Stories about East Asia from June, 2011
Philippines: Worst Flash Flood Hit “Typhoon-Free” City
Many Filipinos were taken by surprise by the heavy floods that hit the southern Philippine city of Davao recently. The Philippines is notorious for flash flood disasters, but Davao city is supposedly found in a typhoon-free zone. As of the evening of Wednesday 29 May, 2011, the death toll reached 25 while 15 others remained missing.
China: Sudanese President Bashir's Visit Raises Eyebrows
In the same week that China voices support for an International Criminal Court warrant out on Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, it rolls out the red carpet for another ICC fugitive, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. Online, it's a much different story.
AP to Open News Bureau In North Korea
The Associated Press(AP) announced on June 29 that AP signed agreements with North Korea’s state news agency, KCNA, to open a news bureau in Pyongyang, North Korea. Read net users’ reactions to the news in the BoingBoing blog.
China: Recycling sewage oil
A video showing how industrial and sewage oil is recycled in a dirty workshop in China. (via Sina Video Weibo)
China: Major Websites Go Red for Communist Party’s 90th Anniversary
Steven Millward from Penn Olson notices that major Chinese websites and portals are “going red” for celebrating the Communist Party's 90th Anniversary.
China: Local government budget, land seizure and social unrest
C. Custer from China Geeks explains the relation between local governments’ budget, forced demolition and social unrest in China. To pay back the 1.6 trillion debt, the blogger anticipates a new wave of social unrest approaching.
China: Fake Propaganda Photo
Roland Soong translates a local news story about netizens’ spoofing of a fake propaganda photo which showed the leaders of a county in Sichuan County inspecting the newly constructed country road at Lihong Town.
Japan: Uncanny Terrain, a documentary on Fukushima farmers
Filmmakers Junko Kajino and Ed M. Koziarski have been working on a documentary about the organic farmers of the Fukushima Prefecture. The film titled Uncanny Terrain will examine “the impact of the nuclear disaster on the farmers, their land, the food they produce, and their customers.” At the homonymous blog...
Japan: Real Voices, Real Japan
An Enligh-language website called Real Voices, Real Japan documents “the business environment and recovery in post-quake Japan.” Its purpose is to “keep foreign business communities up to date on the Japanese recovery and enables decision-making based on accurate, locally-sourced information.”
Filipinos Commemorate Jose Rizal's 150th birthday
Jose Rizal is the Philippines' national hero and one of the first Asian leaders and intellectuals who advocated freedom from colonial rule through peaceful means in late 19th century. His 150th birth anniversary this month was a huge celebration in the country. Netizens actively discussed his rich legacy and continuing relevance.
South Korea: Downpour-Triggered Landslide Kills One Person
Torrential downpour has triggered a mass landslide in Seoul, killing one person and suspending subway. South Korea's citizen/blogger news Wiki Tree reported [ko] the incident with consolidated tweets.
South Korea: Hunger Strike at Temple
Yoosung Enterprise's listed workers went on a hunger strike at Jogye temple. Moon Yong-min (@yasangmin) tweeted photos of the protest. About 500 workers had been staging demonstrations since mid-May after wage negotiations broke down.
Michael Sandel in China
Last month, renowned Harvard professor Michael Sandel delivered a lecture on justice and morality at Tsinghua University in China. He also talked about how his theories relate to contemporary China in an interview with the Guangzhou-based Southern Metropolitan Weekend.
North Korea's Fragility in the Face of the Rainy Season
Open Radio for North Korea, a Seoul-based radio station founded and runs by North Korean defectors, reported that North Korean citizens have been mobilized to bolster constructions as rainy season begins. Poorly constructed embankments and dams often flooded during heavy downpour.
South Korea: Typhoon Opening Doors to Nature's Revenge
A typhoon hit South Korea on June 25 and 26, bringing heavy downpours and gusts and signalling the start of the rainy season. At least nine people were killed and a bridge and a levee collapsed. Moreover, a leakage was reported on a landfill where livestock was buried during a recent foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.
China: Canadian expat's reaction to the real-name registration for train ticket
Lost Laowai posts a video showing how a Canadian expat lost his temper when the train ticket office demanded him to show his passport when buying a train ticket.
China: Leaked directives for Taiwanese Internet commentators
China Digital Times translated a leaked directive for Internet commentators to channel online public opinion in Taiwan.
Introducing Brunei's Most Popular Blogger
Meet RanoAdidas, Brunei's most popular blogger. His success as a blogger was recently celebrated even by the mainstream media. He proved that blogging is not only a potential source of income but a viable platform to influence many people as well.
Thailand: ‘Vote No’ Campaign
Thais will troop to the polls next week and although the opposition is leading in some surveys, there is still no certainty of any group clinching a landslide victory. Unusually, the election ballot has a ‘no’ option provided to voters, and a movement has been orchestrated by the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), or Yellow Shirts, to encourage citizens to 'Vote No'.
Thailand: #hiogat election hashtag
What does #hiogat means in the current Thailand election campaign? It refers to the protest placard raised during a speech of the Prime Minister which reads “He is only good at talking.” The message quickly became a key election message by the opposition.
Thailand: Social media games and tourism
Thailand's tourism authorities have developed two social media game applications to promote Thai culture. The games can be played on Facebook too.
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