Perth Indymedia

Kieran Bennett from Anarchist Affinity discusses a recent counter-protest against a United Patriots Front fascist protest in Melbourne. United Patriots Front is a spin off organisation from the racist Reclaim Australia movement. Bennett also discusses the need for a broad anti-fascist movement in Australia, that includes, but is not limited to, directly confronting fascists in the streets. For more information on Anarchist Affinity: http://www.anarchistaffinity.org/ Slackbastard's blog tracks fascist activity in Australia: http://slackbastard.anarchobase.com/ This interview was played on the 1st of June 2015 episode of RTR92.1FM Indymedia. You can listen to this episode at this link (just select 1st June episode on the little calendar on the left): rtrfm.com.au/shows/indymedia/

Malou Logan, vice chair person of Gabriela Australia discusses the campaign to free Mary Jane Veloso. Veloso is a Filipina worker who was arrested and sentenced to death for allegedly smuggling heroin into Indonesia. She has been in Indonesian prison since 2010 and has recently had her execution delayed. Logan makes the case that 5 years in prison is more than enough punishment for Veloso. To find out more about Veloso's case: http://migranteinternational.org/tag/mary-jane-veloso/ Connect with Gabriela Australia on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gabriela-Australia/1491865197762777?fref=ts This interview was played on the 1st of June 2015 episode of RTR92.1FM Indymedia. You can listen to this episode at this link (just select 1st June episode on the little calendar on the left): http://rtrfm.com.au/shows/indymedia/

The proposed Roe 8 extension is a 5.2 kilometre extension of the Roe 8 highway through Beeliar wetlands to just west of coobelup avenue. This road in combination with others including Roe 9 as well as a possible return of the Fremantle Eastern By-pass in the form of a tunnel is a part of the Barnett government's freight link plan. The development will have severe impacts on the environment and community of Fremantle. While the government are pushing ahead with the project, many argue that there are many alternatives, most notably moving freight to rail. Indymedia's Ray Grenfell spoke to Grainne from the group Rethink The Link to hear more about such alternatives and the campaign to stop the roads. Find out more about Rethink the Link here: http://www.rethinkthelink.com.au/

We’re joined by independent journalist Will Potter from greenisthenewred.com. He discusses: what ‘green is the new red’ refers to (linking the previous “red scare” about communism to the current “green scare” about animal and environmental activists), the way repressive laws target both militant and moderate activists, and the ways these laws are creeping into Australia and elsewhere around the world.

Jessica Ellen takes on the lack of funding for services to tackle domestic violence in the federal budget. Jessica is a law student who has done research into domestic violence and volunteered at community legal centres. She discusses the importance of domestic violence services and education for men, as well as gendered violence and why anger management alone doesn't address it. Follow Jessica on Twitter @jessicaellen_o and check out her YouTube video which explores the issues we discuss here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yi7JGwL_qio&feature=youtu.be&a

Dr Patricia Ranald of AFTINET on the likelihood that US Congress will pass a bill in the coming days to fast track the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP).

In the wake of seven weeks of global protest against the closure of remote Aboriginal communities in Western Australia, we spoke to organiser Sam Cook, from SOS Blak Australia, about the significance of the movement.

The “No jab no pay” plan to withhold payments of child-care and family tax benefits for unvaccinated children could cost non-compliant parents up to A$15,000 a year in childcare and welfare benefits. Perth Indymedia speaks with Ura Auckland, previously commercial executive in medical science and author of viral blog piece A call for Pro-truth to replace Pro-Vax v Anti-Vax.

Marcus Hampson from the Refugee Rights Action Network of WA (RRAN) on the 8000 Rohingyan asylum seekers stranded in the Malacca Straits. Having spent up to 3 months on boats being turned away form Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, up to 8000 Rohingyan asylum seekers are now stranded in the Malacca Straits. 200 are already dead and more are at risk from dehydration and starvation.

Following the May 7 British general election, we spoke to Belfast councillor Gerry Carroll, who won just shy of 7,000 votes with People Before Profit, and asked him about the dramatic losses to mainstream parties.

Former Australian diplomat and academic Alison Broinowski on the Australians for War Powers Reform initiative as part of the ongoing project of the Campaign for an Iraq War Inquiry, established in 2012. The initiative is one from prominent Australians who believe that the decision to commit the Australian Defence Force to international armed conflict should be made by Parliament, not by the Prime Minister or Executive. They advocate for the development of legal frameworks that invest in Parliament the exclusive power to make that decision.

Louise O’Shea of Equal Love Melbourne – on the Australia wide rally’s for gay marriage on the weekend.

Phil Chilton – of the Refugee Rights Action Network on the somewhat less than inspiring findings of the Houston report released Monday which Amnesty International reports as a major setback for refugee rights.

Interview with Reham Maklad of the Australian April 6th Movement – talking about the newly elected Egyptian President Muhammad Morsi’s moves against the Supreme Council of Armed Forces as well as the recent clashes with unknown militants in the Sinai desert.

Veteran journalist and broadcaster Tony Serve on the importance of independent, citizen media.

A wrap up of Sunday’s Northam Refugee Convergence featuring speeches given on the day by Senator Scott Ludlam from The Greens, Colin Penter from Serco Watch, and a powerful and moving speech from ex-detainee Jacob.

Dr Brian Senewiratne, long time advocate of the Tamil people ahead of his speaking tour in Perth.

Rebecca Doyle from the UWA based Feminist Action Network talking about Blue Stocking Week which just took place and the foetal homicide laws that could be coming in to Western Australia.

An interview with Virginia Brown, independent, prominent Perth feminist activist on the importance of taking the sexual assault allegations against Julian Assange seriously.

Young Perth activist and rapper Chris “1000eyes” Bonds talks to us about the recent Hungry Jacks national protest action.