Accent of Women

The 13th annual Arab Film Festival Australia

The Arab Film Festival is back on and this time, it's not only being held in Melbourne and Sydney, but in Canberra and Perth as well. In it's 13th year, The Arab Film Festival Australia is a community based and community driven film festival that brings together the best in contemporary Arab cinema to Australian audiences. The festival provides a unique opportunity for cross-cultural exchange, dialogue and relationship building between Australia and the Arab communities from around the world. 

Bi-Racial and Bi-Cultural in Australia

On the show this week we speak with the co-founders of bi-racial blog, The Pin. The Pin is a blog spot and website, dedicated to people that come from a mixture of different cultures, races and ethnicities. The term they use, is bi-racial and bi-cultural.The two co-founders are Nkechi Anele and Lucie Cutting, and in this panel discussion, they are joined by blog contributor, Katie Ho.

Early and Forced Marriage in Australia

According to Human Rights Watch, 14 million girls are married, worldwide, each year - with some as young as eight or nine. While early and forced marriage appears most prevalent in countries of Africa, Asia and the Middle East, several recent cases have shown Australia is not immune to the practise.On March 8 th 2013, yup, that's international women's day, Federal legislation passed to specifically outlaw the practice. The amendment created new offences relating to slavery and slave-like prac...

Young people in Ethnic Community Radio

We celebrate ethnic programming and many different languages and communities having access to the airwaves. But do women and young people within those ethnic communities have the same access to their voices being heard in the airwaves?We discussed with a great panel that includes Areej Nur, a young broadcaster currently producing at 3CR and Namila Benson, who began as a young producer in community radio two decades ago.This discussion was originally broadcasted on April 8 from Gertrude Contem...

Nestora Salgado: state repression, political prisoners & international solidarity

For two years and eight months, indigenous community leader Nestora Salgado was unjustly kept in prison. For over a year she had no access to speak with her attorney and was in solitary confinment. After over two years without a trial and bogus charges, and thanks to great international solidarity accions, Nestora is now free. She was released in March this years.Nestora is an activists and activist of Olinala’s Community police, a community elected and sanctioned organisation in charge of sa...

Accent of Women - Martha Harnecker on social change and challenges in Latin America today

Prestigious Chilean journalist, writer and commentator Martha Harnecker talks about social change in Latin America and the recent challenges that social movements and progressive governments are facing today. Discussing corporate and independent media, social organisation, revolutionary strategies, the role of the workers and more.Marta was a student of Louis Althusser in Paris and returned to Chile in 1968. After the bloody coup against the Allende government in Chile in 1973, she moved to C...

Women on Community Language Programming

In the context of 3CR's 40th birthday special broadcast, Jiselle Hanna and Lourdes Garcia-Larque were joined by a panell of Community languages broadcasters Vicky Ferrada (Spanish language programming) and Melba Marginson (Tagalog programming) to discuss the history of the participation of CALD women in community radio over the last four decades. We talked about the challengesfemale programmers faced within their communities broadcasting in their languages, and the importance of raising issue...

San Quintin Jornaleros, one year from their strike

On March 17, 2015, thousands of jornaleras and jornaleros (agricultural workers) from the town of San Quintin, in Baja California (Mexico) marched to the US border, to demand fair wages, sanitation, housing, an end to the 21st century slatery conditions they have endured for decade and that the NAFTA has just made worst.Gloria Gracida Martnez is a teacher and activist, a former jornalera and a spokes-person for the movement. On Accent of Women she talked to us about the story of the march and...

Accent of Women International Women's Day 2016

International Women's Day ‪#‎IWD2016‬ we have put together a special show showcasing two of our favourite recent interviews. Lourdes Garcia-Larque spoke with teacher and activist Gloria Gracida, about the struggle of strawberry pickers in the Mexican border, their fight for justice, their newly formed union & the boycott against multinational company Driscoll. You can find more information about the campaign following this link.Jiselle Hanna spoke with Filipino activist Liza Maza. They spoke ...

Inhabited: A magical Realism, two Colombian artists

Colombian artists Katherine Gailer & Maria Esther Pena talk about their upcoming EXHIBITION ▷ INHABITED: A Magical Realism that opens on Tuesday, 2 February 2016, 5 -7pm, 45 Downstairs (45 Flinders Lane) in Melbourne. We talked about Magical Realism, telling different stories and being an Immigrant. We discussed about what is a "LAtin american" artist in Australia.Dates: 2 – 13 February 2016Opening Night: Tuesday, 2 February 2016, 5 -7pmINHABITED: A Magical Realism’ is a group exhibition by C...

We should NOT celebrate Australia Day

January 26.  Australia Day.  It marks the anniversary of the 1788 arrival of the First Fleet of British Ships at Port Jackson, in New South Wales, the raising of the Flag of Great Britain at that site by Governor Arthur Phillip, the invasion of Australia and the start of genocide against the original owners of this land.  We should not celebrate Australia Day, and to tell us why, Aboriginal woman, Daniela Rochford joins us on Accent of Women. 

Mining company OceanaGold vs El Salvador: free trade agreements over national laws

Canadian-Australian mining company OceanaGold continues a US$315 million US dollar lawsuit against El Salvador, a small country in Central America. This is possible under the Free Trade Agreement laws. a snapshot of what could come with the secretive TPP. Vidalina Morales speaks about environmental impact in an already fragile country, and about the violence used by mining companies to eliminate activists.

Accent of Women - Justice for Jennifer Laude Part 2

In November 2014, Filipina transgender woman, Jennifer Laude was murdered by US marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton. He has not been brought to justice. On this week and next, Accent of Women looks at this case and the campaign for justice.

Part 1: Justice for Jennifer Laude

In November 2014, Filipina transgender woman, Jennifer Laude was murdered by US marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton.  He has not been brought to justice.  On this week and next, Accent of Women looks at this case in some detail.

Accent of Women - Peruvian political prisoners - REPLAY

We discuss the situation of political prisoners in Peru over the last 20 years, particularly in the context of  the fierce anti-communism of the Fujimori regime, and the recent changes to the incarceration system.We talk about how political prisoners have used art as a therapeutic tool and a way to share their stories.Viviana Salas is a Peruvian photographer living in Melbourne and the curator of Art Inside, an exhibition presented at the Victorian Trades Hall suering May this year.The exhibi...

Accent of Women - Updates on Syrian Asylum Seekers and Palestine

In the context of recent Reclaim Australia demonstrations against immigrants, muslims and generally people of colour, we bring some updates on the Middle East. We will hear about the everyday life of people in Syria that forces people to cross their borders from Hanan Maarouf ‪#‎SyriansForFreedom‬ in a speech she gave at the‪#‎StopReclaimAustralia‬ rally in Melbourne in November 22. We will also hear Palestinian socialist Reem with updates on Palestine, the most recent Intifada and upcoming s...

Accent of Women - Feminism in Africa

African feminism is as old as society. From Kenyan women asserting their right to dress as they choose and Nigerians standing up to the misogynist Boko Haram to feminists organising across the continent for LGBTIQ rights. The Socialist Feminist organisation, Radical Women, recently organised a public meeting on Feminism in Africa. Nita Okoko, Kenyan feminist and international student at Melbourne University was the keynote speaker, and 3CR's Areej Nur recorded the speech.Nita started off by e...

Accent of women: The fight for reproductive rights in Ecuador

Daniela Alvarado is an Ecuadorian feminist and a Public Health specialist. She is passionate about women’s reproductive rights. Daniela discusses the history of women’s struggles and campaigns in Latin America, and particularly in Ecuador, for social and economic rights, safe legal abortions and self determination.This program was first played on November 2014, and it is an interview recorded at a public meeting organised by Radical Women in Melbourne.

Accent of Women - Can Jews in Israel be progressive?

Israel has once again escalated its attacks against the Palestinians, provoked by the right-wing Zionist settler movement that wants the government to take control of Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa Mosque compound and allow Jewish prayers on the entire site.  It is hard to believe that a future is possible in Palestine.  In fact, many are predicting a third intifada.  And yet, as Jerusalem burns, it seems there is the zygote of a progressive Jewish movement emerging in Isreal.  While a Jewish perspectiv...

Accent of Women - Free the Mapuche 15

Under Pinochet era Anti-Terror laws, 15 Mapuche community leaders are currently in prison because they are opposing a forestry hydrolic company taking over their lands - all with the permission of the State.Marisol Salinas is a Mapuche in exile here in Australia, and a member of the Latin American Solidarity Network, where she co-ordinates the solidarity campaign for the release of the Mapuche political prisoners. She's our special guest on Accent of Women.

Action on Disabilities within Ethnic Communities

Effie Meehan is a woman from Greek background living with cerebral palsy. For over 30 years, she has been a tireless advocate for the rights of people with disabilities, particularly from migrant backgrounds.She is a co-founder of ADEC (Action on Disability within Ethnic Communities) and she is currently a Facilitator and a Disabily Ambassador.

Justice for Ayotzinapa - One year anniversary

Today’s show is dedicated to the case of the 43 students from Ayotzinapa marking the one-year anniversary since the event in which 43 students were forcibly disapeared.On the night of September 26, 2014, six people were killed by police forces, including three students. One of them, Julio Mondragón, appeared hours later with the skin removed from his face. On that night, 43 student teachers were kidnapped by state forces.One year on, the case of the 43 students has become an emblematic case o...

Accent of Women - the Anti-War movement in Japan

Since the election of Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, there has been a marked increase in military spending by the government.  This has led to an upsurge in anti-war actions in the last few years with massive demonstrations across Japan.  As the world prepares for increased military operations in the Middle East, Japan is eagerly running into these conflicts despite fierce opposition from the people. To help us understand the situation in Japan, Chie Matsumoto talks to Accent of Women. 

Accion on Disabilty on Ethnic communities

On today's show, we will be learning about the work of ADEC, Action on Disability in Ethnic Communities, a community based organization that aims to empower people with disabilities from ethnic backgrounds, their carers and families.To learn about this organization we spoke with of its founding members, Effie Mehan, a woman from Greek background living with Cerebral palsy. She is a tireless advocate for the rights of people from CALD backgrounds living with disabilities in Victoria, and she i...

Accent of Women - Feminism in Africa

African feminism is as old as society. From Kenyan women asserting their right to dress as they choose and Nigerians standing up to the misogynist Boko Haram to feminists organising across the continent for LGBTIQ rights.  The Socialist Feminist organisation, Radical Women, recently organised a public meeting on Feminism in Africa. Nita Okoko, Kenyan feminist and international student at Melbourne University was the keynote speaker, and 3CR's Areej Nur recorded the speech.Nita started off by...

Accent of Women - Episode 201508250830

Accent of Women - Fighting Islamophobia, an unlikely activist

On this week's show, we speak to an unlikely activist, a muslim woman who was so overwhelmed with the grief in her community that she organised a public meeting on fighting Islamophobia.

Accent of Women - Victory for the Anganbadi Workers

On the show this week, we bring you a remarkable story of the victory of the Anganbadi workers in India, who after weeks of struggle, won their dispute with the government. Anganbadi is a government sponsored child-care and mother-care program which relies solely on the work of the Anganbadi workers most of which are women. The urban poor in Delhi rely heavily on these services from pre-natal care to accessing information about immunization.  Apart from looking after malnutritioned children, ...

A historic day for the Cuba-US relations

July 20 was a historic day in Havana, Cuba and in Washington DC in the United State. For the first time in 54 years, the Cuban embassy in Washington and the American Embassy in Havana re-opened their doors. After months of negotiations that involved even the pope Francis, and after many years of work behind scenes, this important moment took place.In recent years, there have been a number of political, economic and legislative changes.An important day in the Cuban revolution Calendar is July ...

Stories of dispare and hope: the forced disappeared in Chile

Lorena Pizarro is human rights activist and currently the President of the Association of Relatives of the Detained and Disappeared in Chile. She toured Australia in June this year to talk about the cases of forced dissapeared in Chile and Latin america and to highlight the importance of seeking justice for human rights abuses in Chile.She was invited by the National Campaign for Truth and Justice in Chile to support the campaign for the extradition of Adriana Rivas.This talk was presented at...

Accent of Women - Greece Austerity: Before the Vote

As Accent of Women goes to air, Greece is approaching its due date with the European Community and the IMF to impose severe austerity measures on its people, in order to be granted another bailout. It's looking like Greece will refuse to do this, and will await the outcome of a referendum, scheduled to take place on July 7.To look more deeply at the Greece Economic Crisis, Accent of Women is joined by Afrodity Giannakis, member of Syriza, a part of the left platform and the red network. Afrod...

Fighting austerity in Aotearoa (NZ): Auckanld Action Against Poverty

Auckland Action Against Poverty is a direct action and welfare rights advocacy group. It is an openly anti-capitalist group formed to expose and oppose the New Zealand government's agenda of welfare cuts and austerity attacks on the country’s poorest communities. We spoke with AAAP's coordinator Nadia Abu-Shanab. She is a Palestinian, a en educator and trade unionist.The talk was recorded at the Marxism 2015 Conference that took place in Melbourne in April 2015 in Melbourne, organised by Soci...

Accent of Women - Organising workers in the service and entertainment sectors in Cambodia

The Australian Council of Trade Unions held its annual conference from teh 26th to teh 28th of May 2015.  A number of international guests were invited, and among them, Sineat Yon from the Cambodian Food and Service Workers' Federation.  Accent of Women had an opportunity to interview her about organising unions in Cambodia.

Discussing indigenous feminist in Zapatista communities

Revisiting Accent of women's archives we bring back an interview with Sylvia Marcos, a scholar committed with the struggles of indigenous peoples throughout the Americas.We discussed the idea of decolonising feminist, and what is the contribution of indigenous women in Zapatista communities in the South of Mexico, where indigenous people build autonomous territories and day by day challenge the old ways.Accent of women has an upcoming fundraiser:Heart of Time (Corazón del Tiempo)A film that t...

Peruvian political prisoners use art to speak out

We discuss the situation of political prisoners in Peru over the last 20 years, particularly in the context of  the fierce anti-communism of the Fujimori regime, and the recent changes to the incarceration system.We talk about how political prisoners have used art as a therapeutic tool and a way to share their stories.Viviana Salas is a Peruvian photographer living in Melbourne and the curator of Art Inside, an exhibition currently displaying Melbourne at the Victorian Trades Hall (crn Victor...

Asian-American queer feminist Emily Woo Yamasaki

We speak with Emily Woo Yamasaki, an Asian-American activist and queer feminists based in New York.We talked about racist police violence and environmental racism in the USA today. Emily is a contributor to the book "Talking back, voices of color", published by Red Letter Press.

Chinese-American feminist activist and poet Nellie Wong talks about her recent book Talking back

We spoke with Nellie Wong, a Chinese-American, feminist poet and socialist activist. She is the editor of the book "Talking Back, Voices of Colour", published by Red Letter Press. Talking back is an anthology featuring voices of youth, political prisoners, immigrants and history-makers. In Melbourne, the book was launched on Saturday May 2 at Solidarity Salon, 580 Sydney Road, Brunswick. Here is the link to the event.