May the empire fall this Lunar New Year
A new spring, new revolution through the Yang Wood Dragon
Hej, it’s been a while. If you’re receiving this newsletter it’s because you’re someone that I want to keep in touch with or you’re a new friend from the Internet!
This is my second lunar new year in Sweden and all I can think about is the connection between this year’s zodiac animal – the yang wood dragon🐉 and the Palestinian struggle for liberation.
”Dragons care about one thing only. Dragons care about change. This is why the dragon as a zodiac sign is known for bringing new worlds into existence.” - Alice Sparkly Kat
“Growth looks like a form twisting and yearning upwardly towards wherever it receives energy…A tree emerges as the first life form. It’s the initiator. That’s why wood is about springing into life.” - Alice Sparkly Kat
I have to believe that this is true because it’s been 130 days of the genocide and it must end. I have to believe that we are all doing everything we can to get a ceasefire and a free Palestine.
So what is Sweden doing to stop the genocide?
While Sweden has historically been known for being a humanitarian power, that could not be further from the truth right now. The right-wing coalition run government is being a 🗑️🔥 (for many, MANY reasons) and has suspended funding to UNRWA.
But, as we know that the government doesn’t always represent the people. Swedes across the country have been demonstrating their solidarity through protests, shutting down Elbit Systems, trying to boot Israel from Eurovision (Sweden is hosting it in May), and sending UNRWA funds themselves!
(Left) Lilo supports a Free Palestine (Right) A SPARK IGNITES A PRAIRIE FIRE commissioned by Katie Wang and created in collaboration with Cynthia Yuan Cheng
Swedish Pastry Rankings
I have been remiss in taking pictures of all the tasty pastries I’ve been eating so here’s some photos straight from the source. On the left we have the “Hagabulle” which is a GINORMOUS cinnamon bun that you must share with other people otherwise you’ll moan to your friend “why did you let me eat that?” TBH it’s a 5/10 for taste, but a 10/10 for aesthetic presentation. On the right we have Konditori Kampanilen (an INCREDIBLE bakery located next to the Gothenburg aquarium) and its famous semla, which is what Swedes eat for Fat Tuesday. It’s a airy cardamom bun filled with almond paste and fluffy whipped cream. Even though I think it needs some tart fruit (think passionfruit!), it’s pretty tasty so 7.5/10.
Things I’m loving right now
This rad children’s book from my mentor Deepa Iyer who also created the Social Change Ecosystem Map
Better info sources than the CDC on COVID-19 like Covid Canary and Dr. Lucky Tran. Fuck these watered down guidances! Y’all please stay home if you’re sick, stay masking, stay testing, and take care of one another.
Reparenting myself via romance books centering immigrant moms and their daughters like So We Meet Again, breaking familial expectations through Isha, Unscripted, and loving immigrant families via Hana Khan Carries On
And as always, working with an incredible collective of Asian women to get shit done on everything from coaching to organizing and strategizing and designing.