Chinese In Africa

Current.com is an online video journalism site which reveals what's going on in our world, items that we usually won't find on any other news site or cable TV channel. It connects to Current TV, a global cable and satellite TV network.

Current.com is what Web 2.0 is all about. Journalism is increasingly moving into video journalism, as is exemplified by such media organizations as Vancouver IAM. Web 2.0 is about globalization. Before podcasting and webcasts, information and news were limited.

A Banana Conference

New Zealand Chinese Association (Auckland Branch) Inc. will be hosting a conference entitled “Rising Dragon, Soaring Bananas”. This conference is being organized in conjunction with the International Society for the Study of Chinese Overseas (ISSCO) and will again be held at the new University of Auckland Business School on 18 – 19 July 2009.

The programme will be an unique combination of  personal experiences presentations by high profile achievers from the local Chinese community with expertise in a very wide range of endeavours and an analytical approach of trends and outcomes from Chinese academics who are mainly members of ISCCO from many parts of the world.   It will be exciting, I'm looking forward to the contribution of knowledge this conference is bringing forth.   Take a look at some of the papers and presentations from past years!

Asian Canadian Publishing 2.0

In Vancouver, there are two publications which have very divergent approaches to not only Asian Canadian issues, but also the use of media and the web. Ricepaper Magazine, established in 1994, as a forum for up and coming Asian writers and artists in Canada, limits its definition of "Asian" to the Pacific Asian Rim ethnic groups Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. Focusing mainly on writers of these ethnic origins, Ricepaper depends mainly on the quarterly print publication as its main point of distribution and have a very static website with limited updates.

Contrast that with Schema Magazine. Schema Magazine strives to reflect the most culturally mobile and diverse generation of Canadians, the generation it coins cultural navigators. We showcase their unique sensibilities, interests and their pursuit of ethnic cool. As Schema's focus on the Vancouver Asian Film Festival shows, the focus of "Asian" is broad and widely interpretable. Schema also uses Web 2.0 technologies as its main channel of communication. Not only does it use a content management system for its webpage, it also has a Youtube channel of Schema's interviews.

The two rival Asian Canadian organization offer an insightful examination into the changing landscape of media and publishing. Staff-wise, both are similar - yet, when it comes to coverage and reach of audience, Web 2.0 simply wins out.

Chung Collection on Web 2.0

Chung Collection Opening @ Yahoo! Video

The Chung Collection is finally on the Web. Chung has always held a life-long interest in the history of Chinese Canadians. He accumulated and donated his 25,000 item collection donation to the University of British Columbia. The feature piece is a beautiful large scale model ship, the Empress of Asia, which Dr. Chung spent many years reconstructing.

Opening of the Chung Collection

In 1999, Dr. Wally Chung and family made an exceptional gift to the University of British Columbia Library, with their donation of The Wallace B. Chung and Madeline H. Chung Collection. In making a generous gift of this unique and extensive research collection, Dr. Chung gives back to Canada something of what he and his family have gained since his grandfather came from China to settle in Victoria more than 100 years ago.

What this means for local history is an unbelievable collection of not only primary sources for researchers, but visual artifacts that students and the community can enjoy. It opens the way for how history is seen and understood, from the perspective of those who lived history. How will the Chung Collection reach the world? It will be done so virtually. It has currently hire a librarian/archivist who will redesign its current website using hopefully innovative Web 2.0 technologies. Very much following the spirit of Library 2.0, digital outreach in its purest form.