Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Blog 14 Japan and the United States

The relationship between the United States and Japan is something that we have talked about extensively in this class. From such discussions we are aware that Japan was forced to demilitarize after World War II and has since been dependent on the United States for global protection. Recently this arrangement has been on the cusp of change, it looks like that change has finally arrived. In talks yesterday Japan and the United States met to discuss outlines that would allow Japan more Independence and creating their own form of defense.This new development the article states is due to the encroachment and fear of Korea felt by the leaders of the country and the people. Given the historical animosity Japan has toward the country of Korea, the reader can not help but wonder if the threat is credible or if the leaders are simply attempting to galvanize the country to accept this desire to arm up. As discussed in class this change is wanted not simply by some of the Japanese, but also by the United States who wish for a buffer state. http://edition.cnn.com/2015/04/27/politics/united-states-japan-defense-relationship/index.html

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Blog 13 Pretty Nature in Japan

After writing intense posts for the semester up to this point, this one is lighter. This post is about Japan, which is appropriate given that we have just finished the last chapter about Japan. The chapter was about Japanese industrialization, which was at odds to the reverence the country has in regards to nature. Whether this is due to the small size of the country, Shinto roots within the culture or the geographical diversity. After reading the chapter I became curious to how the Japanese could industrialize so fiercely and yet be conscious of the environment? a feat that many countries have not been able to accomplish. This article includes some of the most beautiful places in Japan post aggressive industrialization. http://edition.cnn.com/2015/03/24/travel/gallery/most-beautiful-japan/index.html

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Blog 12 Gender Equality in Asia

Earlier in the semester five women were jailed after National Women's Day for ironically protesting infringements on women's rights. The women at the time of the capture by police were staging a rally to bring attention to sexual harassment in the workplace and equal pay. Amid public and international pressure the women have been released. This is only slightly related to the current chapter we are reading, as it also shows (given the public pressure used in the national movements in India) and the international involvement in the Chinese revolutions that the public opinion as well as the international community's can be effective  in shaping the laws and ideals of a country. While the women were released as a show of good faith, they are not in anyway free. Upon release the women will be under house and tracked for a year, they will be liable to be called into question at anytime for any reason, and are at risk for being arrested again for public disturbances (Theses of course are past crimes). The five fighting feminists may have been released, but they are far from free and such heavy handed government involvement after the fact just continues to bring to light the oppression women have suffered in this area. Having read this article also brings to light how little the textbook focuses on the treatment of women within a historical context and how such experiences have shaped the country currently. http://edition.cnn.com/2015/04/14/asia/china-feminists-release-jiang/index.html

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Blog Post 11 Religous and Cultural Divsions in Pakistan

Given that we are focusing on nationalism this week and the reading I have done in Cracking India. This particular article seemed exceptionally appropriate. The article shows the persecution that Christians living in Pakistan have had to endure, although people who consider themselves Christian are a minority in the dominantly Muslim country of Pakistan there have been violent acts protesting their right to worship. The internal divisions that is currently taking place in Pakistan can find their roots within the act of partition, that took place in 1940. This religious division within the country has not only sparked violence and protests it has also bled over into the political arena of the country creating deeper divisions and cultural divides.http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-32212962

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Blog 10 Free Speech in Singapore

Continuing with the theme from last week of freedom of expression and the chapters we have read this week on the harsh punishments that the colonialists exhibited on the native populations of Asia, this article posted by the New York Times seemed especially relevant. The article tells the story of a 16 year old boy who has been arrested by Singapore officials for criticizing the late founder Lee Kwan Yew. lee Kwan Yew was considered the founder of modern Singapore, the teenage boy questioned whether the ruler did indeed help his people or that the prosperity came at the cost of civil rights and liberties. Since his arrest his Youtube account has been switched to private and the authorities have justified their actions under the Harassment Act, which bans speech  with “deliberate intention of wounding the religious or racial feelings.”(BBC) the authorities have invoked their right to use this law by saying the teenager criticizing Christianity, given the specific remarks about the leader and the fact that his speech was made the day after his death it is not hard to suspect that the teenager was arrested for defacing the leader not the belief of Christianity.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/31/world/asia/singapore-arrests-teenager-over-video-critical-of-lee-kuan-yew.html?ref=asia&_r=0

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Blog Post 9 Freedom of Speech in India.

Democracy can only function within a system where political competition can flourish, this means the right the to criticize and disagree within the political sphere, this also means that the legal protection for the right to discuss politics must be present. The country of India has been a democracy since 1950 when it became separate from British influence. The political system has hit a few roadblocks, but the continuation of Section 66A has consistently limited the political and speech freedoms of the people of India. Section 66A of the Information Technology Act was controversial as the law prohibits the following through internet communications. it could send a person to jail for three years for sending an email or other electronic message that "causes annoyance or inconvenience". (BBC)  This provided sweeping powers that have already jailed a large number of teenagers and in one case a 45 year old finance specialist for criticising the government or specific politicians. Thus providing the evidence that the powers of this law are vast. This  has led to mass protests and movements in the hope that the law will be removed. The marches and protests are organized and consist mainly of students who see Section 66A has a gross violation of their right to freedom of speech and expression. Recently the Supreme Court of India found Section 66A to be unconstitutional and have ordered that it be removed immediately. There has been much public approval on the Courts decision and many are hopeful as to what that entails for the political future of India.http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-32029369

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Blog 8- Second Rape Case in India and Public Outcry

Rape cases and the slow justice for those who commit such crimes against women have become a hot political issue in India since the ban of a BBC documentary featuring an unapologetic rapist and the silent culture surrounding the crime of rape within the country as a whole. Recently a second attack has sparked a mass of public outcry that can not be banned or silenced by the government. This is the rape and attack of an elderly nun whose attackers vandalized the Christian church where the nun lived in worked and stole money before attacking her. There is no proof as of yet if the nun was targeted simply for being christian or if it is revenge for the expulsion of a pupil from the church's school. The young men were caught on the security cameras within the building and the principal of the school explained to the writer of this article that he had requested police protection days before the attack due to the threatening phone calls being made to the school and that they happened to be missing when the attack took place. The authorities have yet to say if the young men responsible will be charged and to what the extent of that sentencing might be. To insure that the men will br held responsible Christians have taken to the street in marches and other peaceful protests to garner public and international support. Given the banning of the documentary, and the demeanor of the rapists from that incident, and the careless way that the men revealed their faces on the security cameras in this one suggests that they are not fearful of lawful retribution or punishment. The seemingly large amount of rape cases being written about from india shows not only a changing cultural norms from one of silence to public accountability also speaks to the changing gender norms within areas of the country. Rape has historically been used as a tool to force women into submissive roles, it is plausible that such social changes have a correlated effect on the rise in rape cases within the country, as the BBC article seems to suggest. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-31902013

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Post 7- The Role of Women in India

The recent conviction of four men for the brutal gang rape and death of a teenage girl in Delhi has cast a light on the way women are valued and looked at by society. The four men currently on death row were interviewed by an American director who plans to make a documentary of the incident. Currently the accused men are challenging their sentences by claiming that it was the woman's fault as she should not have been out on the streets so late. One of the men has prior convictions for the same crime, when questioned about the later incident he was quoted saying that she was a beggar so her life did not matter. A second man (The driver of the bus where the rape took place) explained that in killing them the way women are treated will only get worse as men will be less inclined to leave them alive. There has been no government statements denouncing the actions of these men, but the government has protested the filming of the documentary as the article showcases.The government believes that such a documentary will exaggerate the plight facing women in India today.This article perfectly encapsulates the social view of women held by a large population of the country, that they are not as important or useful as boys. This belief stems from the need to carry on the family line and the ability of men to provide work for their families. The lack of government support for the victims of rape crimes has sparked a small, but meaningful protest of women who want to be valued and heard. There is no knowing if these protests or the documentary will spark major change within the country and how it chooses to value women and handle rape cases. At the moment the documentary is banned from theaters sparking further outcry from the public. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-31724516

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Blog 6-Ming era Poetry through the Ages

In Chapter eleven it mentions how taxes were the main source of revenue along with trade. This taxing took place among the peasant class and the working class, leaving many families poor and in some cases destitute. This heavy taxation on the peasantry is not new, the practice was adopted by all of Chinas many dynasties, consequently the text explains this heavy taxation to be the reason for the systematic rise of peasant revolts. This vast economic divide between the affluent and the poor was most apparent in the Ming dynasty as many of the poems of the era denounced the materialistic and lavish lifestyle of the imperial court. Other poems featured Robin Hood characters and main characters that were from the lower classes in society and thus glorifying their characteristics and lifestyle. Throughout it's history China has used poems to express messages and cultural and societal values, today China uses slogans to help promote social and political continuity or change. This article shows examples of this, by including a number of the most influential and the most famous. Many of these slogans read like poetry and the similarities between the poetry of the Ming era and the slogans from Mao ZeDong's era are evident. For example the slogan "Let a 100 flowers bloom, lets 100 thoughts contend"(Boyel BBC News) is a popular slogan used during the Cultural Revolution was inspired and aspects of it were directly taken from Ming dynasty poetry,Which can be seen in the use of nature within the verse.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-24923993

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

China Opens up Youtube and Soft Power-Blog 5

In a couple of days one to be exact, the Lunar Year will start and thousands of Chinese whether in China or abroad will celebrate. The celebration means parades,food,and fireworks and time spent with family. The tradition dates back to ancient times and consists of mystical origins. According to legend the celebration derives from Buddhist teachings where the Buddha asked all the animals to meet with him and twelve agreed. This year the celebrations will be different than previous years as the Spring Dances a traditional aspect of the Lunar festivities will be broad casted globally. Many International Political Scientists have suggested that it is an attempt to use soft power by the Chinese government. This approach is new and it will be interesting to see the effect the broadcast will have. The article states that the government has reserved a screen in Times Square for the broadcast and that Chinese abroad will be able to watch it from Youtube for the first time. This is a major change on part of Chinese foreign policy and many wonder as to why such a change has occurred. Some speculate that it is to regain favor with the public in regards to censorship. The article mentions that 90% of the Chinese population will watch the Spring Dances as part of a Lunar Year tradition. The first article is a collection of Images from the Previous Lunar Year, so if you are unable to watch the Spring Dances on Youtube you can get a feel for the celebration. The second link is the mentioned article.http://edition.cnn.com/2015/02/08/asia/gallery/lunar-new-year-2015/index.html
http://edition.cnn.com/2015/02/17/asia/china-new-year-gala/index.html

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Traditional Values and Politics in South East Asia-Blog 4

The Reading this week focuses on South East Asia, so it is only fitting that the topic of this week's blog post be about a country from that area. Malaysia has been in a longterm legal and political battle that has captured the attention of Human Rights activists worldwide. The leader of the political  opposition party(Anwar Ibrihim) has been accused of Sodomy by the highest court and as such must step away from his political position and serve a five year prison sentence. The sentence produced fury from Human Rights activists and the local population. Many are calling for the law to repealed based on the obvious argument that it is archaic and unfairly singled out a specific group. Others have claimed that the legal attacks are purely politically motivated,such a theory is based in the fact that Anwar's party has gained 82 of the 222 political seats, a first for the Party. However the case against Anwar is not new he was first accused in 1998  and then again in 2002 when he was found not guilty by lower courts. Recently and amongst the political changes the case has resurfaced and this time he has been found guilty. The theory that the charges are purely political seems very possible as the evidence against him was shaky and the timing to apt. However the article alludes to a political system that has a history of corruption in the form of bribes and blackmail, as well as traditional values in regard to homosexuality. Is this traditional view of homosexuality unique to simply Malaysia or is it common throughout South East Asia.

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Blog Post 3- The Aftermath of Terrorist Attacks on Japan

Recently the fate of two Japanese hostages in Syria, taken by Islamic militants has monopolizing our new feeds. The stories sadly came to an end with the death of both young men. The repercussions of such actions will have a profound effect on future Japanese international policy. Currently Japan does not have a standing military (since it's dissolution after World War II.) The country is also known for it's pacifism in dealing with other countries, the article acknowledges that in the wake of this violent tragedy such policies may be changed. Currently the country at large has mixed feelings about how the Prime Minister ought to respond. So far his response had been one of revenge that calls for the creation military self sufficiency and direct military retaliation. A few government members and citizens are in favor of such policies, but some are not and would rather not start another war that could lead to more violence. The country was just as divide about what actions to take when the young men were being held some within the government lobbied to rescue the two men and pay the ransom while some of the populace said that the government had no obligation to rescue them as it was a irresponsible decision to travel to Syria in the first place. This shift from pacifism policies is not new to Japan as the current Prime Minister has made this a cornerstone of his rhetoric since 2012. The Prime Minister has stated that he will not let terrorism flourish and that Japan will continue to align it's self with America, the U.K and other anti-terrorism countries. The question that the article fails to answer is how this violent tragedy will impact not only the international policies of the country, but the way Japanese will socially look at war and foreigners, do you think it is possible that this could spark a tirade of xenophobia as is occurring in Europe right now?
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-31084749

Monday, January 26, 2015

Blog Post 2- The Violent Side of Buddhisim

We have been learning about the different religions in Monsoon Asia and Buddhism has appeared in many forms and many countries. While different branches of the faith contain slight variations they do share core values. One of such values is to do good works in order to reach Nirvana. The term good works generally means to be kind and charitable in order to better meet the needs and welfare of the group. In this article however a Buddhist monk named Ashin Wirathu from Myammar is preaching a completely different kind of rhetoric. This monk is preaching anti-muslium rhetoric that is hateful and violent. His speeches have been known to invoke nationalism to push the Muslim minority to the fringes of society. Many other monks within the country do not support him however he has been able to garner a small following within the country primarily within his own  religious faction. He has also just recently captured international attention by publicly calling the U.N ambassador of the region a whore, his speeches have already started a number of violent outbursts and it is likely that they will inspire a great many more. This article shows an interesting side to the traditionally  peaceful religion and the darker side to the social emphasis of group-welfare
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-30930997

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Blog Number One- China and Youth Revolutions

In Class last week it was mentioned briefly that societies in this area are very rule abiding due to the group welfare mentality of the earlier civilizations. This was interesting to me so I researched and found this article on protests in China that are currently going on. The article mentions that it is lead mostly by students and that the protests are centered around the desire for democracy, their dissatisfaction with the current political officials and the vetting done to their elections. The article mentions that this particular protest is the first gathering of individuals with expressly political aims of this size since the Tiananmen protests in 1989. While there is a large amount of time inbetween protests the article goes on to say that China has had youth revolts within it's history, the earliest is thought to be in 1911. It will be interesting to see how the public awareness of these protests will affect the country and the way China as a whole will deal with the dissent of the protests.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-29440986