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About The Asian reporter. (Portland, Or.) 1991-current | View Entire Issue (April 7, 2014)
ASIA / PACIFIC April 7, 2014 THE ASIAN REPORTER n Page 3 U.S. first lady meets Chinese rural students via the web By Didi Tang The Associated Press EIJING — U.S. first lady Michelle Obama spoke to rural Chinese students via web conferencing last month on the last stop of her six-day China tour focusing on education and cultural exchange. She was visiting Chengdu No. 7 High School in the south- western province of Sichuan, an elite school known for its use of distance learning technology to bring quality education to impoverished remote regions in the mountainous province. Mrs. Obama has largely avoided thorny, political issues on her China trip, although she made a statement that free ex- pressions, choice of religion, and unfettered access to information are “universal rights” in a speech at the Stanford Center at Peking University in Beijing. China has some of the world’s tightest restrictions on internet discourse. Mrs. Obama’s remarks did not call out China directly and have not drawn any govern- mental protest, but that part of her speech has been kept out of all official Chinese media reports. While in Beijing, she also visited an elite high school, where more than 30 American students are studying as exchange stu- dents, and she held a private dis- cussion with a handful of Chinese professors, students, and par- ents. In addition, Mrs. Obama met with Chinese President Xi Jinping before Xi flew to The Hague for a nuclear security B RETURNING HOME. Toddlers play at a nursery school in Tamura, Fukushima prefecture, northeastern Japan after authorities allowed residents to return to live in their homes within a tiny part of the 12-mile evacuation zone around the Fukushima plant for the first time since Japan’s nuclear disaster three years ago. The decision, which took ef- fect April 1, applies to 357 people in 117 households from a corner of Tamura city after the government determined that radiation levels are low enough for habitation. (AP Photo/ Kyodo News) Japan lets first evacuees live in nuke no-go zone By Yuri Kageyama AP Business Writer OKYO — For the first time since Japan’s nu- clear disaster three years ago, authorities are allowing residents to return to live in their homes within a tiny part of the 12-mile evacuation zone around the Fukushima nuclear plant. The decision, which took effect April 1, applies to 357 people in 117 households from a corner of Tamura city after the govern- ment determined that radiation levels are low enough for habita- tion. But many of those evacuees are undecided about going back because of fears about radiation, especially its effect on children. More than 100,000 people were displaced by the March 11, 2011 nuclear disaster, when a huge earthquake and ensuing tsunami damaged the Fukushima Dai- ichi plant, causing meltdowns in three reactors. Many of the dis- placed people live in temporary housing or with relatives, and some started over elsewhere. T Areas within the evacuation zone have become ghost towns, overgrown with weeds. Temporary visits inside the zone had previously been al- lowed, and about 90 people were staying with special permission, according to Tamura city hall. New stores and public schools are planned to accommodate those who move back. “People want to go back and lead proper lives, a kind of life where they can feel their feet are on the ground,” said Yutaro Aoki, a Tamura resident who works for a nonprofit organization oversee- ing the city’s recovery. Much of Tamura lies outside the evacuation zone. The city has a population of 38,000, including evacuees living in temporary housing. Evacuees now receive govern- ment compensation of about 100,000 yen ($1,000) each a month. Those who move back get a one-time, 900,000-yen ($9,000) payment as an incentive. The monthly compensation will end Continued on page 11 FOCUS ON EDUCATION. U.S. first lady Michelle Obama, left, is greeted by Ti- betan students and presented with a traditional Tibetan ceremonial long white scarf upon arrival at a Tibetan restaurant for lunch in Chengdu in southwest China’s Sichuan prov- ince. Mrs. Obama, accompanied by her mother and two daughters, completed her six- day China tour last month. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, Pool) summit and held a meeting with denigration of the Tibetans’ President Barack Obama. spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. Mrs. Obama ended her week- President Barack Obama recent- long trip with a Tibetan theme, ly met with the Dalai Lama over having lunch in a Tibetan the objections of Beijing, which restaurant, meeting students, reviles him as a separatist. and tapping Tibetan prayer As Mrs. Obama entered the wheels. Zangxiang Teahouse in Chengdu, Her staff said the restaurant she tapped 11 metal prayer choice in Chengdu city in south- wheels that lined an entry bridge west Sichuan province, which to the restaurant. Mrs. Obama, borders the Tibetan region, was her mother Marian Robinson, in accordance with the American and daughters Malia and Sasha first lady’s interest in the rights were greeted by a group of stu- of minorities in China. dents who presented the four The rights of Tibetans is a with traditional Tibetan cere- touchy one between the Chinese monial long white scarves. and U.S. governments. Mrs. Obama toured the former More than 100 people have Imperial Palace, the Great Wall self-immolated in ethnic Tibetan in Beijing, the Terra Cotta Muse- areas, including parts of Sichuan, um in the ancient city of Xi’an, since 2009 to protest Chinese and the Chengdu Panda Base restrictions on Buddhism and the during her trip. BUY YOUR TICKET! The Asian Reporter Foundation’s 16th Annual Scholarship & Awards Banquet will be held Thursday, April 17, 2014. To order your ticket, turn to page 7 or visit <www.ARFoundation.net>. Visit my website to search the Oregon Regional MLS for homes or request a free home value report: www.helenskau.johnlscott.com Call, text, or e-mail me about Buyer’s Agent Representation Services (No cost to homebuyers) Helen Skau Chinese Real Estate Agent with (503) 926-3138 helenskau@johnlscott.com Languages spoken: English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Hakka, Min Nan, and Indonesian. 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