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Synopsis
An in-depth portrait of Asia today, covering its dynamism as a center of growth as well as its traditions tossed around by the advance of globalization.
Episode 27 : Fighting Transgender Discrimination - Thailand
November. 29,2019
Thailand has a reputation as a haven for transgender people. But the reality is that many continue to experience discrimination, forcing them to hide their sexual identities. Determined to change this situation, transgender people are taking action. Making use of the Gender Equality Act of 2015, they are winning access to jobs previously closed to them, along with the right to wear clothes that match their sexual identity. In this episode, we hear from transgender people standing up to discrimination in a changing society.
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Episode 26 : Extras in China: The Hengdian Drifters
November. 22,2019
Just like in any other country, Chinese youth dream of becoming famous actors, and many chase their dreams to Hengdian, a town that serves as a center of movie filming in the country. The jobs that await the vast majority are "extras," nonspeaking roles for just dollars a day, and barely enough to put food on the table. In this episode, we meet the thespians who have moved hundreds of miles only to be faced with the conflict of either abandoning their dream, or soldiering on as wordless members of the masses.
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Episode 25 : From Trash to Treasure: Indonesia
November. 15,2019
Surabaya, a city in Indonesia, runs a bus service that doesn't cost money to use. Instead, the fare is paid in plastic bottles. The goal is to promote waste reduction and recycling. 20 years ago, the city streets were overflowing with garbage, so the local government took action. They introduced a system to transform everyday kitchen waste into compost. They set up waste banks, where people can sell recyclables. We take a look at the incredible success of Surabaya's eco-friendly initiatives.
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Episode 24 : Taiwan's Bookstore Revolution
October. 25,2019
As bookstores around the world continue to dwindle in number among declining sales of physical books, Taiwan has been hit particularly hard: In 2012, two-thirds of all regions there lacked bookstores. But thanks to a government policy promoting small retailers, so-called "community bookstores" have begun to sprout up. Some include literary salons or cafes, while other have special concepts like trading local produce for books. All are places where paper books bring about new communication between people.
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Episode 23 : Hongkongers Seeking Freedom in Taiwan
October. 04,2019
In recent years, Hong Kong has seen an increase in demonstrations such as the Umbrella Movement, which protest the degree of control China wields over the region. Many of those involved in the movements or simply seeking a better way of life have chosen to relocate to Taiwan, which can protect their human rights with a democratic government. Despite their pride as Hongkongers, the new immigrants leave careers behind to hopefully gain freedom that will extend to their children's generation.
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Episode 22 : Changing Lives of Fishermen on the Yangtze River
September. 13,2019
China's Yangtze River has seen a decline in species due to pollution and overfishing, which the government responded to with a ban on industrial fishing. Although intended to improve the local environment, this measure had the side effect of taking away the livelihoods of the fishermen living around the river. Now, desperately seeking the means to support their families, some of the fishermen have begun utilizing their knowledge through conservationist work to preserve vulnerable species such as the finless porpoises of the Yangtze River.
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Episode 21 : Opening Doors to Independence - Disabilities in Vietnam
September. 06,2019
Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, is home to the Center for Disability Research and Capacity Development (DRD), an NGO led by Vo Thi Hoang Yen. As well as providing university scholarships and support for job-searching, Yen and her 13 staff are developing a digital map with detailed accessibility information for locations around Vietnam. Many people in Vietnam believe that people with disabilities are being punished for transgressions in a past life, leaving them marginalized and unable to find work. By encouraging Vietnam's disabled population to become independent, Yen and the DRD are looking to change Vietnam's attitude towards disability.
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Episode 19 : Homegrown Cotton for a Homegrown Brand: Myanmar
August. 02,2019
The ancient city of Bagan in central Myanmar was registered as a World Heritage Site in July 2019. The religious city is home to some 3,000 Buddhist pagodas and temples -- and now, a new clothing brand: "Cotton Bagan" is attracting attention from foreign visitors and local customers alike. 22-year-old Pyay Soe Hein founded the brand 2 years ago. The company uses locally grown cotton, woven, cut, and sewn by local artisans. He hopes to promote and encourage the country's textile industry by providing 100% Myanmar-made clothes. Discover how a young entrepreneur and his partners are making waves in this new market.
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Episode 17 : The Entrepreneurs Reenergizing China's Rural Communities
July. 19,2019
With a growing gap between rural and urban incomes, residents of China's farming communities have been steadily moving to the big cities, leading to widespread rural decline. Seeking to stem this tide are a new breed of local entrepreneurs - young, educated farmers turning to new technology and marketing methods in an effort to work smarter, and bring new efficiency to the produce business.
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Episode 12 : The "War on Drugs" in the Philippines
May. 24,2019
The election of President Duterte has seen increased police action to arrest those involved with sales and possession of illegal drugs in the Philippines. However, this "war on drugs" leaves behind an escalating body count of poor citizens who are killed supposedly resisting arrest. Freelance photographer Raffy Lerma has made it his mission to interview and photograph bereaved families, to show the nation the price of this purported justice. In this episode, we accompany Lerma to meet the families who have been swept into an urban war.
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Episode 9 : Shanghai's "Children of the Stars" with ASD
April. 05,2019
Although it has been known for generations in the west, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has just entered public awareness in China over the last decade. To help young people on the spectrum more actively engage with society, Cao Xiaoxia opened the Angel Salon in Shanghai, where youth with ASD can take part in activities such as serving coffee in a café setting, as well as performing and enjoying music. These pastimes are both educational and therapeutic, allowing the young people to open up and become more comfortable with social interaction.
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Episode 8 : Individuality and China's Unwed Women
March. 29,2019
In 2010, the term "Shen Nu" entered use as a negative label for Chinese women in their mid-20s or older who remained unmarried. A decade later, the first wave of so-called "Shen Nu" approaches middle age. Whether due to the expectations for career or family that were influenced by this era of prosperity, women in China who have not yet found a spouse are often subjected to scrutiny from friends and family. In this episode, we meet the women who contemplate marriage while striving to live with a sense of individuality.
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Episode 7 : Marriage and Migrant Workers - Tajikistan
March. 22,2019
Domestic happiness in Tajikistan, Central Asia, once meant an arranged marriage and children. But in recent years, the custom is on the decline. One key factor is the massive rise in migrant workers, forced to move away to Russia because their own country has no industry. 40% of working-age Tajiks now work abroad. This makes it difficult for men to find a bride, and many wives end up abandoned when their husbands return alone to their jobs and lives abroad. Explore how marriage and labor are changing in Tajikistan.
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Episode 6 : South Korean Youth Struggling for Work
March. 15,2019
South Korea is a country known worldwide for the intense competition among youth in the job market. Unemployment among young people hit a high in 2014, with little signs of improvement, motivating them to seek new strategies in pursuing their future. Some aspire to become civil servants, while others start their own companies or look for work abroad. In this episode, we speak with the young South Koreans who are attempting to find their own solutions in a job market where conventional methods have failed them.
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Episode 5 : The Change in China's Online Video Bloggers
March. 01,2019
KOLs, an abbreviation for "Key Opinion Leaders," are a growing presence in Chinese advertising, video bloggers, and promoters who connect new consumers with products by using the strength of their personal recommendations. Their influence has been so great that the Chinese government built an entire industrial village for bloggers on the outskirts of Wuhan City. In this episode we meet the men and women who generate hundreds of millions of dollars and immeasurable support with the strength of their opinions.
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Episode 3 : The Changing World Wholesale Market: Yiwu, China
February. 15,2019
Yiwu City became well known in the 2000's for its array of wholesale goods, and its reputation continued to grow as quality improved with China's economic growth. Now it serves not just as a center of Chinese goods, but the best the world has to offer as foreign sellers open their own shops in the area. In an atmosphere like an international trade show, merchants make bold ventures to bring together new connections and opportunities.
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Episode 2 : Emerging Youth Culture in Chengdu, China
February. 01,2019
China's western city of Chengdu is one of the nation's larger cities, but retains a uniquely low-key atmosphere that has made it a destination for those seeking a different way of life than in Beijing or Shanghai. In particular, its vibrant music and art scene encourages self-exploration by creating an environment of diverse genres without the pressure of productivity or commercial success. In this episode, we examine the motivations behind the new youth culture of Chengdu.
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