VOL 30 NO 6 | 2011

VOL 30 NO 6 FEBRUARY 5 – FEBRUARY 11, 2011 FREE 29 YEARS YOUR VOICE

PRSRT STDU.S. Postage PaidPermit No. 746Seattle, WA

■ 412 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104 • t. 206.223.5559 • f. 206.223.0626 • [email protected] • [email protected] • www.nwasianweekly.com

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2 FEBRUARY 5 – FEBRUARY 11, 2011 asianweeklynorthwest

■ NAMES IN THE NEWSJan. 10: A. Gabriel Esteban is first Filipino American president of an American university

A. Gabriel Esteban is now the 20th president of Seton Hall University, in South Or-ange, N.J. He is the first Fili-pino American president of an American university. He had been the provost at Seton Hall University since 2007.

Seton Hall broke from its tradition of only having Ro-man Catholic priests as pres-idents in order to appoint Esteban.

Esteban has a doctorate in business administration from the University of Cali-fornia, Irvine, a Master of Science in Japanese Business Studies from Chaminade University in Honolulu, and a master’s in business administration from the University of the Philippines.

Nov. 29–Dec. 5: Lauren Hall is UCLA/Muscle Milk Student-Athlete of the Week

Lauren Hall, who is half Chinese, is a senior swimmer at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She was selected as the UCLA/Muscle Milk Student-Athlete of the Week.

Hall was born in Taipei and is the daughter of B. Clay Hall and Judy Yu. She attended Holy Names Academy in Se-attle. She is majoring in psy-chology and history.

Jan. 11: Dori Jones Yang’s new novel published

Eastside author Dori Jones Yang had her lat-est young adult novel, “Daughter of Xanadu,” published. “Xanadu” is about the granddaughter of Khubilai Khan. The story fo-cuses on a cross-cultural romance. Previously, Yang wrote “The Secret Voice of Gina Zhang.”

Yang is fluent in Mandarin and is a former Business Week (Hong Kong-based) correspondent.

Feb. 2: Bernadette Matsuno to serve as Department of Neighborhoods interim director

Bernadette Matsuno, former deputy director of the Depart-ment of Neighborhoods and a well-known community activ-ist and volunteer, will return as interim director of the depart-ment.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in community services from Se-attle University and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Washington.

She has been with the Depart-

ment of Neighborhoods since its inception in 1988, when it was known as the Office of Neighborhoods.

Feb. 4: Clarence Moriwaki leaves the JCCCW, Kirsten Henning takes over

Clarence Moriwaki, chief executive officer of the Japanese Cultural and Community Cen-ter of Washington (JCCCW), is leaving his position, effective Feb. 4, to pursue new career op-portunities.

Moriwaki said he is going to seek appointment on the Kitsap County Commission. Moriwaki has been a city council member for the city of Tukwila, and was a Washington state Senate can-didate for the 11th legislative dis-trict primary election in 1992.

Taking over as interim direc-tor of JCCCW will be former Vice President Kirsten Hen-ning, who has resigned from the JCCCW board in order to accept the position.

Henning is a senior project manager at Pyramid Com-

munications and serves as an active volunteer for the Girl Scouts and Densho.

A. Gabriel Esteban

Dori Jones Yang

Clarence Moriwaki

Kirsten Henning

Lauren Hall Bernadette Matsuno

Northwest Asian Weekly is always looking for Asian American community news. If you are the host or an attendee of an API fundraiser, e-mail us a big photo, event highlights, and the amount of money raised. We are also looking for news about APIs in new jobs and APIs getting public recognition and awards.

Please send materials to [email protected] with “names in the news” as the subject line.

29 YEARS YOUR VOICE FEBRUARY 5 – FEBRUARY 11, 2011 3


■ COMMUNITY NEWS ■ ATTENTION

Ode to Spring 2011 is a festive cul-tural performance that celebrates the Chinese New Year. It will be held at 7:30 p.m., on Feb. 12, at the University of Washington’s Meany Theater.

The event will begin with performances of dragons, lions, and rab-bits dancing together. It is organized by the Ameri-can Asian Performing Arts Theater (AAPAT).

The performance will feature award-winning performers from China and well-known local artists and artistic troupes.

Performers include China Art Troupe, Hengda Dance Academy, Seattle Youth Philharmonic, Mak Fai Washington Kung Fu Club, Northwest Wushu (Chinese Martial Arts), Seattle Peking Opera Art School, Northwest Chi-nese School, Seattle Chinese Singing Club, Se-attle Chinese Chorus, Sound of May Choir, RNG Hip Hop Star Team, and Sunshine Modeling & Arts.

This is the first joint gala performance by Washington area artists to celebrate the Chinese New Year Spring Festival.

As a nonprofit organization, the aim of the AAPAT is to sponsor and promote Asia and its performing arts, to cultivate wide audience ap-preciation for Asian performing arts, and to en-rich people’s cultural and artistic life.

Tickets to the event can be purchased at www.AAPAT.org or by phone at 206-287-9998 or 425-830-8054.

Ode to Spring to usher in 2011 Chinese New Year

The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) is accepting applications for its scholarship program. Awards are available in the following categories: freshman, undergraduate, graduate, law, creative and performing arts, and financial aid.

Eligibility for the scholarships includes being an active national JACL member at either the individual or student/youth level. Additionally, applicants must be planning to attend full-time at a college, university, trade school, business school, or any other institution of higher learning within the United States, at the undergraduate or graduate school level in fall 2011. Entering

freshmen applications must be a high school senior. Creative and performing arts applicants cannot be professional artists. Past recipients are limited to a total of two awards.

Freshman applications are to be submitted to the applicant’s local JACL chapter by March 1, 2011.

To apply, visit jacl.org/edu/scholar.htm.

For more information, contact JACL Regional Director Patty Wada at [email protected] or visit jacl.org/edu/scholar.htm.

JACL national scholarships now accepting applications

Columbia Asia is a Seattle-owned hospital company that has 19 medical facilities in India, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Columbia Asia plans to open 15 new hospitals by the end of 2011. Columbia Asia’s vision is to provide care centered on patients’ needs.

Rick Evans chairs Columbia Asia and Daniel Baty is a major investor. Rick and Daniel during the past decade have been quietly building hospitals catering to the growing middle-income Asian market.

India’s economy grew at a pace of 10 percent last year. However, it still lags behind in health care services. It has 1.5 beds per 1,000 people, half the rate of Brazil and China. The developed world has four to eight beds per 1,000 people, according to an article by McKinsey & Co. Consultant Rajat Gupta.

For more information, visit www.columbiaasia.com.

Seattle-owned hospital company develops its market in Asia

Thank you for recycling this newspaper!


■ TECHNOLOGY

By Edward LundquistFOR NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Two naval officers and a little build-it-yourself underwater robot are helping to create a new gener-ation of scientists and engineers.

Ensigns Natalya Aoki and Pat-rick Cooper, recent graduates of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., said, “[The] SeaPerch, [a] remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV), can teach valuable lessons — from grade school to grad school.”

Aoki graduated with a degree in astronautical engineering, a track of the aerospace engineering pro-gram, and a minor in Russian. She is also a graduate of Garfield High School. She will be going to the Navy’s flight school for training.

As part of the Science Technol-ogy Engineering and Mathemat-ics (STEM) program, an outreach program at the Naval Academy, Aoki and Cooper helped train teachers and made an instruction-al video on how to build and in-corporate SeaPerch ROVs in their classrooms.

“SeaPerch is an underwater ro-bot made of everyday materials such as PVC pipes, DC motors, propellers and shaft adapters, wires, film canisters, and toilet

bowl wax. The three motors al-low it to maneuver up and down, and left and right,” said Aoki. “We use it as a teaching tool to convey principles such as buoyancy, sta-

bility, electricity, and electrical and mechanical engineering.”

Aoki and Cooper teamed with students at Lafayette College in Easton, Pa. The students were

taking a course called envisioning environmental science, taught by Prof. Arthur Kney, associate pro-fessor of civil and environmen-tal engineering, and Prof. David

Husic, professor of chemistry, to teach science fundamentals to el-ementary school students.

According to Kney, “The course is focused on arming stu-dents with academically sound tools that will prepare them to better understand our globally connected environment, to pre-pare them to be better stewards of the environment, and to develop the necessary knowledge base to assess and respond to the impact of the global environmental issues that accompany a 21st century lifestyle.”

Envisioning environmental sci-ence is an interdisciplinary ex-amination of environmental sci-ence by exploring New Zealand. The 22 Lafayette college students shared what they learned with the elementary school students from Martinsburg, Pa. Through web-casts, the Lafayette students could explain such topics as wetland and water quality, climate change, green building, and Maori culture to the elementary school students back in Pennsylvania.

“SeaPerch was a part of the connection between the elemen-tary school in Pennsylvania and the class at Lafayette College,” said Cooper. “Natalya and I went

{see AOKI cont’d on page 17}

Seattle naval officer Aoki helps young people dive into science

Ens. Natalya Aoki (left) discusses the SeaPerch underwater robot with Ens. Patrick Cooper and Prof. Angie Moran at the U.S. Naval Academy. The photo was taken when Aoki and Cooper were attending the academy are participating in an educational outreach program for young people in science, technology, engineering and math.

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■ LUNAR NEW YEAR

By Sun Lee Chang RatAlthough a straight line is the

fastest route to your chosen desti-nation, it is not necessarily the best or only way to go.

Work: A chosen path has its own rewards, but be ready to delay or even forgo certain opportunities

if you continue to proceed.Love: Whether it’s by luck or chance, you have found

a rare connection. Treat it with care.

If not lucky in love, then at least in loot?Astrological predictions for 2011

OxWhat sets you apart from the rest is

your dogged determination to finish what is really important to you, but be wary of the actual cost of doing so.

Work: Are you one to throw in the towel when times get tough? Unlike

some, a challenge only motivates you to try harder.Love: How do you show that you care without saying

a word? Your daily actions are saying much more than any words you may utter.

TigerYou want to give the impression

that you are fearless, but the reality is that you have your share of mis-givings as well.

Work: Making a valuable con-tribution can be accomplished in a

variety of ways. All it takes is a little creativity and the willingness to try.

Love: The demands you make on those you care about are not without consequences. Choose your bat-tles carefully.

RabbitWhat is standing between you

and the person that you want to be? Knowing the truth and facing it are two very different things.

Work: You are not afraid to take a risk, provided that you un-

derstand the parameters. Taking the time to educate yourself will be well worth it.

Love: Do you want to be the driver, or are you just along for the ride? Despite your choice, don’t be surprised if your role changes along the way.

DragonFeeling conflicted about

where you should be? You must overcome this present phase be-fore moving onto the next.

Work: Your exceptional range of talents is your finest asset. Find a position where it is both utilized

and appreciated. Love: Just as you go through changes as time goes

on, so does your partner. As a result, your relationship will likely evolve as well.

SnakeA small distraction here

and there could add up to be something more than you bar-gained for. Your time is lim-

ited, so use it wisely.Work: What you see is what you get, or is it? A po-

tential promotion could entail additional details which you have not yet considered.

Love: Surrounding yourself with those who agree with you sounds tempting in theory, but in practice, it will get old fast.

Horse“The quicker, the better” is usu-

ally your motto. This year, however, slowing things down will open your eyes to a whole new game.

Work: Tired of the usual players that enter your sphere? Instead of scrapping the whole thing, rework

your arrangement to suit your current needs.Love: Keep your preconceived ideas from intrud-

ing on a developing bond. Be patient and allow it to develop naturally.

GoatJust when everyone thinks you

have expended all that you have, you surprise them all with a trick up your sleeve.

Work: Eschew the most pre-dictable option in favor of a decid-

edly more nontraditional pick. The only caveat is that it should be in line with your interests.

Love: The romantic side of you recognizes that you need to do more than merely go through the motions.

MonkeyA sudden boon serves to remind

you how lucky you are. Guard your blessings for they should not be used frivolously.

Work: There are those who seek to gain what you already have. Flaunting your success will

only exacerbate this issue.Love: Take the initiative and put a little something

extra into your next outing together. A meaningful gift or gesture will be well received.

RoosterWait until you can see your target in full

view. A shot in the dark is bound to be off the mark.

Work: You have spent the past year lay-ing a foundation for what is to come this year. Despite a few curveballs, you are ready for the competition.

Love: Are you attracted to someone who may not feel the same way about you? Be honest about the signs that are in front of you.

DogBy anyone’s measure, you have en-

dured much and grown stronger as a re-sult. Quiet strength epitomizes where you are this year.

Work: Valuing modesty, you generally disdain tooting your own horn. That said,

pride over an exceptional accomplishment is well justified.Love: Fiercely loyal to those you care about, you want to

protect them at all costs. Going overboard in this regard is something to be wary of this year.

PigDevoted to the world of ideas, you

are a dreamer to the hilt. Your strength though is being able to maneuver with good sense at the helm.

Work: You have been pondering a change for some time now, but this

could be the year that puts the wheels in motion toward a major shift.

Love: Are your affections waning for one and flaring up for another? Confusing feelings must be sorted out sooner rather than later.

What’s your animal sign?Rat 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008 Ox 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009 Tiger 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 Rabbit 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 Dragon 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000 Snake 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001 Horse 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002 Goat 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003 Monkey 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004 Rooster 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005 Dog 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006 Pig 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007

*The year ends on the first new moon of the following year. For those born in January and February, please take care when determining your sign.


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Contact Kelly Iverson, Facilities [email protected] or 425.369.3308

■ LUNAR NEW YEAR

■ AT THE MOVIES

By Andrew HamlinNORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

“We Don’t Care About Music Anyway” is a documentary studying experimental musi-cians in and around Tokyo. Its structure is experimental in itself.

The film shows plenty of musical activ-ity. However, it does not bother to identify any musicians with on-screen credits. Un-less you read about the film before watch-ing it, you will not know who is performing or where they’re performing.

The two directors, Cédric Dupire and Gaspard Kuentz, wants the viewers to con-centrate on what’s in front of their ears and eyes. Labels mean much less.

However, audio and visual impressions can sometimes deceive or have more than one interpretation. An early shot in the film shows what seem to be delicate paper sculptures waving in a breeze. As the cam-era pulls back, we see that these are actu-ally fluttering pieces of waste paper, in the middle of a city dump.

Near the dump, or so it seems, a slumber-ing man stirs, moans, and pulls himself up from a rough cot. No credits identify him, but this is musician Hiromichi Sakamoto.

He apparently lives in this abandoned

building. His main instrument is a cello, which he carries with him everywhere.

He taps his bow against the hallway walls, against the wood and glass panel-ing. Different sounds emerge from each tap.

Sakamoto derives music from anything

{see MOVIES cont’d on page 18}

Director defies conventions in documentary about music

By Denis D. GrayTHE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BANGKOK (AP) — Many Asians believe the Year of the Rabbit will bring good luck to those born under that zodiac sign, but conservationists warn that the furry crea-tures themselves are being loved to death in Asia and some species are dying away altogether.

As the Lunar New Year approaches, rab-bits are being snapped up from pet stores and farms, but some are warning that the

animals will be dumped once the novelty wears off and the cost and trouble of keeping them kicks in.

“It’s believed that feeding rabbits in their zodiac will bring luck in love and everything else, so especially young people are looking for little, cute bunnies,” says Piyalak Sariya, owner of the Bunny Delight rabbit farm in Thai-land.

Predicting many will even-

tually be cast off in Buddhist temples and parks, she recom-mends buying rabbit dolls in-

stead, “because these fluffy ani-mals need more care than dogs or cats.”

“People think they are small and cute, [but] they are a lot of work. They just can’t be stuffed

into a cage,” says Ashley Fruno, Asia representative for the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA.

She says rabbits often live up to 12 years, need space to roam, have fragile physiques, and are prone to diseases like cancer, which means hefty veterinarian bills.

The New Year — the fourth in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac that is used across Asia — begins Feb. 3.

Fruno said it’s not known exactly how many rabbits are being bought because of the New Year.

But she said her group has seen similar

{see RABBITS cont’d on page 19}

Rabbits being threatened as ‘their’ year begins

By Judy LinTHE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SACRAMEN-TO, Calif. (AP) — Radio talk show host Rush L i m b a u g h ’s imitation of Chinese Presi-dent Hu Jin-tao’s speech has stirred a back-lash among Asian Ameri-can lawmakers

in California and across the United States. California state Sen. Leland Yee, a Dem-

ocrat from San Francisco, is leading a fight in demanding an apology from Limbaugh for what he and others view as racist and derogatory remarks against the Chinese people.

Yee has rallied civil rights groups to

boycott companies like Pro Flowers, Sleep Train, and Domino’s Pizza, which advertise on Limbaugh’s national talk radio show.

“The comments that he made — the mim-icking of the Chinese language — harkens back to when I was a little boy growing up in San Francisco and those were hard days, rather insensitive days,” Yee said in an in-terview. “You think you’ve arrived and all of a sudden get shot back to the reality that you’re a second-class citizen.”

During a Jan. 19 radio program, Lim-baugh said there was no translation of the Chinese president’s speech during a visit to the White House.

“He was speaking and they weren’t trans-lating,” Limbaugh said. “They normally translate every couple of words. Hu Jintao was just going ching chong, ching chong cha.”

He then launched into a 20-second-long imitation of the Chinese leader’s dialect.

{see LIMBAUGH cont’d on page 18}

Asian American lawmakers demand Limbaugh apology

Rush Limbaugh


■ COMMUNITY CALENDARFRI 2/4

WHAT: “Work Hard, Play Hard, NAAAP Hard!” a networking event for APIsWHERE: O’Asian, 800 5th Ave. #1, SeattleWHEN: 6–9 P.M.COST: Free for members, $5 cash for non-membersRSVP: [email protected]

SAT 2/5

WHAT: 2011 Chinese New Year Gala, tradition and

community in harmonyWHERE: Sheraton Seattle Hotel, Grand Ballroom,

2nd Floor, 1400 6th Ave., Seattle

WHEN: 5 p.m.RSVP: 206-588-5452, [email protected], www.

hkaw.org/gala

WHAT: Sponge to celebrate Chinese New Year: Year of the Rabbit, with cultural

performance and language activities WHERE: Sponge, 3107 S. Day St., SeattleWHEN: 10 a.m.–12 p.m.

RSVP: 206-227-7138, [email protected]

INFO: www.spongeschool.com

WHAT: Dori Jones Yang, author of the book “Daughter of Xanadu,” will have a presentationWHERE: Pacific Northwest Spirituality Book Festival, Seattle

University, 901 12th Ave., SeattleWHEN: 1 p.m.INFO: www.dorijonesyang.com

SUN 2/6

WHAT: Setsubun Taisai (The Bean Throwing Festival)/Season divisionWHERE: Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America, 17720 Crooked Mile Rd., Granite FallsWHEN: 10:30 a.m.INFO: 360-691-6389, www.tsubakishrine.org

WHAT: Special appearance by author Jamie Ford, discussing “Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet”WHERE: Japanese Community and Cultural Center, 1414 S. Weller St., SeattleWHEN: 7–8:30 p.m.INFO: 206-568-7114, [email protected]

WHAT: NAAAP Seattle is having a culinary event with the FareStartWHERE: FareStart Restaurant, 700 Virginia St., SeattleWHEN: 10 a.m.–1 p.m.RSVP: [email protected]

WHAT: Great Wall Mall presents The Year of Rabbit 2011, Chinese New

Year Cultural FestivalWHERE: Great Wall

Mall, 18230 E. Valley Hwy., KentWHEN: 1-5 p.m.

INFO: 425-251-1600

THU 2/10

WHAT: Vietnamese American Bar Association of

Washington’s annual Tet Celebration WHERE: Blueacre Seafood, 1700 7th Ave., Seattle

WHEN: 5:30–7:30 p.m.RSVP: by Feb. 7 to [email protected]

WHAT: CulturalFest Performances

WHERE: University of Washington, Meany TheatreWHERE: 7:30–9:30 p.m.

TICKETS: www.brownpapertickets.com/

event/13595INFO: 206-616-7025, [email protected], www.

fiuts.org

FRI 2/11

WHAT: Monthly Leadership Luncheon with King County Assessor Lloyd HaraWHERE: Han’s Garden, 3020 78th Ave. S., Mercer IslandINFO: 206-232-7889, www.seattlechinesechamber.org

SAT 2/12

WHAT: Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council presents Heart StringsWHERE: Shorecrest Performing Arts Center, 15343 25th Ave. N.E., ShorelineWHEN: 7:30 p.m.

COST: $15–$18INFO: 206-417-4645, www.shorelinearts.net

WHAT: Ode to Spring 2011 Chinese New Year Celebration

WHERE: University of Washington, Meany TheatreWHEN: 7:30 p.m.TICKETS: www.aapat.

org, 206-287-9998, 425-830-8054INFO: www.hengda-dance.com

WHAT: Dori Jones Yang, author of the book “Daughter of Xanadu,” will have a talk & reading sessionWHERE: Island Books, 3014 78th Ave. S.E., Mercer IslandWHEN: 7 p.m.INFO: www.dorijonesyang.com

THRU 2/13

WHAT: Japanese Woodblock PrintsWHERE: Tacoma Art Museum, 1701 Pacific Ave., TacomaINFO: www.tacomaartmuseum.org

THU 2/17

WHAT: Bridal Open House, an entertaining wedding ceremonyWHERE: Pan Pacific Hotel, 2125 Terry Ave., SeattleWHEN: 5:30–8:30 p.m.COST: FreeRSVP BY: Mon., Feb. 14, [email protected]

INFO: 206-654-5039, [email protected], panpacificseattletour.com

SAT 2/19

WHAT: Seattle Asian Art Museum’s Saturday University, “Central Asia: Lands and Peoples”WHERE: Seattle Asian Art Museum, 1400 E. Prospect St., SeattleWHEN: 9:30–11 a.m.COST: $5–$10INFO: 206-442-8480, www.seattleartmuseum.org/gardnercenter

SUN 2/20

WHAT: Yakuyoke Taisai, Misfortune Purification, a ceremony to purify or dispel misfortuneWHERE: Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America, 17720 Crooked Mile Rd., Granite FallsWHEN: 10:30 a.m.INFO: 360-691-6389, www.tsubakishrine.org

WHAT: The “Day of Remembrance” is an annual observance WHERE: Seattle University, Pigott Auditorium, 1016 E. Madison St., SeattleWHEN: 2 p.m.COST: $20INFO: 206-568-7114, www.minidokapilgrimage.org



■ LUNAR NEW YEAR

By Vivian NguyenNORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

People who celebrate the Lunar New Year have a lot to look forward to in the Year of the Rabbit. 2011 is a rarity in the 12 zodiac animals. While the Chinese celebrate the Year of the Rabbit, the Viet-namese celebrate the Year of the Cat.

The Chinese zodiac has 12 signs with an animal to represent each branch of the 12-year cycle. The animals that make up the cycle (in order) are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, mon-key, rooster, dog, and pig.

Legend of the cat’s absence in the Chinese zodiac

There is a folk story that explains how each animal in the Chinese zodiac was given their place in the 12-year cycle.

According to the website of the American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh chapter, the Buddha summoned all the animals together for a banquet, so he could as-sign them a particular year in the cycle.

Animals were bestowed a year in the or-der of their arrivals. When the cat heard the news, he notified his friend, the rat, and the two made plans to go together the next day. However, the cat lived up to its lazy reputa-tion and slept in the next morning. As the rat did not bother to wake up his friend,

the cat did not make it to Buddha’s meeting. He was not given a year in the Chinese zo-diac. This legend not only clarifies the cat’s absence from the zodiac, but also explains why cats hate rats — the rat betrayed the cat.

Meanwhile, the rat made its way to the assembly, but not without more tricks.

Knowing that it would be hard to beat the

larger animals to the meeting, the rat enlisted the help of the ox, who allowed

the rodent

to ride on its head. The two continued on their journey together. But right before their arrival, the rat jumped off the ox’s head and rushed to the finish line first.

The rat’s wily ways earned him the first year in the zodiac cycle followed by the ox.

How did the cat replace the rabbit in the Vietnamese zodiac?

Though there are various explanations of why the cat replaced the rabbit in the Viet-namese zodiac, the most plausible and pop-

ular theory suggests that the word for rabbit in Chinese, mao, sounds

like the word for cat in

Vietnamese. Because the two words sound similar, the Vietnamese may have acciden-tally written down cat, instead of rabbit, when transcribing the Chinese zodiac.

There are three types of horoscope cats in the Vietnamese zodiac: water cats, wood cats, and metal cats. 2011 is a metal cat year, which is considered lucky for the Vietnam-ese. The metal cat represents strength, re-silience, and determination. People born in the Year of the Cat are known for their attentiveness, sensitivity, and compassion.

However, one should not give others a cat for the Lunar New Year, according to Vietnamese superstitions.

In the Vietnamese language, the word cat, meo, sounds similar to the word ngheo, which means poverty in Vietnamese. Pro-nunciation, yet again, wreaks havoc for the cat. Thus, the gift of a cat would indicate that

the giver wishes poverty upon its recipient. The cat is not the only animal replaced

in the Vietnamese zodiac. The Year of the Goat replaces its sheep counterpart

in the Chinese zodiac, although the word for the two animals is the same in Chinese.

And while the Vietnamese zodiac uses the same animals as the Chinese zodiac for the remaining 10 years of the cycle, the ox sign is usually considered to be a water buffalo in the Vietnamese zodiac.

Vivian Nguyen can be reached at [email protected].

Year of the Cat OR Year of the Rabbit?



A parade! A parade!■ LUNAR NEW YEAR

On Saturday, Jan. 29, parents and kids braved the rain and came down to the International Dis-trict to participate in the Second Annual Children’s Costume Parade and Contest, organized by the Northwest Asian Weekly and Seattle Chinese Post and produced by the Chinatown/International Dis-trict Business Improvement Area (CIDBIA). Judges picked three winners and six finalists. Winners re-cieved $100, $50, and $25. Finalists recieved toys, clothing, or other other prizes.

First place: Jalaud Kaetel (#3)Second place: Seongae Byun (#55)Third place: Lilah Moore (#46)

Finalists:

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Sophia Cippman (#6) Kayla Hatchel (#18)Katherine Kang (#31)

Lyndia Roberts (#49)Eva Rozelle (#24)Eric Wallin (#15)


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Project: Disaster Recovery and Emer-gency Repairs Work Order Contract ITB No. C00602C10

Sealed Bid Time/Date: 1:15 p.m., February 8, 2011

Location Due: King County Procurement & Contract Services Section, Contracts Counter, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104

Engineer’s Estimate: $500,000.00Scope of Work: Contractor to respond to

storm or earthquake damaged facilities and properties throughout King County Facilities Management Division (FMD) controlled sites. The work under this Contract consists of fur-nishing all labor, tools, equipment, materials, incidentals, superintendents, subcontractor co-ordination and overhead to perform repairs, re-placements, modifications, upgrades, and safe-ty improvements in King County buildings and parks. Work will be issued based on immediate need for repairs caused by natural disasters; fire, wind, earthquake and rain related dam-ages caused to buildings and to park amenities such as but not limited to roof damage, interior and exterior structural damage, trail wash-outs, mudslides and damaged equipment, as well as to sudden emergent system failures to mechan-ical plumbing, HVAC, fire alarm or fire sprinkler systems and other related systems to King County facilities. The extent of the work issued will include abating public health and safety is-sues, restoring damaged facilities and property to meet code, allow occupancy, and restore use and function, and protecting public prop-erty from incurring further damage caused by the natural disaster. Associated subcontractors may be required with each Work Order. Con-tractor will be expected to initiate Work Order pricing within one (1) day of request for bid from

the County. The Contractor will be expected to field multiple crews simultaneously. The work may include, but is not limited to:

• Demolition• Site work and exterior improvements• Wall and ceiling repairs and finishing• Thermal and moisture prevention• Flooring removal and installation includ-

ing carpets, wood, linoleum, and tile• Suspended ceilings• Masonry• Cabinetry and countertops• Interior and exterior door and window

frame replacements, and glazing• Plumbing and electrical modifications

and installations• Grading and excavation• Concrete and asphaltThe work performed under this Contract shall

not exceed $500,000.00 and the initial Contract Time shall not exceed 365 calendar days from the date of Contract execution by the County. The County does not guarantee any minimum amount of work or that the dollar amount of the Work Orders issued will total $500,000.00 dur-ing the duration of this Contract. At the County’s sole discretion, this Contract may be extended for up to two additional years in one year incre-ments, or until the Not to Exceed Contract Price is reached, whichever occurs first. In no event shall the Contract Time be greater than three years from the date of Contract execution by the County.

Contact Information: Crystal Graham, Con-tract Specialist, 206-296-3533, TTY Relay: 711, Fax: 206-296-7675, or [email protected]. A bidder may be asked to put a question in writing. No verbal answers by any County personnel or its agents and consultants

will be binding on the County. Pre-Bid Conference: Neither a pre-bid con-

ference nor a site tour are scheduled.Subcontracting Opportunities: Painting;

Flooring; Electrical; and Mechanical.Apprenticeship Requirements: No mini-

mum Apprentice Utilization Requirement. SCS Utilization Requirements: No minimum

SCS Utilization Requirement.Bid Bond: Not less than five percent 5% of

the Not to Exceed Amount of $500,000.00 or $25,000.00 must accompany our bid.

Plans/Specs: Electronic copies of the plans, specifications, reference documents, and any addenda for this solicitation can be accessed through an external link from our website shown below. This site includes options and in-structions for printing. Printed documents may also be ordered by contacting Reprographics Northwest at 206-624-2040. Copies of docu-ments are not available for purchase from King County, but are available for review M – F 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the Contracts Counter: Chi-nook Bldg, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue Seattle, WA 98104.

To receive email notifications of addenda or other important information concerning this so-licitation, you must register to be a planholder under the “Solicitations” tab at the following in-ternet link: www.kingcounty.gov/procurement.

This information is available in alternate for-mats for individuals with disabilities upon ad-vance request by calling 206-263-9400, TTY Relay: 711.

Notes: Bids received after Sealed Bid Time will not be considered. Bidders accept all risks of late delivery, regardless of fault. King County is not responsible for any costs incurred in re-sponse to this Invitation to Bid.

King County Invitation to Bid


OPINION

Want to get the inside scoop on the latest happenings of Seattle’s Asian American community? Follow Publisher Assunta Ng’s blog at nwasianweekly.com under the Opinion section.

■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG

■ EDITORIAL

AOL has recently launched several projects nationwide, including a sports network and Patch.com, a hub of 14 community websites for many neighborhoods in our state. And they hired many Asian American journalists, including former P-I journalists.

Patch.com is one of AOL’s many start-ups design to

create jobs and lower the unemployment rate.On one hand, I am glad that my colleagues have jobs

now. On the other hand, Patch.com might become fierce competitors. They can compete effectively because they operate on a low budget. I imagine that AOL doesn’t need to pay for all the office expenses, including toilet papers,

electricity, water, janitors, and phone lines.Every editor runs a one-man show out of his or her home.I asked my friend if he feels lonely at times, and he

replied, “Yes, I do.”What do you do when you are lonely?“I play with my dog,” he said.

After Jan. 1, businesses usually slow down. People don’t feel like going out to eat or spending money when they have already spent a lot during the holidays.

The blessing for the Asian com-munity is that we have the Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 3. It is conveniently right before Valen-tine’s Day. You don’t want the Lunar New Year to fall near Valentine’s Day because people tend to combine celebrations if the dates are too close. That would be a loss to the retail, res-taurant, and grocery businesses.

So can the Lunar New Year also save an Asian newspapers’ business?

People need a reason to celebrate and advertise. This is the busiest time for the Asian Weekly and Chi-nese Post. We have to work during the Lunar New year. I am not com-plaining. I am grateful that my peo-ple are able to produce our biggest issues of the year.

In many Asian countries, the holiday can last as long as a week. My brother, who works in Beijing, returned to his home in Texas last week. He said his Chinese co-work-ers become distracted even as early as two weeks before the New Year. Their hearts aren’t in their work as much during this time.

Luckily, people forgot about na-ture’s nuisance when they saw a rainbow of kids dressed in Asian costumes marching to the stage.

Children 12 and under dressed in all sorts of colors and shapes. They lined up together in one row, fight-ing the freezing rain. Even the cry-ing 1-year-old looked cute.

Some costumes were made up of a short shirt and pants. Most kids didn’t wear winter jackets or raincoats over their costumes, fear-ing that judges will fail to see their colorful costumes. Without com-plaining, the participants and their parents and grandparents waited patiently for the parade to start. During the parade, the parents be-come the heroes. Due to the long wait, I apologized to all the parents who were holding umbrellas to protect their kids from the rain.

“We don’t mind,” said one par-ent. Her words made me feel like the parade was worthwhile.

Their kids’ costumes were gor-geous and creative. One parent told us that her 5-year-old girl wanted to dress in a Korean costume. “My daughter really wants to do this.”

Accompanied by the Interna-tional Lion Dance drummers, the bunny mascot led the parade of children with Vietnamese, Chi-nese, Korean, and Taiwanese

costumes. The children modeled with grace and smiles. A couple of parents were forced to be models when tearful youngsters insisted that their mommy or daddy carry them on stage.

Compared to last year’s parade, kids were more cooperative this year.

They stood for a few seconds and walked off the stage. Last year, I had a hard time in getting some kids off of the stage. They stood there motionless, as if they knew they were the stars and should be there forever.

Some signed up for the parade during the last minute. Parents bought the costumes from nearby

Chinatown shops.Organized by the Northwest

Asian Weekly, the Second Annual Children’s Costumes Parade and Contest is part of the CIDBIA’s ID Lunar New Year Festival. The winners received $100 cash for first place, $50 for second place, and $25 for third place. Six finalists received gifts in addition to fortune cookies and certificates, such as a Mickey Mouse toy, a panda bear, chopsticks, or a T-shirt.

The parade was sponsored by PepsiCo, KeyBank, Tsue Chong Noodle Co., Jim Doane, Ron Chow, New York Life, Sun Lew, Jade Garden Restaurant, Gee How Oak Tin, and Shiao-Yen Wu.

AOL bringing jobs to people in our state

The Lunar New Year saves many businesses

The arch nemesis of the Chinatown ID Lunar New Year Festival: rain

Assunta Ng with parade contestants

The amazing Filipino Youth Activities Drill Team at the Lunar New Year celebration on Jan. 29

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Last year, on Sept. 20, California designated Jan. 30 as Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution. It was the first time that a day was officially named after an Asian American, and it was celebrated for the first time in 2011, just last week on Jan. 30.

Many young students may not be aware of who Korematsu was or what he did that earned him a day. It’s our responsi-bility as adults to tell them about his life.

When Japanese Americans were ordered to report to as-sembly centers in May 1942, due to Executive Order 9066, Korematsu was one of the few Japanese Americans that re-fused.

Executive Order 9066 was a U.S. presidential executive order issued by President Franklin. D. Roosevelt. It came after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and saw the reloca-tion of Japanese Americans to internment camps.

Korematsu went into hiding in the Oakland area, though he was eventually arrested later in the month. He took his case to court, testing the constitutionality of Executive Order 9066. The case went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

In a 6–3 decision, the court ruled that the executive or-der was constitutional, and Korematsu was interned. Judge Hugo Black also argued that the case didn’t have anything to do with racial prejudice.

It wasn’t until 1983 that Judge Marilyn Hall Patel, of U.S. District Court in San Francisco, formally vacated the con-viction, clearing Korematsu’s name. But she did not over-turn the Supreme Court’s decision. Evidence had been found showing that the Solicitor General of the United States had deliberately suppressed FBI and military intelligence re-ports. These reports stated that Japanese Americans posed no security risk and that government lawyers had made false

arguments. What is important to note is that in 1942, many Japanese

Americans criticized Korematsu for his actions. Many felt that the best way to prove loyalty to the United States was to cooperate with the internment order. Many saw Korematsu as a troublemaker. Korematsu would later express that when he was interned at Utah, he felt lonely and isolated because people didn’t talk to him. They feared being associated with his notoriety.

This reminds us of something we already know — some-thing that is very important to understand and to teach our kids. Sometimes, doing the right thing isn’t easy. What Ko-rematsu did was particularly remarkable because he had to stand alone and even lose the support of his community. But he was strong enough to keep standing up for his convic-tions.

There’s another cause for celebration: Fred Korematsu Day


OPINION

■ COMMENTARY

■ LETTER

To the Editor:Most Americans agree that immigration

reform is needed. The question [then] becomes, what is immigration reform? [Is it] reuniting families and expediting family visas? Most Americans would agree.

[Is it] due process in deportation? Most Americans would agree.

It is when you get to three other points raised in this article that most Americans part ways with the marchers:

[Could it be] full legal protection regardless of status? Most Americans believe that those found to be here illegally should be put into the deportation process immediately.

[Or, is it a] path to citizenship for those here illegally? Most Americans do not support this idea. We have had many amnesties in the past and the flood of illegal immigrants simply increases after each.

[Or, could it be] the Dream Act? The Dream Act encompasses too large of a scope of age. It also allows those who ‘intend’ to

pursue a college degree or military service to fall under this act. As such, the children are lost and the con-artists are now eligible. It becomes just another amnesty, but this one is touted as [being] for the children when in reality, it is not.

If what these groups want is reform, the first two would be easy and, if they would separate themselves from the open border gang and the amnesty for all groups, these reasonable goals could be accomplished promptly and with the overwhelming support of the American people.

If they want to hang on for an amnesty for 20 million [immigrants] who have broken our laws, lied, connived, and taken jobs from legal residents, then the deserving parts of immigration reform will languish and die.

For those groups serious about immigration reform, the time is now to drop the demand for amnesty and move on with reform.

— Bill Turnbull, Seattle

Good and bad of immigration reform tangled together

By Bob ShimabukuroFOR NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

In 1973, Dr. Eu-gene Ko, a well-es-tablished physician on Beacon Hill, lent the Beacon Avenue medical office to

a group of young activists for the newly-created Asian Community Health Clinic (ACHC), a free “walk-in” clinic, which op-erated Tuesday evenings from 7 to 9. This founding group included the Muramoto brothers, Al and Keith; Bruce Miyahara; Jon Nakagawa, the first director of the clin-ic; Jan Ko Fisher, who continues to serve as a board member; Fernando Vega; Ken Nakata; Wilfred Fujimoto; Janet Kubota; Dr. Joseph Okimoto; Rebecca Kang; and others.

—From “1973-2008: Bringing Health Care Home”

Can the International Community Health Services (ICHS) survive a 50 percent bud-get cut? That’s the question a lot of com-munity folks are wondering about, given the governor’s proposed bare bones state budget. The fiscal impact of the budget on ICHS, an $8,680,701 cut, was clearly laid out in a letter to state legislators by Execu-tive Director Teresita Batayola, who said

that the loss of Basic Health was a big blow for them. A $6.7 million blow.

Now, I know it’s easy to shrug your shoulders and think, “Well, there goes an-other safety net because of the economic crisis.” However, we’re talking about some-thing more important. Yes, Basic Health

has about 50,000 members (and a growing waiting list), and I don’t want to trivialize the importance of its elimination or the hit that all the community clinics are taking with the budget.

However, in this particular case, I’m re-ally concerned about the ID (International

District) clinic. The clinic has changed its name multiple

times during its existence, but I’ll always think of it as “the ID clinic.” The clinic, which was formed by community folks,

{see ICHS cont’d on page 18}

ICHS faces severe budget cuts, needs help

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Dr. Alan Chun types up patient notes at his desk at the ID Clinic. Chun has been with the clinic for over 16 years.

Mrs. Saau, a medical assistant at the Holly Park Medical and Dental Clinic, helps a patient.

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Bob Shimabukuro

Dear Friends, This year’s Chinese Lunar New Year provides all of us with a great opportunity to reflect on and celebrate the cultural traditions of our state’s Chinese American community. A variety of New Year events in the coming days will show the wonderful heritage and benefits that diverse communities bring to our region. In this Year of the Rabbit, I send my congratulations to the hardworking staff of the Northwest Asian Weekly and the Seattle Chinese Post for their continued excellence and commitment.

Wishing you happiness, longevity and prosperity in the New Year!

Exec. Constantine and students at the

King County Robeson Scholar-Athlete Awards

Exec. Constantine, Sen. Patty Murray and South

Park resident at bridge funding announcement

Dow Constantine King County Executive


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to the elementary school and held a work-shop with high school students and teach-ers, so that they would be prepared to build the SeaPerch with the elementary kids.”

Because of their involvement in helping the Lafayette students with SeaPerch, the two naval officers were invited to accom-pany them to New Zealand.

According to Aoki, the premise of the trip was for the students of the envisioning environmental engineering course to get hands-on experience with what they were learning and share it, via real time video chats, with the third graders they were working with in Pennsylvania.

Learning by teaching “I like to use the idea of students teach-

ing students,” said Kney. “You don’t really learn something until you teach it. Teaching to younger kids is fun for college students because of the interest level, excitement, and wonder they bring to the table. It is a win-win situation. Our college kids get a new perspec-tive with regard to what they are learning and it helps them better understand what it is [that] they are learning. In the end, we can help teachers with science and engineering.”

“We went to a geothermal park, climbed a glacier, stayed with the Maori people for a few days and learned about their culture,

swam with Hector’s dolphins, hiked, and learned about the rivers and pollution,” Aoki said.

“Whenever we got the chance, we put a SeaPerch in the water and took video to send back to the elementary students,” Aoki continued.

She said the most gratifying aspect of SeaPerch is seeing young students build a SeaPerch from everyday parts and end up with an underwater robot that they can take complete ownership of.

More than a toyCooper states that SeaPerch is more than

a toy. He enjoys watching the children having fun with something that they actu-ally built with their own hands. “They may have thought they couldn’t do something so complicated on their own.”

“The fun part is helping students think of a name for their Perch,” Cooper said. “It is always good to be reminded of the creativ-ity and imagination that children have.”

According to Traci L. Shoemaker, a read-ing specialist at the Martinsburg Elementa-ry School, students have different abilities and interests, so it’s a challenge to reach ev-ery student. The SeaPerch project connect-ed with them on a variety of levels. “For many of my girls, they loved having the undivided attention of ‘cool’ older students, and seeing them involved in a project that

required the use of power tools and wiring made them realize that this kind of science project is something they really can do.”

“The Navy people who brought the SeaP-erch kits were viewed as superheroes,” Shoe-maker said. “They did a great job explaining what the project was all about and also what the Naval Academy was like. The students re-ally enjoyed the workshops they attended at the Naval Academy and loved the challenges of ‘driving’ their SeaPerch in the tanks.”

With a current shortfall of American en-gineers and scientists, Aoki said it is cru-cial to excite young students in the science, technology, engineering, and math disci-plines. “SeaPerch addresses this issue quite well and also works as a great team build-

ing exercise.”STEM education is an important issue

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Captain Edward Lundquist, USN (Ret.), is a science writer based in Arlington, Va.

He can be reached at [email protected].


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{MOVIES cont’d from page 7}

he does. He can play cello in the conventional manner per-fectly well. But he sometimes prefers to drag the cello over concrete. Sympathetic vibrations through the instrument’s metal spike, or endpin, vibrate the strings.

The cellist also spins vinyl LP records while dropping ob-jects onto them. In the movie’s most challenging musical mo-ment, he holds what appears to be a magnet over an electric guitar. This produces what sounds like an old-fashioned tele-vision test tone signal.

After his guitar solo, we see Sakamoto in a dark room at a table with other musicians in the film.

The darkness, punctuated only by one overhead light, and the atmosphere of secrecy suggest a gathering for some secret purpose. However, the more the viewer watches and listens, the more the meeting seems like a gathering of old friends. Once again, the exact meaning of what’s going on is unexplained.

“Conformity is defined by a social consensus,” proclaims musician Fuyuki Yamakawa. “Especially in Japan.”

The musicians seem loosely united in their desire to rebel against the Japanese social consensus. But they go about it in

many different ways.Some play conventional instruments in unconven-

tional ways, as Sakamoto does with his cello. Some devise their own instruments from electronics. Some devise dance routines and visual aids to compliment the music.

The performances alternate with montages of To-kyo life. Crowds push along sidewalks. Huge neon signs and video screens flash. A crowd of gamblers watches a race of one-person watercrafts, similar to a horse or dog race.

The noises from it all bleed over, finally, into the music.

Some of the players wonder whether the Tokyo they knew growing up will survive 21st century modifica-tions to the city. For all its forward-looking artistry, the artists and their work suggest a fading era. A wist-ful sadness underlies their pageantry. It is one more impression with more than one meaning, from this singular film.

“We Don’t Care About Music Anyway” plays on Feb. 7 and Feb. 8, at the Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Avenue, Seattle. For show times, prices, and direc-tions, call 206-829-7863 or visit nwfilmforum.org/live/page/calendar/1609.

Andrew Hamlin can be reached at [email protected].

{LIMBAUGH cont’d from page 7}

The next day, Limbaugh said he “did a re-markable job” of imitating China’s president for someone who doesn’t know a language spoken by more than 1 billion people.

“Back in the old days, Sid Caesar, for those of you old enough to remember, was called a comic genius for impersonating foreign lan-guages that he couldn’t speak,” Limbaugh said. “But today, the left says that was racism. It was bigotry. It was insulting. And it wasn’t. It was a service.”

Limbaugh’s station operator Clear Channel Communications Inc. did not respond to re-quests for comment. Clear Channel’s Premiere Radio Networks Inc. is home to Limbaugh, Jim Rome, Ryan Seacrest, Glenn Beck, Bob Costas, and Sean Hannity.

An e-mail to Limbaugh’s show requesting comment was also not returned.

Other Asian American state and federal lawmakers agree that Limbaugh’s comments were inciting hate and intolerance amid a po-larized atmosphere. A number of civil rights groups, including Chinese for Affirmative Action, Japanese American Citizens League, and the California National Organization for Women, have joined Yee in calling on spon-sors to pull advertisements from Limbaugh’s program.

An online petition has been created on Yee’s website.

“I want an apology at the very least,” said New York Assemblywoman Grace Meng, a Queens Democrat. “Making fun of any coun-try’s leader is just very disrespectful for some-one who says he is a proud American.”

There are about 14 million, or 4.5 percent, Asian Americans in the United States, more if counting those of mixed races. In California,

Asians make up more than 12 percent of the state’s 38 million population.

While Asian American lawmakers demand an apology from Limbaugh, some are increas-ingly concerned for Yee’s personal safety. Public officials have been put on alert after the deadly rampage in Tucson where U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was shot while meet-ing with constituents.

Shortly after condemning Limbaugh’s remarks, Yee said he received racist death threats to his San Francisco and Sacramento offices. The lawmaker also received a profan-ity-filled telephone message.

The caller, who did not identify himself, called Yee a “cry baby” and urged him to re-sign from office.

Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Tony Beard, Jr. confirmed the Legislature has launched an investigation and is cooperating with other security agencies. He said Yee had received similar faxes in April after he called on a state university to disclose how much it was paying Sarah Palin for a fundraiser.

“We need to stand up for civility and be respectful of one another. Otherwise, the consequences are dreadful as we can already see in the death threats against Senator Yee,” said Rep. Judy Chu, a Democrat who repre-sents a large Asian district outside Los An-geles.

Yee, who has a chance to become San Fran-cisco’s first elected Asian mayor, said he has no plans to change his behavior because do-ing so would amount to “stepping down.” He said his staff has received additional security training.

Associated Press writers Don Thompson in Sacramento and Michael Gormley in Albany contributed to this report.

{ICHS cont’d from page 15}

students, and volunteering profession-als, was established because people recognized that our community had specific and special health and medi-cal needs that weren’t being ad-dressed by the mainstream health pro-vider system. The clinic surpassed even the wildest dreams of its found-ers in becoming a national model for multilingual, multiethnic, multicultural health clinics that could become the standard for urban community health centers starting in 2014.

I don’t choose the year 2014 random-ly. These community clinics will be the backbone of the new health care system. The clinics will be funded by national health care reform, provided that the Re-publicans don’t repeal it.

Ironic, isn’t it? We may have to shut down these clinics in order to save mon-ey, so that we can restart them at a much greater cost in 2014.

In the budget plan that Gov. Chris-tine Gregoire offered to the legislature, for consideration, there was nothing left to cut out of the state budget other than social services, health services, and education. And Basic Health, a “safety net” insurance for the working poor (not poor enough for Medicaid, but not paid enough to afford insurance) was a big target for elimination.

On Jan. 24, the State House of Rep-resentatives agreed with Gov. Gregoire as they passed (55–43 vote) their supple-mental budget plan, ESHB 1086, which included termination of Basic Health on April 30. The Senate has yet to weigh in on this proposal or offer their own ver-sion of a minimalist budget. However, it’s difficult to see how different it could be. The state has no money to run pro-grams, so it will either cut the programs or raise more money.

The legislators are reluctant to raise money via more taxes, especially given the resounding defeat by voters on the “income tax for rich folks” plan in the last election.

Still, it’s hard to accept defeat. As Ba-tayola pointed out, the need is there.

“Last year, we saw over 155,000 visits compared to over 92,000 visits in 2009, and over 60,000 visits in 2008. More than ever, more people are in need of af-fordable care. … In December, we were swamped with Medicaid adults seeking

dental care before their benefits disap-peared. People walked in, waiting up to seven hours to be squeezed in because we were already fully booked with adults. The standard and availability of care that ICHS can provide will slip ir-reversibly for years if we lose close to half of our funding.”

Her words made me more determined. I wrote a small check to the ICHS Foun-dation. It would take 86,000 such gifts to make up the deficit. Maybe some cor-porate executive or one of those “rich folks” who favored the income tax could make up the remainder. Who knows? This is the ID Clinic I’m talking about. Magical things have happened there be-fore.

“[One reason] I stay on [the board] is that the future for ICHS is really big, the kind of impact that we can make on the policy level to help our community, not only locally, but nationally, is tre-mendous.”

— Hiroshi Nakano, board member since 1997, current president, from “1973-2008: Bringing Health Care Home”

Bob Shimabukuro is a writer and a com-munity advocate.

He can be reached at [email protected].

The standard and availability of care that ICHS can pro-vide will slip irre-versibly for years if we lose close to half of our funding.”

— Teresita Batayola


{RABBITS cont’d from page 7}

trends before, including the scouring of oceans for clownfish after the 2003 release of the animated film “Finding Nemo” and the rush to buy Dalmations — that were subsequently dumped at animal shelters — after movies in the Disney franchise, 101 Dalmations.”

A far more ominous warning came from the International Union for Conservation of Nature, which tracks the health of species worldwide.

IUCN is using the occasion to stress that, despite their reputation as prolific love-makers, nearly one in four rabbits, hares, and pikas are threatened with extinction — mostly due to mankind’s inroads.

“Year of the Rabbit — species hopping out of view?” asks the Switzerland-based IUCN.

An IUCN report says that several Asian species are under serious siege, as else-where, the victims of overhunting, habitat loss, invasive feral animals, and viral dis-eases. These include the Sumatran striped rabbit, hispid hare, Amami rabbit, and the

Annamite striped rabbit, only discovered by scientists in 1995.

Declines have been rapid and dramatic. The endangered ili pika has disappeared

from half of its previously known locations in northwestern China since it was first de-scribed some 30 years ago.

Rabbits and their kin “include some of the most endangered species on the plan-et,” says IUCN’s Andrew Smith, adding that their decline often has also been cata-strophic to their predators like eagles and lynxes.

Animal activists, and just mere bunny lovers, are hoping the New Year will help turn the spotlight on the species’ plight.

PETA has launched an ad campaign im-ploring Chinese movie star Gong Li to curb her penchant for wearing rabbit and other furs and switch to a “kinder wardrobe.”

The ad shows a woman’s foot stepping on the neck of a dead rabbit next to the words, “Where Does Gong Li Stand on Fur?”

Associated Press writers Julia Zappei in Kuala Lumpur and Robin McDowell in Ja-karta contributed to this report.

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VOL 30 NO 6 | 2011