Asia Pacific Forum

Achin Vanaik discusses Hindu authoritarianism, its root causes, the parallels with the Trump regime, the global rise of authoritarianism, challenges to resistance movements, and understanding the subtext of India as an imperial power in South Asia- including, extrajudicial killings and the targeting of Muslims by the far right.

GUESTS:

Retired Professor of International Relations and Global Politics from thë University of Delhi, Achin Vanaik is an active member of the Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace (India). His books and writings range from studies of India's political economy, issues concerning religion, communalism and secularism as well as international contemporary politics and nuclear disarmament.

He is a co-recipient, with Praful Bidwai, of the International Peace Bureau's Sean McBride International Peace Prize for 2000.

Mr. Vanaik is currently a fellow at the Transnational Institute.

The South Korean corporation Lotte decided on February 27 to hand over its golf course in Seongju/Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang Province to the South Korean Defense Ministry to enable the highly controversial deployment of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system there. The defense ministry will soon hand over the golf course to the U.S. Forces in Korea (USFK), which will turn it into a base for the THAAD system.

What is at stake for the residents of Seongju and Gimcheon, who say they don't want the weapons base in their town and have been fighting against the THAAD deployment since last July? And what are the broader geopolitical interests at play surrounding this issue?

ZoominKorea's Julian Cho and Hyun Lee speak to women farmers in Seongju and Gimcheon--Lee Hae-kyoung, Kim Jong, Yoon Geum-soon and Ham Soo-yeon--who have been on the front lines of the fight against the THAAD deployment.

Zoom In Korea Original Story

International Women's Strike reflections from the National Planning Committee Members of the International Women's U.S. Strike, Suzanne Adely and Ivy Quicho.

This audio was originally aired on March 8, 2017.

A collage of voices from International Women's Strike, Asia Pacific Forum talks with organizers from Poland, Thailand, and Pakistan- joined under the theme of "Solidarity is our Weapon."

GUESTS:

Klementyna Suchanow shares her thoughts on Poland's Black Monday- a successful strike waged in October of 2016 where thousands of women took to the streets and protested a proposed abortion ban. She discusses the lessons learned, Polish activism under an ultraconservative government, and the impact of western feminism on other parts of the world.

Angela, International Women's Strike organizer from Bangkok, Thailand discusses the March 8 family day of action for women.

Nusair Khan, International Women's Strike organizer in Islamabad, Pakistan discusses the challenge with progressive organizing in the country, supporting feminist struggle, and what it means to be part of the global community.