Nothing is Foreign

The Japanese government has launched an inquiry into the power and influence of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, also known as the Unification Church, or the Moonies. Critics have called this group a cult. This comes after the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in July. The murder suspect says that he targetted the politician for his connection to the Unification Church, which he alleges is responsible for draining his family’s life savings. What’s been revealed in the killing’s wake are deep, historic ties between Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the Unification Church. Ex-believers have also started speaking out about the group’s alleged predatory fundraising practices. This week on Nothing is Foreign, we dig into how some of Japan’s most powerful politicians became close with the religious group better known for mass marriage ceremonies — and the costs of this association. Featuring: Koichi Nakano, political scientist with Sophia University in Tokyo

Protests erupted in cities all over China last weekend over the country's strict COVID-19 measures. People called for an end to stringent lockdowns, and in some cases, for greater democratic reforms. Civil disobedience this widespread hasn't been seen in China since the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. This week on Nothing is Foreign, we dig into what life under zero-COVID policies looks like to better understand the frustration that's led to these rare demonstrations. Featuring: Megumi Lim, video journalist working mainly with ITV news, based in Beijing.

For decades, Colombia has been plagued by violent conflict involving armed groups and drug cartels. Despite many attempts to curb the problem, including a landmark peace deal with the country's largest rebel group in 2016, cocaine production continues to proliferate in Colombia. Now, President Gustavo Petro is implementing a new "total peace" plan to deal with the drug problem. He says that the war on drugs has been a failure and wants a drug policy approach that focuses on human rights and not criminal justice. This week, the government began talks with a wide array of rebel groups in an attempt to reach a multilateral ceasefire. But will this new plan work? That's the question we're looking to answer this week on Nothing is Foreign. We'll also look at the devastating human toll of Colombia's drug war so far, and why it's an issue that has implications far beyond its borders. Featuring: David Restrepo, director of research at the Center for Studies on Security and Drugs at the University of the Andes in Bogota

More than a million soccer fans are expected to descend on Qatar this weekend, as the 2022 World Cup begins. But in the decade since the country won its bid, there's been allegations of corruption and widespread criticism of the way that the government has handled preparations for the tournament. Human rights groups point to how stadium workers, mostly from foreign countries like Bangladesh and Nepal, were forced to pay huge recruitment fees and had wages withheld and passports taken away. The Guardian also reported that at least 6,500 migrant workers have died since Qatar won its hosting bid. This week on Nothing is Foreign, we dig into the controversies surrounding this year's World Cup, and how, despite them, the tournament is set to bring in record revenues for FIFA. Featuring: Tariq Panja, global sports reporter for the New York Times.

At COP27, the UN's conference on climate change this week, countries in the Global South are calling for a loss and damage compensation fund. And for the first time, it's actually on the agenda. The central argument for the fund is that the countries most vulnerable to climate change are the least responsible for the emissions contributing to the climate crisis. Advocates for the fund say that the highest carbon-emitting countries, like the U.S. and those in the European Union, should financially help countries like Pakistan, for example, deal with flood relief. On Nothing is Foreign this week: the case for climate reparations, the pushback against them, and why they aren't enough for many living in climate-vulnerable countries. Plus, activists across Asia are concerned about Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter, and what it might mean for their freedom to express dissent. We hear from a few of them. Featuring: - Nickson Barry, regional chair of the Caribbean Youth Environmental Network based in Saint Lucia. - Harjeet Singh, head of global political strategy at Climate Action Network International. - Yaqiu Wang, senior researcher on China for Human Rights Watch.

This week, we take you inside one environmental activist group's preparations for a protest to better understand the debate around the more brazen activist tactics in the climate movement. The UN climate conference COP27 will take place in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt starting Sunday. Activists in Europe have been using a variety of more disruptive and brazen tactics to call attention to the climate crisis. They've thrown soup and mashed potatoes at paintings by renowned artists like Vincent van Gogh and Claude Monet, and glued themselves to a dinosaur display at Berlin's Natural History Museum. They have also blocked traffic in London, leading to major commuter delays. These more disruptive tactics have drawn anger, leading some to ask whether these disruptions help or hurt the fight against climate change. Featuring: Gilbert Rossier, supporter of Extinction Rebellion. Giordano Cioni, member of Extinction Rebellion's German chapter. Colin Davis, professor of psychology at the University of Bristol and longtime climate activist.

Almost eight million people in the United Kingdom are struggling to pay their bills right now, according to recent financial surveys. From heat to food, the cost of living has risen astronomically. Some people are even opting out of utilities to save money. This is the backdrop to the political turmoil that's been dominating the headlines in recent weeks, with Liz Truss' resigning from the prime minister's office after only 45 days of leadership, and Rishi Sunak being chosen as Britain's next leader earlier this week. This week on Nothing is Foreign, we hear from two U.K. residents about their day-to-day challenges, and what they think about the current political landscape. Featuring: Sharron Spice, in her 30s and lives in London. Christina Adane, Campaigner in residence at Bite Back 2030.

This week, Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to receive an unprecedented third term, which would make him the longest serving leader since Mao Zedong. It comes as more than two thousand members of the Chinese Communist Party are gathering in Beijing to determine the government’s priorities for the next five years. This week on Nothing is Foreign, we look at Xi’s path to consolidating power in the country, and how events like his father’s imprisonment, and the Cultural Revolution, brought him to this point. Featuring: Sue-Lin Wong, The Economist’s China correspondent and host of “The Prince”, a podcast about Xi Jinping’s rise to power.

Brazil's Amazon rainforest is in peril. During incumbent president Jair Bolsonaro’s time in office, researchers have seen an increase in deforestation, land invasions and violence against Indigenous peoples in the area. Ahead of the runoff vote in the country’s presidential election, we speak with an Indigenous leader who says his tribe’s very existence is at stake with this election. Guests: André Karipuna, chief of the Karipuna tribe. Claudio Angelo, former climate journalist.

For the first time since Mussolini's rule during the Second World War, a far-right party has been elected to power in Italy. We take you to Mussolini's birthplace, Predappio — which, to this day, is home to souvenir shops and shrines honouring the dictator — to explore the lasting impact of fascism in the country's politics. Featuring: Carlo Magistretti, Italian freelance journalist. Piero Ignazi, political scientist. Giorgio Frasinetti, former mayor of Predappio. Roberto Canali, current mayor of Predappio.