Filipinos in Agence France Press (AFP) vs. in the Associated Press (AP).

In response to the devastation Typhoon Fengshen rained down on the Philippines, the BBC has reported extensively on the natural disaster, though to a lesser extent than Cyclone Nargis in Burma or the Sichuan earthquake in China. As part of their reporting, the BBC has made many 'In Pictures' articles on both the capsized ferry along with the typhoon wrecking havoc in the Philippines in general.

What is interesting, looking through a 'racial' lens, is that the Filipinos depicted from Agence France Press (AFP) are noticeably darker than the Filipinos depicted from the Associated Press (AP). Furthermore, the Associated Press pictures contain more 'Mongoloid' looking Filipinos than does the AFP. A list of BBC 'In Pictures' articles is below. Neither the AFP nor the Associated Press permit free copying of images for commercial use--which the ads might make this website (do be a dear and look at the ads, by the way.... :-D). So a list of links will have to suffice.

So which organization is portraying Filipinos more accurately, Agence France Press (AFP) or the Associated Press (AP)? Haven't been to the Philippines before. However, Filipinos in this part of the world are not nearly as dark on average as those in the AFP pictures. Even taking into account that the Philippines is in the Tropics, this region of Earth also receives a fair amount of sunshine. And it wouldn't explain the facial features anyway. Based on personal experience, the Associated Press pictures are more accurate, though not because they 'make' Filipinos lighter skinned and more 'Mongoloid' in appearance, but because that is closer to how Filipinos in this part of the globe look, and personally have limited experience with large numbers of Filipinos (as in thousands). Note, the Associated Press does include quite darkly skinned Filipinos, it's just that they make up a smaller percentage than in the Agence France Press photographs.

Anyway, here are the 'In Pictures' links so you can make heads or tails of this for yourselves:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7470990.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7468565.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7467735.stm

plus ordinary articles with photographs or video:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7468493.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7466978.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7470492.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7466978.stm

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History: The Roadmap to the Future.
History: The Roadmap to the Future--Africa.
History: The Roadmap to the Future--Europe.
History: The Roadmap to the Future--Latin America.

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History: The Roadmap to the Future.
History: The Roadmap to the Future--Africa.
History: The Roadmap to the Future--Asia.
History: The Roadmap to the Future--Europe.
History: The Roadmap to the Future--Latin America.

Or:
The Science Fiction Channel + Technorium.
The Vegetarian Diaries + Biologeel.

Mr. Hu's Neighborhood. (Third Part)

In the two preceding articles, the point was made that China's rise is being viewed as a challenge and a threat by the other nations of East Asia. Now will be discussed Asian states which are already under China's thrall or are setting themselves up for it, along with the conclusion to the series.

East Asian countries currently more-or-less free from China's influence are watching their giant neighbor closely for signs of a more belligerent Beijing. And as the Chinese economy expands, China does seem to be taking on a more militant and commanding tone toward its neighbors. But what about states already greatly influenced and dependent on Chinese support, notably North Korea and Burma. The Soviet Union had East Germany and Poland. Communist China has North Korea and Burma.

North Korea is almost completely dependent on China for its survival. Even with Beijing propping it up, the Hermit Kingdom is on the verge of destitution. While North Korea has nuclear weapons--sort of, their attempt did not fully explode--it people are starving to death. The 'Dear Leader' has already ticked off China quite a bit, bringing the United States to look even closer at the region, and pressuring the country to increase an American military--and diplomatic--presence in East Asia. If China becomes too fed up and the current North Korean President dies, China could ignore Kim's successor and just invade North Korea, potentially strongarming Kim into bequeathing his country to China on his deathbed--or say that was the case. As is, North Korea is already currently a de facto Chinese protectorate.

The other country, Burma, is less under the thumb of China, in part due to its alternative options of trading with India and its fellow ASEAN states, in part due to its rich endowment of natural resources such as gems and luxury timber. Still, the Communist government in Beijing exerts considerable influence on the Burmese military junta. China could have forced the junta into letting in foreign aid after Cyclone Nargis devastated southern Burma, particularly the Delta region, but didn't. It's in China's interest to have a weak Burmese protectorate.

Which leads to ASEAN. The members of the Association of South East Asian Nations are set to form a free trade agreement with China. This will be a debacle for the comparatively small states in ASEAN. They will be flooded with far more cheap Chinese products which will out-compete their native industries, while the agreement will not bring in all that much Chinese foreign investment.

Now, if ASEAN actually worked as a solid unit, functioning as one, ASEAN could benefit from such an FTA with China. ASEAN could rival China. The Association has less people, but is strategically located to take advantage of trade with both China and India, while resource rich Australia is ASEAN's southern neighbor.

But the members of ASEAN don't follow a policy of solidarity. Each member looks out for itself, often to the detriment of the other member states. Pity for them; they will be picked off--at least economically, if not economically and militarily--one by one. As a group, they could challenge China. As individuals they could be crushed by China.

Conclusion

China's neighbors in Northeast and Southeast Asia are wise to closely monitor China and try to either guide its development to a peaceful end, or try to inhibit China's advancement. Japan is advanced and powerful, and has powerful friends (the United States and the EU), but will have to work hard to keep China in check. Small nations have to prepare for the Chinese dragon to snap at them. ASEAN ought to capitalize on their supposed unity and work as one. And ASEAN makes the most poignant point:

If China's neighbors want to keep their 'big brother' in line, they will have to work together, from Japan to Indonesia, from Mongolia to Burma, and work as one to make themselves into a 'bigger brother' that can confront China should the need arise. If they don't they all can look forward to an East Asia ruled from Beijing.



--------
Found this article interesting? Check out:
The Roadmap to the Future.
The Roadmap to the Future--Africa.
The Roadmap to the Future--Europe.
The Roadmap to the Future--Latin America.

Or:
The Science Fiction Channel + Technorium.
The Vegetarian Diaries.

Tag this post with:
Delicious	Digg	Technorati	reddit	Facebook	StumbleUpon	Furl	blinklist

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Found this article interesting? Check out:
History: The Roadmap to the Future.
History: The Roadmap to the Future--Africa.
History: The Roadmap to the Future--Asia.
History: The Roadmap to the Future--Europe.
History: The Roadmap to the Future--Latin America.

Or:
The Science Fiction Channel + Technorium.
The Vegetarian Diaries + Biologeel.