Many People are Saying the Choice to Nominate Kim was a Good One.

By Jeffrey Ledesma

President Barack Obama nominated Dartmouth College President Jim Yong Kim on Friday, March 23, to succeed Robert Zoellick as he next president of the World Bank.

Although Kim, 52, is highly regarded for his leadership on global health issues, he is relatively an unknown in political or financial circles. President Obama was under great pressure to select Zoellick’s replacement, the executive who is scheduled to retire in June.

According to The Washington Post, the president needed to find a nominee known not so much for political connections in Washington as for a demonstrated ability to carry on the bank’s mission of fostering development, especially in the poorest countries.

President Obama found that nominee in Kim who was born in South Korea and immigrated to the United States at the age of 5.

“We believe Mr. Obama has done just that in choosing… Kim, a physician who has dedicated most of his career to delivering health care to destitute people worldwide,” the editorial board wrote.

Many people agree. The state news agency Xinhua, according to the UK Telegraph, said the choice to make the a public health expert born in Seoul and raised in the U.S., is “encouraging”.

Related Articles —

Huffington Post: Jim Yong Kim, World Bank Nominee, Raps At Dartmouth

UK Telegraph: Chinese Say Jim Yong Kim’s World Bank Nomination is ‘Encouraging’

Reuters: U.S. Steps Up its Push to Keep Top World Bank Role

Bamboo Offshoot has collaborated with fellow API publications from NYU, Berkeley, UCLA and Duke, to create the API Collegiate Press Tumblr to help build a sense of community. Please check it out and let us know what you think.

Also, if you want to contribute please let us know at bamboo@usc.edu.

‘Smile for Nippon,’ a volunteer organization, came to speak at the University of Southern
California’s  Annenberg Auditorium on Friday, Jan. 13, to remind people that the relief
efforts in Japan are far from over. Check out the slideshow.

By Sara Clayton

A man from Tokyo and

his ‘Smile for Nippon’ team

are on a mission —

a mission to do whatever they can to support tsunami victims and keep them smiling despite the hardships they have faced.

It has been ten months since the tragic magnitude 9.0 earthquake in Tohoku, the northeastern region of Japan, and though many of us saw images and footages of cars, houses and people being swallowed up by the relentless tsunami waves, this disaster has been abandoned by the media and the rest of the world after almost a month of coverage.

But one small organization, Smile for Nippon, which came to speak in the Annenberg Auditorium on Friday, Jan. 13, is determined to remind the world that Japan still needs as much help as possible.

A group of graduate students from USC and UCLA have been touring around Los Angeles and giving presentations in order to educate people on what has happened since media coverage of the tsunami area halted. But these students would not have come together if it were not for a certain Mr. Tsun-san, who goes by the name Chonmage, the hairstyle featuring a shaved pate and a small ponytail that most sumo wrestlers don before a match.

Chonmage has visited Tohoku 17 times since the tsunami, and with every visit, he brings up amenities – shoes, sausages, games, etc. Because he lives in Tokyo, each trip he makes up to Tohoku and back covers approximately 1000 miles, but Chonmage does not mind making the trip because all the smiles he sees whenever he visits Tohoku makes all the traveling worthwhile.

“I heard that the people who lived in Tohoku needed shoes, and since I am a shoemaker myself, I decided to bring up 200 shoes to give to them,” Chonmage said in Japanese, “When I delivered the shoes, I made a pinky-promise with a little boy that I would come back. Since then, I have returned sixteen more times.”

With donations and money out of his own pocket, Chonmage has been able to brighten the lives of people from all ages in Tohoku. And along with the supplies and entertainment he gives to those in the disaster areas, Chonmage also noted how much they enjoy his presence. “They love to see my goofy outfit. It gives me a reason to talk to them and gives them a reason to laugh. Everyone remembers me.”

Chonmage, with the help of the Los Angeles team, among others, will continue to help those in Tohoku for many years to come. “My ultimate goal is to take the kids to Tokyo Disney!” exclaimed Chonmage, with a brilliant smile.

If you would like to learn more about Chonmage and his mission, please “Like” Smile for Nippon on Facebook and follow Chonmage on Twitter.

Related Stories —

New York Times: Panel Challenges Japan’s Account of Nuclear Disaster

KTVZ: Japan Tsunami Debris Threatens Ore. Coast

The Tokyo Times: Japan welcomes new foreign friends as volunteers

By Eileen Tse

The crime-fighting Sailor Moon. Photo: Flickr

Aside from the yellow Power Ranger (RIP Thuy Trang), Sailor Moon was probably your first exposure to an Asian face in mass popular culture, even though we were probably too young to realize that Sailor Moon was a Japanese property imported over and dubbed for an American audience.

As Asian Americans continue to climb the corporate ladders, something continues to prevent them from breaking through to the top.

By Harsh Vathsangam

The bamboo ceiling has made the promotion of APAs to senior managerial roles at top companies a rare occurrence. Art: Margaret To.

Stereotypically Asian Pacific Americans are known to enter careers as meticulous engineers, life-saving doctors, and mad scientists. But how many Asians become CEOs?

Although Asians make up only 5 percent of the U.S. population, according to a study by the Center for Work-Life Policy, they’re highly represented at some of the most prestigious universities, making up between 15 and 25 percent of Ivy League enrollment.

Yet the impressive credentials and achievements that have caused them to be dubbed “the model minority” aren’t reflected in senior leadership positions.

Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics, Inc., recently released a report that stated Asian Americans constitute only 2 percent of board members in Fortune 500 companies, and within these companies there are only nine Asian American CEOs.

The numbers point to a phenomenon known as “The Bamboo Ceiling,” a term that refers to the fact that while Asian Americans find no problem in acquiring prestigious academic degrees, they find it difficult to take the next step up and into senior managerial roles at top companies.

Why can’t Asians break through that bamboo ceiling? It’s certainly not for lack of interest. The CWLP researchers found that 64 percent of Asians compared to 52 percent of their Caucasian counterparts aspire to hold top seats at a company.

Asian family values have stressed hard work, avoiding confrontation, and humble respectfulness. Although these characteristics are positive on their own, these cultural values don’t necessarily match up with success in the cutthroat corporate world.

A popular argument is that these very same characteristics that put Asians on the top of college admissions stacks can work against them when gaining a foothold in corporate America. With these values as the cornerstones of their academic successes, thoughts such as putting one’s ideas forward in meetings, self-promotion, or taking credit for achievements end up being alien concepts.

The result? Often, silence is mistaken for arrogance and unwillingness.

A reason could be lack of mentorship. The CWLP study also found that only 46 percent of Asians say they have a mentor in their professional life compared to more than 60 percent of Caucasians. You can find strategies to help with breaking the bamboo ceiling here.

Another possible cause is that Asian culture places emphasis on eldercare, an activity that could for better or worse take time away from career advancement.

Taking a look at the issue from another perspective reveals more. There are now 61 Chinese and eight Indian companies in the Fortune 500.

With that said, companies with a largely Asian top brass are steadily rising up the rankings and making their presence felt. These numbers are only slated to increase. Conversely, according to Fortune magazine, the number of American companies on this list has been declining from 197 in 2002 to 133 in 2011.

I find myself asking how is it that these companies with Asian CEOs who have the similar cultural values are thriving. But, there is a key difference. It is important to note the distinction between Asians working in Asian companies and Asian Americans working in U.S. companies.

Thus, I argue that it has more to do with the clashing of cultures than any innate inability to perform. Asian Americans need to understand these significant cultural differences and recognize the corporate atmosphere in which they operate if they hope to break through the bamboo ceiling.

Or perhaps we should all book one-way tickets to corporate Asia?

Related Stories —

Science: Breaking through the “bamboo ceiling” for Asian American scientists

NPR: Looking at the ‘bamboo ceiling’

Cornell Chronicle Online: Model minority? A ‘myth of the American dream,’ says panelist at Asian American discussion

Inside Higher Ed: ‘The Myth of the Model Minority’

A combat veteran reflects on WWII Filipino soldiers’ long fought battle for equality that continued long after the Germans surrendered in 1945. It wasn’t until recently that the California government decided to recognize these forgotten Filipino veterans.

By Jeffrey Ledesma

War has the power to change soldiers’ souls. The unthinkable acts they see, the horrible sounds they hear, and the pungent smells they inhale all burn permanent marks in their minds.

During the March of Death, prisoners' hands were tied behind their backs. The March stretched from Bataan to Cabanatuan, the prison camp, in May of 1942. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

For the Filipino veterans who served alongside American soldiers in the Second World War, the battle for equality continued for decades after the war ended.

After fighting for a country they believed was their own, they were the only ethnic group of soldiers stripped of their benefits because of their immigration status. Consequently, they became the forgotten heroes erased from the rosters.

On the Assembly floor, Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco), author of the WWII Filipino Veterans in Curriculum bill, explained the urgency to acknowledge the forgotten Filipino soldiers and their contributions to the war.

A contingent of Filipino WWII veterans attends a hearing at Sacramento City Hall to keep the state government from cutting more of veterans' already few privileges. Photo: Flickr.

“Many of the Filipino veterans of WWII are aging and dying,” Ma said. “It is important to ensure that their stories are not lost. They deserve our recognition and respect in our history.”

Although the Assembly passed AB 199 in April with a 72-0 vote, Gov. Jerry Brown didn’t sign the bill into law until early this month. While many advocates for Filipino veteran rights were thrilled, some people didn’t make it.

Peping Baclig was a Filipino veteran who passed away earlier this year. Baclig was one of the last 18,000 remaining Filipino WWII veterans out of 200,000 who served under President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Baclig survived the Bataan Death March when the Imperial Japanese army forced 75,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war to march for miles after the three-month Battle of Bataan in the Philippines during WWII.

Thousands of prisoners died during the transfer.

Congressional records shed light on the march that is still remembered today. “They were beaten, and they were starved as they marched. Those who fell were bayoneted,” the records state. “Some of those who fell were beheaded by Japanese officers who were practicing with their samurai swords from horseback.”

In an emotionally-charged public service announcement for the National Alliance for Filipino Veterans Equality, Baclig urges the viewers to fight for liberty, equality and justice for the Filipino American WWII veteran.

“To be on equal footing with anybody who served with me, that’s what I want. I fought for democracy,” Baclig emotionally said as he wiped tears from his face with an American flag handkerchief. “Will you do the same?”

According to the Asian Journal, Gov. Jerry Brown signed AB 199 on October 8 to recognize Filipinos in WWII in the state’s Social Studies curriculum. It encourages schools “to include instruction on World War II and the role of Filipinos… who fought courageously in the U.S. Army.”

Despite being progressive landmark in civil rights, it’s upsetting to know that many like Baclig weren’t able to see this dream of equality become reality. They weren’t saluted for their honorable service. They weren’t acknowledged for their sacrifices. But at least now, they won’t be forgotten.

More than 6,300 runners participated in the 2011 Annual Bataan Death March to support survivors and commemorate fallen service members. Photo: Flickr.

As a Filipino, an American, and a combat veteran, I cannot help but feel strongly tied to the Filipino soldiers who came before me.

They fought an uphill battle for democracy. They fought so we could fight. So, please fight. Fight for liberty, fight for equality, fight for justice – wherever and whenever it is denied.

Related Stories —

Republic of the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs: L.A. City Council passes resolutions in support of Filipinos in WWII

Filipinos Abroad: Pinoy WWII vets in LA to get recognition, benefits

Philip Yu, the creator of AngryAsianMan.com, confesses he’s not really angry. But, the media’s overuse of racist Asian stereotypes does get the Korean-American blogger and his followers fired up.

By Ivana Banh

It has been 10 years since Angry Asian Man first emerged on the blogging scene. Today, thousands of people flock to the website daily to update themselves on the Asian American representation in the media.

Philip Yu, the Korean-American mastermind behind the website, covers anything ranging from YouTube’s Chinese American comedian KevJumba to a shooting at San Jose State University that killed a Japanese American student.

Photo courtesy of Philip Yu.

Yu’s master’s degree in critical studies coupled with his passion for pop culture has created an online hub that is both intellectual and entertaining.

Yu said he began AngryAsianMan.com in his early college years with the intention of establishing a personal space to voice his thoughts. Little did he know, his insight on the media’s lack of Asian presence would become an Internet sensation.

Readers appreciate the coverage Yu provides on a population that is usually neglected. His witty perspective on Asians in politics, sports, entertainment, and news has gradually built up an extensive fan base.

Yu’s observations have chronicled the evolution of the portrayal of Asians in the media within the past decade. When the blogger first began, Asians were almost invisible in film and television. A decade later, Yu said he’s grateful to see the presence of Asians in the media increase in number.

However, despite the increase in exposure, the way that Asians are depicted on the big and small screens have changed very little. Stereotypical roles such as the socially inept nerd or the kung-fu karate kid are still prevalent in the current entertainment industry.

It is rare to see actors such as Harry Shum, Jr. star as a football player on Glee and Nikita’s Maggie Q as a rogue secret government agent.

While Yu said he’s not strongly against stereotypical roles as long as they are well-drawn, he does not foresee the formulaic characters disappearing anytime soon.

In addition, the fashion in which Asian America children are brought up plays a major role in the media. Immigrant parents often prefer their children to take the “safe” route in becoming doctors and lawyers.

Acting, or any other artistic careers for that matter, is not a profession that has been deeply rooted in traditional Asian culture. Yu acknowledges that the lack of parental support in any creative field is definitely an additional hurdle that Asian Americans face.

Yu said he’s glad to have raised awareness for the Asian American community through AngryAsianMan.com.

His dedication to the website has earned him a cover on KoreAm magazine and a job as the Asian Pop journalist at the San Francisco Chronicle.

However, Yu does not consider the fame or any title his biggest reward. “The biggest compliment that I receive is when someone comes to me and says I didn’t really know about this issue before and now I want to do something about it,” he said.

What initially began as a channel for Yu to express his personal thoughts has blossomed into a highly influential online hub.

With AngryAsianMan.com’s concoction of political coverage, comedic YouTube clips, and Yu’s personal opinion pieces, Yu said the website’s ultimate goal is to inform, entertain, and activate.

It is safe to say Yu has accomplished his goal as his readership continues to multiply.

Related Stories —

International Examiner: How a blogger created Asian America’s most influential site

Racebending.com: ComicCon 2011 panel video

Asian students have consistently been top scorers on standardized tests.

By Yimu Xue

Asian students are known for their test-taking abilities and school smarts. These academic pressures, however, have instilled a negative tradition as cram schools train students to take standardized tests without teaching them meaningful information. Photo: Flickr.

It was a brisk January morning as I shuffled into line at Irvine Valley College, my local community college. There were a few glum faces I recognized from my high school, deeply wrinkled with worry and cheeks rosy from the cold. Step by step, we all entered a large auditorium-like classroom as volunteers ushered us into seats in a pattern and provided us with pencils and Scantrons.

This was it. This was the time for which we had spent the last two and a half months preparing. Countless Saturday afternoons had been lost to practice slaying the monster that lay in front of me.

A jarring voice over the PA system jolted some weary students alert: “Open your test booklets, and begin. You have 25 minutes for this first section.”

Cram schools have become increasingly popular in the United States in the Asian Pacific American community. These after-school and supplemental educational programs structured on the concept that practice makes perfect have become standard amongst students whose parents insist them on attending. Asian students attend cram schools almost as if it is second nature, especially during high school with important tests like the SAT and ACT.

Like America, in Asia it is common practice to send children after-school to an extra-curricular activity.  Children take art lessons, practice music, play soccer. However, on top of that, children are expected to attend supplemental educational programs that instill good study habits and ensure their progress in school is up to par and even beyond average standards. It is no wonder that young Asian children are stereotypically depicted as bookish, studious, and quiet – they rarely have time to socialize when they are being inundated with quizzes on English vocabulary.

Many a Tiger Mother have insisted on their children being over-prepared to not only maintain their competitive academic edge in their school but also to compete with the top students in the nation. Some invest thousands upon thousands of dollars every year to ensure that their children are getting the best education outside of what is offered in public schools.

“In a public school setting, our children’s individual needs aren’t being met,” one Asian mother notes. “It’s up to us, as parents, to ensure they have the best education for the best future possible.”

Study habits are drilled into children as early as pre-school as they repeatedly are tested on their times tables and English vocabulary words. Students studying at Kumon (the Kumon Method), the world’s largest after-school math and reading enrichment program, are given the same tests over and over again until they have committed everything to pure muscle memory. Seven times eight equals fifty-six is no longer a mathematical equation – it’s a reflex.

Hoards of students flock to test prep centers and cram schools year-round to prepare for a variety of tests. College preparatory courses are offered along with courses in various subjects.

Cram schools demonstrate a large ethnic divide. Stuveyesant High School, one of New York City’s best public schools that accepts only the top 3.7% of students who take the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test, has a student body made up of 72% of that 3.7% at their school.

It can be argued that Asian students are better at “being coached” to take tests. This is a false statement – everyone gets what their parents pay for.

When I joined the 2100 club at the Elite Educational Institute to prepare for my SAT in November 2007, my base score was a 2090 – after I took the SAT for the first time, I received a 2150. Most people would be very pleased, but I felt disappointed that I just spent $1500 of my mother’s hard-earned wages to improve a mere 60 points, and only 10 points above the score they had guaranteed me. With devout studying techniques and extreme discipline, I vowed to not waste any more money on something that guaranteed an individualized experience when in fact I was thrown into a bundle of teenagers desperate for an Ivy League acceptance letter.

I ended up with a 2320 (750 Critical Reading, 780 Mathematics, and 790 Writing). I scored a perfect score on the Math Level 2 Subject Test, and well above 700 in all my other subjects. It seems that I have been well trained in my testing techniques.

However, all these standardized tests seem to indicate is who paid the most to prepare themselves the best. Asian students have demonstrated their capabilities in over-preparation – however, we must think about what effect this has on the future of our community. With standards so high and college admissions expecting the top scores coming from Asian students, what will happen to those who do not follow the traditional route and take standardized tests without the preparation that cram schools provide?

Related Stories —

New York Magazine: Paper Tigers

Las Vegas Review-Journal: National Merit semifinalist at Coronado not ready to decide on career path

By Jeffrey Ledesma

Japan’s northeastern farmlands have shown levels of radioactive material exceeding safety standards, according to a scientific study conducted by international researchers.

The report, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal, states that the Fukushima region has been “extensively contaminated” after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was damaged in the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

According to the Los Angles Times, researchers say that although the levels of radioactive material found in neighboring prefectures, such as Miyagi, Tochigi and Ibaraki, were lower, the levels could still pose a threat to food production.

Specifically, the study looked at levels of cesium-137. The study warns that this is of particular concern because it takes decades to decay.

“[The fact that] Cesium-137 (137Cs) has a half-life of 30.1 [years] causes the largest concerns because of its deleterious effect on agriculture and stock farming, and, thus, human life for decades,” the study said. “Removal of 137Cs contaminated soils or land use limitations in areas where removal is not possible is, therefore, an urgent issue.”

Like all radionuclides, according to the U.S. Enviornmental Protection Agency, exposure to radiation from cesium-137 results in increased risk of cancer.

“Exposure to waste materials, from contaminated sites, or from nuclear accidents can result in cancer risks much higher than typical environmental exposures,” explains the agency. “If exposures are very high, serious burns, and even death, can result.”

According to the PNAS report, one of the main goals of the study, led by Teppei Yasunari of the Universities Space Research Association in Maryland, is to help in the decontamination and regulatory efforts in Japan.

Related Stories –

Science Daily: Study of Soil Could Improve Building Design

MedPage: Few Received High Radiation from Japanese Reactor

Reuters: Low-level radiation in Europe still a mystery: IAEA

CBS News: Mountains curbed spread of radiation in Japan

By Tina Min Tang

A teacher finds more attentive students at a private elementary school because their perceived wealth indicates private tutoring and increased pressure on students to succeed. Photo: Flickr.

It was 6: 50 in the morning on August 27^th. A school tram arrived on time to pick up Kangang, a 6 year-old boy, whose parents both work as migrant workers in Dongguan. This was his first day of school. Dongguan, located in southeastern China, is renowned as the “workshop of the world” and holds the greatest number of peasant workers in China. Currently there are 549, 000 unregistered students in the city, according to the Yangcheng Evening News.

The school Kangkang attends is called Zhuoen. Formerly a public school owned by the local government, it was later purchased by the Zhuoen Educational Group and transformed into a private kindergarten and primary school. The school has trams to transport students to and from their homes every day, three on-campus meals, and afternoon recess. “It is relatively a good one, comparing to other private schools in Dongguan,” said Kangkang’s father. He has been living and working here for 12 years, yet is not a registered for permanent residence in Dongguan.

The school fees are not cheap. It costs 5000 renminbi (RMB) for one semester: 2800 RMB for tuition fees and the rest for living expenses such as food, books, school uniforms, and so on. If Kangkang went to a public school, the fees would not be so high. Going to a public school, however, would send Kangkang back to his hometown and away from his parents. It was a big decision for his family. “Grandparents can only take care of his eating and clothing. They cannot help with his studies. It is easy for them to spoil the kid as well,” say his parents. They wanted the best for Kangkang, so they sent him to this private school.

“In fact many migrant laborers would like to send their kids to public schools. But the policy is too strict,” lamented Kangkang’s father. Since 2009 the Dongguan government has implemented a new point-based policy to provide more openings for students like Kangkang. It decides students’ qualifications according to their parents’ education, professional training, length of service in the city, length of social insurance, households, and taxes. One of the problems of the policy is that many local employers provide social insurance for the employees only after the newly modified labor law of 2008.

Although there has been an increase of 1544 openings in public elementary schools this year, there are only 14564 positions for migrant children. Districts such as Fenggang have about 400 public schools, but only permits 245 applications.

Last month some schools closed down in Beijing, depriving 14,000 migrant students of education. Children are the future of a country and migrant children should not be an exception, considering the immeasurable contributions their parents make to the Chinese economy. As Premier Wen Jiabao pointed out earlier this year, the issue requires two paths of action: intensively promoting education in rural parts of the country and providing equal opportunities in urban areas. “Kids will accept excellent education no matter if they are at home or in the city,” said Premier Wen this February to Xinhua News.