Highlights from 2023: Grassroots Organising

Thursday Breakfast

Acknowledgement of Country// From our 12 October 2023 show: Leila interviews Debbie about Building Unity Against Fascism, a six session study circle that ran in late 2023 co-hosted by Radical Women and Freedom Socialist Party in Reservoir. Immersed in the daily fight against racism, sexism, homophobia, anti-trans bigotry, and labor exploitation, Radical Women believes in multi-issue organising around the needs of the most marginalised. The Freedom Socialist Party is a feminist, working-class organisation, fighting for an end to all capitalist exploitation and oppression.// From our 14 December 2023 show: Inez interviews Ahmed Barakat, an activist, writer, and University of Melbourne PhD student. Ahmed is one of the organisers in the University of Melbourne For Palestine (UM4P) group, and has been involved with Palestinian activism on campus for years, including the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) motion. Ahmed came on the show to talk about UniMelb 4 Palestine and recent solidarity actions on campus.// From our 12 October 2023 show: We hear the first instalment of a three part conversation between Spike and "James" an activist from Blockade Australia. Blockade Australia is an organising network established in response to the destruction of the ecosystems that support all human and non-human life. The network helps to build a political movement that can physically resist Australia's planet destroying operations with disruptive and targeted action that shuts down the everyday functioning of this machine. In this segment, Spike and James discuss Blockade’s mission, the reasons he got involved with the organisation, the role a commitment to social and environmental justice plays in Blockade’s work, and the importance of direct action. Listen back to the second and third segments of this interview on our page.// From our 14 December 2023 show: Have you ever wanted to contribute at a rally but just you're not sure where to start? Well, today is the day you can learn how to take that first step… Marshalling is the perfect way to get involved and support community in the ongoing fight for Palestinian liberation and to end genocide NOW! In this segment, Leila interviews Bugs, a pro-Palestine activist and artist from Naarm who has marshalled for over 12 rallies so far since October 7th. Bugs tells us what it takes to be a marshal, how you can get involved, and what to expect at your first marshalling experience. Donate to the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network here, and Free Palestine Melbourne here.// From our 30 November 2023 show: Priya interviews Carmen from Mparntwe for Palestine about taking action to block access to the Pine Gap military facility. Earlier that week, a group of Indigenous and non-Indigenous activists set up their second blockade in a month across the single access road to Pine Gap, which is situated on Arrernte land outside of Mparntwe/Alice Springs. Carmen is one of the activists who participated in the blockade and a member of Mparntwe for Palestine. Carmen joins us to discuss the relationship between Pine Gap and the ongoing genocide of Palestinians, as well as the importance of direct action in solidarity with Palestinians struggling for liberation. Read the article about Pine Gap’s surveillance apparatus by Peter Cronau in Declassified Australia here.// Songs//Hard Thing - Yara//