It’s a sight of pandemonium. Police in pitch-black riot gear wields shields and batons as loud shouting encompasses the scene. The parties shove against each other, and impassioned yells and raised fists demanding change are met with expressions of stony resolve and mechanical warnings. An officer abruptly brandishes a gun, its menacing barrel pointed directly toward the crowd. He fires, releasing a torrent of rubber bullets that cut through the thick mist of tear gas and sweat. Mass hysteria ensues as some protesters struggle to leave in a panic whilst others push on defiantly. Arrests are made as the crowd continues to thin out, leaving nothing but scattered debris and a tense atmosphere of resentful surrender that hangs in the air. There will be no more resistance today.
When hearing the word censorship, cartoons for children and TV series are probably not the first thing that comes to mind. Our brains immediately go to politics, human rights, journalist publications, freedom of speech, and many other historical and contemporary issues. No cartoon seems to carry sensible, political content that may become the target of censorship of any kind. But apparently, leaders and governments all around the world disagree on the matter, as the last 10 years have seen several kids' cartoons or programs of entertainment ending up partly or entirely banned. Winnie the Pooh and civil rights concern one another much more than one may think.
As I walked past fascinating displays of various, eclectic collections of different styles of Thai art at a museum, one of Thailand’s theatrical cultures that most captivated my interest was the art of Khon.
“There was something about the intricate, glittery fabric and the powerful voice of both the narrator and the Thai-style music that drew my interest. Furthermore, every element of the art reflected the creativity and the rigorous hours that were put into curating each immaculate scene to illustrate the story of Ramakian.”
It is no secret that there is a correlation between mental health and suicide. The thing about suicide is, there are a variety of reasons and triggers that can cause one to take their own life. Many of these reasons however, relate to our mental wellbeing. As humans, we have all experienced some type of negative life event or feelings of frustration and despair. These negative emotions can heavily contribute to our mental health, raising the question: How do we focus on our mental health to prevent the risk of suicide?
A plaque on a restroom wall reads “Women Friendly Seoul.” This seemingly assuring phrase turns out to be a lie after a young woman is murdered at the Sindang subway station. The once blank wall below the plaque is now flooded with numerous messages on post-it notes from members of the South Korean community voicing their sorrow, fright, and anger.
Qandeel Baloch was a 26-year-old Pakistani celebrity. Dubbed “the Kim Kardashian of Pakistan,” she was an activist for women's rights in the Middle East, challenging Pakistan's patriarchal norms and the government for their inequalities and corruption (Alam). Qandeel Baloch inspired thousands of young girls to advocate for themselves in Pakistan. With over thirty-six thousand followers on Twitter, she was a beloved but also a controversial figure, and her controversy led to her death. After her name reached large media companies, people began to wonder who Qandeel Baloch and her family were. On March 29th, 2016, her real name was revealed as Fouzia Azeem, and according to CNN, her family began to receive backlash for “not controlling” (Saifi, et al). Eighteen days later, on April 16, 2016, Qandeel Baloch was found strangled to death by her youngest brother, Khan Baloch. Her brother willingly admitted to the murder saying Quandeel Baloch had brought “shame” and “dishonor” to the family name (Sadiq). Her brother, later on, said he did not regret killing his sister, claiming it was his responsibility to hold his family accountable and make sure the family name was not tarnished. Khan Baloch was given life in prison for his crimes. However, three years later, he was acquitted of all charges due to a loophole in the Pakistani legal system (Sadiq). This is only one of the thousands of cases in Pakistan where victims of “honor” killings were failed by the justice system and their own government.
I remember that day. A few years ago, in the fall, our local community received the unfortunate news: a teenage girl had taken her life. Almost instantly, a thick dark cloud crept into the city and for a moment, everything seemed to stop. Perhaps, in solidarity for the life we had lost. But, that silence only lasted momentarily.
On the 14th of September, 2022, Mahsa Amini - an Iranian woman of Kurdish ethnicity, was arrested by the Guidance Patrol of the Islamic Republic of Iran on the charges of wearing an “improper hijab.” As an Islamic theocracy, Iran had previously implemented a mandatory dress code for women in 1979, according to Ruhollah Khomeini’s interpretation of Islamic law. Additionally, Khomeini further decreed that women would no longer be allowed to enter the workplace or any government office unveiled, as they would be seen as “naked.”
After Roe vs Wade got overturned by the American Supreme Court in June 2022, all countries around the world have been pushed to look thoroughly at their legal situation concerning abortion rights. It was particularly the case in Italy, when the right coalition, who was running for and most likely to win the upcoming elections on 25th September 2022, was known to have controversial— to say the least— opinions on the topic.
Effective October 26th, new regulations allowing abortions up to 20 weeks stipulate an authorized medical practitioner's approval. This change elaborates on the amendment passed on February 7, 2021, which legalized terminating pregnancy within 12 weeks — the first trimester. Mothers who have been checked for health risks and obtained medical endorsement can now have the procedure done at hospitals or clinics. Some appreciate the stretch in freedom; some argue abortions be allowed at any point of the pregnancy period.
