Nasser Mashni
In English.
Bringing listeners the untold side of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Presented by Nasser Mashni.
DONATE TO THE 2024 RADIOTHON - Sound on for Solidarity
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Nasser provides updates on the continual genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, 280 days since Oct 7 with an estimated 186,000 Palestinian deaths, and in particular the importance of an accurate count – and the difficulty of achieving one.
Nasser then speaks with James Godfrey, spokesperson for Free Gaza Australia (a branch of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition), a grassroots solidarity movement across the world working together to end the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip. They discuss James' family history, the difficulty of providing humanitarian aid, details on the movement of the Freedom Flotilla, and the importance of challenging information blockades.
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It has always been Palestinians who have told the world about their struggles and the reality of life under occupation. Their voices emerge against the backdrop of abject silence from Western mainstream media broadcasting, overcoming the Zionist regime that works to actively repress the truth about their genocidal occupation of Palestinian people and land.
Palestinians continue to resist and different forms of media have been crucial tools in transcending militarised colonial borders. Palestinian resistance is transformative and adaptive yet steadfast, working to unveil their stories to the world.
For 20 years, Palestine Remembered has been breaking down the walls of silence of mainstream broadcasters, sharing not just the truth of the struggle, but also the music, poetry and culture of Palestine to its listeners. This has not come without its challenges, as broadcaster Nasser Mashni explains, ‘Sometimes [working on our program can be] a bit tougher than others, but we have to keep fighting’.
3CR has amplified Palestinian voices since 1976 with programs such as Palestine Speaks, Palestine Voice and Arab Liberation News, amongst others. This has subjected the station to scrutiny, intimidation and hostility, including an attempt to strip the station of its licence. Unshakeable due to the ṣumūd (steadfastness) of Palestinian broadcasters and 3CR alike, these attempts failed.
In 2004, Yousef Alreemawi hit the airwaves with From the River to the Sea. As he explains, ‘The program had a big responsibility, due to the misrepresentation of Palestinian issues in the English language. Most people were indifferent to Palestine, and those who had a view didn’t know where to go for information about Palestine.’
As a translator, Yousef was able to broadcast information and news directly from Arabic sources to English speaking listeners. Back then, From the River to the Sea was an abstract name for the show, as Palestine was less present in the local, collective psyche. ‘Palestine had to be in the name’, says Yousef. Within a few months, the program became Palestine Remembered.
In 2004 when the program first aired, it was the peak of the Second Intifada, post-9/11. The Western-led incursions into Afghanistan and Iraq were underway and the Middle East was the centre of international news. Yousef reflects that he had thought that Australia would have had some sort of discussion about Palestine, but instead found a total void of representation. He had to fill that void.
Today, Nasser Mashni presents Palestine Remembered and points out that in 2024, 183 days into Israel’s latest genocidal assault in Gaza, the program still fills this ‘massive void’ that remains in the mainstream media.
‘3CR enables Palestinians to speak truth to power, unfiltered and unadulterated, but also provides the opportunity to bring so many different voices together, Palestinian diaspora voices but also Palestinians from Palestine.’
Over two decades, the program has grown from its beginnings with Yousef in 2004 to Nasser at the dials today. Palestine Remembered is an archive of Palestinian life, self-determination and resistance to learn from. It is a direct challenge to Zionist regimes that attempt to silence and dehumanise. It tells the stories of the occupation and the attacks as they unfold, bringing truth to the strength and determination of Palestinian people.
From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be Free.
By Mercedes Zanker
See the full CRAM Guide 2024 here.
The Accent of Women Outreach project will deliver a dynamic radio training course for up to seven women from culturally diverse, new and emerging communities. The training will take place on Saturday mornings starting 31 August through to 16 November. Each participant will receive a $600 honorarium at the end of the training course. Participants are required to meet all of the course requirements and have attended at least 75% of the training sessions to be eligible to receive the honorarium.
Applications are open from 15 July to 5 August. Please send through this form and your CV to projects@3cr.org.au before 5pm on Monday 5 August.
Beyond the Bars is Australia’s only live prison radio series giving voice to First Nations inmates in Victorian jails. Across nearly 20 hours of broadcasting, we get to hear directly from those incarcerated about the issues that are important to them, along with their shout outs to family and friends. Listen live, or later. Artwork by Samuel, Gunaikurnai/Wirangu/Kokatha.
2024 broadcast dates
Mon 8 July 11am-2pm – Dame Phyllis Frost Centre (Deer Park)
Tue 9 July 11am-2pm – Barwon Prison (Lara, near Geelong)
Wed 10 July 11-1pm – Fulham Correctional Centre (near Sale, Gippsland)
Wed 10 July 1-3pm – Loddon Prison (Castlemaine)
Thu 11 July 11-3pm – Marngoneet Correctional Centre (Lara, near Geelong)
Fri 12 July 11am-1pm – Port Phillip Prison (Laverton)
The month of June marks RADIOTHON at the station and this year’s theme is ‘Sound on for Solidarity’. 'Solidarity' has been at the heart of 3CR's work for nearly five decades across a range of issues and themes. Start saving your pennies people and we look forward to your financial solidarity during June. Any amount makes a big difference, and all donations over $2 are tax deductible. It's not too late. Donate online now. Artwork by Aretha Brown.
