This week on The Bandwagon we followed up the Pussy Riot situation in Russia.  Three women were jailed for "protesting against the government" and on this day one of the women went on a hunger strike as she was not allowed to attend her own trial in person.

As aired on Mornings on FBi Radio on the 23rd of May 2013.

The Bandwagon - Pussy Riot follow up

In this episode of The Bandwagon, we looked into the interesting music coming out of Portugal.  As a country with a very rich history - a number of wars have been present in the country as well as the ruling of an authoritarian regime - left wing ideologies often transcend through modern music.  This resulted in police persecution and censorship.  

Today, another problem is brewing - a crisis involving incredibly low record sales.  The power that journalists have on the industry is palpable as well.  But music journalists continue to promote overseas records, instead of the local products by hard working musicians.

As aired on Mornings on FBi Radio on the 16th of May, 2013.

The Bandwagon - the Portuguese music scene and the record sales crisis

In a week where the news was overwhelmed by the second leadership spill, this story explored something shamefully ignored in the mainstream media - the guard brutality in the Nauru detention centre.  Six asylum seekers began a protest in the detention centre once they heard that they would be forcefully detained for longer than they were told.  This resulted in them being beaten till unconsciousness by the centre's guards.

The security at the Nauru detention centre are employed by subcontractor, Wilson Security.  When asked to comment on the alleged guard brutality, the company stated that it was not within the grounds of their deal with the federal government to speak on such issues.  Backchat also spoke to the Department of Immigration.  They completely denied the whole affair, saying "there was no protest, no hunger strike, and [that the claims of the refugee action coalition] are unsubstantiated."

As aired on Backchat on FBi Radio on 29 July, 2013.

Guard brutality In detention centres

On May 28, a very small, peaceful protest began against the redevelopmet of Gezi Park near Taksim square in Istanbul.  It has been over two weeks and now the protests have become something more - a demonstration against the conservative, Islamist government led by prime minister Erdogan.  

The funny thing is, that he came into power with an overwhelming majority, and a plan to show the world that it was  possible to lead the world with an Islamic system of law.  

The Turkish protests continue to gauge momentum.  Many groups are protesting alongside each other, but just last night, the Turkish government agreed to suspend redevelopment plans for the park in Istanbul until a court rules on the Issue.

Avani Dias spoke to Dephne Sudam - a Turkish a protester, and the author of a blog post that has reached over two million views, and Maeve Frances - a freelance, Australian journalist based in Istanbul that does not feel the protests are as momentous as the mainstream media may be describing them. 

As aired on Backchat on FBi Radio on 15 June, 2013.

Protests in Turkey

Shlomo and Jeremih - No More
4:17 The xx - Sunsets (Jamie xx Remix)
9:41 Stardust - Music sounds better with you (Giraffage Remix)
12:57 Fleetwood Mac - Dreams (Gigamesh Remix)
17:20 Grimes - Skin (Four Tet Human Once Again Remix)
21:59 Disclosure - F For You (Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs Remix)
26:09 Sister Sledge - Thinking of You (Dimitri From Paris Remix)

Mix #1

Mandatory Reporting Laws Condemned By Medical Students

Sexual Assault Complaints Processes A Failure, Uni Students Warn

Chinese Students Protest Indefinite Rule

Job vacancies: Why more emergency pilots and nurses are needed in the NT

People without drugs refused entry at Sydney gig

I'm one of the presenters of @spinthebottlefbi on FBi Radio, every Saturday night from 10pm till midnight.

We play party tunes from beats to disco to house to hip hop to pretty much anything that makes you dance.

I also work in radio news at the ABC. 


avanidias