Session 1 readings (dube, 3/3 morning)

[Donna Jamshidnejad]

I'd like to add that I watched a VICE News video recently and used it in class as a quick crash course in post-Cold War history to prepare for the AP exam. The video is called  "the world in disarray" and is available on YouTube. One segment discusses China and China's territorial claims in the seas to the east and south. If you skip around 45 minutes into the video, they begin speaking about modern China. The video seems biased, but it is interesting. At one point, a journalist flies over the South China Sea and is hailed by the Chinese Navy and forced to leave the airway. The Chinese state that anything within 12 aeronautical miles of the coasts of the islands belong to them, and the navy warns the civilian aircraft to leave. 

 

[Laura Gonzales]

The articles assigned in the 1^st reading were eye opening. I had read about mail-order brides from Russia or the Philippines coming to the US but it never crossed my mind that people in South Korea would also participate in this. After reading Asia’s demographic crisis it made more sense why males would seek out females from other countries to marry. What I found disturbing is that women from impoverished countries are willing to marry off in order to improve their social economic status, these women are willing to leave their loved ones behind in hope that they will have a better life. Even thought the women interviewed mentioned that they were in love I was a bit skeptical of this especially when the women couldn't even speak the language and needed to get trained on how to behave and get by in this new land. After reading this article I also watched a television documentary on mail order brides. I almost feel like the women are selling themselves off because of their social economic situation.

                                                                                               

[Laura Gonzales]

Japan: End of the rice age.

To learn about the declining population and aging population that parts of Asia is experiencing is causing bigger problems in the economy. As discussed in the End of the rice age Japan has seen a decline on rice consumption. There are several factors affecting rice consumption from aging population, to aging farmers, to California rice competitions. It also seems as if the younger population do not want to eat rice instead they want to eat wheat. One thing that I would have liked more clarification from the reading would be about the aging farmers. It seems as though the younger generation are not willing to farm as if it is not considered an honorable job. The article stated that many farmers are in their 70’s which mean they are probably ready to retire. This article could be connected to Professor’s Yamashita’s mention that white rice was only made popular after WWII. This means that in fact the end of the rice age could really come to an end just like many things in history. I wonder what the new lucrative crop in Japan will be.

 

[Donna Jamshidnejad]

I agree with your last statement regarding supporting families. Even here in the US many people are waiting longer before having children and also choosing to have smaller families. However, more support such as maternity/paternity leave, healthcare coverage, childcare, and a livable wage are supports that can encourage families to grow. However, the human population is already high, and some argue the earth is overpopulated. Low fertility rates may help reduce the population, but we are also faced with an aging population (for example, Japan) and not enough youth to care for this population. I wonder what the solution to these problems are.

[Donna Jamshidnejad]

The idea of a "cultural lag" and resisting change can apply to most societies. I recently watched a documentary titled The Third Industrial Revolution narrated by  social and economic theorist Jeremy Rifkin. Rifkin is an economic advisor to the Chinese government and states that he is assisting China in moving into a new economic space known as the “third industrial revolution.” This movement is fueled by natural, clean energy such as solar and is in part a response to climate change. Rifkin argues that we all need to move away from fossil fuels and industrialize or fall behind. His statements about working with China did not seem to fit into the narrative from our class. I feel like we have learned about China as polluted and slow to change. However, Rifkin suggests that China is actively part of this Third Industrial Revolution while the United States is falling behind.

[Donna Jamshidnejad]

I agree that students can benefit from the visual presented in the lecture rather than always reading from a book. I like your idea to use the image of the globe depicting all of the lights. This image along with others might be a fun "chalk talk" acitivity. I learned about this in a recent PD book I was given. You cover the walls in butcher paper, and place a images or text around the room on the butcher paper (similar to a gallery walk). Students are given markers and guiding questions to consider. They then circle the room freely and pose questions or write statements around images posted in the room. The kids love the freedom to walk around, and find it fun to write on the walls. They then "talk" to one another by responding to what others have written. It might be fun to ask students to work silently so that they can only communicate through the writing on the butcher paper. 

[Tanish Fortson]

I wrote about this article as well. I was intrigued and appalled all at once from this article. I will admit that I haven’t traveled that much and have been a bit sheltered but I had no idea that mail order brides are still popular in other countries. What I have noticed is that women from developing nations seek men in more developed nations. With the internet so popular now its probable an easier process. I’ve heard Southeast Asia has a large number of women participating in this process. What is bothersome is that these women do not speak the same language. How can you have a deep connection with someone so I do agree with you when you say that women are selling themselves and leaving their families for a more ideal social economic situation. What bothers me the most is that women want to be obedient to their families so they do things that they don’t necessary agree with. 

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