Pollution in China

In 2008, Beijing held the summer Olympics, the air was cleaner due to factories and power plants closing and restricted traffic. As we all know, China has struggled with polluted air problems for years, and has noted babies during pregnancy are affected as well. Studies have shown during the 8th or 9th month of pregnancy during the summer Olympics, babies were born 28 grams heavier than the average baby in the earlier and later years. Since the summer Olympics made way for changes to benefit this pollution problem, it showed a positive impact on the health of these babies. During this time, air pollutants were cut from 18-59%. Although it's said in the article that low birth weight doesn't necessarily mean serious complications, but it can lead to diseases later down the road.

"A landmark study released in 2013 found that air pollution cuts life expectancy in China by five and a half years.

Multinational companies find it harder to recruit executives and offer pollution bonuses and expensive air purifiers to convince them to stay."

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/04/29/asia/china-pollution-effect-on-babies-weight-study/index.html

Who's to thank for cherry blossom trees?

We all are familiar with the cherry blossom trees in Washington along the Tidal Basin and in the Cherry Blossom festival. Japan is so famous for their blooming cherry blossoms in the spring, and gave 3,000 of them to the U.S. in 1912. Although we all associate Japan with these beautiful trees, China claims they should receive all credit for them. Apparently there are tons of them in China, but nothing as flourishing as those in Japan. Some say it was China and some say Japan; the thought of them being originally from South Korea is just out of the question. He Zongru, the head of the China Cherry Industry Association, is so set on historical proof that they originates in China. Although He feels so strongly that China is responsible for them, his arguments don't really weight out....

"The Japan Weather Association, for example, annually publishes maps forecasting the height of the cherry blossom season in different parts of the country...Tokyo gave another 2,000 of the trees to China in happier times, to celebrate the restoration of diplomatic ties in 1972. They still stand in a Beijing park, and attract thousands of visitors every spring."

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2015/0405/Japan-has-China-to-thank-for-its-cherry-blossoms-says-China-video

China enforcing environmental rules

Chen Jining, China's new minister for environmental protection, has posed many new rules and laws that protect nature reserves, filled with endangered species and even affecting pollution. Many environmentalists in China are in full support of these new decisions, and will hopefully improve China's environment. They're canceling previous plans to build $5.1 billion dollar dams that would cause more harm than anything As well as these new laws, there are now stricter monitoring on false data on air quality made by local officials. With all of these false data sets in regards to air quality, that has an affect on economic growth as well. This will be beneficial to China's atmosphere, but also for the people who live there. This is a positive improvement for China and their communities to raise attention to the environment and how it affects them.

"These misaligned incentives mean that the monitoring and enforcement of standards by central-government officials will be essential if China’s environmental mess is to improve." 


http://www.economist.com/news/china/21648687-new-environment-minister-displays-his-appetite-taking-polluters-saving-fish-and-baring

Feminists in Jail

This article talks about 5 feminists in China that were detained the day before International Women's Day. Their plan was to pass out pamphlets and stickers raising knowledge and awareness about sexual harassment, an issue that comes up quite often in the social media. This charge is placed as "making a disturbance." One of the women, Wu, needs medical care, but has not been given any since being in jail. In another case, someone has had the opportunity for medical care while in jail if necessary. The government is so against their voice being heard about sexual harassment that occurs; “It shows how allergic the government is to any kind of activity, outreach or encouragement of advocacy by any independent voices.” says Sophie Richardson,  China director at Human Rights Watch. There has been calls to China from outside sources- UK ambassador, Britain and the U.S. requesting that the women be released. China's response was no other countries should be trying to call the shots for what they decide to do in China. This is really interesting because I feel as though they have all rights to express their feelings and voices, especially in a non violent way they were planning on taking. It also shows how different it is from here, and that the freedom of speech and ability to protest something here is a lot easier than there. 


http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/25/china-rejects-release-five-detained-feminist-activists-international-womens-day

Offensive posts on social media

India has had a controversial law of criminalizing offenders who post degrading or disturbing things online. The law included facing up to three years in jail for posting or commenting anything along the lines of being offensive. This raises a huge point of what could be misconstrued or taken the wrong way. The debate also covers how the law clashes with freedom of speech and expression. In the article, it's explained how a professor was arrested for posting a cartoon that fell under a number of categories, including insulting women and slandering the West Bengal chief minister. Recently after that, companies had to also comply with these rules of what they can or can't post.

Even with social media like Facebook, they had to remove about 5,000 pieces of content the Indian government found were offensive. If this were the case in the US, it would be interesting to see the numbers of offensive or degrading content there is out there, even within advertisements for certain companies.

"Google says in the last half of 2013 it removed 540 items from its pages in compliance with orders issued by Indian courts, government agencies, and law enforcement."



http://edition.cnn.com/2015/03/24/asia/india-internet-law/index.html

Protests in Myanmar

For the past month or so, students have been protesting and fighting against the new education law in Letpadan, Myanmar. As the students are making their point and sit in front of police barricades, they're being violently treated by police- chased down, being hit and kicked. As said in the article, it's sickening to see this police brutality, and it should raise attention on an international level. The government says [regarding the new education law], "its reforms will give universities more autonomy and allow for an independent body to coordinate their functions." (Mooney) The students only wish for academic freedom and more a democratic education. The protestors also say they feel as though the government failed to keep their word. It’s crazy to see how such protests for freedom within education can happen, and authorities act in such a negative way towards it. This also reminds us not to take our education in the US for granted, since it’s an issue around the world.

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-South-Central/2015/0310/In-Myanmar-batons-fly-as-student-protesters-meet-harsh-response-video

India Rape documentary... airing the truth or incites violence?

This article raises the question... Does airing a documentary about the brutal rape incident in India increase awareness and expose the truth? Or is it encouraging violence and inciting such horrible acts?

In 2012, a woman was on a bus and was attacked and raped by a group of men. After a British woman saw and heard about the mass protests after this horrific gang rape case, she was inspired to expose the truth and voice for women in India. She created a documentary and named it "India's Daughter", exposing the truth, interviewing the perpetrators, and also the family. The secretary of India's Progressive Women's Association said she had no problem with it, but it's bad timing because those men are currently appealing their death sentences. 

On the other hand, people are seeing this and speaking out that it's given the men an opportunity to explain themselves and justify their actions. This has caused an uproar because that is seen as tolerated and almost putting them in the spotlight. 

"India's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has told all news channels not to air a controversial documentary about rape in India -- warning that the excerpts "appear to encourage and incite violence against women."

The official Times Of India tweeted,  "Bizarre that a person convicted of brutal rape, murder gets a platform to justify his act."

This has raised much controversy, and shown how extreme of an issue it is in India still. I can see both sides, but mostly understand why it's so important that it is exposed to raise even more awareness and speak up for not only the victim who lost her life, but also a voice for the rest of the women who have been in harm. I don't agree with getting the opinions from the perpetrators, or if it is included it shouldn't be justified.

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/03/04/asia/india-rape-documentary/index.html