Daily Dose: 03/27/08

» AsianWeek Market Report
» Campaign to Reform Domestic Violence Laws
» Hmong Americans Protest Deaths in Laos
» Steve Ngo Announces Candidacy for Community School Board
» California Licensing Exam Results: ACTCM Students Excel
» NJAMF Awards Dinner Honors General Antonio Taguba
» Hawai‘i Faces Hurdles in Attracting More Chinese
» NAPABA and NLF’s Diversity Symposium
» Open Doors to New Business Opportunities
» SOYJOY Introduces Two New Ways to Enjoy Soy
» Landmark Financial Literacy Bill Passes First Assembly Hearing
» MANAA Blasts Whitewashed Casting of the New Film ‘21’
» Nominees Announced for 2008 JCPenney Asian Excellence Awards
» Pentagon Shipped Ballistic Missile Parts to Taiwan in 2006

AsianWeek Market Report

BAY:

Campaign to Reform Domestic Violence Laws

SAN FRANCISCO — Spurred by a recent San Francisco Superior Court decision to reduce the sentence of a man convicted of murdering his wife, the Filipina Women’s Network launched a campaign to ask state legislators to close the “special circumstances” loophole responsible for the reduction.

On March 14, San Francisco Superior Court Judge Jerome Benson reduced a jury’s first-degree murder verdict in a domestic violence case to second-degree murder. William Corpuz was convicted by a jury in May 2007 for slitting his wife’s throat.

Although Judge Benson said the murder of Marisa Corpuz, mother of two, was “a bloody, brutal, gruesome and savage killing,” he stated that he had no choice but to reduce Corpuz’s sentence to second-degree murder. Judge Benson explained that he was constrained by limitations in California’s laws on homicide to rule as he did.\

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Hmong Americans Protest Deaths in Laos

Hundreds of Northern California Hmong, along with Vietnam veterans and state legislators, recently rallied around 71 white wooden crosses, each representing
the soul of a Hmong who died this year in Laos. The rally took place at the state Capitol in Sacramento.

The deaths — 49 from starvation and 22 at the hands of Lao soldiers between Jan. 15 and Feb. 10 — were reported by the Oroville-based Fact Finding Commission, a nonprofit group in contact with Hmong in Laos.

The Lao government has repeatedly denied that Hmong are being hunted, persecuted or killed, and the U.S. State Department has been unable to confirm the 71 deaths.

Hmong Americans are trying to raise awareness of the thousands of Hmong hiding in the Lao jungles and the 8,000 Hmong refugees in Thailand.

— Sacbee.com

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Steve Ngo Announces Candidacy for Community School Board

Attorney and civil rights advocate Steve Ngo recently launched his campaign for Community College Board in San Francisco.

“I believe in the power of education to transform minds, lives, neighborhoods and communities. This campaign is about making the power of City College work for whom it serves — the people of San Francisco,” Ngo stated.

According to a statement released by Ngo, his commitment to education is rooted in his family’s refugee experience. After fleeing Vietnam for the United States, Ngo’s parents attended community college to learn English and improve their family’s lives.

In Ngo’s volunteer work for the Support Chinatown Campus Campaign, he worked with students who were trying to improve their lives through education. It was through his volunteer efforts that Ngo decided to run for a seat on the San Francisco Community College Board.

— San Francisco Sentinel

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California Licensing Exam Results: ACTCM Students Excel

Graduates of the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ACTCM) scored an 81% pass rate on the February 2008 California Acupuncture Board exam. This was the highest pass rate of any acupuncture and Oriental medicine school graduates taking this exam. The overall pass rate for candidates from all schools or tutorial programs was 50% for candidates taking the exam in English, and 53% for all candidates taking the exam in English, Chinese or Korean.

These results come close on the heels of two other significant achievements: ACTCM graduates achieved a 100% pass rate on the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine exams taken in the period September-December 2007, and scored the highest with an 85% passing rate on the August 7, 2007, Acupuncture Board licensing exam.

Passing the California Acupuncture Board exam is necessary to receive a license to practice acupuncture in the state of California.

NATION:

NJAMF Awards Dinner Honors General Antonio Taguba

WASHINGTON — The National Japanese American Memorial Foundation (NJAMF) will host its 2008 awards dinner on April 4 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. Funds raised at the event will go to support the foundation’s public awareness and education programs.

In the tradition of past awards dinners, NJAMF will honor American leaders who represent the values and beliefs of the foundation. The evening’s honorees include Congressman Barney Frank, D-MA, who will receive the Chairman’s Award for leadership. Joan Bernstein (chair of the U.S. Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians) will receive the Award for Constitutional Rights. Finally, Major General Antonio Taguba (USA-Ret) will receive the Award for Patriotism. Secretary Norm Mineta, Congresswoman Doris Matsui, D-CA, and General Eric Shinseki (USA-Ret) will be presenting the awards.

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Kiyo Matsumoto Nominated as Federal District Court Judge

WASHINGTON — A former senior trial counsel at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, Kiyo Matsumoto was nominated by President Bush to serve as federal District Court judge for the Eastern District of New York on March 11, 2007.

If confirmed, Magistrate Judge Matsumoto would become the second-ever Asian Pacific American woman to serve as a federal District Court judge and the third Asian Pacific American federal District Court judge outside of California and Hawai‘i.

She would become the eighth Asian Pacific American Senate-confirmed federal judge currently active out of approximately 850 nationwide.

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Assemblywoman Ellen Young Passes Resolution Commending Taiwan Election

ALBANY, N.Y. — Taiwanese American Assemblywoman Ellen Young passed a New York state resolution she penned commending the recent elections in Taiwan. The Assembly passed this resolution unanimously, which congratulates the people of Taiwan for the successful conduct of the fourth direct and democratic presidential election in March 2008.
Young remarked, “I am glad that my New York state colleagues have chosen to join me in recognizing the significance of Taiwan’s fourth election in the form of this resolution. We are a country that upholds the ideals of democracy above all else, and Taiwan’s fourth democratic election clearly demonstrates a commitment to a shared ideology between us.”

Assemblywoman Young also today extended an invitation to President Ma Ying-jeou to visit New York state in order to further maintain its friendly and fruitful sister-state relationship with Taiwan.

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Hawai‘i Faces Hurdles in Attracting More Chinese

HONOLULU — Hawai‘i faces significant obstacles in attracting more Chinese visitors to its shores, Frank Haas of the University of Hawai‘i said.

Chinese tourists accounted for 56,000 of the 7.4 million visitors who came to Hawai‘i in 2007. More than 1.3 million Japanese visited Hawai‘i the same year.

The number of American carriers that can operate in China is limited by an agreement between the U.S. government and China.

Chinese tourists have raised concerns about discrimination and a lack of knowledge of Chinese customs.

An agreement between the U.S. and China that is expected to go into effect this year would allow U.S. companies to actively market and advertise travel destinations in China, and permit Chinese leisure travel in groups to the U.S.

U.S. officials have said they will try to expedite the visa process for Chinese visitors if the agreement goes into effect.

COMMERCE:

NAPABA and NLF’s Diversity Symposium

WASHINGTON — The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) and the NAPABA Law Foundation (NLF) will hold its second Diversity Symposium on Asian Pacific American diversity in large law firms on April 1, 2008, in New York City.

The symposium brings together leaders from corporate and large law firm communities. Presenters include Sandra Leung, senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company; Laurie N. Robinson, vice president and assistant general counsel of CBS Corporation; and Don H. Liu, corporate senior vice president, general counsel and secretary of Xerox Corporation.

In addition to a discussion about the disproportionate lack of APAs in the partnership ranks of large firms, the symposium will feature the inaugural NAPABA Diversity Award. The honoree law firm will be recognized for its commitment to diversity and its success in moving APA attorneys to partnership track.

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Open Doors to New Business Opportunities

Asian Women in Business and New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn recently held a workshop in New York on “Certification as a Minority- or Women-Owned Business Enterprise.” The workshop was designed to walk attendees through the certification requirements and how to leverage them to grow their businesses.

New York City buys $15.7 billion worth of products and services every year. Certification as a M/WBE has become even more important because of Local Law 129, passed by the New York City Council, which directs New York City agencies to buy more goods and services from certified minority and women vendors.

The workshop assisted business owners looking for new avenues to sell their products and services, and how to compete successfully in New York City contracting opportunities so they could get a piece of the action.

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SOYJOY Introduces Two New Ways to Enjoy Soy

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. — Joining the ranks of the original, all-natural, baked flavors, Strawberry and Peanut Chocolate Chip SOYJOY bars will be on shelves in April in the nutrition bar aisle of most grocery, drug and health food stores nationwide.

“With eight grams of whole soy per bar, SOYJOY contains the nutritious fiber, isoflavones and complete protein naturally found in soy,” said Allegra Burton, MPH, RD. “While many soy products on the market today use highly processed soy protein concentrate and isolate, SOYJOY is always made from high-quality, non-genetically modified whole soybeans.”

A recently published study found that eating soy nuts supports healthy blood pressure levels and provides support for post-menopausal women. Another study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that soy isoflavones help maintain healthy cholesterol levels.

— U.S. Asian Wire

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Landmark Financial Literacy Bill Passes First Assembly Hearing

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Assembly Banking and Finance Committee recently passed landmark legislation to better educate Californians on the essentials of personal finances. AB 2123, sponsored by Controller John Chiang, is one of many bills aimed at easing the far-reaching devastation that millions across the country are feeling as a result of the mortgage crisis.

“If more people were taught which questions to ask while applying for home loans and credit cards, we would have mitigated this entire economic downfall.” Assemblyman Ted Lieu said.

AB 2123 is in response to the growing number of people making devastating financial decisions due to inadequate financial education, resulting in such financial catastrophes as the mortgage crisis and plummeting credit scores.
This bill creates a financial literacy corps to assist low- and middle-income persons with credit card applications, opening bank accounts and understanding credit scores.

ARTS:

MANAA Blasts Whitewashed Casting of the New Film ‘21’

LOS ANGELES — Media Action Network for Asian Americans, an organization which monitors media depictions of Asian Americans, is upset that 21, the new film based on the novel Bringing Down the House, chose mostly white actors to play the roles of Asian Americans.

Ben Mezrich’s 2002 book was based on the true story of an MIT professor who taught 10-12 of his students how to beat Las Vegas casinos at blackjack. The majority of the players were Asian American, including the leader, Jeff Ma. The producers chose to give Ma’s part to a white actor, Jim Sturgess. Two smaller, undeveloped roles went to Aaron Yoo and Liza Lapira.

MANAA raised the organization’s concerns with producer Dana Brunetti, who said he did not care about realistic ethnic casting and was merely looking for “the best actor for the role.”

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Nominees Announced for 2008 JCPenney Asian Excellence Awards

LOS ANGELES — Carrie Ann Inaba (Dancing With the Stars, Dance Wars: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann) and Bobby Lee (MADtv) announced the nominees for the 2008 JCPenney Asian Excellence Awards. This is the third year that the Asian Excellence Awards will honor the outstanding achievements of Asians and Asian Americans in film, television, music and the performing arts via a national awards telecast. Nominees include Lust, Caution director Ang Lee, Vanessa Hudgens of High School Musical 2 and Daniel Dae Kim from Lost.

Inaba and Lee will co-host the show, which is to be taped at UCLA’s Royce Hall in Los Angeles. The awards show will premiere on E! Entertainment Television on May 1 at 6 p.m. ET/PT, 5 p.m. CT. In addition, beginning May 7 and throughout the month of May, the show will be available on Comcast On Demand.

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Asian Americans Honored in Northern California Book Awards

SAN FRANCISCO — Shawna Yang Ryan and Vikram Chandra have been nominated in the fiction category for the 27th annual Northern California Book Awards, which will be held on April 13 at the San Francisco Main Library.

Ryan lives in Berkeley and teaches at City College of San Francisco. Set in a Sacramento Delta Chinese farming community, her nominated book, Locke 1928, chronicles the effects of separation and betrayal, laws and immigration, on its citizens, and what happens when a Chinese ghost myth becomes real.

Chandra is known as one of “India’s leading novelists.” His work has been translated into 11 languages, and he currently divides his time between Mumbai and Berkeley, California, where he teaches creative writing at the University of California. His nomination comes from his novel Sacred Games.

GLOBAL:

Pentagon Shipped Ballistic Missile Parts to Taiwan in 2006

WASHINGTON — The U.S. military’s mistaken delivery to Taiwan of electrical fuses for an intercontinental ballistic missile is raising questions over U.S. relations with China, and has triggered a broad investigation into the security of Pentagon weapons.

The shipment did not include nuclear materials, but China vehemently opposes U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. Four fuses were shipped to Taiwanese officials in late 2006 instead of helicopter batteries that they had ordered.

Defense officials said they never knew the fuses were gone, and the U.S. demanded the return of the fuses only after it learned of the gravity of its error.

The Chinese Embassy did not immediately comment. Taiwanese diplomats in Washington did not comment on Defense Department matters.

The fuses were manufactured for use on a Minuteman strategic nuclear missile and are linked to the triggering mechanism in the nose cone.