Stories about North America
Trip Report: Cycling in the footsteps of the 1966 Farmworkers March
In June, J. Nathan Matias and Ivan Sigal undertook a 500-plus-mile fundraising bicycle ride along the route of the 1966 California Farmworkers March. Here's the full report on their journey.
Gay penguin parenthood stories ruffle some conservative feathers
From Australia to United States, some conservatives are blocking the inclusion of gay penguin stories in schools and libraries.
The healing love between Indigenous women
"The freer we are as individuals, the freer we are as a people."
In Azerbaijan, feminist activists say not the time to celebrate
At least ten political activists left the embassy premises following the extraction of feminist activists and Hasanli.
How to silence an environmental protest Azerbaijan style
Residents say the existing artificial lake, built in 2012, is used to dump toxic waste from the mine poisoning the drinking water with severe consequences on residents' health.
Juneteenth: Meet the first and last racist
This exploration will lead us to a somewhat amusing discovery: the first racist was found in Africa, and the hope is that the last racist will emerge from Africa.
Hong Kong Court asks: Who are the defendants of the protest anthem injunctions?
"Even if [the injunction] successfully restrained Google, it would only prohibit its circulation within Hong Kong. The SAR government has to apply an injunction in the U.S.A to take down the videos globally […]"
César Chávez, American
"Each time a community changes a street name, adds a new class to the curriculum, or publishes in a new language, they are making a statement about who belongs."
Feeling the heat: Community science and survival in Fresno, California
"Extreme heat is a common experience for farmworkers in California, with 20 days out of every year exceeding safe working temperatures—a number expected to increase to 54 by mid-century. . ."
On loving and understanding our communities: Journalist Melissa Montalvo in Fresno, California
"In the hands of Melissa Montalvo and other journalists, journalism is a mirror for a community with the majority of Fresno's population and a minority of its power..."
The Boomerang: Education and civic engagement in California's Central Valley
"Political scientists often believe. . . that young people with family members who are not U.S. citizens are less likely to be civically engaged because they can’t learn it from their parents."
Hunger strike and high school graduation: A visit to The Forty Acres
Renowned as the site of labor activist Cesar Chavez's 1968 25-day hunger strike, The Forty Acres is slated for incorporation into a national park being considered by the US government.
Arvin, California: Lost futures, past hopes, deferred promises
“Owners no longer worked on the farms. They forgot the land, the smell, the feel of it, remembered only that they owned it, what they gained and lost by it.”
VIDEO: Preparing for a 500-mile bike ride
Nathan Matias and Ivan Sigal set off later today on their 500-mile fundraising bike ride. In this video they talk about how they prepared for the journey.
VIDEO: A different kind of bike ride
In this video, Nathan Matias and Ivan Sigal explain more about the fundraising ride they'll be starting on June 1, and their motivations for undertaking it.
What we're aiming to achieve with our fundraising bicycle ride—and the details of the route
As we cycle the route of the 1966 Farmworkers March, we'll be interweaving history with the stories of people who are shaping the future of California's Central Valley today.
Mapping a different kind of bicycle tour
Bicycle tours tend to prioritize exquisite landscapes, but since our ride is also a journalistic exercise, we needed to adopt a different philosophy of route-making.
On cycling, chicken shit, and alternate futures
Cycling through Pajaro, California after the devastating flooding of April 2023, J. Nathan Matias wonders what his life might have been if his body had withstood the dangers of farm labor.
Armenia and Azerbaijan take one step forward, three steps back in mending relations
Since active fighting ceased between Armenia and Azerbaijan in November 2020, following the 44-day war, there have been numerous attempts to normalize ties and relations between the two neighbors.
‘Overseas Chinese writer is now a label’: Interview with youth author Xia Zhou
Overseas Sinophone writers tend to continue writing in Chinese no matter what, according to young Chinese author Xia Zhou who now lives in the US.
Taiwanese ex-president Ma Ying-jeou’s visit to China sparks speculation
It's clear that the KMT is eager to reestablish relations with China without upsetting Taiwan’s autonomy, yet Ma’s visit will be politically difficult as few are likely to embrace him.
