Southeast Asian Community Blog

“April 30, 1975 - In the early hours of the 30th, the last...

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:27:00 -0400

“April 30, 1975 - In the early hours of the 30th, the last helicopter to evacuate US officials and some South Vietnamese allies pulled out, and not too longer after, Saigon fell to the Vietcong. So as we remember the US soldiers and the war that the US didn’t win, let’s not forget the Vietnamese refugees, the Hmong who were abandoned despite their assistance to the CIA, the rise of the Khmer Rouge because of the US bombings in Cambodia and its aftermath, etc. The Vietnam War has a huge grip on the American conscience, and what we learn in textbooks that does not do justice to the million of lives who have been impacted by war, both here and abroad.

This picture by Hubert Van Es captures a helicopter on an apartment building rooftop in downtown Saigon where CIA employees were housed. Though the setting has been mistaken to be the US Embassy in South Vietnam, it essentially gives the sense of desperation that was rampant among the South Vietnamese this time 38 years ago.”

Donate to SASC Summer Institute 2013 Please donate to SASC SI...

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 18:01:00 -0400

Donate to SASC Summer Institute 2013

Please donate to SASC SI here.

The Southeast Asian Student Coalition’s (SASC) mission is:

“To unite Southeast Asian Communities, particularly those bounded by the historical context of the Viet Nam War, and to address the economic inequalities, social injustices, and political under-representation that they face.”

SI is an all-expense paid, five-day educational program hosted at UC Berkeley that connects high school students and community members nationwide. We bring 36 high school students from all over the country to address Southeast Asian underrepresentation in higher education and low recruitment and retention rates.

20% of US population DO NOT have a high school diploma
20% of Asian Americans DO NOT have a high school diploma

Compare this to

38% of Vietnamese Americans, 50% of Laotian Americans,
54% of Cambodian Americans, 60% of Hmong Americans
DO NOT HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA

The US National Average for a Bachelors Degree:28.8%
US National Average for Asian Americans for a Bachelors Degree: 44%
While 7.5% of Hmong Americans and 9.4% of Laotian Americans have a Bachelor’s Degree.

By connecting students to their culture and history, we aim to foster young leaders and empower students to create social change.

reachcampusorganizing: CalSERVE wins 3 of 4 partisan executive...

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 14:06:38 -0400

reachcampusorganizing:

CalSERVE wins 3 of 4 partisan executive positions in ASUC election 2013

Guess what everyone, we’re back. Congrats to our very own REACH! co-director Sevly Snguon as he moves on to be our representative as the 2nd Cambodian Senator in all of ASUC history. Also, congrats to Deejay Pepito reppin from PASS for holding it down as she becomes the ASUC President for the 13-14 school year.

Sevly Snguon SASComm Chair for SEAPOP: Southeast Asian Prison Outreach Project, doing mad work.

ratema: SASC SI Benefit Concert tonight from 6-9pm at the...

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 18:31:36 -0400

ratema:

SASC SI Benefit Concert tonight from 6-9pm at the Multicultural Center! Come for performances, great food, and a silent auction with lovely items! Hit me up for more details! Guaranteed a good time with plenty of community love! ✊❤

bobbivie: Thai Association Of Northern California + Songkran...

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 05:41:14 -0400

bobbivie:

Thai Association Of Northern California + Songkran Thai New Year Festival : Support Community

bv

reachcampusorganizing: This year we are all proud of our very...

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 04:00:19 -0400

reachcampusorganizing:

This year we are all proud of our very own Sevly Snguon as he runs as a senate candidate for the ASUC, the largest autonomous student government in the nation.

Sevly currently serves as REACH!’s Co-Director this year and has continually demonstrated his commitment to social justice by being a strong advocate for his community. As a potential Senator, he aims to promote student activism and professional development through the resources of the ASUC.

If all goes well, he will be the ASUC’s second Cambodian-American Senator. You can stay updated with Sevly’s progress by checking out his Facebook Page Sevly Snguon for ASUC Senate!

Let’s all ensure Sevly gets into Senate next year and vote for him here as our #1 vote on April 9th-11th.

The Cambodian brotha’ Sevly Snguon doing werk! Sevly also serves as the chair for SASC’s Southeast Asian Prisoner Outreach Program (SEAPOP).

Trauma rooted in genocide, Cambodian youth confront ‘historical forgetting’

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 18:51:00 -0400

For an all-female group [Khmer Girls in Action] of Cambodian American teens in Long Beach, home to the country’s largest Cambodian community, the target of their adolescent disaffection is their parents’ generational hopelessness.

Many of the girls’ parents arrived in Long Beach in the early 1980s after fleeing the “killing fields” of the Khmer Rouge regime, a genocide that resulted in an estimated 1.7 to 2 million deaths. Survivors of unimaginable horror, many have kept their stories untold, creating a generation of silence that has taken a profound toll on their children.

Nearly half of the respondents reported symptoms of depression, including loneliness, fear, insomnia, cutting and other self-harming acts. Most – especially young males – said they experienced discriminatory treatment at school, with 1 in 3 saying they were frequently stopped or pulled over by police.

Stuff about our body is kind of taboo to talk about with your family,” said 16-year-old Amanda Em. “We’re kind of reserved. It’s awkward to bring up, so everyone ignores it.

“It used to mean being poor and being seen as a dropout or a gangster,” Chhuon said. “But to these young people, being Cambodian means being a survivor, an activist, coming from an incredibly resilient tradition of people.”

Passages from Trauma rooted in genocide, Cambodian youth confront ‘historical forgetting’ via California Watch

Click here to read more →
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The Green Papaya is a community blog and online forum where the Southeast Asian community may share its stories. Its goal is to provide an online space that engages the SEA community, fosters voices within that community, and also raise awareness about that community. If you wish to submit a post, click here.

reachcampusorganizing: Legacies of War is very excited to...

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 16:55:19 -0400

reachcampusorganizing:

Legacies of War is very excited to announce “Voices From Laos: Clearing Bombs, Protecting Lives,” a groundbreaking national speakers tour. The tour will create a space for dialogue on how individuals and communities are affected by Vietnam War-era unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Laos, how the problem is being addressed in the country, and ways in which people in the U.S. can help to clear Laos of bombs, support survivors of accidents, and help to create a safer future for the people of Laos.

Funds raised will go to support Legacies’ long-term goals of a bomb-free Laos and also to support the nationwide Speakers Tour.

Not only will you be supporting the removal of U.S.-dropped bombs and healing the wounds of war, but you will also enjoy traditional Lao food!

Where: Berkeley, the home of Daniel & Hilary Goldstine
1838 San Juan Ave. Berkeley, CA
What: Reception, 30-50 seats reserved JUST FOR STUDENTS
When: April 7th, 6pm-9pm
RSVP: http://voicesfromlaosberkeley.eventbrite.com/

Current High School Students grades 9-12, If you identify...

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 17:54:38 -0400

Current High School Students grades 9-12,

If you identify as Vietnamese, Laotian, Cambodian/Khmer, Lu-Mien, Hmong, Hmoob or any other Southeast Asian ethnic, cultural identity, we welcome and encourage you to apply to this 5 day summer program opportunity!

The Southeast Asian Student Coalition Summer Institute (SASC SI) is a five-day program held at UC Berkeley that allows Southeast Asian youth to further learn and explore about their community, culture, people’s history, and self-identity.

You will also get the opportunity to meet other high school students from California and even students from out of state. You will be paired up with college mentors that will offer you guidance and support. Aside from travel-arrangements (which can be worked out), this program is an all-expense paid trip. You’ll get to live in the college dorms with other high school students, you’ll be fed delicious 3 course meals for 5 days, and you’ll get to experience what it’d be like to be a college student in a college atmosphere!

SASC Summer Institute is seeking motivated high school students with diverse experiences and backgrounds. Academic performance is not a factor in the acceptance of participants, thus, all are encouraged to apply.

SASC SI Mentee Applications have been extended and are now due at the end of this weekend Sunday; March 31, 2013!

Access the online Mentee application here: tinyurl.com/si2013app
You can also download the application off our site here.
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The Green Papaya is a community blog and online forum where the Southeast Asian community may share its stories. Its goal is to provide an online space that engages the SEA community, fosters voices within that community, and also raise awareness about that community. If you wish to submit a post,click here.

zuky: life: Forty-five years after American troops murdered...

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 03:11:43 -0400

zuky:

life:

Forty-five years after American troops murdered men, women and children in a village in Vietnam, LIFE.com bears witness to the horror by republishing the story of My Lai as it ran in LIFE 20 months later

(Ronald L. Haeberle — Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

The My Lai Massacre is an iconic 20th century event which reflects the USA’s attitude toward Asia and Asian people. On March 16, 1968, roughly 500 unarmed civilians in the Vietnamese village of Son My — mostly women, children, babies, and the elderly — were massacred by US troops. Many of the women were raped and some were gang-raped before being mutilated and dumped in ditches. Three US soldiers attempted to halt the massacre and were denounced in US Congress as traitors.

In my opinion, part of the contempt we see toward Asians from some US Americans (including from some other people of color who are supposedly anti-racist) is a manifestation of this political history, which also includes: (1) the invasion and colonization of the Philippines, Hawaii, Guam, Samoa; (2) the internment of Japanese Americans; (3) dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki; (4) the invasion and partition of Korea and the establishment of a permanent military base; (5) the destruction of Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos.

Current High School Students grades 9-12, If you identify as...

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 21:07:00 -0500

Current High School Students grades 9-12,

SASC SI Mentee Applications are due next week Friday, March 15th!

Access the online Mentee application here: tinyurl.com/si2013app
You can also download the application off our site here.
___

The Green Papaya is a community blog and online forum where the Southeast Asian community may share its stories. Its goal is to provide an online space that engages the SEA community, fosters voices within that community, and also raise awareness about that community. If you wish to submit a post, click here.

bobbivie: #SouthBayFirstThursdays + Immigration Reform :...

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 19:58:59 -0500

bobbivie:

#SouthBayFirstThursdays + Immigration Reform : Asian Pacific Islanders Matter Too

bv

What: South Bay First Thursday presents Immigration Reform: Asian Pacific Islanders Matter too

Where: 2400 Moorpark Ave. #210, San Jose, 95128

When: 7:00pm-9:00pm

Facebook Event: Immigration Reform: Asian Pacific Islanders Matter Too

reachcampusorganizing: What: Statewide UC Action: Funeral for...

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 10:51:22 -0500

reachcampusorganizing:

What: Statewide UC Action: Funeral for Workers’ Rights

Where: Sproul Plaza, University of California Berkeley

Why: To Celebrate University of California Workers and demand UC Labor Management to bring Worker Right’s back.

When: Thursday, March 7

Facebook Event: R.I.P. Worker’s Rights at UC: March 7th Statewide Remembrance

There are Hmong, Cambodian, Vietnamese, Laotian, and Mien workers in the University of California. Some are custodians, others work as cooks, some work in security enforcement. Whatever they are, we have to keep in mind as worker, these jobs are their livelihoods. These jobs are how workers get payed, this is how these workers’ support their family. Workers have to deal with physically and mentally straining tasks day in and day out. They too will be impacted by the decisions of the UC Administration. There are thousands of workers who are voiceless. Just like everyone else, the population of Southeast Asian workers is at risk of being voiceless as well. We must all contribute how we can and in the smallest of ways bring attention to this issue.

Secret War in Laos

Sat, 23 Feb 2013 17:34:00 -0500

From 1964 to 1973, the U.S. dropped more than two million tons of ordnance on Laos during 580,000 bombing missions—equal to a planeload of bombs every 8 minutes, 24-hours a day, for 9 years – making Laos the most heavily bombed country per capita in history. The bombings were part of the U.S. Secret War in Laos to support the Royal Lao Government against the Pathet Lao and to interdict traffic along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The bombings destroyed many villages and displaced hundreds of thousands of Lao civilians during the nine-year period.

Up to a third of the bombs dropped did not explode, leaving Laos contaminated with vast quantities of unexploded ordnance (UXO). Over 20,000 people have been killed or injured by UXO in Laos since the bombing ceased. The wounds of war are not only felt in Laos. When the Americans withdrew from Laos in 1973, hundreds of thousands of refugees fled the country, and many of them ultimately resettled in the United States.

Regions in Laos that were bombed are highlighted in red and yellow.

Here are some other startling facts about the U.S. bombing of Laos and its tragic aftermath:

Over 270 million cluster bombs were dropped on Laos during the Vietnam War (210 million more bombs than were dropped on Iraq in 1991, 1998 and 2006 combined); up to 80 million did not detonate.
Nearly 40 years on, less than 1% of these munitions have been destroyed.More than half of all confirmed cluster munitions casualties in the world have occurred in Laos.
Each year there continue to be over 100 new casualties in Laos. Close to 60% of the accidents result in death, and 40% of the victims are children.
Between 1996 and 2012, the U.S. contributed on average $2.6M per year for UXO clearance in Laos; the U.S. spent $17M per day (in 2010 dollars) for nine years bombing Laos.
The U.S. spent as much in three days bombing Laos ($51M, in 2010 dollars) than it spent for clean up over 16 years ($51M).

Source: Legacies of War

Telegraph food trucks struggle to relocate

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 13:25:00 -0500

After being asked to vacate in December, the owners of the food trucks previously located in front of Sproul Plaza find themselves still rapidly losing money with nowhere to go.

The city notified Michael Koh, Ann Vu and Jack Huynh, respective owners of Dojo Dog, Healthy Heavenly Foods and Kettle Corn Star,to move off the property in December to make room for Lower Sproul construction. The vendors are now saying that they will have to take legal action if the city does not find them alternative locations or compensate them for their business losses.

The city, however, is under no legal obligation to do so, according to Pamela Embry, spokesperson for the city manager’s office.

“I’m still waiting to come back to work,” said Vu. “If the city does not bring me back into business, then we will need to take legal action, because this is not right.”

Huynh estimates they are each losing a potential $15,000 to $30,000 a month while they remain out of business.

The owners, who invested in the trucks last year under a four-year permit program with the city, said they cannot afford to keep paying the trucks’ parking permits or insurance without the alternative locations or compensation.

Continue Reading —>

neaato: Ao dai on the streets of Saigon half a century...

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 03:42:15 -0500

neaato:

Ao dai on the streets of Saigon half a century ago

Images of the graceful ao dai on the streets of Saigon over the past half century ago has been archived by the famous magazine Life of the USA.

The pictures were taken in 1961 in Sai Gon. They portray the beauty of Vietnamese women and the Vietnamese traditional gowns in daily life.

"We Southeast Asians are a fighting people"

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 01:32:00 -0500

“Jonathan Tran, a HIP [Hmong Innovating Politics] organizer who’s also with the Southeast Asian Action Resource Center, thanked the district staff for working so hard on a plan that is so flawed. “To the board members who have not stood up to this terrible process…we Southeast Asians are a fighting people….because we are a people who have been denied peace,” he said. We want to work alongside you. Instead of the opportunity to uplift communities, you have again denied our communities peace.”

Source: Sacramento Press

Hmong Clothes: The New Trend

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 13:56:16 -0500

aalimelight:

The Hmong, a hill tribe that has its roots in the mountainous areas of China, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. The most current and significant event that greatly changed the lives of the Hmong was our participation in the Vietnam War. After the United States lost the war, the Hmong were abandoned to their own fate and was faced with persecution by the communist government of Vietnam. Villages were torched, men, women, and children were killed, and all their possessions were lost. There was no way out of this persecution but to run and leave the jungles of Laos, so they made their way to Thailand to seek refuge. Through the help of some American government programs, many of the Hmong were relocated. Some went to France, others to Argentina, but many came to the United States. Being an American born Hmong child, I tend to forget about the Hmong, or Miao, that live in China. Except, that isn’t the only thing forgotten as well. Slowly, but surely, many of the Hmong-American born are losing the knowledge to our very rich culture. I myself am one of those Hmong-American born.

After the war, the Hmong were easily forgotten by the mainstream world. The deeds that Hmong soldiers had performed during the war was left to gather dust and most definitely to be forgotten. From there the Hmong tried their best to assimilate into modern society and, at the same time, maintain their cultural practices which were, at times, very difficult to do. One of those very things that the Hmong are slowly losing is the skill to sew textiles, or paj ntaub. Back when many of the Hmong lived in villages, sewing was a necessary skill for the wives and daughters to know because had they not known how to sew, then the family would be without clothes. However, in this day and age, it’s much easier to produce clothes without the need to hand sew everything with one’s own hands. A lot of the clothes and embroidery sewn by the Hmong is very colorful and intricate and it varies from region to region where the Hmong live.

Continue reading →

Sacramento City Unified School District: Vote NO on the school closures!

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 11:43:21 -0500

berzerkenny:

Help out the tens and thousands of students in Sac Town by giving 10 seconds of your time by signing this petition (300 votes to go)

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In a nutshell, at NOON PST, TODAY (Thursday, February 21, 2012) the Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD) Board of Education Sacramento will put up to a vote whether or not 11 elementary schools from low-income neighborhoods will be closing down.

Allegedly, it will save millions of dollars in funding for the district, however research in other states report that there has been little-to-no difference in savings. School closures would negatively impact these low-income, students of color youth and families.

I encourage you all to support Sacramento Schools by signing the Hmong Innovating Politics’ online petition, by 12 PM, PST, February 21, 2013 (TODAY), calling on the SCUSD Board of Education to vote NO on school closures, and to extend their decision to 7 months.

New dictionary preserves fading Mien language, culture

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 13:38:00 -0500

New dictionary preserves fading Mien language, culture:

More than 200 Mien refugees from across California poured into south Sacramento on Saturday to hear from the man they hope will save their ancient language.

Herbert Purnell, an American missionary and linguist, spoke of his 26-year journey to compile the comprehensive Mien-English dictionary, an 855-page compendium of more than 5,600 words, 28,000 phrases and 2,100 cultural notes laced with myths, poetry and ceremonies.

Dozens of Mien seemed in awe that the 78-year-old scholar could speak their language. They shelled out $32 apiece for the hard-bound volume and lined up to have him sign it at the Iu-Mien Community Services office in the Lemon Hill neighborhood.

They hope it will become the Bible of a culture they say is fading fast in the United States, where their children and grandchildren are steeped in English and western ways.

“Thank you for devoting your life to the Mien people,” said translator Koy Saephan. “Identity is not stable in the face of assimilation. I don’t think our culture will last beyond this generation.”

Continue reading →