For our episode this week Claire interviews Diaa from Free Palestine Bendigo. 

Topics covered: 

• How he came to be involved in Free Palestine activism
• Who Free Palestine Bendigo is and what they do. 
• What some of the highlights of the Free Palestine Bendigo activities so far have been.
• What some of the challenges of regional organising for Palestine are. 
• Advice for people wanting to start a similar group in their area. 

Claire also spoke at the Free Palestine Central Vic rally on 28 Jan and a copy of their speech is available here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XbrNu7l_kkrTUl9RjSv-axFagLoo-YZ-/view 

Other useful links: 

•  Free Palestine Bendigo https://www.instagram.com/freepalestinebendigo/ 
•  Free Palestine Central Victoria https://linktr.ee/FreePalestineCentralVic 
•  Peaceful Palestine protest (Castlemaine Mail) https://castlemainemail.com.au/latest-news/2023/12/15/peaceful-palestine-protest/  
•  Palestinian rally held at MP's office as family hears of cousin's death (Bendigo Advertister) https://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/8458929/palestinian-child-killed-by-israeli-airstrike-has-bendigo-family/  
•  Bendigo, central Victoria speak up for Palestinian cause (Bendigo Advertister) https://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/8426259/bendigo-businesses-community-rallies-for-palestinian-cause/  

Music played:

• We Won't Forget by Deen Squad, Karter Zaher, Jae Deen, Shadi Akhi
• From Gaza, With Love by Saint Levant
• No More War by Kai Boy, The Steppas, Hawane Rios 

Freedom of Species' Spotify playlist can be found here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3TJQujKYjGFoFP6LhBbaTS