What does the world look like as reported on the pages of California's growing ethnic newspapers? PNS monitors the Chinese-, Spanish-, Vietnamese-, Japanese-, Korean-, Arabic-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 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.

FA-LUN-GONG-- SUBVERSIVE SELF-IMPROVEMENT?: So far, some 10,000 Fa-lun-gong members have been arrested in China. While American media outlets like ABC's "Nightline" look at Fa-lun-gong with a healthy skepticism, the Chinese media in San Francisco reflect the political reality. In the pro-government China Press, commentator Li Xinyi attacks Fan-lun-gong's founder Li Hongzhi as disingenuous. Li Hongzhi insists he only teaches people how to purify themselves and denies that Fa-lun-gong is an organization or that it seeks political goals. But commentator Li Xinyi asks: Why do other similar groups in China just come together as individuals while Fa-lun-gong mounts all these organized demonstrations? Why does Fa-lun-gong have "core cadres" who seem to know things that ordinary members do not?

The pro-Taiwan World Journal plays it straight and reports that military and security forces are mounting large-scale efforts to keep Fa-lun gong members from inundating Beijing from all parts of the country.

There is growing worry that Fa-lun-gong members will interfere with the grand festivities planned for the 50th anniversary of the founding of the PRC on October 1. Meanwhile police are searching all trains to see if people are carrying Fa-lun-gong literature, tape or video recorders. Fa-lun-gong followers say travelers should make sure they don't make "crazy talk."

CALIFORNIA KARMA: Several hundred Fa-lun-gong disciples gathered in a small park in San Jose last week to do karma purifying exercises, reports World Jornal (San Francisco). It was just one of the activities that drew over 800 people from all over the world to San Jose for the Fa-lun-gong assemblies. Many wore red headbands reading "Fa-lun-gong Karma Purifying Meeting."

Many mentioned creating a network of friends through Fa-lun-gong, as well as health improvements. One man said he used to have backaches and bad moods because of computer work. Now he does Fa-lun-gong karma purifying exercises two hours every day and his pains are gone and his mood much better.

HOME-BOY VOTER?: Why did David Wu, the only Chinese American in the House of Representatives vote against the Normal Trade Relations (NTR) With China bill? Wu was born, brought up and educated in Taiwan, which may explain things, according to Washington based journalist Larry Li of the Sing Tao Daily (San Francisco). Wu was one of the 170 who voted against NTR while 260 voted for the bill. Most rookie Congressman voted for the bill. Wu went against that trend.

The more long-lasting impact of this vote, Li says, is that it establishes the issue of China trade as separate from all other China-related issues. Many members of Congress, including a lot of conservatives, took this position right after the bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade.

PROMISES, PROMISES: Appealing to Asian family values, Mayor Willie Brown told a group of Chinese Americans he would legalize mother-in-law Apartments if re-elected (World Journal, San Francisco). The issue is important to Asian American communities that have often turned to the illegal residential additions to accommodate family members. Brown also said he would seek to find a final resolution on the International Hotel, the longtime project that gained national attention in the '70s when its senior citizen residents were evicted.

THE PREZ VS. THE PRESS: "Democracy is alive and well," said Philippine President Joseph Estrada in his State of the Nation address this week (Philippine News, San Francisco). His remarks were in response to criticism in recent weeks accusing him of muzzling the country's free press. Two papers, the Manila Times and the Philippine Inquirer were hurt when the President's former movie industry contacts pulled their advertising. The Times was forced into a sale and then promptly shut down. The Inquirer has called the action the most serious crackdown on the press since martial law. A massive rally for press freedom is being called by former Presidents Cory Aquino and Fidel Ramos and is set for August 20th.

THE MINISTER AND THE PRINCE: In the wake of the death of JFK, Jr., Minister Louis Farrakhan recalled an interview with John F. Kennedy, Jr., as "one of his best," reports the Final Call. The July 31, 1996 interview featured Farrakhan and Kennedy in a candid discussion on race and politics that appeared in George Magazine. Kennedy opened the interview answering questions about his own political future. "It's a complicated question, I think. It would be hard to carve out a separate identity if I, all of a sudden, said I'm going to run for office," Kennedy told Farrakhan. "I never wanted to rule it out, but I kind of wanted to do something that was my own first because it's sort of a prison, in a way. Once you start you can't really do anything else."

BRIDGING THE GAP: The newspapers La Opinion and Los Angeles Times have agreed to launch a circulation project that will temporarily offer both dailies in one package, reports La Opinion (Los Angeles). With the accord -- without precedent in any metropolitan area -- the English language daily will be inserted into copies of La Opinion from August 2 to October 2, according to Monica Lozano, La Opinion's executive editor.

"It's a recognition of the Latino family, which has many interests and speaks both languages," said Lozano. The collaboration will not compromise La Opinion's editorial integrity, said Lozano. "This is a circulation deal, nothing more," she said. "The newspaper's voice will not be influenced in any way." "I think this will dramatically benefit both papers," added Robert Magnuson, vice president of circulation at the Los Angeles Times. "It will increase circulation, expand areas of circulation and it will allow us to be in contact with bilingual readers," he said. "It's also important because it's indicative of our efforts to unite both communities," added Magnuson.

TRAFFIC JAM: If your morning commute is bad, consider the one in the Philippines, reports Filipinas Magazine (San Francisco). A recent Philippine government study shows that traffic costs the economy $4 billion a year. Some $1 billion is lost due to wasted gasoline and electricity, lost man-hours, and the hiring of thousands of traffic aides. The loss of another $2.6 billion is attributed to missed business opportunities, reduced sales and investment disincentives. In ten years the total loss will exceed $26 billion. Due to traffic the average speed of a vehicle has significantly decreased from 18 kilometers per hour ten years ago to 12.6 kph today. If the situation doesn't improve, the average speed will become 4.5 kph, just a few notches faster than the average brisk walk (3.6 kph).