What happened in November 2013: news and events relating to Vietnamese at home and in the diaspora.
It’s time for our second subscriber drive. We’re looking for 100 new subscribers for diaCRITICS, and we’ll be giving away prizes to the 25th, 50th, 75th, and 100th new subscribers. Read more details.
Viet Kieu in the news
• Tiffany Chung’s drawings “venture beyond the literal and into pseudo-abstract territory.”
• Vietnamese Catholics in Thailand commemorate 117 canonized Vietnamese martyrs.
• A Vietnamese community health fair in San Jose screened people for diabetes. [Photo: Faine Greenwood]
• Family and friends gather to grieve for a 10-year-old Vietnamese-American victim of a robbery.
• A Vietnamese-American mother whose son was killed in the line of duty sues Pathmark supermarket for discrimination. [LIN]
• Former “boat people” repay their ‘debt’ by donating $400k to the victims of Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines. [IA]
• President Obama praises the Ly family for their rags-to-riches story. [Photo: Leah Millis]
News about Vietnam
• Vietnam’s new Constitution contains little reform. [RFA]
• Vietnamese lawmakers seem more progressive in advancing LGBT rights but remain conservative in addressing human rights.
• A new decree will impose large fines on online posts that criticize the government.
• The Saigon River is polluted and has become a health hazard.
• Vietnamese consumers concerned about food safety tend to carefully read food labels before buying the foods. Considering the constant news about high amounts of pesticides in foods coming from China, this practice is not surprising.
• Authorities have dropped ‘terrorism’ charges against a jailed Vietnamese activist.
• Sustainable coffee is benefitting Vietnam’s farmers.
• This video clip of 10-year-old Phương Mỹ Chi when she first became known several months ago is still touching to view. Get ready to cry, folks.
Other News
• Some Americans are choosing Vietnam for their retirement years.
• Vietnam – U.S. trade is growing steadily.
• This op-ed piece outlines how Vietnam’s ties with India strategically benefits both countries.
Special thanks to Viet Thanh Nguyen for providing many of the news items.
Peace!
RP
