Radio Inquilab

In this episode, Ayed Eqtaish joins the podcast to talk about the state of children in Palestine. While it is impossible to get any kind of estimates in Gaza, Ayed talks about how the situation in the West Bank is also precarious with many children being imprisoned by Israel. Ayed talks about the harm the occupation has been doing to children's mental, physical and psychological state including holding children indefinitely under administrative detention. Children eventually released experience deep harm and lasting effects as a result of the imprisonment where they are held in solitary confinement, not given enough food, have no access to the outside world (no TV, no newspapers), no family visits, limited attorney visits and no in person court visits. Children have to face a judge in the juvenile military court which for all intents and purposes is the same as the adult military court. DCIP has been threatened, their offices ransacked with the staff constantly working under the threat of arrest and imprisonment. Despite this, they continue to be a voice for the children of Palestine, who sometimes have very little to no support. It is a heart breaking conversation that sheds light on the incredible injustice, harm and atrocities committed by the occupation. Resources Recommended: DCIP website: dci-palestine.orgFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/DCIPSX: https://x.com/DCIPalestineInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dcipalestine/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DCIPS

In this episode, Rupande discusses the upcoming Presidential election with former Green Party candidate, Madelyn Hoffman. They talk about the genocide taking place in Gaza, as well as the Democratic party's changing policies and platforms. Madelyn talks about how "voting for lesser evil is still evil" and how if we want systemic change - free healthcare, cut in defense spending, end to genocides and funding wars abroad, a stronger middle class, subsidized education, etc. our priorities need to fundamentally change and we need a different crop of leaders in charge. The 2024 Presidential election is upon us and each one of us have to make a personal choice in the ballot box but it might be worth keeping in mind that there is a candidate who vows to end genocide, pay reparations to Black people, protect our climate from further harm and improve our overall well being.

In this episode, Rupande speaks with members of Global Development for Palestine about their tireless work to raise awareness about the ongoing conflict. Bringing in their extensive experience, the group talks about Palestine in context with decolonization, how global assistance organizations need to show up vs. their total lack of concern, the double standard & sense of white saviorism in the US - aid world and how aid washing is happening in Palestine. The group talks about how the general public can help and how those who work in this sector can collectively organize through their professional hats. Note: at minute 46, the speaker was referring to the Helms amendment, not the Hyde amendment. Recommended Resources: Global Development for Palestine website: https://sites.google.com/view/globaldev4palestine/homeOther humans (for collective action)/Movement eldersAll About Love, Bell HooksSister Outsider, Audre LordePedagogy of the Oppressed, Paulo FreireGhassan Kanafani's work The Parisian, Isabella Hammad White Saviorism in International Development: Theories, Practices and Lived Experiences, Themrise Khan, Kanakulya Dickson and Maïka SondarjeeThe Wretched of the Earth, Frantz Fannon

TW: violence, rapeKifaya Khraim, the International Advocacy Coordinator at Women's Center for Legal Aid and Counselling talks to Rupande about the unrealistic situation in Palestine for women and girls. She shares the unbelievably harrowing stories of women documented first hand by WCLAC, as well as the unprecedented level of trauma experienced by women living under occupation. She explains how violence against women and girls has been ongoing long before October 7, 2023. Kifaya shares grim details about crimes committed against women - harassment, violence, abductions, theft, assault, administrative detention - by Israeli forces and how the women never have any recourse for justice. Kifaya talks about the problem of domestic violence in Palestinian society and how the occupation takes advantage of the situation and makes it worse many times over. Finally, she shares ways in which each of us can help the cause of women and girls and continue fighting for their cause so Palestine can be free. Resources Recommended: WCLAC: www.wclac.orgAl-Haq Organization: www.alhaq.orgWar data and stats: www.slingshot.psInstagram account and Facebook page for Palestinian feminists: https://www.instagram.com/palestinian_feminists/

Farah Mahesri sits down with Rupande to talk about the very important nuance of decolonizing communication - what does it mean, why is it so important and what place it holds in our world as we move to a more awakened society that seeks to place diversity, equality and decolonization. Farah explains how aid organizations can decolonize communication and shift the balance of power, furthering development and internationalization. She talks about what decolonization means in the context of the current conflict in Palestine as well as the universal importance of stories and narratives. Contact Farah: Instagram: @fmahesriLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farahmahesri/Resources Recommended: White Saviorism in International Development: Theories, Practices and Lived Experiences, Themrise Khan, Kanakulya Dickson, Maika SonderjeeFarah's workshop on Decolonization: https://fnmadvising.com/Quantum Impact Report: State of Diversity in Global Social Impact

On April 5, 2024 to commemorate Palestine Children's Day, Kalpvraksh teamed up with Global Development For Palestine to host Defense for Children International Palestine, along with some of the youth they support. This episode is a recording of the live conversation that took place that day. Defense for Children International - Palestine (DCIP) is an independent, local Palestinian child rights organization dedicated to defending and promoting the rights of children living in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. Since 1991, they have investigated, documented, and exposed grave human rights violations against children; provided legal services to children in urgent need; held Israeli and Palestinian authorities accountable to universal human rights principles; and advocated at the international and national levels to advance access to justice and protection for children. For more information on Defense for Children International Palestine, please visit: https://www.dci-palestine.org/ Global Development for Palestine is a group of individuals who work in global development / humanitarian assistance. They are not part of any group, organization, or company and have no funding for this work. They are done being silent or waiting for our leaders to act. They are working collectively to demand a Ceasefire NOW. For more information, please visit: https://sites.google.com/view/globaldev4palestine/home

In this episode, Rupande speaks with Zee Lilani, the founder of Kula Nursery. Zee talks about her career trajectory - starting as a food researcher and how COVID changed her life plans to turn her into a full-time farmer growing ancestral and heritage foods that her mother and grandmother ate in Pakistan. Zee talks about her hopes and dreams with Kula and the importance of food sovereignty for communities of color.Resources Recommended:Kula Nursery care guides: https://www.kulanursery.com/Mother/Grandmother/Extended families to learn what foods they grewLocal gardening centers/community colleges for courses on gardening

Rupande speaks with the labor & immigrant leader, Dr. Patricia Campos-Medina about her immigrant story and her lifelong fight for workers rights. They talk about the affirmative action decision by SCOTUS in the United States, and what the harmful effects of that can be for immigrants and children of color. Dr. Campos-Medina sheds light on the real "immigrant" problem and how decades of interference and harmful policies by the US has led to a crisis at our border. She talks about the importance of bringing more voices - primarily that of WoC - into our electoral politics and how the dreaded line in New Jersey politics needs to be abolished. Resources Recommended: The Worker Institute @ Cornell UniversityThe Migration Policy Institute, follow Muzaffar Chisti: ⁠https://www.migrationpolicy.org/about/staff/muzaffar-chishti⁠National Employment Law Project National Domestic Workers Alliance/NJ Workers Bill of RightsAny immigrants rights groups Other resources discussed during the interview: Julian Castro's Marshall Plan for Central America:⁠https://borgenproject.org/julian-castros-marshall-plan-for-central-america/⁠Centering Race in Studies of Low-Wage Immigrant Labor: https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/full/10.1146/annurev-lawsocsci-111622-062400?fbclid=IwAR3ZFpjhjMUK4ODfF8gKlXrOdYulZ_ukV0oYAsR9jMUSKzmoPT9QmuzK2Ho    

Rupande speaks with Eimear Burke, the the Chosen Chief of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids about the meaning of druidry and what it means to be a druid. They talk about how druidry can help in this time of conflict and despair and how nature can help lessen the burden that our everyday life places on us. Eimear explains her work - her day time job as a psychologist - and how it closely aligns with her work as the Chosen Chief and Priestess of Isis. She also talks about the importance of story telling, what they teach us and why it is crucial that the tradition be carried on. Resources Recommended: What Do Druids Believe?, Philip Carr-GommDruidCast Podcast: https://druidcast.libsyn.com/Fireside Chat with Eimear: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvnpiHri8wNUhP2PTvBEbekofZ0dn1RNHDruidry.orgThe Path of Druidry: Walking the Ancient Green Way, Penny BillingtonThe Essential Book of Druidry: Connect with the Spirit of Nature (Elements), Maria Ede-Weaving

Rupande speaks with Kirthi Jayakumar, founder of Gender Security Project, about her reasons for getting involved in this work, how her past has shaped her outlook towards healing justice and the forms of work GSP undertakes. They discuss how the justice system needs to evolve from incarceration and retributive justice to healing justice for all.Kirthi discusses her paper: Redrawing the Galtung Triangle - Finding Place for Healing Trauma in Peace Work, and specifically talks about the idea of how trauma is not only limited to people but also extends to countries, citing the example of the Holocaust and by extension, unhealed trauma, leading to the conflict and land grab in Palestine by Israel.Resources Recommended:Gender Security Project: https://www.gendersecurityproject.com/Instagram posts, blogs, any book on decolonizationKalpvraksh Podcast