readings

[Anonymous]

Good start on info to make us more knowledgeable about several aspects of geography, demographics and economics in East Asia.Will be interesting for me to see how this ties to the our study of "Origins to 1800." Having spent fair amount of time in Vancouver, BC and seen the incredible growth of the chineese community in that area after 1993, as well as the resources (unfinished wood) flowing out of that area for China I am interested to more fully understand the economics of our trade with East Asia.

[Anonymous]

Thought I'd share this link to LiNK! I was contacted by this group last school year, but couldn't get them on the calendar. I'm planning to have them come in this year. Might be a great opportunity to make some real-world, emotional connections to the region. I'm also attaching their Fall 2011 packet. Let me know if you want my contact's information.

http://www.linkglobal.org/index.html

Clay, I'd love to hear your thoughts on this program. Have you heard of it?

[Anonymous]

When I teach geography, I am sometimes a little cruel and like to mess with my seventh graders just a little. For instance, when we go over the old T-O maps, which have Jerusalem at the center of the three known continents, I'll say things like, "Well, why shouldn't Jerusalem be in the middle? Wasn't it the most important city? And, why shouldn't L.A. be the capital of California? And why should we even have those countries no one knows much about on maps?" Obviously, much discussion ensues. For this reason, I was very interested in the topic of East Sea v. Sea of Japan today. Why maps represent the world in the way they do is an important consideration, from the teaching of the different projections to the naming of names. Discussions like the one we had today make geography interesting and alive, and that is always something we strive for in the classroom.

[Anonymous]

According to this article, Japan's population was on the decline in 2008, so I wonder about the impact of the recent nuclear powerplant disaster. This must be causing a significant impact on the country. It's strange that nothing appears to have been mentioned recently in the U.S. media regarding how people are coping. The last information I heard from the news was that 45% of children were showing exposure to radiation, but I don't know the specifics of the study such as proximity to the plant. This would most definitely impact Japan's population further.
edited by ccable on 8/9/2011
edited by ccable on 8/9/2011

[Anonymous]

I think that posing these questions could be a good anticipatory start to a geography lesson. I may have to use this idea... I'm especially fond of the question you posed, "Why do we have to have those countries nobody really knows about on the map?" LOL

[Anonymous]

Japan is not the only country facing the immigration issues. Bad economy and high unemployment rate make it harder for people to argue for bringing in more foreign workers to boost industry's competitive edge. However, with a falling population and a retiring baby-boom generation, Japan cannot sustain its present living standards.
If robot work force cannot replace the human work force, a more mixed Japan is inevitable.

[Anonymous]

It was quit interesting to read through the article "The Odd Couple" (Reading assignment from Clay). I am very surprised to know the current situation in North Korea. In that realm, mobile phonese and the internet can not be used. The radio and television sets are made to tune only to government stations. Traveling within the country will need authorization, otherwise is banned. And food shortages are persistent. To the contrary, as we've learned from Professor Kim, South Korea's economy stands out globally. Because of its strong economy and overall high living standards, South Korea is also well known as "Asia's Four Young Dragons." I am sure, for the unification, both South and North Korea would face many challenges . I am looking forward to see what will happen next.

[Anonymous]

I found these articles very interesting. "Don't Bring Me Your Huddled Masses" discusses the economic problems facing Japan's future. I never realized there were foreign workers in Japan who are very underpaid. They do not benefit from the lifetime-employment system for Japanese citizens. Like our country, Japan is experiencing a rise in unemployment. I didn't know there was such a large industry in building robots either; many being industrial robots, others as toys, even house sitter robots, or ones to help care for aging parents. Interesting. With their expensive costs, companies have been shutting down and/or claiming bankruptcy.

"When the Catfish Stirs" talks about earthquakes in Japan. I don't think I'd ever want to live in Japan. The chances of a 7-point quake in Tokyo are 70% in the next 30 years. Earthquakes scare me. So, why do I continue to live in California, you may ask. Seismic activity in Tokyo still surpasses that of Los Angeles.

"The Odd Couple" discusses both North and South Korea, two completely different countries. I wonder how the two will ever be reunified; there are sure to be many bumps and challenges. In North Korea, one in 20 are in the military, one in 40 have been in the "gulag" (is that prison?), cell phones and internet are forbidden except for the elite, radio and TV are tuned to government only stations, unauthorized travel is forbidden, and there are chronic food shortages. North Koreans are on the average three inches shorter than South Koreans. South Korea will have a huge financial burden trying to integrate 23 million North Koreans because despite their economic success, they still average half the income of the Japanese. Also, the low fertility rate (1.26) is having an impact on its rapidly aging society. Korea's planned parenthood is promoting more births.

"With Wounded Pride, Unemployed Koreans Quietly Turn to Manual Labor" painted a picture of many educated, unemployed college graduates forced to become blue-collar workers to make a living. They have turned to working as hands on crab boats to scrubbing the backs of the elite at public bathhouses. They chose not to tell family and friends about their positions, sometimes only the wife. Very sad. I commend them for working with their hands when they received an education that would have placed them in an office. It is tough all over.

[clay dube]

Hi Folks, I've attached a collection of readings addressing environmental and demographic issues that China, Japan, and Korea are confronting. Please hit reply to comment on any or all of them or to offer your thoughts regarding the topics we discuss in class.
edited by Clay Dube on 7/30/2011

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