Presentation for Final Project–Rebecca YU

The topic I’ve chosen for my final project is the Hong Kong housing maid industry in the global finance crisis. Here are four main categories in my final project website. Stories, Photos, Pop-vox (Audio) and, Videos. Here I’d like to share with you my process of interviewing for pop-vox.

 

I went to HSBC building in Central and Victorian Park in Causeway Bay to do pop-vox. I asked some persons there about whether they will apply a Philippine maid or fire their existing maids in house. And when I came back home to get the materials together, I found a big problem: all about my interviewees’ monthly income are above the average level in Hong Kong. The maids I interviewed are working for relevant wealthy families, because the male family members are working in the Central. It seems not to be very accurate to represent the whole status. Then, I decided to do my pop-vox again. I chose the other two places to do interview: Shan Shui Po district in Kowloon whose residents there gained much less than those in Central; and Greenfield Garden, Tsing Yi district in New Territory whose residents’ monthly income approached the average level most. I think the second time I made my interview more convinced and representative.

 

In terms of something to work towards is that there are few official opinions or voices from academic organizations. I think it is more or less unbalance in reporting. I believe I can do a better job next time.

 

 

 

Rebecca’s Final Project

Here is a link to Rebecca’s Final Project

http://www.ijs-global.com/class09/RebeccaYu/Final%20Project%202/rebecca/

Welcome to Rebecca’s Blog

Having a nice day~~~~~

soundslide

the link below is our team’s project for soundslide

http://www.ijs-global.com/class09/RebeccaYu/publish_to_web/one_year_in_hk

soundslide

the link below is our team’s project for soundslide

http://www.ijs-global.com/class09/RebeccaYu/publish_to_web/one_year_in_hk

Prague-old or new? It is a question.

Prague – February 10 – IJS-Global – Old couples walking on the Charles Bridge, bathed in the brilliant rays of the setting sun, may touch the softest part of one’s hearts. The red roofs under the bright blue sky make everything look like a dream. And the steeples of the castle arouse memories of the fair stories in one’s childhood. This is Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, an ancient city who enjoys the reputation of the “World Cultural Heritage City”. While the quite city has to face an inevitable problem: the conflict between new and old when the cultural city encounters globalization. The conflicts between the old and the new have never stopped. The new National Library, a project that was recently cancelled, was controversial. Its unusual design, which looks like an octopus in purple and green, won applause from some but was mostly opposed. In 2007, the proposal that a parking lot on the historic street Nadroni Trida be used for a five-star hotel aroused a nation-wide discussion. Though good news for the tourism industry, some thought this plan would harm the nearby baroque palace and spoil the look of the historic neighborhood and buildings. This plan has been delayed by the strong voice of opposition. But maybe bad news for the cultural protectors, the parking will be turned to the hotel in a recent future. 
Controversial discussions spread in the whole nation, even among the young generation. “I like the new library,” said Marketa Sokolova, a young student. “The old city needs something new. The old buildings cannot represent all the aspects of Prague’s culture. We need some innovation. And the new library is a good attempt.”
 “The modern building will surely destroy the overall style of Prague. It is so odd, or precisely speaking, nasty. I feel a bit ashamed for it,” Katarina Nemcova, an exchange student from Germany, said.
 But many tourists who came to Prague for its unique cultural architectures may be disappointed. Tim Hamlet, a professor at a Hong Kong university who has been to Prague twice, said, “I prefer the old buildings here. You know, the skyscrapers in Hong Kong look the same with those in Shanghai, Beijing and the other big cities in China today. It is a pity because different cities have different cultural styles, which is carried most by the architecture.”
 Still some of them voiced different opinion. “I think it will take time for people to accept new things,” Japanese tourist Matsu Takako said. She is married to a man from Prague and has been living here for more than ten years. “The Dancing House is a good example.” The Dancing Building is a luxury office building that looks like a pair of dancers. There were many different voices during the past decades since it was completed. “While, you see, it has become the new symbol for Prague.” Prague-a city with old and new, a city in a globalization times-how can it maintain its cultural style, it is really a urgent question.

The Background of the Prague Spring

Prague Spring was a period of political liberalization in Czechoslovakia during the era of its domination by the Soviet Union after the Second World War. It happened during January 5, 1968 to August 21, when the Soviet Union and member of its Warsaw Pact allies invaded the country to halt the reforms.

In the 1960s, Czechoslovakia’s economic development had suffered serious difficulties, which aroused intense dispute amid Czechoslovakia’s communism party. In 1968, Alexander Dudcek who was appointed by the reformers as the first secretary of central party, began to promote a reform aiming at pursuing an independent foreign as economic policy. This reform included developing socialist democracy, reforming leadership vote mechanism and implementing market economy with the economic system plan and market economy. This reform act of Prague, called the “Spring”.

The reforms were not received well by the Soviets who, after failed negotiations, sent thousands of Warsaw Pact troops and tanks to occupy the country. A large wave of emigration swept the nation. While there were many non-violent protests in the country, including the protest-suicide of a student, there was no military resistance. Czechoslovakia remained occupied until 1990.

After the invasion, Czechoslovakia entered a period of normalization: subsequent leaders attempted to restore the political and economic values that had prevailed before Dubček gained control of the Communist Praty of Czechoslovakia. 

Reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prague_Spring

http://library.thinkquest.org/C001155/index1.htm

Vox pop – Views from the street about the penalty of drunk driving accidents

by Kina Kang, Rebecca Yu, Sammy Xia & Jennifer Wang

HONG KONG-Feb 13-IJS-Global- Hong Kong has seen at least three deadly traffic accidents over the last two weeks, with one of them on Jan. 23 in southern Hong Kong claiming six lives. A driver involved in the accident was reportedly suspect of drunk driving.

Statistics released by Hong Kong Police showed that drunk driving has been on the rise — 1490 cases out of some 39,000 tests in 2008, in contrast to 1300 to 1400 cases out of 42,000 in the previous two years.

The accidents led by the drunk driving have caused the criticisms from the Hong Kong people that criticizing the lacking penalty from the HK governments.

According to the current law, drunk-drivers may face up to only three years in jail and a fine of no more than 25,000 HK dollars (US$ 3,205), and the drunk-driver leading to casualty or death may would face up to no more than10 years and less than 50,000 HK dollars fine.

For this phenomenon, should HK government consider tougher drinking law? Is the heavier penalty could effectively curb the increasing car accidents? We interviewed some people by random, here are the quotations.

Yu Xu, a professor from Journalism Department in Hong Kong Baptist University

“Administering heavier penalty is not an ideal solution to reduce the traffic accidents caused by drunk driving. The government should pay more attention to the distribution of police, the traffic infrastructure, such as the traffic lights, the road sign, which should be checked and repaired regularly.”

Justin Chow, a 25-year-old programmer from a computer company

“Whether we should sentence a drunk-driver to death, I think, it should depend on the specialized cases. Not every drunk driving accident need heavy penalty.”

 Kiwi Lee, an English teacher from a primary school, 23-year-old

“I think there is no need to conduct a death penalty towards drunk drivers; because it cannot solve the drunk driving accidents essentially and fundamentally. More important thing is to enhance the public education.”

 Zhang Xin, a 26-year-old Research Assistant in the Department of Psychology of Chinese University of Hong Kong, agreed that those drunk drivers should get harsh punishment: “Because what they did are crimes. The driver, who killed 4 people at Lok Ma Chou, destroyed a family. He is a murderer and I think he deserves death penalty. ”

 Kwong Yin Ling, an assistant director of Hong Kong Baptist Hospital, also agreed stricter penalty on the drivers who cause accidents. “I am a doctor so l know how terrible pain the drunk drivers can bring to those victims. They hurt the innocent people and took sons away from desperate mothers. After all, human’s life is most important. And not to drive after taking alcohol is a thing that you can control. If you drink, don’t drive. If you want to drive, don’t drink. It is your social responsibility to avoid the tragic accidents.”

 “I don’t really think harsh punishment will work. And death penalty is too much for them.” Mrs. Chan, a housewife with two daughters shopping in the Festival Walk expressed. “I have kids. Sometimes I worried about the traffic situation on the way from home to their kindergarten. Harsh penalty might be effective at the very beginning. But after some while people will forget about the punishment and keep drunk driving. So penalty could not solve the problem from the root. Education, I think, is the essential way to get to the point.”

 

Prague: Modern or Traditional? It is a question.

Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, has enjoyed the reputation of “the Father of Cities” for its architectural splendors that span a thousand years. The medieval baroque and renaissance buildings in the city are truly a great pleasure for all, the historians, the tourists and, let alone, the students of architecture. Walking in the street of Prague, one may confuse that he is lingering in the grand library of architecture. Thanks to the escapes from the two worldwide wars, the old buildings in Prague can maintain their original appearances throughout centuries. It is recognized that the architectural styles take shape the cultural atmosphere – marvelous, mysterious but tranquil.

 

The old couples walking on the Charles Bridge, which is bathing in the brilliant rays of setting sun, may touch the softest parts of one’s hearts. The red roofs under the bright blue sky make everything look like in a dream. And the steeples of Prague’s Castle arouse the memories of the fair stories in one’s childhood. Citizens in Prague cherish their effort to protect the old buildings which carried their cultural and history. In 2007, the proposal of the historic center of Prague on Narodini Trida using for parking for a five-star hotel has aroused a national wide discussion. The majority thought that though it was good news for the tourism industry, this plan will harm the baroque palace on the traditional street, and spoil the look of the historic neighborhood and buildings. And this plan delayed in the strong voice of opposition. Thirty years ago, the National Office for the Preservation of Historical Monuments has passed an article of the limitation of the height of the new buildings in the old town. The Prague people did their best to protect their architecture as well as their culture.

 

While, here comes an inevitable problem, which is the conflict between the new and the old when a cultural city encountered in the tendency of globalization and civilization. Modern buildings mashroomed in Prague overnight. The new National Library, which is still on the blueprint, is the sharpest disputations in Prague, even in the Czech Republic. Its post-modern appearance, which looks like a octopus with the colors of purple and green, on one side, win the young’s applaud; while on the other side, is against strongly by the conservatives.

 

“I like the new library,” said Marketa Sokolova, a young student who has been in the US for couple of years. “The old city needs something new. The old buildings cannot represent all the aspects of Prague’s culture. We need some innovation. And the new library is a good attempt.”

 

Katarina Nemcova, the exchange student from Germany, said “The modern building will surely destroy the overall style of Prague. It is so odd, or precisely speaking, nasty. I feel a bit shame for it.”

 

“I think it will take time for people to accept the new things,” a Japanese tourist Matsu Takako said. She has married to Prague and has been in there for over ten years. “The Dancing House is a good example.” The Dancing Building is a luxury office building with the look of a pair of dancers by the Vltava River. There were many different voices during the past decades since its complement. “While, you see, it has become the new symbol for Prague.”  

 

Tim Hamlet, a professor of a Hong Kong university who has been to Prague twice, said that “I prefer the old buildings here. You know, the skyscrapers in Hong Kong look the same with those in Shanghai, Beijing and the other big cities in China today. It is a pity because different cities have different cultural styles, which is carried most by the architectures.”

 

These kinds of arguments are becoming increasing in China today. The newly built China’s Central Television Building has aroused a national wide discussion about the traditional Chinese or Beijing city cultural style. China and Prague enjoy with the long history and magnificent culture. Maybe they can learn from each other in the process of culture protection and innovation.

 

No one can deny that a city needs development and progress. But how can we mix the new elements with the traditional cultural style harmoniously. It is an urgent question for every cities in the globalization times.

 

Supply and Demand Reversed in Shenzhen hour-workers’ Market

By Rebecca 

Shenzhen – Jan 25 2009 – IJS-Global.com — Wen Huijuan was sitting in the empty hall in a Shenzhen hour-cleaners’ market in Nanshan district, waiting for her employer. She was nervous because she had waited for couple of days but all in vain. Wen said if she could not find an employee before the Chinese lunar New Year, she had to go back to her home in the rural area of Henan province and stay here until next spring because there would be fewer who need a hour-worker during the spring festival.

 

Wen has been an “hour-worker” in Shenzhen for more than two years. Because of her hard working and carefulness, she is welcomed in this market by the employers. Wen said that when the market was good she could have three employers at the same time. “I had to run to a second employer’s house just after I had finished the first work”, said Wen, “Can you image how hot the market was last year!”

 

Wen Huijuan, a woman from the rural area with low education, may hardly know why there were many employers only one year ago but so few this year and why she cannot be paid as much as that of last year. In China, Wen Huijuan, like many other farm laborers, had become the victim to the austere financial crisis.

 

Due to its good service and the qualified employees, the hour-workers’ market in Nanshan district is the most lively one in Shenzhen. Many employers went to Nanshan to look for a good hour-worker even though they didn’t live nearby. Cheng Lifang, the manager of Nanshan market, said the supply of hour-cleaner seldom catch up with the demand in the past. However, the “old golden times” went away this year. It seems that the number of hour-workers is far more than that of employers. “Many people lost their jobs or get less money because of the financial crisis; so they want to reduce the cost of living. In their eyes, the first unnecessary thing is the paid for an hour-worker”, Cheng explained.

 

Cheng said the market had been weakening since the first half of 2008. She thought Beijing 2008 Olympics might stimulate the market but her hope dissolute. “This winter is the worst time.” Cheng was nervous because in her market there were about 100 hour-workers who could not find their employers and there would be more due to the women workers from the bankrupt factories in Dongguan, Guangzhou, the cities near Shenzhen who would become the newly hour-workers.

 

Cheng told that the next step she will take in her market is to persuade her workers to low their expected paid and to do a series of promotions in other districts in Shenzhen. Cheng said that Shenzhen, as a city of migrants, has dual career couples, who have no time to look after the old and the children in their weekdays. She said the demand of hour-worker is still considerable. “I believe the reverse of the demand and supply of hour-workers is temporary. But nobody knows when the crisis will end,” said Cheng.

 

The influence of financial crisis has affected many aspects of people’s daily life. The reverse of the demand and supply of hour-worker’s market in Shenzhen may be is the beginning of the possibly more troubles. How to cope with the big problem is the most crucial issue for the Chinese government and Chinese people as well.  

 

 

 

outline of overseas trip report

Team member: Rebecca Yu and Kina Kang.

 

The topic is “the Old and the New — How Prague Maintains its Culture Characters in the Global Times”.

 

Our story outline is as follow:

For Prague enjoys the reputation of “the mother of cities”, its cultural style is largely based on its architectures, especially the old building. While in recent years, modern building boomed in this old city. Then here comes to a question: how can an ancient city maintain its cultural characters in the global times. We will discuss how Prague people tackle with this problem which is inevitable in the drive of globalization. And make a comparison with China and Hong Kong.

 

We will firstly give the readers an overall knowledge about its cultural styles in the first part by introducing the typical s old architectures- the Prague Castle, the Charles Bridge, the Bell Tower.

 

And in the second part, we will discuss how the Prague people protected these old buildings in the past centuries, especially their effort in the past decades. We have found that there is a NGO name “the club of old Prague” which did a lot of contribution to the protection of the old buildings. The NGO’s aim is “to protect well during the period of using”, which is quite different with that in China. (We have sent letters to this club to do the interview by e-mail and got answers.) Chinese ancient cultural relics are solemn and magnific. They are just for sightseeing (even for commercial profits). We will make a comparison between China and Prague. China can learn something useful for its culture protection. And more detailed discussion will in the following parts.

 

The third part, we will discuss two controversial issues in Prague in terms of old building protection — the new national library (it is designed as an octopus) and the outdoor advertising posts (e.g. McDonald’s, KFC，Starbuck etc.) Some persons regard these will undermine Prague Baroque building style as well as the cultural environment. By contrast, the others voice different opinions. They think the old city of Prague needs some innovation and the modern buildings as well as the AD billboards can bring a sense of globalization. In this part, we will add four interviews (a local old lady who has been in America for some years; an exchange student from Germany whose major is architecture; a visitor from the U.S and one form a local residence — We think these interviewees can represent all the opinions, because they are with the different backgrounds, different educational levels, different ages and the different world views).

These kinds of arguments are becoming increasing in China today. The newly built China’s Central Television Building has arouse a national wide discussion about the traditional Chinese (or Beijing city) cultural style. China and Prague are countries with the long history and magnificent culture. And Prague plays a good example for China in the old building protection.