Reportage
Unwelcome Compatriots
Observers have long marveled at the breathtaking economic success of the Republic of Korea. But there is a dark side to the Korean miracle: It has been made possible, in part, by the Joseonjok, Chinese citizens of Korean descent, who are widely treated as second-class residents.
Cleaning Up the Klang River
In Kuala Lumpur and its environs, many berate the public for lacking commitment to sustainability and tolerating river pollution. Yet people’s apathy feeds on a belief that the government doesn’t work for the common good or for the country, leading to mistrust and inaction.
Rwanda’s Younger Generation Still Deals With the Legacy of Genocide
At age 7, Kanyoni saved a woman’s life, only to discover that his father had been imprisoned for his part in her rape during the Rwandan genocide. Now 25, he represents a generation that didn’t directly experience the violence but must still grapple with its legacy, 30 years on.
In Portugal’s Rural North, Communities Are Resisting Lithium Mining
Under the banner of a “green transition,” the EU is rushing to revive mining to secure critical raw materials. Plans to build large, open-pit mines in northeastern Portugal have been met with strong opposition from local communities, who are contesting the state’s authority to grant mining licenses without their consent.
Poland’s Allure for Tajikistan’s Exiles
Ethnic Pamiris fleeing repression have found an unlikely home in Poland, bolstered by the broader Tajik opposition movement that took up residence there years before. In Warsaw, they are planning a future after the authoritarian rule of President Emomali Rahmon.
Because You’re Worth It: How the US Egg Donation Industry Monetizes Beauty
New Lines interviewed dozens of egg donors, intended parents and fertility agencies, piecing together a picture of an industry that trades in the commodification of women and human genetic material, raising serious ethical questions about how the worth of a person should be measured.
Fear of the Far Right Torpedoes EU Environmental Policies
Faced with angry demonstrations from farmers who say EU environmental policies are destroying their ability to make a living, Brussels canceled a plan to reduce agricultural emissions significantly by 2040. The reason: farmers are lending their influence to far-right politicians like Geert Wilders, whose party won the most seats in the last Dutch election.