Cover photo: © Maryam Ashrafi
In 2022, “permacrisis” was one of the six words Collins Dictionary added to their lexicon. It describes “an extended period of instability and insecurity, especially one resulting from a series of catastrophic events.” Over the past two years, this permacrisis has deepened, leading to increased chaos, conflict, and societal violence. Western diplomacy is struggling with crises in Gaza and Ukraine, while global protests demanding change are met with brute force.
Analyzing the world can be overwhelming. We are constantly bombarded with new developments and as a result we struggle to make sense of what is happening around us. At Turning Point we have aimed to publish articles that can help our readers see a wider picture. In this editorial, we want to update you on our stories and announce a one-month break from publishing in preparation for future issues and activities on our social media.
On March 13, we published an essay by Saba Memar on the roots of the Iranian women’s movement. Since then, the persecution of women in Iran has only increased. Women are being kidnapped and arrested by security forces, as well as facing longer prison sentences. Amongst the those detained is Soosan Hasanzadeh, a Kurdish teacher, whose picture we published in our photo essay on cultural resistance. On May 15, she was arrested and detained in an unknown facility. Many Iranians have celebrated the sudden death of President Ebrahim Raisi, directly responsible for hundreds of executions in the 80s. Now, the country will hold new general elections, which usually bring less repression to encourage participation. Raisi’s death was surely a blow to the Iranian regime.
In April, Maria Edgarda Marcucci wrote about the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) testing of technologically advanced weapons in Gaza. The war is far from over, despite the numerous protests around the world. Amongst others, workers at Google have raised their voices against the tech giant’s policies. As a result Google dismissed 50 workers who openly opposed deals with the Israeli government. In the meantime, students around the world started occupying their campuses, asking universities to cut deals with fellow Israeli universities and collaboration with the army. You can read the open letter by Gaza Academics here.
This June, there will also be European elections. Leonardo Bianchi analyzed how the far right took root in the conservative doctrine. Fascism is growing throughout the continent, and soon after this article was published, the far-right French leader Marine Le Pen invited the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to form a supergroup in the EU parliament. All eyes are also on Hungary, where the trial against anti-fascists continues. Henri Sulku explored how Budapest exploits the EU Arrest Warrant mechanism to pursue people in several countries for their political beliefs. Amongst them, Ilaria Salis, a 39-year-old Italian teacher, was moved to house arrest in Budapest after announcing her candidacy for the Italian Green and Left Alliance in the incoming elections. She wrote on social media that she would focus on inmates’ rights in Italy and Europe if elected.
A few days after Gabriel Kuhn explained the reasons why IF Metal workers in Sweden have decided to strike against Tesla, the biggest union in the country joined the fray. In Germany, protesters have mobilized against Elon Musk’s company and promised disruptions.
As we started writing this editorial, we heard a sad piece of news from Argentina. Nora Cortiñas passed away at 94 years old. Cortiñas joined the protest of mothers in Plaza de Mayo, in Buenos Aires, demanding information about their disappeared children. The military junta (1976-1983) arrested and executed hundreds of political opponents, many of them vanished without a trail. Norita, as she was commonly known, has been an example for many and was one of the movement’s leaders. She fought to know the whereabouts of her son Gustavo who was abducted by the junta in a train station. As Lisa Shishko wrote for us, the women in Plaza de Mayo inspired many other mothers around the world.
We are very proud of the work we have done so far, though we recognize we need a brief pause to get back stronger. We will use the month of June to regroup and strengthen our efforts. We are expanding our editorial team, and we are excited to push forward new ideas. Please do follow us on social media. We will post updates and upload new content.
In July, the magazine will come back to focus on ecology and the effects of war on various territories. In August, we will concentrate on the housing crises in Europe. We are a small magazine with limited resources. If you like what we have done so far, please consider donating to keep us going. If you are a writer or a photographer, please reach out, we would love to hear your proposals.
We want to continue to inspire and to inform. We are committed to freedom, knowing that it is not a gift given but a choice to be made, sometimes a hard one. Together, let’s persist in making that choice.
