Tuesday, April 21, 2009

New south Korean banknote


South Korea plans to released a new 50,000 Won note in May or June 2009. Worth only about US$35, this note, however, is 5 times more than current highest denomination, the 10,000 Won note featuring King Sejong.Chochungdo, a painting genre initiated by Shin Saimdang, depicting plants and insects

She is the first woman to appear on a South Korean banknote, the 50,000 won note to be issued in 2009. Critics, however, have criticised her selection as reinforcing sexist stereotypes about women's roles.The note features Shin Saim-dang (1504-1551), painter, author, and mother of the great philosopher Yul-gok, also known as Yi I (1536-1584).

Chochungdo, a painting genre initiated by Shin Saimdang, depicting plants and insects

Sin Saimdang (1504-1551) was a Korean artist and calligraphist, and the mother of the Confucian scholar Yulgok. She is often held up as a model of Confucian ideals. Her respectful nickname was Eojin Eomeoni (어진 어머니; "Wise Mother"). With her help, Yulgok became a respectable scholar.


The sizes of the Korean bank notes have recently been changed. The higher the denomination, the bigger the size. The new 50,000 Won will be 6mm bigger than the 10,000 Won note.

Monday, April 20, 2009

Prostitutes on Euro banknotes


Position of Ukraine
I recently heard about certain Euro banknotes being altered while searching for some information about Euro banknotes and yes the title says it all. Apparentlypeople has begun to notice some Euro banknotes containing the image of a women presumably prostitutes. The first thing that came into my mind was, well this must be some guy playing some prank for his own amusement, however as I dug deeper, I found out that these were fake notes with a message directed to women. Now you must be asking, why were these women of the night placed on one of the strongest currency of the world and now you will know why.

( A major problem in Ukraine)
Apparently these notes were altered as a part of a sex trade campaign to discourage women from the Ukraine, once part of the Soviet Union. The images, which are otherwise almost indistinguishable from the genuine notes, have been produced as part of a campaign to prevent women from the former Soviet state from seeking to work illegally in the EU. These banknotes show under-dressed women obviously prostitutes leaning against the grand examples of European architecture that have been printed on the currency's bills since its launch in 2002.(What a way to respect national monuments in Europe!!).

There is a message at the left side of the note in Russian warning about the real price of seeking black market employment abroad are printed across the top of the “fake” notes. However let us wonder for a while how this tactic could actually work in preventing women from joining the sex trade as these notes look more like a brochure for tourists informing them that Ukraine has prostitutes for them to hire and might even cause an influx of tourists looking for pleasure and women with no money are attracted to join the sex trade.

The image and message is quite small and would need bionic sight or a magnifying glass to see these minuscule figures for they are hardly of a size to reveal anything, let alone send a stark warning and lets think for one moment,how many of us actually look closely at our banknotesAnd one can wonder how this tactic could either persuade prostitutes to not sell their bodies for sex or maybe even excite teenage boys to start collecting them for their own nocturnal activities. Who in the world actually examines the minute details on banknotes save those obsessed with notaphilia?

Now a littlemore info regarding the banknote and the sex trade campaign The images, which are otherwise almost indistinguishable from the genuine notes, have been produced as part of a campaign to prevent women from the former Soviet state from seeking to work illegally in the EU. They show underdressed women – obviously prostitutes – leaning against the grand examples of European architecture that have been printed on the currency's bills since its launch in 2002.
(Only the 5,10 and 50 Euro notes(fake) are used to send the message)

Messages warning about the real price of seeking black market employment abroad are printed across the top of the “fake” notes. Sex trafficking is a serious problem in the Ukraine. Last year the International Organization for Migration estimated that 117,000 Ukrainians had been forced into prostitution or indentured labour abroad since 1991, more than any other Eastern European country.

Women who are trafficked abroad illegally are particularly vulnerable to exploitation, with the criminal gangs who arrange their transport often refusing to return their passports.Prostitution is widespread in the Ukraine, which is home to more than 12,000 sex workers. The rise of sex tourism, fuelled by wealthy visitors from the US and the EU, sparked demonstrations from students in the capital Kiev this summer.
"DONT SUPPORT ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES"

Friday, April 17, 2009

Biggest banknote in the world

Now here is one banknote which is much more suitable for framing up on the wall than using it for a purchase goods thanks to its staggering size and value as well as its denomination.Its even in the Guiness Book of Records.Info on the money and the event on the money.



Front-"Cry of Pugadlawin", when about 1,000 Filipino patriots led by Andres Bonifacio gathers in Pugadlawin, on august 23, 1896. They tore up their Spanish-issued residence certificates and yelled "Long live the Philippines", signalling the start of a revolt against Spain

Back-proclamation of the Philippine Declaration of Independence in Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1898
Size-356mm x 216mm(8.5 by 14 inches)

The note was issued in1998 during the Centennial of Philippine Independence to mark centennial of independence from more than 300 years of Spanish colonial rule.The note is also accredited by the Guinness World Records as the world's largest legal tender note in terms of size.

Produced in Germany, the banknote has 21 security features making it very hard to counterfeit. Only 1,000 of these notes were issued. Originally offered to collectors at a pre-issue price of 180,000 Piso ($4175), its current catalog value is $3500. On release, this collector's item was sold at P180,000.
The profits were used to fund events for the June 12 1998 centennial celebration Today, it is worth many times more.

Andres Bonifacio y de Castro(Nov 30,1863-May 10,1897) ), son of Santiago Bonifacio and Catalina de Castro, was a Filipino revolutionary leader and one of the main rebel leaders of the Philippine Revolution against Spanish colonial rule in the late 19th century.
He is regarded as the "Father of the Philippine Revolution" and one of the most influential national heroes of his country.A freemason Bonifacio was the founder of the Katipunan organization which aimed to start an independence movement against Spain.In the end,He was summarily tried then executed promptly at a mountain in Maragondon, Cavite for treason by rival Emilio Aguinaldo

A little about the Republic of The Philippines
Capital-ManilaPopulation-90.5million(2008 estimate)12th
Religion-Predominantly Christian,Islam and others
National anthem-Lupang Hinirang(Chosen Land)
Motto-Maka-Diyos, Makatao, Makakalikasan, at Makabansa
(For God, For People, For Nature and For Country)
The name Philippines and its Spanish counterpart, Filipinas, are derived from the name of Phillip 2, the King of Spain in the late 16th century.Spanish explorer Ruy Lopez de Villalobos used the name Las Islas Filipinas in honor of the then-Crown Prince during his expedition to the Philippines.First colonized by the Spanish,then the Americans followed by the Japanese in WW2 and then the Americans again.Philippines was granted independence in 4 July 1946 by USA(The same date as the American Independence)

"The one who uses the note will have a hard time finding a wallet huge enough to put it in and the one who receives the note will have a hard time finding enough change to be returned to the customer"