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"