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[Live Tweet 
] Transnationally Asian Digital Conference Opening Panel:
Members of @NewNaratif, @lausanhk and @newbloommag will introduce their media movements, a brief overview of their work, as well their political contexts, and the histories of their organizations.
![[Live Tweet ] Transnationally Asian Digital Conference Opening Panel: Members of @NewNaratif, @lausanhk and @newbloommag will introduce their media movements, a brief overview of their work, as well their political contexts, and the histories of their organizations.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EkpybjJWkAEM34e.png "[Live Tweet ] Transnationally Asian Digital Conference Opening Panel: Members of @NewNaratif, @lausanhk and @newbloommag will introduce their media movements, a brief overview of their work, as well their political contexts, and the histories of their organizations.")
] Transnationally Asian Digital Conference Opening Panel: Members of @NewNaratif, @lausanhk and @newbloommag will introduce their media movements, a brief overview of their work, as well their political contexts, and the histories of their organizations.
Our super awesome panel tonight/today (wherever you happen to be tuning in from):
Moderator: @etammykim
@ChuaMinxi from @NewNaratif
@brianhioe from @newbloommag
Ah Boat from @lausanhk
Moderator: @etammykim
@ChuaMinxi from @NewNaratif
@brianhioe from @newbloommag
Ah Boat from @lausanhk
@etammykim The purpose my CJR essay was to draw a line through the 3 media outlets. Describing how these collectives captured an anti-nationalist view through the locality and diaspora.
A sharing centred around working people, rather than governments. https://www.cjr.org/special_report/transnationally_asian.php
A sharing centred around working people, rather than governments. https://www.cjr.org/special_report/transnationally_asian.php
@ChuaMinxi: The response from this event has been so exciting and unbelievable. Based in KL/HK. So issue of being transnationally Asian is personal.
@NewNaratif based in SE Asia, part of movement for democracy, freedom of expression, and freedom of information.
@NewNaratif based in SE Asia, part of movement for democracy, freedom of expression, and freedom of information.
We attempt to "transcend borders" as a media platform.
As SE Asians, we are trained to think in national ways, almost to antagonism. But our history has always been more complicated, defined by hybridity. Learned a lot from other staff members who share their own contexts.
As SE Asians, we are trained to think in national ways, almost to antagonism. But our history has always been more complicated, defined by hybridity. Learned a lot from other staff members who share their own contexts.
We hope that our stories expand our understandings of our own contexts as well as combat hypernationalist tendencies.
We also "transcend genre" by doing comics, podcasts, research articles. Doing multiple languages - want to make our work as accessible to SE Asians as possible.
We also "transcend genre" by doing comics, podcasts, research articles. Doing multiple languages - want to make our work as accessible to SE Asians as possible.
No matter how imperfect, our attempts I think are important in themselves.
E.g. the 1963 Malaysian Agreement - comic produced in multiple languages. MA63 is often overlooked in Peninsular Malaysia. Wanted to draw on Malaysian Borneo voices to lead this comic.
E.g. the 1963 Malaysian Agreement - comic produced in multiple languages. MA63 is often overlooked in Peninsular Malaysia. Wanted to draw on Malaysian Borneo voices to lead this comic.
In English, Chinese, Bahasa Melayu, Bahasa Iban.
One of our most popular pieces. Accessibility is not only equitable, it is popular and needed.
One of our most popular pieces. Accessibility is not only equitable, it is popular and needed.
What do we mean by "media movement"?
We try to: inform, empower, and advocate.
We want to write in a way that makes a tangible impact on the ground. We are media outlet with an explicit mission.
We try to: inform, empower, and advocate.
We want to write in a way that makes a tangible impact on the ground. We are media outlet with an explicit mission.
For example: “We Can’t Just Sit Still”: Malaysian Cleaners Protest Amid Pandemic
Focus on 5 organizers from a cleaners' union who were arrested for their organizing. It was building off a documentary and was picked up strongly internationally. https://newnaratif.com/journalism/we-cant-just-sit-still-malaysian-cleaners-protest-amid-pandemic/share/qnhthfgva/461d3759b27056db7082f4eb7bf4a89b/
Focus on 5 organizers from a cleaners' union who were arrested for their organizing. It was building off a documentary and was picked up strongly internationally. https://newnaratif.com/journalism/we-cant-just-sit-still-malaysian-cleaners-protest-amid-pandemic/share/qnhthfgva/461d3759b27056db7082f4eb7bf4a89b/
Put a lot of pressure on the police to answer for their trumped out charges. Only a few weeks ago, the organizers were cleared of their criminal changes and can go on organizing. The article and film were not sole causes of this. But it is beautiful to be part of tangible wins.
The Singaporean government constantly goes after our managing editor PJ - as @NewNaratif is one of the few independent news outlets in Singapore. We know we are making a difference.
@brianhioe: @newbloommag founded in 2014 and was a direct response of the Taiwanese Sunflower Movement against closer trade ties to China.
Wanted to look at the movement from a left wing angle and to do international dialogue - looking at structural issues of global capital.
Wanted to look at the movement from a left wing angle and to do international dialogue - looking at structural issues of global capital.
We have two organizational centres - in Taipei and NYC. About 30 folks. We try to have in depth analysis in politics, society, and culture.
A lot of the writing on Taiwan is not actually from Taiwanese people, but from a distant number of observers.
A lot of the writing on Taiwan is not actually from Taiwanese people, but from a distant number of observers.
Particularly on the global left, the view of Taiwan is stuck in a view that is decades-old. There is a wide and strong civil society and strong democratic push. Lots of organizations hungry to look internationally.
We see ourselves as filling a gap. We are openly partisan. We are left-wing, we are pro-independence. We want to say that instead of hiding behind a veneer of journalist objectivity.
We all share an activist background and tend to share a high English competency.
We all share an activist background and tend to share a high English competency.
One of the quirks of how we are founded is because lots of our members came from Philosophy of Mind department or medical students at National Yangming University.
We are currently looking for a joint physical space which will be an art space, zine library, and event space.
We are probably the largest English-language independent media outlet writing on Taiwan. Our niche allowed us to gain traction quickly. We do podcasts, zines, video.
We are probably the largest English-language independent media outlet writing on Taiwan. Our niche allowed us to gain traction quickly. We do podcasts, zines, video.
Most media outlets focus on a national basis. Thinking beyond borders is very difficult, including logistical problems. Having multiple languages even on one website is quite tricky. Looking forward to discussing these issues.
Ah Boat of @lausanhk: I have anonymize myself as a national of Hong Kong - so a lot of the work we do at @lausanhk has personal and family repercussions for me.
@lausanhk as a collective already has a lot of ambiguity. The general narrative of HK has been of neoliberal capture. Not a lot of emphasis on the former colonial regime, not a lot of emphasis on the battles between local people and their colonial masters.
Origin story: we started off as a group to mutual comfort each other when facing police brutality in HK. We started then moving into a reading list on raising the history from HK Chinese people fighting against British colonial government and its development into current form.
We have no founders, only members. Every person that contributes to this project is an important organizer, activist, writer, community member.
We have more than HK members. Taiwanese members, Mainland Chinese members.
We have lots of political left positions, diverse.
We have more than HK members. Taiwanese members, Mainland Chinese members.
We have lots of political left positions, diverse.
But we all want to build a better HK, a better world.
We write, translate, and organize. We believe that HK is great site to actually apply a radical left analysis of neoliberalism, capitalism, different ways in which globalization has led to exploitation of migrant workers.
We write, translate, and organize. We believe that HK is great site to actually apply a radical left analysis of neoliberalism, capitalism, different ways in which globalization has led to exploitation of migrant workers.
And how the only internationalism that exists currently is *capitalism*.
In HK, a city where domestic workers are paid $1000 USD a month and work overtime to maintain locals' houses - it is a site from which we can look at this big global questions. From there we go broader.
In HK, a city where domestic workers are paid $1000 USD a month and work overtime to maintain locals' houses - it is a site from which we can look at this big global questions. From there we go broader.
E.g. HK + Philippines transnational left collaboration on articles:
It cannot happen without translation! Translation is in itself a powerful political *praxis*. So much can be done to and from different languages and circulating economy of ideas. https://lausan.hk/2020/against-emergency-hong-kong-and-philippines/
It cannot happen without translation! Translation is in itself a powerful political *praxis*. So much can be done to and from different languages and circulating economy of ideas. https://lausan.hk/2020/against-emergency-hong-kong-and-philippines/
Something we are insisting on is our work should be just writing and editing.
How do we encourage our readers to do something politically? Not just for Hong Kong, but for liberation everywhere. We are trying to build a viable left alternative to status quo.
How do we encourage our readers to do something politically? Not just for Hong Kong, but for liberation everywhere. We are trying to build a viable left alternative to status quo.
So we try to do different events, panels, in-person direct action (although harder to do because of COVID).
E.g. BLM x HK Activist Exchange. https://lausan.hk/2020/notes-from-black-liberation-and-hong-kong/
E.g. BLM x HK Activist Exchange. https://lausan.hk/2020/notes-from-black-liberation-and-hong-kong/
Another thing we want to do going forward is political education. We believe that informing and educating people is one of the ways that we can build political power.
That's why there is a big ambiguity to what @lausanhk. @nytimes called us a "group".
That's why there is a big ambiguity to what @lausanhk. @nytimes called us a "group".
@etammykim: all three of your outlets are trying to make efforts in translation work, what does that look like?
@ChuaMinxi: Quite a few languages already represented in our 13 person team. In Malaysia, most ppl are bi or tri lingual. We have ppl in Indonesia, Cambodia.
We also work with freelance translators - trying to translate at least 1 article a week.
11 countries in SE Asia!
We also work with freelance translators - trying to translate at least 1 article a week.
11 countries in SE Asia!
@brianhioe: When we founded New Bloom, supposed to completely bilingual. It started 50% Chinese and 50% English. English started to grow more, because there was a dearth of English-language writing on Taiwan. So local folks would come to us for English translation.
We want to expand to other languages, deal with partner to translate articles to Spanish.
Our print zine is trying to build greater connections in E and SE Asia.
Lots sometimes depends on capacity of team. We have person fluent in Japanese - Okinawa self-determination
Our print zine is trying to build greater connections in E and SE Asia.
Lots sometimes depends on capacity of team. We have person fluent in Japanese - Okinawa self-determination
Ah Boat: We have a dedicated community of translators. This is a large volunteer community. We have folks that say, hey I speak Bahasa Indonesia, can I practice by working with you to get an article that my community would be interested in?
We want to highlight *both* Mainland Chinese and Hong Kong left perspectives. We have some partnerships with The Owl - a HK left perspective, we also translate lots of Mainland left perspectives that deserve to be more broadly read. Language barrier means they don't get coverage.
@etammykim: we are getting questions about US-China relations and these two hegemons. How do you deal with that?
@brianhioe: Taiwan originally was backed (and particularly right-wing dictators) by US. Even after there is a democratizing of Taiwan, there is still blind faith in trying to rely on US power.
Historical idealization of the US, including Trump. We try to push against that.
Historical idealization of the US, including Trump. We try to push against that.
But it does mean fighting a LOT of different groups. Fighting the pro independence right, the pro unification left. We are trying to develop a path for the pro independence left.
@ChuaMinxi: this is an interesting question for SE Asia. Our relation to US and China is not as direct. Philippines was a US colony. Cambodia and neighbours are very influenced by Chinese capital and it is having a massive social and environmental effects.
We wish to *recentre* the voice of the people of SE Asia through our work, outside of the machinations of external powers. We try to highlight the views of working class, not powerful companies and elites'
Ah Boat: The funny thing about @lausanhk is that we are (from the get go) against Washington and Beijing. This is a core tenet. The current tensions between US and China is a global rivalry between two capitalist and imperialist powers. We need to build an alternative.
If you're a tankie, you say you must choose sides. We need to support the CCP against the US.
For us and people on this panel, who are trapped against capitalist/imperial rivalry, we say we don't want to play and try to build power *elsewhere*.
For us and people on this panel, who are trapped against capitalist/imperial rivalry, we say we don't want to play and try to build power *elsewhere*.
But the question is always, *how* do we do that? Especially when our governments have completely bought into this interstate rivalry? But we are the power, not the government.
That means a lot of things to a lot of people. We people power from the grassroots.
That means a lot of things to a lot of people. We people power from the grassroots.
@etammykim: In terms of solidarity, how you define and practice it within your organizations?
Ah Boat: it means not just saying shit. I do a lot of translation and political education. We try to reaching out to our base and organize.
We do community workshops in different cities. Talking to community members, local organizations, that's what solidarity is.
We do community workshops in different cities. Talking to community members, local organizations, that's what solidarity is.
Going to Asians4Abolitions, meeting and supporting folks in BLM movements locals. Talking to community elders and going back and forth with translation. It's hard, it sucks, but its what we do.
@ChuaMinxi: its what Ah Boat said, its getting shit done. It is about transcending barriers that keeps us apart. Gender, national borders, race - these are very arbitrary and can be overcome.
We recognize we are part of a base community, we take care of each other.
We recognize we are part of a base community, we take care of each other.
There is an emotional part of this that also gets overlooked. We care about the people who are part of the struggle and helping you and offering support.
@brianhioe: I think a lot of issues we are grappling with on a national level are actually transnational in nature. Also the solution can be a *located* through one nation state.
We are always asked, what's the point and utility of solidarity work?
- Emotional support
- Sense of connection and common cause
- These issues actually *cannot* be address alone through one nationalism.
- Emotional support
- Sense of connection and common cause
- These issues actually *cannot* be address alone through one nationalism.
@etammykim: How did you set up your outlet, fund it, how do ppl get involved?
@ChuaMinxi: bulk of funding is membership-model funding. It is the future, we were on it in 2017. The reason for this is that we want to make sure work is:
- Free of advertising
- Free of external influence editorially
- Free of advertising
- Free of external influence editorially
We started as a looser collective. Over time, we needed to get more professional because of the amount of work necessary - couldn't hold a full time job anymore.
Get involved, join as a member! Ensure we can still produce content. Come to our open meetings and connect with us. We will also be setting up democracy classrooms - next one is tomorrow!
@NewNaratif is open to everyone who wants to learn about SE Asia - see how they can situate
@NewNaratif is open to everyone who wants to learn about SE Asia - see how they can situate
@brianhioe: We don't have any FT staff, we are all volunteers and have managed it all this time. But there are limits and constraints.
Ah Boat: @lausanhk we started out as a whatsapp group, now we are spinning out of control. Our members dump into a "bucket" like 20% of a fee they got for writing an article (lol).
We are 100% volunteer. So we have been thinking about different questions on finances.
We are 100% volunteer. So we have been thinking about different questions on finances.
We also don't have a bank account (lol x 2). If you want to send us money, just email us and we can figure it out (lol x 3). We just started a finance committee.
If you want to send us money, just go for it, we won't say no.
In terms of getting involved, we want lots of buckets of work for ppl to get into.
In terms of getting involved, we want lots of buckets of work for ppl to get into.
E.g:
1) LA abolition reading group
2) Transformative justice group
We are actually pretty disorganized (lol x 12987932)
See if theres a Lausan group in your city!
1) LA abolition reading group
2) Transformative justice group
We are actually pretty disorganized (lol x 12987932)
See if theres a Lausan group in your city!
@etammykim: How do you reach people who are in hard to reach places? In West Papua? In Xinjiang? Etc.
Blocked by language, geography, etc.
Blocked by language, geography, etc.
@brianhioe: this is definitely part of challenge. There are restricted areas of information. We usually encounter them in outside spaces that are less threatened by surveillance.
Diaspora groups are so crucial and suited for - in NYC, London - cannot do it closer to home.
Diaspora groups are so crucial and suited for - in NYC, London - cannot do it closer to home.
@ChuaMinxi: the biggest issue for us is not being in politically tense areas but rather being digital inherently.
Lots of folks we want to build with don't have good access to internet connection, may not be able to reach the site online.
Lots of folks we want to build with don't have good access to internet connection, may not be able to reach the site online.
Try to publish things in hard copy format as well - books, comics, zine. Very hard doing COVID. Same with in-person events in different communities, hope we can eventually return to that and talk to people face to face.
Not everyone can afford smart phone/computer.
Not everyone can afford smart phone/computer.
Ah Boat: Diaspora is the place where these connections can happen. The internet has been such an important tool for us - yet poverty, state control, closes many groups off to this.
Education is the first step. How can we reach people if we don't even know about them?
Education is the first step. How can we reach people if we don't even know about them?
Particularly with respect to Indigenous groups - we need to do more education and awareness and then we can think about how to follow up.
@etammykim: In terms of artistic production - are you building with fiction writers, musicians, others?
@ChuaMinxi: There's quite a few ppl on our team who are artists and fiction writers. We always wanted some level of art and culture analysis - best mediums for the *imagination*, which is so important for political discourse. We need to imagine a world diff from our own.
An artists' response piece is up on our site. There was a coup earlier this year in Malaysia - previously democratically elected government was overthrown in Feb 2020.
Commissioned a piece from a number of political artists that showed the psychological horror of this event.
Commissioned a piece from a number of political artists that showed the psychological horror of this event.
Communicated so much more even than a good written article - communicated it so powerfully.
We want to play with other forms of art, really expressing emotional aspect of what we want our political future to be.
We want to play with other forms of art, really expressing emotional aspect of what we want our political future to be.
@brianhioe: we have lots of members who are artists, film makers, musicians. Integrating that into the publication has been a bit difficult. There are plans to do a specific platform for these things. Building an artspace in dialogue with news stuff at NB to create community.
Ah Boat: We have a dedicated "Visual Culture" bucket/committee. We have a bunch of diff artists, that's why are stuff looks bomb. They are doing such incredible work.
Example: MoMA project" R&D | Salon 34: Anger
http://momarnd.moma.org/salons/salon-34-anger-1/
Example: MoMA project" R&D | Salon 34: Anger
http://momarnd.moma.org/salons/salon-34-anger-1/
I am a writer, I do cultural criticism.
Very interested in how good literature can be reflected of politics or whether there will always be a productive tension.
Unfortunately I cannot say more without doxxing myself (aiya)
Very interested in how good literature can be reflected of politics or whether there will always be a productive tension.
Unfortunately I cannot say more without doxxing myself (aiya)
@etammykim: that's all the time we have! Please join us tomorrow for a continuation of these conversations!
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