👀 What are you doing in Brazil, H&M and Zara?

In this issue, I'm sharing my excitement for the South African elections on May 29 and give you a bit of a Who's Who so you too can join the ride. I also want to bring to your attention a preventable tragedy that happened ten years ago in South Korea, where a ferry flipped over and 304 people died. Hardly anyone has been held accountable since. I'm looking at the victims' families fight for justice today and how activism in the country has changed since. And last but not least, I read a report by a UK organization that links H&M and Zara to illegal deforestation and corruption in Brazil. Plus, some new Somali TV shows about unexpected-for-the-Western-gaze topics such as women's empowerment or how-best-to-inherit-wealth, a form of really minimalist dance theater from Japan that you could also learn if you're in Berlin, London or New York City, a deep dive into one of the most recognizable voices of Egypt, Umm Kulthum, Salsa records from Curaçao and why African runners slowed down to let a Chinese competitor win at the Beijing Half Marathon. And so much more.

This year's elections in South Africa are a bit of nail-biter. Here's a beginner's guide

What happened:
South Africa's got a big election coming up on May 29, and it's a bit of a curveball this year. It's the seventh one since they ditched apartheid and started voting freely 30 years ago. This time around, the buzz is that the African National Congress, or ANC for short---the party that's been running the show since Nelson Mandela was president---might actually get less than half the votes.

Why this matters:
It's been 30 years since South Africa started voting democratically, but life is still tough for many Black South Africans who can't make ends meet. Inequality and unemployment are through the roof, basic services like water and electricity are hit or miss, racial gaps are still wide, and political corruption has left a lot of people really disappointed with how democracy is playing out. Despite being one of the most stable and developed places in Africa, and kind of the gateway to the continent for other countries, the economy is in a real rough spot. People are worried this election could stir up some serious trouble.

Tell me more:
Now, the ANC is feeling the heat more than ever. They've always had the upper hand in past elections, but now they're scrambling because they might lose their solid majority in Parliament. A big reason for this shake-up? Jacob Zuma, the former president who had to step down a few years ago because of a bunch of corruption scandals. He's back with a new party and seems like he's out for some payback against his old buddies in the ANC. This has really kicked the ANC into gear to fix things and clean up their act.
Speaking of Zuma, he's been a big deal in South Africa for ages. He became deputy leader of the ANC in 1997 and was appointed South Africa's deputy president in 1999.

How does South Africa vote?
People vote for a party, not a person. The votes get counted up, and that decides how many seats each party gets in the big 400-seat National Assembly. Then, those folks pick the president. The party or coalition that bags more than half the seats gets to choose the leader. But here's a new twist: for the first time ever, folks can run for Parliament without being tied to a party. They passed a new law to let independents shake things up. If these independents get enough votes, they'll take seats away from the parties.

Who is running, and who is likely to win?
Right now, it's President Cyril Ramaphosa from the ANC, and he'll likely keep his job if the ANC gets over half the votes. But, as I mentioned, the ANC's been dropping in the polls, though, so it's all up in the air. They might have to buddy up with other parties to stay in power, which means they'll have to compromise on some stuff. Then there's Zuma's, who's running with his new party, the uMkhonto we Sizwe Party. They're actually doing pretty well. Meanwhile, the main opposition, the Democratic Alliance, has teamed up with 11 other parties, ready to take over if the ANC falters. We should know who wins about three days after everyone votes.

10 years ago, a ferry flipped over in South Korea and 304 people died. Their families are still pushing for change today

What happened:
Back on April 16, 2014, the MV Sewol ferry flipped over off the coast of Korea. Out of 476 folks on board, 304 died---including 250 high school students.

Why this matters:
The disaster was one of the deadliest maritime accidents in South Korean history and had profound impacts on the nation, both socially and politically. According to experts and the victims' families, the accident was "utterly preventable" and highlighted the sloppy safety measures from the ferry company and a botched response by the Coast Guard and government. Even years later, hardly anyone's been held responsible---just one low-ranking Coast Guard member. The victims' families have since been at the forefront, pushing for justice and change.

Did you know?
In a short-answer poll taken by Hankyoreh newspaper in December 2014, the Sewol disaster was voted almost as significant as the Korean War. This incident really shook the nation to its core.

Tell me more:
So, picture this: it's early in the morning, and the Sewol is set to leave port in Incheon. They're delayed because it's super foggy, but then they get the green light and off they go---except they were the only ship to leave that night. Now, on board, there are 443 people, including 250 high school kids excited about their field trip to Jeju Island. But then, everything goes wrong. The ferry was overloaded because someone decided to tweak it so it could carry more cargo. Then, during the journey, the ferry took a sharp turn, things went sideways, and panic ensued. What did the crew do? They bailed, leaving everyone else behind being told to stay put, which was terrible advice. Meanwhile, the rescue efforts were a mess; they just weren't quick or effective enough.

What happened then?
Since the disaster, the victims' families have been really pushing for change. They want a full investigation and for someone to be held accountable. They've been pushing for stricter safety laws and better emergency responses to make sure this never happens again. They've also set up memorials and educational programs to keep the memory of the disaster alive and teach future generations. And politically? This disaster even played a part in the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye. The families pointed out her government's failures as part of wider issues with corruption and incompetence. When a big scandal popped up involving President Park Geun-hye in 2016, it led to some of the biggest protests since the 1980s, fueled by the ongoing anger and activism from the Sewol families.

What now?
Ten years on, after two governments and three different investigative bodies, the families and...