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(09/08/09 1:50am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>My two years in America have made me realize how inept mainstream American news media is in its coverage of Asia – Southeast Asia, in particular.It really took me by surprise once when I was asked by a fellow college student if Singapore was the country that chopped people’s hands off for stealing. For Singaporeans, such “surprises” are not uncommon.In fact, many Americans are not familiar with Asia as a whole, a sentiment shared by Kathleen Sideli, Associate Vice President of the IU Office of Overseas Study. During an interview, she said many Americans have not realized that many industrialized nations of Asia have surpassed America and Western Europe in terms of modernity.Singapore can lay claim to being one of such Asian countries: It is Southeast Asia’s leading economy, boasting one of the world’s best education, health care, and public transportation systems. It has a blossoming biotechnology industry and a GDP per capita higher than both America and most states in Western Europe. It is among the elite industrialized nations.Yet, out of the four Asian Tigers – a term for the four high-growth economies of the 1980s, including Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and South Korea – Singapore is the nation that suffers the most invisibility.On the few occasions that I witness news reports about Singapore, the reports conveniently overlooks the city-state’s positive attributes, sensationally portraying the Southeast Asian powerhouse as something of a totalitarian regime. More often than not, the news tends to stigmatize the country for caning American hooligan Michael Fay and, more famously, banning chewing gum.When the media focuses its attention on Asia, China, Japan and South Korea often hog the spotlight; regions like Southeast Asia are marginalized. Countries like Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia and especially Vietnam have grown tremendously in the last decade, but their coverage is often subdued in preference for China and India due to their immense scale. The announcement of Governor Daniels and IU President McRobbie’s trip to Asia to lure Chinese investment to Indiana is a huge byproduct of the media interest in China. China’s growth has, indeed, been phenomenal. Many in our generation are still trying to grasp the idea of a China that has super-modern cities rivaling New York and London, such as Shanghai, Beijing, Chongqing and Shenzhen. But I would like to suggest that IU students also consider exploring the possibilities of Southeast Asia. The region at one point commanded some media attention due to huge economic growth before the 1997 Asian financial crisis, but that attention has almost completely died down due to the media’s focus on China.However, Southeast Asia still has much promise. Singapore, whose business language is English, is a wonderful prospect; pharmaceutical production there, which accounts for about 20 percent of Singaporean manufacturing, surged 139.2 percent last month. Vietnam has been a rising star since it hosted APEC in 2006. Its economy may grow as much as 5.2 percent this year. Truly, the way most of us form our world view is through the news media. And in many situations, the news media can be subversive when it deems one region over another as more important. Although it may sometimes be vexing to learn the public conscious and news media of America tend to overlook countries in this region, Southeast Asia should not be ignored.
(09/02/09 5:17pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The list of Hollywood films influenced by Asian cinema is ever lengthening. Films like Dragonball Evolution, Kill Bill and The Uninvited were adapted and inspired by Japanese anime, Hong Kong action, Chinese martial arts, and South Korean horror. Hollywood’s fervor is a testament to the quality of Asian-produced film over the past decades. Here are some recent films from the region you ought to watch:1. If you like period war films like Troy, watch mainland Chinese films Red Cliff (2008) and Red Cliff 2 (2009).Directed by John Woo (Mission: Impossible II), the film beat out Titanic for the highest grossing box office film in China. Red Cliff is based on an episode from classic Chinese military novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Set in 208 A.D. – when China was divided into three states – the film depicts the epic and decisive battle for Red Cliff and the socio-political forces behind the fight. Red Cliff is the most expensively produced Asian film to date.2. If you like monster films like Cloverfield, you will definitely enjoy South Korean film The Host (2006).Riding on the Korean pop wave, South Korean commercial film burst into the international market beginning in the late 1990s. Directed by Bong Joon-Ho, The Host was the all-time highest-grossing film in South Korea. This intense thriller tells the story of a dysfunctional family attempting to rescue their daughter from a monster’s lair after it captures her along Seoul’s Han river.3. If you like erotic thrillers like Basic Instinct, you will enjoy Ang Lee’s Lust, Caution (2007).Set during World War II when China was resistant to Japanese imperialism, the film tells the story of a group of revolutionary Chinese students who band together to assassinate a high-level government official aiding the Japanese. Largely a Taiwanese production, the film is controversial for its explicit sex scenes involving the female temptress sent by the revolutionaries to bait the Japanese collaborator.4. If you like Martin Scorsese’s The Departed, watch Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs (2002).In the late '80s, Hong Kong mafia, martial arts, and slapstick comedy film commanded an impressive following across Asia. But starting in the late '90s, piracy issues and foreign exports dominated the industry. Infernal Affairs, a story about two moles – one in the police and one in the mafia – and their intertwining fate, became a hit during these times and subsequently a beacon of hope for the Hong Kong film industry. The Departed is an American adaptation of this Hong Kong cop thriller by Alan Mak.5. If you are into indie fare, watch Singapore Dreaming (2006) from Singapore, Cape No. 7 (2008) from Taiwan, and All About Lily Chou-Chou (2001) from Japan.Singapore Dreaming tells the story of an average family aspiring to achieve the Singapore dream of material abundance. All About Lily Chou-Chou depicts the dark side of youth culture in Japan, while Cape No. 7 portrays a group of rag-tag musicians. Many foreigners write off these films due to their abundant localized references in the plot and dialogue. Nevertheless, these films were extremely popular in the respective countries and the stories should resonate with audiences around the world.
(09/01/09 1:34am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>“Once a decade, a new technology emerges that completely disrupts the business landscape,” Clara Shih, a social media expert, said. “In the 1970s this was mainframe computing; in the '80s it was the PC; last decade it was the internet. This decade it is online social networking, the world wide web of people, a big map of who everyone is and how we are connected together – the ramifications are vast.”Facebook has epitomized the golden era of the personalized Web. Though not a pioneer in the field, it has truly championed the social media movement to the masses. As the central figure in the field of major social media players that includes micro-blogging site Twitter, video-sharing sites like YouTube and Vimeo, photo-sharing sites like Flickr and Photobucket, blogs like WordPress and Blogger, audio-sharing sites like Last.fm and imeem and business social networking sites such as LinkedIn, social media is shaping our world politically, culturally, in business and beyond.Starting with bloggers like angryasianman who ranted, among other things, about the way Asian-Americans faced discrimination in mainstream media by being overlooked or depicted in stereotypes, this demographic of young Asian-Americans is now using social media to empower themselves.In 2004, a trio of young Chinese-American college students, now known as Wong Fu Productions, became a YouTube sensation when videos they produced to share with friends became immensely popular among young Asian-Americans. Wong Fu opened the floodgates for Asian-American YouTube comedians like KevJumba (Kevin Wu), Nigahiga (Ryan Higa) and HappySlip (Christine Gambito) who are now pulling a lion’s share of millions of viewers away from mainstream media with videos they produced.Much has been said about how social media was used in the recent elections in the United States, but in the high-tech economies of Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea, social media has become embraced equally, if not in more sophisticated ways than in America. In Singapore, due to the dearth of political viewpoints in the tightly-controlled mainstream media, political blogs have a history of influencing many young Singaporeans on what it really means to live in a democratic society.While social networking sites used to be a bane in the office environment, businesses are seeing the vast gold mine it offers in terms of marketing. Because of the way social networking sites effectively capture demographics according to their interests, Clara Shih, who created the first business Facebook application, Faceconnector, describes in her book “The Facebook Era” how businesses can capitalize on social media to micro-market to customers.Perhaps one example of such direct marketing in social media is alivenotdead.com, a social networking site base in Hong Kong that allows artists to connect directly with fans and keep them updated about upcoming concerts, promotional tours and interesting news about their lives.Through Web sites such as Twitter, which offers real-time information about news issues, social media is becoming a powerful component paving the way for statisticians, scientists and researchers to mine incredible amounts of behavioral information and eventually be able to make adaptive social forecasts.The ramifications, as Shih says, are indeed vast. Much is yet to be uncovered about the way social media will further affect the societies.
(08/26/09 1:27am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>As I’m writing this column, I have a toothache. But I won’t be seeing a dentist for this problem any time soon – my insurance company said it would not be covering the cost of dental treatment. I accidentally bit my fork while eating the other day and chipped my tooth. But that was not considered an accident, the insurance customer service personnel said. An accident is like a car accident, she explained, where there is a police record.So I’ll endure the ache for now and hope things don’t get too bad, because there are more important matters, like the shock of a $414 medical bill for routine health checks. No, I didn’t know about the deductible. After going for the tests, I learned that I would not be subsidized at all by the insurance company. Coming from Singapore where the life expectancy is 80, I have been too used to the health system where I had easy access to government subsidized public health service. I never actually considered how expensive it would be to go for health screenings until now. And while in America, all I knew was that I should get the best health insurance and all would be good. Wrong. So like a cruel slap on the face, I am bound to a $400 bill, on top of all the student loans I’m already taking out. This brush with health care in America is, of course, timely given the debate on health care reform. Like many, I am now weary of going for preventative health care tests or checkups because I don’t want to face the possibility of an expensive bill. This weariness to go for consistent health checkups is also the reason why many wound up with thousand-dollar bills, when those with suspected ailments avoid going for checkups and treatments to avoid paying a huge deductible. A March Time magazine article, “The Health Care Crisis Hits Home” by Karen Tumulty, highlights this problem and several other bad practices of health insurance companies.Tumulty writes how her brother Pat had avoided checkups to avoid paying his $2,500 deductible because he worked a $9-per-hour job. This led to problems later in life, and he ended up “with more than $14,000 in bills from hospitals, doctors and labs.” Pat had assumed that consistently purchasing a six-month health insurance policy would keep him covered. He was wrong. Each time he renewed his policy, the health insurance company considered him a new customer, and they would not cover his bill because his cost accrued from his bills were found to be of a pre-existing condition. Pat’s problems parallel mine in some ways, magnified many times over. That’s why I’m encouraged when President Obama announced he would mandate health insurance companies to cut out bad practices exemplified by Pat’s story. At the end of the day, 55 percent of Americans believe the current system needs major reform. Whether it be in the form of universal health insurance such as Taiwan’s health care system, or a subsidized health service such as that of Singapore, there needs to be something in place to make sure the most vulnerable find some sort of help. While many might abuse such systems, the opportunity cost is that lives will be saved. Although the right might vociferously argue against spending, I think the question to ask is this: If America could spend billions on the military and invading other countries, why can’t the current president spend billions caring for American lives?
(04/23/09 11:28pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>On April 18, 1945, war correspondent Ernie Pyle was shot in the temple by machine-gun fire on the Japanese island of Ie Shima. He died instantly, but his legacy will endure in the hearts of many for a long time to come. Last Saturday marked the 64th anniversary of the passing of this great journalist and remarkable IU alumnus, and hence, I would like to dedicate this column to his memory.From Europe, North Africa, Asia Pacific and beyond, Pyle gave breathtaking accounts of America’s military campaigns during World War II. His columns were reprinted in as many as 300 newspapers at its peak and opened a window for the American public to witness the horrors of war. Those stories painted powerful portraits of the human condition and left an indelible print on readers’ consciences.As a war correspondent, Pyle marched alongside American GIs; he shared their blood, toil, tears and sweat while unmasking their stories. When he argued for “fight pay” – the compensation of the men in the front lines, for the sacrifice and risks they take – in one of his columns, any reader could tell that Pyle fully understood the conditions the men were facing and was convinced of the need to improve their welfare.One key component of his success was his flair for writing. Pyle’s columns were famous for the interwoven human drama and vivid imagery that were written with sincerity and conviction. This he displayed in “The Death of Captain Waskow,” a heartwrenching tale of love and pathos about the loss of a beloved officer. In another column, “A Dreadful Masterpiece,” he poignantly illustrated London and its splendor in its burning destruction.Indeed, Pyle’s body of work truly embodied the idea of journalism as a public service. His commitment to educating the masses by fully immersing himself with his subject matter and environment helped families all over America understand not only the war but also the economic slump during the Great Depression and the early days of the aviation industry.On a personal note, Pyle’s Asiatic connection appeals to me. As a college student, Pyle visited East Asia, and that experience was the catalyst that set him on track for his illustrious career in journalism. Like him, I hope to visit East Asia and spend at least a year imbibing the culture there.His death by the Japanese is also something with which I deeply empathize. My grandparents, who grew up in Singapore under the Japanese occupation in 1942 to 1945, lived to share stories of the heinous crimes the Imperial Japanese Army committed. Ernie Pyle’s death resonates among the collective chorus of horrible tales of Japan’s reign of terror during that period.It is important that we note this man’s ferocious work ethic. He was not only a talented man who was known for his amiability and knack for uncovering news; he also worked hard. He could have retired after gaining celebrity for his widely read columns, which even inspired a Hollywood film, “The Story of G.I. Joe,” documenting his experience as a war correspondent, but he was compelled to perform the service of reporting until his tragic death 64 years ago.Indeed, Ernie Pyle’s story and accomplishments have inspired and set the benchmark for journalists for generations to come.
(03/27/09 3:50am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Senate confirmation of Chinese-American Gary Locke as commerce secretary this Tuesday marked an unprecedented third for Asian-Americans in the White House (the first two being Steven Chu and Eric Shinseki). This number does not include Asian-American White House staffers like cabinet secretary Christopher Lu, Obama’s special assistant Eugene Kang and senior political adviser Pete Rouse .It seems Asian-Americans are finally getting some recognition and acknowledgement they rightly deserve after all the years of quiet but immense contributions to America, from the building of America’s railroads and revolution of agriculture in the late 1800s, to the current development of Silicon Valley.Indeed, the ex-Washington governor’s confirmation is a capstone for Asian-American political participation, symbolizing huge progress since the days of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882 to the pan-Asian movement sparked by the injustice surrounding Vincent Chin’s death in 1982.Since this proud moment ushers into the limelight Asian role models who will inspire many, it is also a good time to re-visit the issue of the “model minority” stereotype that has plagued Asian-Americans.In 2006, a Cornell University news article reported that since 1996, 13 of the 21 – 62 percent – of all Cornell student suicide victims were Asian or Asian-American. Asian-Americans, however, comprised a mere 14 percent of the student body. The school became so concerned with this issue that it established a special mental health-oriented Asian and Asian American Climate Task Force to address this problem.The task force found that the overbearing pressure to constantly outperform one’s peers due to the “model minority” stereotype had been a significant factor affecting the state of the mental health of Cornell Asian and Asian American students; the devastation from the failure to meet academic expectations led to suicidal thoughts. “Asian-Americans may have elevated levels of perfectionism and this creates undue pressure to do well in college,” Joel Wong, IU assistant professor of counseling psychology, said. “This is a result of number one, expectations of others, including classmates and parents, and number two, pressure when it (the belief) is internalized – Asian-Americans setting unduly high standards for themselves.” During Gary Locke’s acceptance speech for commerce secretary designate, he said his success came from parents who espoused, “Get a good education, work hard, and take care of each other.” Likewise, many other Asian households, too, emphasize this mantra. They passed onto their children the belief that in order to be distinguished in America one has to be academically exceptional and have a high-flying career.Hence, when Asian students do not meet expectations, or do not have talent for fields in science, math, medicine and engineering, there is heightened shame and condemnation for their perceived incompetence.Additionally, Asian students tend to avoid voicing their concerns even when they are at their wits’ end. According to a report, “Suicide Among Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders,” by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Asian-Americans do not access mental health treatment as much as other racial/ethnic groups do due to strong stigma associated with mental illness. Because of the model minority myth, suicide is not normally associated with Asian-American college students. But the recent Virginia Tech killing and suicide of Seung-Hui Cho in 2007 and the decapitation of an Asian graduate student by another Asian graduate student at the same school this year illuminate the reality that Asians and Asian-Americans are in need of mental health services to mitigate the tremendous pressures they face from this model minority label.
(03/05/09 7:44pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>I attended a recent Mongolian New Year celebration and was intrigued to learn that Mongolia is a fledgling democracy in Central Asia. In 1990, Mongolia tried to adopt democratic and market reforms. The country now has a unique status in the study of democracy: It is an ongoing experiment testing whether democratic reform can quickly take hold in a former socialist state.It’s only at an international university such as IU that I have the privilege of meeting and learning from Mongolians firsthand and experiencing the myriad of concomitant cultural events on campus.While I applaud the diversity and the lengths IU is taking to go international, my time here has left me feeling that IU is still segregated in an “Eric Holder sense” – whites, blacks, Latinos and Asians keep mostly to themselves. It’s often only during formal group projects that the different groups interact.Attend most cultural events on campus and you’ll notice only a trickle of trans-ethnic participation.Many international students come to IU hoping to imbibe American culture, but they learn very quickly that the typical local student only “tolerates” their presence. In the business school, there is even a ludicrous sentiment among many local students that Asians are “invading” the school.Of course, some international students are single-minded in the pursuit of their degree and avoid interacting. But I’ll bet my money that the majority of international students want to be enriched by the diversity of America – if not, they wouldn’t have spent the money it takes to study here.One reason for this lack of interaction probably stems from cultural discrepancies and language barriers. But I also believe that a major facet to this “segregation” lies in that local students don’t believe international students have anything to offer. They merely accept an international community because they think diversity is a “good thing” without understanding it.Yes, there are many hospitable Bloomington residents and native students who truly want to learn about other heritages. Alternately, there are international students who really want to engage Americans. But those cases are too few and isolated.The fact remains that the attitudes of average local college students are still pretty ignorant when it comes to international affairs. For students here, the recurring thing I hear when it comes to foreign affairs is merely an interest in Europe and some trivia about America’s role in the Middle East. Beyond that, most American students just aren’t interested unless they are required to be.However, as the most powerful nation in the world, being aware of international affairs should be a top priority, because college students will become future leaders and America’s actions have strong repercussions all around the world. Ironically, it seems the stereotype that Americans are inward-looking and negligent on foreign affairs is true in some respects for students here.Globalization is unavoidable. If America closes up, it will fail miserably to maintain its lead as a superpower just as China, a superpower in the Tang and Song dynasty, ended up after it closed itself off from foreign influence. The future of the world will be dictated by the global economy, as evidenced by this current economic crisis, and many IU students will not be prepared for it.
(02/20/09 1:49am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>With the economy in the doldrums, it seems the nativists have a new incentive to express their xenophobia.Recently, a commercial aired by the Coalition of the Future American Worker alleged that 2.5 million Americans lost their jobs in 2008, while the American government continues bringing in 1.5 million foreign workers a year.The figures were questionable, and the purpose of the commercial was to use foreign workers displacing Americans as a legislative wedge issue.It seems history keeps repeating itself. Didn’t the American government try futilely to exclude foreign workers in the past because of similarly flimsy fears?In 1882, the U.S. government passed the Chinese Exclusion Act to curtail immigration from China. The locals feared that American employers would employ the industrious and less expensive Chinese laborers, threatening their own job security.Their efforts were futile. Employers simply searched for other sources of cheap labor – the Japanese, Koreans, South Indians, Filipinos and so on. Every time Congress created legislation like the Gentlemen’s Agreement of 1907 and the Immigration Act of 1924, employers would find a loophole around the laws.In today’s global economy, there is no doubt American corporations will figure means to cut cost, even though stronger restrictions are imposed on the H-1B visa program and illegal immigrants.In fact, the recent hiring restriction clause in the stimulus package might set precedent for more anti-immigration measures, which could do grievous harm to the economy.Recent research by William R. Kerr of the Harvard Business School and William F. Lincoln of the University of Michigan found a strong correlation between increased numbers of H-1B visas and increased numbers of patents applied for in the United States.The research cited in a BusinessWeek story by Vivek Wadhwa showed that from 2000 to 2004, Chinese engineers contributed 11.8 percent and Indians contributed 7.6 percent of all patents filed; combined, both groups constitute less than 2 percent of the population.These figures show that highly skilled immigrants power America’s innovation engine, and restricting these workers might erode America’s technological advantage.Of course, calls for protectionism are natural – citizens want their government to protect them when the going gets tough.Let’s not forget, however, America was also the country that pioneered the neo-liberalist ideology of free trade and anti-protectionism – and reaped the rewards of it.In the current situation, American corporations are simply practicing the free-market ideology and staying relevant in this global economy by hiring foreign workers. These workers should not be seen as the problem crippling the economy but rather as helping these companies stay productive.The real issue is the nativistic blame game that underlines a xenophobic agenda.“Foreign workers are targeted because they don’t have a political voice,” said María Pabón López, assistant professor of law at IU. “The nativists blame the people who can’t vote.”López explained that the H-1B visa program is always oversubscribed and thus it makes sense to actually expand it.Foreign workers contribute significantly to the society – they pay taxes, they work oftentimes twice as hard, they are paid less and they add fuel to the American economy. Yet when the economy goes sour, they are also persecuted for the attributes that made them an asset.The question really is who adds value or hurts the economy: divisive anti-immigration propaganda, or foreign workers who work hard and contribute to society?
(02/06/09 2:33am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Dating and romantic relationships ultimately lead to the most important event of our lives: marriage.Yet both dating and relationships – precursors to matrimony – are monumental puzzles in the average person’s life. Most fumble through the pieces, hoping to get satisfaction but often ending up disappointed and frustrated.In fact, about 40 percent of first marriages fail within a 15-year period, according to a 2005 report from the National Center for Health Statistics. Such sobering evidence shows that people are generally terribly ill-prepared to meet the challenges of finding a good mate and maintaining a healthy relationship.Of course, college life is more about courtship and dating. And from my experience so far, most of us play this “game of love” with relative cluelessness about what we want and need.A study on speed dating found that what participants said they want in a partner often differed from their actual choices. The study, published on The National Academy of Sciences Web site, explained that participants usually gave politically correct answers about their ideal partner, but during the speed dating would base their decisions on primal reasons – standards of beauty for men and ability to acquire wealth for women.“In speed dating, there is not much information to gather during the short time frame,” said IU professor Peter Todd, an author of the study. “So it makes sense from an illusionary or reproductive standpoint to base one’s judgment on beauty because that is a measure of health and fertility.”As for women, Todd said that being the child bearers, they have a higher cost and thus make decisions not only on appearance, but on a partner’s ability to acquire wealth as well.“(Women) not only want a good feeling of the person, but also want assurance that he can take care of the child,” he said.The speed dating illustration is nevertheless a microcosm of our attitudes when it comes to dating. Most people explore relationships with certain predispositions but leave the outcome to happenstance, learning those harsh lessons from the school of hard knocks in due time.As Valentine’s Day approaches, many would think about fancy dates and romantic sessions with the girl- or boyfriend, but this day also serves as a stark reminder for me of failed relationships in the past.For instance, in past relationships, I experienced a gamut of complications pertaining to power struggles, misunderstandings, insecurity, prejudices from friends and non-acceptance from families; the worst, bar none, was being stuck in an abusive relationship. To make a relationship work is truly tough, and a bad relationship can really damage one’s psychological health.Likewise for college students, dating setbacks, baggage from past relationships and mismanagement of emotions during tense phases can be detrimental to academic success. Many of us just don’t know how to cope with dejection, violent and obsessive partners and the myriad of emotional problems that arises from relationship woes.Though college equips us for the working world, it doesn’t prepare us to cope with the equally important social aspects of romantic relationships and marriage, thankfully. Nevertheless, as I mull a romantic plan for my girlfriend this Valentine’s, I wonder what it would be like having a “Dating and Valentines 101” class that teaches college students how to cope with academics and relationship entanglements.That might just be the best class for a successful career future.
(01/23/09 12:35am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>To say that China is the biggest polluter in the world is true, but it is also a gross misconstruing of reality.According to a recent report from The Climate Group, an independent international non-profit organization, China’s energy efficiency levels are actually commendable considering the tremendous modernization it has undergone.However, based on China’s estimated emissions and current status as the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitter, many conclude that China compromises the environment to focus on economic growth. Many also cite China’s ratification of the Kyoto Protocol as a sleight of hand in its commitment to sustainability.Though China has overtaken the United States in emissions, it is not obligated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the agreement because much of its production is based on demand from Western countries. The West outsources its carbon emissions to China. More importantly, China’s population is four times that of America’s, but its carbon intensity per person is barely above the world average.The truth is China will go nowhere near the excessiveness of western societies given the direction it has taken. The problem is due to its sheer size, the statistics balloon for China, making it the target board for criticism.Much of the slandering of China can be attributed to the country’s reputation, which does not resonate positively. Many factors account for this problem – its political system, human rights record, manufacturing debacles and corruption. Some of the concerns are real, others exaggerated. But when it comes to green initiatives, the negative claims are largely borne of ignorance; China is ahead in this area.The Chinese government and business leaders are attuned to the challenges of climate change and have actively pursued green policies and divested investment into clean technologies.This is evidenced by the many significant environmental thresholds China can claim to achieve: The Renewables 2007 Global Status Report published that China is a “leading renewable energy producer,” and that it also has “the largest hydro-electric fleet and fifth largest wind power fleet in the world.”In 2008, Singapore and China collaborated on the Tianjin Eco-city, a sustainable city development project. More recently, China announced the construction of the world’s largest solar plant.With the advent of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, many caught a glimpse of the capital’s rapid modernization. But from Shenzhen to Dalian, Guangzhou to Shanghai, many of the leading cities of China are catching up or on par with modern Asian counterparts like Taipei, Singapore, Seoul and Tokyo.China has the ability to transform itself effectively. If human history is any indicator, China will ease into its position as a global economic power, and renewable technology could be its flagship industry.Up until the 15th century, China was consistently one of the biggest and most advanced economies in the world. An example of China’s past strength is seen in Chinese Admiral Zheng He’s ambitious voyages during the Ming Dynasty. His fleet stood as the most technologically advanced and powerful naval force that rode the waters 80 years before Christopher Columbus or Vasco da Gama set sail.Sino-US relations are marked quintessentially by their economic partnerships, but there is another important partnership that can arise and affect many college students’ lives – the Sino-U.S. green partnership.Now that President Barack Obama is in power, his new energy vision will be set in motion. With the appointment of Chinese-American Steven Chu as the energy secretary, Obama probably understands the Chinese connection and its importance in the green revolution.
(01/16/09 2:18am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Israel’s battering of Gaza to dismantle Hamas is a tragic story of the Middle Eastern peace progress. The latest numbers from Palestine show 1,017 killed and more than 4,600 injured. The numbers are growing.According to Monday’s IDS front page story, 60 students and Bloomington residents took to the streets to protest the war Saturday and charged Israel with “crimes against humanity.” All around the world, Israel’s calculated act of violence has sparked a tidal wave of mourning, anger and widespread condemnation.But I shy away from condemning Israel squarely. If we take into account the Lebanon war of 2006, where Hezbollah also fired rockets into Israel, there is crystal-clear indication that the same instigation on Israel will spark nothing less than a war.Hence, based on the premise that Hamas perpetrated the December rocket attacks on southern Israeli cities after a June truce, it seems Hamas had it coming. Thus, I see Hamas as equally accountable for war. The issue I have with Israel is that its attacks are questionable. The number of civilians caught in the cross-fire is enormous. Even if these losses are totally accidental, the foulest act of Israel has been to block the humanitarian aid to Gaza.The Arab-Palestinian relationship is truly a warped, convoluted affair, so there’s a lot of blame to be spread around. Nevertheless, in this case, it’s not justifiable that a nation should stand back and witness repeated acts of terrorism committed against its people. America didn’t balk on invading Afghanistan after Sept. 11.Newsweek recently reported that Israel’s goal in this war is to end the rocket attacks, disarm Hamas and help re-establish the Fatah government so that serious peace negotiation may take place.Many, however, have claimed that even if Israel’s goal of crippling and disarming Hamas is accomplished, its second objective is a lost cause because the war will serve to reinvigorate Hamas politically. However, military actions seem plausible at this time because Israel has to take firm action for the national security of its citizens and destroy a Hamas that is clearly not committed to peace and a two-state solution.For those who decry the war solely for its ideology, I want to highlight World War II. Just as the atomic bombs destroyed Japan even as they saved millions from the brutality of the Japanese Imperialist army and as collective invasion by the Allied forces wiped out Hitler and Nazi Germany, so can this war, perhaps, reap the results of its lofty goals. War is not necessarily a bad thing.Because of the circumstances of this current crisis, it’s hard to believe Israel can succeed in completely toppling Hamas and winning over moderate Palestinians. However, the reality is that war is ongoing and little is being done to end it, so I hope that Israel succeeds quickly in its proposed goals because, if not, there would certainly be further chaos in the region.Those with power will always act for its greater good in the fight for survival. As students, we can offer our condolences to the Palestinian civilians and continue raising awareness of this issue.
(01/09/09 2:45am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>I watched a documentary on the History Channel a couple of nights ago about the seven deadly sins. From sloth to lust, the documentary delved into each sin episodically. When it came to greed, I paid particular attention, because the documentary made several biblical references on this vice, since greed and excess were the things Jesus campaigned most heavily against. However, it was not the biblical anecdotes that left an imprint on me but a fable about a scavenging old woman who symbolized greed.In the fable, vice and virtue were personified as warriors in a battlefield. As the battle yielded slain corpses that lay mangled from defeat, out comes an old woman reaping the spoils of war, stealing from the dead.When this old woman’s transgression is exposed, she then morphs into a beautiful young woman – thrift – to escape admonition. Thrift, seen usually as a virtue, is nevertheless depicted as a mere surrogate of greed.Now, I have never thought of thrift this way; thrift, to me, was the antithesis of greed. It was a good thing. My parents imparted the value of thrift to me; my dad, especially, made me understand it to be a healthy way of life.So when I considered the analogy from the documentary, it seemed out of whack. However, it made me reconcile and evaluate some of my experiences in life.There were many times when I shunned spending more than necessary for the sake of “saving,” and was met with a backlash. Like the times in the army when I chose to be frugal when buying food for my military field trips. I always bought what I needed and never contributed to the shared pool with my peers.The leaders in my platoon section criticized me for being selfish, but I always debated them to defend my frugality. I felt I was standing up for my principles, but in retrospect, I had strained relationships for the sake of money.During a trip to Las Vegas this break, my girlfriend and I were careful not to break our budget. Nevertheless, on the last day of our trip, we had overspent. When the time came to retrieve our luggage from the bell services and leave for the airport, my girlfriend told me to tip by the number of bags the bell boy carried – two bucks for two bags. I slipped the guy just a dollar.After the bell boy thanked me and I turned to leave, he muttered something about “breaking his back to get only a dollar.” I felt embarrassed and knew then that I had been selfish.Although my dad’s motto was to live within one’s means, he still was a generous giver when it came to church. He gave his share each month. He gave his time to fellowship.I realized then that thriftiness and generosity were arbitrary. Spending habits differ from person to person. Although I still consider thrift a virtue, the problem is that thrift easily leads to stinginess, which is essentially greed.
(12/12/08 3:44am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Playing the online game “Darfur is Dying” was a requirement for my international studies assignment. The crux of the interactive simulation is to give participants an idea of the challenges Darfurian refugees face to survive. Each player takes on the role of a refugee and has to leave the camp to forage for water. He or she then navigates through the terrain while avoiding capture by the brutal Janjaweed militias. While a novel idea, the online simulation doesn’t do justice to the horrors Darfurians face; it trivializes the terror in Sudan just like Scrooge McDuck makes a case study against thrift.Nevertheless, the “Darfur is Dying” Web site is a powerful example of how the Internet has truly changed the dynamics of social and political advocacy. These days, anyone with Internet access can partake in signing online petitions, communicating via instant messaging about political rallies and social movements, sharing political videos, playing online simulations, blogging about issues and, very importantly, donating to causes. The ways social movements can utilize the Internet is nearly limitless. The scary part, however, is that anybody can use the Internet to propagate his ideas whether substantial, spin or completely warped.Take the Tibetan independence movement. Heavy campaigning started during the lead-up to the summer to strategically leverage on the Olympics in Beijing. The Tibetan independence movement embraced the Internet to pitch separatist ideas, create hype and bring awareness of their cause to the world. The question is, however, how much of the information portrayed is prejudiced? How many actually understand the long history between China and Tibet? What would be the repercussions if Tibet were granted independence? Tibet does not have the luxury of foreign funding or military defense, unlike Iraq with American support.Another case in point: the massive South Korean people’s protest against the U.S. beef imports. What resulted from young Koreans bonding over the ideas shared through the Internet on fears of U.S. beef imports manifested into widespread and violent protests against the South Korean government. Many Koreans were caught up in the camaraderie of the protest under the opinion that their government was weak and making “too many concessions to Washington.” “Anti-Americanism” and “teenage angst” were also motivations for protest, according to a report from UK’s The Times.These are the kinds of problems the Singapore government wants to avoid. The young democracy sees the mainstream media as a collective organ of the government, helping to shape positive beliefs and attitudes of the people. Hence, the government has received, particularly from the UK media, criticism on its freedom of expression. The Internet, however, has altered the way the young Singaporeans consume their news and discuss information about local politics.In the light of how terrorist fundamentalist groups, KKK and other cult-related propaganda can have a free zone to spin their twisted, absolute trash, it is arguable that Singapore has to try to maintain regulation of its media, especially because of its precarious position as a non-Islamic state surrounded by predominantly Muslim states that don’t like its status as a regional powerhouse.In spite of its negative ramifications, the Internet has set the foundation for more open societies everywhere. 2008 can be remembered as a watershed year for Internet activism, most notably during the general elections. Under the Obama campaign, political activists harness the indispensable power of the Internet to win over the hearts and minds of young voters. The Internet as a tool for social and political advocacy is here to stay, and trying to curb the flux of warped news is nearly impossible. But a new framework for educating young people about the dangers of the Internet is also needed.
(11/21/08 3:26am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>When Sen. John Edwards came to IU last Tuesday, he shared what he felt should be a top priority for the president-elect: presenting a clear vision for America.It made perfect sense to me – just as a leader has to present a vision for his team, an individual also must have a strong vision of his goals to attain them. You are only as successful as what you envision yourself to be. The problem, then, is how to cultivate that vision. The answer, I learned, is not that simple. In an interview with Charlie Rose, Alan Greenspan demonstrated how he had an innate inquisitiveness to understand how the world works. For Greenspan, he had a never-ending quest to acquire a broad view of life in general.This inclination to get a broad perspective is what I feel separates the ordinary from the extraordinary. It is the quintessential ingredient in acquiring a strong vision.A feature story from the magazine Business Today reiterated my view. Harvard writer and sophomore Nimi Katragadda profiled three hugely successful names in their respective fields of business: Warren Buffett, Indra Nooyi and Mark Zuckerberg. According to her article, they shared the quality of “contextual intelligence,” which is defined by a Harvard Business School Leadership Initiative study as “the ability to understand the macro-level factors that are at play during a given period of time.” Simply put, these individuals had an inclination to acquire a vision through a “big picture” perspective.For some, thinking broadly comes naturally; for others, cultivating a clear vision takes a good deal of self-reflexivity, deep introspection, keen awareness of their world and the discipline to see things broadly.As college students, it is important to have a vision of our academic goals and career plan. Nevertheless, many of us struggle with an overbearing workload, part-time work, volunteer work, social life and girlfriend or boyfriend problems. It’s easy for anyone to get lost in the morass of day-to-day skirmishes. And this is even tougher for international students who come here and are inundated by culture shock and a language barrier. While domestic students have a comfort network of family and friends that they can rely upon, the international student has to cope with homesickness, long-distance relationships and adapting to a new environment. It is human nature to take events as they come and be part of the rat race. I find that it is important for me to find that space where one can just escape from the world around me and reflect upon the problems one is facing. My two years serving the army were ironically a time when I really began to do some serious soul-searching and important decision-making amid the physical rigor. Finding those 10 minutes every day to just step out of the whirlwind of activity and reflect upon my life is, however, something that I fail to do now that I’m in college. But I believe that this exercise in cultivating a big picture perspective is a small step to take, but yields giant results in achieving my long-term goals.
(11/07/08 2:06am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>On Tuesday, Barack Obama’s election victory sent a potent message about breaking the race barrier in the United States of America. However, as much as Obama is a symbol of progressiveness, the reality is that much still has to be done to improve race relations in the country. Coming from the ultra-modern, slumless, multicultural city-state known as Singapore and being in the racial majority, I had never experienced being stereotyped and discriminated based on my skin color. While in Singapore, I am perceived positively due to my understanding of the proper social mannerisms and my English fluency; in the United States, I am seen through the lens of minority ethnic and racial stereotypes. Many Americans had preconceived notions of me and reacted to me in a way that implied that I was this restrained, conservative, hardworking kid who was good with math and concepts and had a tame social life. I’ve been asked to solve math questions, share homework solutions and explain concepts or thought to be easily offended by explicit language.On other levels, I’ve also been shown condescension, indifference and impatience, simply because of the way I behaved and talked – and that inflames me, frankly.Many of my friends, both American and foreign, have had their personal brushes with racism. Some have experienced being mocked, or insulted with racist slurs. Other times, conflicts born of cultural differences occur because people from other cultures play by a different code of conduct.For instance, America, being an individualistic society, can be daunting for others who might be more comfortable with a collectivistic culture of life.Race is an issue openly discussed in the United States, thus people understand that racism is detestable. Yet the general public still clings onto racial stereotypes and caricatures perpetuated in the media. Being an Asian male in America means being portrayed in Hollywood as the decent, socially inept, math-and-science nerd; the bitter, angry Bruce Lee-esque hooligan; or gay.Therein lies the lack of reciprocity: In Asia, most modern societies are exposed to positive representations of whites. However in America, people see mostly negative representations of Asians. Taken at face value, being a member of a racial and ethnic minority means that I struggle to deal with prejudices on a daily basis.As I try to integrate into American culture, Obama’s success story as a minority member of American society means a lot to me. His ascent to the highest office speaks volumes about the values this country is based on. To play a part in this election has given me a sense of ownership to the land that I was born in, viewed from afar and am now trying to embrace. But race relations are still far from perfect. And I can only hope that the symbol of progressiveness Obama is doesn’t cause race relations in the United States to stagnate, but inspires more people of minority groups to challenge the status quo.
(10/24/08 1:36am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>I am a supporter of Barack Obama because I believe stronger governance is needed in America at this stage. Some years back, I was puzzled by how the United States – the richest country in the world – constantly registers budget deficits annually and borrows billions from China. During a discussion with friends, I posed this question and was informed that the American economy was driven by credit. This concept further confused me.It is apparent now, however, that with the current credit crunch, credit-lovin’ America is witnessing a crisis.Since the dawn of Ronald Reagan’s trickle-down economics, things have been fundamentally disarrayed. My history professor once said in class the financial crisis we’re seeing now is the result of that ex-President’s initiatives. My professor’s sentiments on deregulation are reflected in the documentary “Enron: The Smartest Guys In The Room,” in which Enron bosses Ken Lay and Jeff Skilling are portrayed as supporters of deregulation only to abuse the financial system for personal gain.Corporate America has truly fallen too deeply in love with the free market, as evidenced by the current crisis. It seems the average American, too, has lost good habits of saving and spending within his or her means. When credit becomes too easily available to people, it breeds greed and complacency.The emergence of the tiger economies in Asia (South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore) – as a result of adopting capitalism – has meant citizens of these countries are becoming huge consumers and living increasingly lavish lifestyles. Their growth spurt started a tidal wave of consumerism that swept through Asia and energized China and India.The youth in these countries have equated material wealth with happiness. To be rich, materially, is glorious. Ask the average young Chinese, Singaporean or Indian and he’ll tell you that he wants to be the next Bill Gates. They are adapting and innovating in technology faster than the average American because they’re working longer hours and are embracing science and mathematics. The difference, however, is that many Asians still hold the values of saving and spending within his or her means, passed on from parents who were typically less well-off. In the column “Who Will Tell the People?” Thomas Friedman writes that America’s decline occurred “because over the past three decades, the Asian values of our parents’ generation – work hard, study, save, invest, live within your means – have given way to subprime values: “You can have the American dream – a house – with no money down and no payments for two years.” This idea of “Asian values” was reiterated in Alan Greenspan’s book “The Age of Turbulence,” wherein he argues that prudent saving and spending in these economies was a strong factor in their stunning growth.When Enron and Worldcom collapsed in early 2000, the cracks of deregulation started to show. With the fall of Bear Stearns, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, AIG and Lehmen Brothers, it is clear that deregulation has caused America to spiral into trouble.As for solutions to the economy, the divide between Obama’s and McCain’s policies often treads on the ideological, and one cannot predict the outcomes of their policies. For Obama, however, he proposes stronger governance, which is not to be mistaken as socialism. And I believe a stronger government action is the solution for America’s economy to recover now.
(10/10/08 2:34am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union symbolized a struggle for technological and political supremacy during the Cold War-era of the 1950s and ‘60s.The U.S. won. On July 20, 1969, the crew from Apollo 11 made the first successful moon landing, edging the Soviet’s initial lead of sending Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite, into orbit in 1957. More importantly, the moon landing signified democracy defeating communism.Fast forward to 2008. China is the third country after the U.S. and Russia to conduct a spacewalk. While the media coverage has been about the financial fire storm and the economic bailout, three taikonauts went to space onboard Shenzhou VII and back, marking a heroic and successful return to Beijing. The Chinese government’s burgeoning space program aims to reach the moon eventually. China’s spacewalk and the collapse of Wall Street comes at a crucial time. Symbolic as it is in showing the transition of economic and technological resources from one region to another, it also underscores a very important question: Does a capitalist market need an open and democratic society? The Chinese success demonstrates that a free market might not need an American-style democratic society.Despite the current melamine food scare and the frequent spate of negative publicity on China portrayed in American media, China’s hosting of the Olympics and this spacewalk are strong statements to the world that the Chinese have arrived. Of course, China is not the USSR, and worries of its threat to Washington are largely unwarranted. It is in name a communist country, but it has adopted a market economy since 1978. The gradual liberation of many other aspects of society shows that it is emulating the U.S. in many ways. It is, however, not a true representative democracy like the U.S. The U.S. has established that a free and open society is quintessential to a free market economy. President Bush even addressed the nation saying that “Democratic capitalism is the best system ever devised.” The irony was that Bush advocated interventionism in what he termed as “not normal circumstances.”Having experienced life in quasi-democratic Singapore, I understand what it’s like to live in a relatively regulated society. Nevertheless, government intervention being the norm in society has meant that Singapore usually gets itself out of problems unscathed. Singapore largely escaped the Asian financial crisis of 1997. During the SARS crisis, the Singaporean government swiftly contained the epidemic, unlike how the U.S. handled Katrina. In Singapore, no political games are played, no flip-flopping or bickering on partisan ideals, no spinning of news – everything is no-frills. While this is good for most businesses that thrive on a stable economy, freedom of expression is mitigated.On the other hand, having lived in the U.S. for more than a year now, what I witness is corporate America running society. They hire the best lobbyists and spin doctors. They manipulate the people. They control government. Do we want corporations to have power and influence, or government to have power and influence? In the end, the strongest economy of the 21st century, whether that of the U.S., China, Russia or India, will dictate ideology and say its way is the best.
(09/26/08 2:16am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>It’s a travesty when nine people die each week in Indiana because they can’t afford health care.Such figures highlight the ostensible flaws of the U.S. health system, a system notoriously known as the most expensive in the world.Since coming to the States last year, I have paid nearly $2,000 for health care.This semester, I dug deep into my pocket – $626 – for one semester of medical coverage. God knows what it’ll cost me should I get injured or ill.Being uninsured in this country puts you at risk of going bankrupt. But with medical insurance premiums costing a fortune, many people opt out of adequate coverage. Thus, they avoid seeing the doctor at all costs until an emergency occurs.It’s tragic enough to be stricken with sickness. How much worse it is to be denied treatment because you couldn’t afford it or were ill-informed of your insurance policy.The problems Americans face regarding health care boil down to the capitalization of the health care system. With profit-driven companies running the system, the poor are marginalized.Many Americans want a universal health care system that focuses on preventative treatment. Socialization is the best way to get this.The problem, however, is that many Americans have been ingrained in a culture that has vilified a strong central power.Strong governance is not necessarily a bad thing if the government is transparent and competent. There is no reason to portray the single-payer system should in derogatory terms.In Michael Moore’s film, “Sicko,” nationalized health care systems like the U.K.’s and France’s are shown very positively. Moore, nonetheless, exaggerates the effectiveness of these health care systems – France and the United Kingdom are both mired in debt as a result.The point of a health care system should be to provide medical attention to those who need it. The U.K. and French systems serve this purpose.A better example of a model to emulate is Singapore’s health care system. It is a two-tier system where private and public health care co-exist.Singaporeans co-pay a highly-subsidized amount to see government doctors or more for private attention.The standard treatment Singaporeans receive in public hospitals is top notch because competition from the private health care sector spurs them to keep abreast with the latest medical technology and innovation. Choice is a luxury for those who can afford it. Otherwise, Singaporeans can still receive quality preventative treatments.In comparison with the U.S., Singapore’s system is statistically superior.Life expectancy in the United States is 78 years; in Singapore, it is 82 years. The U.S. infant mortality rate is 6.4 deaths per 1,000 live births; in Singapore, that figure is 2.3 deaths per 1,000.Despite these figures, Singapore spends only 3.7 percent of its GDP on health care, while the U.S. spends 15.4 percent and has many more physicians, nurses, dentists and pharmacists than Singapore.Perhaps it’s time for the U.S. to look to the rising economies in Asia for better solutions.
(05/19/08 3:44am)
The IU Chinese Student and Scholar Association will hold a campus-wide donation drive for victims of the May 12 earthquake in China this Tuesday and Thursday. Donations will benefit relief efforts by organizations such as the Red Cross Society of China and MercyCorps, who are actively helping quake victims and their families.\nDonations will be accepted by IUCSSA at various locations on campus. On Tuesday, donation boxes will be set up at Ballantine Hall, the Indiana Memorial Union and the Sample Gates. On Thursday, donations will be collected at the Sample Gates, the IMU and Campus View Apartments.\n“The IU Chinese community is greatly saddened by the disaster,” said Si Qin, IUCSSA spring 2008 president and a native of Sichuan Province in China, where the earthquake hit. “Almost every Chinese I know has been closely following the event and trying to help in any way they can.”\nAn earthquake of 7.9 magnitude shook Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, at about 3:10 p.m. May 12, according to the U.S. Geological Survey’s Web site. Chinese government officials estimated that three million homes were destroyed by the earthquake, and more than 12 million were damaged, according to a May 18 New York Times article. A subsequent article from the same day estimated that more than 32,000 people were killed in the quake.\n“The tragedy in China has united the Chinese community,” said Yan Jin, IUCSSA’s president. “The Chinese community in Bloomington has been very supportive and helpful to the victims so far. I have witnessed the great love and the concern they have for the people when it comes to giving.” \nIUCSSA, however, hopes to reach out to more than just the Chinese community in Bloomington, Jin said. \n“Members of IUCSSA, and non-members even, have made class presentations appealing to peers to donate to victims of the quake since the disaster took place,” Yan said. “Organizations like the Asian Culture Center, Asian Student Union and International Center have also helped to spread the word of the need for help via e-mails and announcements on notice boards.” \nMoney collected from the donation drive will be given to organizations that will in turn use the money for medical supplies for the injured as well as necessities for the homeless such as food, shelter and clothing, said Qiong You, IUCSSA secretary.\n“A lot will be needed to rebuild the lives of the victims of the disaster,” Qiong said. “We will announce how money received will be used. More importantly, we hope the drive raises awareness of the plight in China.” \nStudents who are not able to donate Tuesday or Thursday can donate online. The IUCSSA Web site has links to MercyCorps, One Foundation, Canadian Red Cross and GlobalGiving Web sites, which allow for online donations, Qiong said.\nAnyone who wants to give more than monetary contributions can also express condolences through letters to victims of the quake. Supporters can also help raise awareness of the suffering of quake victims who are injured, experiencing the tragic loss of loved ones or are left homeless, Yan said.\n“IU students can spread the word amongst friends of the suffering in China and the need for help,” Yan said. “They can also provide a spirit of comfort through letters of encouragement.”\nSi agreed, saying that the best way to help the victims is through donations and spreading the word of the tragedy.\n“We need to let people know how serious the situation is and how big a difference one can make to help,” he said.
(04/21/08 2:14am)
Light rain did not deter the crowd from moving and humming to a rendition of the song “Seasons of Love” Saturday afternoon. The well-known anthem from the Broadway musical “Rent” was sung by the Quarryland Men’s Chorus as part of its performance for the Fourth Annual Bloomington AIDS Walk, a walkathon fundraiser to support the fight against AIDS. \nThe walkathon was jointly organized by the IU Student Global AIDS Campaign and Bloomington Hospital Positive Link, a care coordination site for people living with HIV/AIDS. About 120 people turned up at Third Street Park for the AIDS Walk, which raised about $650.\nThis year’s AIDS Walk followed a 5K route just outside of the IU campus. The event was geared towards raising awareness in the fight against AIDS and money to benefit the Bloomington Hospital Positive Link clinic, said Anna Kostrzewsky, co-director of the IU Student Global AIDS Campaign, a student organization that is part of a larger youth network committed to the global fight against AIDS.\n“We also have an educational component,” Kostrzewsky said, “because we have different community groups lined up along the back with their educational tables to promote their health causes and educate the public about these issues.”\nThe event featured performances by the Quarryland Men’s Chorus and IU’s South African gumboot dance group, along with testimonials by the Positive Link clinic’s clients. Free snacks and Starbucks coffee were served as well. \n“It’s really a shame that it’s raining because I think more people would have turned up if it was sunny,” Kostrzewsky said. “But the performances lifted the mood, a little bit, to a happy event and something life affirming.” \nJunior Kavita Nana, treasurer of Student Global AIDS Campaign, agreed and said that she wished the turnout had been better.\n“I’m from South Africa so there are lots of people there who suffer AIDS,” she said. “I think (the reception) was great. I mean the weather wasn’t cooperative, and this is for a great cause.”\nAccording to the AIDS Project’s Los Angeles Web site, the first AIDS Walk took place on July 28, 1985 in Los Angeles. The event has since been emulated all around the country as a means to raise funds for AIDS.\nTerry Turley, a self-proclaimed AIDS survivor and Bloomington Hospital Positive Link client, addressed the crowd prior to the walk and spoke about his experience facing AIDS stigmatization.\n“People with full-blown AIDS find it difficult to get employment,” he said. “The stigma involved makes an HIV-positive person way less employable.”\nTurley speaks at events such as AIDS Walk to advocate social responsibility to enact change in the American health system from a “sick-care basis” to a “maintenance-care basis.” \n“The people in this country are being treated for illnesses; there aren’t any preventative health maintenances like there is in Germany and England and Japan,” he said. “I feel like this would have been caught at an earliest stage if this country had adopted a health maintenance networking place rather than a sick maintenance.”\nAshton Morris, a freshman at Bloomington High School South, was at the walk with his family. He said after the walk that he had enjoyed himself but wished that the weather would have been better.\n“Seems like both years that we done this (the AIDS Walk), it has been rainy,” he said. “But I had fun, and (am) glad to be part of an event that helps the community.”