Explains

Oscar-winning RRR is rooted deeply in nationalism and the Hindu idea of revolution. In fact, films like this coming out of India are the only ones making the big screen. As the country becomes more autocratic and surveillant, cinema is where people are pushing back. RRR, which has been watched 45 million times on Netflix and recently won an Oscar, is only one of the many films that have reflected the social issues and societal values in India. In fact, since Modi came into power in 2014, supported by a militant Hindu supremacist group, Indian cinema and Bollywood has changed. University students, film festivals and cultural centers are digging deep into truly revolutionary cinema coming out of India and finding one common thread: they’re all being banned. As the rest of the world consumes Indian films, it’s key to pay attention to how nationalism and Islamophobia are not only normalized but glorified.

The US Supreme Court is currently debating whether affirmative action discriminates against Asian Americans by giving their spots to less qualified Black candidates. For instance, Calvin Yang - now a student at UC Berkeley - claims that his admission to Harvard was denied because of his race. Many have called this an incredibly disempowering tactic to divide two historically oppressed communities who have benefited from working together. What is true is that the greatest beneficiary of affirmative action is white women–and because they have so rarely been placed at the center of the conversation, they don’t even know it. Affirmative action was implemented off the backs of Black and Asian activists. Meanwhile, 70% white women, whose university enrollments more than doubled after these policies were implemented, oppose it.

A genocide in Afghanistan is being neglected. For over 130 years, Hazara communities have been massacred in killings, by famine, starvation, and state-sanctioned enslavement. Today, the Taliban has pushed Hazara people out of government, displaced them, and redistributed their land to their supporters. What can we do? Humanitarians have advised the UN Genocide Investigation team to get on the ground and start collecting details to even prove the existence of a genocide. The hashtag #StopHazaraGenocide has gone viral, with over ten million mentions on Twitter - and this number is only growing. Here’s how you can support Hazara people.

In many East and Southeast Asian countries, Lunar New Year is the biggest holiday of the year. The origins can be traced to ancient China 3,500 years ago, traditionally a time to honor ancestors and deities. Today, 2 billion people still celebrate, and you can too. Here’s how. Lunar New Year celebrations consist of food, family, and gratitude rituals for ancestors and heritage. Commonly known as “Chinese New Year”, LNY is a cultural holiday that lasts 15 days and is celebrated in many countries outside of China. And this year is the Year of the Rabbit. Many brands understand the significance of this holiday, and exploit it with “LNY collections”. Make sure you’re buying from brands that are Asian owned or have a connection to that heritage. And if you haven’t celebrated the Lunar New Year before, here’s how you can join in on the festivities in a respectful way–rooted in celebration and not appropriation.

Perbedaan etnis di Malaysia bukan hanya persoalan nilai di masyarakat, namun tertuang juga dalam hukum yang berlaku. Hal ini membuat banyak orang-orang minoritas mengalami ketimpangan dalam berbagai bidang, mulai dari ketersediaan pendidikan yang terbatas, akses ke penunjang kesehatan yang sulit, dan tingkat kesejahteraan yang berada di bawah rata-rata. Ketimpangan ini juga berujung pada hal-hal lain yang juga membahayakan seperti diskriminasi dan kekejaman oleh aparat pemerintahan. Produk hukum ini salah satunya adalah New Economic Policy, sebuah kebijakan yang dilahirkan pada tahun 1970-an dan terus meminggirkan kebutuhan dan kesejahteraan masyarakat minoritas di Malaysia. Apa cerita di balik kebijakan ini, dan apa yang bisa dilakukan dalam menghadapinya?

Sindh, Pakistan held their first trans pride march, Sindh Moorat March. It was iconic, inclusive, and led by a young, trans, Shia progressive leadership. What can this mean for a country that saw more trans lives killed than any other in Asia last year? There are thousands of registered cases of violence towards trans lives in Pakistan, including at least 91 killings since 2015. In 2018, a landmark trans rights bill was passed that meant people could choose their own identity, and many more safeguards in employment, health, education, and access to public spaces. The unprecedented bill hasn’t been fulfilled by the government though and transphobic speech is on the rise in Pakistan. What is also true is that Gen-z are celebrating trans lives in a revolutionizing movement that integrates tradition and culture. Trans people are indigenous to the subcontinent with a history that traces back 4,000 years. Today, they’re not only reclaiming their pride–rooted further than colonialism, they’re also fighting for income redistribution, land reforms, justice, dignity, reparations, and climate justice.