Accent of Women

The Labor government continues to provide economic, diplomatic and military support to Israel's genocide in Gaza and now Iran. We know that they signed a $917 million dollar deal with Israeli weapons company Elbit systems early last year. We know that the Heat Treatment Australia facility in Campbellfield provides crucial treatment for components of F-35 Joint Strike fighters.  Now, more than ever, we need to put pressure on our own politicians to end all military exports to Israel and cut all diplomatic and economic ties. In Melbourne's inner city local municipality of Merri-bek, a group of committed Free Palestine activists organised a rally against sitting Labor MP, Peter Khalil, who was recently been promoted as Assistant Minister for Defence. The rally took place on the cold winter's night of Friday June 13th and today's episode of Accent of Women brings you some speeches from that rally. The Rally chair is Bella Beiraghi of students for Palestine and the first speaker is Samantha Ratnam from the Australian Greens who challenged Peter Khalil in the once safe Labor seat of Wills, turning it into one of the most marginal seats in the state of Victoria.

On today's program, we bring you the second part of the first lecture delivered by, regular guest on this show, Frieda Afary, an Iranian academic and librarian from the US, has recently delivered a series of lectures on Humanist Alternatives.One of the pillars of the rise of fascism in the 21st century has been the void in the articulation of a humanist alternative in face of the deepening economic, social political and environmental crises of our time. In order to develop conceptual and practical frameworks for humanist alternatives, and constructive collective action, Afary argues, it is necessary to address and discuss the fundamental transformations needed in economic, social, political, environmental relations on a national and global scale. It is also necessary to be aware of the long history of anti-humanist discourse and to respond to some of those critiques.So this first lecture which starts to explore this general idea of humanist alternatives, is called Labor and Economy.

On today's program, we explore a little bit of social theory and philosophy. A regular guest on this show, Frieda Afary, an Iranian academic and librarian from the US, has recently delivered a series of lectures on Humanist Alternatives – so this week and next week, I will bring you the first of those lectures.One of the pillars of the rise of fascism in the 21st century has been the void in the articulation of a humanist alternative in face of the deepening economic, social political and environmental crises of our time. In order to develop conceptual and practical frameworks for humanistalternatives, and constructive collective action, Afary argues, it is necessary to address and discuss the fundamental transformations needed in economic, social, political, environmental relations on a national and global scale. It is also necessary to be aware of the long history of anti-humanist discourse and to respond to some of those critiques.So this first lecture which starts to explore this general idea of humanist alternatives, is called Labor and Economy.

On today's show we speak with Lebanese-born, australian-based filmmaker Samia Mikhail about her poetry which responds to the barbarism of imperialism, while feeling the pain of the oppressed and the  murdered, and expressing the pain and rage of all that is left of humanity as we watch senseless wars created in the Global South by ruling classes of the Global North. How can one write any other poetry when people make money from killing others and stealing their fields? We don't beg emotions from those who don't have any. Oh God, how cruel people can be.Samia's poetry and writing can be found at the following Arabic publications: Ilaaf, Ana AlAaghar, Eihterafaat kinaah,Thakafaat, Kitabaat, Horraas alwatan, Kalimaat bawhh al-rouh, Rasa'el maa kahwat Alsabaah.

In this week's episode, we sit down with Sangeun Kim, Seayoung Park, and Serena Jeong. During their recent visit to Australia for a cross-cultural exchange with fellow Australian women, they reflect on the meaning of leadership, the everyday challenges faced by working women in Korea and Australia, and what solidarity between women across cultures can look like.Tune in to hear their insights, stories of resilience, and how EAWK is creating space for women to lead with purpose—both at home and abroad.Learn more about EAWK at empowerkorea.com/aus

Operation Inglenook is an initiative by the Australian Border Force which claims to focus on identifying exploitation and potential victims of trafficking and modern slavery.This harmful - and unsuccessful - approach unfairly targets the sex industry, leading to invasive workplace raids, canceled visas, detention and deportation. This is very distressing for migrant sex workers, no matter their visa status. Operation Inglenook is a racist, violent campaign targeting Asian-migrant sex workers through workplace and border raids. Today's speeches are from a rally held on 17 April 2025 and are: Bee from Justice for our sisters, Penny who is a migrant sex worker, and a statement from the The Asian Migrant Sex Worker Advisory Group (AMSWAG).

In 1804, enslaved Haitians successfully overthrew French colonial rule and founded the world's first Black republic. But by 1825, the French returned and demanded Haiti to pay “reparations” for French financial losses, including the value of the lives of the formerly enslaved. With warships off its coast, Haiti was forced to agree to an indemnity debt, which totaled hundreds of millions in today's dollars, a ransom for freedom. Lasting for generations, this so-called independence debt was not just a financial burden hindering Haiti's development across all sectors, it was a calculated act of economic warfare where foreign funding replaced sovereignty, while the imperial west escalated its predation: repeated military invasions, embargoes, financial coercion, political interference, orchestrated coups, and installed puppet governments and dictators.  From France's gunboat diplomacy, to US military occupation, to UN missions for “stabilisation” and the brutal suppression of justice movements, Haiti has been a laboratory for imperial control. But through it all, Haitian resistance persists marking Haiti as both a symbol and site of global injustice and revolutionary possibility. In this episode, we will hear from Haiti's former First Lady, Mildred Aristide, in her powerful speech at the 2025 Samuel Dash Conference on Human Rights, whose call for repair confronts colonialism's unfinished business.  

Looking at gender based violence in Myanmar

This episode is dedicated to raising awareness around 'cybercrime' within our communities. This episode features Ms Saleha Singh and has been presented by Dr Chris Mallika Bhadra on the lands of the Kulin Nation.

On this week's episode, we listen to an interview with Dr Iori Hamada, a Japanese Studies lecturer and researcher based in Melbourne. Driven by a passion for social inclusion, Iori is dedicated to fostering a more equitable society, particularly for disadvantaged groups such as migrants and women. In this conversation, we talk about gender inequality in Japan and how gender and migration intersect in the experiences of the Japanese community in Victoria, Australia.

On this week's episode we listen to the story of Fayeza, a 21 year old woman born and living in Afghanistan. Fayeza comes from the Hazara ethnic group of Afghanistan. She was preparing for medical university when the Taliban came back to power and banned education for women. In this conversation we talk about her life journey, her insights into the political situation, and her aspirations.

 Zena Cumpston is a Barkandji woman with Afghan, English and Irish heritage.Zena works as an artist, writer, consultant and curator. She is passionate about plants and seeks out projects that empower community and Country. Zena is a member of the Birrarung Council and the curator of First Nations Projects at InPLace Artist Residencies. In 2024 Zena co-wrote the Yuruwan ‘Growing on Country' resource, a unique space to consider food sovereignty and cultural landscapes, fostering fertile conditions for social and environmental justice and change. She is the co-author of the highly popular book ‘Plants; past, present, future' (First Knowledges series) and is a widely published essayist and regular public speaker.

Former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte is in the custody of the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands after being arrested in Manila on Tuesday 11 March, on crimes against humanity charges linked to his deadly "war on drugs".Mr Duterte was detained by Philippine police and flown to The Hague in the Netherlands on an arrest warrant. Police say that during his arrest, Mr Duterte threatened officers, refused to be fingerprinted and his associates and family blocked his arrest for 12 hours.On Accent of Women today, we look at Duterte's deadly war on drugs and what this arrest means, but in further news, the workers at the semiconductor manufacturer, Nexperia, had a victory last week as well, following 4 days of strike action. My guest today is Rochelle Porras from EILER – The Ecumenical Institute for Labour Education and Research

Ana Gamero, originally from Peru and now living in Australia for 17 years, made the bold transition from construction to welding while undertaking an Engineering Fabrication Apprenticeship. In this conversation, she shares her journey in the trades, the invaluable support from her colleagues, and the guidance of Courteney Munn, Project Manager at AMWU, who helped her navigate the challenges she faced. Through the union, Ana discovered a powerful sense of community and support.The song in the intro is Marinera Norteña - La Trujillana. The song at the end is La Flor de la Canela, by Chabuca Granda and interpreted by Eva Ayllon en vivo en Buenos Aires, Argentina. Both songs are gems of Peruvian musical heritage. Special thanks to Ana Gamero for the interview.This episode was presented by Ximena Jimenez and produced on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation, in what is now known as Melbourne. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present, and emerging, and acknowledge their ongoing connection to land, waters, and culture.

This episode is dedicated to raising awareness around 'mental health' within South-Asian diaspora and communities. This episode features Ms Tania Biswas and has been presented by Dr Chris Mallika Bhadra on the lands of the Kulin Nation.

Racerage is a queer, Blak radical rapper; mixing dark electronic hip-hop with defiant punk energy. They collaborate with other BIPOC, queer and trans artists, to create political protest rap ... hip hop as truth telling. Racerage dropped their debut record Black Medusa in 2021; the soundtrack to a shared decolonised, queer, accessible future;On this episode of Accent of Women, we hear about their journey as a multiply marginalised artist in the local music industry, coming to culture, and their experiences with grassroots activism and harm reduction advocacy in Naarm-Melbourne.

Excerpts from 29 January Webinar, hosted by APAN: Beyond the Ceasefire: Next steps to liberation and justice- Pt 2On this week's show we play excerpts from the recording of a webinar hosted by the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network which takes a critical look at the ceasefire agreement and unpacks what it means for the movement for Palestinian justice. It contextualises the movement within the broader struggle for Palestinian rights, and discusses the reality of the ceasefire for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.The speakers featured on the podcast are:Dr Lana Tatour: a Palestinian woman whose family was displaced in the 1948 Nakba, and an academic on Settler colonialism, race, and decolonization in PalestineSamah Sabawi: a Gazan Palestinian author, playwright and scholarSongsMawtini -Mohammed YoussefMystic of the Middle East- Serge Quadrado

Excerpts from 29 January Webinar, hosted by APAN: Beyond the Ceasefire: Next steps to liberation and justice- Pt 1On this week's show we play excerpts from the recording of a webinar hosted by the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network which takes a critical look at the ceasefire agreement and unpacks what it means for the movement for Palestinian justice. It contextualises the movement within the broader struggle for Palestinian rights, and discusses the reality of the ceasefire for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.The speakers featured on the podcast are:Dr Lana Tatour: a Palestinian woman whose family was displaced in the 1948 Nakba, and an academic on Settler colonialism, race, and decolonization in PalestineSamah Sabawi: a Gazan Palestinian author, playwright and scholar

August 2024 was a tragic month for the South-Asian diaspora as a young female medical doctor was abused and consequently lost her life at RG Kar Hospital, Kolkata, India.This episode is dedicated to women and worker safety in our workplaces and in public premises.

Today's story is about the intersection between music, sexyness and politics. We'll talk about how it is living on a visa as a creative and how music can build up a sense of radical home. Special thanks to Luara, the founder of Inbraza, for her invaluable contributions. The phonk music featured at the end of this episode is from the album Músicas Pra Descer Até O Chão, Vol. 1 by Mike, O Prodigio, and Kay.Love what you heard? Follow INBRAZA on Instagram and help us make some noise!This episode was presented by Ximena Jimenez and produced on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation, in what is now known as Melbourne. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present, and emerging, and acknowledge their ongoing connection to land, waters, and culture.

Back in September 2023, I broadcast a three part series called Incarcerated Women and the California Bushfires.In the current bushfires raging across California, there are more than 900 incarcerated people among the more than 7,500 personnel, fighting those fires. I thought it was a great time to revisit this really important conversation.Today I am only going to replay Part 1, but you can go to our podcast page to listen back on the other two episodes.*********************************************This conversation between activist scholars Sarah Haley and Romarilyn Ralston takes as a point of departure the firefighting labor of people imprisoned in California's women's prisons. The discussion considers the specific contradictions of that forced labor and meanders to cover the carceral state's relationship to disappearance, precarity, interiority, intimacy, possibility, performance, and violence.

Mithaka Country is 55,425 square kilometres of beautiful red sand dunes  west of Windorah and east of Birdsville, in the heart of Queensland's Channel Country. The three major rivers that feed Lake Eyre – Cooper Creek, Eyre Creek, and the Diamantina River.Today, my guest is Trudy Gorringe, a Mithaka woman, who I had the good fortune of meeting, while I was in Windorah travelling around. Trudy and I talked about a range of topics associated with native title and First Nation's control of traditional lands. You'll notice quite a bit of background wind and noise. That's because we did this interview on the sprawling lands of the Mithaka Aboriginal Corporation.

Most supporters of Palestine tend to view the issue in nationalist terms, as a struggle with the Palestinians and the broader Arab world on one side, and the Israeli state and its western allies on the other. Yet any serious look at the situation today, or at the history of the 20th century for that matter, shows that the Arab states have done nothing to seriously challenge Zionism or its Western backers. On Accent of Women today, we conclude our broadcast of a talk by Socialist and activist, Bella Beiraghi that explores some of this history, and explains why Arab elites are not simply unreliable allies, but are actually complicit in the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people. 

This week's Accent of Women hands the airwaves over to women from diverse backgrounds living with disabilities. This week's special is produced by Marisa Sposaro - a woman with a vision impairment and who is a braille user.

Most supporters of Palestine tend to view the issue in nationalist terms, as a struggle with the Palestinians and the broader Arab world on one side, and the Israeli state and its western allies on the other. Yet any serious look at the situation today, or at the history of the 20th century for that matter, shows that the Arab states have done nothing to seriously challenge Zionism or its Western backers. On Accent of Women today, and concluding the week after next week, I broadcast a talk by Socialist and activist, Bella Beiraghi that explores some of this history, and explains why Arab elites are not simply unreliable allies, but are actually complicit in the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people. 

A former Bondi nanny and cleaner accused by Chile of being a torturer and kidnapper for Pinochet's military dictatorship in the 1970s has launched a last-ditch legal appeal to avoid extradition. Adriana Rivas, 70, has been in prison in Australia since 2019, when she was arrested on an extradition request from Chile – seeking her for trial on seven counts of aggravated kidnapping relating to the disappearance, and presumed murder, of seven members of Chile's communist party who disappeared in 1976.Today's guest is Pilar Aguielera, co-founder of the National Campaign for truth and justice in Chile.

Cynthia Honihui, Solomon Islands Lawyer and President for the Pacific Islands Fighting Climate Change, presented the 4th annual Talbot Oration on World Environment Day, 5 June at the Australia Institute. Here's the talk where Cynthia discusses her participation in the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion Campaign for climate justice and human rights, and next steps for climate justice in the ICJ. 

In recent years right-wing populists/extremists and right-wing Catholic as well as conservative actors have been building new alliances in several European countries around the notion of ‘gender-theory' or ‘gender-ideology'.  These groups construct ‘gender' as a totalitarian ideology, which aims to create a new, ‘gender-less' human, thereby attacking the institution of the family and European societies as a whole. This reading of ‘gender', which has been developed by the Vatican from the 1990s onwards, is instrumental to forming coalitions across the right-wing political spectrum.  Edma Ajonavic, Stefanie Mayer, and Birgit Sauer deliver a speech called, ‘Gender' as Symbolic Glue for Right-Wing Actors in Europe' at the 2nd International Marxist Feminist Conference in Vienna in 2016.

There are two significant anniversaries in the Middle Eastern/West Asian region of the world worth commemorating on Accent of Women. Two years on September 16, Jina Mahsa Amini was killed by the Morality Police in Iran, sparking the Woman Life Freedom movement there. A year earlier, in August 2021, the Taliban was ushered back into power as the whole world looked on, when the United States eventually withdrew its troops.So today's guests are Frieda Afary, Iranian American feminist activist, and Sahar Saba, from the Revolutionary Association of the women of Afghanistan.

Prominent union leader, Chhim Sithar, who led a high-profile strike at a Phnom Penh hotel and casino called Naga World, was released from prison on Monday 19 September. She has promised to continue leading workers who are demanding better wages and working conditions. The dispute at the NagaWorld Hotel and Entertainment Complex, one of the world's most profitable gambling centers, began in 2021 when the company laid off more than 1,300 employees, about half of them union members.The strike has drawn a violent crackdown from police and continues to this day. Cambodian authorities have claimed that the strike is illegal and the product of alleged foreign donations. But of course, the workers disagree.My guest today is Chhim Sithar, the President of the Khmer Employees of NagaWorld.

The JVP has just been elected in Sri Lanka, supposedly signalling a new Marxist era in Sri Lankan politics. But the JVP has a mixed history and politics – particularly its policies on minorities. On today's program, we speak with academic, Samanthi Gunawardana to try to understand these developments in Sri Lankan politics.

On today's Accent of Women, we look at the campaign to close Unit 18, a child detention wing inside the maximum-security Casuarina Prison near Perth in Western Australia. The campaign escalated in the wake of the tragic death of Yamatji child Cleveland Dodd in 2023 after he self-harmed while incarcerated in the facility. Earlier this month, it was revealed that another child detained at the Banksia Hill Detention Centre, also near Perth, had died by suicide. 3CR's Priya Kunjan interviews Roxy Moore, Noongar lawyer, community organiser, activist and campaigner, and Stephanie McGuire, Ballardong and Whadjuk Noongar community organiser and activist. For listeners, I want to issue a CONTENT WARNING for today's show. Today's show mentions SUICIDE, SELF HARM, DISCUSSION OF ABORIGINAL DEATHS IN CUSTODY. 

The Israeli government continues to impose strict restrictions on the movement of aid into Gaza. The complex bureaucratic process and changing Standard Operating Procedures result in food and medical supplies nearing expiration before entry. Meat and vegetables are frequently denied at key crossings. Gaza is the most dangerous place in the world for an aid worker – almost 300 have been killed since October 7, with many claiming some of these deaths occurred as a result of direct targeting.Hampering the provision of aid is a part of the genocidal campaign of Israel against not just Gaza but all Palestinians. And despite this, aid workers continue to fight to provide humanitarian aid to Palestinians.My guest today is Bushra Khalidi, the Occupied Territory Lead for Oxfam International, based in Ramallah. 

Revolutionary Palestinian, Leila Khaled. Special thanks to Peoples Dispatch for that audio.

Mass protests broke out in Bangladesh in early July over a controversial quota system that reserved 30% of government jobs for relatives of veterans who fought in the 1971 war. But the issue over which people protested quickly expanded to include broader demands around freedom of speech and democracy. As the protests expanded, so too did the repression and in about 5 weeks of protests, as of August 2, there were about 215 deaths and more than 20,000 others injured, accompanied by more than 11,000 arrests in various parts of the country. My guest today is Taslima Akhter, President of Bangladesh Garment Workers Solidarity, and a participant and activists in this protest movement.

A wave of protests is sweeping through Kenya, since June 18. Triggered by controversial proposed tax hikes, the movement has evolved into a wider campaign for more accountable governance in the country. Some demand the entire government's resignation. While the protesters have overwhelmingly been peaceful, they have been met with fierce police repression and brutality, including the deployment of tear gas, mass arrests of activists, and an inordinate number of disappearances, plus, over 50 people dead, My guest today is Nita Okoko, Kenyan socialist and feminist activist.

Asylum seekers and refugee boat arrivals that entered Australian waters before 1 January 2014 were subject to a different set of visa processing rules that limited their ability to seek a more permanent visa status. This group of about 30,000 people is known as the Legacy Caseload.A blanket ban was applied to individuals in this group, preventing them from having a refugee protection visa application processed unless the Immigration Minister exercised personal discretion to override the ban (known as "lifting the bar"). But in December 2022, Andrew Giles declared that 19,000 permanent residencies would be granted, leaving approximately 12,000 refugees in limbo.A group of these refugees has set up a permanent tent embassy firstly outside of Clare O'Neil's electoral office, and now, outside of the office of Home Affairs in Melbourne. I spoke with three of these Temporary Protection Visa holders, Narges, Aida and Afifa.

Palestinian Australian New Zealand Medical Association (PANZMA) was established in 2020 by a group of healthcare professionals across Australia and New Zealand, who care about fulfilling the unmet need of providing comprehensive health care in Palestine. My guest today is Dr. Bushra Othman, an Australian Palestinian surgeon who has just recently returned from a PANZMA medical mission in Gaza.PANZMA desperately needs donations to survive and to continue supporting people devastated by war in Gaza. Go to their website and donate today: PANZMA.org

With France's political system making it to mainstream international media, owing to the near success of Le Pen's fascist party, National Rally, this week's Accent of Women focuses on fascism and islamophobia in France.Author, political activist and writer of French-Algerian origin HOURIA BOUTELDJA presents her critique of contemporary leftist thought and activism, undertaken from an anti-colonial perspective. She draws on her direct political experience as the founder and former leader of the Parti des Indigènes de la République movement in France, as well as her longstanding interest in the study of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, summarized in her most recent book, “Whites, Jews and Us: Toward a Politics of Revolutionary Love”.This speech is called Why White Antifascism Is not Enough to Fight Islamophobia?

On today's Accent of Women, a different perspective on the War on Gaza and the October 7 attacks. Combatants for Peace is a grassroots movement of Israelis and Palestinians, working together to end the occupation and bring peace, equality and freedom to the are we call Palestine but others call Israel. Committed to joint nonviolence since their inception, Combatants for Peace uses civil resistance, education and other creative means of activism to transform systems of oppression and build a free and peaceful future from the ground up.  Launched in 2006, Combatants for Peace is the only movement worldwide that was founded by former fighters on both sides of an active conflict. As a result, they were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017 and 2018.Iris Gur is an activist from Combatants for Peace. She is Israeli, and she starts here by discussing how she was first politicised, and how she came to join the peace movement.

Two years on from the Supreme Court's ruling in the United States that overturned the historic decision on abortion rights in the famous case called Roe v Wade, and abortions are predictably the most inaccessible they've been. The National Mobilzation for Reproductive Justice has been spearheading a campaign to get unions behind the fight for reproductive justice against the far right's relentless onslaught. To mark the 2nd anniversary of the Supreme Court decision on June 24, National Mobilzation for Reproductive Justice will hold a press conference in Washington DC, outside AFL-CIO headquarters, to deliver an open letter signed by 600 unions, union groups and members to the AFL-CIO, which calls on the AFL-CIO to convene a national union conference to strategise for a national fightback for reproductive rights. Today's guest is Nancy Reiko Kato, Japanese American feminist, socialist and organiser with National Mobilzation for Reproductive Justice.

On today's show, we feature Maiy Aziz from Everybody's Home, a national campaign to fix the housing crisis. Everybody's Home was launched in 2018 by a coalition of housing, homelessness and welfare organisations to achieve the change needed so everybody has a safe and decent place to live.But first up, a reminder that there's still a Genocide in Gaza. Rihab Charida - a Palestinian Film Maker speaking at a recent Belmore Park, Sydney event for Palestine.

On today's show, we head down to one of the Stop the Ports Rallies held across Australia by Trade Unionists for Palestine to highlight the need for Australia to cease aiding and abetting the war on Palestine. In Melbourne, Victoria, trade unionists and community members gathered first at station pier then marched along the foreshore to Sandridge Beach, with the cranes of webb dock clearly in sight. The purpose of the co-ordinated nationwide action was to highlight again that maritime trade is strategic in the war on Gaza, and that workers everywhere, do indeed have the power to grind everything to a halt.Today's guests are Reem Yunis and Mai Saif.

On the 29 April this year, our comrades in Bangladesh organised an international meeting called From Local to Global: Struggle and Solidarity. The purpose of the meeting was to talk about international organising and solidarity, in the context of major international workers events such as International Workers Memorial Day, International Working Women's Day and of course May Day.The speakers today are Dina Siddiqi,  Linda Gomaa, Nafisa Nipun Tanjeem.

Today's Accent of Women commemorates May Day – International Workers Day on 1 May every year. The Second International designated International Workers' Day be 1 May every year, in 1889. The date was chosen to commemorate the Haymarket Affair, a violent confrontation between police and labour protesters in Chicago on May 4, 1886, that became a symbol of the international struggle for workers' rights. The strike at Haymarket in 1886 was about a national campaign to secure an eight-hour workday. May Day is a day of protest and action, right across the world, and this year Palestine was a major theme everywhere. On today's Accent of Women, I bring you four speeches delivered at the May Day rally in Melbourne, Victoria – on a very frosty autumn evening.

It's 11 years since the collapse of Rana Plaza, a building in Dhaka, Bangladesh that housed some 5 garment factories. More than 1100 workers died on 24 April 2013 but this was no accident. Workers and in fact, just about every body, knew that the building was unstable. It was built on a pond, without the correct construction permits, extra floors were added to the building illegally, and the heavy equipment associated with the garment industry all meant that the building couldn't hold the weight of its contents.But also, on the day of the collapse, cracks had appeared in the walls of the building, and the other tenants  – banks, small shops, they all closed for the day. But the garment workers were not afforded this basic safety measure. They were forced to work that day on threat of losing an entire months wages. They staged massive protests outside the building, but were eventually forced inside because of the unrelenting poverty that they are subjected to.So Rana Plaza was no accident – it was, it is, Industrial murder. 11 years on, these workers are fighting for an across the board wage increase. Their year long campaign has had some gains. Joining me today to discuss the wage case and the anniversary of Rana Plaza, I am joined by Taslima Akhter.

On this week's show, we return take a closer look at a number of campaigns that have emerged in Australia in the wake of the genocide in Gaza. Specifically, anti-weapons manufacturing campaigns and demilitarisation campaigns.My guests today are Palestinian/Syrian woman Nathalie Farrah from Disrupt Wars and the Get Elbit Industries out of Australia campaign. And Palestinian activist, Dana Alshaer from Melbourne University Students for Palestine Action Group. 

A recent military escalation in West Papua is the latest episode in a long history of repression and dispossession since the island came under Indonesian control. But the authorities in Jakarta still haven't been able to stabilize their rule over West Papua.On today's show, Accent of Women looks at the Resistance of the West Papuan people. 3CR's Priya Kunjan spoke with leading Human Rights Activist in Indonesia, Vanessa Koman. 

On this week's show, we're gonna chat about an exciting new book that's being released in a couple of weeks' time, called, “An Unexpected Life”, it documents the stories of 11 Canberra based women who are migrants to Australia, their journeys to this country, their successes and failures and loves and regrets. And interwoven across these 11 women's stories, is that of the author herself,Vesna Cvjeticanin. I had the privilege and pleasure of chatting with Vesna about her book.

The Migration Amendment (Removal and Other Measures) Bill proposes amendments to the Migration Act to deal with situations where non-citizens subject to removal are not cooperating with government authorities, or where their own government refuses to take them back. It is widely understood to be a response to the High Court's ruling in November 2023 that found indefinite immigration detention to be unlawful.It's also considered an attempt to pre-empt further litigation scheduled in the High Court. The case of an Iranian man refusing to cooperate in his deportation is due before the court next month. However, the amendments introduced in the bill go far beyond addressing this issue. They have wide-ranging impacts for how non-citizens are treated in Australia, and indeed for Australia's relationship with governments around the world.My guest today is refugee, and refugee activist, Lavanya Thavaraja.

On this week's show, we return our gaze to Gaza and the genocide of the Palestinian people there. It's been almost 6 months since Israel launched its genocidal campaign of bombardment against the people of Gaza, ostensibly in response to Hamas' attack on Nir Oz Kibbutz on the 7 October. The war has killed over 40,000 Palestinians, with some 1.2 million people now displaced in Rafah, with no where to go. All negotiations for a ceasefire have failed.First up, Rasha Abbas, the founder of Palestine Australia Relief and Action – this newly formed charity is supporting Palestinian refugees arriving in Australia. Then later in the show, Dana Alshaer, from UniMelb students for Palestine who are campaigning against the interests of weapons manufacturing companies in Australia's higher education system. Companies such as Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems and Boeing – are amongst the 5 largest weapons manufacturing companies in the world, and they fund research and PhDs at a range of universities including Melbourne University.  Donate to PARA if you're able to: https://para.org.au/