Image courtesy of Tricycle: The Buddhist Review

HEARTBREAK IN HONG KONG

SNA // 29th May 2020

As politicians in Beijing gathered for the annual meeting of The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the skies outside darkened, providing grim foreshadowing of events that would change the course of Hong Kong forever.

Photo courtesy of legco.gov.hk

CHINA REDUCES ELECTED SEATS IN HONG KONG LEGISLATURE 

Balance the Ballot // 1st April 2021

Critics argued that the reforms broadly intend to crack down against the pro-democracy movement, whilst Beijing officials said it was aimed to provide political stability.

Image taken by Darcy Miller

POLICE CONDUCT AT YOUTH CLIMATE STRIKES IN LONDON SPARK LEGAL CONCERNS

The Bigger Picture // 18th February 2020

Police conduct at London’s climate strikes last Friday was concerning by most accounts, and according to some was “unlawful”.

Image courtesy of Feroza Aziz/TikTok

US TEEN'S TIKTOK VIDEO ABOUT UIGHUR MUSLIMS GOES VIRAL

The Bigger Picture // 1st December 2019

A “makeup tutorial” posted by Afghan-American Muslim teenager Feroza Aziz to the social media app TikTok urging people to spread awareness about the repression of Uighur Muslims in the Xinjiang region has gone viral.

Image from Rep. Jim McGovern's Medium page

HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES IN TIBET

Balance the Ballot // 11th October 2019

Ever since the CCP incorporated Tibet into the PRC in 1950, there have been concerns over human rights abuses in the region. Whilst Beijing initially promised Tibet relative autonomy from China, they later compelled Tibet to take part in Mao’s Great Leap Forward economic plan, resulting in the deaths of at least hundreds of thousands of Tibetans. 

Image courtesy of Reuters

HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERNS IN XINJIANG

Balance the Ballot // 3rd October 2019

In recent years, China has made attempt to suppress Xinjiang’s majority Muslim population. They started by instituting a host of measures, such as banning “abnormal” long beards, the wearing of veils in public spaces, and giving children names such as “Muhammed” or “Fatimah," with the intention of “countering extremism and terrorism." In attempts to achieve the same goal, China has also detained more than a million Uyghur Muslims in “re-education” camps.

Photo taken by Darcy Miller

PROTESTORS IN LONDON STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH HONG KONG PROTEST MOVEMENT

Hong Kong Free Press // 2nd October 2019

Thousands rallied in over 40 cities around the world over the weekend in opposition to totalitarianism, and in solidarity with protesters in Hong Kong who also took to the streets en masse. Events were held in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Norway, South Korea, Taiwan, and other places. Photographer Darcy Miller captured the rally in London.

Photo taken by Darcy Miller

HONG KONG SOLIDARITY OF THE STREETS OF LONDON

SNA // 11th September 2019

StandwithHK, a Hong Kong solidarity organization, drove a digivan broadcasting live protest footage from Hong Kong through Central London. StandwithHK wrote on Facebook that the event aimed to “bring [the] current situation in Hong Kong to light and call for global solidarity with Hongkongers in our call for universal suffrage and democracy, and our fight against police brutality.”

Image courtesy of Sam Tsang

CARRIE LAM FAILS TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAME OF RESISTANCE

SNA // 9th September 2019

Chief Executive of Hong Kong Carrie Lam formally withdrew the controversial extradition bill last Wednesday, explaining in a five-minute television address that it was done “in order to fully allay public concerns.”