Just one hour after his visit to the Yasukuni Shrine this morning (15 August 2006), which interupted all Japanese television, Prime Minister Koizumi called a press conference to explain his actions.
Category: Surrealpolitik
Meanings behind PM’s Yasukuni Shrine visit
Every year on August 15, East Asia steels itself for the possibility that Japan’s head-of-state will visit the Yasukuni Shinto Shrine, and in doing so, commemorate Japan’s war dead.
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Israel critic needs thicker skin
On Monday’s program we heard from Antony Loewenstein, a journalist and author who claims pro-Zionist members of the Jewish community tried to silence his views that are critical of Israel.
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Fake drugs ruin malaria efforts
Next to Africa, where health experts claim between one and three million people are dying every year due to malaria, and the fake drugs that do little to stop its spread.
Filipino death squads target fringe parties
According to research by marginal political parties in The Philippines, and backed up by human rights organisations, a wave of political and journalistic killings since 2001 has surpassed that of the corrupt Marcos dictatorship of the 1970s and 80s.
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No way out for Brazil’s innocents
In May this year, criminal gangs — directed by organised prison networks — conducted police killings all across Brazil’s largest city, Sao Paulo.
New China journalism not just mouthpiece
China’s media network is by far the largest in the world.
More than 1.1 billion people have access to the 3,000 television stations nationwide. Chinese radio broadcasts in 43 languages worldwide, and 900,000 students are enrolled in just one of the many journalism schools.
But internationally, China’s media is often viewed as the mouthpiece of the central government, or to use the Chinese phrase — “the throat and tongue of the party”.
Australian blazing Chinese art trail
The Beijing of 20 years ago is a far cry from the quickly-modernising, creative hotbed and soon-to-be-host-of-the-Olympic-Games Chinese capital of today.
Back then, a young idealistic Australian enrolled in a language school and helped his new artist friends arrange exhibitions. This year, he celebrates the 15th anniversary of his art gallery which is housed in an enormous Ming Dynasty-era watchtower in central Beijing.
Drawing upon the history of dinosaurs
The allure of dinosaurs has always held a special place in the hearts of children and adults alike.
And for one Singaporean-Australian, a life-long fascination is now garnering awards as his research and accurate illustrations of these prehistoric creatures appear in books and magazines worldwide.
UN bombing recalls China Belgrade response
The bombing by Israel of the UN compound in Lebanon that killed one Chinese national has reignited memories of a similar incident 7 years ago which sparked massive protests in Beijing and other parts of China.
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