The China Current with James Chau

In a world still struggling to come to terms with a pandemic, Norway is one of the least impacted. Its leader Erna Solberg went in hard and early to prevent infections from taking root, a strategy that has protected the country's more than 5 million people. In this wide ranging conversation with our Host James Chau, she shares some of the fundamental lessons from this ongoing experience. This interview is in partnership with SHE—the community, conference, and movement to achieve equality in society. Join their call at sheinsight.com.

Millions have now experienced the physical and mental toll of the virus spreading globally—including Peter Piot, who in 1976 co-discovered Ebola in Central Africa. In this special interview, he revisits his recent hospitalization, and near-death experience, describing it as a state of moving “between heaven and earth.” Our Host James Chau speaks to Professor Piot who is the Director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Follow us for stories on how the outbreak is shaping our modern world.

 

Part 1: I Moved Between Heaven and Earth

Part 2: A Major Shift in power relations 

Part 3: Protect Yourself, Protect Others

As global leaders continue to organize their pandemic response teams, U.S. leadership is balancing the need to maintain some sections of the economy while keeping people safe from the health crisis. It’s a hard-struck balance, and no one is exactly sure where it will lead us as some states begin to reopen. One organization, The Rockefeller Foundation, has set forth a national testing plan to meet the needs of this moment. President of The Rockefeller Foundation Dr. Rajiv J. Shah is leading this initiative to ramp up U.S. testing, all while working from home. We speak with him from his home in New York.

 

Part1: Meeting This Moment

Part2: The International Experience

Part3: Lessons From the Past

 

Although they are not with us today, our ancestors shine a continuous reflection on our lives, influencing our perceptions and interactions with the world in subtle yet powerful ways. In her latest film—The Farewell—actor, author, comedian, and rapper, Awkwafina returns to her Asian roots—telling the story of her grandmother’s last days and the ancestral background underpinning a new generation. It reveals the cultural nuances of an American woman finding comfort—and conflict—with her family’s heritage. Our Host James Chau speaks to our Contributing Editor Laura de Belgique about the importance of identity and ancestry.

In 2006, Muhammad Yunus won the Nobel Peace Prize for his contributions towards alleviating global poverty. Now, the "banker to the poor" is shifting his focus to today’s health crisis— to help transform a world already hurt by a range of inequalities. In a resounding call to action, he says every human being has unlimited capacity to change the future. Nobel laureate and social entrepreneur Professor Yunus speaks to our host James Chau in this special interview.

Part 1: Our Fate Moving Forward

Part 2: Restarting the Engine

Everyone is impacted differently in times of crises. Today, those with preexisting health conditions are facing increased barriers to treatment and access to medication, compounding the challenges they already face. Winnie Byanyima, UNAIDS Executive Director, speaks with our host James Chau about vulnerable populations and the hope that community leadership provides.

Part 1: This Crisis Is Not Equal

Part 2: Health is Not a Commodity

Part 3: The Power of Ordinary People

The world needs strong global partnerships in times of trouble. Jeffrey Sachs, economist and University Professor at Columbia University, sits down with our host James Chau to discuss the importance of international collaboration.

California womenswear brand L'AGENCE wanted to be supportive during these troubling times and did so in the way they know best: by donating jeans. L'AGENCE donated $1M of their denim to female health workers on the front lines, and while jeans aren’t a necessity in this crisis, they knew it was the best way to use their expertise to give back, express their gratitude, and put smiles on people’s faces. L'AGENCE CEO and Creative Director Jeffrey Rüdes designed this crisis-response campaign. Our host James Chau speaks to the brand’s CEO and President, Jeffrey Rüdes and Albert Schami, about this act of kindness in a time of division and the economic impact. So far, thousands of health workers have responded to the gifts with expressions of joy and thanks. L'AGENCE CEO and Creative Director, Jeffrey Rüdes, designed this crisis-response campaign. Our host James Chau speaks to him and the brand’s President Albert Schami about this act of kindness in a time of division and the economic impact the pandemic will have on American industry. 

 

The COVID-19 response is being led by leaders in politics, science and health. But one teenager in Hong Kong is reshaping that narrative with a platform she's created to involve people young and older. With a simple but effective action list, she is calling on everyone to participate in impactful solutions - and at the same time, reminding us to stay at home and to wash our hands. The message here is 'kindness' - and woven into it is a nuanced mission, she says, to demonstrate that the young people of Hong Kong, a city already battered by months of protests, are able to craft a happier future for themselves, and for everyone. 

Attica Scott is one of very few elected women of color in the United States. As a Kentucky State Representative, she is a unique face of leadership in a state that has battled poverty and racial division. The threat of COVID-19 has highlighted deep inequalities in healthcare systems, especially for minority communities who are already at a disadvantage. But despite these enormous challenges, Kentucky is currently relatively unscathed in the ongoing crisis— with a relatively low number of deaths and infections compared to its neighboring states. Our host James Chau speaks to Representative Scott about the community leadership behind Kentucky’s response, her concerns for people in rural areas, and how she and her colleagues are governing in a crisis. She says now is the time to put aside our divisions, break down walls, and focus on taking care of everyone to find a way to move forward.