News and International Views

What's On the International News?
Terry Schiavo, Michael Jackson and Martha Stewart stories are broadcast in the Hong Kong airport as " CNN Breaking News," indicating the power of Hollywood. There is no escaping it.

California mudslides are mentioned to me on the street in Thailand, where three months ago, they had the tsunami disaster.

A live one hour press conference with Secretary General Kofi Annon, includes questions from Fox News and other journalists who ask "aren't you a crook?" and "isn't the United Nations irrelevant?" type- questions. There are also more probing questions from American and International journalists.

Taipei, which is upset over recent language from Beijing about sovereignty, is referred to as in "China" on CNN International; the US is alone in support of "Taiwan".

Protests are broadcast from Tokyo, Seoul and throughout the World on the second anniversary of Iraq Invasion by "the United States and Britain."

On the heavily promoted CNN "Melting Point" special documentary, that I suspect is not broadcast in the United States, global warming is called a fact. "Due to the mounting evidence for climate change, only the magnitude of global climate change is debated by serious scientists." The United States and Australia are the only major holdouts to the 1997 Kyoto Treaty.

The Daily Show with John Stewart: Global Edition, which is broadcast in Asia on Sundays in prime time: The John Bolton and Paul Wolfowitz nominations indicate that George W. Bush has huge "balls". They illustrate this point with "MRI photos".

The US is viewed as the driver of the World economy; concern over US deficit, rising interest rates and rising oil prices directly impact the Asian economy

Sale of warplanes from US to Pakistan is proposed

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How are Tokyo, Seoul, Bangkok and America different?
Standard of living
Japan's standard of living is higher than in the United States, based on the gadgets they use, such as showers that deliver water at a desired temperature. Japan is more expensive than the United States, which may also be an indicator of standard of living. However, Asians tend live in small apartments, which Americans might find unsuitable. So, it is probably impossible to say whether Japan or America has a higher standard of living. Korea's standard of living is lower than the United States, with Seoul's sewer system being the most noticeable issue. (My guest house uses a trash can for used toilet paper to keep the sewer from plugging.) An American should nonetheless easily adapt to Korea. I read that housing costs in Korea average less than ten percent of income, an indication of economic convervatism. In Bangkok, prices are low and tourists get diarrhea every couple of weeks.

Education
PhDs per capita are amongst the highest in the world in Korea. Japanese are well educated. I sense less formal education in Thailand.

Pollution
Bangkok has air, water and noise pollution. It seems as if mufflers have been outlawed on the 100cc motorcycles. So, when stoplights change, it sounds like the start of a Grand Prix. The diesel buses drown out many odors, but not all. Bangkok street odors of rotten meat smell worse than sewage, and you notice debris floating down the river. Seoul is air pollution conscious with NOx level displayed digitally on the most congested roads, though the exhaust pollution is not that noticeable to me. Tokyo is also like the United States, with pollution issues generally under control.

Dress
Tokyo people are fashion conscious, like with Los Angeles. Seoul people also dress well, and many dress formally, like they are going to church. Bangkok grooming and dress are neat and conformist. An Arab Muslim presence is noticeable in my Bangkok neighborhood.

Pace
Seoul and Tokyo have a big city pace. Bangkok is too hot to support this pace, and the natives walk slower. Somebody yells at me, "You walk too fast."

Homelessness
I saw it in Japanese National Parks and in Seoul subway stations, though San Francisco homelessness is much more obvious. The problem seems worst in America, most under control in Japan. You see people sleeping in odd places in Bangkok, but this implies heat rather than homelessness to me.

English
Many Asians speak English, in every city. TOEFL tests are must be aced for Asians to receive the best higher education. Americans can benefit from the Asian focus on English, and can become English teachers.

Pharmacies
In Korea, RU-21, the day after pill, is advertised in the windows at pharmacies. In Thailand, Viagra, Cialis, or your favorite pharmaceutical does not require a prescription.

The American Right
American conservatism and the George W. Bush election are viewed as expressions of militant, nationalism. Koreans also view the Japanese as nationalists based upon their recent claim of the Totko islands and on recent revisions to history textbooks. The occupation of Korea, ending in 1945, is still fresh on the minds of Koreans.

Thai t-shirts include "Good Bush/Bad Bush," where "Bad Bush" is the president. One t-shirt on a Bangkok street stand shows a flattering picture of Osama, though, I haven't noticed anyone wearing pro-Osama clothing-- are they used for turbans? (Lots of corporate shirts are for sale-- Nike, Polo, LeCoste, etc., but no American flag waving type shirts are obvious.)

Women
American liberalism is refreshing to younger Asians. A woman has been elected the equivalent of governor in Japan. However, in Tokyo, I notice a woman dressed as a Geisha, bowing goodbye to a man wearing a business suit. Korean girls also know that the brother will get more opportunities. Thailand is even more sexist, as you see employment ads for "Thai males younger than 30". Despite the American glass ceilings, America is still progressive.

Hollywood
The top five DVDs in Japan are American blockbusters. "The Incredibles" is on sale at Bangkok 7-11s. Much of the perception of America, as a land of opportunity, comes from Hollywood, which is America's strongest industry in Asia. Everyone knows Arnold Schwartzeneggar. Somehow, Hollywood convinces Asians that America, thirteen time zones away, is important to them. (Some Asian high school students also inaccurately believe the United States city streets are filled with gunfire, based on Hollywood.) Hollywood infiltrates the dreams of the planet.

Land of Opportunity
I met a Japanese man whose uncle is a University professor in Chicago. I met a Korean with several family members who are successful in the United States. They can not imagine foreigners achieving success in their countries (the new Welsh born CEO of Sony is a prominent exception), but Asians have role models who have succeeded in the United States. America does represent a land of opportunity.