What does the world look like as reported on the pages of California's growing ethnic newspapers? PNS for two years has monitored the Chinese-, Spanish-, Vietnamese-, Japanese, Arab-language news media as well as English-language newcomer and native-born ethnic press published and/or distributed widely in California. "Gleanings from the Ethnic Media" is now a regular weekly column compiled by Emil Guillermo, host of "NCM: New California Media TV" (seen on PBS station KCSM-TV60 in the Bay Area); assisted by Pacific News Service and the NCM Network. Just as the alternative news media connected the disaffected populations in the 1960s, so in the 1990s the ethnic media connects the new ethnic majority communities of California -- to one another and to the larger public forum. We hope you will find the column an intriguing window into the new California.

LITTLE SMOKED OUT BROTHER

Filipinos are following the example set in America. They're suing the tobacco companies -- both Filipino AND American companies that operate in the Philippines. The Filipino Express reports a multi-million dollar damage suit has been filed by a housewife against Filipino cigarette tycoon Lucio Tan and 29 cigarette manufacturers for the death of her husband. The companies include Philip Morris, its Philippine subsidiary, British American Tobacco and American Tobacco among the defendants. Elsie Reyes claims the companies should be liable for producing cigarettes that contain nicotine, deemed poisonous and fatal by scientific findings in the U.S. Reyes' husband, Virgilio, described as a "chain smoker" of 35 years, died of lung cancer at age 49.

NO MORE PORCELAIN DOLLS

Male dominated companies in Korea may be in for a real shock. For the first time in its parliament's history, Korea has passed new discrimination and sexual harassment laws protecting the rights of women. The Korea Central Daily reports the new "Anti-discrimination Between Sexes & Reform Act" prohibits discrimination regarding benefits, salary, personnel changes, education and services. A new agency would be established to investigate and fine offending parties. If the measure gains final approval, the law goes into effect July, 1999.

CANADIAN MEDIA PROMOTE ANTI-MUSLIM STEREOTYPES

In the 6-12 December issue of the Arabic language Al Majalla moderate Islamist columnist Fehmi Howeidi wrote a long commentary on anti-Muslim sentiment in Canada, especially in the media. The Muslim population is now around 450,000 and is expected to reach a million by 2010. Yet the image of Muslims among Canadians which a group of Muslim public opinion researchers gained was that they were "eternally suspect" of being linked to terrorism.

The researchers blamed the media for a good share of this opinion. Reuters was said to be the worst and not far behind were the Toronto Star and the Globe and Mail. An article about massacres in Algeria was written in a way to link the Islamic religion with fanaticism.

BRAIN DRAIN -- THE HOME VERSION

Countries used to complain that their brightest minds were leaving the country for opportunities in America and elsewhere. Now the complaint is of a different kind of brain drain. With more companies setting up shop in foreign lands, the best minds don't even have to leave home. But the impact is the same -- the home country loses out.

According to the Viet Weekly, its becoming a significant problem in Viet Nam with new concerns about the quality of the government's workforce. Most top college grads are snapped up by private companies paying at least US$100/month. It's a price the Vietnamese government has been unwilling to match. The difference is felt through all ranks of the workforce, from skilled manual laborers to workers involved in highly technical scientific research areas.

NOT WITH MY PRESIDENT, YOU DON'T

The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) took exception to the recent impeachment, coming out strongly against what it called a highly partisan vote. The Philippine News quotes executive director Jon Melegrito: "Most reasonable people believe that Clinton's personal conduct does not warrant his removal from office."

Other ethnic media in the state mirror the strong sentiment of community support for the president. Said Mei Ling Tze, managing editor of the Cantonese Evening News: "People are practical. They care about schools, crime, and the economy. But Monica Lewinsky? They're used to the Emperor having a few hundred wives."

KOREAN IMMIGRANTS UNHAPPY IN U.S.

Koreans who immigrated to the United States are having more difficulty adapting than Koreans who settled in China, Japan and Central Asia, according to a survey by Kang Won University sociologist Sungho Jung, reported in the Korea Central Daily. Only 2.9 percent of Koreans in the U.S. responded that they were "adapting well" in the U.S., whereas 50.9 percent of Koreans in China, 25.6 percent in Japan and 25.7 percent in Central Asia said they were satisfied with their adaptation. Among the key problems cited by Koreans in the U.S., according to the Korea Central Daily, were the language barrier (19.8 percent), nostalgia (19.8 percent) and racism (13.3 percent).