China-Japan 'ship collision video' leaked online

TENSIONS BETWEEN CHINA AND JAPAN

This video was leaked online but should never have been made public. Filmed by Japan’s coastguard, it shows the collision between a Chinese trawler boat and a Japanese coast guard vessel near a chain of islands in the East China Sea claimed by Beijing and Tokyo. By broadcasting these images the diplomatic crisis that erupted in September following this sea incident has been made worse. The conflict has spread on to the web.

Many Japanese web users have reacted to this video leak on Twitter. Tokyo did not want to make the video public for fear of angering China. This user wonders why his country’s justice system decided to free the Chinese captain when, as far as he can see, the Chinese captain is to blame for the collision.

But Chinese web users see things quite differently. Common belief on this discussion forum for example is that the Japanese coast guard is at fault as they appear to have got too close to the Chinese fishing trawler.

This sea incident has indeed reignited anti-Japanese feeling on the Chinese web, like we see in these photos of three Chinese models; their message: China is the rightful owner of the disputed islands called Diaoyu in Chinese and Senkaku in Japanese.

And Japanese web users have decided to retaliate to this wave of online hostility by launching a cartoon competition to personify the “Japanese demon”, a derogatory term used in China to describe the Japanese. They have chosen to represent this character as a beautiful warrior.

“MY SON IS GAY”

« My son is gay » - this is the title of a post written by an American blogger about her five year old child. The article is illustrated with a photo of the boy who had chosen to dress up as a female character for Halloween. The blog post has sparked controversy online.

The mother who goes under the name “Cop’s Wife” for her blog says the only reason she wrote the article in question was to denounce prejudice against little boys who wear girls’ costumes. The controversy continues despite her explanation.

Her stance has however been encouraged by many web users, dozens of whom have posted messages of support on their blogs or congratulated her, on Twitter in particular, for the way in which she educates her son.

But many web users are criticizing her actions. This female blogger says the woman is putting her son’s online privacy at stake and this matter could stay with him for a long time. She also wonders about the long term consequences for a child who is referenced on the Internet with a photo entitled “My son is gay”.

And finally, this web user feels the matter demonstrates the potential consequences of these mummy blogs: she says that mothers often forget that their children are not characters in a story, but real people. She advises them to be wary of what they write and the photos they post on the web.

RUSSIAN CARICATURISTS

In a country where the majority of public media is controlled by the state, Russian caricaturists have found refuge on the web. Whether the target is the Putin-Medvedev duo or local officials, satire is indeed almost inexistent in the traditional press. Artists like Viktor Bogorad, whose drawings were illicitly circulated during the soviet era, are now turning to the Internet to escape censorship.

THE BRITISH MONARCHY ON FACEBOOK

The British monarchy is determined to keep up with the times and mark its presence on the Internet. After using YouTube for videos, Flickr for photos and Twitter for real time updates, the Queen of England is now on Facebook. It is not possible to become friends with Her Majesty who has created a page but not a profile but web users will be able to send in messages and comment on photos of the Royal Family.

VIDEO OF THE DAY

His name is Jesse, and the least that can be said is that he is well-trained. This little dog undertakes many household tasks, like throwing rubbish away, as well as putting his bowl in the dishwasher. Jesse seems happy to do any of these chores.