North Carolina and South Carolina have the most restrictive public sector collective bargaining laws in the U.S., prohibiting all government employees from unionizing. Despite this, educators in Durham, North Carolina, continue to advocate for representation. The Broadside explores the implications of being a union in a state where striking and collective bargaining are illegal, reflecting on the history of labor organizing in the South.

Merchant mariners, including Madeleine Wolczko from Washington state, are stranded on their ships near Shanghai's port due to a COVID-19 lockdown that has lasted over six weeks. The crew, aboard a container ship requiring maintenance, has been restricted to the vessel for nearly three months, facing challenges such as lack of electricity and plumbing issues. Wolczko has been documenting the experience through photography and a video series, which includes candid interviews with crew members like Ernesto Lagramada. The lockdown has suspended shore-leave and caused extended shipping delays, impacting the global economy and the merchant marine industry. Shanghai officials aim to lift the lockdown by June 1, but the ship remains unseaworthy, and the crew's return home is uncertain.

In response to a herd of 14 elephants' 800-mile journey to Kunming, China, efforts are being made to promote coexistence between humans and elephants. Initiatives include a national elephant park and 'canteens' with protected lands for elephants to feed on during treks. The elephant population in Yunnan Province has nearly doubled since the 1990s due to legal protection, leading to increased human-elephant encounters. Conservationists and villagers are working on projects like the elephant canteen and reforestation to encourage wildlife to return and reduce conflicts.

George Nissen, an Iowa native, invented the modern trampoline, inspired by his acrobatic background and a desire to improve his gymnastic and diving skills. With his coach Larry Griswold, Nissen developed the trampoline from spare parts and junkyard scraps. The invention gained popularity for both entertainment and training purposes, used by the military and NASA. Nissen's daughter, Dian, a trampoline coach, recounts her father's efforts to make trampoline a competitive sport, leading to its inclusion in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. George Nissen's legacy continues through the Nissen Cup and the joy of trampolining he spread worldwide.

Feminist and LGBTQ activists in China are facing online censorship, with social media accounts being shut down. Activist Li Maizi's Weibo account was closed after she defended another feminist online. Liang Xiaowen, a US-based feminist activist and lawyer, sued Weibo for shutting down her account without explanation. Author Leta Hong Fincher suggests that the Chinese government perceives feminism as a threat due to its impact on birth rates. Despite the crackdown, activists like Lu Pin remain determined to continue their work. The recent policy changes allowing couples to have three children have received a tepid response from Chinese women.

Zhang Hong, a blind man from China, has become the first blind person in Asia to climb Mount Everest. He was inspired by Erik Weihanmayer, the first blind person to summit Everest. Zhang trained rigorously, facing the challenge at age 46 during a pandemic. Despite fear and reliance on his guide, Qiangzi, Zhang reached the summit, experiencing the moment through the sound of the wind rather than the sight. He only felt a sense of accomplishment after safely descending the mountain. Zhang now aims to complete the Explorers Grand Slam. The documentary team leader, Fan Lixin, highlighted the universal courage needed to face one's own Everest.

Chinaplas, the plastics industry's first global show since the pandemic began, saw a significant drop in overseas visitors due to China's mandatory two-week quarantine, with only 577 of the 44,000 attendees on the first day being non-mainland Chinese. Rebecca Kanthor interviewed three individuals who underwent quarantine to attend the event in Shenzhen. Patrick Kwan from Samsonite Asia, based in Hong Kong, attended to visit vendors and spent his quarantine time in various activities, including playing the saxophone. Tao Cornier from ESOPP SAS, based in France, managed the company's booth design and passed quarantine time working and reading. Rex Hsieh from Multitech Machinery Ltd., based in Taiwan, described his quarantine in Xiamen as a nightmare but found the trip worthwhile for business opportunities in China.

A year after Wuhan's lockdown, the city has transformed a temporary COVID-19 hospital into a museum celebrating the government's pandemic response, while some residents, like Yang Min and Zhang Hai, seek justice for lost loved ones, criticizing the government's initial handling and alleged cover-up. Despite the official narrative of recovery, underlying anxiety persists among the populace, with some preparing for a potential second wave. The vaccine offers a glimmer of hope, but the city remains vigilant.