Case Study 1: Ethnic Minorities Have Feelings Too!

BBC News (2015) has reported that Hong Kong has a population of 365,000 ethnic minorities in this urban jungle. Communities consist of mainly Nepalese, Indians, Pakistanis and Filipinos. Ethnic minorities have been in Hong Kong for several decades, but they face different issues than just Hong Kong’s main problems i.e. housing issues.

South China Morning Post (2018) posted a video on YouTube regarding the discrimination problem towards ethnic minority families when they are looking for a home. Ethnic minorities face more extreme housing problems when compared to local civilians, as some citizens are not accepting of other “darker skin” nationalities.

Landlords would decline showing these families flats, as landlords are terrified it will affect locals from being neighbors with them. Some neighbors have complained that they do not want the “curry smell” from these individuals, and also find it hard to communicate with them due to language barriers.

To Kwa Wan property agent Hui Kwok Sun states how 60% of the landlords in Hong Kong would not rent out to these families. Even minority families with high income were rejected to rent, in order to keep the peace within the locals in their flats.

There were more complaints from locals that ethnic minorities would not pay rent, drop trash and are extremely difficult to have a conversation with, creating this false stereotype towards them.

“Hong Kong Unison”, a minority advocacy group stated how the government should reinforce the Race Discrimination Ordinance.

“Officials should make it easier for minorities to file complaints and take a case to court”, says Hong Kong Unison. 

Housing problems are not the only forms of discrimination they struggle with. Ethnic minority children are challenged to fitting in Hong Kong society, as their curriculum does not provide any form of Cantonese teaching as a second language, according to Castle J. (2015) from BBC.

“The language requirement that forms a barrier for ethnic minorities to receive equal access in education and the labour market, can be seen as an indirect form of discrimination,” says Raymond Ho, a senior member of the Equal Opportunities Commission in Hong Kong.

Ethnic Minority Kids in EMI (English as the medium of instruction) designated schools 

Local Kindergartens require kids to be able to speak Chinese at the age of 3 and even use Chinese as the interview medium towards the ethnic minority youth. English Medium schools were the designated spot for this niche society. But that does not solve the potential problems they will face in the future, such as fulfilling the Cantonese requirement in University or employment.

News Channels like BBC and South China Morning Post report discriminative findings about situations like the above, but this can be effective in order to stop this inequality. Major News outlets like BBC are able to raise an awareness that there is an issue of racial inequality in places like Hong Kong.

This could be another step to creating a world without racial inequality.

References

• Castle, J. (2015, October 07). Hong Kong minorities ‘marginalised’ in school. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/business-34444284

Blog 1: Philippines’ Drug War

The Pacific Island country “Philippines” has been on a war against drugs in the recent years, ordered by their newly elected president Duterte. He is loved by thousands in the country, for his changes in this third world country. Government facilities have improved, the country has been more cleaned up than ever, and many more. However, he is known for his so called “notorious” drug war in the country, in order to stop all dealers and addicts from within, but at what cost?

Duterte’s Drug Force 

According to CNN Philippines (2018), “5,104 “drug personalities” have been killed as of January 2019. News organizations and human rights groups claim the death toll is over 12,000. The victims included 54 children in the first year. Opposition senators claimed in 2018 that over 20,000 have been killed.” Hundreds and thousands of innocent civilians have been killed and slaughtered within this disastrous war, with not much effect towards the drug problem the president aims to eliminate.  According to Balwin C. (2017) on his investigation towards the Philippines Drug War, he points how

“In the capital Manila, the street price of methamphetamine was reportedly lower in June 2017 than a year earlier, which has been interpreted as an indication of the policy’s ineffectiveness.”

This type of suffering is obviously seen as a war to around the globe, but is considered an everyday lifestyle if you are a citizen of the Philippines. In 2017, Grade 11 student Kian Loyd delos Santos was killed during the war on drugs, with the police claiming they shot in “self defense”. CCTV footage shows how the boy demonstrated no action towards the police, leaving people in question with whether the drug war is doing more harm than good. Kian was not the only minor below 18 years old that was caught in the crossfire. Around 50 more minors were killed in 2017 alone, with numbers rising as the years go by.

A school tribute to one of the students who was killed in the drug war

Some may ask, what is the point of having this drug war? Is it portrayed as a message to the people? A movement? Or even entertainment?

In 2017, Netflix released a mini TV series titled “Amo” is based about the Philippines crackdown on narcotics. It revolves around the high school student Joseph, who deals with goes to the wrong side of town and is tangled up in the drug trade. The Pinoy TV series has been controversial amongst viewers due to how the series portrays the drug war in the Philippines. Joseph Hincks (2017) from TIME, writes how “The controversy over Amo comes amid a broader debate on how the Philippine drug war is presented to the world.”

The Trailer for the Netflix TV series Amo

The director of the mini TV series, Cannes award-winning director Brillante Mendoza has a close relationship with the Philippines’ president. Not only has Mendoza created various films and videos regarding the drug war, but is also a strong supporter for Duterte’s motives.

“The Philippines’ most famous director has said Duterte’s campaign is “necessary” for his own and “other countries afflicted with the drug problem,” according to Agence France-Presse.

There has been several petitions for the cancelation of Amo, particularly from victims from the drug war. A Filipino mother gathered more than 10,000 signatures for the demolishment, due to her disabled son being gun downed for police for suspected drug activity. More than 13 human rights group also called Netflix to cancel the premiere, as they believe this show “aims to justify extrajudicial killings.” (CNN, 2017)

The Philippine’s war on drugs has been a suffering for the Pinoy civilians, with the chance of being killed at any second. It has been presented as a message to the people, as well as some form of entertainment to some. Will this bring more suffering to the victims of this suffering? Watching a Netflix series may seem like nothing, but to people who lost their loved ones in the drug war crossfire, might have to think twice.

References

1. Baldwin, C. (2017, June 25). More blood but no victory as Philippine drug war marks its first year. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-philippines-duterte-drugs/more-blood-but-no-victory-as-philippine-drug-war-marks-its-first-year-idUSKBN19G05D
2. CNN Philippines. (2018). SWS: Most Filipinos believe number of drug addicts decreased in 2018. Retrieved from http://nine.cnnphilippines.com/news/2019/02/16/SWS-Filipinos-drug-addicts-decrease-2018.html
3. Hincks, J. (2018, April 30). Netflix ‘Amo’ Series on Philippines Drug War Faces Criticism. Retrieved from http://time.com/5249981/netflix-brillante-mendoza-amo-duterte-drug-war/

Blog 2: Television Before My Time

I had a conversation with my grandfather not so long, asking him what was it like during his days and television. With an instant grin, he proceeds to tell me his good old days.

“Charlie Chaplin was always the man to make my day when he comes up”, said by my grandfather, followed by a couple low pitched giggles.

A portrait of Charlie Chaplin, one of the popular comedians in the 50s

He mentioned how when he was a young boy, television was revolutionary during his time, the “Apple TV” of their days. His parents were amused by the whole idea of technology itself, especially when you can watch people entertaining for you, in your own living room! To us millennials, this may seem like nothing, but the 50s was another story.

Television shows would be in black and white, and everyone would watch together as if it was a special moment for the family. As compared to now where almost any online show or video can be streamed in the palm of our hands, they would have to just hope for the best for their favorite show to come up!

The television would not be like thin and slick like the ones from Samsung or LG.

“Television would be a massive wooden block with a small screen at the front” 

Television back in the 50s

Television changed the world in my grandfather’s eyes, with being updated to global news, to just giving you laughs from some of the funniest people out there. However, it indeed come with a cost. Such a device in that era would cost a fortune for people, probably equivalent to purchasing a 100 inch TV screen. In other words, not everyone had a TV, and those who did, were the “lucky ones”.

 

Blog 1: Media Space

Media space can be seen all around us in the 21st century. Whether in schools, cinemas or even at your very own home, media is found in every aspect in your daily life.

I will be talking about the media space within my own home, and the experiences and history that comes with it.

My home consists of several devices, in order to sustain a easier and comfortable lifestyle. You may ask, like what?

Television, computers, printers, washing machine, and my personal favourite, the WiFi Router.

My television holds a lot of memories as the existence of TV has been there since I was growing up. From massive block looking TV to one where it is thin and installed into a wall, a pretty good upgrade don’t you reckon?

Television in Today’s Generation

With the Apple TV accessory, I am able to watch my favourite TV shows from Netflix, or play YouTube clips directly from my phone. Hence, the TV feels more connected to me than ever as I am able to play shows and clips any time I want to. Personally, I love watching Hip Hop videos on the TV as you can see more of the details in their movement and hear more clearly on what they have to say to the public.

Netflix’s Logo

Back in the day, TV only has cable and you can’t play on demand like the functionality you can do now. VHS tapes were a trend too as well, now being considered a vintage item to the newer generation.

A VHS Tape back during the 90s Generation 

In a reading I read titled “A Global Sense of Place” (M. Doreen, 1994) the author stated an intriguing point about media space and power. He gave the example of you being on top of a satellite in outer space and you have the power to see people on earth in perfect detail, like a super advanced microscope. He points out that you will probably notice the different levels of communications towards people and their relationship with their media, and the ones who are more connected to the media connection flow, have an increased advantage on using it to it’s maximum potential.

References

• M. Doreen, (1994) “A Global Sense of Place”