Commons Social Change Library Part 2, Disability Justice and Palestine Solidarity, West Papuan Independence Day, Blockading Pine Gap

Thursday, 30 November 2023 - 7:00am to 8:30am
A photo of protesters blockading the Pine Gap access road in the early morning light. Two people are on the ground locked onto a barrel with a sign saying stop war crimes in Palestine, some are holding banners that say Free Palestine, and a large banner on the ground in front of the blockade reads Close Pine Gap Stop Genocide.

 

Acknowledgement of Country//

 

Headlines//

 

The Commons Social Change Library is the "go to portal" for social change resources. They gather and share resources from many different sources and organisations from all round the world in a user friendly, accessible portal. Last week we heard part 1 of our two part conversation with Iain Mcyntyre from the CSCL where we discussed social change, why it was important to be able to access information about social change struggles in common, and how documenting struggles helps us to achieve social change in the future. I also asked Iain if we can reform our to a more socially just society, and what are the first steps in planning a campaign. This week we heard about the types of resources available at the CSCL, who uses them and the central role that history plays in planning and achieving social change.//

 

CONTENT WARNING: This segment covers some distressing content around state violence - if you need to speak to someone, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners can call 13 YARN, and queer listeners can call QLife on 1800 184 527.

Independent queer researcher Dr Shoshana Rosenberg joins us to talk about disability and trans solidarity with Palestine in the face of Israel's ongoing violent occupation, exploring the connections between disability justice, trans freedom and liberation for Palestine. We discuss genocide as a mass disabling event and what it means for disabled folks to engage in solidarity actions across colonial borders and from stolen land in so-called Australia.//

 

Ronny Kareni, West Papuan activist, 3CR broadcaster and advisor and honorary Fellow at the University of Wollongong's West Papua project, joins us to share some reflections on the struggle for liberation for West Papua in the lead up to December 1st, West Papuan Independence Day. December 1st marks the anniversary of the first raising of the Morning Star flag, and this year will be commemorated in Naarm/Melbourne with the Morning Star Ceremony, which kicks off at 4PM tomorrow at Federation Square.//

 

Earlier this week, a group of Indigenous and non-Indigenous activists set up their second blockade in a month across the single access road to the Pine Gap military facility, situated on Arrernte land outside of Mparntwe/Alice Springs. Today, we are joined by Carmen, one of the activists who participated in the blockade and a member of Mparntwe for Palestine, 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.//