What is Currents?
Currents is a newsletter and podcast series focused on human rights and the experiences of activists, lawyers, journalists, and everyday people who are working for change in Asia. This might be someone from Myanmar living in exile, Singaporean actors who’ve started a Twitch stream to sing songs and talk about abolishing the death penalty, or advocates for legalisation wading into the cannabis debate in Thailand.
We often read about rights-related issues in the news, but rarely get a real sense of who the people working hard to defend these rights really are. Why do they put themselves at risk to work for change? What drives them and keeps them going, despite all the odds? What are their worries or fears? How hopeful are they for the causes they champion, and for the future? These are some of the questions that Currents is most curious about.
About the author
Hello! I’m Calum. I’ve been working as a journalist in Southeast Asia for over a decade now. I’ve spent a lot of time working or freelancing for established media organisations, but am now venturing out on my own with Currents so that I can focus on the stories that I think are important.
I’m half-Welsh and half-Scottish, which I think makes me identify with the underdog more often than not. It seems to be one of the few things in my life that has been a constant, anyway: some of the most memorable moments in my career have involved covering the struggle of journalists occupying the premises of Greece’s public broadcaster after it was suddenly shut down in 2013, working for exile media groups covering Myanmar, and producing podcasts and documentaries for or about pro-democracy independent media platforms. To top it off, I married an anti-death penalty activist from Singapore — a country with little love for activists of most stripes, but especially anti-death penalty ones.
I’ve seen the toll that activism takes on the people who step forward in harsh environments. Places and situations might differ but there’s often a lot of overlap: constant pressure, exhausting labour, unbearable stress.
But I’ve also seen the strength, courage, humour and resolve needed to navigate these minefields. The individuals who take a stand aren’t superhuman: they’re just ordinary people doing what they can to make the world a better place. What stands out to me most is the stamina required to keep going despite everything. I’m amazed and fascinated by how these activists keep rolling with the punches for years on end. With Currents, I’d like to bring at least some of these stories to you.
Why should you subscribe?
Things weren’t great before and they’re getting worse. It feels like authoritarianism is sweeping in across the world, becoming more and more normalised and entrenched. When things are like this, it becomes even more crucial to amplify and uplift the work of those who are trying, in ways big or small, to fight against this darkness and make things better for their communities and societies.
At the same time, the journalism industry is also in a bit of a mess. Some established, mainstream outlets have become more interested in bottom lines than quality journalism; in others, we see the creeping influence of oligarchs, corporations or politicians. Many journalists have lost their jobs in recent times, with severe impact on how, and whether, certain stories get told.
By becoming a paid subscriber of Currents, you’ll be enabling me to spotlight the brave, hopeful work that’s happening in this region, and also supporting my independent journalism work.
