Explains

Did you know that the average amount of times we wear clothing before throwing it away is 7? American saviorism deludes us to believe that “people in need will wear my old clothes” but what’s actually happening is the Global South becomes the dumping ground for the lifestyle and convenience of the Global North. This exploitation has turned Asia into a garment dump. So what can we actually do? Prioritize consuming less, elongating the lives of the clothes we have by repairing and mending, wearing hand-me-downs, buying used, and repurposing old clothes. Donating our clothes isn’t superior thinking disguised as a good deed. And outside of making changes to our own wardrobe, here’s how we can hold the perpetrators of waste colonialism accountable.

Pabrik garmen tersebar di seluruh penjuru Indonesia dan negara-negara Asia lainnya, dan di dalamnya ribuan pakaian diproduksi tiap hari untuk memenuhi permintaan konsumtif dari seluruh dunia karena siklus fashion yang cepat sekali. Bagi produsen besar seperti Shein, hanya butuh waktu satu minggu untuk mengubah desain menjadi produk jadi. Tentu di tengah-tengah industri raksasa ini terdapat nasib-nasib buruh yang terpinggirkan dan dampak ke perubahan iklim.

How much do you know about Shiba Inus? What were they originally bred for? Why did they almost go extinct? Shiba’s are aesthetically pleasing, incredibly popular, and Japan's national treasure--but how much do you know about the history of this hunting dog? Known for their fox-like features and tan fur, Shiba Inus have been around since the 3rd century BC but have nearly become extinct on two occasions–both in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. When Japan started importing Western dogs, cross-breeding led to a decline in pure Shiba Inus. And during WWII, bombings and food shortages also nearly wiped out these highly-sought after dogs. After Elon Musk’s 2021 tweet about his Shiba, the breed became trendy and this leads to unethical high-volume breeding. Though Shiba Inus have gone viral, buyers need to realize that owning this dog isn’t a fad. In fact, it’s a serious responsibility that requires a 14-16 year commitment to a dog that is practically a 25 lb. wolf.

Akhir tahun lalu, beberapa kejadian mengejutkan terjadi di berbagai daerah di Asia. Kejadian-kejadian ini melibatkan kerumunan yang gagal dikendalikan dan ujungnya, beberapa orang kehilangan nyawanya. Mengapa kejadian ini banyak terjadi di negara-negara Asia, dan bagaimana kita dapat menjaga diri kita di keramaian?

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.