PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 746 Seattle, WA
VOL 38 NO 37 SEPTEMBER 7 – SEPTEMBER 13, 2019 FREE 37 YEARS YOUR VOICE
ACRS food bank funding confusion Hong Kong withdraws extradition bill
By Carolyn Bick NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY The Asian Counselling and Resource Center (ACRS)’s food bank is adopting a “wait and see” policy, when it comes to the funding from the Sweetened Beverage Tax (SBT). In July, many of the Chinatown-International District’s senior residents packed the Seattle City Council’s chamber to protest the Council’s decision to funnel the revenue from the city’s sugary beverage tax to a special fund. Doing so was a move away from Mayor Jenny Durkan’s plan outlined in her proposed budget to take $6 million in SBT revenue and put it towards food banks and meals for seniors. The money previously came from the city’s general fund, and allowed Durkan to put the $6 million from the city’s coffers towards her other priorities. Though Durkan vetoed the law, the council voted again on Aug. 12 to override her veto. Durkan had warned that this would create a hole in the budget, but Seattle City Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda called this warning a
Photo from ACRS
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam
see ACRS on 16
HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam has announced the government will formally withdraw an extradition bill that has sparked months of demonstrations in the city, bowing to one of the protesters’ demands. see LAM on 12
Eric Lin “a danger to the community” SEATTLE — A Maryland man charged with making terrorism-related threats against Latinos was “ordered detained as both a flight risk and a danger to the community,” U.S. Attorney’s Office Public Affairs Officer Emily Langlie told the Northwest Asian Weekly on Sept. 3. Eric Lin was arrested in Seattle for federal charges last month. The FBI was first alerted to Lin’s threats in July
Hong Kong protest in Bellevue 3
by the Miami Police Department. Lin is accused of sending messages via Facebook between May and August to a Hispanic woman he knows, threatening her and her family, expressing support for Adolf Hitler, and calling for the extermination of Spanish-speaking people and other ethnic groups. Lin was arrested on Aug. 16 in Seattle on the federal charges filed in Miami.
Eric Lin
“What makes you happy?” 10
■
Moon cakes and other goodies at the Kiping Association on Sunday, Sept. 1 in Chinatown.
Photo by Assunta Ng
Ne Zha: A gorgeous mythological movie for the whole family 8
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a celebration that begins on the 15th day of the 8th month on the Chinese lunar calendar. It’s also known as the Moon Festival, as at that time of the year, the moon is at its roundest and brightest. This year, it will be observed from Sept. 13–15. The moon cake is the special food of this festival. The moon cakes are round, symbolizing the reunion of a family. People present moon cakes, which comes in various flavors, to relatives and friends to demonstrate that they wish them a long and happy life.
Moon cakes can be found at Uwajimaya and other Asian supermarkets in the International District.
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37 YEARS
SEPTEMBER 7 – SEPTEMBER 13, 2019
■ NAMES IN THE NEWS Singapore Airlines launches service at Sea-Tac Airport
Singapore’s Seattle flights.
Photo provided by Port of Seattle
Rocky Fong is one of PSBJ’s 40 Under 40
From left: Campbell Wilson, SVP Sales & Marketing, Singapore Airlines; Lance Lyttle, Sea-Tac Managing Director; Sek Eng Lee, Regional VP Americas, Singapore Airlines - flanked on both sides by Singapore Airlines Flight Attendents.
Photo provided by Port of Seattle
Singapore Airlines debuted its nonstop service between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Singapore on Sept. 3 with a ribbon cutting and a lion dance. The inaugural flight departed with a turret salute.
Rocky Fong, vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility at U.S. Bank, was recently selected as a recipient of the Puget Sound Business Journal (PSBJ)’s 40 Under 40 award for 2019. Born and raised in Hong Kong, Fong began his career in the banking Rocky Fong and financial services industry in 2004. He is currently chapter president of the U.S. Bank Seattle Asian Heritage Business Resource Group board, and he serves on the board for Chinese Information Service Center. Other Asian American Pacific Islanders honored include state Sen. Joe Nguyen, Akira Matsuno of Lyell Immunopharma, Tina Tran Neville of Lana Learn, Srilata Remala of Maternal Coalition, and Joe Trieu of Evergreen Beauty College.
Photo by Assunta Ng
Port holds reception for Bookda Gheishar
The flights will depart three times a week from SeaTac and will expand to four days a week in October. The route is Sea-Tac’s first to Southeast Asia, and is also the longest nonstop flight from Sea-Tac. Singapore Airlines codeshares with Alaska Airlines. Mileage Plan members will be able to earn miles on
The Port of Seattle’s first ever Senior Director of
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) was welcomed at a reception on Aug. 13. Bookda Gheisar has been in her new role since June. The reception was a celebration of this groundbreaking role to advance equity in all Port activities and for the community to become involved in helping to shape the future of the EDI office. Gheisar will also host community forums on Sept. 11, 19, and 26 to help her develop the EDI office. The sessions are limited to 25 attendees and you may RSVP at https://conta.cc/2jX5bVq.
ICHS receives national awards for high quality care
From left: Sharon Turner, U.S. HRSA Region X administrator; Teresita Batayola, ICHS CEO; Dr. Asqual Getaneh, ICHS medical director; and John Graham, HHS Region 10 regional director.
International Community Health Services (ICHS) is among 26 community health centers in Washington state to receive federal awards totaling over $3 million from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. HRSA has named ICHS a Health Center Quality Leader every year since 2014, and a National Quality Leader in 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2018. “ICHS and health centers across the nation are at the forefront of addressing the public need for affordable care, as well as acute challenges such as the opioid epidemic,” said Teresita Batayola, ICHS CEO. “These awards will help ICHS continue to meet emerging health care needs and advance the wellness of our communities.”
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YOUR VOICE
■ COMMUNITY NEWS
SEPTEMBER 7 – SEPTEMBER 13, 2019
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Hong Kong protest in Bellevue By Staff NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY The group SEArious for Hong Kong held a silent protest in downtown Bellevue on Sept. 1 in response to an Aug. 31 incident in Hong Kong. The South China Morning Post reported that members of the police, Special Tactical Squad, known as the Raptors, stormed into Prince Edward station and beat protesters on a train. Protesters and their supporters
accused police of beating commuters indiscriminately, but police said they were going after radicals who had changed their clothes and were pretending to be passengers. Mass Transit Railway of Hong Kong reported that protesters were vandalizing the premises and fighting with passengers. Sixty-three people were arrested. SEArious for Hong Kong said there were 70 people at the Bellevue protest.
Protestors at Bellevue Downtown Park on Sept. 1
KING COUNTY REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS ADVERTISEMENT Proposals will be received for E00626E19, Engineering Services for West Point Treatment Plant Secondary Treatment System’s Pipelines Rehabilitation Project; by the King County Procurement and Payables Section, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, until 12:00 PM on September 18, 2019. Total Estimated Price for Phase 2A and 2B: $1,500,000 Total Estimated Price for all Phases: $2,500,000 There is a 15% minimum requirement for King County Certified Small Contractor and Supplier (SCS) firms on this contract. All solicitation documents are published at: https://procurement.kingcounty. gov/procurement_ovr/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fprocurement_ovr%2fdefault. aspx Contact: Lourdes Bonifacio, lbonifacio@kingcounty.gov, 206-263-3259
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SEPTEMBER 7 – SEPTEMBER 13, 2019
37 YEARS
■ NATIONAL NEWS Asian American Korean War hero gives what may be ‘final’ talk GALLUP, N.M. (AP) — Hiroshi “Hershey’’ Miyamura, the son of Japanese immigrants who was awarded the U.S. Medal of Honor for his actions in the Korean War, may have given his last public lecture. The ailing 94-year-old veteran spoke to a group of U.S. Navy Seabees on Aug. Hiroshi “Hershey’’ Miyamura 9 in Gallup, New Mexico, about his life and service and was given a hero’s salute after he finished, The Gallup Independent reported. The talk was part of the lectures he gives every summer to servicemen and servicewomen in western
New Mexico. Ken Riege, who travels around with Miyamura, said the veteran may not give the talks next year because of his declining health. Riege said he has been honored to travel with him over the years and listen to him speak. “It is never the same, and I learn something new about him each time,’’ Riege said. Miyamura, who served in the U.S. Army from 1945 to 1953, spoke about the emotion he had seeing the American flag after he was liberated from a POW camp during the Korean War. The son of Japanese immigrants, Miyamura grew up in Gallup, a city near the Navajo Nation. After the United States entered World War II, Miyamura tried to join the military, but he was deemed not eligible to serve and given a Four-C “alien’’ status because of his Japanese ancestry.
Later, that exclusionary policy changed, and Miyamura was allowed to join the 442nd Infantry Regiment, composed almost entirely of second-generation Japanese Americans. With the start of the Korean War, Miyamura, an Army reservist, was called up for active duty. On the night of April 24, 1951, near Taejon-ni, Korea, his company was under heavy attack and U.S. Army Cpl. Miyamura jumped from his shelter wielding a bayonet and killed 10 of the enemy in hand-to-hand combat. After administering first aid to the wounded, he got behind his machine gun and continued fighting until he ran out of ammunition. Miyamura ordered the squad to withdraw while he stayed behind to render the gun inoperative. He see MIYAMURA on 14
Spa worker arrested, charged with prostitution FORT MYERS, Fla. — A spa worker is facing prostitution charges after being arrested for attempting to exchange sexual acts for money with an undercover detective. Jing Li, 40, was arrested by Lee County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit deputies after they received reports of possible human trafficking and prostitution at Lavender Oil Spa.
An undercover detective went into Lavender Oil Spa just after 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 21 and was greeted by Jing Li. The detective asked for a massage, and Li told him it would cost $50. Once the detective paid, Li began to give him a back massage in one of the massage rooms. Li then told the detective to turn over onto his back, and once he had, she held up her fist and began moving it up and down
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while pointing to the detective’s genital area, according to the police report. The detective agreed, and Li told him it would cost an extra $40. He gave Li the money, and right before she began performing the act, the detective signaled for the waiting members of the Narcotics Unit to come into the spa, where Li was arrested.
YOUR VOICE
■ WORLD NEWS
SEPTEMBER 7 – SEPTEMBER 13, 2019
asianweekly northwest
5
Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong, others arrested HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong police arrested well-known activist Joshua Wong and another core member of a pro-democracy group on Aug. 30 in a mounting crackdown on people involved in this summer’s protests. Police also arrested Andy Chan, the leader of a pro-independence movement, at the airport. Police said that Wong and Agnes Chow are being investigated for their role in a June 21 unauthorized protest outside a police station. Both face potential charges of participating in the demonstration and inciting others to join it. Wong also is being investigated on suspicion of organizing it.
Joshua Wong
Verdict delayed for 2 Cambodia journalists in espionage case
Wong is secretary-general of Demosisto, a political party, and Chow is a member. He was one of the student leaders of the Umbrella Movement, the major pro-democracy demonstrations in 2014. Demosisto first reported the arrests on its social media accounts, saying Wong was pushed into a private car as he was heading to a subway station around 7:30 a.m. and has been taken to police headquarters. It later said Chow had also been arrested, at her home. Wong was released from prison in June after serving a two-month sentence related to that protest. He has been speaking out regularly
in support of the pro-democracy protests that have racked Hong Kong this summer. The protests were set off by extradition legislation that would have allowed suspects to be sent to mainland China to face trial and expanded to the general concern that China is chipping away at the rights of Hong Kong residents. The extradition bill was suspended but the protesters want it withdrawn and are also demanding democracy and an independent inquiry into police actions against protesters. Police said that Chan was arrested under suspicion of rioting and attacking police.
YOUR SUMMER HOME
By SOPHENG CHEANG ASSOCIATED PRESS
Uon Chhin and Yeang Sothearin
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — A verdict has been delayed in the espionage case against two Cambodian journalists who worked for the U.S. government-funded Radio Free Asia. Uon Chhin and Yeang Sothearin are accused of undermining national security by supplying information to a foreign state, an act punishable by up to 15 years in prison. The two men and others were sitting inside the courtroom awaiting the verdict on the morning of Aug. 30 when a court officer entered and announced the delay. The officer read a statement saying the judge who was set to announce the verdict was busy due to a meeting in the justice ministry. The officer said the new date for the verdict would be announced later. Sothearin said he was keen to know the verdict so he could prepare for his future. “The more postponement of the verdict, the more of my freedom I’ve lost,’’ he told reporters outside court after the delay was announced. Rights groups consider the espionage case against the two journalists as a clear attack on freedom of the press. “As long as Cambodia treats see CAMBODIA on 13
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■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR SEP 5
JOSH HOU TRIO CD RELEASE: BILINGUALISM//200 TRIO The Royal Room, 5000 Rainier Ave. S., Seattle 8-10:30 p.m. GEORGE TAKEI (SIGNING ONLY) University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, Seattle 5:30-7:30 p.m. ubookstore.com
5, 6, 7 CLASSIC CHINESE DANCE DRAMA, “THE BUTTERFLY LOVERS” McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St., Seattle 7:30 p.m. 10% discount code: aapat8 asianperformingarts.org 425-830-8054
11 a.m.-5 p.m.
TASTE OF ASIA FEATURING BURMA AND TEA LEAF SALAD Asia Pacific Cultural Center, 4851 S. Tacoma Way, Tacoma 11 a.m.-12 p.m. asiapacificculturalcenter.org IRON CHEF MORIMOTO COOKBOOK SIGNING Uwajimaya Seattle, 600 5th Ave. S., Seattle 2 p.m.
8 12TH ANNUAL SEATTLE LIVE ALOHA HAWAIIAN CULTURAL FESTIVAL Seattle Center 11 a.m.-7 p.m. LANTERN FESTIVAL Southwest Teen Life Center, 2801 SW Thistle St., Seattle 3-6 p.m.
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MEET YOUR SOUTH ASIAN CANDIDATES Northwest Arts Center, 9825 NE 24th St., Bellevue 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
PING PONG TOURNAMENT Hing Hay Park, 423 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle 2-5:30 p.m. 2 p.m.
MARY H.K. CHOI University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, Seattle 3-5 p.m. ubookstore.com
A NEAR PROBLEM - US/CHINA TRADE & WA STATE Davis Wright Tremaine, 920 Fifth Ave. Ste. 3300, Seattle 8 a.m. seattlechinesechamber.org
7 THAI FESTIVAL SEATTLE 2019 North Seattle College, 9600 College Way N., Seattle
37 YEARS
SEPTEMBER 7 – SEPTEMBER 13, 2019
11 PORT OF SEATTLE’S SENIOR DIRECTOR OF EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION BOOKDA GHEISAR El Centro de la Raza, 2524 16th Ave. S., Seattle 5:30-7 p.m. RSVP at https://conta.cc/327arpV
12 WSCRC MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL SOCIAL Davis Wright Tremaine, 920 5th Ave. #3300, Seattle 5-7 p.m. Free but registration is required. RSVP deadline: September 10 info@wscrc.org
13 CHILDREN’S MID-AUTUMN MOON FESTIVAL Donnie Chin International Children’s Park, 700 S. Lane St., Seattle 4-6 p.m.
14 JAPANESE BAPTIST CHURCH 120TH ANNIVERSARY LUNCHEON Hyatt Regency Lake Washington, 1053 Lake Washington Blvd. N., Renton 10:30 a.m. $25-$50 jbc120.brownpapertickets.com C-ID NIGHT MARKET 2019 Seattle’s C-ID 4 p.m.-12 a.m.
2019 KIN ON SENIORS’ DAY Eastside Baha’i Center, 16007 NE 8th St. Ste. 100, Bellevue 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. VASHON JAPAN FESTIVAL Mukai Farm & Garden, 18017 107th Ave. SW, Vashon Island 11 a.m.-8 p.m. MANKA DHINGRA’S ANNUAL BOLLYWOOD EVENING Redmond Ridge Community Center, 10315 Cedar Park Crescent NE, Redmond 7-10:30 p.m. act.myngp.com TONY ISHISAKA MEMORIAL CELEBRATION Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center, 5011 Bernie Whitebear Way, Seattle 1-5 p.m. eventbrite.com MOCHI MADNESS The Works Seattle, 151 12th Ave., Seattle 2:30-4:30 p.m. theworksseattle.com
15 MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL MELODY 2019: CELLIST KAI CHEN & ORCHESTRA SEATTLE Meydenbauer Theater, 11100 N.E. 6th St., Bellevue 3:30 p.m.
In memory of Yoji Kan Yoji Kan, 69, of Seattle, WA passed away on June 16, 2019. He is survived by his partner, Sachiko Naka, daughters Sophia Kan and Yoko Kan, son James Kan, mother Fumiko (Noguchi) Kan, brother Kazuo Kan, sister Midori Fukuda, and three granddaughters. Yoji was a talented ceramic artist (Yoji Kan Pottery) and antique paper goods and post card collector. He was also an active member of the Japanese community. Contact: seattlegathering@gmail.com for details about the memorial service.
View the solution on page 14
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The only weekly English-language newspaper serving Washington’s Asian community. The NW Asian Weekly has one simple goal: “To empower the Asian community.” The Editorial Board reserves the right to reject any advertisement, letter or article. Subscriptions cost $40 for 52 weeks of the NW Asian Weekly and $30 for 52 weeks of the Seattle Chinese Post. The NW Asian Weekly owns the copyright for all its content. All rights reserved. No part of this paper may be reprinted without permission. 412 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104 • t. 206.223.5559 editor@nwasianweekly.com • ads@nwasianweekly.com • www.nwasianweekly.com
YOUR VOICE
SEPTEMBER 7 – SEPTEMBER 13, 2019
■ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
asianweekly northwest
7
Canvassing for young, diverse artists By Janice Nesamani NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
From left: Taylor Wang, Ruthie V., and Alice Mao at The Modern Youth Identity
Ruthie V., who runs Seattle Artist League with cofounder Lendy Hensely, mentored Mao and Wang, but
see STUDENT ART SPACES on 16 Provided by The Modern Youth Identity
A tapestry of a skinless face, sparrows on a bulletriddled target sheet, a burning sun and planet closing in on a bird, and contemplative self-portraits give you a peek into some things that run through the minds of youngsters we term as Gen Z. Bringing together videos, interactive 3D pieces, paper cutouts, threaded works, digital pieces, and traditional artwork under the theme “The Modern Youth Identity” were two Eastside high schoolers Alice Mao and Taylor Wang in their first exhibition at the Seattle Artists League. Mao, 17, and Wang, 15, are both artists with Chinese roots and vividly-colored dreams most of us had as teenagers. Their dream is a more inclusive space for young artists, where students can showcase their art, a comment on the lack of artists they can relate to today. Mao and Wang know how expensive it is to showcase art. “Application fees, shipping fees, and printing fees are really high and as young students, it becomes difficult to come up with the money to be able to present your work,” Mao said. When she kept running into fellow artist Wang in art class, they connected and their ideas took the shape of Student Art Spaces (SAS). The girls created a website, social media platforms, and crowdfunded their first exhibition over Labor Day weekend held at Seattle Artist League, an art school that Mao attends. The exhibition was put together after a nationwide call for entries. It received over 180 submissions of which about 50 were selected.
admits she also learned from them. “They came to me with a list of very good questions and asked for my advice. The best thing is that they actually took it and used it,” Ruthie V. said. She gave the girls practical advice on how to set up the gallery and use wire to display the paintings. “I was impressed with the colors, composition, and use of text in the artwork. It’s very different from the mediums that my generation of artists use. I also learned more from them, in the way they used social media to put together the exhibition,” she said. Ruthie V.’s reaction bears testament to another goal Mao and Wang set out to accomplish through “Modern Youth Identity”—communication. “There’s this big generational gap. We’re all on Instagram and the older generation are out there in real galleries. There isn’t as much communication as there
10th Annual Ethnic Media Candidates Meet n Greet with local ethnic media and multicultural business leaders
Thursday, September 19, 2019 Joyale Seafood Restaurant 900 S Jackson St., Seattle, WA 98104 5-7 pm ABOUT SEA BEEZ Sea Beez strives to empower ethnic and minority, immigrant and refugee communities by organizing capacity-building workshops and networking opportunities for local ethnic media outlets, which in turn can create stronger forums for these ethnic communities throughout Seattle.
Have questions or want to participate? Email Lourdes Tsukada via email juliephamnvn@gmail.com or call her cell 206-334-5200 and leave a message. The event is free. Please register your RSVP to juliephamnvn@gmail.com. If you prefer, call 206-334-5200 and leave a message.
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asianweekly northwest
37 YEARS
SEPTEMBER 7 – SEPTEMBER 13, 2019
■ AT THE MOVIES Ne Zha: A gorgeous mythological movie for the whole family By John Liu NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY “Ne Zha, a boy or girl?” A stranger asking this question would have quickly gotten a “Google it yourself” answer, but this was coming from the Russo brothers (directors of “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Endgame”) on Weibo after congratulating Yang Yu, aka Jiaozi, the director of “Ne Zha,” for breaking box office records in China. “Ne Zha” is based on the Chinese mythological book: The Investiture of the Gods. In the beginning, there was a Chaos Pearl that began spreading chaos. Eventually the Chaos Pearl was contained, and the Primeval Lord of Heaven split it into the Demon and Heaven Pearl. The Lord chooses Taiyi (Zhang Jiaming), a clumsy drunk immortal to guard the pearls and implant the Heaven Pearl into Commander Li (Hao Chen) and Madam Yin’s (Lu Qi) unborn son. Unfortunately, an intruder steals the Heaven Pearl and unleashes the Demon Pearl on Yin’s son. This boy is destined to bring chaos to everyone around and will perish in three years by a lighting bolt. Commander Li and Madam Yin decided to raise the demon child, but withhold his identity from him. While growing up, Ne Zha (Lu Yanting) is imprisoned in his home, but he figures out how to escape. Every time he does, he wreaks havoc on the local villagers. As a result, they despise him. One day, Ne Zha meets Ao Bing and discover they both have a lot in common. Unfortunately, Ao Bing has his own destiny to fulfill. I love the universe and the animation in Ne Zha’s universe. One particular touching moment is when Ne Zha is playing jianzi (hacky sack) with his mom. Ne Zha’s demon power makes it impossible for any human to keep up with him, and Yin futilely tries to keep up.
Even though his mother loses repeatedly, she continues because it is Ne Zha’s favorite game. I can’t recall seeing jianzi in any American movie that I watched and this made me nostalgic for my days in Chinese Camp where I kicked a feathered jianzi with other kids. Next, there is a funny sequence with a direct reference to “The Terminator,” and possible copyright violation. I’m not sure how popular “The Terminator” is over there in China, but judging by the audience reaction, I think I was one of the few people who laughed since I understood that reference.
■ WORLD NEWS Taiwan demands China disclose whereabouts of missing citizen By RALPH JENNINGS ASSOCIATED PRESS TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Officials in Taiwan demanded on Aug. 30 that China disclose information about the disappearance of a Taiwanese man who reportedly distributed photos of Chinese troops massing equipment just outside protest-racked Hong Kong. Friends and family have been unable to reach Lee Meng-chu, a volunteer activity organizer in a small township in southern Taiwan, for 10 days, the Taiwanese government’s Mainland Affairs Council said after receiving pleas for help from Lee’s family members. Communist Party-ruled China often detains people over political matters and may hold them in an unknown location for several months if they are suspected of threatening national security. “He was able to be contacted while in Hong Kong and then unreachable once he entered mainland China,’’ council spokesman Chiu Chui-cheng told
reporters. “The main thing now is we need to understand his movements and whereabouts, then eventually how to get him safely back to Taiwan.’’ Lee entered Hong Kong on Aug. 18, Taiwan’s government-run Central News Agency reported. He apparently transmitted photos to his brother and to the township chief showing the paramilitary troops massing equipment on the Hong Kong border with mainland China, the agency said. The drills conducted in Shenzhen city fueled speculation that China might use its People’s Armed Police to crush repeated mass pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong. Taiwan and China have had frosty relations since the Chinese civil war of the 1940s. China sees self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory, but most Taiwanese have told government surveys they prefer autonomy. Further straining relations, Taiwanese see MISSING CITIZEN on 13
Many of my friends know I am a fan of IMAX 3D, but have high standards regarding this premium format and will not pay the $7 surcharge unless it’s exceptional. The movie must have parts specifically formatted for IMAX—this movie had none. The 3D was decent, but if you are expecting to get a hacky sack coming towards your face, it’s not happening. I would have been happy paying less and enjoying the 2D version coming out this week. Thanks to a slow movie week in the United States see NE ZHA on 15
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YOUR VOICE
■ AT THE MOVIES
SEPTEMBER 7 – SEPTEMBER 13, 2019
asianweekly northwest
9
Fall preview: Bong Joon Ho and ‘Parasite’ are coming for you
By JAKE COYLE AP FILM WRITER
class section of a train carrying all of humanity rebelling against the train’s upper-class in the front. “Okja’’ depicted a duplicitous global food corporation. In “Parasite,’’ Bong wanted to contemplate the divisions between haves and haves-not more intimately, at home. “For a creative mind, it’s natural to make their art about the time that they’re living in,’’ says Bong. “We kind of deny that capitalism is such a big part of our time.’’
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His English-language debut “Snowpiercer,’’ while it eventually emerged as an art-house hit, was tarnished by the attempted meddling of producer Harvey Weinstein. Bong was able to ultimately rebuff Weinstein’s efforts to cut 20 minutes and add monologues, but it damaged the movie’s release, which was ultimately overseen cut-free by Quinn’s Radius label. “Okja’’ (2017), Bong’s biggest budget film at $57 million, became enveloped in controversy as a Netflix release in Cannes, a festival that has since outlawed movies without a theatrical release from its main competition. And, besides, Bong is best experienced on the big screen. “He’s a spectacular visionary but he’s also a humanist,’’ says Quinn. “It’s a magic trick. You keep sticking your hand in the hat and out comes another rabbit. It continues to unfold in a way that is so unexpected.’’ Since his 2006 breakthrough “The Host’’ (a delirious hybrid of a monster movie and family drama) Bong has long been sought after by Hollywood with offers he’s regularly dismissed. He’s written all seven of the movies he’s directed. “Especially after `The Host,’ with my previous agency, there were many proposals about directing films of that kind, even superhero films,’’ says Bong. “Don’t get me wrong. There are many great superhero films. I have respect for them. But I guess it’s a personal paranoia. Superheros always wear a clingy spandex. I can’t stand to be in skin-tight clothes. Watching them is even suffocating to me, so I don’t think I can direct one.’’ Bong first came up with the idea of “Parasite’’ in 2013, initially imagining it as a play with the stage divided between the two houses. He drew partly on his experience as a college student teaching private lessons for the middle school boy of a rich family. (Bong didn’t have to con his way into the job, as seen in “Parasite.’’ But he only lasted three months.) It’s also a personal film for Bong because he connects it with his late mentor, director Kim Ki-young. Kim was a kind of godfather to the filmmakers of the New Korean Cinema of the 2000s; his
1960 film “The Housemaid,’’ considered one of the great Korean films, also dealt with class and centered on a two-story house. (Bong also cites what he calls his favorite crime movie, Claude Chabrol’s “The Ceremony’’ and the 1963 British classic “The Servant’’ as “Parasite’’ inspirations.) “Parasite’’ completes a kind of accidental trilogy for Bong of capitalism satires. “Snowpiercer’’ was a high-speed science-fiction parable about the lower-
FR
NEW YORK (AP) — Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite’’ may be the only film this fall that’s already an award-winner and a box-office smash. “Parasite’’ will arrive in U.S. theaters Oct. 11 after having already amassed $70.9 million in Bong’s native South Korea, where the film notched one of the country’s best opening weekends ever. In May, “Parasite’’ won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, a first for a Korean film. “When I wake up and see the Palme d’Or trophy, it’s very curious and strange,’’ says the 49-year-old director, speaking by phone from Seoul. But for most, there was nothing odd about Bong’s win. “Parasite,’’ a class satire about two families—one of poor hustlers living in a subterranean dwelling subsisting on their wits and stolen WiFi, the other wealthy and residing in a stylish modern mansion—has been roundly hailed as a masterpiece and, perhaps, a culmination of Bong’s already illustrious career as a filmmaker of mischievous genre subversions, warmhearted earnestness and stylistic daring. Those qualities may sound almost contradictory but that’s exactly the kind of head-spinning amalgamation you get in a Bong Joon Ho movie. They—and in particular “Parasite’’—balance humor and horror, satire and sincerity with a magical ease. You never see anything coming. You might even giggle at his cunning. You’ll laugh as he devours you. “I try to be a like a parasite. I try to burrow and dig into the audience’s minds,’’ Bong says. “I love the feeling of infiltrating into the audience without them knowing. Instead of showing-off that I’m breaking the rules of genre, I want to creep into them quietly without making any blood so that they don’t realize that I’m inside them.’’ That mastery of audiences, combined with a childlike sense of wonder and an ecstatic imagination (Bong’s previous film, “Okja,’’ featured glorious “super pigs’’) has made Bong one of the few filmmakers who live up to the label of “Spielbergian.’’ His ardent supporters include Tilda Swinton, Jake Gyllenhaal and Quentin Tarantino, who attended the Cannes premiere of “Parasite.’’ His devoted fans have adopted the proud moniker of the Bong Hive. And for the Bong Hive, times are good. “Parasite’’ is poised to be that rare thing: a foreign language movie capable of drawing big crowds in theaters and contending at the Academy Awards. (South Korea has already made it its foreign language film submission.) “We have huge ambitions for the film,’’ says Tom Quinn, founder and chief executive of Neon, which will distribute “Parasite’’ in the U.S. “We think it’s a multiple-category contender in this year’s Oscars race.’’ Such a release might give Bong the kind of moment with American moviegoers that he hasn’t exactly been missing, but has thus far often been marred by distraction.
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37 YEARS
SEPTEMBER 7 – SEPTEMBER 13, 2019
■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG
“What makes you happy?”
How to cultivate happiness
William Ernest Henley
experiences so you can feel positive emotions. There is joy in much of the things you do if you pay attention. You just have to discover those magical moments. Let me share some of mine.
Finding hope in darkness
The joy of hope revitalizes our mental and physical being. When bad news hit an extended family member having an incurable, but not terminal illness, my first reaction was, no need to cry. Grief and
Before you get out of bed, smile and say a little prayer of gratitude in the morning. Say, “Thank you, God, I am alive.” “What a beautiful day!” ‘It’s going to be a great day,” even with some hiccups. “Thank you mom and dad for giving me life.” “Thank you, for a great night’s sleep,” knowing many suffer from insomnia. “Thank you, I woke up” because some people don’t get to. “Thank you for my job” because many are unemployed. “Thank you for having the courage to face obstacles.” Studies have found that gratitude and fear cannot coexist. If you are grateful, it eliminates fear. Feeling blessed every morning shapes a healthy mindset towards life. If you are an atheist, you can skip the word God.
Count your blessings
Country singer Dolly Parton said, “Don’t count your money, count your blessings.” How often do we take things for granted? How often Dolly Parton do we give thanks to what we’ve got? The late author Maya Angelou’s memoir, “Mom and Me and Mom,” consists of a gratitude exercise. Take out a piece of paper and write down the basic blessings you have, but you have been ignoring.
The joy of love
I don’t need to say much about love. Love gives joy, and hate doesn’t. Want enchantment? Love more. It doesn’t have to be romantic love. It can be love for kids. It’s a joy to feed kids and buying gifts for them.
Photo by Assunta Ng
Practice gratitude
on earth did I have to complain about?”
A gift of love can be a cute Pikachu hat Ng gave baby Scarlett Orr.
Credit to Shinny Ip
“What makes you happy?” someone asked me recently. I couldn’t respond to such a profound question without doing some self-reflection. Honestly, I don’t claim to be 100 percent happy, even though life is good and meaningful. I have a purpose. But dwelling on making myself happy has never been my habit. I strive for feeling my best every day—being energetic, yet calm—free of fear, worry, anxiety, and depression—being able to manage stress—and appreciating what I have, not focusing on what I don’t have. It’s a prerequisite for happiness. Author Sheryl Sandberg said happiness is made up of numerous small moments of joy. The more you experience joyous emotions, the happier you are. In my experience, it takes effort and desire Sheryl Sandberg to build a happy life. Half of the battle is won if you are determined to be happy. I say this because I have witnessed people who have flushed happiness away, and not aware of it. You can create your own misery by behaving recklessly and giving up easily in your daily life. English poet William Ernest Henley wrote in his Invictus poem, “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.” Yes, you can lift yourself up by creating positive
sadness never run me over. It’s hope that drives me to think what’s the best thing family members can cope with, and how I can help to make a difference. Never let disasters ruin you. There is always a silver lining, you just have to dig deeper.
Or a joyous moment to feed a baby. Ng and baby Aiden Cheung.
The joy of uplifting others
When you serve others, you experience joy, and you bring joy to others. The power of what you do and can do makes a difference in your perspective, which enhances your spirit. When you lift up the weak and the disadvantaged, you lift up yourself. It’s also the joy of giving and sharing.
The joy of surprise
Photo by Han Bui
By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
Northwest Asian Weekly’s front page last week
Maya Angelou’s memoir, “Mom and Me and Mom”
Overwhelmed by the anxiety of raising her Black son in a white society, Angelou was going crazy, and she thought about killing herself. To get help, Angelou ended up going to her voice teacher and mentor Frederick Wilkerson. He told her to write and think of the millions of people all over the world who cannot hear a voice, or a symphony, or their own babies crying. He told her to write, “I can hear—Thank God. I can see...I can read....” Then, think of the millions who couldn’t see or read. “I have a son... mother...brother... I can dance...sing... cook...read...write.” By the end of the exercise, Angelou “began to feel silly” and “that she was alive and healthy. What
Most people have no clue how we develop content for the Northwest Asian Weekly. From ground zero, the whole process is one big miracle woven with many tiny miracles. Like last week, Labor Day weekend was traditionally slow in news and advertisements. It’s hard for the Northwest Asian Weekly to fill the pages and we anticipated a dull front page and insufficient content. It was only on Tuesday morning when things started to unfold. Important events occurred with an Asian and there was a local angle, such as the first Costco opening in China. As you know, Costco is based in Kirkland and it was a Seattle architecture firm that designed the warehouse. We scooped the mainstream media. I couldn’t believe our fortune. To my delight, our front page was incredibly strong with exciting stories, including basketball star Jeremy Lin see BLOG on 15
SEPTEMBER 7 – SEPTEMBER 13, 2019
YOUR VOICE
■ EDITORIAL
asianweekly northwest
11
A tournament to remember
Naomi Osaka, Coco Gauff, Serena Williams, Qiang Wang, Kristie Ahn. Those were just some of the women who took the world stage over the Labor Day weekend in the 2019 U.S. Open—Women’s Singles. They are all women of color. Forbes.com asked if the rising wave of young women of color was influenced by Serena Williams and her older sister Venus, who have combined to win 30 Grand Slam singles titles. Serena said, “Well, I can’t be presumptuous and say that’s because of me. I think it’s because of these young women and their parents and coaches want them to do something amazing. I think tennis is a great sport for females and it’s a great way to showcase
Naomi Osaka
Coco Gauff
your personality, be yourself, make a great living, and still do something that you absolutely love.” Long before Serena Williams, there was Althea Gibson. She was the first Black person to win a Grand Slam title and the first Black person to win at Wimbledon. A sculpture honoring Gibson was unveiled on Aug. 26, at the start of the 2019 U.S. Open. The first Asian American to make a Grand Slam round of 16
Serena Williams
Qiang Wang
since 2000 was Ahn, who is of Korean descent. Her U.S. Open run came to an end on Sept. 2. In an interview before the tournament, she spoke about representation in the sport. “This is why I play: to hopefully reach out to...Asian Americans,” Ahn said. She first played in the U.S. Open 11 years ago, and between now and then, her parents asked her to consider putting down her tennis racket, and focus on her studies.
Kristie Ahn
Ahn insists, you can have both. “You can have the education, keep your parents happy, but also be able to have your own ambitions and go for it.” Then there was the heartwarming show of sportsmanship between Gauff and Osaka. Gauff, 15, was in tears after Osaka beat her. Osaka, only 21 herself, approached her opponent and encouraged her to do the postmatch interview with her—an
honor usually reserved solely for the winner. “You guys raised an amazing player,” Osaka said in the postmatch interview, addressing Gauff’s parents. “The fact that both of us made it, and we’re both still working as hard as we can, I think it’s incredible, and I think you guys are amazing. I think, Coco, you’re amazing,” Osaka said. It was just a year ago when the crowd booed after Osaka beat her idol, Williams. In that instance, Williams was the one building up Osaka. Classy, great sportsmanship, and many women of color on center stage. Certainly a tournament to remember.
■ WORLD NEWS
Japan urges nuke plants to prepare for decommissioning era By MARI YAMAGUCHI ASSOCIATED PRESS TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s nuclear policy-setting body adopted a report on Sept. 2 saying the country is entering an era of massive nuclear plant decommissioning, urging plant operators to plan ahead to lower safety risks and costs requiring decades and billions of dollars. Twenty-four commercial reactors—or 40 percent of Japan’s total—are designated for or are being decommissioned. Among them are four reactors at the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant that were severely damaged by the massive 2011 earthquake and tsunami that struck northeastern Japan. The annual nuclear white paper, adopted by the Japan Atomic Energy Commission, urges utilities to learn from U.S. and European examples, especially those of Germany, France and Britain. Japan hasn’t yet completed the decommissioning of any reactors and doesn’t have
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concrete plans for the final disposal of radioactive waste. “Taking into consideration further increase of nuclear facilities that will be decommissioned, new technology and systems need to be developed in order to carry out the tasks efficiently and smoothly,’’ the report said. “It’s a whole new stage that we have to proceed to and tackle.’’ Japanese utilities have opted to scrap aged reactors instead of investing in safety requirements under post-Fukushima standards. The decommissioning of a typical reactor costs nearly $560 million and takes several decades. Citing the government-run Japan Atomic Energy Agency’s plan to scrap about half of its 79 research facilities, the report raised concerns about the weakening of basic research on nuclear energy. Before the Fukushima disaster, Japan had 60 commercial reactors that provided about 25 percent of the country’s energy needs. Despite the government’s renewed ambitions for
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nuclear power, reactor restarts are proceeding slowly as nuclear regulators spend more time on inspections. Meanwhile, anti-nuclear sentiment persists among the public and makes it more difficult for plant operators to obtain local consent in making revisions to their facilities. Any plan related to nuclear waste storage tends to get strong resistance. Since the Fukushima accident, only nine reactors in Japan have restarted, accounting for about 3 percent of the country’s energy supply, compared to the government’s ambitious 20-22 percent target. In July, Tokyo Electric Power Holdings Co., or TEPCO, announced plans to decommission all four reactors at its second Fukushima plant, Fukushima Dai-ni, which narrowly avoided meltdowns in 2011. The move followed eight years of demands by the local government and residents for the reactors’ closure.
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37 YEARS
SEPTEMBER 7 – SEPTEMBER 13, 2019
■ WORLD NEWS
Citizenship list in Indian state leaves out almost 2 million By SHEIKH SAALIQ ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW DELHI (AP) — Nearly 2 million people from the east Indian state of Assam were excluded on Aug. 31 from a final citizenship list that is intended to identify legal residents and weed out illegal immigrants, amid fears they could be rendered stateless. A total of 31.1 million people were included on the list, leaving out 1.9 million, according to a statement from the Assam government. Critics have viewed the exercise as an attempt to deport millions of minority Muslims, many of whom have entered India from neighboring Bangladesh. After hearing rumors that her name was not on the list, Sayera Begum, a 60-year-old woman from the district of Sonitpur in northern Assam, jumped into a well and later died, highlighting the list’s impact. “She was dragged out of the well and taken to the hospital, but she died,’’ said Mukesh Agarwal, a senior Assam police official. An hour later, when the final list was released, it was found that Begum, along with her husband and son, were not excluded. Assam police had earlier appealed to people not to spread rumors for fear of panic after many were accused of being “Bangladeshi infiltrators’’ by the Hindu nationalist-led government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The citizens’ list was updated after 68 years, ending four years of work and a 4-decade-old demand seeking detection of illegal immigrants. The list—known as the National Register of Citizens, or NRC—is unique to Assam and was first prepared in 1951. It includes those whose names appeared in the 1951 document and their descendants. The list also includes those who had been on India’s electoral rolls up to March 24, 1971, or in any other document approved by the central government. “The entire process of NRC update has been meticulously carried out in an objective and transparent
manner,’’ the registry authorities said in a statement. A steady trickle of people lined up to see if their names were on the list in Buraburi village outside one of the many offices that had been set up across Assam for residents to verify the status of their citizenship applications. Mijanur Rahman, a 47-year-old farmer, found himself, his 21-year-old son, and two of his daughters, aged 16 and 14, included on the list. However, his wife and his three other children—all under the age of 10—were excluded. “I am really worried,’’ said a teary-eyed Rahman. “We will see what the government does now. Maybe they will offer some help.’’ Dipali Das, 42, clad in a saree, found herself, her husband and her four married daughters on the list. But Das was unhappy because her 23-year-old son, Rahul, was excluded. She said she will put in an application for his inclusion. Binoy Bhushan Sarkar, a frail man in his late 70s, said he has been voting since the age of 21, including in recent national elections. He was confused after finding his name on the online list but not on the hard copies available for public viewing. “I don’t know what to do,’’ he said. Retired army officer Mohammad Sanaullah, who grabbed the spotlight after being declared an illegal foreigner and was sent to a detention center in July, was also excluded from the list. Sanaullah, who had won a president’s medal, was declared a foreigner by the Foreigners Tribunal in 2018. He was sent to a detention camp in May before he was granted bail by a High Court. The government said it carried out the mammoth exercise to detect and deport undocumented immigrants from Bangladesh. But the final publication of the citizenship list has stoked fear of loss of citizenship and long periods of detention. It is unclear what happens next. The central and state governments, however, have clarified that those left off the final citizenship list won’t be declared foreigners.
Toyota, Suzuki partnering in self-driving car technology By YURI KAGEYAMA AP BUSINESS WRITER TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s top automaker, Toyota, and smaller rival Suzuki are partnering in the development of selfdriving car technology, as manufacturers around the world grapple with innovations in the industry. Under the deal, announced on Aug. 28, Toyota will take a 4.9 percent stake in Suzuki Motor Corp. valued at $908 million, and Suzuki will make a $454 million investment in Toyota. In 2017, Toyota Motor Corp. and Suzuki agreed to work together in ecological and safety technology. That deal did not include owning mutual stakes. Auto manufacturers are facing a
costly shift toward the use of artificial intelligence, the internet and other technologies. Partnerships are one way to share the enormous costs. In July, Volkswagen AG of Germany said it is investing $2.6 billion in a Pittsburgh autonomous vehicle company that’s mostly owned by Ford, Argo AI, with a plan to put autonomous vehicles on the roads in the U.S. and Europe as see TOYOTA on 14
The options for those left off the list include appealing to the Foreigner Tribunals within 120 days of the Aug. 31 announcement. The tribunals must decide on the cases within six months. If an appeal fails, the consequences include punishment in detention centers that are currently being set up by the government. Amnesty International expressed concerns about the functioning of the Foreigners Tribunals. The rights group also urged the Assam government to ensure that “the Foreigners Tribunals function with utmost transparency and are in line with the fair trial standards guaranteed under national and international law.’’ Meanwhile, Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, a senior leader with the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, said the final version of the citizenship list did not contain the names of many people who came to India from Bangladesh before 1971. The Indian Express newspaper quoted Sarma as saying that the list is “erroneous’’ as “more illegal migrants should have been excluded,’’ and that the party’s fight to “exclude every single foreigner’’ from the state will continue. A draft citizenship list that was published last year excluded more than 4 million people, after which many either fled the state or even took their lives in exasperation. India’s powerful home minister, Amit Shah, earlier called Bangladeshi migrants “infiltrators’’ and “termites.’’ The Modi-led government, which fully backs the citizenship project in Assam, has often vowed to roll out a similar plan nationwide. Earlier this summer, India’s Supreme Court criticized the central government and Assam’s government, saying thousands of people who had been declared foreigners over the years had disappeared. Assam, with a population of 33 million, was in a state of high alert and additional security forces were deployed in anticipation of possible violence following the publication of the list. There were no reports of unrest immediately after the list was made public.
Man arrested at Singapore airport A man has been arrested at Singapore’s Changi Airport for misusing a boarding pass. He bought a plane ticket just so he could accompany his wife to the gate and wave goodbye to her as she boarded her flight. Singapore Police said the man, 27, had a boarding pass that allowed him access to the airport’s transit area so he could send his wife off, but he had no intention of leaving the country. By law, anyone with a boarding pass who accesses the transit area past security should only be there if they intend to travel. “The Police would like to remind all passengers that the transit areas of Changi Airport are gazetted as Protected Places,”
Singapore Police said in a statement on Facebook. “Passengers who enter the transit areas with a boarding pass should only be there for the purpose of travelling to their next destinations. Those who misuse their boarding pass to enter into the transit areas, with no intention to proceed to their next destinations, are liable for an offence under the Infrastructure Protection Act.” The offender may be prosecuted in court and fined up to S$20,000 (US$14,300) or imprisoned for up to two years. Police said it was the 33rd time this year a person had been arrested at Changi for misusing a boarding pass.
LAM from 1
would not accept other demands, including an independent inquiry into alleged police misconduct against protesters. However, she named two new members to a police watchdog agency investigating the matter. Protesters have also called for the release of those detained without charges, but Lam said this was unacceptable. A lawmaker said the withdrawal of the bill was too little, too late.
The bill would have allowed Hong Kong residents to be sent to mainland China for trials. It sparked massive protests that have become increasingly violent and caused the airport to shut down earlier this month. But Lam said in a pre-recorded television message on Sept. 4 that the government
SEPTEMBER 7 – SEPTEMBER 13, 2019
YOUR VOICE
■ ASTROLOGY
asianweekly northwest
13
Predictions and advice for the week of September 7–September 13, 2019 By Sun Lee Chang Rat — Do you have mixed feelings about an upcoming gathering? You could learn some interesting news just by attending.
Dragon — Has someone disappointed you in the past? Though you are hopeful for the best, you know enough to plan for the worst.
Monkey — You want to top your effort, but that might not be in the cards. There is something to be said for just being present in the moment.
Ox — True to form, you jump in when your assistance is requested. Soon your generosity will be reciprocated.
Snake — Does it seem as though the rules have changed? It is worth checking in to confirm that you are on the same page as your partner.
Tiger — An unusual arrangement is raising some eyebrows. As long as it suits your purpose, there is no need for immediate concern.
Horse — A well-placed pop of color could brighten up a somewhat lackluster space, but do so sparingly.
Rooster — Tempted to frontload your day to get things done? You could run out of steam if you don’t leave yourself enough time in between activities.
Rabbit — Not sharing enough information could backfire. Consider whether it would be beneficial to give additional details.
Goat — Hearing feedback that is at odds with what you had anticipated? Listen carefully, for it will provide valuable insight.
Dog — Don’t leave clutter to clean up for later. When you come back, the last thing you will want to deal with is a mess. Pig — A recent combination has been like oil and water. If the results are unsatisfactory, try another recipe.
WHAT’S YOUR ANIMAL SIGN? RAT 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008 OX 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009 TIGER 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 RABBIT 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 DRAGON 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 SNAKE 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 HORSE 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014 GOAT 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015 MONKEY 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016 ROOSTER 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017 DOG 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018 PIG 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019
*The year ends on the first new moon of the following year. For those born in January and February, please take care when determining your sign.
CAMBODIA from 5 journalists like criminals, its reputation as a failed democracy will remain,’’ Shawn Crispin, senior Southeast Asia representative for the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists, said. The two were arrested in November 2017 during a crackdown on the media and political opponents of Prime Minister Hun Sen’s government. The crackdown, which included a court-ordered dissolution of the country’s only viable opposition party, was generally seen as an effort to ensure victory for Hun Sen’s ruling Cambodian People’s Party in the 2018 general election. Hun Sen has been in power for more than three decades, but in recent years has tightened his grip as his political opponents began to pose a bigger threat at the
MISSING CITIZEN from 8 officials have repeatedly spoken out in favor of anti-Beijing protests in Hong Kong. China is supposed to inform Taiwan when it detains Taiwanese citizens under an agreement reached in 2009. Taiwanese officials said that as of Aug. 30, they had received no information on Lee’s case. The township of Fangliao—a fishing community in southern Taiwan—selected Lee in May as a volunteer consultant to help promote its international affairs because he had studied in the United States and worked in a foreign company in Taiwan, said Mayor Archer Chen. Lee, about 40 years old, often travels to China, Chen said.
polls. The two defendants are accused of sending secret information to Radio Free Asia after it closed its office in Cambodia. They acknowledged sending news to their former employer but said it involved openly available information. Radio Free Asia closed its Phnom Penh office, citing “unprecedented’’ government intimidation of the media. By the end of 2017, Cambodia’s government had closed more than two dozen local radio stations, some of which had rebroadcast RFA’s programs. The English-language newspaper The Cambodia Daily also was forced to close, muting almost all independent media inside the country. Police initially said Uon Chhin and Yeang Sothearin had been detained for running an unlicensed karaoke studio. But they were later accused of setting up a studio
On the morning of Aug. 20, Lee sent Chen photos of the troops along the Hong Kong border, the mayor said. Later that day, Chen said he tried to call Lee but could not get through. “At first I figured he was out of power or had lost the phone, but after we couldn’t reach him for several days I realized things weren’t so innocent,’’ Chen said. In another recent case, Taiwanese rights activist Lee Ming-che disappeared in March 2017 on a trip to China and surfaced at a court hearing in the southern Chinese city of Changsha in September that year. The activist who had discussed democracy with mainland Chinese on social media was sentenced to five years in prison for his activities.
for Radio Free Asia and were charged with espionage. They testified that they had been building a karaoke studio to earn some income since their employment with Radio Free Asia had ended. They are free on bail, but their release is conditional on visiting the police station each month and their passports were confiscated, which they said makes it difficult to find jobs. RFA is funded by an independent U.S. government agency and says its mission is “to provide accurate and timely news and information to Asian countries whose governments prohibit access to a free press.’’ Its programs are aired by radio and television and carried online.
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TOYOTA from 12 early as 2021. Under the deal, Ford will use VW’s electric vehicle platform to build zero-emissions cars for the European market starting in 2023. In February, BMW and Daimler said they are working together on self-driving cars. Under their earlier agreement signed in 2017, Toyota and Suzuki are also cooperating in the Indian market, MIYAMURA from 4 bayoneted his way to a second gun emplacement and assisted in its operation before running out of ammunition there. By the time the battle was over, Miyamura had killed more than 50 enemy soldiers and was severely wounded. Miyamura was held captive for over two years by the Chinese. For his heroism, Miyamura was awarded the Medal of Honor. U.S. Navy Builder 1st Class Shane Hutzenbiler said
where Suzuki remains a strong player. They said they will continue to expand their collaboration. “The automobile sector is currently experiencing a turning point unprecedented in both scope and scale,’’ Toyota and Suzuki said in a statement, referring to stronger environmental regulations as well as newcomers in the mobility business. They said deepening their relationship will help both companies grow and meet challenges. Google autonomous vehicle spinoff Waymo is among the
new players. Uber, which offers ride-hailing services and food delivery, is also working on autonomous driving. Toyota, the maker of the top-selling hybrid, Prius, has invested in Uber.
SOLUTION from SUDOKU on page 6.
it has been a life-changing experience getting to hear Miyamura speak every two weeks. “I am sad that other people might not have a chance to hear his story and meet him in the future,’’ he said. First-timers Thomas Crombie and Gladys Delatorre said the experience was amazing. They were proud to get one of Miyamura’s challenge coins. “I’m just impressed with his memory. He spoke for almost two hours and didn’t miss a beat,’’ Crombie said. “You could tell he was just remembering parts of his life.’’
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YOUR VOICE NUKE PLANTS from 11 TEPCO said the decommissioning of Fukushima Daini alone would cost $3.9 billion and would take four decades, but experts have raised concerns about whether those estimates are realistic for a company already struggling with the ongoing cleanup of the wrecked Fukushima plant, estimated to cost about $75 billion. Japan Atomic Power Co., which has been decommissioning its Tokai nuclear plant since 2001,
BLOG from 10 leaving the NBA to play for China, and Tsue Chong, a century-old noodle and fortune cookie company, sold to another family. Inside, the content was equally interesting with stories that I had never heard before. The layout was beautiful. I was in awe during the whole weekend. My staff and those freelance writers amazed me. Thank you. This leads me to the joy of pride.
The joy of pride
The Asian Weekly has limited manpower and resources. But we work really hard on every issue. We are fortunate to receive news tips from all kinds of people. The people who send us leads believe in us. They know that we don’t let them down. We fight relentlessly for new stories and ideas. From business to politics, arts to food topics, we work hard to generate diverse content. We love your ideas and your contributions. Like a puzzle, we never know what the issue will look like when we begin on Monday. Even on Tuesday, the puzzle is still missing many pieces. Our job is to find the best pieces to fill the holes so that it can be transformed into a fantastic issue. And our small team labors intensively every minute till the last second before we send the issue to press on Wednesday afternoon. That’s determination and perseverance. You can imagine how proud and happy we feel when we receive the finished product.
The joy of inspiration
announced in March that it was pushing back the planned completion of the project by five years, to 2030, because the company still has been unable to remove and store highly radioactive materials from the core. The decommissioning of the government’s Tokai fuel reprocessing facility is expected to take 70 years and cost $7.2 billion. The white paper stated that Japan is pursuing its divisive spent-fuel reprocessing ambitions and a plan to develop a fast-breeder reactor despite international
I watched “Green Book,” DVD movie that I checked out from the library, based on a true story. It won Best Picture at the Oscars this year. I was inspired. In the past, I would skip parts of a movie because it was boring. But I watched all of Green Book. The movie was about an Italian American bouncer driving a Black musician to perform in the deep South in the 1960s, a painful period in American history of whites discriminating against Blacks. Green Book was published to help Blacks find places where they could stay and eat in the South. The Black world-renowned musician wasn’t allowed to eat where he was performing or to use the regular restrooms. It was hard to watch those blatantly bigoted scenes. However, humanity and friendship between the boss and chauffeur inspired me.
The joy of learning
Feel sorry for yourself
My sources of inspirations are derived from newspapers to television news, music lyrics to movies, websites to magazines, lectures to talking to people. Last Saturday,
Feeling sorry for yourself is a tough way to live. The easiest way to make yourself feel terrible is to yearn for what you don’t have and what others do. Or gripe about why others are more fortunate than you. You deserve more than your siblings and friends. Those beliefs can prompt depression and sadness. Comparing
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concerns over the country’s plutonium stockpile of 47 tons, though the commission calls for more efforts in reducing the stockpile and increasing transparency. France’s recently reported move to abandon ASTRID, its next-generation fast reactor that would theoretically produce more plutonium while burning it as fuel, could be a setback for Japan, which was hoping to jointly develop the technology.
yourself to others is silly, impractical, and time-wasting.
Live with envy and jealousy
Envy and jealousy are unhealthy emotions. Stop being envious of someone’s abilities or possessions. Instead, focus on how you can achieve those goals yourself. If not, set other goals for yourself, and move on. Jealousy is destructive. It not only angers you, it saps your energy and diminishes the better part of you. It inhibits you from functioning and thinking clearly and objectively! Beware of your toxic emotions, learn to let go through yoga, exercise, meditation, reading, and talking to loved ones. If you often are jealous of others’ success, try therapy. Therapists don’t judge you. They are great listeners, helping you to develop selfawareness and recover so you can have a happy life, if you let yourself.
Money can’t buy happiness
Since English is my second language, I enjoy learning new English words from reading. Sometimes, I translate them into Chinese. It’s a lot of fun to be bilingual in writing and not just speaking. To increase my vocabulary, I write down new words. I study and review them like the students in the Spelling Bee. It’s a wonderful way to improve my memory. By now, you understand that you can invent your own joy by any means. For instance, through freedom, independence, confidence, play, winning, laughter, hugs, food, cooking, and making things. The list is endless. On the flip side, you can destroy bliss faster if you do the following:
asianweekly northwest
Studies have found that while multimillionaire lottery winners are happy initially, the novelty of wealth wears off. What does it tell you? The huge amount of wealth might generate relationship problems as they don’t know who to trust... people want to be with you because you are rich, and not because they like your company. That stinks.
No alcohol or drugs
Alcohol and drugs are harmful physically and mentally. Those things
”hijack your brains,” according to a psychologist. They can generate depression, hallucinations, and other mental illnesses. The damages are extensive and ever-lasting. They might be quick-fixers, but don’t help you in the long run.
Don’t toil over the stock market
It stresses out many investors to monitor the ups and downs of the stock market. In fact, some friends told me they are much happier without looking at them constantly. But if you are a stockbroker, you have no choice. I found out some of my friends who worked in investments retired earlier than in other professions. A theory is, they make enough money. Hopefully. And no more stress. Although good emotions can make you strong mentally, they don’t instantly translate into happiness. There is a small gap between being happy and feeling positive emotions. But if you embark on positive actions and behavior often, you are on the right track. Thank you to my fellow Rotarian Ben Linford, who asked the question, “What makes you happy?” which inspired me to write the blog. A great icebreaker when talking to strangers, the happiness theme connects human beings on a deeper level. Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.
Notice of Election
International Special Review District Board In accordance with SMC 23.66, as amended
Nomination Deadline: Mailing address:
Street address:
Tuesday, October 22, 2019 Department of Neighborhoods ATTN: ISRD Coordinator PO Box 94649 Seattle, WA 98124-4649 Seattle City Hall, 600 Fourth Avenue, 4th Floor
Nomination forms may be submitted via U.S. Postal Service or hand-delivered no later than the close of business day (5:00 p.m.) on Tuesday, October 22nd. Nominees and nominators shall sign the nomination form to provide proof of consent. An original signature from the nominee is required; therefore, nomination forms will not be accepted via email or fax, unless the original hard copy is received by the deadline. Open Positions: (check one)
#1 Business Owner, Property Owner or Employee #2 Resident, Tenant or Community Participant #4 Resident, Tenant or Community Participant
NE ZHA from 8 without any major IMAX releases, this was the perfect opportunity for Ne Zha to secure IMAX theaters in multiple countries. The movie as a whole felt solid and fresh. I enjoyed the underlying message of not accepting one’s fate and to fight until the end. The character Ne Zha felt lovable, and the audience could empathize with his choices. There is something here for everyone and I found the jokes more hit than miss. A running joke about a man screaming like a girl is overdone. Toilet humor, fat shaming, drunken behavior, and suicide humor are fair game in this movie. It is interesting to see what humor is suitable for everyone in China compared
to U.S. movies. The climax had some gorgeous fighting scenes in a painting, but did not add much to the story. The English subtitles could have used slightly better translations. Other than those negatives, I am thankful “Ne Zha” was released in the U.S., and everyone should try to catch it in theaters this week. Ne Zha will be showing in only 2D at AMC Pacific Place, Regal Meridian, Regal Thornton, Cinemark Lincoln Square, and AMC Oak Tree on Sept. 6. John can be reached at john@nwasianweekly.com.
Eligible persons shall be nominated to one position only. Nominees shall be eligible for the selected position in accordance with criteria of the International Special Review District enabling ordinance, SMC 23.66, as amended. Election Date: Polling Place: Time:
Tuesday, November 19, 2019 Bush Hotel, Plaza level meeting room (409 Maynard Ave. South, entrance off of Maynard Ave. S. or off Hing Hay Park) 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Voter eligibility is limited to those 18 years or older. There shall be one vote per voter. Voters must meet at least one of these four categories of eligibility: Property Owner, Employee, Business Person, or Resident (as defined by election procedures for the International Special Review District Board authorized by the Director of the Department of Neighborhoods.) There shall be no voting by proxy or absentee ballot. For more information, contact the International Special Review District Board Coordinator at (206) 684-0226 or visit http://seattle.gov/neighborhoods/preservation/id.htm. NOTE: VOTER REGISTRATION PROCEDURE Voter registration is required. A registration list of eligible voters is kept on file in the Department of Neighborhoods and at the Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation Development Authority (SCIDPDA), Hing Hay Co-Works, located at 409 Maynard Ave. S. It is not necessary for an eligible voter to register every year unless his or her voting category or address changes. Eligible voters may register by filling out a registration form and submitting it to the Department of Neighborhoods at any time of the year except for thirty (30) days prior to the election. Registration forms are available in the Department or in the SCIDPDA. On election day, voters will be asked to show one form of the following valid photographic identification: driver’s license, photographic identification card, passport, or permanent resident card, and sign a register. The International Special Review District Board Election Procedures (Amended September 12, 2016) are available upon request.
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37 YEARS
SEPTEMBER 7 – SEPTEMBER 13, 2019
STUDENT ART SPACES from 7
Janice can be reached at editor@nwasianweekly.com.
ACRS from 1 “manufactured crisis,” meant to create opposition to the way the SBT funds were always meant to be used. “It was a false argument to say that the funding for these programs was in peril, or the City Council was cutting it, when that is absolutely not the case. In fact, if we are looking at 2020, the mayor has the opportunity to include those programs in General Funds, as was always the case,” Mosqueda said in a later phone interview. The mixed messages from the city’s highest levels of government has created confusion amongst the city’s community partners, Mosqueda said, because the way the mayor’s office has worded the issue makes it sound as though there will be no funding, if the SBT revenue is channeled into a special fund. But this isn’t true: even if the mayor decides not to listen to the City Council’s veto, Mosqueda said the budget must pass through council for tweaks, before it becomes official. “If the mayor doesn’t send out a budget that has those dollars included, we will advocate to amend the budget to keep these organizations whole,” Mosqueda said. “Organizations are already operating on very thin margins. … We shouldn’t be creating unnecessary havoc when we still have the means in front of us to create a budget that keeps these
Ruthie V. gets an impromptu lesson in using social media from Alice Mao and Taylor Wang. Photos provided by The Modern Youth Identity
should be. This is our way of trying to bring these facets together,” Wang said. To drive this home, almost every art piece had the artist’s Instagram handle. Mao added, “We had someone in her 60s come in yesterday. She was excited about how we as artists express our political ideas and saw the topics we care about.” “We wanted the art to reflect the experience of being a young person in today’s age and targeted our generation to try and make them see how it feels to be a young person with an outlet to represent their identity,” Wang said. “At our age, between 15 and 21, you’re in a state of life where you’re uncertain of where you’re going. You’re a kid, but also an adult,” Wang said standing before her self-portrait that seemed to mull the same uncertainties. A few steps away, a bespectacled young Asian girl in pink cuts into a bleeding cake. The painting, “Love,” is by Angela Bi and delves into the meaning of love, especially in Asian families that often comes with high expectations. Given that most Asian parents prefer their children choose careers in medicine, law, or engineering, Mao and Wang seem to be coloring outside the lines. “We’ve had many conversations like this,” they said. “In the beginning, our parents said we have no clue what we’re doing with this gallery thing, but maybe we will support it. Now that they have seen it all put together, they think it’s amazing,” Wang said. Mao’s parents are supportive, too. She feels her father’s decision to quit Microsoft and risk his own startup fuels her to pursue a career in the arts. “I’m thankful because I know a lot of my artist friends’ parents are not that supportive,” she said. Wang plans to pursue a double major in art and business. “I think business is very important because if we didn’t know anything about it, we wouldn’t be able to organize something this big and successful. This is something we plan to focus on in our next project.” Many first-time artists had a chance to showcase their work in an exhibition, and Mao and Wang feel validated. “We’re hearing things like, ‘I hope to see you at your next exhibition or at your own solo art show. It boosts our confidence,” Mao said. “Our GPA may not be the best compared to other Asian kids in our community, where there is pressure from a very young age to have that 4.0. But how many of them would have been able to pull this off? This real-life experience is very important and it’s also important to do what you love,” Wang said.
(Art on far left) Taylor Wang captures the feeling of isolation her generation feels in her self-portrait, "Introvert." Jessica Lin's pieces titled Asian, Bairen challenge the representation of Asian women in mainstream media.
Alice Mao's piece "Spiral" was inspired by the colors of the sky when smoke from the forest fires settled over the Pacific Northwest. Angela Bi takes a look at the love and pressure of expectation in Asian families.
organizations whole with General Fund dollars.” The confusion has played out within community organizations’ leadership. From what she understands, ACRS Communications Manager Liza Javier said the food bank’s funding is secure through 2020 and, as such, the ACRS does not have a plan in place, if the budget goes through as the mayor wants, and SBT funding should run out in 2021. However, because the SBT is so new, the ACRS doesn’t have any allocation history to go on. “We definitely support having those funds support our organizations and the funds that go towards our nutrition programs. But to supplant the funds is a completely different ball game altogether,” Javier said. “That is not what we would call a stable source of funding for us.” Frank Miranda is service organization Solid Ground’s Food System Support Program Manager, and has been an SBT organizer on behalf of the Seattle Food Committee, which includes 27 food banks and 15 city-funded food programs. He said that because the budget has not been finalized, there is no real assurance that the money will be replaced. When asked if the food bank and senior meal funding is secure, the mayor’s office Deputy Communications Director
Kamaria Hightower said in an email to the Northwest Asian Weekly that “there is no update at this time on funding, final determinations will be outlined during the budget process.” Hightower did not respond to further request for comment, when asked if that meant the funding’s future was up in the air. At the July Seattle City Council meeting, the council said it would work with the mayor to find the money to fully fund existing programs, but there was still some friction between councilmembers and the mayor. During the meeting, Mosqueda condemned what she saw as the mayor’s office using threats of an austerity budget to pit vulnerable populations against each other. The council’s legislation is meant to ensure that the communities who are most affected by the SBT receive the benefits from the revenues collected. Residents who are the most impacted by this kind of tax tend to be communities of color and low-income families, and the programs funded by the revenue aren’t meant to be solely funded this way, Mosqueda said. The SBT revenue is meant to enhance and expand these programs, but their core funding comes from the General Fund, which is stable, unlike the SBT revenue. This instability is due to the fact that the SBT revenue isn’t meant to stay at a
consistent level, Mosqueda said. The tax itself is meant as a deterrent to people drinking high-calorie, nutrient-empty beverages. By funneling all the money gleaned from the tax back into the affected communities, residents within these communities can have more and better options via food assistance programs, like Fresh Bucks, and the Farm-to-Table initiative. Over time, the hope is that the SBT revenue will decrease, as fewer people drink sugar-sweetened beverages. However, the council’s own staff had officially warned the council that creating this special fund would damage funding for any programs that had used the SBT revenue to supplant money from the General Fund, saying that these programs “could be reduced or eliminated as a result of this legislation, barring other budget cuts or creation of new revenue sources to backfill the removal of SBT funds.” But this isn’t due to the creation of a special SBT fund, Mosqueda said. She said it’s the result of the mayor’s budget decision to replace the money from the General Fund with SBT revenue, without a plan to continue to use General Fund money, should the council override her veto. Hightower did not respond to phone or email request for comment, when asked if this was the case.