according to popular legend, caused earthquakes by thrashing about in their underground lairs.”
Malaysia: State Election Brings Another Sex Scandal
The Sarawak state election this April will have a big impact on Malaysia's national politics. Will the opposition finally defeat Sarawak's longest serving chief minister? Meanwhile, an alleged sex video tape of an opposition leader has been exposed a few weeks before the election.
China: Reactions to Global Times’ Lashing Out at Ai Weiwei
China's official newspaper Global Times has issued a harsh editorial condemning missing artist Ai Weiwei as a maverick of Chinese society, sparking reactions from Chinese netizens.
China: No More Time Travel Drama
The Chinese censor machine is not happy about time-travel drama, saying that it disrespects history. ChinaHush has translated the local news about the banning of the TV genre by the General Bureau of Radio, Film and Television.
China: Love the Future
China Digital Times has translated a number of netizens’ support messages for Ai Weiwei. Many Chinese netizens build their messages by including a phrase, “Love the Future,” which looks and sounds very similar to Ai Weiwei’s name in their microblogs.
China: Waking from a ten-year dream
China Labour Bulletin has translated an article about rural migrant worker, Lü Lianjuan's 10-year struggle in an industrial town (Dongguan) in Southern China.
North Korea: Delegation Visits Silicon Valley
A delegation of North Korean officials visited Silicon Valley in California to tour the Google headquarter and Stanford University, Martyn Williams from North Korea Tech Blog coalesced reports on their rare two-week trip to the United States.
Japan: The only native Japanese Imam in Tokyo
Uchujin/Adrian Storey realized a photofilm [en] that tells the story of Abdullah Taqy, the only native Japanese Imam in Tokyo – a metropolis of over 13 million people.
Japan: Journalist Takashi Uesugi exposes Tepco and govt lies
Blogger TokyoTom published an interview [en] with Japanese freelance journalist Takashi Uesugi, “a critic of the Japanese news reporting establishment who now is lancing some of the lies and half-truths coming from TEPCO and the Japanese government with respect to the Fukushima nuclear reactors.” The interview appeared on online journal...
East Timor: Satire on expats working in development
Read the satirical blog Stuff Malai Like for some humor on “the wide spectrum of strange malais presently living in East Timor”. Malai is the Tetum language word for foreigners or expatriates.
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