This is a report from International Women's Day in Brisbane (Meanjin) on 12 March '21. 

During the course of the broadcast there was an intervention in the show and it was subsequently pulled by station management. Paradigm Shift has been suspended till further notice. So this week's show about the new whale structure to be built by the state government on Minjerriba was not put to air.

My personal feelings about this are mixed. I attempted to report on IWD21. I believe the show met the relevant Community broadcasting guidelines but, in hindsight, I would not play the show again because it has not advanced the cause of women at a very difficult time.

However I do not wish to self-censor Paradigm Shift so I have made the speeches available here. I have added a song that relates to one of those speeches. 

Also I am doing this to save having lots of personal conversations with people. 

I think there is agreement on both sides over the issues covered but there is a sticking point on who is a woman. As far as I can tell there has been an attempt to conflate sex and gender when they are distinct. This has created confusion, with too much heat and dust.

Ian Curr
20 Mar 21

Notes on issues covered
Cashless welfare card.
Job Seeker allowance.
Needless medical intervention in women's bodies.
Anti-poverty
Save Women's sport
Unnecessary surgery on Trans people
Equality at work and in society.
Opposition to men's violence.
Freedom to dress and behave as we wish.
Reproductive Rights - right to choose.
Anti sex work, anti porn - controversial "hypersexualisation of girls".
Conflates female genital mutilation with trans people's own decisions about their bodies.

Doesn't want to de-gender spaces.

"Safety, dignity, fairness and privacy are being eroded by gender identity ideology" - the Left needs to show more solidarity. Not sure what this is about?

Genderism - what does this mean - "women could be anything"?

Women's sex-based rights - who is saying we should not defend women's rights?

Define women as "adult human females".

Men's violence is related to the power dynamics of gender, and a world view that puts one particular form of masculinity at the pinnacle.

We must keep including radical feminists that came before the current generation as well as having a space for new feminists and new ideas. Given what's happened so far over the trans issue, it is a difficult undertaking to resolve this huge rift, but I do believe that it would be worthwhile.

Notes by Ian Curr

Report on International Women's Day 2021

International Working Women's Day

You don't often see events for this day with the word "working" in their title. 

But for ourselves it is a very deliberate inclusion. We're here demanding for and building a movement that is for all of us, not just for a privileged view. 

So on that note, I'd like to acknowledge that we are gathering today on the land of the Yuggerra and Torubul  people and pay my respects to elder's past and present. I'd also like to acknowledge that sovereignty over this land was never ceded, meaning the land we stand on now was stolen. 

It's important to have this at the forefront of our minds, because the system that depends on women's oppression, and poverty was born from colonialism. And if we refuse to look at the horrors that continue to occur in this country, we will be forever doomed to a feminism like I mentioned before, one of expensive luncheons for nice white ladies the privileged few instead of one that can bring us true liberation. 

So we called this rally last week, when the news came out about the LNP government's so-called raise to "job seeker". This raise is actually a cut of $50 a week, coming with this false raise or a bunch of awful welfare changes that our speakers will be talking about today. 

One of the most pertinent to International Women's Day, being the employer dob-in line. This line allows bosses to dob-in interviewees who supposedly refused suitable work. 

It's obvious a lot of dodgy shit is going to happen from this. The scariest being bosses coercing women, alone in a room with them into awful situations with the threat of having their centerlink payments cut off hanging over their heads.

It's obvious the LNP detests women's rights. Over the past few weeks, the news that broke about how deep this rock goes. The rape allegations and cover ups aren't an aberration. They come from a political party and a society where misogyny is deeply embedded. There is in charge to test anyone not at the top of the pile. We can't rely on their consciences to fix this. So we need to come together to collectively to demand a safe and fair world. 

Today is one step in that fight.

Transcribed by Ian Curr

Sian intro to Internatonal Working Women's Day

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speaks out after Republicans sexist attack.
Anna McCormack on men's violence.
Brian Sullivan on creeps speech.
Calypso - Anti-Poverty Network
Hannah on poverty.
Julia Gillard's anti-misogny speech.
Kath Deves - Save Women's Sport
Sian intro to IWWD
Taylor McGowan - poem
Jumping Fences - Yo Vengo a Ofrecer Mi Corazon
HELEN REDDY - LIVE GRAMMY PERFORMANCE OF I AM WOMAN - THE QUEEN OF 70s POP (couldn't be played here because of copyright restrictions.
Image - Snr Constable John Watt arresting a woman at the 1978 IWD rally in Brisbane (Meanjin) at KGSq.

Alexandria Ocasio - Cortez Speaks out after Republican's Sexist Attack

Hannah on Poverty

Calypso - Anti - Poverty Network

Kath  Deves speaks on behalf of Nerissa Scott from Save Women's Sport (Australasia)

Speaking on behalf of Nerissa Scott, and we are both representatives both say women's sports Australasia NGO. We're a nonpartisan grassroots group, which is part of an international coalition of women's organizations, athletes and supporters of women in sport who assert that male athletes should not compete in female sport. We believe that Well, everyone has the right to play sport. No one has the right to play in any category that they choose.

Sport is meaningless without fair competition, which is why we have separate categories for disabled people, for children, for men, and for women. However, I desire to be inclusive is having unintended negative consequences for women and girls who are losing their and meaningful competition at all levels of females for a woman is an adult human female, not an identity, not a label, not a costume and not an idea in a man's head.

Kath Deves speaks on behalf of Nerissa Scott - Save Women's Sport (Australasia)

Stand by Me - strike at UQ 4 May 2023.

Speakers in favour of a better Enterprise Bargaining Agreement at UQ.

Dr Sharleen Leroy-Dyer
Damien Cahill – NTEU President
Andrew Bonnell – historian and chief negotiator. Andrew is an Associate Professor, History at University of Queensland and NTEU Branch President.
Dr Kelly Greenop – School of Architecture and academic representative on EBA team.

 Song 
Tracey Chapman - Stand by Me

We are the University

This is an anti apartheid song sung by the Songshine Choir at the Anita Reed Peace Concert held on 21 May 2023 at the Coorparoo Memorial Hall.  The song was led led by their musical director Greta Hunter who has a beautiful soprano voice in a call and response refrain so common in African music.

Origins of the song are not clear. I know the song was sung at Steve Biko's funeral.  Zimbabwean poet Albert Nyathi wrote a song by the same title, "Senzeni Na?" on the day that activist Chris Hani died.

The lyrics very but these are some with the English translation below.
    Senzeni na?
    Sono sethu, ubumnyama?
    Sono sethu yinyaniso?
    Sibulawayo
    Mayibuye i Africa

			

    English translation[6]

    What have we done?
    Our sin is that we are black?
    Our sin is the truth
    They are killing us
    Let Africa return

Recorded by Ian Curr on 21 May 2023 at Coorparoo Memorial Hall in Meanjin (Brisbane). The concert was organised by 'Just Peace' Qld.

Senzeni Na

Independent and peaceful Australia network (IPAN) Call on Australian Government and International Community to End the Siege of Gaza.

IPAN calls on Australian government and international community to end the siege of Gaza

Summary

Israel's war on Gaza and its devastating consequences. 0:00

Israel's military forces perpetrate genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza, killing over 11,000, including 4500 children (at time of broadcast)

Gaza conflict and Australian government's response. 2:08

Israel's actions in Gaza are disproportionate and have been called genocide by the UN.

Australian government abstains from UN vote for Gaza ceasefire, prioritizes US approval over humanitarian needs.

Depopulating Gaza for strategic benefits. 6:25

Bevan Ramsden and Andrew discuss the Israeli Intelligence document's plan to depopulate Gaza, with options including evacuation to a new location (Option C) or maintaining the population with a change in ideology (Option A).

The Ben Gurion canal project is mentioned as a long-standing reason for Israel to benefit from depopulating Gaza, as it would provide a shorter and straighter route for shipping.

Gaza crisis and Australian government's inaction. 9:25

Andrew: Australian govt abstained on UN resolution to protect civilians in Gaza, calling for urgent action to change position (11:33)
Bevan Ramsden: IPAN urges writing to local federal member or senator to express concern over Australian govt's lack of action in Gaza (11:54)

Image: Not in our names! - Jewish occupation of Australian Defence Minister's office.

IPAN: Stop Genocide in Gaza!

Radio Reversal 7th of December  2023 4ZZZ @ 9 a.m. on Thursdays.

In this week’s episode of Radio Reversal, join Anna and super special guest producer Malaak as they think through the deep links between climate justice, environmental violence, and the struggle for a free Palestine. As we speak, organisers from around the world are converging on the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in the United Arab Emirates, just a few thousand kilometres from Israel's genocidal siege on Gaza.

Songs
Ena Malibu x Ta'sia - High Tide
Thelma Plum - We don't talk about it
Spinifex Gum - Juukan

Featured image
Aboriginal and Palestinian flags at the corner of Boundary and Vulture Street in West End in Meanjin, 13 Dec 2023.

From Palestine to the Pacific, Land Back is Climate Justice

Human rights advocate, Roba, speaking on 17 December 2023 about Palestinian resistance against genocide and occupation. 
Photo: Lachlan Hurse

Speech summary
– acknowledges traditional custodians of the land and pays respects to elders past, present, and emerging, while emphasizing the importance of land rights and resistance.
– shares personal story of resistance by her daughter, when a 11-year-old girl who refused to play the Israeli national anthem; and, a 9-year-old aboriginal girl who was suspended for not standing for the Australian National Anthem,
– highlighting the importance of standing up against colonization and oppression.

Palestine solidarity and indigenous rights. (0:00)

Palestine and resistance against oppression. (3:12)

Resistance

“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” ― George Orwell

Hear the voices of Wael al-Dahdouh (journalist in Gaza) and his colleagues who have been targeted by Israel, Jeremy Corbyn (former leader of the Labour Party in Britain), Antony Blinken (US Secretary of State)  and John Boyd (activist and singer from Queensland in the 1980s).

Condolences
We are deeply saddened by Israeli murders of two journalists who have been bringing news from Gaza for the past three months. They were Al Jazeera's Hamza Wael Al-Dahdouh and Agence France Press journalist, Mustafa Thuraya.

Image: Wael Al-Dahdouh and family member. Al Jazeera journalist Wael Dahdouh holds the hand of his son Hamza, who also worked for Al Jazeera and who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Jan. 7, 2024.

Song: Freedom in Palestine by John Bord

War on truth

Each day brings news of more Palestinian civilians killed and injured in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza. Homes, schools, hospitals, farms – nothing is spared. Nowhere is safe. Hunger, thirst and disease have emerged as an even greater threat than bombs. Gaza’s 2.2 million people are trapped without food, water and healthcare. Israel is using starvation and thirst as weapons of war and refusing to provide unhindered safe access for humanitarian aid to meet the needs of civilians. UN oﬃcials and aid agencies alike, along with hundreds of scholars and practitioners of international humanitarian and genocide law are warning Israel is carrying out genocide.  

The UN General Assembly has called for a ceaseﬁre. The UN Security Council has failed to do so because the US blocks it. South Africa is asking the International Court of Justice to order a ceaseﬁre because of the genocide underway. Jordan has opened a ﬁeld hospital in the Gaza strip and airlifted supplies in. Yemen’s Ansarallah (Houthi) movement is attacking ships supplying Israel, in the Red Sea. Instead of supporting South Africa’s case, or trying to send aid, Australian government oﬃcials continue to pretend Israel’s aims are legitimate. But there is nothing legitimate about genocide and war crimes. 

Voices: 4PR, Ciaron O'Reilly, US Apache helicopter pilot. 
Features Collateral Murder by Wikileaks.
Image: March in Solidarity, Magandjin
Song: Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying by Labi Siffre

Gaza, dying, crying, existing, resisting, returning

Interview with Jonathan Sriranganathan about support for Palestine in the 2024 Brisbane City Council Election.

Poem by Jonathan Sriranganathan

Photo by Green Left

Greens mayoral candidate challenge to Brisbane City Council complicity in genocide

Interview with Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner in the lead up to the Brisbane City Council Elections on 16 March 2024.

Song - 'If I had a rocket launcher 'by Bruce Cockburn.

"The Games Excerpt" by John Clarke and Brian Dawe.

Image - Brisbane City Hall with a Palestinian rally in the foreground.

With thanks to Sue (voice actor) & Trevor (selected 'If I had a rocket launcher').

Brisbane Lord Mayor offers advice to Hamas

Here is an independent candidate against the Labour Party in Liverpool in England speaking about the genocide in Ghada at the Palm Sunday Peace rally in Brisbane

Scousers for Palestine

4PR - Voice of the People is a podcast about class, culture and country.
We believe that change can come only through revolution and participation by working class people.  Conditions in time and place must be understood and acted upon.  Workers of all countries unite! 
[Podcasting since 2011}

Kath Deves speaks on behalf of Nerissa Scott - Save Women's Sport (Australasia)

4PR - Voice of the People

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