Blogs | Link TV

Thai Monks Face Obesity Epidemic

Regions:

Comments (0)

OCTOBER 12, 2012, 12:00 PM

(LinkAsia: October 12, 2012)
Yul Kwon:
Buddhists in Thailand are asked to be generous and share food with Monks. But it seems they're too generous. It's now estimated that almost of half of Thai monks are obese. Here's NHK with more on the Monks' efforts to slim down.

--

NHK World NEWSLINE
Airdate: October 10, 2012

Reporter:
Thailand's monks are seeking solution. The problem comes from their diet. They urgently need to lose weight. Pairat is a 41 year old monk at a Buddhist temple in the suburbs of Bangkok. His morning routine involves making rounds of the neighborhood to ask for alms. He receives offers of food at nearly every stop. The alms used to be mainly simple homemade dishes, but that's changing as Thailand becomes richer. Higher calorie items such as sweets or meat prepared outside the home are an offer. By tradition monks are supposed to eat everything they receive. But there's just too much. Over 13 years Pairat gained 50 kilograms. He suffers from hypertension and diabetes.

Pairat:
People would be disappointed if I didn't eat. What else can I do but eat as much as I can.

Reporter:
On weekends even more dishes arrive. Followers deliver an assortment of meat, fried food and other delicacies to the temple. They believe the food will reach their ancestors and other deceased relatives when eaten by monks. A recent survey showed nearly half of the country's monks are overweight. A hospital for monks in Bangkok launched a program in May to fight obesity. It's designed overweight monks shed weight. Pairat signed up for the course. Thai monks are prohibited from exercising by their religious tenets. Even jogging or aerobics is forbidden, so they're encouraged to stretch to lose weight.

Supaporn Wangroongsarb:
Monks have a duty to start to diet. Many of them suffer from diabetes. So they can't carry out their religious duties properly.

Reporter:
Pairat tries to avoid meat and fried foods, choosing vegetables and rice. After every meal he goes into a private room and stretches out collecting alms he wears a pedometer. His goal is to walk 3 kilometers instead of 1 kilometer he used to cover.

Pairat:
I want to continue religious activity as long as possible.

Reporter:
Monks face a growing challenge to stay trim while accepting generosity with a full heart. Nathaka Karnchanasest, NHK World, Bangkok.

Topics:

Religion / Spirituality,

World Heritage Site Ayutthaya Braces for Floods

Regions:

Comments (0)

SEPTEMBER 28, 2012, 12:00 PM

(LinkAsia: September 28, 2012)
Yul Kwon:
Over in Southeast Asia, Thais are looking nervously at the skies. The annual rainy season is causing a steep rise in many of Thailand's rivers. Last year brought disastrous floods in much of the country, including the capital city of Bangkok, leading to more than 880 deaths, misery for millions of people, and billions of dollars in lost production.
One of the areas hit hardest by the floods was the world heritage site of Ayutthaya. NHK has this report on the city's flood defenses.

--

NHK World NEWSLINE
Airdate: September 21, 2012

Reporter:
The ancient city of Ayutthaya is famous for its world heritage temples. Last year, the city was inundated by Thailand's worst floods in half a century. As the rains approach again, citizens are on high alert. Situated on the bank of Chao Phraya river, these historical temples are at risk of flooding.

Topics:

Environment,

French Cartoons 'Fuel' Anti-Blasphemy Protests, and More of This Week's Top News

Regions:

Comments (0)

By Mosaic News

SEPTEMBER 22, 2012, 12:00 PM

French cartoons insulting Islam condemned as 'fuel on the fire'

As Muslims across the globe continue to protest the US-made film that insulted Islam's Prophet Muhammad, a French weekly called Charlie Hebdo published a series of cartoons of the prophet, sparking a new wave of rage in the Arab and Muslim worlds. Press TV reported that the cartoons were denounced by both Egypt's al-Azhar Mosque and the Vatican as "fuel on the fire," and Al Jazeera reported that a number of French embassies and schools would close today for fear of violence.

According to BBC Arabic, anti-blasphemy demonstrations have spread to South and Southeast Asia, specifically the capitals of Afghanistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand, while Pakistan experienced deadly Friday protests after security forces opened fire on demonstrators.

This Week in Syria: 'Friends of Syria' meeting, 'massacre' in ar-Raqqah, and fears of chemical attack

New TV reported a massacre by the Syrian regime in ar-Raqqah on Thursday, while Holland hosted a meeting of representatives of the group known as "Friends of the Syrian People," which includes 60 countries and the Arab League. Meanwhile, IBA reported on Tuesday that the Syrian army flew in members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard to witness firing tests for chemical weapons at the country's largest chemical weapons research center. Newly-defected Major General Adnan Sillu, who was the head of the Syrian weapons program, also said that the Assad regime had plans to conduct a chemical weapons assault on the rebels, as well as transfer missiles with chemical warheads to Hezbollah.

Large-scale IDF exercises in Golan Heights, as Israeli air strike kills two Hamas officers in Gaza

IBA reported surprise large-scale military exercises involving top IDF brass amid the Jewish High Holy Days. The exercises simulated a deteriorating security situation in the Golan Heights. Meanwhile, Al Jazeera reported that an Israeli air strike resulted in the deaths of two Hamas security officers near the town of Rafah in the Gaza Strip, saying that the officers were on an official mission near the tunnels by the Egyptian-Palestinian border. IBA, on the other hand, reported that the deaths were of Hamas operatives who were tasked with securing smuggling tunnels for explosives, and were planning a terror attack against Israel.

Image: A girl is photographed as she attends an anti-U.S. demonstration with religious students in the compound of the Red Mosque in Islamabad September 22, 2012: REUTERS/Faisal Mahmood

Topics:

War / Violent Conflict,

Race / Ethnicity / Ethnic Conflict,

Human Rights,

Thai Democrats Block NASA Project Over Sovereignty Concerns

IDF,

Regions:

Comments (1)

JULY 6, 2012, 12:00 PM

View the story "Climate Science or Espionage? Thai Parliament Blocks NASA Project " on Storify

Topics:

Globalization,

Japan's Tourism Industry Bounces Back

Regions:

Comments (0)

JUNE 29, 2012, 12:00 PM

(LinkAsia: June 29, 2012)
Yul Kwon:
It doesn't appear that tattoos on public employees are scaring away any tourists. Japan's tourism industry is experiencing a comeback this year after last year's earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disasters. While American and European tourists are just starting to trickle in, visitors from other Asian countries are surging, despite the strong yen and the high prices. Japanese broadcaster NHK has the story.

--

NHK World NEWSLINE
Airdate: June 22, 2012

Mitsuko Nishikawa, NHK World Reporter:
One of Tokyo's most popular destinations, Asakusa, is once again enjoying a continuous flow of tourists from across the world.

Shop owner:
We see more and more foreign visitors everyday.

Mitsuko Nishikawa, NHK World Reporter:
The government's tourism organization says 669,000 travelers visited Japan in May. That's 87 percent up from last year, right after the March 11th catastrophe, and about 7 percent down from 2010.

Visitors from Asian countries, such as China, contributed dramatically to this return to pre-March 11th figures. But tourists from the United States and Europe have yet to make a comeback.

Tourists from other countries are filling their places. Tourism officials say more people from emerging economies in Southeast Asia are coming to Japan. The number of visitors from Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam hit a record high for the month of May.

Indonesian Tourists:
Yeah, today I bring my kids. I bring them to Disneyland yesterday. And maybe tomorrow we will be going to Mt. Fuji. We are ready for a vacation.

Indonesian Tour Guide:
Last year, they don't want to come to Japan because Fukushima problem. But this year, I think that Japan will be popular. And they want to visit Japan because of food and culture and people.

Mitsuko Nishikawa, NHK World Reporter:
Nowadays, yen is quite high.

Indian Tourists:
Yes, that we know. You go to have your chance when the time is right. We can't wait tomorrow.

Mitsuko Nishikawa, NHK World Reporter:
The Japanese government is aiming to attract more and more tourists from Asian emerging economies. This month, the foreign ministry launched a program to issue multiple-entry visas for Thai tourists.

Norifumi Ide, Commissioner, Japan Tourism Agency:
The recovery of tourism isn't happening that fast. The government, the private sector and municipalities have to roll up our sleeves and work closely together to attract more visitors.

Mitsuko Nishikawa, NHK World Reporter:
The strength of the yen means a trip to Japan can be expensive. But many visitors I've spoken to say cost isn't a concern. The Japanese economy still has a long way to go before it fully recovers from last year's disaster. But with the help of visitors from emerging economies, it might get back on track faster.

--

Yul Kwon:
If you're thinking about visiting Japan, but still worried about radiation, Japan's tourism bureau offers a radiation map so you can check out radiation levels for yourself. It also gives you a chart showing that you'd be exposed to less radiation in Japan than in some parts of Brazil.

Topics:

Environment,

Globalization,

Health,

Help Finally Comes for Thai Flood Victims

Regions:

Comments (0)

MAY 11, 2012, 1:00 PM

(LinkAsia: May 11, 2012)
Sydnie Kohara:
Now moving to Thailand, where last year's floods nearly wiped out the World Heritage site of Ayutthaya. The government has done very little to repair the damaged city, but NHK reports that local and international charities have stepped in to rebuild houses.

--

NHK World NEWSLINE
Airdate: May 8, 2012

Dhra Dhirakaosal, Reporter:
Insufficient government aid is causing flood victims like Chamlern Manojam to continue to live among the wreckage. Her house is unsanitary; most of her belongings are damaged and covered in grime. She has no source of income and is living on donations of food, water, and other necessities. Rust stains on the walls show that the home was submerged under two meters of water for months.

Chamlern Manojam, Flood Victim:
It's been a really big struggle. We lost everything. We couldn't save anything. We didn't know what to do.

Dhra Dhirakaosal, Reporter:
Last year's floods destroyed at least 170,000 homes in Thailand. Many residents watched the deluge wash away all their belongings, leaving behind a trail of devastation. But there is hope for Chamlern. She is one of the hundreds of people who are getting a new home for free, thanks to the efforts of charitable groups. The goal is to rebuild over 900 homes in eight provinces affected by the floods. So far, 106 have been completed.

I'm here at the construction site where the homes are being built for the flood victims, and each home is built at least two meters above the ground as a flood preventative measure. The walls are made of a special material called Beva boards. They're known for being water resistant and easy to install. Unlike traditional homes in the area, these houses have indoor plumbing, so residents have access to bathrooms in case of emergencies.

Experts fear another major flood will hit Thailand this year. Heavier than usual rain is forecast from May to October. NGOs are working around the clock to prevent a repeat of a natural disaster.

Chamnarn Wangtal, CEO, Habitat for Humanity, Thailand:
The strategy we're using to prepare is to compile a fund that can be used for first response. We are already gearing up just in case. One example is we plan to provide tents as temporary shelters.

Dhra Dhirakaosal, Reporter:
Chamlern feels grateful for her new house. Others who have yet to receive help continue to worry. The public is urging the government to implement preventative measures as soon as possible.

Sydnie Kohara:
The government is building dykes to protect Ayutthaya from future flooding. The residents support this move, but think that the government should do more to take care of people in the area who still lack that elevated housing that we just saw in the piece.

Topics:

Economic Development / Poverty,

Human Rights,

Health,

Environment,

UNESCO World Heritage Sites,

Ayutthaya,

Habitat for Humanity,

Regions:

Comments (0)

Backstory: Myanmar Reforms

Women / Gender / Sexuality,

FEBRUARY 29, 2012, 12:00 PM

Topics:

War / Violent Conflict,

Race / Ethnicity / Ethnic Conflict,

Indigenous Peoples,

Human Rights,

Globalization,

Economic Development / Poverty,

Life in Limbo: The Stories of Burmese Refugees in Thailand

Regions:

Comments (0)