Understanding youth protests and activism in India’s northeast Conversation India’s northeast has had a chequered history of youth movements and has been home to some of the recent strong pro-democracy movements in the country. Being young in India’s northeast necessitates acts of social interventions of various kinds. In this conversation, Dr. Kaustubh Deka and Dr. Soibam Haripriya reflect on the locality of youth movements and the long history of the culture of protest in the region, as well as its larger resonance. By Dr. Soibam Haripriya and Kaustubh Deka
Solidarity with Ukraine Statement We declare our full solidarity with Ukraine. We stand by the side of our Ukrainian partners and colleagues, and at the same time also by the side of our partners in Russian civil society who are under harsh state repression. By Barbara Unmüßig and Dr. Ellen Ueberschär
Environment and 2022 budget: AMRIT KAAL or VISH KAAL? Article There are some welcome allocations and indications of shifts in thinking (e.g. in agriculture and climate). However, overall, environment continues to be a ‘sideshow’ – it is given a few token sops, while in fact financial allocations continue to fuel an economy that is fundamentally unsustainable. By Vikalp Sangam
Politicking Infrastructure Development in Northeast India Article It is in the development paradigm that the Northeast has witnessed various policies that include infrastructure development. However, infrastructure development in Northeast India entails injustice to both people and the environment. The author argues for locating infrastructure development from the sustainable development as well as justice framework. He stresses on serious engagement in infrastructural research in Northeast India to seek an alternative. By Raile Rocky Ziipao
Youth & democracy: 5 poems Poem The prose of Indian poet Haripriya Soibam describes youth's struggle to preserve and promote democracy. Read her five poems for "Young voices on the rise - Youth and democracy in the Asia-Pacific region". By Dr. Soibam Haripriya
“No-one is safe until everyone is safe” is a valuable piece of wisdom that should be used to measure all our efforts towards global solidarity, says health rights activist Marlise Richter. Interview Thoko Madonko from our Cape Town office speaks to Marlise Richter about inequity in access to covid vaccine in global south and gendered aspects of vaccine equity. By Thokozile Madonko and Dr Marlise Richter
Health expert KM Gopakumar speaks about global vaccine monopoly and challenges facing equitable COVID-19 vaccination Interview K.M. Gopakumar speaks to Shalini Yog Shah about global vaccine monopoly, TRIPS Agreement and hurdles in vaccine production By Shalini Yog Shah and K.M. Gopakumar
The art of missing the bus Last year, even as the coronavirus ambushed India, disrupting the economy and wreaking untold suffering on millions of its citizens, many saw in it a godsend opportunity to hit the reset button and build back a green and just economy. More than a year later, as we crawl out of the horrifying abyss of the second wave, green fantasies have given way to the more urgent task of quickly vaccinating everyone and reviving a battered economy. By Rakesh Kalshian
COVID-19: Who cares about trans bodies? Interview Dr. Rima Ghosh speaks to Shalini Yog Shah about transgender people’s ordeals during the pandemic and what needs to be done. By Shalini Yog Shah and Dr. Rima Ghosh Patranabish