charity thru vending machines

Vending Machines Enable Users to Donate to Charity

Appearing across Japan recently is something called the “charity vending machine,” which allows users to donate their change to such good causes as environmental conservation and child welfare at the push of a button. These machines have been well received by consumers, who enjoy being able to contribute to a cause that interests them when they buy a canned or bottled drink.
Drinks maker Ito En has linked up with the Japanese Organization for International Cooperation in Family Planning (JOICFP) and last year began setting up vending machines that dispense drinks with White Ribbon stickers attached. The machines are presently in use in eight locations, including in front of the building in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district that houses JOICFP.

(Quoted from: http://www.trendhunter.com/ 18 May 2008)

social problems, social issues. (Japan)

On the ground observations.

As most of you know, I am currently taking a Japanese language course here in Japan, and have decided to share some things I have seen while here. (This is not my first trip to Japan, for those of you who don’t know, I come as often as once every two months.)While walking to the train station after dinner a few nights back, I saw a little scene that made me think about some fundamental social issues in Japan (I believe in Korea too, thou I have only been to Korea once, and would not attempt to comment on Korea). A girl (probably in her mid-twenties) was walking by a road-barricade with one of those pull-me-luggage (the kind that could be stowed in the overhead compartment on a plane), when a much older man (probably in his late-fifties or sixties), – who seemed drunk from the way he talked and redness of his face –, leaned over to grope/touch the girl’s butt. This is not entirely uncommon here in Japan. So the girl, in an extremely unorthodox-Japanese manner, turned around and swung the little suitcase at him and demanded an apology. Of course by then, a little group of onlookers began to crowd, and the elder man was forced, probably in drunk reluctance, to apologise. I say unorthodox-Japanese manner because in many similar situations, the girl(s) would either turn, give a little stare, then walk on off, or continue walking away with her head down, without so much as a head-turn, so please do not ‘bite’ me on the usage of unorthodox-Japanese manner. We all know that Japanese mannerism and culture is among the few that has retained its historical origins very well.

So I come to my point. Is this a socially accepted norm? Is this a social education issue?

For some of us, especially those living in the extremely well protected (by governmental laws and the police organization) nation of Singapore, such acts of molestation would result in a hefty wrist slap (monetary fines and even a police case). Furthermore, the reaction from a girl in an above-similar situation would probably have resulted in the taking out of cell-phone, and the punching of three digits.

So argue with me here. “YES! It is a social education issue, and should not be socially accepted. Punishments should be imposed on offenders, police officers should be more vigilant, and more stringent laws have to be in place.” Easier said than done.

On to my next topic, partially related to the one above. Train carriages. For many of you who have been to Japan, you would know that Japan is covered in thousands of miles of tracks. From the Shinkansen (bullet train) to the daily commuter types (some are much like our subways, while others are inter-state types). I commute daily on the JR (acronym for Japan Rail), a vast inter-Japan rail network, from my uchi to my school. On the renowned JR system, train lengths range from 6 to 10 carriages, and of these 6 – 10 carriages, there is always at least one carriage that is meant solely for elders, the handicap, and the pregnant. Very commendable. And of these 6 – 10 carriages, there is also at least one carriage that is meant for ladies.

“Huh?” you may ask.
“Exactly!” is my reply.

This ‘female only’ carriage has a time-period, mainly peak hours. For those of you who indulge in vices such as pornography and adult videos (AV as it is known in Japan), the train carriage should be a sick but familiar scene; a place where molestation occurs, especially during peak hours. So the government decides to do something for the ladies of Japan, and thus, the introduction of ‘female only’ carriages.

Now ask yourself this basic yet simple question: “is that how you solve a problem?” While I am not able to fully provide examples of how such crimes could be curbed, I am sure governmental think-tanks could. But from my personal understanding and rationalizing, ‘female only’ carriages would only further worsen this social issue. The solution has to be dealt with from the root, and not form some feeble attempt at solving a much deeper issue. I have also read that women are not the only ones who suffer from groping problems, men too, are sometimes victimized by scheming girls who target a victim, and create a scene of false-accusation. This embarrassing scene could then be dealt with by the man, with a private settlement fee. In this case, exploitation is the key word, and I shall not dwell too much into it, as it is a separate issue altogether. While laws are indeed in place against such crimes, the enforcement is lacking.

On to my third issue. Catch Sales. I believe many of you may not be familiar with this term. From a logical perspective, this term seemed to be coined for people who run after you around malls and try to push the sales of various products. Make sense? You couldn’t be more wrong. Catch Sales is a term used to label people (I believe 99% of them are men) who wait at busy pedestrian junctions or the entrances to malls, and target lone girls (usually better looking ones) to join their various ‘phoney’ companies or modelling agencies. While it is a common tactic employed by many head-hunting firms, the objective of these Catch Sales are drastically different. They aim at targeting girls for various jobs, ranging narrowly between pornographic magazines to pornographic AV. They used to be dressed seemingly decently in suits, and I believe recent laws have banned such attire. So now, the Catch Sales are dressed in less conspicuous clothing (I am being sarcastic, when you have the opportunity to see one, you would be able to tell them from the other normal people, relatively clearly.)

These people usually target lone girls, and would follow them for a distance, consistently pestering them with questions and compliments alike. Sometimes, they might even daringly walk up to couples holding hands, thou seldom the case. Another annoyingly amusing fact is that these Catch Sales sometimes operate when there are police officers nearby. Furthermore, shopping centres and areas that are mainly populated by the young would have PA loudspeaker systems blasting both the latest chart-topping music hits, and warning messages for girls of such Catch Sales activities nearby.

On now, to my forth and final point; once again partially related to the abovementioned issues. While walking around downtown Sannomiya, Kobe earlier today, I saw a few young girls from a distance, all dressed in trendy clothing and smoking. Then as I got closer to them, two police officers seemingly materialized from out of nowhere, approached them, and demanded an ID check. It seemed obvious that the girls were underage, as I saw one still wearing a uniform-skirt hiked up, despite of the funky top she adorned. While it is both right and dutiful for the police officers to perform such routine checks, why is it that the same officers are not trying to reduce the three above mentioned issues?

Myanmar relief!

this short post has actually been in my draft for sometime, and i only recently realized that it was actually not posted.. apologies..

Cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar on 2 May 2008, leaving at least 31,938 dead and 29,770 people missing.
Dozens of the 63 villages surrounding the town of Labutta have been wiped out and US estimates the death toll could hit 100,000.
Many countries have pledged emergency aid so far totalling some 19 million euros (US$29 million). (quoted: Channel News Asia, 17th May 2008)

Play your part in charity:

http://www.ifrc.org/
http://www.mercyrelief.org/
http://www.worldvision.org.sg/

language, accent, and all things said

This video is in response to some who comment on my choice of accents used in videos of my blog. This short clip argues that "while accents shape the facade and image we portray, nothing is more important than one's ability to communicate". And because certain accents are restricted to a small group of people or region, my choice of accent in the videos is aimed at broadening the view-ability and understand-ability.



All comments are greatly appreciated!
(Thanks Mr.Pang, for your insightful comment!)

China earthquake relief and warming of East Asian ties

(updated 20th May 12noon)

• http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/348696/1/.html

Below are two news-video articles from both Chinese and American news agencies (CCTV and ABC news).

A short Chinese news agency (CCTV) interviewing a Japanese analyst on the warming of ties.

I have provided several links below to charitable organizations that may assist those who are interested in providing aid and help.

• http://www.china.org.cn/english/MATERIAL/116641.htm
• http://www.unfoundation.org/index.asp
• http://www.mercycorps.org/chinaearthquake/?source=1062
  

Please spare a thought for all; in fact, spare change is a surprisingly helpful form of aid. For more information on the current situation in China, feel free to load the links provided below.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/

If you are religious, pray. If you are non religious, pray.

what do you want from us?

Here is the original-text to the "What do you want from us" video clip poem...
cheers~
:-)

WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM US?
By a Silent, Silent Chinese.

When We were called the Sick man of Asia, We were in Peril.

When We were going to be the next Superpower, We were called The threat.

When We closed our doors, You smuggled Drugs to our Open Markets.

When We Embraced Free Trade, You blamed us for Taking away your jobs.

When We were falling apart, You marched in your troops and wanted your fair share.

When We were putting our broken pieces together again,
“Free Tibet” you screamed, “it was an invasion!”

(Without giving back to the Birth Place of Confucius, Woodrow Wilson handed us a ticket for the Famine Relief Ball)

So, We Tried Communism, You hated us for being Communists.

So, We embraced Capitalism, You hated us for being Capitalists.

When We had a Billion People, you said we were destroying the planet.

When We were trying to limited our population, you said It was a human rights abuse.

When We were Poor, You called us dogs.

When We Loaned you cash, You blamed us for your debts.

When We were building our industries, You called us Polluters.

When we were selling you goods, You blamed us for global warming.

When We bought oil, You called that exploitation and Genocide.

When You were fighting for oil, You called that Liberation.

When We were lost in Chaos and rampage, You wanted to Rule us with Laws.

When We established laws and orders against Violence, You called us Violating the Human Rights.

When We were in silent, You said you wanted us to have the right to Free Speech.
When We were silent no more, You said we were Brainwashed Xenophobias.

When you invaded Iraq and caused millions of deaths, It was an Operation of Freedom.

When we called "One China", You said we have no Rights.

Today, you are calling us Hans, Tibetans, Mongolians...­

(there are 56 ethnic groups in China!)

100 years ago, you said “oh you poor CHINESE people”

Why do you hate us so much? We asked.
“No,” You Answered, “We don’t hate You.”
“We don’t Hate You either, But Do you understand us?”
“Of course We do,” You said, “We have AFP, CNN and BBC”

What do you really want from us?
Think Hard first, Think History, not Media.