Stories about East Asia from March, 2015
Myanmar Rural Villagers Share Their Development Plans Through Facebook
"It is a valuable method because it identifies what the community truly needs, instead of what we think they might need.”
China: Uyghur Couple Convicted of Violating “Abnormal Appearances” Rule for Wearing Beard, Burqa
The 38-year-old husband, member of China's Muslim minority Uyghur community, has been sentenced to six years in prison. Online reporting about the case has since been censored.
Community Tributes for Lee Kuan Yew Draw a Million People in Singapore
Lee Kuan Yew is Singapore's founding Prime Minister who ruled the country for more than three decades.
Mapping Vietnam's Socio-Economic Indicators
The World Bank has launched mapVIETNAM, an interactive map that shows various socio-economic indicators in Vietnam such as poverty rates, employment, and electricity connectivity. The photo above shows the number...
Recycled Cooking Oil Fuels LED Cherry Blossoms in Energy-Conscious Japan
Special wintertime lights clash with Japan's efforts to reduce power consumption following the Fukushima nuclear disaster. The seasonal tradition could use alternative fuels, like the Meguro River's "cherry blossoms" do.
Chinese Artist Recounts Being Censored for Selling Ai Weiwei T-Shirt
Artist Wu Tun saw economic rights collide with online censorship when he tried to sell a T-shirt supporting world renowned political artist Ai Weiwei.
Protesters in Taiwan Rally Against Nuclear Power
As many as 45,000 people in Taiwan protested plans to extend the service lives of the country's two oldest nuclear power stations.
Six Reasons You Should Visit Malapascua, Philippines, at Least Once in Your Life
Deciding which of the 7,000 Philippine islands to visit is no easy task. Marie Bohner makes a strong case for one in particular.
Confessions of Former Japanese ‘Netto-Uyoku’ Internet Racists
Japanese online commenters who engaged in hate speech say they were attracted to the world of far-right Internet commenting in order to stop feeling lonely.
Giving Voice and Hope to the ‘Forgotten’ Victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines
"Solidarity is a rainbow that inspires people to overcome the tragedies that threatened to destroy their lives."
In China, Online Game Has To Comply With Laws in Real Life
An online game designer, Xu Youzhen revealed in his Weibo that the Chinese authorities require that childbearing in his company's video games comply with family planning. The guideline was issued...
How One Fukushima Family Is Moving on Four Years After the Great East Japan Earthquake
Four years on, Japanese blogger Takayoshi Saito recounts how his youngest sister and her family fared in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami.
Are These Wild Ideas Our Last Hope for Saving Africa's Rhinos?
From fake horns to relocation, today’s wildlife protectors are enlisting new — and often unproven — strategies to save endangered species.
5 Animated Videos That Promote Human Rights and Equality in Myanmar
The videos are easy to understand and can be used too in other countries to promote human rights.
Cambodia’s Women Bloggers (Cloghers) Document Challenges of Rural Life
As part of the Rising Voices project, Cloghers (female bloggers) from Cambodia, share stories of garment workers, students in rural schools and a river clean up initiative in Phnom Penh.
When 1.3 Billion Become Environmental Refugees
In light of the state of China's environment, perhaps the country's 1.3 billion people should be considered environmental refugees.
Japanese Power Utility Finally Admits Fukushima Meltdown
Tepco's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power facility was severely damaged following the massive earthquake and subsequent tsunami that occurred on March 11, 2011.
Nintendo Finally Goes Mobile After Years of Resisting
"Although Nintendo's decision to enter the mobile market is a sign of the times and is a business decision, it's a bit of sad situation."
Can Kazakhstan's Sabina Altynbekova Banish Brand Borat?
Young volleyball star Sabina Altynbekova has used her overnight fame to present herself as a symbol of Kazakhstan. How far can she go with it?
Vietnamese Photojournalist Continues Hunger Strike After Four Years Behind Bars
In addition to the lengthy prison sentence and subsequent house arrest, Minh Man has faced increasingly unfair and discriminatory treatment in detention.
Open Letter Asks UN Human Rights Council to Probe Abuses in Vietnam
An open letter signed by 27 groups and 163 individuals is asking the United Nations Human Rights Council to probe the human rights abuses committed by the Vietnamese government. The...
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