Humanities Washington is introducing its 2012 to 2014 Speakers Bureau, providing low-cost programs for community organizations to offer to local audiences on a variety of topics, including popular culture, photography, architecture, literature, food, film, and history. Urvasi Dance Ensemble artistic director Ratna Roy, University of Washington professor Anu Taranath, author Shawn Wong, and others are featured speakers as part of the Speakers Bureau. Wong will speak from personal experience on the creative process behind writing a novel. Taranath will introduce literature written by a wide range of Washingtonians to promote discussion about the diversity of perspectives in Washington. Roy will lead a discussion on the parallels between Western science and Eastern mysticism and how these two seemingly opposed schools of thought may lead to similar understandings. (end)

Khoa Nguyen (far left), emcee of the rally for affordable healthcare, and community members march through Hing Hay Park towards Rob McKenna’s campaign office. (Photo provided by Working Washington)

More than 100 workers, seniors, and grassroots activists gathered with Working Washington at a rally at First Hill’s hospital district on August 30. Participants later marched through downtown Seattle to Rob McKenna’s campaign office to speak out against McKenna’s agenda, which will force cuts to Medicaid and other services. Read the full story

Sabre fencing master Wang Yung, assistant coaches Allen Wang and Jeff Larsen from Portland, students of the Washington Fencing Academy, and sabre fencers and coaches from Japan. (Photo provided by WFA)

A group of eight junior elite sabre fencers and three coaches from Japan, sent by the Japan Fencing Federation, visited the Washington Fencing Academy. There, they evaluated qualifying fencers for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Local students of the Washington Fencing Academy, along with the Sabre Fencing Master Wang Yung, and assistant coaches Allen Wang and Jeff Larsen of Portland, were able to spend time with the elite team during their visit from August 27 to September 1. (end)

Naoko Morisawa

Artist Naoko Morisawa is one of five local artists featured in the upcoming First Friday Art Walk at Bellevue Place Fountain Court on Sept. 7. Bellevue’s First Friday art walks takes place on the first Friday of July, August, and September, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Admission to the Bellevue Art Museum is free on the first Friday of every month and the museum is open until 8 p.m. Morisawa’s artwork is made of hundreds of small slices of oil-dyed wood chips on a board to create a unique pattern. Other featured artists include custom jewelry designer Michelle Staeheli and photographer Lee Hendrickson. (end)

By Paul J. Weber
The Associated Press

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — On Election Day in Texas, the mere act of voting would have been fresh flexing of Republican power: Show a photo ID, then cast a ballot in a political district likely drawn to favor GOP candidates. Read the full story

By Ali Akbar Dareini
The Associated Press

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran and North Korea signed a scientific and technological cooperation agreement Saturday, bringing the two nations deeply at odds with the United States closer together. Read the full story

By Hyung-Jin Kim
The Associated Press

Rev. Sun Myung Moon

GAPYEONG, South Korea (AP) — Rev. Sun Myung Moon, the self-proclaimed messiah who turned his Unification Church into a worldwide religious movement and befriended North Korean leaders as well as U.S. presidents, has died, church officials said Monday. He was 92.

Moon died Monday at a church-owned hospital near his home in Gapyeong, northeast of Seoul, two weeks after being hospitalized with pneumonia, Unification Church spokesman Ahn Ho-yeul told The Associated Press. Moon’s wife and children were at his side, Ahn said. Church officials planned to meet later Monday to discuss mourning and funeral arrangements. Read the full story

By Staff
The Association Press

Photo from Wikimedia Commons

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Members of St. Paul’s Hmong community say they have mixed feelings about a new McDonald’s billboard in their language. Read the full story

Photo provided by Abacus West

After almost three years of growth on the Eastside, Abacus West is expanding to Seattle, offering classes in the Good Shepherd Center in Wallingford starting the week of September 15. Abacus West offers a math enrichment program for children aged 5 to 12. Read the full story

The Northwest Museum of Legends and Lore is denouncing the Universe Within “Bodies” exhibit scheduled for an exhibit at the Puyallup Fair, citing the exhibit’s use of Chinese cadavers as a violation of human rights, desecration, and culturally offensive. Countries and cities, including Seattle, have banned the display of cadavers and human remains without documentation to show origin and consent from the deceased. Read the full story

The Northwest Asian Weekly is seeking donated gift baskets for its 30th anniversary gala. The gift baskets will be set out for display as centerpieces on each table. The gift baskets will be offered up for purchase during a silent auction taking place at the event. Gift baskets should include the company’s products AND gift items, and can also include the company’s cards and marketing materials. Read the full story

By Assunta Ng

The Democratic candidates said we were, at the Democratic National Convention in North Carolina. For the Asian Weekly, the answer is also yes.  But the real question is, are we better off because of President Barack Obama? Read the full story

By Assunta Ng

June Chen (far right) at the 1992 Democratic National Convention

Recently, I received a list of Washington State Delegation delegates for the Democratic National Convention (DNC). More than 150 delegates are represented, 10 percent of which are Asian Americans, including Sofia Aragon, Robert Chu, Ruthann Kurose, Rep. Cindy Ryu, Ricardo Polintan, Nisha Nariya, Edward Song, Louis Watanabe, Rep. Bob Hasegawa, Noland Hoshino, and more. Also in attendance was Dean Ando, who passed around a copy of a childhood photo he took with a very young Obama.

I was at the DNC in New York as a media guest in 1992, when Bill Clinton was the presidential nominee. Even at that time, the API presence at the DNC was impressive. Normally, because I am an independent, I wouldn’t want to spend that kind of money to go to a political convention.

But I was there because I made a promise to my friend June Chen, who was running to be a Clinton delegate. It was the first time Washington Demorats elected a Taiwanese immigrant to be a delegate.

Chen had to campaign to get enough votes. She had to make speeches.

“If you got the position, I’ll go with you to the convention,” I replied. And then I encouraged her to practice her speech.

When she earned her spot as a delegate, I attended the convention with her and it turned out to be a memorable experience. I’m also proud to say that I was the only ethnic media representative from Washington state at the convention. (end)

By Samantha Pak
Northwest Asian Weekly

Tokyo Heist
By Diana Renn
Viking, 2012

When Violet Rossi, a lover of all things Japan, finds out her father is commissioned to paint a mural in Tokyo, the 16-year-old is thrilled. Read the full story

By Assunta Ng

his Monday, the Seattle Times supported Port of Seattle CEO Tay Yoshitani to join the Board of Directors of Expeditors International. But his new position was questioned by 13 King County legislators, citing a conflict of interest. Read the full story

Compiled by Staff
Northwest Asian Weekly

Race and ethnicity has been a key issue in this year’s elections, which is why the group of women Read the full story