The Arts of Travel

To better understand mainstream politics and viewpoints on the protests within India, we're joined by Writer/Journalist Debasish Roy Chowdhury (Twitter: @Planet_Deb), formerly of the Southern China Morning Post and currently a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Sydney.

I found Debasish's writing on Modi, India and the current state of the protests to be some of the best, even-handed, and accessible journalism on these complex and sensitive subjects. Our conversation will discuss Modi, how capital has reacted to his party's increasing authoritarianism, and the all-too real horror Modi's unleashed throughout India.

For more on Debasish I would highlight these pieces:

https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3044557/modi-thinks-he-xi-jinping-protests-show-india-not-china

https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3042045/modis-surgical-strike-muslims-puts-india-war-itself

https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/society/article/3024155/assam-edge-indias-rohingya-moment-threatens-millions-modis-hindu

Music - Caught in the Rain by Prod. Riddiman https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8J-_yHvhGQ

Photo Credited to: @ImSaqlainQuadri

This was a conversation that went to some really unexpected places. I spoke w. Kyle Chayka, the Author of: The Longing for Less - Living with Minimalism.

We discuss Kyle's ground-breaking research into AirBnb and the creation of what he calls "Airspace", a minimalist design aesthetic driven by algorithms, the ubiquity of global monopoly capitalism and the sheer size of platforms like AirBnB.

If you've ever wondered, as Kyle puts it, why the design aesthetics of a neighborhood in Brooklyn and Beijing may be more similar than one in Brooklyn and Queens, you'll want to listen to this conversation! Never did I consider how design aesthetics and neoliberalism could be so interlinked.

Also we talk about how Little Nas X's Old Town Road may have been the most revolutionary work of art of the 2010s!

For more on Kyle's incredible writing, pick up his book, which comes put Jan 21st on Bloomsbury, for his magazine work, I highly recommend the following:

https://www.theverge.com/2016/8/3/12325104/airbnb-aesthetic-global-minimalism-startup-gentrification

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/aug/06/hipster-aesthetic-taking-over-world

https://harpers.org/archive/2019/12/the-longing-for-less-living-with-minimalism-kyle-chayka/

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/jan/03/empty-promises-marie-kondo-craze-for-minimalism

Music: Flying by Prod. Riddiman https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FhsyqHOSaI

We spoke with Pranav Dixit (Twitter: @PranavDixit) on the recent protests in India, how Tech is aiding the current Modi/BJP Government's turn towards authoritarianism, and how Silicon Valley, with its 'move fast and break things' motto, has broken countless promises and lives within India.

It's a fascinating conversation with one of my favorite journalists. For more of Pranav's writing, I recommend the following stories he's written:

• On the creation of Nation-wide Facial Recognition Database and the India companies competing to become the next Palantir: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pranavdixit/india-is-creating-a-national-facial-recognition-system-and

• On how Whatsapp Rumors destroy the social fabric of India's villages and have led to violence: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pranavdixit/whatsapp-destroyed-village-lynchings-rainpada-india

• On how Twitter, despite claiming India to be their most "important market" constantly shows a lack of understanding and sensitivity to Caste and Regional Languages : https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pranavdixit/in-secret-meeting-top-twitter-execs-blindsided-by-reports

• On Netflix signing agreement's with India's Government to (potentially) allow censorship of content: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pranavdixit/netflix-self-censorship-code-india

• On the disappearance of Kashmiris from Whatsapp groups and the "digital siege" being led by India's government on Kashmir: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pranavdixit/hundreds-of-kashmiris-are-disappearing-from-their-whatsapp

• On how empowerment and capitalism can become intertwined within programs to help India's women access the internet: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pranavdixit/facebook-women-undercover-india

• And (my personal favorite) how White Westerners use YouTube and Bollywood to gain fans in India. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pranavdixit/youtube-americans-reaction-videos-india

Beat is 'Copycats' by Eskry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ehcfRHv_6o

Cover Art credit to Express VPN: https://www.expressvpn.com/blog/india-mass-surveillance-bill/

We were fortunate to speak w. renowned India Journalist Neha Dixit on the recent protests in India. Neha explains to us why patriarchy is central to the BJP's quest to create a Hindu Supremacist State. More importantly, she explains to us how India's feminists are fighting back, and what lessons they offer for building international solidarity.

For more on Neha's work and the articles we discuss in the episode please see below:

• Article on Fixers: https://www.cjr.org/special_report/fixers.php

• Article on Dr. Nivedita Menon : thewire.in/gender/the-instigator-a-portrait-of-nivedita-menon

• Article on Youth indoctrination by BJP: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/05/09/elections-2019-madhya-pradesh-jhabua-rss-preparations

• Article on: Female protesters in the Anti-CAA protests: https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/women-front-lines-india-citizenship-law-protests-191223061447173.html

• Article on Kidnapping of young women to "Hinduise them" : https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/operation-betiuthao/297626

And for more on the assassination of Journalist hero Gauri Lankesh, please see below:

• https://www.cjr.org/special_report/gauri-lankesh-killing.php

• https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/14/magazine/gauri-lankesh-murder-journalist.html

Beats by KBRZBeats: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi-NGPTc2-hmrJzU-YsRu_g

This is an urgent and honest discussion I had w. Dr. Eli Friedman. We hope this interview brings attention to the recent arrest of China Labor Activist Xiangzi, Labor Organizing in China. the continued campaign of genocide in Xinjiang, and how our heritage (Armenian for me, Jewish for Dr. Friedman) informs our perspective on the global return of "Camps".

Dr. Freidman is organizing this event in the states, for progressives in the area I highly recommend checking it out. It's January 25th in NYC: www.thechinaquestion.org/

For more on Xiangzi, you can

• Sign the petition asking for his release: https://www.change.org/p/release-xiangzi-and-chinese-labor-activists

• Learn more about Xiangzi and other missing China Activists: https://madeinchinajournal.com/2019/12/23/lest-we-forget/

For more on Labor Reporting in China

• We both highly recommend the labor journal Chuang: http://chuangcn.org/journal/two/picking-quarrels/

• This map documents labor strikes and actions in Hong Kong : https://maps.clb.org.hk/strikes/en

For more on Hong Kong:

• We highly recommend Dr. Friedman's interview in Jacobin on Hong Kong: https://www.jacobinmag.com/2019/12/hong-kong-protests-leftists-international-support

• We also recommend the Lausan Collective in Hong Kong: https://lausan.hk/

Lastly for Xinjiang:

• There are countless resources, I think Austin Ramzy, Chris Buckley and Amy Qin's is among the best: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/11/16/world/asia/china-xinjiang-documents.html

• And here: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/28/world/asia/china-xinjiang-children-boarding-schools.html

• We also highly recommend the more culture focused websites of Yi Xiaocuo https://camp-album.com/home/gallery

Music by Aksil Beats : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtw1XbdazEUs57zQWd4D9zw

On December 14th, the largest protests since 2014, erupted in Bangkok. The cause? The potential ban of Thailand's Future Forward Party and their charismatic leader: Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit. To learn more, I was fortunate to speak with two local journalists.

Part 1 of our chat is with Cod Satrusayang (Twitter: @fishmyman). Cod is the EOC of the newly launched Thai Inquirer (@ThaiEnquirer) In our conversation we discuss the current state of Thai Politics.

In part 2 (from 40 minutes on) I speak with Journalist Teirra "Yam" Kamolvattanavith (Twitter:@Teirrabyte) on Feminism, why young Thai voters strongly support the Future Forward Party and Social Media's presence in Thai Politics.

Our conversation will give listeners an overview of recent political events, as well as drilling down for an in-depth look at youth involvement, feminism and if older voters will stand in the way of Thailand's future.

For more w. Cod please check out the Thai Enquirer here: https://www.thaienquirer.com/

And for more with Teirra, please check out her website here : https://www.tkamolva.com/

Music is by Lakey Inspired - https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired

Cod's introductory Beat is by Prod Riddiman: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdSuKogXJOZld5Dzw_9285w

Recently I spoke w. Jeffrey Andrews, Hong Kong's pioneer social worker: the first to come from a non-Chinese Background. Jeffrey's work involves building bridges with Hong Kong's Muslim, South Asian, Refugee and Domestic Worker Communities

What's unique about this podcast is we've actually built a tour based around it! For those interested in getting to know the communities we discuss, please check out our tour w. Jeffrey's organization: https://asiaarttours.com/tours/behind-the-bright-lights-tour-chungking-mansions/

Here we discuss all these issues, obstacles immigrants, refugees and Muslims face in Hong Kong, how solidarity is being built where it didn't exist before, and how much further Hong Kong has to go to build a truly new, just and fair system for all its inhabitants.

For more on Jeffrey, I can't recommend enough this wonderful profile of him in the LA TImes: https://www.latimes.com/world/asia/la-fg-hong-kong-minority-identity-20190307-story.html

Asia Art Tours recently had the great pleasure of speaking with Activists Xiaowen ( Twitter: @XiaowenLiang17) and Mimi on the brave, creative and boundry-erasing work of China's feminists.

Our conversation covers how 米兔(Me Too) existed in China, how (and why) the Chinese State punishes Feminists, The challenge of discussing gender roles with older generations, and how activists both within China and in the Diaspora fight back against sexism, patriarchy and misogyny.

Give these powerful women a listen and let us know what you think! Some amazing feminist groups to follow can be found below:

@RedCanarySong

@FreeXueqin (this broke after our podcast but long time activist Huang Xueqin was jailed. International pressure was crucial to helping the Feminist Five, and we should all show the same support for Huang)

@MetooInChina

@FeministChina(Show image is from their twitter)

@allisongrabbit (Feminist whose husband was jailed for being a Labor Activist)

@LetaHong (who wrote a fascinating text on Patriarchy and Feminist Activism in China).

@yangyang_cheng (one of the more interesting writers from China)

I deeply hope for a President Bernie Sanders, But, with the shocking defeat of Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party and the even more shocking doubling-down of his most prominent Leftist supporters in media that they did nothing wrong, I figured this would be the perfect time to release our conversation w. the Intercept's Jon Schwarz.

Jon is well known for his theory: The Iron Law of Institutions. That any organization's top priority is the survival of the organization, NOT the causes it fights for. I've long wanted to talk to Jon about how his law applies to the American Left. As a Leftist, I've grown exhausted by the parochialism and nepotism of the American Left, its media and its institutions. It strikes me as an endless cocktail party with the same list of guests, and on the outside looking in, the voices of the ordinary people they claim to represent.

Jon was willing to discuss all this with me, even reflecting on his own institution: The Intercept. We also touch upon Armenia and our mutual connections to the country, as well as the global struggles happening around the world. So sit back, and enjoy the conversation, it's a radically honest, good faith conversation about what's wrong with the American Left with a voice from inside the cocktail party, and a voice from the outside.

For more Info:

Jon on Samantha Power: https://theintercept.com/2019/09/11/a-memoir-from-hell-samantha-power-will-do-anything-for-human-rights-unless-it-hurts-her-career/?comments=1

Jon on The Iron Law of Institutions: http://www.tinyrevolution.com/mt/archives/001705.html

Jon on the Armenian Genocide: https://theintercept.com/2015/04/24/armenians-dont-understand-good-kind-holocaust-denial/

Beats by 30Hertz Beats https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJkqeAmR7vHhSlJHLsxZSXA

With recent developments in Sweden this week, we're releasing our two-part interview with Journalist Jojje Olsson (Twitter:@jojjeols) to discuss the case of Swedish Citizen Gui Minhai, what the case means domestically for Sweden and its relationship to China.

Part one focuses on the background of Gui Minhai and Jojje's reporting on the matter. It was recorded last spring. ( 29 Minutes)

Part two was recorded this week. It focuses on the breaking developments in Sweden regarding charges filed against Sweden's ambassador to China over her handling of Gui Minhai's Case. As well as the ramifications from the case on Swedish society. (from 29:15 onwards)

For more on Jojje, please head to his Twitter. And for Swedish Readers, you can check out his blog here: http://inbeijing.se/bulletin/

Producer's Note from Asia Art Tours:

We deeply value our guest as a journalist and his reporting on these cases. However, we'd like to note that we (at Asia Art Tours) view China, The US and the EU through I.F Stone's philosophy: All governments lie.

We believe in criticizing China, so long as we can hold the mirror to ourselves. When we do as Americans, we see our country is also producing hypocritical, bigoted politics of ethno-nationalism and governance by and for the 1%. When your Leader is Trump (or Johnson) it's hard to criticize other countries.

We roundly reject that Western nations (be it Sweden or America or UK) offers a more utopian or noble alternatives. All current governments are globally entangled in webs of capitalism producing worse and worse oppression, injustice and climate crisis. Whatever model that will save humanity, does not exist yet and will not be brought into existence by any current existing form of government that remains committed to capitalism or power.

Having said that, we're happy to host a variety of viewpoints. So long as those discussions can help us see the better world that's possible. We were very appreciative of Jojje and his dogged reporting on Gui Min Hai. A daughter cries out for her father, a man has disappeared. My politics are not one of parties and nations, but of people, talking to and helping one another. This is why I spoke with Jojje and this why I'll continue to interview guests who want to help others.

(Conversation has been lightly edited for clarity)

(Music from Eskry: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn7sTl5-v4Ik6OpPHTQkEVg)

And for a general overview of the case and this week's update's please see various coverage: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/dec/09/swedish-diplomat-anna-lindstedt-faces-trial-for-trying-to-free-china-dissident-gui-minhai

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/09/world/europe/sweden-ambassador-china.html

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3041486/china-cancels-trade-visit-sweden-over-detained-bookseller-gui