Big Lives, Small Feet: Photographing China's Bound Women

A photographer by the name of Jo Farrell will be publishing a book in Hong Kong some of the last women who had followed the practices of foot binding in China. Farrell was able to meet about 50 women and one by the name of Su Xi Rong had been renowned for her beautiful small feet. Foot binding was a tradition that empowered women and showed their ability to tolerate pain and be a good wife who will not complain. What was very interesting was that about 40 percent of the women were not forced to bind their feet as a young girl, instead they wanted to. They felt outcasted if not and most knew how to do it themselves since it was so common to see. Foot binding happened over a period of the bones in the toes breaking beneath the weight causing the arch to lift high and the heel will then touch the metatarsals. It wasn't until 1949, Communist power would scorn the foot binding method leading some of the women feeling ashamed. Now some of the women agree that if they could go back in time, they would not bind their feet since there isn't much worth to it anymore. The book will tell the remarkable stories these women had and their courage to share them. It will be interesting to learn about the last few who had practiced this method and their experiences doing so.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-31964279

Myanmar Court Finds Trio Guilty of Insulting Religion

Three men were arrested in December and just recently found guilty for insulting Buddhism in Myanmar. The men are two Burmese and a New Zealander who work at a bar in Yangon and promoted a poster that advertised cheap drinks night with Buddha surrounded by psychedelic colors and headphones. Philip Blackwood was said to be the actual one who posted this advertisement on Facebook and the other two colleagues had nothing to do with it. Blackwood had apologized numerous times but was still sentences along with the other men, two and a half years in prison which is the maximum sentence. Since Burmese law make it illegal to insult or damage any religion, it will be difficult for these mean to appeal and win the case. Although free speech is in Myanmar, Buddhist nationalism is on the rise which targets the minority of the population who are not following Buddhism. Ninety percent of the population are Buddhist while others such as Muslims within Myanmar are constantly being target which make living standards difficult for minorities. Blackwood will be appealing but it will be interesting how successful it will actually be. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-31918269

Riot Police Surround Protesting Myanmar Students

Students in Myanmar have been protesting against an education bill which curbs academic freedom, since January. About 300 students are camping out in a monastery located in Letpadan, the country's main city. Although authorities have promised to make some adjustments to the bill, students are still protesting because it is seen as undemocratic. They believe that the bill "centralizes control over higher education institutes." They are asking "for greater freedom in universities, the freedom to set up student and teacher unions, more government spending on education and more say in education policies and laws." Then on Monday morning the students woke up to more than a dozen police cars parked right outside the monastery they are camping in. A activist participating in this protest shares that all the entrances and exists are closed within the monastery and that the tension continues to grow. Although authorities promise to make some changes in the bill, it is inspiring to see students take action and stick to what they know is right. Education is not only good for individual but overall the country. More educated people mean a better life and economy which is why schools and university costs should be a main priority. Most country's struggle with this concept but it is nonetheless very important to fight for. Best of luck to those protesting and may they receive the changes for better education.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-31690520

Joko Widodo: No Foreign Interference on Death Penalty

Eleven people in Indonesia are facing death penalty because of drug trafficking. Countries such as Brazil, France, and Australia are pressuring the President to change his decision of the death penalty. They are concerned of these harsh penalties partly because some of the traffickers tried to smuggle drugs to their countries such as Australia. The president completely disagrees and argues that they have every right to exercise this law. Indonesia is well-known for having harsh penalties when handling drug trafficking, and the current president, Joko Widodo is all for them. Just recently, six traffickers were executed and now eleven will be killed as well by a firing squad. Two men within the eleven people facing death penalty who tried to smuggle Heroin, will try to appeal the decision although it is very difficult to change the presidents jurisdiction. Although it will be difficult to do, it is worth a shot for these people to appeal the decision to save their lives. The charges do seem very intense but the president has reasons to why drug trafficking is seen as a terrible crime. What is interesting is that since Indonesia is known for their harsh ruling over drug trafficking why has there been so many people violating it. There are many people who have been executed for smuggling drugs so why try to even do so. Most get caught and is it really worth losing your life over. Whatever the case may be, death penalty is a very rough charge but it will be interesting if those two men appealing will be able to get out of it.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-31598763

Chinese Home Prices Fall For Ninth Month

Government data has shown that home prices within seventy major cities in China such as Beijing and Shanghai have fallen about .4%. This has marked the ninth consecutive decline partly because of a slow economy and oversupply problems. Since homes are not worth much, there is now more business within stock markets for better investments. Although there had been a surprise cut interest rate in China's central bank, the prices continue to fall. It is interesting to see China struggling with this issue because China has been known to have a growing economy do to their production rates but yet still have to deal with these issues. Housing finances is a large part of an economy. It is one of the main reasons why the US dealt with our recent recession. If China can somehow improve this falling rate and have homes become an investment, their economy can grow much more. It is hard to say if this change will happen any time soon but so far it has continued to decline. Although it is hard to say if it will change any time soon, there is acknowledgment of the issue and there's hope that the government will be able to make adjustments such as having banks hold less reserved money which can boost lending in order to help property sector.  Whether it may help or not, no one is sure but at least there is acton being done to take care of the issue.

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-31498557

Hong Kong Woman Found Guilty of Abusing Indonesian Maid

A woman by the name of Erwiana Sulistyaningsih from Indonesia, worked as a maid in Hong Kong. She had worked for Law Wan-tung who had repeatedly abused her. Erwiana suffered with malnutrition and physical abuse such as being punched or hit with different objects including a vacuum which had injured her lips. She was unable to tell anyone about the abuse because Law Wan-tung had threatened to kill her family if she did. The case drew in a lot of attention when Erwiana returned to Indonesia in need of medical attention. Hong Kong employs about 300,000 maids from other parts of Asia which brought upon intense scrutiny to this case because there are laws to protect maids and keep them safe but this clearly isn't working. Law Wan-tung constantly denied the abuse and even her attorney accused Erwiana as a liar. They argued that Erwiana was bruised up because of her clumsiness instead. Nonetheless, Law was found guilty of 18 out of 20 charges. Migrant workers are now protesting in Hong Kong because abuse towards maids has always been an issue but never given the proper attention. It is very important that Hong Kong authorities take action and realize the amount of abuse maids or other migrant workers may experience that need to be stopped. As for now Erwiana is very pleased with the charges Law received and is now recuperating with her family in Indonesia. 
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-31340638

Mummified Monk in Mogolia 'not dead', Say Buddhists

A Mongolian mummified monk was recently discovered after being stolen by a man hoping to sell it in the black market. The Mongolian police have arrested him and placed the monk at the National Centre of Forensic Expertise. During examinations, they have found that the monk was wrapped in cattle skin in north-central Mongolia. Due to the cold weather in Mongolia, scientist assume this is a major reason why the monk was able to stay well-preserved. Buddhists claim that the monk found in a lotus position, is not dead but in a deep meditative trance or in a rare state of meditation known as 'tukdam'.  If he continues to stay in this trance he can then become a Buddha. The identity of this monk is not yet found but some say he was the teacher of Lama Dashi-Dorzho Itigilov who is was also mummified, found in a lotus position, and well preserved in a Buddhist temple to be worshipped.  It is so interesting how these monks were able to meditate and die in the same position and still found preserved after many years. It is fascinating that their mind was able to control their position and not allow the suffering of death affect them in anyway.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-31125338