Landraub, directed by Kurt Langbein is a documentary that delves into the global issue of land grabbing, where vast amounts of land in developing countries in the global south, including countries like Indonesia and Malaysia are acquired by wealthy corporations from Europe and US. The film highlights the consequences of this practice towards local and indigenous communities. 

Landraub will be one of the films screening at the upcoming film festival called Witness the Unseen. It’s now going to be a fully online festival happening on the 9th - 12th January 2025. 

If you’d like more information or would like to attend or support the festival, you can contact the organisers Barathi (+60 16-377 9713) or Valter (+60 11-6357 9375).

Image credit: Langbein & Partner

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Have you watched a war film that was shot in an active war zone? The End Will Be Spectacular is a 2019 Kurdish-language film directed by Ersin Çelik, which tells the gripping story of the youth resistance in Sur, the historic district of Diyarbakır, Turkey, amidst the Turkish-Kurdish conflict. 

The film is based on true events from 2015-2016, focusing on a young Kurdish woman named Zilan who returns to her hometown only to find it under siege. As she joins the local resistance, the film portrays the harsh realities of war, the spirit of defiance, and the sacrifices made by the Kurdish youth. 

The End Will Be Spectacular will be one of the films screening at the upcoming film festival called Witness the Unseen. It’s now going to be a fully online festival happening on the 9th - 12th January 2025. 

If you’d like more information or would like to attend or support the festival, you can contact the organisers Barathi (+60 16-377 9713) or Valter (+60 11-6357 9375).

Image credits: IMDb, Sheriff Cicek (IG)

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Sankara is Not Dead is a 2019 French documentary by Lucie Viver. The film follows Bikontine, a young poet from Burkina Faso, who embarks on a journey along the country's sole railway line after the uprising of 2014 against President Blaise Compaoré. Travelling from south to north, he engages with fellow citizens in cities and villages, exploring their dreams, disappointments, and the enduring legacy of former revolutionary left-wing president Thomas Sankara.

Sankara is not Dead will be one of the films screening at the upcoming film festival called Witness the Unseen. It’s now going to be a fully online festival happening on the 9th - 12th January 2025. 

If you’d like more information or would like to attend or support the festival, you can contact the organisers Barathi (+60 16-377 9713) or Valter (+60 11-6357 9375).

Image credit: IMDb

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When many of us think of AI, we think of ChatGPT or self-driving cars. But with each passing day, AI is also used more and more in warfare. While proponents of the usage of AI in armed conflict cite operational efficiency, precision, and speed, the reality is often much different. It raises pressing ethical and legal questions including abuse and a lack of accountability. For example, AI has been used to speed up the Israel’s genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza. We discuss this with Nour Naim, who’s a researcher in AI Ethics and the Executive Director of AI Minds Academy.

Image credit: Shutterstock

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Everything Must Fall is a 2018 documentary film by Rehad Desai, centered on South Africa's #FeesMustFall movement. The film provides a gripping account of the student-led protests that erupted across South African universities in 2015, demanding free, decolonized education and an end to systemic inequalities within higher education institutions.
In this episode, we speak to Rehad Desai about his film and the student-led movement in South Africa. 

Everything Must Fall is one of the documentaries that will be screened at the upcoming film festival called Witness the Unseen, happening at the Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall on the 9th - 12th January 2025. 
For more information, contact Barathi (+60 16-377 9713) or Valter at (+60 11-6357 9375). 

*Update(7/01/2025): As per the organiser, Everything Must Fall will no longer be part of the Witness the Unseen film festival, due to unforeseen circumstances.

Image credits: MUBI, Rehad Desai (via The Left Berlin)

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We live in an increasingly polarised world. Ethnonationalism and other forms of right wing and ultra-conservative populist movements are on the rise in Malaysia and across the world. People are pushing further away from each other. Prejudice fuels political discourse. Why is this happening and what can we do about it?

Dr Tee Chen Giap and Chew Zhun Yee, co-founders of the Malaysian Philosophy Society, join the show to talk about the issue of polarisation as well as the upcoming International Think Big Summit 2024, happening on the 15th of December, where these questions will be addressed.

Image credit: Shutterstock

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Here are two important statistics you need to know. One, only 55% of working age women in Malaysia are part of the labour force, compared to 81% of men. Two, women receive RM 66 for every RM 100 in salaries and wages received by men. 

This highlights profound economic disparities between the genders in Malaysia. But why is this the case? And what can be done about it? 

These are some of the important questions that the Malaysia Women and Girls Forum will be addressing at this year’s event themed Women & Nation Building - The Foundations of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. 

In this episode, we speak to Tengku Aira Tengku Razif, Assistant Representative, UNFPA Malaysia and Tehmina Kaoosji, MWGF Head of Secretariat.

Image credit: Shutterstock

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EMPOWER, in collaboration with civil society coalitions like JAG, BERSIH, and CSO Platform for Reform, has launched the Projek30% campaign to push political parties to field at least 30% women candidates in the next General Election (GE16). 

But why is there a lack of representation among women in politics and what is the impact?

Image credit: Shutterstock

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Ahmed Alnaouq, a Palestinian activist and journalist based in the UK, is the co-founder of We Are Not Numbers, a platform that empowers young Palestinians to share their stories and experiences with the world through storytelling and journalism. 

In October 2023, Israel dropped a bomb on his family home, killing 21 of his closest relatives in the process, including his father, brothers and sisters. 

On today’s episode, we have a heartfelt conversation with Ahmed about his childhood, feeling survivor’s guilt after the death of his family, if the world passed the Gaza litmus test of morality and more.

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Last week, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Minister of Defence, Yoav Gallant. They were charged with crimes against humanity, including murder, persecution, and inhumane acts, as well as the war crime of using starvation as a method of warfare. The ICC also issued an arrest warrant for Mohammed Deif, one of the top ranking military commanders of the Palestinian political party and armed resistance group, Hamas. 

But what does all this mean in practice? After all, the genocide in Gaza by Israel is still ongoing and there are still illegal violent settler expansions in the West Bank. And considering Malaysia isn’t a member of the International Criminal Court, can we arrest Benjamin Netanyahu if he sets foot on Malaysian soil?

We unpack this with Dr Jinan Bastaki, Associate Professor of Legal Studies, NYU Abu Dhabi.

Image credit: Shutterstock

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Dato’ Mohammed Hussein was with the Malayan Banking Berhad (Maybank) Group for 31 years. Prior to his retirement on 30 January 2008, he was the Deputy President/Executive Director/Chief Financial Officer of Maybank Group. 

He wrote a book recently— How Malaysia Missed 7 Chances at Nation-Building. In it, he analyses seven pivotal events in Malaysia’s history, including 13 May 1969 and the implementation of the NEP, and questions if these moments were opportunities missed in building a united and prosperous nation. We unpack the book with Dato’ Mohammed Hussein.

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