BALANCE of CULTURE

Save Pagan Island

The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands is considering a proposal from Japanese investors to lease Pagan Island as a dumping ground for debris from Japan's devastating tsunami of March 2011. This biologically unique island is home to several threatened and endangered species (such as the single island endemic subspecies of the Mariana fruit bat, pictured below) that are already trying to survive under challenging circumstances (Pagan is a prime choice for US military training/testing). Next week, Japan is sending experts to research a formal plan to mine pozzolan on the island as well. 

Pagan Island is itself mostly uninhabited but beyond the biological dangers, the proposal is an insult to the people of CNMI. I don't think any country or community, no matter how large or small, appreciates the idea of being a waste dump site for another nation's garbage--especially one with land so disconnected from our already polluted world.

The 3-11 tsunami was one of the most atrocious events in current Japan and I understand the practical need to rid of waste from the incident. But islands in general are inherently some of the most vulnerable parts of our planet. Just because the human population is low in the region does not mean that the ecology of the islands wouldn't greatly suffer. 

A petition has been formed to address this proposal. Surely we can find at least try to find a safer solution as long as we don't settle for an idea that simply takes advantage of the conveniently-voiceless. 

$100k Bounty for Iranian Rapper Najafi

Germany-based Iranian rapper Shahin Najafi, now sometimes referred to as "the Salman Rushdie of music," (recall The Satanic Verses?) has a bounty on his head for "Naghi," his recent "blasphemous" song that Iranian clerics felt insults the Islamic religion. Though 31-year old Najafi is thousands of miles away, fatwas have been issued identifying him as an apostate--a label punishable by death under the nation's sharia law. 

The founder of Shia-Online.ir, an Iranian religion website, is offering a $100,000 (£62,000) reward for whoever kills Najafi. Seriously.

The song chronicles the tumultuous events in Iran the past year. Najafi states to German broadcaster Deutsche Welle:

I thought there would be some ramifications. But I didn't think I would upset the regime that much. Now they are taking advantage of the situation and making it look like I was trying to criticise religion and put down believers. For me it is more of an excuse to talk about completely different things. I also criticise Iranian society in the song. It seems as though people are just concentrating on the word 'imam'.

Residing in Germany, Najafi almost certainly will have a less ultra-traditional stance on his lyrics. But the usage of "imam" ("Islamic spiritual leader") in the song insults these clerics just as easily as women who attend sports games or own pets. Not too many people or circumstances can satisfy the mindsets of these ultra-extremist types, especially in our time of rapid content-sharing and freedom of expression. 

Territory Dispute: China Suspends Organized Tours to Philippines

Border disputes between two countries can absolutely affect your travel plans: the US isn't the only country to have drama-filled circumstances with China lately--the Philippines and the mainland giant are at odds over Scarborough Shoal, a disputed territory in the West Philippine Sea, or South China Sea. While border disputes are nothing new for regional powers, China has actually taken some initiative in the matter by suspending organized Chinese travel tours from headed for the Philippines last Friday. 

This is a pretty big blow to the Filipino travel industry since China is their 4th largest market for tourists. However, the Philippines has taken matters into their own hands by aggressively reaching out to their even larger client bases in Korea and the US in order to offset the impact of less Chinese tourists this year. 

Despite these concerted efforts to fix the financial side of things, the territory dispute has caused high tensions between the Philippines and China lately. We'll see how the numbers pan out later in the year, along with the social and cultural implications of this confrontation. 

BoC Dérive: 11 May 2012

So it's official, we're going to be spending a lot more time in the Aloha State--especially great news since it cuts down the journey to Asia!  :-D

Online Dérive:

REALITY: Many North Koreans have watched foreign DVDs and are less inclined to turn each other in for "crimes," according to a new report that highlights the changing world view from within the DPRK.

HAVOC: Ferrari is having a major PR problem in China right now. 

CAPTIVITY: Most female North Korean refugees in China are forced into serving as sex slaves, despite having escaped their life under the brutal regime. 

GNARLY: 44-year old North Shore resident Garrett McNamara is recognized for riding the biggest wave ever, according to Guinness World Records. 

COMMUNITY: The divisive "fortress" of USC and the issues surrounding development in Los Angeles.

BAN: Oahu, Hawaii will officially start regulating plastic shopping bags in July 2015. 

MOM ART: Warhol, Whistler, and other famous artists' paintings of their mothers.

India to Streamline Movie Market Strategy

India is strategizing its soft power growth with plans to set up a national film commission in the coming months. This simplified clearance system will simplify the permit-obtaining process for both domestic and international filmmakers, usually an arduous task that many complain about. 

The decision is obviously a smart move, encouraged by the growing number of foreign film crew requests to operate in India. Even though only 10 foreign film crews requested permits in 2009-10, the I & B ministry granted permission "on 80 occasions to foreign feature film and TV reality shows to shoot in India" between 2008 and 2011.

We all know Bollywood is already huge, but this kind of organization and strategizing may serve as a significant gateway for a new cultural growth spurt for India. 

Speaking of North Carolina…it's still scary

To the folks-in-the-most-hated-state-in-America-right-now: even being a part of this huge movie can't take the heat off of your very scary decision on gay marriage. 

Just to put it into perspective, the last time North Carolina amended their constitution on marriage, it was to ban interracial marriage. Same religious tribe, just different times:

These folks somehow seem to believe they are voting on a social issue, rather than on people's personal lives. But I suppose this isn't the biggest surprise…after all, racism and homophobia often go hand-in-hand. Scary people. Thankfully, not all of the US is so full of hate! 

North Carolina's Hunger Games Experience

When a work of art makes people want to visit the setting location, you know the creators have done something right. That's why the state of North Carolina has taken advantage of the mega movie hit Hunger Games by making a four-day real-life travel itinerary for fans who want to experience the road to Panem (and more). 

A brief breakdown of the Charlotte-to-Asheville-and-back schedule:

Day 1
Imagine you’re Effie, leaving the decadence of the Capitol (Charlotte), dropping by District 12 (Hildebran), then landing in a fun-loving place that makes film stars feel at home (Asheville).

Day 2
Having eaten as well as the Tributes during training, prepare to enter the Arena (DuPont State Recreational Forest between Brevard and Hendersonville).

Day 3
Journey from the heart of District 12 (Shelby) to the belly of the Capitol (Charlotte) and sense the atmospheric change from small-town warmth to urban cool.

Day 4
Explore the Capitol (Charlotte), which turns out to be Haymitch’s kind of place.

Southern states like North Carolina (and Louisiana, evidently) are eager to have movies filmed inside their borders for this very reason--a means for tourism that goes beyond the traditional. Surely with such a huge hit on their laps, the North Carolina tourism board will be able to capitalize on interest that simply wasn't there before the movie. And in an even longer-term perspective, hopefully the Hunger Games fans who visit in order to mimic Katniss' journey will also engage in the local culture itself. 

See the full itinerary. 

Rest in Peace, MCA

Last Friday the world lost Adam Yauch--otherwise known as "MCA" of the Beastie Boys--an amazing artist, humanitarian, and individual. Our hearts go out to his wife, daughter, and all of his loved ones. He touched so many lives with his love of music, film, and the rights of the Tibetan people. 

We were fortunate enough to meet Adam through our gallery over the years. His rock star status never prevented him from hanging out in our little experimental space on La Cienega, or joining us for a simple, homestyle Salvadoran meal nearby at one of our favorite hole-in-the-wall restaurants…below are a couple of photos taken before his illness was announced to the public.

One of the most down-to-earth icons ever. The world could learn a thing or two from this man's legacy.

Rest in peace, Adam Yauch. 

BoC Dérive: 4 May 2012

Good morning from Silver Lake!

Online Dérive:

ACTIVIST: Chen Guangcheng's case is yet another delicate human rights issue for the Obama administration this election year.

ENVIRONMENT: Maldives' Reethi Beach Resort announces that Baa Atoll has been recognized as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve.

GROWTH: Some travelers in China are complaining about steep rising tickets costs around the country's tourist attractions.

HALLYU: Google HQs in Mountain View, CA will host a private K-pop concert on May 21, which will be broadcast on MBC and YouTube.

BRAINS: An economic look at the "end of football."

EDU: MIT and Harvard have joined to offer free online classes to the public. 

Junior Seau's Death Part of An Eerie Trend

Junior Seau, an all-time NFL defense and USC alum, committed suicide yesterday. Perhaps the eeriest thing about his death is the seemingly premeditated way he handled taking his own life--by shooting himself in the chest instead of the head. Why? So his brain would be in tact for medical research.

This is a startling growing trend in retired NFL players who secretly cope with mental issues long after the crowds leave the stadium. We do not yet know if Seau suffered from CTE, but the catch with CTE is that it can only be diagnosed after death.

Helmet-to-helmet plays really cannot go on like this much longer without serious adjustments and precautions during the game; this includes the mediocre helmet technology. I'm sure years from now the game of football will be much different in terms of the players' long-term mental safety and people will shake their heads in disbelief at how long these athletes were used and abused until they were tossed to the side by the game itself.