Mini-Issue II: 🍉

Over the past few months, the world has witnessed sights of irreparable damage and inhumane brutality. We've seen those in power wreck irrevocable havoc on the innocent, and we've wiped tears from our eyes, wondering what we, helpless citizens from a country not affiliated, could do to help.

However, in today's age of social media and globalization, none of us are truly helpless as long as we have access to the Internet. Hundreds of stranded refugees and homeless survivors have taken to social media to share their stories and seek support from the community. Journalists on the ground are sharing stories live and updates from the warzones. We're able to see in real time the truth of what is happening, and we're able to see this publicly broadcast hostility. Despite crackdowns on social media platforms to prevent "sensitive content" from being shared, the Internet community has risen, using the watermelon emoji as a symbol of resistance to bypass the filters and showcase their staunch support for the people of the country with the colors on the flag matching a watermelon.

To honor National Watermelon Day in the US on August 4th, we invited creators to talk about the G@zan gen0cide. As writers and artists, we called upon them to do what them know best and use their words and creativity to shed light upon this horror. Your words are your power, and you can use them to bring more attention to this massacre. In a stage where people have forgotten and moved on to the next big thing, we called upon artists and writers to revisit the still ongoing barbaric gen0cide, and express in their own words your feelings on it.