HONOLULU (May 12) - The East-West Center's Seminars Program announces the opening of applications for the Fall 2006 Jefferson Fellowships for Journalists. The popular program runs from Oct. 15 until Nov. 12 and is themed
"Population and Social Dynamics in the Asia Pacific." Deadline for application is Wednesday, June 21, 2006.
Working print and broadcast journalists in the United States, Asia and the Pacific Islands with a minimum of five years of experience are eligible to apply for the upcoming fellowships. This Fall's Fellows will travel to Honolulu, Tokyo and Hiroshima, Japan; Bangkok, Thailand; and New Delhi and Mumbai, India.
The Jefferson Fellowships Program is sponsored by the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. Airfare, lodging, per diem and other program expenses associated with participating in the program are provided through a grant from The Freeman Foundation.
For applications and more information about the program, please visit www.eastwestcenter.org/jefferson. Applications for, and questions about, the Fellowships should be addressed by email to mailto:seminars@eastwestcenter.org, by phone at (808) 944-7384 or via fax at (808) 944-7600.
Program Summary: Baby busts and aging booms, more women joining the work force and more young adults looking for jobs, globalization and urbanization reshaping traditional cultures and family roles: dynamic forces such as these are changing the face and future of the Asia Pacific and creating new economic and social challenges in the region.
The "aging" of nations is occurring throughout Asia, especially in East Asian countries that are starting to see population declines. Japan, where more women are postponing marriage or remaining single, will soon have the world's oldest population. This requires new policies to meet the needs of the elderly and maintain economic growth, issues receiving more attention in the United States as well. At the same time, while women throughout Asia are having fewer babies, populations in parts of the region will continue to grow for many years, especially in South Asia. India alone is projected to contribute 37 percent of Asia's population growth between 2000 and 2050. Adolescents and young adults in a number of countries, including Thailand, are making up larger percentages of the populations, creating increased demands for jobs and forcing more people into cities to find them. Globalization and other pressures on cultures and families have led to shifting attitudes toward gender relations, marriage and family life.
In presentations to one another and in sessions with East-West Center and other Honolulu-based experts, Jefferson Fellows will discuss a wide range of demographic and social issues facing countries throughout the Asia Pacific region and in the United States. In a 21-day study tour, Fellows will visit Japan, Thailand and India -- three democratic nations experiencing varying stages of economic development and population transition -- to explore each country's unique set of challenges and how they are being met by policymakers and the larger societies. Issues will be examined within the greater context of economics, politics, security, religion and culture.
