You are here: Homepage Tag Erdgas Articles Mexican author Gabriela Jauregui Photo: Gary Doak / Alamy Manifesto | MexicoMy president For the first time in history Mexico voted for a female president. Following Claudia Sheinbaum’s landslide win, the writer Gabriela Jauregui lists her demands for the new Presidenta By Gabriela Jauregui05/29/2024 Photo: Bas Losekoot Family life | South KoreaThe silent protest of women in South Korea The East Asian country has a demographic problem: its population is ageing rapidly but many women have no desire to have children By Hawon Jung04/30/2024 Foto: Niklas Grapatin/laif Design | MonoblocChair Today, Gone Tomorrow In Europe, critics consider the Monobloc to be tasteless plastic rubbish. But for many people around the world, it’s the only affordable chair that is actually comfortable By Heng Zhi04/19/2024 In 1972, Māori activist Hana Te Hemara brought a petition to the New Zealand Parliament to protect the Maori language. Fifty years later, artist Graham Hoete created this mural to commemorate the activist and her fellow campaigners Photo: Vanessa Ellingham Indigenous life | New ZealandA long-awaited comeback New Plymouth is on New Zealand's North Island, and before the British arrived, the Maori community of Te Ātiawa lived here. Now, finally, they are shaping the cityscape again By Vanessa Ellingham04/16/2024 “Daniela” from the series “The Fury”, 2023 Photo: Shirin Neshat Art | IranThe body as a battleground The artist Shirin Neshat has long been concerned with the role of women in Iran. Her work has never been as topical as it is today By Jess Smee04/15/2024 Unrealised design for the “Darkinjung Aboriginal Centre” in New South Wales Photo: BVN Architecture Architecture | Australia“Building with country” The Australian architect Kevin O’Brien fuses indigenous and colonial legacies to create buildings that reflect the culture and climate of their locations. A conversation about Torres Straits Islanders’ beach huts, clichés about modernism and loving Australia Interview with Kevin O’Brien04/15/2024Issue II/2024Indi-pendentApril 2024 Indigenous groups have long struggled to protect their traditional ways of life. Young activists are now building up international networks. Insights from a world that is being reshaped “Fierté”: French photographer Marvin Bonheur began his career in Départment 93 on the outskirts of Paris, home to a largely marginalised part of French society Photo: Marvin Bonheur Society | France“People we wouldn’t notice” French photographer Marvin Bonheur grew up in the banlieue of Paris. Today, he works internationally as a documentary photographer and in advertising. In both fields, he is aiming to portray those who are most often overlooked Interview with Marvin Bonheur04/03/2024 Sami activist Ida Helene Benonisen Photo: Rasmus Berg Indigenous rights | NorwayWind turbines on Saami land Norway spent decades trying to force the Saami to assimilate. The activist Ida Helene Benonisen is fighting for indigenous rights – in the tradition of her forefathers By Ida Helene Benonisen04/03/2024 Scene from the “Orion Au Sahara 2970” (2023) campaign, shot in southern Morocco Photo: Azim Haidaryan Indigenous futurism“I love science fiction” Futuristic films such as “Dune” often feature desert peoples reminiscent of the Amazigh culture of North Africa — without acknowledging their influence. British-Moroccan filmmaker and designer Elias Riadi, in contrast, is building on the Amazigh tradition of his ancestors to create his very own version of an „indigenous futurism“ Interview with Elias Riadi04/02/2024 Photo: Luisa Dörr Youth culture | Bolivia“Cholitas” on skateboards Young indigenous women skateboard through Cochabamba wearing traditional dress. Daniela Santiváñez explains what sparked them to form the collective ImillaSkate and how they stop their hats from flying off in the wind Interview with Daniela Santivañez04/02/2024 Activist Mali Ole Kaunga Photo: Lisa Rose/ Collectivo Indigenous life | Kenya“Indigeneity is not a label” Maori, Inuit or Maasai: What connects indigenous people worldwide? Kenyan activist Mali Ole Kaunga talks about the power of international networking and the political space it opens up Interview with Mali Ole Kaunga04/02/2024 Musician Elisapie Isaac Foto: Leeor Wild Playlist | Canada & GreenlandThe Sound of the Inuit Raucous vocals, nature-loving lyrics, love songs or simply some proper rock: the Inuit playlist by Canadian musician Elisapie Isaac By Elisapie Isaac03/14/2024 The Brazilian filmmaker Karim Aïnouz Portrait: Victor Boyko / Getty Images Personal history | BrazilA new world in every film The Brazilian filmmaker Karim Aïnouz has always been drawn to distant horizons. From Brazil via New York, he found his way to Berlin By Karim Aïnouz03/14/2024 Photo: Ole Witt Personal history | Myanmar“I always knew what I wanted” Doctor and author, Ma Thida, spent a long time in prison as a result of fighting for democracy in Myanmar. Regardless, she hopes to return to her country soon By Ma Thida02/26/2024 Children play on the beach in Iqaluit, Nunavut on wrapped canoes from the Hudson's Bay Company, the oldest incorporated company in Canada, founded in 1670 Photo: Rosemary Gilliat Eaton / Library and Archives Canada Inuit | CanadaNunavik, my icy homeland In northern Canada, the indigenous population has always lived in balance with nature - but then Europeans found their way to the icy desert. The newcomers harvested its raw materials. A personal story about life on the periphery of North America By Sheila Watt-Cloutier02/16/2024Technology | FeminismArtifical intelligence and its biases It is well known that algorithms have a way of reinforcing social prejudices, but what can be done about it? Scholar Alex D. Ketchum takes a feminist look at the issue Interview with Alex D. Ketchum02/12/2024 Nigerian rapper Aunty Rayzor has released her latest album “Viral Wreckage” on the Ugandan label Hakuna Kulala Photo: Michelle Isinbaeva Pop culture | UgandaGet up and dance! In Uganda, even the dancefloor is politically contentious. The Nyege Nyege Festival and the Hakuna Kulala label provide the soundtrack for cosmopolitan Africa By Andrew Kaggwa02/05/2024 Rocky hills in the Negev Desert in Israel Photo: Getty Images Desert | IsraelAs fleeting as shifting dunes With their sweeping horizons and emptiness, deserts have inspired religions, myths and inner-reflection. But ever since last year’s violence, Israel’s Negev desert has been linked to new and devastating images By Ayelet Gundar-Goshen02/05/2024 To prevent the slope on which the houses stand from slipping under the weight of the lorries, they only stop at the foot of the hill Photo: Marco Garro Climate | PeruThe thirsty metropolis: Lima Lima is one of the largest desert cities in the world. Of its inhabitants, 635,000 have no access to water. Climate change may make the situation in the Peruvian capital even worse By Elizabeth Salazar Vega01/26/2024Media | IranIranians do not trust state television By Omid Rezaee01/26/2024Technology | Diversity“Indigenous languages don't make it easy for AI” Michael Running Wolf worked as a software engineer on the virtual voice assistant Alexa. Now he is revitalising indigenous languages with AI Interview with Michael Running Wolf01/26/2024 Young people in Kenya admire the starry sky through the “SkyWatcher Flextube”, a mobile telescope Photo: Daniel Chu Owen Education | KenyaKenya’s travelling telescope How Susan Murabana inspires Kenya’s children with astrophysics and the wonders of the starry sky By Sharon Machira01/26/2024Desertification | Rumania“We are losing fertile land every year” Why are deserts increasing worldwide? An interview with the Romanian meteorologist Roxana Bojariu By Roxana Bojariu01/26/2024Literature | LibyaMessenger from the Sahara Born into a Tuareg family, Ibrahim al-Koni has written about his birthplace for half a century. On why the desert won't let him go and why words can never do it justice By Ibrahim al-Koni01/26/2024 Photo: Ziyi Le How we live now | ChinaChina’s youth opts out Working long hours and being part of the rat race are part of everyday life in China. But lots of young people are opting out - and talking about it on social media. Photographer Ziyi Le takes portraits of a disillusioned generation By Tami Xiang, Darren Jorgensen, Ziyi Le01/25/2024 Young men take a dive at the Oued Sayad dam near the Taghjijt oasis in southern Morocco Photo: M’hammed Kilito Environment | MoroccoDesert oases under threat Oasis ecosystems are perfectly adapted to the harsh desert environment. Today, many are threatened by drought and mismanagement. Photographer M’hammed Kilito zooms in on the people working to save them Interview with M’hammed Kilito01/25/2024 On Lake Baikal in Siberia: The “Winteriade” takes place here at the beginning of March. Every five kilometers, an improvised food station provides tea and snacks Photo: Emile Ducke Day trip | RussiaIcy marathon on Lake Baikal Every year at the beginning of March, extreme sports enthusiasts gather on Lake Baikal to take part in the “Winteriade”. Here, the athletes can also try their hand at disciplines such as ice fishing or ice golf By Kai Schnier01/10/2024 Using satellite images like this one, the NGO Border Forensics investigated how migration routes have changed in the Agadez region in northern Niger Source: Border Forensics Migration | NigerDeadly routes in the Sahara For people who cross Africa from south to north, the Sahara is often unavoidable. A look at Niger, where the desert becomes a grave for many By Ahmet Tchilouta Rhoumour01/06/2024 Photo: Graham Denholm Desert trip | Australia“Not a sound, except for the wind” As a young woman, Robyn Davidson travelled alone through the Australian desert. Over the decades, she's returned again and again. A conversation about the fascination of extreme places Interview with Robyn Davidson01/06/2024 Saïd Khatibi contemplates the empty space in the Algerian desert Photo: private Travel diary | AlgeriaA journey into the endless expanse From the airport to the Sahara: author Saïd Khatibi travelled to the Algerian oasis town of Timimoun. A text about the lure of the desert and the inspiration of emptiness By Saïd Khatibi01/06/2024 Source: Ole Witt Playlist | MongoliaThe sound of the Gobi Desert Songs about camels, sandstorms and minerals: The Gobi Desert is a rich source of inspiration for the Mongolian music scene. A playlist By Pau Szczap01/06/2024 Looking back: Finnish writer Pirkko Saisio (center) in Helsinki Foto: privat Fiction | Finland“We constantly rewrite history” “The Red Book of Farewells” by Pirkko Saisio is a creative big bang. It explores love and loss in Finland in the seventies Interview with Pirkko Saisio01/06/2024Issue I/2024Broader horizonsJanuary 2024 Dry, empty and hostile to life: the desert is etched in our collective imagination. But this unique landscape is often not what we expect Screenshot of the online archive „Black Med“ by artist duo Invernomuto Source: Invernomuto / Courtesy of the artists A sound archiveEurope’s immigrant roots The web project “Black Med” is a diverse sound archive of the Mediterranean region. It shows how European culture has been influenced by Africa and Asia for thousands of years Interview with Invernomuto01/06/2024 French rap duo Triplego consists of rapper Sanguee and music producer MoMo Spazz Photo: TWAREG Hip Hop | FranceBetween the Maghreb and the Banlieue The beat booms and the lyrics are radically intimate. The rap music of the French-African duo Triplego is created in the space between the Maghreb and the banlieue By Anissa Rami12/25/2023 Photo: The Guardian / eyevine / laif Fiction | NigeriaAfrica as a construct and as a continent In his coming-of-age novel “The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa”, Stephen Buoro shows how pop culture imported from the West reinforces post-colonial trauma. A conversation Interview with Stephen Buoro12/25/2023 Photo: Kristin Bethge Personal history | AngolaThe artist with two faces Between fiction and beats, between Africa and Europe: as an author and musician, Kalaf Epalanga is always travelling between worlds By Kalaf Epalanga12/22/2023 Photo: Dario Lehner Pop culture | TurkeyProtest songs from the car radio When screenwriter Cem Kaya reflects on his childhood, he remembers the long car journeys from Germany to Turkey - and the music of the “Aşiks”. On the travelling singers of Anatolia and their links to pop music by immigrant workers in Germany By Cem Kaya12/15/2023 Audrey Magee is an author and journalist who lives and works in Wicklow, Ireland Photo: Jonathan Hession Language | IrelandProudly spoken in Irish Speaking Irish has long been controversial. But now the Gaelic language is making a comeback. What’s going on in Ireland? By Audrey Magee12/13/2023 Earn digital tokens for social engagement? That is the goal of the Muda community Photo: Getty Images Social innovation | BrazilMy language course for your tarot session? Anyone who is socially active in Brazil can earn themselves “Muda” tokens. But how does the alternative currency really work? A quick look By Flávia Macêdo12/11/2023 Rebecca Giblin is a professor at Melbourne Law School and author of the book “Chokepoint Capitalism” (2022) Photo: Ivanna Oksenyuk Talking point | AIHow dangerous is Artificial Intelligence? What is the most threatening about artificial intelligence? Author Rebecca Giblin points out where the dangers lie. A commentary By Rebecca Giblin12/06/2023 View of the house of the artist’s family Photo: Maryam Mumladze for Kulturaustausch Flying visit | GeorgiaA house in Georgia In the Georgian capital Tbilisi, there’s a house on a leafy street corner that is like a museum. A visit By Maryam Mumladze11/30/2023 [Translate to English:] Photo: Luisa Dörr Day trip | BoliviaA skate park in Cochabamba Smashing stereotypes: Young women in traditional dress meet to skateboard in the Pacata Alta neighbourhood in the north of Cochabamba By Luisa Dörr11/30/2023 Xiang Peng, seven years old, is in first class. His parents work in Guangzhou, a journey of 24 hours and 16 minutes by train from their hometown of Wanzhou. In the last six years, they have seen each other six times, each time for five to seven days during Chinese New Year. Photo: Tami Xiang Family | China“Millions of children live apart from their parents” Chinese migrant workers are often denied official residency. Many parents leave their children behind in the villages. Photographer Tami Xiang visited some of them. A conversation Interview with Tami Xiang11/25/2023 Manuel teaches dancing to Siddi children in Mainalli. He is a farmer and gives free workshops for children from the village in his spare time so that they can pass on old cultural traditions to the next generation Photo: Saurabh Narang Indigenous culture | IndiaKeeping an African identity in contemporary India The Siddi ethnic group migrated to India from East Africa centuries ago. Since then, their communities have cultivated their very own culture By Saurabh Narang11/20/2023 A class at the Coqualeetza Residential School in British Columbia in 1932 Photo: United Church of Canada Archives Discrimination | Canada“Kill the ‘Indian’ in the kid” For decades, indigenous children in Canada were sent to Christian boarding schools for re-education, where many experienced abuse. Journalist Michel Jean has written about this trauma Interview with Michel Jean11/05/2023 Linda Greta Zsiga and her family were forcibly relocated to Pata Rât. Many people live there in makeshift shelters without water and electricity Photo: Daniel Mihailescu/Getty Images Human rights | RomaniaRoma pushed to the dirty outskirts of the city Years ago, the Romanian city of Cluj-Napoca resettled hundreds of Roma - next to a huge garbage dump. Some families fought back and managed to attract international attention By Gundula Haage11/02/2023 One of Sudan’s many protests: back in May 2019, thousands of people demonstrated in Khartoum demanding that the country’s military government relinquish control Photo: David Degner/Getty Images Politics | SudanA state held hostage Politicians, the military, investors: in Sudan, key players are fighting over power and money. On how violence is flaring up again in a state that just won’t settle down By Stella Gaitano10/25/2023 Happy times: Valeria and her father Valeriu Pocitari on holiday on the Greek island of Kefalonia, 2019 Photo: private Family | Republic Moldavia“We laugh together, we cry together” Valeriu Pocitari and Valeria Pocitari live over a thousand kilometres apart yet they chat almost daily. A father / daughter conversation between Moldova and Greece. Interview with Valeria Pocitari, Valeriu Pocitari10/20/2023 Mouss Ould Kaci was born in France and is a father and activist. Photo: Alexia Fiasco Living together | FranceLove is thicker than blood A Paris flat, three daughters and at least as many chosen relatives: The family of 63-year-old widower Mouss Ould Kaci redefines family ties. A visit to France By Nadia Kara10/16/2023 Illustration: Hanneke Rozemuller Family life | Great BritainA quiet goodbye Since he can remember, there has been a deep rift between Daljit Nagra and his parents. He is ashamed of their narrow-mindedness; they despise his transformation into a “white man”. Memories of a difficult childhood By Daljit Nagra10/16/2023 Photo: Emil Malmborg Family life | Sweden“Your children are who they are” In her graphic novels, illustrator Liv Strömquist explores the everyday absurdities of being a mother — and the funny side of parenthood Interview with Liv Strömquist10/16/2023Issue IV/2023Inner circleOctober 2023 Unconditional love and huge conflicts: few relationships are as emotional as those of parents and children. What connects us - and what have we always wanted to say to our parents? [Translate to English:] The author Kit de Waal. Photo: Sarah Lee / eyevine Family | Great Britain“My mother had about 12 jobs” Between religious fanaticism and sibling love: British author Kit de Waal describes her childhood of extremes – and talks about how it shaped her relationship with her adopted children By Kit de Waal10/06/2023 Judge Abby Abinanti is a member of the Yurok, an indigenous community in Northern California, and has worked for Californian state courts for many years Photo: private Indigenous justice | USA“These days, we have very few trials” Judge Abby Abinanti worked for decades in both U.S. state courts and the Yurok Tribal Court. She says many lessons can be learnt from her community’s close-knit approach to justice Interview with Abby Abinanti09/20/2023 Ugandan author and activist Stella Nyanzi is currently living in exile in Germany Photo: Maximilian Gödecke Family | UgandaDear Mummy and Daddy, rest in peace! Persecution, prison, exile: Life has moved fast for the Ugandan poet Stella Nyanzi since her parents died. So much has changed that she she’s catching up with the past. A farewell letter to Mummy and Daddy. By Stella Nyanzi09/20/2023 Writer and journalist Mohamed Amjahid Photo: Antoine Midant Media | GermanyBeyond the European bubble German media outlets are often indifferent when it comes to reporting from outside Europe. German journalist Mohamed Amjahid has realised that writing about sex helps break down barriers By Mohamed Amjahid06/01/2023 The KMT ruled Taiwan with an iron fist from 1948 and declared martial law on the island to persecute and imprison alleged spies and communists. Among the victims was Xu Daidé, who was sentenced to ten years in prison for participating in a book club when he was only twenty years old. After his release, only a few of his friends were willing to friends were willing to keep in touch with him. Tu Guimei (pictured above) only met and married him after his imprisonment. After the KMT's autocracy ended in 1987 with the the end of martial law, people like Xu Daidé were financially compensated. However, the perpetrators were never brought to justice. This is another reason why the social stigmatisation of the victims continues. The KMT is still one of the two major popular parties in Taiwan. Photo: H. C. Kwok History | TaiwanIn the shadow of the dictator Under the regime of dictator Chiang Kai-Shek, tens of thousands of people were arrested and killed in Taiwan between 1948 and 1987. However, the country has never come to terms with the “White Terror”. Photographer H. C. Kwok wants to change that with his pictures by giving the victims a voice. By Billy HC Kwok06/01/2023Issue II+III/2023Precious freedomJune 2023 Taiwan is a key democratic ally in Asia for the West. But, looking beyond the looming threat from China, what makes this place unique and what do people in Taiwan dream of? [Translate to English:] Foto: Taiwan FactCheck Center Media | Taiwan“We’re in the middle of an information war”Manipulated images, cyberattacks and viral fake news: digital disinformation is commonplace in Taiwan. Ho Hui-An of the Taiwan FactCheck Center on fighting against the tide Interview with Ho Hui-An06/01/2023Women’s rights | MexicoA burning issue in Mexico CityMexican perpetrators of acid attacks, in particular against women, are often punished with light sentences or released on bail. A new draft law wants to change all that By Camila Martinez06/01/2023 Taiwan’s diplomatic representative Shieh Jhy-Wey, in Berlin Photo: Ole Witt for KULTURAUSTAUSCH Diplomacy | Taiwan“Without our chips, your car window won’t open”Taiwan’s diplomatic representative Shieh Jhy-Wey promotes his country’s interests in Berlin. A conversation about democratic alliances, the country’s authoritarian legacy and Xi Jinping Interview with Shieh Jhy-Wey06/01/2023 Margaret Busby at her desk in London, 1971 Photo: Evening Standard / Hulton Archive / Getty Images Fiction | Great Britain”I want to bring Black female writers into the spotlight“ More than half a century ago, Margaret Busby became Britain’s first black woman publisher, upending the literary scene. Five decades later, her work is far from done Interview with Margaret Busby06/01/2023 Li Ang, born in Lukang in 1952 as Shih Shu-tuan, is one the most prominent voices in Taiwan’s literature Photo: Barbara Zanon / Getty Images Literature | TaiwanSex and politics: Taiwan’s last taboosTaiwan is often portrayed as a model Asian democracy by the West. But how free and open-minded is the country really? Author Li Ang on a question she’s been asking for decades By Li Ang06/01/2023 Photo: Iqra Shabaz Fiction | USA“Americans blame poverty on the poor” In his debut novel, Jakob Guanzon explores the reality of the “working poor” in the US. An interview about fathers and sons, money troubles and the dangerous legacy of the American Dream Interview with Jakob Guanzon06/01/2023 Freddy Lim performing with his extreme metal band “Chthonic” Photo: Nicolas Datiche / Getty Images Playlist | Taiwan“Heavy metal saved my life”Heavy metal star - and politician - Freddy Lim knows Taiwan's music scene inside out. A conversation about Taiwanese music and the ten songs you need to decipher it Interview with Freddy Lim 06/01/2023 Kuwaitis celebrate their bank holidays with the so-called kite festival in Subiya Photo: Gabriele Cecconi Day trip | KuwaitThe kite festival in SubiyaKuwait City locals flood the desert landscape to fly kites of all shapes and sizes on their national day By Gabriele Cecconi06/01/2023 The Limon family house in Munshiganj Photo: K M Asad for KULTURAUSTAUSCH How we live now | BangladeshA flood-proof homeHow can our homes deal with climate change? This house in the Munshiganj region can simply be moved when the floods come. By KM Asad06/01/2023 NoViolet Bulawayo is a writer who has been awarded the Caine Prize for African Writing Portrait: Nye’ Lyn Tho Talking point | ZimbabweFireside talesOral story-telling has a long history in Africa, and has taught generations of children vital lessons By NoViolet Bulawayo06/01/2023 Rapper PinkChain and his girlfriend, a film director, on the dance floor of the “Final” Photo: Etang Chen Nightlife | TaiwanA night out in TapeiOur author drifts through the city, meets people in nightclubs and drinks sweetened soy milk with a date at dawn. A story about being young in Taiwan By Hsuan06/01/2023 Wang Chung-Yong watches a dredger Photo: Ann Wang / Reuters Raw materials | TaiwanThe sand piratesChinese freighters are hunting for one of the world's most coveted raw materials off the Taiwanese coast. But the search for sand poses a problem not just for Taipei, but for Beijing By Will Yang, Yian Lee06/01/2023 Taiwanese author Wu Ming-Yi Photo: Chen Meng-Ping für Kulturaustausch Literature | TaiwanFrom Taipeh to Beijing, with loveTaiwanese author Wu Ming-Yi and Chinese writer Yan Lianke exchanged letters for us. The result is a very personal exchange about censorship, loss, and the pain that is expressed between the lines By Yan Lianke, Wu Ming-Yi06/01/2023 Fatma Said, born in Cairo in 1991, is a soprano and most recently released the album “Kaileidoscope” Photo: James Bort Talking point | MusicWhy go to the opera?Opera: outmoded and out of touch or timeless and eternal? We ask the soprano singer Fatma Said By Fatma Said06/01/2023 Colombia's president Gustavo Petro speaks after the first ever council for security and peace between Colombia's government, Military Command Line and the local government of the capital Bogota, August 2022 Photo: Sebastian Barros / NurPhoto / Getty Images Armed conflict | ColombiaA fractured peaceHopes ran high that President Gustavo Petro would finally end violence in Colombia. But a year after his election, the fight for peace continues By Juan Álvarez06/01/2023 Chen Inzone, 38 years old, works as a farmer and lives in Jiali Photo: private Vox pop | TaiwanMilitary service and catsStudents, a fish farmer, a beautician and an activist: we asked eight Taiwanese people what’s on their mind06/01/2023 Victims and perpetrators of the genocide in Rwanda: Laurent Nsabimana (right) destroyed the house of Beatrice Mukarwambari (left) during the genocide. He was looking for firewood, he says today. Beatrice has forgiven him for the deed. Foto: Pieter Hugo Truth and reconciliationWhere old enemies meetAlmost thirty years after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, victims and perpetrators have found a refuge in Belgium. For many, a new beginning is hard to imagine By Charlotte Wirth06/01/2023 Publisher Aho Huang Photo: Dala Publishing Comics | Taiwan“Rainbow Apartments”: a new home for Taiwan’s queer comic heroesComics are booming in Taiwan but until recently, LGBTQ storylines were hard to find. Publisher Aho Huang wants to change all that By Aho Huang06/01/2023 Left: Lin Chia-Hsing, right: Wu Pei-Yi Photos: Kuomingtang (KMT) / Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Democracy | TaiwanIn Taiwan’s two-party systemThe Kuomintang and the Democratic Progressive Party are the only two political parties in Taiwan. What do they stand for? Two delegates give us the low-down on their political hopes, dreams and aspirations By Lin Chia-Hsing, Wu Pei-Yi06/01/2023 [Translate to English:] Photo: John McDonnell / Getty Images Books | InequalityAn invisible hierarchyContemporary society has all but eradicated the caste system, right? Far from it, argues U.S. journalist Isabel Wilkerson By Sieglinde Geisel06/01/2023 A performance of the Iranian story "The Little Black Fish" in the Turkish village of Karakuyu Köyü Photo: Berna Küpeli Festival | Turkey“Children have more imagination than we do”Circus and theatre for refugee children in the middle of a conflict-torn area? The Flying Carpet Festival on the Turkish-Syrian border makes the impossible possible Interview with Sahba Aminikia06/01/2023 The South African human rights lawyer Navi Pillay was, among other things, High Commissioner for Human Rights at the United Nations. Photo: Wikus de Wet / Getty Images Personal history | South AfricaLaw as a tool for freedomFrom the South African slum to the top of the United Nations: Judge Navi Pillay reflects on an eventful life By Navi Pillay06/01/2023 A busy shopping street in Hong Kong in the 1970s Photo: Getty Images Fiction | Hong KongA magical metropolisXi Xi’s novel “My City” takes readers back to Hong Kong in the 1970s. By Thomas Hummitzsch06/01/2023 on behalf of the dragon Illustration: Verena Schulz Notes and observations | TaiwanTaiwan: island of curiosities Beethoven, bubble tea and vertical cemeteries: life in Taiwan is often funny, sometimes strange, never boring. Don't believe us? Read on ... 06/01/2023 NoViolet Bulawayo is a writer who has been awarded the Caine Prize for African Writing Portrait: Nye’ Lyn Tho Fiction | Zimbabwe“English is still not a language of intimacy” Author NoViolet Bulawayo writes about Zimbabwe using the rhythms of her mother tongue Ndebele – even though she has long lived in the USA. A conversation about modern African storytelling and living between languages Interview with NoViolet Bulawayo05/14/2023 Scene of the opera “The Terrible Revenge” by Yewhen Stankowytsch, which premiered on 25 November 2022 as the first production after the Russian invasion Photo: National Opera and Ballet Theater Lviv Opera | Ukraine“We get a huge emotional feedback” It would seem hopeless to keep an opera house running during times of war. Vasyl Vovkun, general director of the National Opera in Lviv, talks about how he and his team keep working nonetheless 02/20/2023 Guests at an exhibition during a power outage. Photo: Oleksandr Popenko / Mystetskyi Arsenal Museum | UkraineExhibition in the light of a flashlight “Mystetskyi Arsenal” in Kyiv hosts exhibitions, theater shows and festivals. Museum manager Olga Zhuk describes the race to put up exhibitions between power outages, and why it is important to retain spaces for reflection 02/20/2023 A team member of Projector during a power outage Photo: Natalia Azarkina Professional education | UkraineWho needs education during the war? Projector offers creative courses in Ukrainian. After the Russian invasion, they halted all operations. But it turns out that demand is on the rise, not least because many Ukranians need a new job now, says Head of Product Anna Chernysh 02/20/2023 The independent Ukrainian publishing house Osnovy Publishing had opened its own flagship store in Kiev before the war started. The shop, into which a lot of work and money had been poured, had to be closed again after the Russian invasion began. Photo: Osnovy Publishing “The book market shrank by around 50%” Osvnovy Publishing is an independent art and design publisher based in Kyiv and creates contemporary books about photography, art and culture. Art director Dmytro Yarynych explains the daily obstacles to running a publishing house in times of war 02/20/2023Issue I/2023Living on lessJanuary 2023 The limits of growth have been reached, the climate crisis is real, the war in Ukraine is shaking up global politics. With the world in crisis mode, it’s time to consume less! Sean Sherman is a chef and food activist. For many years, he has dedicated himself to rediscovering and reconstructing the cuisine of the Sioux and Lakota First Nations. In Minneapolis, he runs the restaurant “Owamni”, which serves indigenous cuisine only. Photo: Nate Ryan Indigenous culture | USA“My cuisine is decolonised”The restaurant Owamni in Minneapolis is one of the best in the USA. Its owner Sean Sherman is both a chef and an activist. On serving food with explosive political power Interview with Sean Sherman01/09/2023 An election party of the Swedish Democrats in Nacka (near Stockholm) during the Swedish general election on September 11, 2022 Photo: Jonathan Nackstrand / AFP / Getty Images Polarisation | SwedenBlind spotSweden has long stood for cosmopolitanism and tolerance. But now a shift to the right is sweeping through the country - and its colourful image is crumbling. How could this happen? By Khashayar Naderehvandi01/09/2023 Russian political scientist and youtuber Ekaterina Schulmann Photo: Jacobia Dahm Talking point | RussiaWhat would you like to happen in Russia? By Ekaterina Schulmann01/09/2023 A man reads Granma, a daily newspaper of the Communist Party of Cuba Photo: Yamil Lage / Getty Images Freedom of press | CubaThreatened, interrogated, firedThe atmosphere for journalists in Cuba is increasingly tense. As a last resort, they are turning to the internet - or exile By Eileen Sosin Martínez01/09/2023 Vandana Shiva has been active as an environmentalist, feminist and civil rights activist since the 1970s Photo: Dileep Prakash for Kulturaustausch Sustainability“We need a culture of less”For half a century, activist and author Vandana Shiva has been criticising the excesses of the global economy and arguing for a simple life. A conversation about false abundance and the necessity of downsizing Interview with Vandana Shiva01/09/2023Viewpoint | InternationalWhat couldn’t you do without?What do you need in life? From Canada to South Africa to Pakistan, people around the globe explain what they can’t live without. Here Fatma Aydemir and T. C. Boyle say what is indispensable By Arshak Makichyan, Adrienne Clarkson, T.C. Boyle, Lerato Mogoatlhe, Fatma Aydemir, Mohsin Hamid, Simon Bingo01/09/2023 TikTok screenshots of @victoriadevall, @ines_nab and @noahpjem8 speaking out about #Celibacy Screenshots: TikTok Social mediaGeneration celibacyOn the social media platform TikTok, #celibacy has become a global trend. Why are more and more young people voluntarily abstaining from sex? By Nadia Kara01/09/2023 [Translate to English:] Foto: Momoly Inequality | Central African RepublicYou are doing too wellOnly those who already have something can settle for less. But for many people around the globe, going without things is no more than a pipe dream. A life spent living in and fleeing from the Central African Republic By Adrienne Yabouza01/09/2023 Versailles castle is all about grandeur: a glimpse into the royal bedchambers Photo: DeAgostin / Getty Images Minimalism | InternationalKeeping it simpleWhat makes a building a beautiful structure? Ornamentation on the front? Or is a building beautiful if it houses as many people as possible? Can we separate the aesthetic evaluation of a building from its construction circumstances and the ecological and human price it cost? By Ayelet Gundar-Goshen01/09/2023 Japanese woodcut showing the city of Kyoto in the Edo era Illustration: DAJ / Getty Images Sustainability | Japan“Nothing was superfluous”The notion of recycling and saving resources was already an everyday reality in Japan 300 years ago. Makiko Yamaguchi reflects on the Edo era Interview with Makiko Yamaguchi01/09/2023
Mexican author Gabriela Jauregui Photo: Gary Doak / Alamy Manifesto | MexicoMy president For the first time in history Mexico voted for a female president. Following Claudia Sheinbaum’s landslide win, the writer Gabriela Jauregui lists her demands for the new Presidenta By Gabriela Jauregui05/29/2024
Photo: Bas Losekoot Family life | South KoreaThe silent protest of women in South Korea The East Asian country has a demographic problem: its population is ageing rapidly but many women have no desire to have children By Hawon Jung04/30/2024
Foto: Niklas Grapatin/laif Design | MonoblocChair Today, Gone Tomorrow In Europe, critics consider the Monobloc to be tasteless plastic rubbish. But for many people around the world, it’s the only affordable chair that is actually comfortable By Heng Zhi04/19/2024
In 1972, Māori activist Hana Te Hemara brought a petition to the New Zealand Parliament to protect the Maori language. Fifty years later, artist Graham Hoete created this mural to commemorate the activist and her fellow campaigners Photo: Vanessa Ellingham Indigenous life | New ZealandA long-awaited comeback New Plymouth is on New Zealand's North Island, and before the British arrived, the Maori community of Te Ātiawa lived here. Now, finally, they are shaping the cityscape again By Vanessa Ellingham04/16/2024
“Daniela” from the series “The Fury”, 2023 Photo: Shirin Neshat Art | IranThe body as a battleground The artist Shirin Neshat has long been concerned with the role of women in Iran. Her work has never been as topical as it is today By Jess Smee04/15/2024
Unrealised design for the “Darkinjung Aboriginal Centre” in New South Wales Photo: BVN Architecture Architecture | Australia“Building with country” The Australian architect Kevin O’Brien fuses indigenous and colonial legacies to create buildings that reflect the culture and climate of their locations. A conversation about Torres Straits Islanders’ beach huts, clichés about modernism and loving Australia Interview with Kevin O’Brien04/15/2024
Issue II/2024Indi-pendentApril 2024 Indigenous groups have long struggled to protect their traditional ways of life. Young activists are now building up international networks. Insights from a world that is being reshaped
“Fierté”: French photographer Marvin Bonheur began his career in Départment 93 on the outskirts of Paris, home to a largely marginalised part of French society Photo: Marvin Bonheur Society | France“People we wouldn’t notice” French photographer Marvin Bonheur grew up in the banlieue of Paris. Today, he works internationally as a documentary photographer and in advertising. In both fields, he is aiming to portray those who are most often overlooked Interview with Marvin Bonheur04/03/2024
Sami activist Ida Helene Benonisen Photo: Rasmus Berg Indigenous rights | NorwayWind turbines on Saami land Norway spent decades trying to force the Saami to assimilate. The activist Ida Helene Benonisen is fighting for indigenous rights – in the tradition of her forefathers By Ida Helene Benonisen04/03/2024
Scene from the “Orion Au Sahara 2970” (2023) campaign, shot in southern Morocco Photo: Azim Haidaryan Indigenous futurism“I love science fiction” Futuristic films such as “Dune” often feature desert peoples reminiscent of the Amazigh culture of North Africa — without acknowledging their influence. British-Moroccan filmmaker and designer Elias Riadi, in contrast, is building on the Amazigh tradition of his ancestors to create his very own version of an „indigenous futurism“ Interview with Elias Riadi04/02/2024
Photo: Luisa Dörr Youth culture | Bolivia“Cholitas” on skateboards Young indigenous women skateboard through Cochabamba wearing traditional dress. Daniela Santiváñez explains what sparked them to form the collective ImillaSkate and how they stop their hats from flying off in the wind Interview with Daniela Santivañez04/02/2024
Activist Mali Ole Kaunga Photo: Lisa Rose/ Collectivo Indigenous life | Kenya“Indigeneity is not a label” Maori, Inuit or Maasai: What connects indigenous people worldwide? Kenyan activist Mali Ole Kaunga talks about the power of international networking and the political space it opens up Interview with Mali Ole Kaunga04/02/2024
Musician Elisapie Isaac Foto: Leeor Wild Playlist | Canada & GreenlandThe Sound of the Inuit Raucous vocals, nature-loving lyrics, love songs or simply some proper rock: the Inuit playlist by Canadian musician Elisapie Isaac By Elisapie Isaac03/14/2024
The Brazilian filmmaker Karim Aïnouz Portrait: Victor Boyko / Getty Images Personal history | BrazilA new world in every film The Brazilian filmmaker Karim Aïnouz has always been drawn to distant horizons. From Brazil via New York, he found his way to Berlin By Karim Aïnouz03/14/2024
Photo: Ole Witt Personal history | Myanmar“I always knew what I wanted” Doctor and author, Ma Thida, spent a long time in prison as a result of fighting for democracy in Myanmar. Regardless, she hopes to return to her country soon By Ma Thida02/26/2024
Children play on the beach in Iqaluit, Nunavut on wrapped canoes from the Hudson's Bay Company, the oldest incorporated company in Canada, founded in 1670 Photo: Rosemary Gilliat Eaton / Library and Archives Canada Inuit | CanadaNunavik, my icy homeland In northern Canada, the indigenous population has always lived in balance with nature - but then Europeans found their way to the icy desert. The newcomers harvested its raw materials. A personal story about life on the periphery of North America By Sheila Watt-Cloutier02/16/2024
Technology | FeminismArtifical intelligence and its biases It is well known that algorithms have a way of reinforcing social prejudices, but what can be done about it? Scholar Alex D. Ketchum takes a feminist look at the issue Interview with Alex D. Ketchum02/12/2024
Nigerian rapper Aunty Rayzor has released her latest album “Viral Wreckage” on the Ugandan label Hakuna Kulala Photo: Michelle Isinbaeva Pop culture | UgandaGet up and dance! In Uganda, even the dancefloor is politically contentious. The Nyege Nyege Festival and the Hakuna Kulala label provide the soundtrack for cosmopolitan Africa By Andrew Kaggwa02/05/2024
Rocky hills in the Negev Desert in Israel Photo: Getty Images Desert | IsraelAs fleeting as shifting dunes With their sweeping horizons and emptiness, deserts have inspired religions, myths and inner-reflection. But ever since last year’s violence, Israel’s Negev desert has been linked to new and devastating images By Ayelet Gundar-Goshen02/05/2024
To prevent the slope on which the houses stand from slipping under the weight of the lorries, they only stop at the foot of the hill Photo: Marco Garro Climate | PeruThe thirsty metropolis: Lima Lima is one of the largest desert cities in the world. Of its inhabitants, 635,000 have no access to water. Climate change may make the situation in the Peruvian capital even worse By Elizabeth Salazar Vega01/26/2024
Technology | Diversity“Indigenous languages don't make it easy for AI” Michael Running Wolf worked as a software engineer on the virtual voice assistant Alexa. Now he is revitalising indigenous languages with AI Interview with Michael Running Wolf01/26/2024
Young people in Kenya admire the starry sky through the “SkyWatcher Flextube”, a mobile telescope Photo: Daniel Chu Owen Education | KenyaKenya’s travelling telescope How Susan Murabana inspires Kenya’s children with astrophysics and the wonders of the starry sky By Sharon Machira01/26/2024
Desertification | Rumania“We are losing fertile land every year” Why are deserts increasing worldwide? An interview with the Romanian meteorologist Roxana Bojariu By Roxana Bojariu01/26/2024
Literature | LibyaMessenger from the Sahara Born into a Tuareg family, Ibrahim al-Koni has written about his birthplace for half a century. On why the desert won't let him go and why words can never do it justice By Ibrahim al-Koni01/26/2024
Photo: Ziyi Le How we live now | ChinaChina’s youth opts out Working long hours and being part of the rat race are part of everyday life in China. But lots of young people are opting out - and talking about it on social media. Photographer Ziyi Le takes portraits of a disillusioned generation By Tami Xiang, Darren Jorgensen, Ziyi Le01/25/2024
Young men take a dive at the Oued Sayad dam near the Taghjijt oasis in southern Morocco Photo: M’hammed Kilito Environment | MoroccoDesert oases under threat Oasis ecosystems are perfectly adapted to the harsh desert environment. Today, many are threatened by drought and mismanagement. Photographer M’hammed Kilito zooms in on the people working to save them Interview with M’hammed Kilito01/25/2024
On Lake Baikal in Siberia: The “Winteriade” takes place here at the beginning of March. Every five kilometers, an improvised food station provides tea and snacks Photo: Emile Ducke Day trip | RussiaIcy marathon on Lake Baikal Every year at the beginning of March, extreme sports enthusiasts gather on Lake Baikal to take part in the “Winteriade”. Here, the athletes can also try their hand at disciplines such as ice fishing or ice golf By Kai Schnier01/10/2024
Using satellite images like this one, the NGO Border Forensics investigated how migration routes have changed in the Agadez region in northern Niger Source: Border Forensics Migration | NigerDeadly routes in the Sahara For people who cross Africa from south to north, the Sahara is often unavoidable. A look at Niger, where the desert becomes a grave for many By Ahmet Tchilouta Rhoumour01/06/2024
Photo: Graham Denholm Desert trip | Australia“Not a sound, except for the wind” As a young woman, Robyn Davidson travelled alone through the Australian desert. Over the decades, she's returned again and again. A conversation about the fascination of extreme places Interview with Robyn Davidson01/06/2024
Saïd Khatibi contemplates the empty space in the Algerian desert Photo: private Travel diary | AlgeriaA journey into the endless expanse From the airport to the Sahara: author Saïd Khatibi travelled to the Algerian oasis town of Timimoun. A text about the lure of the desert and the inspiration of emptiness By Saïd Khatibi01/06/2024
Source: Ole Witt Playlist | MongoliaThe sound of the Gobi Desert Songs about camels, sandstorms and minerals: The Gobi Desert is a rich source of inspiration for the Mongolian music scene. A playlist By Pau Szczap01/06/2024
Looking back: Finnish writer Pirkko Saisio (center) in Helsinki Foto: privat Fiction | Finland“We constantly rewrite history” “The Red Book of Farewells” by Pirkko Saisio is a creative big bang. It explores love and loss in Finland in the seventies Interview with Pirkko Saisio01/06/2024
Issue I/2024Broader horizonsJanuary 2024 Dry, empty and hostile to life: the desert is etched in our collective imagination. But this unique landscape is often not what we expect
Screenshot of the online archive „Black Med“ by artist duo Invernomuto Source: Invernomuto / Courtesy of the artists A sound archiveEurope’s immigrant roots The web project “Black Med” is a diverse sound archive of the Mediterranean region. It shows how European culture has been influenced by Africa and Asia for thousands of years Interview with Invernomuto01/06/2024
French rap duo Triplego consists of rapper Sanguee and music producer MoMo Spazz Photo: TWAREG Hip Hop | FranceBetween the Maghreb and the Banlieue The beat booms and the lyrics are radically intimate. The rap music of the French-African duo Triplego is created in the space between the Maghreb and the banlieue By Anissa Rami12/25/2023
Photo: The Guardian / eyevine / laif Fiction | NigeriaAfrica as a construct and as a continent In his coming-of-age novel “The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa”, Stephen Buoro shows how pop culture imported from the West reinforces post-colonial trauma. A conversation Interview with Stephen Buoro12/25/2023
Photo: Kristin Bethge Personal history | AngolaThe artist with two faces Between fiction and beats, between Africa and Europe: as an author and musician, Kalaf Epalanga is always travelling between worlds By Kalaf Epalanga12/22/2023
Photo: Dario Lehner Pop culture | TurkeyProtest songs from the car radio When screenwriter Cem Kaya reflects on his childhood, he remembers the long car journeys from Germany to Turkey - and the music of the “Aşiks”. On the travelling singers of Anatolia and their links to pop music by immigrant workers in Germany By Cem Kaya12/15/2023
Audrey Magee is an author and journalist who lives and works in Wicklow, Ireland Photo: Jonathan Hession Language | IrelandProudly spoken in Irish Speaking Irish has long been controversial. But now the Gaelic language is making a comeback. What’s going on in Ireland? By Audrey Magee12/13/2023
Earn digital tokens for social engagement? That is the goal of the Muda community Photo: Getty Images Social innovation | BrazilMy language course for your tarot session? Anyone who is socially active in Brazil can earn themselves “Muda” tokens. But how does the alternative currency really work? A quick look By Flávia Macêdo12/11/2023
Rebecca Giblin is a professor at Melbourne Law School and author of the book “Chokepoint Capitalism” (2022) Photo: Ivanna Oksenyuk Talking point | AIHow dangerous is Artificial Intelligence? What is the most threatening about artificial intelligence? Author Rebecca Giblin points out where the dangers lie. A commentary By Rebecca Giblin12/06/2023
View of the house of the artist’s family Photo: Maryam Mumladze for Kulturaustausch Flying visit | GeorgiaA house in Georgia In the Georgian capital Tbilisi, there’s a house on a leafy street corner that is like a museum. A visit By Maryam Mumladze11/30/2023
[Translate to English:] Photo: Luisa Dörr Day trip | BoliviaA skate park in Cochabamba Smashing stereotypes: Young women in traditional dress meet to skateboard in the Pacata Alta neighbourhood in the north of Cochabamba By Luisa Dörr11/30/2023
Xiang Peng, seven years old, is in first class. His parents work in Guangzhou, a journey of 24 hours and 16 minutes by train from their hometown of Wanzhou. In the last six years, they have seen each other six times, each time for five to seven days during Chinese New Year. Photo: Tami Xiang Family | China“Millions of children live apart from their parents” Chinese migrant workers are often denied official residency. Many parents leave their children behind in the villages. Photographer Tami Xiang visited some of them. A conversation Interview with Tami Xiang11/25/2023
Manuel teaches dancing to Siddi children in Mainalli. He is a farmer and gives free workshops for children from the village in his spare time so that they can pass on old cultural traditions to the next generation Photo: Saurabh Narang Indigenous culture | IndiaKeeping an African identity in contemporary India The Siddi ethnic group migrated to India from East Africa centuries ago. Since then, their communities have cultivated their very own culture By Saurabh Narang11/20/2023
A class at the Coqualeetza Residential School in British Columbia in 1932 Photo: United Church of Canada Archives Discrimination | Canada“Kill the ‘Indian’ in the kid” For decades, indigenous children in Canada were sent to Christian boarding schools for re-education, where many experienced abuse. Journalist Michel Jean has written about this trauma Interview with Michel Jean11/05/2023
Linda Greta Zsiga and her family were forcibly relocated to Pata Rât. Many people live there in makeshift shelters without water and electricity Photo: Daniel Mihailescu/Getty Images Human rights | RomaniaRoma pushed to the dirty outskirts of the city Years ago, the Romanian city of Cluj-Napoca resettled hundreds of Roma - next to a huge garbage dump. Some families fought back and managed to attract international attention By Gundula Haage11/02/2023
One of Sudan’s many protests: back in May 2019, thousands of people demonstrated in Khartoum demanding that the country’s military government relinquish control Photo: David Degner/Getty Images Politics | SudanA state held hostage Politicians, the military, investors: in Sudan, key players are fighting over power and money. On how violence is flaring up again in a state that just won’t settle down By Stella Gaitano10/25/2023
Happy times: Valeria and her father Valeriu Pocitari on holiday on the Greek island of Kefalonia, 2019 Photo: private Family | Republic Moldavia“We laugh together, we cry together” Valeriu Pocitari and Valeria Pocitari live over a thousand kilometres apart yet they chat almost daily. A father / daughter conversation between Moldova and Greece. Interview with Valeria Pocitari, Valeriu Pocitari10/20/2023
Mouss Ould Kaci was born in France and is a father and activist. Photo: Alexia Fiasco Living together | FranceLove is thicker than blood A Paris flat, three daughters and at least as many chosen relatives: The family of 63-year-old widower Mouss Ould Kaci redefines family ties. A visit to France By Nadia Kara10/16/2023
Illustration: Hanneke Rozemuller Family life | Great BritainA quiet goodbye Since he can remember, there has been a deep rift between Daljit Nagra and his parents. He is ashamed of their narrow-mindedness; they despise his transformation into a “white man”. Memories of a difficult childhood By Daljit Nagra10/16/2023
Photo: Emil Malmborg Family life | Sweden“Your children are who they are” In her graphic novels, illustrator Liv Strömquist explores the everyday absurdities of being a mother — and the funny side of parenthood Interview with Liv Strömquist10/16/2023
Issue IV/2023Inner circleOctober 2023 Unconditional love and huge conflicts: few relationships are as emotional as those of parents and children. What connects us - and what have we always wanted to say to our parents?
[Translate to English:] The author Kit de Waal. Photo: Sarah Lee / eyevine Family | Great Britain“My mother had about 12 jobs” Between religious fanaticism and sibling love: British author Kit de Waal describes her childhood of extremes – and talks about how it shaped her relationship with her adopted children By Kit de Waal10/06/2023
Judge Abby Abinanti is a member of the Yurok, an indigenous community in Northern California, and has worked for Californian state courts for many years Photo: private Indigenous justice | USA“These days, we have very few trials” Judge Abby Abinanti worked for decades in both U.S. state courts and the Yurok Tribal Court. She says many lessons can be learnt from her community’s close-knit approach to justice Interview with Abby Abinanti09/20/2023
Ugandan author and activist Stella Nyanzi is currently living in exile in Germany Photo: Maximilian Gödecke Family | UgandaDear Mummy and Daddy, rest in peace! Persecution, prison, exile: Life has moved fast for the Ugandan poet Stella Nyanzi since her parents died. So much has changed that she she’s catching up with the past. A farewell letter to Mummy and Daddy. By Stella Nyanzi09/20/2023
Writer and journalist Mohamed Amjahid Photo: Antoine Midant Media | GermanyBeyond the European bubble German media outlets are often indifferent when it comes to reporting from outside Europe. German journalist Mohamed Amjahid has realised that writing about sex helps break down barriers By Mohamed Amjahid06/01/2023
The KMT ruled Taiwan with an iron fist from 1948 and declared martial law on the island to persecute and imprison alleged spies and communists. Among the victims was Xu Daidé, who was sentenced to ten years in prison for participating in a book club when he was only twenty years old. After his release, only a few of his friends were willing to friends were willing to keep in touch with him. Tu Guimei (pictured above) only met and married him after his imprisonment. After the KMT's autocracy ended in 1987 with the the end of martial law, people like Xu Daidé were financially compensated. However, the perpetrators were never brought to justice. This is another reason why the social stigmatisation of the victims continues. The KMT is still one of the two major popular parties in Taiwan. Photo: H. C. Kwok History | TaiwanIn the shadow of the dictator Under the regime of dictator Chiang Kai-Shek, tens of thousands of people were arrested and killed in Taiwan between 1948 and 1987. However, the country has never come to terms with the “White Terror”. Photographer H. C. Kwok wants to change that with his pictures by giving the victims a voice. By Billy HC Kwok06/01/2023
Issue II+III/2023Precious freedomJune 2023 Taiwan is a key democratic ally in Asia for the West. But, looking beyond the looming threat from China, what makes this place unique and what do people in Taiwan dream of?
[Translate to English:] Foto: Taiwan FactCheck Center Media | Taiwan“We’re in the middle of an information war”Manipulated images, cyberattacks and viral fake news: digital disinformation is commonplace in Taiwan. Ho Hui-An of the Taiwan FactCheck Center on fighting against the tide Interview with Ho Hui-An06/01/2023
Women’s rights | MexicoA burning issue in Mexico CityMexican perpetrators of acid attacks, in particular against women, are often punished with light sentences or released on bail. A new draft law wants to change all that By Camila Martinez06/01/2023
Taiwan’s diplomatic representative Shieh Jhy-Wey, in Berlin Photo: Ole Witt for KULTURAUSTAUSCH Diplomacy | Taiwan“Without our chips, your car window won’t open”Taiwan’s diplomatic representative Shieh Jhy-Wey promotes his country’s interests in Berlin. A conversation about democratic alliances, the country’s authoritarian legacy and Xi Jinping Interview with Shieh Jhy-Wey06/01/2023
Margaret Busby at her desk in London, 1971 Photo: Evening Standard / Hulton Archive / Getty Images Fiction | Great Britain”I want to bring Black female writers into the spotlight“ More than half a century ago, Margaret Busby became Britain’s first black woman publisher, upending the literary scene. Five decades later, her work is far from done Interview with Margaret Busby06/01/2023
Li Ang, born in Lukang in 1952 as Shih Shu-tuan, is one the most prominent voices in Taiwan’s literature Photo: Barbara Zanon / Getty Images Literature | TaiwanSex and politics: Taiwan’s last taboosTaiwan is often portrayed as a model Asian democracy by the West. But how free and open-minded is the country really? Author Li Ang on a question she’s been asking for decades By Li Ang06/01/2023
Photo: Iqra Shabaz Fiction | USA“Americans blame poverty on the poor” In his debut novel, Jakob Guanzon explores the reality of the “working poor” in the US. An interview about fathers and sons, money troubles and the dangerous legacy of the American Dream Interview with Jakob Guanzon06/01/2023
Freddy Lim performing with his extreme metal band “Chthonic” Photo: Nicolas Datiche / Getty Images Playlist | Taiwan“Heavy metal saved my life”Heavy metal star - and politician - Freddy Lim knows Taiwan's music scene inside out. A conversation about Taiwanese music and the ten songs you need to decipher it Interview with Freddy Lim 06/01/2023
Kuwaitis celebrate their bank holidays with the so-called kite festival in Subiya Photo: Gabriele Cecconi Day trip | KuwaitThe kite festival in SubiyaKuwait City locals flood the desert landscape to fly kites of all shapes and sizes on their national day By Gabriele Cecconi06/01/2023
The Limon family house in Munshiganj Photo: K M Asad for KULTURAUSTAUSCH How we live now | BangladeshA flood-proof homeHow can our homes deal with climate change? This house in the Munshiganj region can simply be moved when the floods come. By KM Asad06/01/2023
NoViolet Bulawayo is a writer who has been awarded the Caine Prize for African Writing Portrait: Nye’ Lyn Tho Talking point | ZimbabweFireside talesOral story-telling has a long history in Africa, and has taught generations of children vital lessons By NoViolet Bulawayo06/01/2023
Rapper PinkChain and his girlfriend, a film director, on the dance floor of the “Final” Photo: Etang Chen Nightlife | TaiwanA night out in TapeiOur author drifts through the city, meets people in nightclubs and drinks sweetened soy milk with a date at dawn. A story about being young in Taiwan By Hsuan06/01/2023
Wang Chung-Yong watches a dredger Photo: Ann Wang / Reuters Raw materials | TaiwanThe sand piratesChinese freighters are hunting for one of the world's most coveted raw materials off the Taiwanese coast. But the search for sand poses a problem not just for Taipei, but for Beijing By Will Yang, Yian Lee06/01/2023
Taiwanese author Wu Ming-Yi Photo: Chen Meng-Ping für Kulturaustausch Literature | TaiwanFrom Taipeh to Beijing, with loveTaiwanese author Wu Ming-Yi and Chinese writer Yan Lianke exchanged letters for us. The result is a very personal exchange about censorship, loss, and the pain that is expressed between the lines By Yan Lianke, Wu Ming-Yi06/01/2023
Fatma Said, born in Cairo in 1991, is a soprano and most recently released the album “Kaileidoscope” Photo: James Bort Talking point | MusicWhy go to the opera?Opera: outmoded and out of touch or timeless and eternal? We ask the soprano singer Fatma Said By Fatma Said06/01/2023
Colombia's president Gustavo Petro speaks after the first ever council for security and peace between Colombia's government, Military Command Line and the local government of the capital Bogota, August 2022 Photo: Sebastian Barros / NurPhoto / Getty Images Armed conflict | ColombiaA fractured peaceHopes ran high that President Gustavo Petro would finally end violence in Colombia. But a year after his election, the fight for peace continues By Juan Álvarez06/01/2023
Chen Inzone, 38 years old, works as a farmer and lives in Jiali Photo: private Vox pop | TaiwanMilitary service and catsStudents, a fish farmer, a beautician and an activist: we asked eight Taiwanese people what’s on their mind06/01/2023
Victims and perpetrators of the genocide in Rwanda: Laurent Nsabimana (right) destroyed the house of Beatrice Mukarwambari (left) during the genocide. He was looking for firewood, he says today. Beatrice has forgiven him for the deed. Foto: Pieter Hugo Truth and reconciliationWhere old enemies meetAlmost thirty years after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, victims and perpetrators have found a refuge in Belgium. For many, a new beginning is hard to imagine By Charlotte Wirth06/01/2023
Publisher Aho Huang Photo: Dala Publishing Comics | Taiwan“Rainbow Apartments”: a new home for Taiwan’s queer comic heroesComics are booming in Taiwan but until recently, LGBTQ storylines were hard to find. Publisher Aho Huang wants to change all that By Aho Huang06/01/2023
Left: Lin Chia-Hsing, right: Wu Pei-Yi Photos: Kuomingtang (KMT) / Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Democracy | TaiwanIn Taiwan’s two-party systemThe Kuomintang and the Democratic Progressive Party are the only two political parties in Taiwan. What do they stand for? Two delegates give us the low-down on their political hopes, dreams and aspirations By Lin Chia-Hsing, Wu Pei-Yi06/01/2023
[Translate to English:] Photo: John McDonnell / Getty Images Books | InequalityAn invisible hierarchyContemporary society has all but eradicated the caste system, right? Far from it, argues U.S. journalist Isabel Wilkerson By Sieglinde Geisel06/01/2023
A performance of the Iranian story "The Little Black Fish" in the Turkish village of Karakuyu Köyü Photo: Berna Küpeli Festival | Turkey“Children have more imagination than we do”Circus and theatre for refugee children in the middle of a conflict-torn area? The Flying Carpet Festival on the Turkish-Syrian border makes the impossible possible Interview with Sahba Aminikia06/01/2023
The South African human rights lawyer Navi Pillay was, among other things, High Commissioner for Human Rights at the United Nations. Photo: Wikus de Wet / Getty Images Personal history | South AfricaLaw as a tool for freedomFrom the South African slum to the top of the United Nations: Judge Navi Pillay reflects on an eventful life By Navi Pillay06/01/2023
A busy shopping street in Hong Kong in the 1970s Photo: Getty Images Fiction | Hong KongA magical metropolisXi Xi’s novel “My City” takes readers back to Hong Kong in the 1970s. By Thomas Hummitzsch06/01/2023
on behalf of the dragon Illustration: Verena Schulz Notes and observations | TaiwanTaiwan: island of curiosities Beethoven, bubble tea and vertical cemeteries: life in Taiwan is often funny, sometimes strange, never boring. Don't believe us? Read on ... 06/01/2023
NoViolet Bulawayo is a writer who has been awarded the Caine Prize for African Writing Portrait: Nye’ Lyn Tho Fiction | Zimbabwe“English is still not a language of intimacy” Author NoViolet Bulawayo writes about Zimbabwe using the rhythms of her mother tongue Ndebele – even though she has long lived in the USA. A conversation about modern African storytelling and living between languages Interview with NoViolet Bulawayo05/14/2023
Scene of the opera “The Terrible Revenge” by Yewhen Stankowytsch, which premiered on 25 November 2022 as the first production after the Russian invasion Photo: National Opera and Ballet Theater Lviv Opera | Ukraine“We get a huge emotional feedback” It would seem hopeless to keep an opera house running during times of war. Vasyl Vovkun, general director of the National Opera in Lviv, talks about how he and his team keep working nonetheless 02/20/2023
Guests at an exhibition during a power outage. Photo: Oleksandr Popenko / Mystetskyi Arsenal Museum | UkraineExhibition in the light of a flashlight “Mystetskyi Arsenal” in Kyiv hosts exhibitions, theater shows and festivals. Museum manager Olga Zhuk describes the race to put up exhibitions between power outages, and why it is important to retain spaces for reflection 02/20/2023
A team member of Projector during a power outage Photo: Natalia Azarkina Professional education | UkraineWho needs education during the war? Projector offers creative courses in Ukrainian. After the Russian invasion, they halted all operations. But it turns out that demand is on the rise, not least because many Ukranians need a new job now, says Head of Product Anna Chernysh 02/20/2023
The independent Ukrainian publishing house Osnovy Publishing had opened its own flagship store in Kiev before the war started. The shop, into which a lot of work and money had been poured, had to be closed again after the Russian invasion began. Photo: Osnovy Publishing “The book market shrank by around 50%” Osvnovy Publishing is an independent art and design publisher based in Kyiv and creates contemporary books about photography, art and culture. Art director Dmytro Yarynych explains the daily obstacles to running a publishing house in times of war 02/20/2023
Issue I/2023Living on lessJanuary 2023 The limits of growth have been reached, the climate crisis is real, the war in Ukraine is shaking up global politics. With the world in crisis mode, it’s time to consume less!
Sean Sherman is a chef and food activist. For many years, he has dedicated himself to rediscovering and reconstructing the cuisine of the Sioux and Lakota First Nations. In Minneapolis, he runs the restaurant “Owamni”, which serves indigenous cuisine only. Photo: Nate Ryan Indigenous culture | USA“My cuisine is decolonised”The restaurant Owamni in Minneapolis is one of the best in the USA. Its owner Sean Sherman is both a chef and an activist. On serving food with explosive political power Interview with Sean Sherman01/09/2023
An election party of the Swedish Democrats in Nacka (near Stockholm) during the Swedish general election on September 11, 2022 Photo: Jonathan Nackstrand / AFP / Getty Images Polarisation | SwedenBlind spotSweden has long stood for cosmopolitanism and tolerance. But now a shift to the right is sweeping through the country - and its colourful image is crumbling. How could this happen? By Khashayar Naderehvandi01/09/2023
Russian political scientist and youtuber Ekaterina Schulmann Photo: Jacobia Dahm Talking point | RussiaWhat would you like to happen in Russia? By Ekaterina Schulmann01/09/2023
A man reads Granma, a daily newspaper of the Communist Party of Cuba Photo: Yamil Lage / Getty Images Freedom of press | CubaThreatened, interrogated, firedThe atmosphere for journalists in Cuba is increasingly tense. As a last resort, they are turning to the internet - or exile By Eileen Sosin Martínez01/09/2023
Vandana Shiva has been active as an environmentalist, feminist and civil rights activist since the 1970s Photo: Dileep Prakash for Kulturaustausch Sustainability“We need a culture of less”For half a century, activist and author Vandana Shiva has been criticising the excesses of the global economy and arguing for a simple life. A conversation about false abundance and the necessity of downsizing Interview with Vandana Shiva01/09/2023
Viewpoint | InternationalWhat couldn’t you do without?What do you need in life? From Canada to South Africa to Pakistan, people around the globe explain what they can’t live without. Here Fatma Aydemir and T. C. Boyle say what is indispensable By Arshak Makichyan, Adrienne Clarkson, T.C. Boyle, Lerato Mogoatlhe, Fatma Aydemir, Mohsin Hamid, Simon Bingo01/09/2023
TikTok screenshots of @victoriadevall, @ines_nab and @noahpjem8 speaking out about #Celibacy Screenshots: TikTok Social mediaGeneration celibacyOn the social media platform TikTok, #celibacy has become a global trend. Why are more and more young people voluntarily abstaining from sex? By Nadia Kara01/09/2023
[Translate to English:] Foto: Momoly Inequality | Central African RepublicYou are doing too wellOnly those who already have something can settle for less. But for many people around the globe, going without things is no more than a pipe dream. A life spent living in and fleeing from the Central African Republic By Adrienne Yabouza01/09/2023
Versailles castle is all about grandeur: a glimpse into the royal bedchambers Photo: DeAgostin / Getty Images Minimalism | InternationalKeeping it simpleWhat makes a building a beautiful structure? Ornamentation on the front? Or is a building beautiful if it houses as many people as possible? Can we separate the aesthetic evaluation of a building from its construction circumstances and the ecological and human price it cost? By Ayelet Gundar-Goshen01/09/2023
Japanese woodcut showing the city of Kyoto in the Edo era Illustration: DAJ / Getty Images Sustainability | Japan“Nothing was superfluous”The notion of recycling and saving resources was already an everyday reality in Japan 300 years ago. Makiko Yamaguchi reflects on the Edo era Interview with Makiko Yamaguchi01/09/2023
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