Category: International

• Transcending the Bank Note: Striving to Be a Good Tourist in Bali

  March 12, 2024 2:45 pm Comments Off on Transcending the Bank Note: Striving to Be a Good Tourist in Bali

  On my recent trip to Bali, I heard Balinese Poet Pak Putu Oka Sukanta’s voice echo in my ears.
  In his poem bali dalam puisi, Pak Putu longs for his home, “the island of bali”. Yet, after his decade-long imprisonment on the island of Java, he confesses that Pulau (‘Island’) Bali is a fairy tale that he “doesn’t really believe in”. Pak Putu laments upon his return, for he observes “a bank note / flying right across your sky / and the arms of the kecak dancers / as their arms reach out and sway / never quite get hold of it”.
  As I explored and tried to connect deeply with Bali, as Australians are prone to do, I was often reminded of Pak Putu’s resonant yet transient image of bank notes flying across the Balinese sky. I also found resonance in the latter part of Pak Putu’s observation: those kecak dancers whose arms were outreached, whose bodies swayed, but could never quite grasp hold of the bank notes.
  Was I a walking bank note when I became one of the millions of visitors who flew into Ngurah Rai airport in January? Was I a walking bank note when I explored the streets of Singaraja? Indeed, was I still a walking bank note when I ordered tahu tempe goreng at a small warung using Bahasa Indonesia (‘Bahasa’)? And if I was a walking bank note, how could I opt out of this? How could I instead make meaningful connections? Is it possible, as someone who is inescapably an outsider?
  As a Bahasa Indonesia student, I tried to use Bahasa (and a few words of Basa Bali) in every taxi, with every shop assistant, at every warung and restaurant. I caught local buses, texted my Gojek drivers exclusively in Bahasa, and covered up as much of my body as I could. Despite my best efforts to repudiate from tourist stereotypes, I was still a bule (pale-skinned foreigner). A label which didn’t feel nearly as loaded when I was in Java just before going to Bali. In taxis, drivers would talk to me about Bule Gila (literally crazy foreigner), which is sadly a common sight in Bali. The kind of bule that perpetuates the Bule Gila image is a reckless and obnoxious motorcycle driver, a bintang-and-babe-loving beach club goer. Behind this stereotype is the unspoken reality that they lack respect for traditional practices, often fail to engage meaningfully with local people and sometimes don’t even acknowledge locals at all.
  The existence — and pervasiveness — of Bule Gila in Bali is a deeply saddening sight. Set against a backdrop of unbelievable natural beauty and thousands of sites of historical, cultural, religious and political significance, I was struck by the transactional and superficial nature of tourism in Bali. Once again Pak Putu’s voice echoed in my ears. We can see from his poem that culture has become a spectacle for tourists. He asks his fellow Balinese artists, when he visits their shops: “What do you have left for yourselves?” He “gapes” when he realises that everything has been put out for the visitors.
  What Pak Putu is able to verbalise in his poem is an undeniably striking image. It reminds me of a beautiful house, each room delicately curated and tended to. And as tourists in Bali, we often walk through these houses, with a lack of courtesy and respect for those who live in these spaces and who maintain them for us to see. I hope that in sharing this piece, we as bules in Bali will better enrich ourselves and our own cultural knowledge, and that together, we can improve the culture of respect when we are in Bali.
  Balinese history and especially Balinese tourism history has existed since before Indonesia even existed (when Indonesia was still the East Indies) and is thus implicated by a series of cultural trends and moments. I must concede that I am certainly no expert on Indonesia, and especially not an expert on Bali. I also wish to note that in writing this article for Woroni, I feel a great sense of responsibility in how I represent the archipelago of Indonesia in this piece and do not intend to consider Bali as a mere place for study, for it is the home of my friends, and a place rich with beauty and human life. To suggest otherwise would be to deprive millions of their world.
  In the summer of 2023, I went to Indonesia for an almost two-month exchange program which contained study at a University in Jakarta as well as an internship at an NGO. At this time, I first read the work of Clifford Geertz, who presents a “to-know-a-city-is-to-know-its-streets approach to things”. I felt that when I was in Jakarta for those two months, that I got to know the streets of Jakarta and in doing so, at least in my own heart, I felt that I had truly transcended the tourist label. Yes, I was still a bule, but I had a strong awareness of my place within Jakarta. Comparing my experiences as a student and worker in Jakarta with my experiences as a tourist in both Java and Bali has led me to feel that tourism in its current form is not the best way to engage with Indonesia, especially Bali.
  How should we transcend the bank note and strive to be better bules in Bali? This is something I am still grappling with, but I am certain that these three strategies will maximise your experience and what you learn:

      Use local language wherever possible. This is not to say that you need to study courses on Indonesian Language, but rather research greetings, like selamat pagi (good morning), selamat siang (good day from approximately 11-2pm), selamat sore (good day after 2pm) and selamat malam (good evening). Especially in Bali, it is important to try and implement Basa Bali into your speech — even using “suksma” for thank you, in the place of “terima kasih”.
      Learn about terms of respect; the use of Pak, Ibu, Mas, Mbak (father, mother, brother, sister in place of Mr and Mrs) in Bali it is Bli, Mbok and addressing people correctly is an important sign of respect in Indonesia. Doing this is a great way to set you apart from other tourists.
      Politely look people in the eye and acknowledge them when you walk past (using Bahasa and correct terms). Finding ways to engage with locals will maximise what you can learn about Bali, as well as help challenge stereotypes that exist about Balinese people.

  In my experience, these are all things we can do to get to know a place and become familiar with its streets. Using these tips, I hope that you’ll be able to move beyond the tourist stereotypes and become more familiar with what Bali actually looks like. I hope that one day, Pak Putu can visit Bali again, and he will return to a place of spirituality, art and natural beauty, which in no way resembles a fairy tale, but is real and authentic and true to itself.

  Rosie Bendo

• The 2021 Olympics: Celebrating Women in Sport 

  August 5, 2021 12:42 pm Comments Off on The 2021 Olympics: Celebrating Women in Sport 

  Content Warning: Mentions of Sexual Abuse 
   The Tokyo Olympics this year tells a tale of startling adversity. Postponed from last year due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Japan has gone ahead, albeit with fewer crowds and greater social distancing. This is despite a growing spike in the number of coronavirus cases in Japan and record costs incurred for setting up the Olympics. On top of this, both the Games’ creative director and the president of the organizing committee resigned due to sexist comments they made to colleagues. All of these things seemed to scream that the Olympics this year would be a complete failure. However, despite the poor reception of the opening ceremony, I would say it’s been going pretty well as a foreign viewer. 
   The popularity of the Olympic games has remarkably heightened due to an increased need to connect digitally amidst growing division caused by the pandemic. Rallying behind your country’s Olympic athletes and sharing a sense of national pride from their achievements provides temporary escapism from the impacts of the pandemic. 
   However, I don’t want to spout the same rhetoric you always hear when it comes to the Olympics. “What a time of international cooperation and peace!” “Aren’t our Olympic Games progressive examples of diversity in sport!” Obviously, watching the Tokyo Olympics doesn’t exactly fix any of sports’ many, many issues – especially when it comes to women, people of colour, trans, nonbinary, and individuals with a disability. But, I think it’s still worth shedding light on some of the athletes who have inspired me with their dedication, skill and resilience. 
   Laurel Hubbard 
  Hubbard is a trans athlete from New Zealand competing in weightlifting in the 87kg + category. She is the first openly trans athlete who has ever competed at the Olympics and the oldest weightlifter to qualify at 43. She has only been competing internationally since 2017. She hasn’t spent a lot of time in the public eye but has been vocal about the struggles she has faced competing as a trans athlete. These struggles were made even clearer with her addition to the Olympics team, which sparked much controversy. In spite of this, Hubbard is still set to compete. Although at the time of writing this, she hasn’t competed in her category yet.
   Jian Fong Lay
  Lay is an Australian athlete hailing from Melbourne, Victoria. Lay competed in this years’ table tennis and has been an unknown staple in the Olympics since 2000 despite competing in six Olympic Games and three Commonwealth Games. Along with that, she also holds the position of number one female table tennis player in Australia. Despite her exemplary participation in the Olympic games, I think her inclusion in this year’s Olympics is truly amazing. Especially considering that she’s almost 50, has two kids and was a late addition to the Australian team. I still think she did remarkably well, beating out Cuba and Italy, however, eventually losing to Germany in her final match. It’s still up in the air about whether or not she will compete in the next Olympics, but I think it would be wonderful to see her again. 
   Simone Biles
  Biles, coming from the United States, is an internationally acclaimed gymnast. She holds a record total of 31 world championships and Olympic medals. I could genuinely go on forever listing her achievements as an athlete. She has also been vocal about her experiences with sexual abuse within gymnastics, as well as the difficulties she experienced in making it to the level of success she has reached. This year alone, she was the only athlete to qualify for every individual Olympic sport within gymnastics. She also sparked controversy for bowing out of three of her Olympics competitions this year, citing mental health issues. But many, myself included, support Biles in her decision to not compete, especially when it was at the cost of her health. I often think in areas such as sport, athletes are pushed to their limits and encouraged to push past them. There’s nothing wrong with this mindset inherently, but if the asking price for a gold medal is your health and wellbeing – Biles’ ability to refuse to pay that price can give the rest of us some courage to look after ourselves a bit better as well. 
   Elaine Thompson-Herah
  Last but certainly not least is Thompson-Herah. She competed for Jamaica within this years’ Olympics in both the 100m sprint and the 200m sprint. But she’s been competing internationally since 2013, repeatedly breaking her own records over the years. This year’s Olympics were also exceptional for her. She broke an Olympic record in the 100m sprint with a time of 10.61 seconds and is currently the fastest woman alive. As of writing, she is still yet to complete the 200m sprint final, but considering what she has already achieved, I wouldn’t be surprised if she took out gold for the 200m as well. 
   Now, these athletes by a long shot, aren’t the only ones who should be celebrated. In fact, I’m sure I could write articles for days about the amazing women and athletes who have made the Olympics a more inclusive and interesting global event. But these were some of the athletes this year that stood out to me, not only for their achievements but the adversity that many of them faced competing in the Games this year. I am not a self-confessed sports lover, but every four years the Olympics draws me out to watch athletes from around the world compete at the highest levels in a wide range of sports. These athletes have all challenged what it means to be competing as a woman at the highest level. Once again, I couldn’t be more grateful for all the athletes who have forged the path to make sports more diverse and inclusive. However, we still have a long way to go. 
   

  Ashley Davies

• आइए हिंदी सीखने के लिए मजेदार तरीके देखें। | Some Fun Tricks to Understand Hindi

  April 9, 2021 1:40 pm Comments Off on आइए हिंदी सीखने के लिए मजेदार तरीके देखें। | Some Fun Tricks to Understand Hindi

  रुकावट के लिए खेद है। आपकी अंग्रेजी के पटरी पर यह हिंदी भाषा की रेल को चढाने के लिए माफ़ कीजियेगा, परन्तु मेरे मुँह दिखाई के लिए वोरोनी(Woroni) से अच्छा माध्यम कहाँ मिलेगा मुझे ANU में।
  मैने सुना है कि ANU में भी कई छात्र हिंदी सीखते हैं और कई ऐसे छात्र भी हो सकते हैं जिन्हे अपनी हिंदी सुधारनी हो। तो मैंने सोचा क्यूं ना हिंदी सीखनेके लिए थोड़े आसान नुस्के बताए जाए ताकि बच्चों को हिंदी सीखने में आसानी हो और मज़ा भी आए।
  पहले तो हिंदी में कोई भी मोन अक्षर (साइलेंट लेटर्स) नहीं है। हिंदी को जैसे लिखते हैं वैसे ही पढ़ते हैं और जैसे बोलते हैं वैसे ही लिखते हैं। हिंदी एकबोहुत ध्वन्यात्मक (फिनेटिक्स) भाषा है। तो जब आप हिंदी पढ़ें तोह शब्दों को ज़ोर ज़ोर से बोलकर पढ़ें और जैसे लिखा है वैसे ही पढ़ें। अक्सर लोगों को‘उ’ और ‘ऊ’, और ‘इ’ और ‘ई’, में दुविधा होती है तोह आप ध्यान दीजिए की आप शब्द बोलते समय उस अक्षर को कैसे बोलते हैं। अगर आपने ‘उ’ परज़ोर दिया तो वोह बड़ी ‘ऊ’ होगी जैसे ऊपर जहां आप ‘ऊ’ पर ज़ोर देते हैं जबकि उल्लू में आप ‘उ’ पर ज्यादा ज़ोर नही देते। ‘इ’ और ‘ई’ का भी ऐसे हीपढ़ सकते हैं जैसे इमारत और ईदगाह। हिंदी में काफी लोगों को कि और की में भी दुविधा होती है। कि यानी अंग्रेजी में डेट (that) और की यानी किसीकी चीज जैसे नित्य की किताब (possession- Nitya’s book)।
  अगर आपको हिंदी सीखना है तो बॉलीवुड चलचित्र (फिल्म) देखना एक बोहुत मजेदार तरीका है। आप हिंदी फिल्म देख के हिंदी समझने की कोशिशकर सकते हैं। अगर आपको हिंदी पढ़ना आता हो तो आप उस मूवी को हिंदी अनुशीर्षक (सबटाइटल्स) के साथ देख सकते हैं। जो लोग हिंदी से ज्यादावाकिफ नहीं हैं वो हिंदी में डब किया हुआ अंग्रेजी चलचित्र (या आपका राष्ट्रिक भाषा का चलचित्र) देख सकते हैं जो आपने पहले देखा हो ताकि आपउस चलचित्र के कहानी को पहले से ही जान सके और आपको वे अभिनताओं की बोली समझ आए। या आप अंग्रेजी अनुशीर्षक के साथ हिंदी में फिल्मदेख सकते हैं। हिंदी गाने भी आप सुन सकते हैं क्योंकि धुन इंसान को ज्यादा जल्दी याद होती है।
  किसी भी भाषा को बेहतर जानने के लिए आपको उस भाषा में अक्सर वार्तालाप करना चाहिए। आपके साथी जो हिंदी सीख रहे हैं आप उनके साथ याANU में जो बच्चों को हिंदी आती है आप उनसे हिंदी में बात कर सकते हैं। गूगल (Google) के अलावा (ध्यान रखिएगा कि गूगल ट्रांसलेट हमेशा सही नही होता है), ऐसे कईं ऐप (app) हैं जैसे डुओलिंगो (Duolingo) जिन्हें इस्तेमाल करके आप अपनी हिंदी सुधार सकते हैं। यूट्यूब (YouTube) परआप छोटे बच्चों के लिए हिंदी में बनाई गईं वीडियो देखकर भी सीख सकते हैं।
  मेरे हिंदी सीखने के नुस्के तो समाप्त हुए परंतु आप यहां थामिएगा नहीं। हिंदी बोलते रहिए और हिंदी सीखते रहिए। हिंदी में बात करें, किताब पढ़ें, गानेसुने और फिल्म देखते रहें। एक अनजान भाषा को सीखने पर इंसान को नए दोस्तों के साथ एक नया आत्मविश्वास और कुछ नया जानने की खुशी भीमिलती है। आप सब से अब मैं अलविदा लेती हूं। उम्मीद है हम फिर जल्द ही मिलेंगे। खुश रहिए और सीखते रहिए।

  ***
  Sorry for the interruption. I’m about to barge in with my Hindi language train onto your English language train, asI thought there was no better place at ANU than Woroni to show up. 
  I have heard that some students are learning Hindi at ANU, and that there are also people who simply want to improve their Hindi speaking and writing skills. So I’ve decided to write about a few fun and easy tricks to learn Hindi to make your language learning journey easier.
  First of all, Hindi does not have any silent letters. The way you write Hindi is the way you speak the language, and the way you pronounce a word is exactly the way you write it. Hindi is a very phonetic language, so it’s easier if you say the words out loud while reading in Hindi. People often get confused between a few alphabets in Hindi, namely the ‘उ’ and ‘ऊ’, and ‘इ’ and ‘ई’. When using these similar alphabets, always pay attention to how you are pronouncing each alphabet. When pronouncing ‘उ’ (oo), if you stress on the word as in the case of the Hindi word for ‘up’ (‘ऊपर’), you are using the larger form (‘ऊ’). If you don’t stress on the alphabet, you use the smaller form (‘उ’), as in the case with the Hindi word for ‘owl’, (‘उल्लू’). The same goes for the letter ‘इ’ – for example when pronouncing the Hindi words ‘इमारत’and ‘ईदगाह’ (where the bigger form ‘ई’ is used), meaning a building and the festival Eid respectively. In Hindi, a lot of people are also confused when using the Hindi term for that and when saying someone’s, as both are pronounced as Ki in Hindi. When it comes to writing, ‘कि’ means ‘that’ while ‘की’ is used to say Nitya ki Kitab (Nitya’s book) – an act of possession (someone’s book).
  An entertaining way of learning Hindi is to watch Bollywood movies. If you know how to read Hindi, then you can watch the movie with Hindi Subtitles. Otherwise, simply watch the movie and try to understand the dialogue. If you are new to Hindi, you can watch movies traditionally made in the English Language (or the language you are most comfortable using), that you have already seen, but this time subtitled  in Hindi. This is helpful because you are already aware of the context in which the actors are conversing, so it’s easier for you to understand what they’re saying. You can also listen to songs in Hindi, as some people find it easier to memorize or remember words if they are in the form of a song. 
  In order to master any language, it’s important to keep practising it. Keep talking in Hindi to your peers  or with other people at ANU who are familiar with the language. Apart from Google (Google translate is not always accurate), there are other apps which can help you learn Hindi, such as  Duolingo. You can also watch videos in Hindi that are made for kids on YouTube to familiarise yourself with the basics of the language.
  These are  the only tricks up my sleeve to learn Hindi but you definitely shouldn’t stop here. Keep conversing in Hindi, read Hindi books, watch Hindi movies and listen to Hindi songs. Learning a new language does not only make it easier to make new friends but it builds your self-confidence and it’s a good feeling to know a language previously foreign to you. That’s all from me, I hope you keep learning and I hope to see you soon!
   
   
  Think your name would look good in print? Woroni is always open for submissions. Email write@woroni.com.au with a pitch or draft. You can find more info on submitting here.

  Nitya Narasimhan

• It Is Time for Change

  April 1, 2021 12:53 pm Comments Off on It Is Time for Change

  ⽇日本には、男⼥女女間の不不平等の深い歴史がある。残念ながら、この歴史は今⽇日にまで⾄至り、⼥女女性は 労働⼒力力で成功するために、奮闘し続けている。毎年年、世界経済フォーラムは経済、政治、教育、 健康の4つの分野のデータから分析されて、各国のジェンダー平等の進展を評価している。2020 年年のレポートによると、⽇日本の順位は153か国中121位で、しかも2019年年に⽇日本の順位は153 か国中110位だったと⾔言う。⽇日本に男⼥女女共同参画が繁栄するためには、何が求められるだろう か。⽇日本の性差別的イデオロギーに「続けている」ことをやめるようにどうやって挑戦すること ができるでしょうか?
  ⽇日本にジェンダーの不不平等が存在する理理由を理理解するには、始めに、⽇日本でジェンダーを取り巻 くイデオロギーを⽀支えてきた歴史を明らかにする。⽇日本は歴史的に⺟母系制の社会だったが、江戸 時代に儒教が興った際に、男性の⽀支配と階層は、社会で⼥女女性の⼒力力を低下させた。これが「家制度」 の始まりを示した。⻄西洋史でジェンダーの役割と同様に、「家制度」とは、⼥女女性は家事をしたり、 男性が家族を⽀支えるために働ったりすることを⾔言う。これは⽇日本⼈人⼥女女性の⽣生活の多くの⾯面に影響 を与えた。例例えば、⼥女女性の新しい役割は、⼦子供、特に男性の⼦子供を産み、夫に仕えることだった。 ⽇日本は多くの先進国よりもはるかに遅れて、「家制度」を紹介したので、⽇日本社会でジェンダー の不不平等がどのように続いているかを理理解するのは簡単だと思う。理理解できるということは、⾔言 い訳ができるという意味ではありません。
  では、今⽇日の⽇日本の歴史はどのように社会に現れているのでしょうか。
  ⽇日本⼈人の外国⼈人労働者が書いた「我慢」の概念についての報告を⾒見見つけました。「我慢」とは、 あなたは不不快にさせても、笑顔で耐えるべきだという考えだ。「我慢」という⾔言葉の意味は、⽇日 本で働く⾃自分の将来を悲しく思う。⻄西洋社会では、⼈人々は⼤大声で⾃自分の意⾒見見を共有するように教 えられています。⽇日本のジェンダーの不不平等の⼤大きな理理由は個⼈人的な意⾒見見の拒絶だと思う。⽇日本 は、ジェンダーの平等が当たり前になるまでには⻑⾧長い道のりがあります。 2013年年、安倍晋三⾸首相 は「ウーマノミクス戦略略」と呼ばれる国家⽬目標を発表し、2020年年までに⽇日本企業で⼥女女性が企業の 指導的役割の30%を割りたが、それから、2020年年には、⼥女女性はこれらの役割の5%しか割りてい なかった。⽇日本は急速に成功していませんが、変化はあり得ると思う。
  ⼥女女性が⽇日本で認識されて、地位を⾼高めるには、さまざまな⽅方法があると信じる。多くの報告は、 政治における⼥女女性の割合の増加を中⼼心に⽇日本のジェンダー不不平等の問題を解決するの結論づけて いる。現在、BBCニュースによると、衆議院議員の10%だけが⼥女女性だを⾔言う。より多くの⼥女女性が 政治に参加すれば、するほど⼥女女性の権利利のために戦うことができるでしょう。
  ⽇日本で、伝統的なジェンダー役割に基づいた無意識の偏⾒見見や社会の期待が多いだ。ジェンダーの 不不平等の問題が変わらないものなら、⽇日本の未来は明るくなさそう。⼥女女性が⼀一緒に⽴立ち、⽇日本の ジェンダーの不不公正について発⾔言すれば、私たちはもはや 「続けている」 必要はありません。
   
  ***
  Japan has a deep history of gender inequality. Unfortunately, this history continues to this day, with many women struggling to succeed in the workforce. Each year, the World Economic Forum analyses data from four areas: economics, politics, education, and health which together assess the progress of gender equality in each country. According to the 2020 report, Japan ranked 121st out of 153 countries, and in 2019, Japan ranked 110th out of 153 countries. What is required for gender equality to prosper in Japan? How can we challenge Japan’s sexist ideology to stop “keeping on”?
  To understand why gender inequality exists so strongly in Japan, I first want to clarify the history that has underpinned this social ideology in Japan.
  Japan has historically been a matrilineal society, but when Confucianism emerged during the Edo period, male rule and hierarchy reduced the power of women in society. This marked the beginning of the “family system”. Similar to the role of gender in Western history, the “family system” refers to women completing household chores and men working to support their families. This has significantly influenced many aspects of life for Japanese women. For example, the new role of women was to give birth to children, in particular male children, and to serve their husbands (author’s note: gross). As Japan introduced the “family system” much later than many developed countries, it’s understandable that gender inequality continues in Japanese society. Understandable does not mean excusable.
  So, how has Japan’s history manifested in society today?
  I found a report describing a concept known as “endurance”, written by a foreign worker in Japan. “Endurance” is the idea that you should carry on with a smile, even if it makes you uncomfortable. The meaning behind the word “endurance” makes me sad about my future working in Japan. In Western societies, people are taught to share their opinions loudly and freely. I think a core cause of the sustained gender inequities in Japan is the suppression of personal opinions.
  Japan has a long way to go before gender equality becomes the norm. In 2013, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced a national goal called the “Womenomics Strategy,” which stated by 2020, women should hold 30 percent of the corporate leadership roles in Japanese companies, yet when 2020 arrived, women held only 5percent  of these roles. Japan has not seen rapid success, but I think things can change.
  I believe there are many ways for women to be recognised and empowered in Japan. Many reports conclude that Japan’s gender inequality problem will be resolved by focusing on increasing the proportion of women in politics. Currently, according to BBC News, only 10 percent of members in Japan’s House of Representative are women. The more women participate in politics, the more women will be able to fight for their rights in Japan.
  In Japan, there are many unconscious prejudices and social expectations based on traditional gender roles. If the issue of gender inequality remains the same, Japan’s future is unlikely to be bright. If women stand together and speak up about the gender injustice in Japan, we will no longer have to keep on keeping on with gender inequality.
   

  Saskia O’George

• The 2020 US Election Wrap-Up, What Happened?

  November 30, 2020 8:41 pm Comments Off on The 2020 US Election Wrap-Up, What Happened?

  The US election is the most publicised election worldwide. Being a global superpower and a bastion for Western democracy, the implications for the entire world, even Australian folks, are tangible. Whether you missed it because you were studying for exams or whether you were biting your nails the entire time, here’s a quick wrap-up of the US election, how the results unfolded and what this means for the US going forward.
  Before the Election
  Multiple pollsters, pundits and psephologists predicted a landslide victory for Biden. The Economist predicted that he had a 92% chance of winning the electoral college with clear landslide victories in the Rust Belt states (especially Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania). Gallup polls put Trump’s approval rating nationwide before the election at only 46%. Early victories were predicted to be possible in the traditional Republican heartlands of Texas and Florida, despite Texas having last supported a Democrat nominee in 1976. The polls put Biden on track to the White House in what would have been a national repudiation of Trumpism.
  What were the key issues before Election Day? Pew Research Centre polls listed the following ‘most important’ issues from their surveyed sample: 79% of respondents cited the economy, while health care trailed not too far behind (68%) and of course management of COVID-19 (62%) featured high on the list. Whether you’re a white working class man, suburban professional woman or African-American university student, the pandemic was an especially contentious issue given that over two-thirds of Americans know someone who was diagnosed with COVID-19. These were the issues set to define the election and how Republicans and Democrats could engage with voters nation-wide.
  What unravelled on election day, however, showed that despite Biden’s win, Trumpism and its causes cannot be underestimated or seen as a mere aberration. Trumpism has created a lasting impact on the American political landscape.
  Election Day: 3rd November 2020
  When polling booths opened across the nation, it was widely expected to be a landslide victory for Biden. Biden campaigned heavily in the Rust Belt, Barack Obama campaigned in Florida, and Cindy McCain – wife of former Republican presidential candidate John McCain – disparaged Trump in Arizona. Record low approval ratings, poor polls, and mismanagement of COVID-19 set an unfavourable stage for Trump. However, it became quickly apparent that Trump’s voters were not to be underestimated and that the election was going to unfold in unexpected ways.
  Contrary to the polls, Trump and Biden were neck and neck in Florida and Texas on election day. Early ballots favoured Biden, yet the red mirage of the Lone Star State and the Lighting Capital turned into a red curtain. Biden’s potential early victory and clear pathway to the White House was crushed. As Trump made unfounded, early declarations of victory, it quickly became apparent that this was going to be an election fought to the last ballot, tooth and nail. As safe states such as Alaska, California, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Ohio, Hawaii and Indiana were called, all eyes were focused on Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona and Nevada, and days later, on Georgia and Pennsylvania. The red mirage prevailed and election day votes heavily favoured Trump. Biden was trailing by wide margins in Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. Trump also seemed to have a comfortable lead in Georgia, a Republican stronghold for decades.
  Multiple pathways to winning the electoral college meant that at this point, both candidates still had options available, but Biden could afford more losses. Trump had to win Georgia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Alaska, Michigan and Wisconsin. Biden, being bolstered by safe Democrat states such as California (with 55 electoral college votes), only needed Michigan, Wisconsin, Nevada and Arizona. As mail-in ballots, (which heavily favoured Biden) were delivered, Trump’s lead narrowed and Arizona flipped blue. Trump began to run out of options and his chances of re-election were slimming as millions of mail-in ballots were counted in favour of the Democrats. Pennsylvania, Nevada, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona and Georgia (a miracle since the state was last won by a Democrat nominee in 1992) delivered Biden the presidency with a solid 306 electoral college votes. Trump scored a total of 232 electoral college votes, 72 votes shy of his 2016 performance. It was an incredibly tight race, one that the world watched, increasingly on edge as it progressed. Biden won Arizona by only 10,000 votes, Pennsylvania by 63,000 and Wisconsin by 20,000.
  As protests, allegations of voter fraud, attempted entries into vote counting centres and Trump campaign lawsuits mired results sporadically, we have to ask one question. What’s the enduring political narrative that led to one of the most divisive elections in US history?
  Polling, What Happened?
  What do the results mean for US politics going forward? Firstly, the polls got it wrong, awfully wrong. Even though Biden won, it wasn’t by the wide margins pundits predicted, not at all. Predictions had Florida flipping blue and Biden making a victory speech soon after election day. Multiple reasons have been suggested as to why the polls missed the mark yet again. The main reason: white working class voters refused to talk to pollsters, or they lied about their voting preferences. Commercial polls like Rasmussen and Gallup only reported results where 6% of canvassed voters responded meaning heavily skewed and unrepresentative results. These are challenges the polling industry will have to address in the coming years in order regain trust in the country, and more importantly regain accuracy for future elections, lest we hear more exclamations of “the polls got it wrong again.”
  Mail-in Ballots and Changing Demographics
  Why did early results favour Trump and how did Biden eventually pull ahead in so many states? Trump’s urging of voters to vote in-person on election day may have played a part in forming the red mirage we saw in those key battleground states. But mail-in ballots played a larger role. Millions of Republicans flocked to polling booths while many Democrats opted to vote by mail instead. The United States Postal Service, despite being a 600,000 strong employee service, was stretched incredibly thin as millions of mail-in ballots across the nation had to be delivered to counting stations. Trump’s early leads, mainly from rural conservative counties, were diminished because mail-in ballots (from metropolitan areas such as Philadelphia and Atlanta) heavily favoured Biden and contributed to states such as Pennsylvania and Georgia flipping well after election day. Flips in traditionally red states also represent a shifting demographic change in the US driven by young people moving south and growing minority populations. Georgia tells this story rather neatly where white voters made up 61% of registered voters in 2010. In 2020, they made up just 53% of registered voters, while Asian, African-American, and Latino voter registration, which generally favoured the Democrats, skyrocketed.
  Trumpism is Here to Remain
  Although this was an election which was proposed to be a historical and unified rejection of Trumpism and Trumpian antics, this was hardly a repudiation. Trump received 72 million votes (at the time of writing). This represents the second highest total of the popular vote for any presidential nominee (behind Biden who received 78 million votes at the time of writing). This is a staggering 10 million vote increase from 2016, when Trump received 62 million votes in total. Droves of educated people, university students, suburban women and African-American voters were predicted to turn the tide for Biden. Had the votes been distributed differently, and due to the democratic quirk that is the electoral college system, Biden might have lost by the slimmest of margins. Why didn’t the zeal and fervour of this demographic create larger margins in those key battleground states? Trump’s voter base diversified, especially amongst Latino voters. This rang true in Florida, where Trump’s campaign played a clever tactic in smearing Biden as a socialist delivering a crucial blow to his early pathway to the White House. Latino voters, especially those who fled socialist countries such as Cuba and Venezuela, voted for Trump in droves. Starr County in Texas also reveals some interesting truths. In a county that is 96% Hispanic, where 18.5% of people are unemployed, 50% completed high school and where the average annual income is $14,000 USD, issues such as racism, climate change and national division were unimportant. More critical issues were the economy and jobs. The Black Lives Matter Movement never resonated in Starr County, as joining the police force was seen as a pathway to economic security. The only Climate change-related concern was the potential closure of oil fields suggested by some Democrats, which could mean unemployment. Trump’s pro-life stance was also viewed positively by the largely Catholic county. Latino voters here believed that Trump would provide food on the table, while Democrats were seen as out of touch and a world away in Washington DC.
  A Divided Nation Going Forward
  The US election was monumental with several historical firsts which are incredibly progressive achievements for a nation that has grappled with a history of slavery and racism. Kamala Harris is the first woman and second person of colour to be elected as Vice President. Sarah McBride was elected as the first transgender state senator representing Delaware’s 1st Senate District in the Delaware State Legislature. New York elected Ritchie Torres as the country’s first gay African-American man to Congress. However, the enduring narrative which defined the election is that the US is a divided nation where politics is fractured by partisanship and that the American people are polarised. Biden has an incredibly difficult path ahead sewing national division and dealing with a slew of economic and health disasters that he has inherited. Mending the COVID-19 situation will be a monumental task. Controlling case numbers, which are increasing by 100,000 a day (at the time of writing), will not be easy. Restoring the economy and recovering from a recession will require a Herculean effort. Millions of Trump voters, of whom 65% wouldn’t accept Biden becoming President, feel disenfranchised by this election and many have lost faith in American democracy. Restoring their trust would be a miracle feat.
  Note: the electoral college votes for each candidate may change over time. Biden’s 306 electoral college votes takes into account his 14,000 vote lead in Georgia, which has since gone to an official recount.

  Julian Brazier

• Entering

  October 16, 2020 1:44 pm Comments Off on Entering

  Content warning: mental health, racism
  This story is dedicated to my mother, who always encourages me to read and write and trusts in my ability to write well.
  I have finally sat down to write about what has happened to me the past two weeks (January 17 2020 to February 2 2020). I have finally sat down to face the phantom haunting me and recount the fear, anxiety, alienation, isolation and discrimination Chinese people have encountered since the outbreak of COVID-19 . As I am under strict self-quarantine for 14 days and can’t go anywhere, I have a relatively undisturbed environment to write down these unfathomable fragments.
  Xue Zhao takes a deep breath in as she walks into the departure hall. She checks in at the counter with her parents Fang and Feng. Fang’s hair is mostly black and curly, with some white hairs. When she smiles, her eyes look like two slender crescents. She wants to walk slowly, but she is pushed by the passing of time. The usually busy air- port is now almost empty. Everyone’s face is covered with a mask. Everyone stands apart, keeping a safe distance between themselves and others. Xue looks at the boarding time of her flight to Kuala Lumpur, 3:15PM.
  Xue and her parents walk to the border force. She gives her father a cuddle. His smile is warm and strong.
  “你现在到是逃离疫区了!（Now you are es- caping the epidemic country!）” Feng says.
  “ 这并不是我希望的！（But it is not my will!）” Xue pursed her lips. “ 不要忘记去马来西亚升舱！（Don’t forget to upgrade your second flight to the first class in Kuala Lumpur! ）” Feng holds his daughter’s shoulders with some pressure.
  “你要来澳洲陪我!（You should come to Australia to keep me company!）” Xue cuddles her mother and cries.
  “以后三，现在肯定不行。(Sure, but not now. ) ” Fang’s eyes are red and filled with tears.
  After passing the border force and security check, Xue tries to connect with the airport WiFi but she can’t. She misses the chance to read the news article her classmate Yingying sent her several minutes ago: Australian President Scott Morrison Restricts People of Republic of China Passport Holders from Entering Australia.
  Xue finally enters the first class cabin and sits next to a middle-aged Malaysian man. He stares at his phone for a long time be- fore take off. Xue is too exhausted to keep her eyes open. By the time she wakes up in the middle of the flight, the travel ban policy has been widely circulated on WeChat.
  Xue huddles up in the corner with a blanket, looking at the changing clouds from the window. The Malaysian uncle right next to her has fallen asleep, tilting his head towards her. There is only an hour left to reach Malaysia. Feng sends Xue an audio message on WeChat about the travel ban, as well as a news article on this new policy. Xue wants to go to the bathroom. She can hear his gentle snoring. She jumps over his crossed knees, waking him up. She smiles awkwardly.
  After they land at Kuala Lumpur, Xue con- nects with the airport WiFi and listens to her dad’s audio message on Wechat. He says: “你大孃刚刚在朋友圈发了这篇关于澳 洲禁止中国人如境的新闻。你到了吉隆坡， 给澳洲海关打一个电话，问问他们明天还可
  不可以入境，要是不行的话，你也不用再飞 去澳洲，你在吉隆坡买张机票回家吧！(Your auntie just posted this article about the lat- est Australian travel ban against Chinese on Wechat moments. You must call the Austra- lian border force and ask them whether you can enter Australia tomorrow in Malaysia. If they say no, you must buy your flight back home in Kuala Lumpur so you don’t waste your time flying all the way to Sydney.) ” Xue loses her sense of direction. She stands in the aisle, blocking the Malaysian uncle.
  “你需要我帮忙拿你的行李吗? (Do you need help taking your luggage out?)” He asks.
  “Ummm……yes, please!”
  While Xue is waiting on a sofa in the airport lounge with a cup of fresh coconut water, her classmate Yingying videocalls her.
  “雪， 不要去悉尼。你去了也是浪费时间。 我在朋友圈已经看见有人被遣返了！（Xue, don’t go to Sydney! You’d be wasting your time and efforts. I have already seen Chi- nese students sent back to China!）” Yingy- ing says urgently.
  Xue hesitates. She doesn’t know what to say.
  “澳洲海关还会罚你的款！（Australian border force will also fine you after you land in Sydney tomorrow morning!）” Yingying continues.
  “莹莹，我必须去试一下。你不懂。我已经 出门了，已经在路上了，我明天早上必须要 去试一下！（I must give it a go, Yingying. You don’t understand. I have already left home and on my way. I must give it a try tomorrow morning!）” Xue says.
  “但是如果你被拒绝的话，你相当于在飞机 上浪费了30个小时，而且还需要自己花钱买机票回来！（But if you are turned down, you would have wasted 30 hours in the plane and paid for another flight to come home! ）” Yingying asserts.
  “我知道但是我不介意。我本来改签已经 花了3000元。我刚刚升舱又花了5000元。 如果我花了8000元，哪儿也没去到，我会是 这个世界上最大的傻瓜！你难道不明白吗？ ！这是一场赌博！（I know but I don’t care. Changing my flight to today has already cost me 3000 yuan (600 dollars). I have also just paid 5000 yuan (800 dollars) to upgrade the second leg of my flights. If I just go no- where with paying 8000 yuan (1400 dollars), I’d be the most stupid person in the world! Don’t you understand?! This is a gamble!）” Xue says.
  “。。。我只是。。。（…I just…）” Yingy- ing trails off. “我知道你担心我。谢谢你告诉我, 我必 须得去。（I know you worry about me. Thanks for telling me. I’ve got to go.）” Xue says finally.
  She hunches her back and lowered her head. She covers her face with hands and takes a deep breath. Should I really go?
  “May I sit down?” The Malaysian uncle points to the seat next to her.
  “…Sure…” Xue says.
  “I just saw you upgrading your ticket at the counter. I’m still sitting next to you in 2B. If you need to go to the bathroom during the flight, please let me know. I do not mind getting up at all.”
  “Thanks a lot.” He smiles like Xue’s father, warm and strong. Xue glances at her watch. There are only 10 minutes left before boarding.
  The Malaysian uncle helps Xue with her luggage, without asking her. She settles on the soft leather seat and puts on her eye cover. God, please, let me enter Australia. Or what else can I do except pay for another ticket to go home?! She doesn’t notice the tears leaking from her eyes.
  In the plane, Xue thinks about what she should do if she is rejected by a border officer. I can argue with the border officer by saying I have never been to Hubei, nor have I met anyone from Hubei.
  “I can also say I have spent almost all of the time at my home and did not go out much to the Australian border officer!” She gets excited about how strong her argument will be.
  “They do not care about what you say.” The Malaysian uncle looks at her.
  “Did you hear my conversation with my friend in the cabin?” Xue asks.
  “Yes, sorry. I accidentally overheard your video call. I didn’t do it intentionally. I am sorry again.” His brown skin looks darker in the dim light. His eyelashes cast shadows underneath his eyes. “Try not to worry too much. You can only know whether Australian border force will let you in after you land. All you can do now is have a good rest. Otherwise, was changing the flight worth the money?” His voice is deep and calming.
  “But what if I can’t enter? I don’t want to buy another flight back home.” She asks.
  “Don’t think too much. I will help you when the situation comes up.”
  Xue is stunned for a moment. “Thank you. You are very kind.”
  He gives her two gentle pats on the shoulder. She falls asleep and wakes up when the plane lands at Sydney Airport. She lines up with other passengers, waiting to be examined by the border force. She grips her passport and incoming passenger card tightly. She writes down Malaysia in the column of the flight origin instead of China.
  Xue squeezes a smile to the poker-faced border officer. He frowns at her dark red PRC passport without even opening it.
  “Are you a student?”
  “Yes.”
  “…… Ma’am, sorry, you cannot enter Australia because the latest travel ban has already been in effect since yesterday.” He opens his hands and holds his palms against each other. He looks at her like a circus show audience looking at a performing elephant.
  “But I am NOT from Wuhan, nor have I been in contact with anyone in Wuhan.”
  “I understand. But I cannot do anything except inform you the time and the price of the next flight to Chengdu.”
  “But it is unfair! I have been studying in Australia for five years and I will graduate this December.”
  “Ma’am, you have two options, either purchase the 10PM flight back to Chengdu at 800 dollars or I will have to cancel your student visa and quarantine you in Kangaroo Island for two weeks.” Xue’s eyes are wide open. Humming fills her ears.
  “Ma’am!”
  “Oh……okay, please get me a flight back home.” Xue’s face is grim.
  “Please tap when you are ready,” the officer points to the POS machine.
  “Di.” The POS machine shows a tick and your payment is successful! Surprised, Xue turns back to see the Malaysian uncle standing behind her.
  “Why?” She asks him.
  “Hahaha…… didn’t I tell you I would help you when the situation comes up? My daughter could not finish her studies. You remind me of her.” He says gently.
  She waves goodbye to him as he passes through border force. The same way she waved goodbye to her father.

  Renee You

• #IORESTOACASA #ISTAYHOME

  May 28, 2020 10:41 am Comments Off on #IORESTOACASA #ISTAYHOME

  Si può sentire l’impatto di COVID-19 in tutto il mondo. Ogni giorno, le persone stanno morendo. Ogni giorno, i dottori e le infermiere stanno mettendo le loro vite in pericolo per aiutare i malati di sopravvivere. La vita quotidiana di oggi è incomprensibile per una persona di sei mesi fa. L’Italia è un paese in cui questa differenza si può vedere davvero. Mentre scrivo, ci sono stati più di 156,000 casi di coronavirus in Italia e più di 20,000 persone hanno perso la vita. Quotidianamente, ogni dottore, ogni infermiera ed anche ogni politico deve fare delle scelte impossibili — scelte che potrebbero diventare la causa della morte di tantissime persone. Chi si sceglie di salvare dalla morte, e chi no? Ci sarà mai una scelta davvero giusta?
  La vita sembra davvero un universo della distopia. La gente si sta accumulando la carta igienica. La gente si sta accumulando anche la pasta, la carne congelata, i fagioli in scatola. Le fosse comuni sono state scavate in alcuni paesi, perché non c’è più spazio negli obitori. Tante persone hanno perso il posto di lavoro. Non posso parlare per tutta la gente di questo mondo, ma ho paura. Ho paura di che cosa succederà domani, di che cosa leggerò nei giornali, della possibilità che forse mi arriverà una telefonata in cui scoprirò che qualcuno della mia famiglia è morto. Ho paura anche perché mi sento come se ho perso il controllo della mia vita. A causa del fatto che ogni giorno arrivano così tante nuove informazioni e regole nuove, questa pandemia mi ha fatto apprezzare il mondo che ho dato per scontato, soprattutto le cose piccole — per esempio, prendere un caffè al bar, andare ad una festa, ed anche sol- amente il potere di studiare in biblioteca. Però, questo non è un momento da perder- si nel panico e l’ansia. In qualche modo, la vita — con tutte le sue difficoltà — continua sempre.
  Nel mondo di oggi, dobbiamo per forza mantenere il contatto (virtuale) con i nostri amici e parenti. Condividendo le nostre esperienze, e facendo il nostro meglio di comunicare, potrà aiutare noi tutti a sentirci un po’ meno soli, un po’ meno indifesi. Per tutto quanto che possa sembrare sdolcinato, dobbiamo contare gli uni sugli altri durante questi tempi, e ricordare che stiamo vivendo questa cosa tutti insieme. Nello spirito di questo, una studentessa Italiana ha dato il suo punto di vista riguarda il COVID-19, e l’impatto sulla sua vita:
  “Sono Arianna, una studentessa universitaria di 19 anni e vivo nel nord Italia, ad ora una delle zone più colpite dal COVID-19 . Tutta questa situazione per la maggior parte di noi è stata una cosa improvvisa che nessuno si sarebbe immaginato arrivasse a questo punto. Arrivato il virus tutto è cambiato in maniera molto rapida ma con gravi conseguenza economiche e sanitarie, soprattutto per gli ospedali. Dopo aver dichiarato la quarantena non ci è stato possibile uscire di casa se non per esigenze lavorative, alimentari o sanitarie (farmacia). Parlando da studentessa non ci sono stati gravi problemi riguardo alle lezione perché fortunatamente sin da subito le università si sono attrezzate per poterci far seguire le lezioni online. Vivendo in una piccola cittadina non ci sono state grandi complicazioni, i supermercati fortunatamente non sono stati assaltati e abbiamo tutto il necessario per vivere, non posso dire lo stesso per le città più grandi. Personalmente sono abbastanza preoccupata per la situazione, soprattutto per tutte le persone più anziane ma so che la nostra sanità è molto buona e riuscirà a superare anche questa situazione.” — Arianna Bonelli (L’Università di Verona)
  Questa pandemia ha unito la gente in tutto il mondo come nessun’altra cosa. Abbiamo tutti le stesse esperienze, e tutte le nostre vite sono state completamente cambiate. Per la salute e la sicurezza di tutti noi, dobbiamo stare attenti e fare la nostra parte, e soprattutto dobbiamo rispettare le regole attuali per quanto riguarda il distanziamento sociale. Forse ora non si riesce a capire l’impatto delle proprie azioni, ma ogni cosa che si fa conta davvero tantissimo. Durante i giorni come questi, è molto facile pensare che non si può fare niente per aiutare. Ma c’è una cosa che possiamo fare: restare a casa.
   
  The impact of COVID-19 has been felt around the world. Every day, people are dying. Every day, doctors and nurses are putting their lives on the line in an effort to help the ill survive. The realities of today would be incomprehensible for a person six months ago. A country where this is hauntingly evident is Italy. As I write this, there have been over 156,000 cases of COVID-19 in Italy and over 20,000 deaths. On a daily basis, every doctor, every nurse, and every politician are making impossible decisions — decisions that could potentially cause the death of thousands of people. How does one decide who to save? Is there ever a right choice?
  Life really does seem to feel like a dystopian universe. People are hoarding toilet paper. They are stockpiling pasta, frozen meat and canned beans. Mass graves are being dug in some countries, as morgues are at capacity. People are losing their jobs, en masse. I can’t speak for everybody in this world, but I’m scared. I’m scared for what tomorrow will bring, of what I’ll hear on the news, of getting the dreaded phone-call that someone in my family has died. I’m also scared because it feels like I’ve lost control over my own life. Being inundated with new information and new restrictions every day, this pandemic has caused me to appreciate the world that I took for granted, especially the little things — like going out for a coffee or to a party or just studying in the library. However, we must not give in to feelings of panic and anxiety. After all, life, with all its difficulties, always continues somehow.
  Right now, it is more important than ever to keep in (virtual) contact with our friends and family around the world. Sharing our experiences, and doing our best to keep communicating, has the potential to help all of us to feel a little less alone, a little less helpless. As cheesy as it sounds, we are all in this together. In the spirit of this, an Italian university student gave a statement on COVID-19, and its effect on her life:
  “I’m Arianna, a 19 year-old university student from the north of Italy, currently one of the zones that’s been hit the hardest by COVID-19. For the most part, this entire situation was a sudden thing that nobody could’ve imagined would get to this point. As a result of the virus, everything has changed in a rapid fashion and with dire economic and health consequences, especially within hospitals. After the declaration of the quarantine, it was not possible for us to leave the house except for work, to buy food, or for medical/health needs. Speaking as a student, there have not been major problems regarding classes as fortunately the universities were equipped and ready for us to use online classes. Living in a small town there have not been major issues, the supermarkets are fortunately still operating and we have everything we need to live, but I can’t say the same for the larger cities. Personally, I am quite worried about the situation, especially for all the elderly people in our population, but I know that our health services are very good and will be able to survive even this situation.” — Arianna Bonelli (University of Verona)
  This pandemic has united people all over the world like nothing else. We are all experiencing similar things, and our lives have changed completely. For the sake of the health and safety of everyone, we must all do our part and uphold the current social distancing regulations. It might not feel like you’re making an impact, but every choice you make counts. In times like these, it’s easy to feel helpless. But there’s one thing that we can do to help: stay home.

  Emily Fursa