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

How one-child policy has changed weddings today

In the past, weddings in China were revolved more around the groom's family and ensuring heirs. There would be exchanges of goods/money with the parents. For centuries, the bride's parents weren't as involved, and weddings weren't as centered around the emphasis of love. With the shift in society, where the one-child policy has made the child the center of the family, there is only one marriage the families have to pay for. Nowadays, love is more spoken about, and emphasized with the ability to choose one's partner and the relationship with the families. The focus on the couple, rather than only the groom's family, parts a new way of seeing weddings and social change altogether. This is interesting because in the past, the emphasis was on the family name and the groom's side. It makes sense that since there is only one child per family, all of the attention is centered around him/her. It's also interesting that old traditional ways aren't as popular as before.

http://www.economist.com/news/china/21645243-how-one-child-policy-changed-chinese-nuptials-wedding-wows

Quality junk food??

A well-known and visited marketplace in Kabul, Afghanistan referred to as "Bush Bazaar" has been famous for selling American products, from food, to clothes, to cleaning supplies. With the height of U.S. presence in Afghanistan, this was a major advantage for the merchants. This little market turned into the main place to get popular American products, military boots, and even junk food that was sold for even cheaper than what it is here. This played a huge part in the lives of both merchants and buyers in the area.

At first when I saw this article, the words "quality junk food" stood out to me, wondering how that's really possible. The things we see on a day to day basis and don't see as a big deal, like the article mentioned pop-tarts or cheez-its, mean a lot more to these markets. With the access to all of these special American-made products, the merchants were at their highest selling rates. Now that the level of international troops have declined, so has their access to American goods. Which means more products and knock-offs are coming in from China.

“There are not enough original products and people aren’t buying what we have,” [shop owner]  says. “For two years now, both the supply and demand for original products has dried up...This Bush Bazzar was famous for American products. Now that we have Chinese products, people have stopped coming.”

Here in America, we almost take advantage and overlook these simple things like cleaning products or junk food, whereas at Bush Bazaar, they were novelties. This shows how American products and access to them played a huge role in not only merchants, but buyers in the area as well.

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-South-Central/2015/0126/Quality-junk-food-in-Kabul-Harder-to-find-now-at-the-legendary-Bush-Bazaar

Pilots fail safety test at TransAsia

In Hong Kong, 10 out of 49 pilots failed the safety test for TransAsia, who have had two horrific accidents within the last year, which ultimately lead to a lot of lost lives. This airline is now cracking down more and more on the safety tests and making absolute sure the pilots are ready. Especially after the two incidents in the past, the reputation of TransAsia is at steak. "The pilots of the airline’s ATR turboprops who failed the test will be suspended pending further training in handling emergency situations, the aviation authority said. It said an additional 19 pilots still had not taken the test and could not fly until they had passed." As devastating as these accidents were, it is a good thing they are getting more strict about the safety policies and who can fly the planes. This is a positive leap towards a safer airline, but also reputation as well. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/12/world/asia/10-transasia-pilots-fail-emergency-proficiency-test.html?ref=asia

N. Korea sees no reason to negotiate with "gangster-like" US

In this article, it is explained that North Korea sees us as a threat and is ready for any kind of war with Americans, even involving cyber attacks or nuclear weapons. North Korean National Defense Commission saw it as US trying to bring down the North Korean government and start a war of aggression, they are "ready to fight with “miniaturized, precision and diversified nuclear-striking means,” as well as “cyber warfare means,” to “write the last page” of American history. This was really interesting to me to read about their points of view on everything on how they see the U.S. by referring to us as “gangster-like”. The U.S. and South Korea agreed to talk with North Korea once they genuinely end it’s nuclear weapons program. On the other hand, North Korea agreed only if they cancel their annual joint military exercises. It’s been a constant back and forth with North Korea, especially when it comes to hacking into our systems and theirs. With the threat of their miniaturized nuclear striking, and stating it as “writing the last page” of American history is a huge issue that has started just over cyber threats. This shows how much technology has influenced today and how we communicate and expose other places, when before and throughout history that wasn’t even a factor. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/05/world/asia/north-korea-says-it-sees-no-reason-to-hold-talks-with-us.html?ref=asia&_r=0

China against West "values"

Beijing's leaders have made clear the disapproval against Western views and have pushed a new mix of old traditional values with communist ideas. Education Minister Yuan Guiren has finalized approaches and as far as restrictions within education and the access students will have, even internet. "'Never let textbooks promoting Western values enter into our classes,' Mr Yuan said at a forum in Beijing. Any views that attack or defame the leadership of the party or smear socialism must never be allowed to appear in our universities.” The restrictions connect with 
The purpose of this is to restrict any kind of free thought and behavior that undermines the society. By obtaining Western values and ideas, Beijing fears that it will take over Communist view and power. 

This relates a lot to what we've talked about in class, especially pertaining to education. It shows how strict the views are toward Western influence and how technology has become so universal. It also shows how significant the traditional values from previous generations have the most influence and impact on even their culture and lives today. 



China against West "values"

First blog

Here is my first post for our class blog! I'm really excited to learn more about the different cultures within our Asian Area Studies class and am looking forward to the different blog posts that have to do with those parts of the world today. 

Japanese officials want to talk to ISIS?? This link I came across was really shocking to me because of the different things we hear about on a day to day basis about the militant group. Communicating with them, because of the two Japanese men being held hostage is an even bigger risk. Kenji Goto and Haruna Yukawa are the two men captive, which are being threatened to death if they don't receive $200 million from Japan. Goto was a freelance journalist and Yukawa was also traveling around for experience first hand. The article shows how much the Japanese government is trying to get the captives back with no harm done, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga explains "his government will do its utmost to communicate with ISIS on the fate of Goto and Yukawa through a third party, such as another nation's government or a local tribe. He didn't say whether Japan would be willing to pay any ransom."

This article stood out to me because of how bold and shocking it is, and how it explains what the Japanese officials are saying and trying to do about the situation that came up regarding the two Japanese captives that are under ISIS hands. 

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/01/21/middleeast/isis-japan-hostages/index.html


Lindsay