CONTENTS
THE BIG STORY
REKINDLING LOST CONNECTIONS
/ S H U T T E R S T O C K
E S T H E R P O O N
15 The connection recession
Husna Ara explores how loneliness and social isolation have become so pervasive across the world, and offers some ideas for how we find our way back to each other.
21 Remote solidarity
In increasingly isolating work places, people are finding new ways to organize, writes Eve Livingston.
25 Keeping up with the Khans
India’s ‘collective spirit ’ is increasingly challenged by the hold of neoliberalism – a shift that ’s also reflected in the country’s cinema, writes Ishika Saxena.
28 A 101 in lovelessness
Daisy Schofield reports from the ‘manosphere’ on the success coaches, ‘pick-up artists’ and men’s rights activists sowing anti-feminist sentiment among men and boys.
32 Chosen family
As threats against them increase, Pakistan’s gender non-conforming community are fighting back with queer solidarity, says Tooba Syed.
35 ‘Being racialized in patriarchal capitalist settings, that does something to the mind’ Husna Ara speaks to Samara Linton about race, mental health and the need for meaningful community.
4
CURRENTS
Stories making the news 8 Greenwashing aggression in the Caucasus Plus: Borderlines 9 Legal time travel in Bangladesh Introducing: Petr Pavel Plus: Seriously? 10 Bugging democracy in Greece Replenishing forest in Kenya Plus: Inequality Watch Plus: Sign of the Times 11 Finding refuge in London’s nature 12 IMF heaps demands on Pakistan Plus: Open Window 13 Nigeria’s youth ponder fight or flight Plus: Reasons to be cheerful
REGULARS 6 Letters
Plus: Why I… 7 Letter from Nauta
Stephanie Boyd reports from an Amazonian community fighting to save its language.
38 Country Profile: United Arab Emirates
40 Southern Exposure
Daniel Beloumou Olomo dazzles as he captures the contenders for Cameroon’s Miss Curvy and Beautiful, taking a break over a game of pool.
51 Temperature Check
Danny Chivers explores whether the Adani Group’s financial troubles could be good news for the climate.
52 The Interview
Indian physicist and food sovereignty activist Vandana Shiva reflects with Amy Hall on a life of following her conscience.
72 Hall of Infamy – King Mswati III
Absolute monarchy is a great lark – so long as you’re the King. But the stability Eswatini’s opulent autocrat has promised is starting to look like a mirage.
80 The Puzzler
81 Agony Uncle
A reader wonders whether to report a low-paid worker to their boss for dangerous behaviour.
82 What if…
Children led the fight for their rights? Time to listen to the natural rebels, argues Matt Broomfield.
NEW INTERNATIONALIST
