Stories from 16 May 2023
Unfreedom Monitor Report: Ecuador
Advox research into digital authoritarianism in Ecuador is now in a report. Read an excerpt and download the full pdf.
Cultural diplomacy, LGBTQ+ rights, and Ukraine in the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest
On the evening of the Eurovision Grand Final, Ternopil, the home city of Ukraine's 2023 Eurovision contestant, TVORCHI, was brutally shelled by Russian forces.
Controversies erupt in India over the film ‘The Kerala Story’
Directed by Sudipto Sen, the Bollywood movie "The Kerala Stories" explores the controversial notion of “love jihad” — a conspiracy theory that Muslim men convert Hindu women to Islam via romantic relationships.
Hong Kong purges public libraries of politically sensitive books
The Audit Commission released a report demanding the public library operator step up its efforts in removing books that were “manifestly contrary” to the interests of national security.
China is tackling its food crisis by turning forests into farmland
Although China’s total grain output — 686.53 million tons in 2022 — could fully feed its 1.3 billion population, it is still looking to convert massive swaths of forest and green space to farmland.
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.