Taiwan's White Terror and the making of City of God

Taiwan's White Terror and the making of City of God

From The History Hour by BBC World Service

August 8, 2026 · 1h 3m

About this episode

This episode explores Taiwan's end of martial law, the making of the film City of God, and various historical events and figures related to activism and environmental efforts.

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week's Witness History episodes. This week, we hear about the end of decades-long martial law in Taiwan and discuss its impact on the country's literature with Ti-han Chang, the Deputy Director of Centre of Taiwan Studies at SOAS University of London. Next, the making of City of God, the film that showed the raw reality of children's gangs in Brazil's favelas. Plus, we remember Ashley Kriel, the young activist who became an anti-apartheid icon on the Cape Flats. We also hear about the first carbon offset scheme that planted millions of trees in Guatemala. We go back 50 years to the first time women played basketball in the Olympic Games. And the birth of Club Med, the resort that pioneered the all-inclusive holiday. Contributors: Fred Chin - former Malaysian student imprisoned during Taiwan's White Terror. Katia Lund - co-director of City of God. Adiel 'Gorie' November - former anti-apartheid activist. Roberto Antonio Alvarado - planted the saplings that became some of the world’s first carbon offsets. Pierre-Xavier Bécret - son of Club Med employees. Juliene Brazinski Simpson - former US basketball player. (Photo: Green Island former…

People in this episode

Host: Max Pearson

Guest: Ti-han Chang

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Centre of Taiwan Studies

Books & works: City of God, Club Med

Places: Taiwan, Brazil, Guatemala, Cape Flats

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