Asia Pacific Currents: Recent Episodes
Australia Asia Worker Links
Stories and issues from the Asia Pacific region with a labour and grassroots perspective. Regular interviews with activists from countries in the Asia Pacific region. Produced by Australia-Asia Worker Links.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We speak with Jerome Adonis, Chairperson of the Kilusang Mayo Uno, speaks about the ICC arrest warrant for Philippines Senator Ronald dela Rosa and the response from the workers movementAsia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
s that speech.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
t do that without touching on the 40 year anniversary of the EDSA revolutionAsia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We speak to David Ball, Deputy Branch Secretary of the MUA, about an APHEDA fundraiser for East Timor, and international solidarity.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We speak to Josh Cullinan, outgoing Secretary of RAFFWU, AAWL Bangladesh project co-ordinator, and founding member of Australia Bangladesh Solidarity Network, about the 13th anniversary of the collapse of Rana Plaza and the industrial murder of over 1100 Bangladeshi garment workers.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We speak to our resident Iran expert, James Barry, about the fragile ceasefire in the Middle East.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We repeat our interview with Shivani Kaur from a couple of weeks ago, about the labour codes in India.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
s barbaric regional wars, and the need for ongoing international solidarity.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We speak with Shivana Kaul from Bigul Mazdoor Dasta, a labour movement organisation in New Delhi India, about the new labour code that was introduced in India in November 2025, and consolidated 29 pieces of legislation into 4, having devastating impacts on workers, their wages and conditions.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
s aggression in the Middle East and the global imperialist system.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
s invasion of Iran as well as the ongoing regional hostilities.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
s largest movement of military assets and troops into the middle east since the invasion of Iraq in 2003.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
Marcos Jnr.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We speak with Bella Beiraghi, a socialist Iranian activist based in Melbourne Australia about the ongoing civil unrest and protest movement in Iran.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We speak with Mai Saif from Free Palestine Melbourne about the upcoming visit of Israeli President, Isaac Herzog and the ongoing genocide in Gaza.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
We feature an extended interview with Syrian academic and Leftist activist, Joseph Daher about the last 10 days in Syria.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We speak with Wol-san Liem from the International Transport Federation, based in Korea, and previously an organiser with the Korean Federation of Public Services and Transportation Workers' Unions. We discuss recent developments in South Korea with the Yoon Suk Yeol government's declaration of Martial Law, followed six hours later with it being retracted.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We speak with Samantha Bond, stallwart international trade unionist, organiser and trainer with the Australian Services Union, and AAWL Committee of Management member. Sam was delegated to attend the inaugural Workers Study Conference in Bangkok, Thailand, organised by the newly established Initiatives for Workers Solidarity – Asia and the Pacific.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We play an interview first broadcast on Thursday breakfast where 3CR’s Priya Kunjan interviews Sanmati Verma, Legal Director at Human Rights Law Centre, about some recent updates in the legal landscape governing Australia's border regime, including in relation to the imposition of punitive visa conditions onto asylum seekers released from detention centres into the community.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
Today we speak with Luke Espiritu, a Filipino labour leader and a campaigner for workers rights and social justice. A trained lawyer, Luke has dedicated himself to fighting for the rights of the lowest paid workers in the uber driving and transport sector. Luke is the PLM senate candidate for the upcoming 2025 elections and a founding member of PLM - the Partido Lakas ng Masa (Party of the Laboring Masses, PLM).Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
Today we speak with Noel Colina about the Initiatives for Workers Solidarity – Asia and the Pacific (IWSAP) as well as the inaugural conference being held in Bangkok in November this year. And we also speak with Aran Mylvaganum from the Tamil Refugee Council about the outcome of the recent Sri Lanka elections.If you want to get in touch with Noel Colina, his email address is coordinator@apwork-sol.org.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
On this week’s show, we hear an extended interview with Chhim Sithar, who led a high-profile strike at a Phnom Penh hotel and casino called Naga World. She was released from prison on Monday 19 September and has promised to continue the fight for workers who are demanding better wages and working conditions. Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We play an interview first broadcast on Tuesday breakfast where 3CR’s Emma interviews Sarah, who is a founding member of Free Kanaky Solidarity Naarm, about Kanaky Invasion Day.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Due to some technical issues we couldn't bring out our feature story for the week (but we managed to get it for our October 12 show so check out that podcast)Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
Today we hear from 3 refugees who are legacy caseload refugees about the current campaign for permanent visasAsia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We hear speak with Cathy and Sarah, both founding members of Free Kanaky Solidarity Naarm, reporting on the recent return of a solidarity mission to Kanaky.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We hear from Stephanie Rabusa from Karapatan about some of the issues and commemorations for the International Day of the Disappeared.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We listened back to sounds and speeches from the "Unite to Support the Refugee encampment" rally, a solidarity event held by the Refugee Action Coalition last Friday 16th August in support of refugees camping out in front of the Home Affairs office on Bourke Street in Docklands. The collective of refugees who initiated the encampment are demanding permanent protection from the government and have vowed to stay put until their permanent visas are granted, despite hostilities from police and local council and harassment and intimidation from neo-nazis. Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We interview Taslima Akhter from Bangladesh Garment Workers Solidarity about the recent protest movement in Bangladesh, the resignation of Sheikh Hasinam, and the rebuilding of a nation.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
Narges, Aida and Afifa, three Temporary Protection Visa holders in limbo as a part of the Legacy CaseloadAsia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Alnem Pretencio from Partido Mangagawa, updates us on the recent elections at Philippines Airlines Employees Association.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Nic MClellan, independent expert on the Asia Pacific region joins us to provide an update on the unrest in New Caledonia in the context of a deepening crisis in France.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.3CR Thursday Breakfast's Priya Kunjan interviews Michelle Fahy, independent journalist, about Australia's place in the global supply chain of Lockheed Martin's F35 combat aircraft, which the Israeli army is using to bomb Gaza.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We hear a speech delivered by Isis Gur from Combatants For Peace, which is made up of former Israeli Defence Force combatants, and former Palestinian combatants, who now work together for peace in Palestine.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Jacob Grech, AAWL's Peace is Union Business campaign co-ordinator about the historic release of Julian Assange.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We listen to the speech delivered by Reem Yunis, Palestinian socialist and activist, at the Docks Rally on 25 May.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Apolinar Dong Tolentino, Asia Region co-ordinator for the Building Workers International, about regional issues in the construction industry.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We hear a speech delivered by Mai Saif, Palestinian activist, delivered at the 25 May Docks Rally.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Interview with Abbas Saidavi from Voice of Revolution, Iran, about the death of President Raisi in a helicopter accident.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Interview with Nic Mclellan about the current unrest in New Caledonia.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.May 1st May Day rally in Melbourne Australia - speeches include Cindy Makaboray from West Papua, and Abbas Sidavi from Voice of Revolution, Iran,Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Erima Dall, rank n file member of the MUA, about union solidarity with Palestine and Trade Unionists for Palestine.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Taslima Akhter from Garment Workers Solidarity in Bangladesh, about the current garment industry uprisings and their struggle for a minimum wage.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.An anonymous Armenian activist was interviewed by Priya Kunan of Thursday Breakfast, about the relationship between Armenian and Palestinian genocide.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Veronica Koman was interviewed by Priya Kunan of Thursday Breakfast at 3CR, about human rights violations perpetrated in West Papua.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.An interview by Indian based solidarity organisation, Workers Unity with Dr Ashok Kumar of Birkbeck University, about Water Transport Workers Federation of India's refusal to load and unload weapons and armaments bound for Israel.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Joseph Daher, socialist and academic activist about Israeli attacks on Lebanon and the ongoing siege on Gaza.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Kunta Sith, keynote speaker at the Myanmar People's summit, as a part of the ASEAN People's summit. This event was organised by APHEDA and the ACTU.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
Alexia Fuentes from Anak Bayan, a Filipino youth organisation, speaks about Marcos Bong Bong Junior's visit to Australia, addressing the Australian Parliament, and about Australia hosting the ASEAN summit.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We listen to a speech delivered by AAWL and Socialist Alternative's Jerome Small, at the Free Palestine rally held in Melbourne Australia.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We speak with Junya Lek Yimprasert, founder of ACT4DEM - Action for Democracy on Thailand, about the recent machinations in Thai politics following the prevention of the Move Forward Party taking government.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We hear the keynote address of Clifton D'Rozario of the Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation is a campaigner for Dalit rights in Karnataka state (India). He discusses the Modi Government's fascistic links and politics, and this keynote address was delivered at the ecosocialism conference hosted by Green Left Weekly and Socialist Alliance on the weekend of 1 & 2 of July.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We hear the keynote address of Nilüfer Koç, Executive Council member and spokesperson for the Commission on Foreign Relations of the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK). She discusses some of the new ideas inspiring the Kurdish-led feminist and green revolutionary movement, and this keynote address was delivered at the ecosocialism conference hosted by Green Left Weekly and Socialist Alliance on the weekend of 1 & 2 of JulyAsia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We hear the keynote address of Ruchira Talukdar, about India's Modi Government and its threat to climate change, specifically in relation to the Hasdea Forest. Rachira is one of the Co-founders of Sapna South Asian Climate Solidarity, an Australian-based climate justice collective and this keynote address was delivered at the ecosocialism conference hosted by Green Left Weekly and Socialist Alliance on the weekend of 1 & 2 of JulyAsia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We interview Jacob Grech, AAWL campaign co-ordinator, anti-militarisation commentator and producer of 3CR's A Friday Rave, about the upcoming Talisman Sabre military games.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We interview Joon Shik Shin, a Korean trade union and peace activist, about the current Yoon government's attacks on the trade union movement in South Korea.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We hear the keynote address of Alexia Fuentes, chairperson of Bayan Australia, about the ongoing campaign in the Philippines to stop red tagging of trade unionists.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We interview Benjamin Velasco from Partido Mangagawa in the Philippines about the ongoing targetting of trade unionists, a practice known as Red Tagging.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We hear from Jeonom kim from the People's solidarity for social progress in South Korea and Arora from New Bloom and Taiwan Stands With Ukraine. Every month the Global Network in Solidarity with Ukraine meets to exchange information about the activities of left-wing solidarity groups, and create a space to discuss what progressive solidarity with Ukraine looks like in different regions of the world. In May, they hosted a discussion focusing on the Asia Pacific Region.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We interview Kivanc Eliacik, the international officer of DISK, the militant Turkish Labour Movement Federation. He talked to us about the recent election results in Turkey and what this means for the Turkish labour movement.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We interview Jacob Andrewartha from Socialist Alliance and Green Left Weekly, the hosting organisations for the upcoming Eco Socialism conference to be held in Melbourne over the weekend of 1 & 2 July.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We interview Thai activist, Junya Lek Yimprasert, who still remains in exile in Finland, about the unexpected victory of the Move Forward party in the Thai elections. Lek is the founder of ACT4DEM - Action for Democracy in Thailand.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We interview Nasser Mashni, Palestinian activist and presenter of Palestine Remembered, about the 75 year commemoration of Al-Nakba, the Great Palestinian Catastrophe.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We broadcast a speech by Mohammed El Kurd, a Palestinian poet and activist. He addressed the United Nations on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People in May 2021.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We interview Taslima Akhter, and activist and photojournalist; and Rupali Akter, a victim survivor of the collapse of Rana Plaza, about the 10 year anniversary of the collapse of Rana Plaza.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We interview Moshrefa Mishu, a political activist and anthropologist from Bangladesh about the anniversary of the collapse of Rana Plaza.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We interview Tephalin Ou, President of the Cambodian Food and Service Workers Federation in Cambodia about the arrest of the Naga World Union Leaders.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We interview Reem Yunis, a Palestinian and socialist about the political crisis in Israel that saw a general strike called by the Histadrut. Specifically we discuss whether this is significant at all for the struggle for Palestinian land justice and sovereignty.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We interview Sharon Cabusao- Silva, Executive Director of Lila Pilipina, on the issue of Filipina comfort women to Japanese military men during the occupation in World War 2.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We interview Arun Mylvaganum from the Tamil Refugee Council about the Albanese government's announcement regarding TPV and shev visas, and whether these changes go far enough.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Today we play a speech by Niloofar Golkar, CUPE Executive Committee member and PhD candidate in Politics at York University, focusing on the environment and the labour movement. She is a feminist activist and sits on the editorial committee of Upping the Anti: Journal of Theory and Action.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We interview Debbie Stothard from the Alternative ASEAN on Burma, about the two year anniversary of the military coup.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We interview Dian Trisnanti, from the Indonesian Federation of United Trade Unions and Radio Marsinah, about the new Indonesian Criminal CodeAsia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We interview with Elizabeth Araujo, East Timorese activist and organiser for APHEDA - Union Aid Abroad, based in East Timor.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We interview with Carla Chung, East Timorese activist and organiser for the United Workers Union.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We interview with Saw Lwin Oo, President for the Australian Karen Organisation (AKO), recent events in Myanmar and the demands of the Myanmar community in response to inaction from the Australian government following the reimposition of the military junta in February last year.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We interview with Kivanc Eliacik, International Director of DISK, the militant trade union centre of Turkey, about the Marlboro/Philip Morris strike in Izmir, Turkey.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We revisit our interview with Andy Hall, Migrant Worker Rights Specialist and Journalist, about the case being brought in the US against Ansell subsidiary in relation to forced labour in Malaysia.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.An interview with Kara Taggaoa, International Officer for the Kilusang Mayo Uno and one of the people arrested on trumped up charges and released on bail.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.An interview with Elham Naeej, expert in Iranian gender studies, about the current protests in opposition to the Morality Police of Tehran.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.An interview with Dr Tess Newton Cain, a research fellow at Griffith University, the Project Leader for the Griffith Asia Institute's Pacific Hub, about the constitutional crisis in Kiribati. Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.An interview with Nic Maclellan, Pacific region expert on Australia's lacking climate policies and the impact on Pacific nations.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.An interview with Andy Hall, Migrant Worker Rights Specialist and Journalist, about the case being brought in the US against Ansell subsidiary in relation to forced labour in Malaysia.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.An interview with Firas Naji, an Iraqi scholar specialising in Iraqi and Middle East affairs, speaking about the current political unrest in Iraq.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.An interview with Sajeda Bahadurmia, spokesperson for Australian Rohingya Womens Development Organisation, about the 5 year anniversary of the Myanmar military began mass pre-meditated attacks against the stateless Rohingya population in Rakhine State.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.A speech by Setsuko Thurlow, survivor of the 1945 Hiroshima bombing, founding member of ICAN, and one of the people that received the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of ICAN.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.An interview with an Iranian labour activist discussing political prisoners in Iran and the broader context of Iranian repression of union activity.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.An interview with Viraj Dessanyake, a Sri Lankan Tamil in Australia, member of the Tamil Refugee Council and CFMEU delegate, discussign the current, unfolding situation in Sri Lanka.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.An interview with Wolsan Liem from the International Transport Federation, about the heroic victory of the South Korean truck workers' strike and what's next in that campaign.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.An interview with Lionel Bopage, campaign organiser for Australia Asia Worker Links and organiser with Asia-Lanka People's Solidarity, on the continuing economic and political crisis in Sri Lanka following Rajapaksa's resignation in May.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
Our annual radiothon show with some very special little guests!Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
An interview with Elisabeth Araujo, country organiser for East Timor for APHEDA - Union Aid Abroad, about the recent East Timor elections.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.An interview with Reem Yunis, a Palestinian and a socialist, about Jerusalem Day and the rise of the Alt Right in Israel.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.An interview with May Kotsakis, Chairperson of the Philipines Australia Solidarity Association, about the Philippines election.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.An interview with Nic McClellan, resident Pacific expert, about the Security Cooperation Agreement between the Solomons and China.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.An interview with Farooq Tariq, General Secretary Pakistan Peasants Co-ordination Committee, about May Day in Pakistan in 2022.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.An interview with Lionel Bopage, campaign organiser for Australia Asia Worker Links, on thw growing economic and political crisis in Sri Lanka.\Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.An interview with Casey Thompson from the CFMEU Manufacturing Division, about solidarity for Bangladeshi garment workers, and a memorial service on the 9th anniversary of the collapse of Rana Plaza. Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.An interview with Yemeni activist and academic Kamilia Al-Eriana, about the current situation in Yemen.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.An interview with Nic Maclellan, expert on Pacific Area politics, discussing the Security Co-operation agreement between the Solomons and China.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.An interview with Aran Mylvaganum about Australia's backflip on refugee policy, and whether this is something to celebrate. Aran is the founder of the Tamil Refugee Council, and Victoria Socialist candidate for the Senate.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.An interview Sopheak Molika, a worker at Nagaworld, with interpreter Tephalin Ou, a unionist in Cambodia. They discuss the ongoing dispute at Nagaworld Casino in Cambodia.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.An interview with Kristine Lawrence from Gabriela Australia about IWD in the Philippines and how women there took, and are taking action for women’s liberation.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.The Anganwadi are pre and post natal workers – the equivalent of Australia’s midwives, early maternal healthcare nurses and early natal healthcare workers. Since the 70s, these workers have been asked to work as volunteers, and in 2017, they fought and won a long hard battle for recognition as workers. Now, 5 years later, they are fighting for increased wages and conditions.On today's show, we interview the President of this workers union is Shivani Kaur, and the only place I could get her was directly on the picketline. The internet connection is not great and there is a lot of background noise. But the story is too important not to broadcast and I ask listeners to persist through the quality in order to hear this important story.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Our speaker today is Sona Kazemi – a research fellow of Migration Studies, Disability Studies, and Medical Humanities at the Ohio State University. Sona researches the living conditions of people who become injured/disabled as a result of wars, incarceration, torture, gendered violence, punitive limb amputation, genocide, and political instability in the Middle East, namely Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraqi-, and Syrian Kurdistan. Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.The Sri Lankan government celebrated the 74th anniversary of the country’s independence from the British empire on 4 February. But for Tamil speaking people on the island, 4 February 1948 marks the day one oppressor handed power to another. It is Tamil Oppression Day. We speak with Renuga Inpakumar from the Tamil Refugee Council.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.It has been one year since the military coup in Myanmar. So what are the prospects for democracy in a country whose economy is in freefall, where millions face poverty and food insecurity, and where violence is increasing at an alarming rate? On today’s program we speak to Debbie Stothard to discuss the coup in Myanmar, one year on. Debbie is one of the founding members of the Alternative ASEAN on Burma.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
Latest news and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region for the week.Review of labour news and events for 2021 looking at some of the main issues that have affected the labour movement in the Asia Pacific this year.APC will now go into a summer break. We will be back with our first program of 2022 on Saturday February 5Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Excerpts of speeches from the trade union solidarity rally in Melbourne, Australia, outside the headquarters of Ansell. Ansell is a global manufacturing company which has made huge profits in the last couple of years as it is the world's major supplier of PPE products. Ansell is also a vicious union buster and user of bonded labour in its factories.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, AustraliaNote: The podcasts for the previous three weeks will be made available in the next couple of weeks. Thank you for your patience
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.This week marks the 60th anniversary of the raising of the Morning Star flag as a symbol of the struggle for independence for West Papua - currently a province of Indonesia. We speak to Ronny Kareni, a spokespoerson for the West Papuan movement, about the movement for independence in West Papua.We also introduce our newest member of the APC team - Jodi Peskett.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.The upcoming independence referendum in New Caledonia is the third vote, and supposedly last, of a process that was set up to decide the status of this French colony in the Pacific. The effects of the Covid 19 pandenic has created new dynamics and issues that have brought into question the legitimacy of this vote. We speak to Nick McLellan, independent journalist and Pacific region expert, on this upcoming vote and what the ramifications might be.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.There have been changes to prison legislation in South Australia that will hopefully lead to a decrease Aboriginal deaths in custody in Australia..We replay an interciew with Latoya Rule, the sister of Wayne Fella Morrison who died in custody in 2016 due to the actions of South Australian Corrections Officers. She and her family are fighting for justice and to make sure that no more Aboriginal people are killed while in custody. This will give a background to the reasons of the recent changes.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Repeat of previous interview.Budour Hassan is a Palestinian socialist feminist and journalist. Hassan is a legal researcher for the Jerusalem Center for Legal Aid and Human Rights. She is from Nazareth and spoke to Frieda Afray, a solidarity activist, about the latest Israeli assualts, and the effects on women and the role of women in the Palestinian struggle.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.The new military alliance sought by the Australian government with the USA and UK, known as AUKUS, is an attempt to strenghten Australia's militarist and imperialist capabilities in the region. We talk to James Brennan from the Raucous Anti-AUKUS Caucus about this new partnership, what are its implications and where to for the anti military movement in Australia.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.The 26th Conference of the Parties, or COP26, in Glasgow, Scotland will happen in early November. It is a major opportunity to stop further climate change. But what are the possibilities? We talk to Colin Long, the Just Transition Officer for the Victorian Trades Hall Council and Chairperson of AAWL about the possible outcomes and issues for workersAsia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.The registration for candidates for the Presidential election in the Philippines for next year is generating a lot of political activity and debate. Within a cast of many repressive candidates, how does the working class use this to advance its own interests. We talk to May Kotsakis, a member of Migrante Australia and of Philippines Australia Solidarity Association (PASA), about the registration process and what it means for workers in the PhilippinesAsia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.The liberation struggle by Palestinians has been going on for many decades. The Israeli state continues to be strong and surrounded by reactionary Arab governments that only pay lip service to the cause of the Palestinians.AAWL organised an international public forum to talk about the way forward for the liberation struggle of Palestine. This is an edited extract of some of the interventions at this meeting.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.The resistance to the February military coup in Myanmar has not been defeated over the last 8 months of military repression. While strikes, demnstrations and protest acts are still common place, the armed resistance to the military coup is also expanding with popular defence committees becoming more common around Myanmar. To discuss these issues, we talk to Debbie Stothard, a long time member of the Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma and solidarity activist.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Six Palestinian prisoners escaped from the heavily fortified Gilboa prison in Israel in early September. Despite their eventual capture and torture by Israeli authorities, the event has been called The Great Escape across the world, has shown that Israel security can be beaten, and Palestinians have become emboldened. We talk to Reem Yunis, a Palestinian socialist activist and educator, about this escape and its significance.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Interview with Berlin Guerrero, Chairperson of Bayan Australia, on the upcoming Presidential elections, the possible investigation by the International Criminal Court of Pres Dutertre for mass murder, and the economic and health impact of the Covid 19 pandemic on workers in the Philippines.Asia Pacific Currents (APC) is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.In depth analysis of the new Security military alliance between Australia, UK and USA; the impact and fightback against subcontracting in Sth Korea; fire safety issues in garment factories in South Asia; the deepening political crisis in the Philippines; the effects of Covid 19 on workers health, their economic position and how public health orders are used to stop us from organising.It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Last week, Yang Kyung-soo, president of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) was arrested in a pre dawn raid by police. Yang has now become the thirteenth president of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions in a row to be jailed.We interviewed Mikyung Ryu, KCTU International Affairs Director, on the reason Yang was arrested and the overall situation for the labour movement in South Korea.It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.The Covid pandemic in Malaysia not only has had serious effects on working class communities, but has now precipitated a political crisis. We talk to Irene Xavier, a spokesperson from the Labour Law Reform Coalition, on what has been happening in Malaysia and the dynamics of this crisis.It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Discussion on the ongoing effects of the Covid 19 pandemic to workers in the region and the roll out of the vaccine.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.We talk to Farkhondeh Akbar, a human rights activist and researcher who has investigated human rights violation by armed parties in Afghanistan, about how the corruption, inequality and concentration of power over the last 20 years facilitated the collapse of the Afghan government and the recent takeover by the Taliban. Farkhondeh also analysis the politics of the Taliban, its prospects for governing and if they have changed from 20 years ago.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.For the anniversary of the Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, we bring you a recorded speech by Ms. Setsuko Thurlow, a Hiroshima survivor and a founding member of the The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), about her experiences in Hiroshima when the bomb was dropped.3CR Radiothon is the time for you to support the station that supports you, your struggles, your organsations and your communities. To donate, click here (link is external)(link is external). Don't forget to mention APC for your donation.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Recorded presentation of Asfinawati - Chair of Indonesia Legal Aid Foundation - who spoke at the recent international online meeting entitled 'The Struggle for Democracy' in the Asia Pacific Region.3CR Radiothon is the time for you to support the station that supports you, your struggles, your organsations and your communities. To donate, click here (link is external). Don't forget to mention APC for your donation.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.France has retained influence in the Pacific region by holding on to a number of islands and archipelagos in the Pacific region. In the last week, the French President went on an official visit to French Polynesia. While local people wanted to address the ongoing fallout to the nuclear issue, the President was more interested to project France's military power. We talk to Nic Mclellan, an expert on PAcific matters and an independent journalist, on President Mcron's visit and the significance for the people and the region.3CR Radiothon is the time for you to support the station that supports you, your struggles, your organsations and your communities. To donate, click here (link is external). Don't forget to mention APC for your donation.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Budour Hassan is a Palestinian socialist feminist and journalist. Hassan is a legal researcher for the Jerusalem Center for Legal Aid and Human Rights. She is from NAzareth and spoke to Frieda Afray, a solidarity activist, about the latest Israeli assualts, and the effects on women and the role of women in the Palestinian struggle.3CR Radiothon is the time for you to support the station that supports you, your struggles, your organsations and your communities. To donate, click here (link is external). Don't forget to mention APC for your donation.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Aboriginal deaths in custody are still happening in Australia at an alarming rate despite numerous enquiries and hundreds of recommendations. We speak to Tarneen Onus-Williams, a Yigar Gunditjmara, Bindal, Yorta Yorta person and an Aboriginal activists about the recently completed inquest into the death of Gunnai, Gunditjmara and Wiradjuri man Raymond Noel Thomas.3CR Radiothon is the time for you to support the station that supports you, your struggles, your organsations and your communities. To donate, click here (link is external). Don't forget to mention APC for your donation.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Commentary on major incidents and struggles of our class.3CR Radiothon is the time for you to support the station that supports you, your struggles, your organsations and your communities. To donate, click here (link is external). Don't forget to mention APC for your donation.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.A group of labour activists dismissed by Ansell in Sri Lanka have been fighting to get their jobs back for almost ten years. There is now an international campaign that is not only supporting these workers but fighting for Ansell workers in Malaysia and beyond. We talk to labour activist Jerome Small, a member of Australia Asia Worker lInks and Socialist Alternative, about this campaign and how people can support Ansell workers.For video of Ansell campaign, click here.3CR Radiothon is the time for you to support the station that supports you, your struggles, your organsations and your communities. To donate, click here (link is external). Don't forget to mention APC for your donation.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.The repression and hounding of the Murugappan family, a Tamil family residing in the Queensland town of Biloela, by the Australian government has become a national issue. We speak to Aran Mylvaganam, from the Tamil Refugee Council, about the current situation and the continued campaign to change Australia's repressive laws against refugees and asylum seekers.3CR Radiothon is the time for you to support the station that supports you, your struggles, your organsations and your communities. To donate, click here (link is external). Don't forget to mention APC for your donation.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.3CR Radiothon is the time for you to support the station that supports you, your struggles, your organsations and your communities.To donate, click here (link is external). Don't forget to mention APC for your donation.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Interview with Sujata, a social justice and labour movement activist in the Mumbai region, on the ongoing impact of the Covid 19 pandemic on workers, their families and communities.3CR Radiothon is next week. To donate, click here. Don't forget to mention APC for your donation.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Discussion of the newly formed Israeli government and what it will mean for the Palestinian struggle.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Aboriginal deaths in custody are still happening in Australia at an alarming rate despite numerous enquiries and hundreds of recommendations. We speak to Latoya Rule, the sister of Wayne Fella Morrison who died in custody in 2016 due to the actions of South Australian Corrections Officers. She and her family are fighting for justice and to make sure that no more Aboriginal people are killed while in custody.As part of the campaign, the family has initiated a petition to ban spit hoods. You can sign the #BanSpitHoods. Stop Black Deaths in Custody. Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.In Iran, national elections are tightly controlled events. We talk to James Barry about the process of the upcoming elections, what is their legitimacy, what are the issues and what do they mean for workers and their communities in Iran?Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Today is Nakba Day for Palestinians. This year the whole of Palestine has been engulfed in protests, resistance, war and repression as Palestinians rise up against the continuing Occupation and Dispossession that they face by the hands of the Israeli state and military. We talk to Reem Yunis, a Palestinian socialist activist and educator, on the reasons, the extent and the implications of these latest demonstrations and protests.In Melbourne there are a number of solidarity demonstrations being planned, including this Saturday at 1pm at State Library, Melbourne AustraliaAsia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.The military campaign by the Sri Lankan government against the Tamil Tigers in April 2009 ended in a massacre of civilians as the military closed on in the last pockets of land in the North East of Sri Lanka. Tamils all arund the world are now commemorating that massacre, and the ongoing discrimination and repression of Tamils in Sri Lanka, as Tamil Genocide Day on May 18. To talk about these issues, we interviewed Charanya from the Tamil Refugee Council.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.May Day is the workers day all around the world. Its been celecrated on the 1st of May for well over a century. In Melbourne, over the last decades, the official May Day march has been on the first Sunday after the 1st of May. We discuss the reasons behind this and attempts to have marches and events held on the 1st of May itself. Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.In 2013, the collapse of the Rana Plaza building led to the death of more than 1,100 garment workers in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The perpertrators of this mass murder are still to face justice. On the 8th year anniversary of this disaster, we talk to Josh Cullinan, Secretary of the Retail And Fast Food Workers Union (RAFFWU) on what is happening to garment workers in Bangladesh and their organising efforts. Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Recorded presentation of Waaddao, activist in the current anti government youth movement and a leader in a local Thai LGBTIQ group.The full recording of the solidarity meeting on Thailand and Myanmar can be viewed here.(link is external) Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
News and labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Recorded presentation of Debbie Stoddard, a Malaysian activist living in THailand, about working class resistance to the military coup in Myanmar.The full recording of the solidarity meeting on Thailand and Myanmar can be viewed here. Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
News and labour updates from the region.Discussion of the issues facing the Kurdish people in the 4 countries in West Asia that they are located in and the upcoming public meeting and online webinar on the campaign to release Ocalan, the jailed leader of the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) in Turkey.Upcoming solidarity meetings on Thailand and Myanmar: International Solidarity with Thailand and Myanmar - International online meeting on April 6 (link is external) Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
The Israeli election was held last week. The result was another unclear outcome with many parties now trying to form a new government.We discuss the results and their implications for the struggle for Palestinian indipendence.Upcoming solidarity meetings on Thailand and Myanmar: International Solidarity with Thailand and Myanmar - International online meeting on April 6 Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
Lynas is an Australian mining company that mines rare earths at Mt Weld in Western Australia that ships many of these minerals to a processing plant just outside Kunatan in Malaysia.Since 2011 there has been widespread local opposition to this plant due to the continuing buildup of toxic and radioactive waste at the company's landfill site, next to its processing plant.Lee Tan, from Aid Watch, explains what the current issues are and the next steps for the local movement against this processing plant.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
Marchers and actions for International Women's Day were held all around the world last week on March 8. Unfortunately many of these were repressend by government and paramilitary forces.We talk to Rabiyya Mammadora, a feminist and human rights activist who ran as an independent election candidate in the recent municipal elections in Baku, Azerbaijan's largest city, about their attempts to hold a IWD rally.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
The government of President Duterte in the Philippines has been one of the most repressive and murderous in that country's history. This has had a devastating effect on working class communities and organisations.We talk to Ness Gavanzo, an activist with the Filipino feminist movement Gabriela, on the situation for women in the Philippines and what is being organised for International Womens Day.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
In depth interview with long time Thai activist and organiser Junya Lek Yimprasert about the pro democracy movement in Thailand, its objectives, its tactics and how it is dealing with the ongoing repression from the Thai military.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
Indian political life in the last few months has been upended by a massive and prolonged demonstration and blockade by tens of thousands of farmers in India. Their blockade of New Delhi has been an incredible feat of political and infrastructure organisation.We speak to Shivani Kaul, a militant labour activist organising in northern India, to explain the reasons behind these protests and their political significance.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
With the recent military coup in Myanmar, there are a lot of similarities of structures and issues between Myanmar and Thailand.We talk to 'Rick', a community activist who lives in Thailand, and has also been involved in the Myanmar solidarity movement to tell us about the history of the pro democracy movements in these two countries, the differences, the similarities and the growing linksAsia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
January 26 in Australia is a controversial day as it is commemorated as both 'Australia Day' as the founding of the country and as 'Invasion Day' as the commencement of the dispossession and genocide of its Indigenous people.Every year there are major Invasion Day rallies around the country. Listen to Meriki Onus and Crystal McKinnon, from Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance, talk about the significance of the day, the protest in Melbourne, and plans for the coming year.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
Labour updates from the Asia Pacific Region.Jiselle & Pier wrap up 2020 – it’s our last show for the year!Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from the Asia Pacific Region.Interview with Elmer Labog, Chairperson of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) about the International Day of Action for the rights of Philippines workers.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from the Asia Pacific Region.Speech by Aula Abbara, co-chair of the Syria Public Health Network a group which brings together academics, NGOs, policy makers and international organisations to highlight and influence policies relevant to the public health of Syrians.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from the Asia Pacific Region.Jiselle & Pier discuss the street protests and student movement in Thaland.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from the Asia Pacific Region.Dian Septi – labour activist with the Indonesian Workers Unite Federation, speaking about the passing of the omnibus laws in Indonesia and the workers’ response to it.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from the Asia Pacific Region.Speech by Khuloud Saba, a PhD candidate in Social Policy, at the University of Edinburgh. Her research focuses on social and political determinants of health, health inequalities, and public policies.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from the Asia Pacific Region.Jiselle & Pier discuss the possible 14th Thai military coup.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from the Asia Pacific Region.Interview with James Barry, academic and research at the Alfred Deakin Institute, focussing on religious and ethnic minorities in the Middle East. James talks to us about the current outbreak of conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from the Asia Pacific Region.Interview with Joseph Daher, academic and activist in Middle Eastern issues speaking about the current Iraq and Lebanon protests.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from the Asia Pacific Region.Interview with Tepphalin Ou, the President of the Cambodian Food and Service Workers’ Federation (CFSWF), speaking about the current situation in Cambodia in relation to the outbreak of COVID-19.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from the Asia Pacific Region.Interview with Lionel Bopage, long time labour activist from Sri Lanka and executive member of AAWL, speaking about the current situation in Sri Lanka following the recent elections there.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from the Asia Pacific Region.Interview with Samah Sabawi, Palestinian playwright, author, academic and activist – about the UAE’s peace agreement and acknowledgement of Israel, and the impact this will have on the Palestinian struggle.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from the Asia Pacific Region.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from the Asia Pacific Region.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from the Asia Pacific Region.Interview with Saras from the Socialist Party of Malaysia and the Ipoh Hospital Cleaning Workers Union about a dispute between the cleaning workers in the middle of the pandemic.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from the Asia Pacific Region.Interview with Ji Ungpakorn, exiled Thai activist, currently living in the UK, about the current protest wave in Thailand.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from the Asia Pacific Region.Interview with Jacob Grech, stalwart antiwar, peace activist, and coordinator of AAWLs anti-arms industry campaign.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from the Asia Pacific Region.Interview with May Kotsakis from Philippines Australia Solidarity Association about the recent passing of AntiTerror Laws in the Philippines.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from the Asia Pacific Region.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from the Asia Pacific Region.Interview with Tharo Khun from CENTRAL in Cambodia about garment industry workers surving COVID-19.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from the Asia Pacific Region.Interview with Shivani Kaul from the Revolutionary Workers Party of India, one of the organisations organising in India, in this time of economic crisis and COVID-19 pandemic.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from the Asia Pacific Region.Interview with Maria Ressa from Rappler media, in relation to her recent guilty verdict for the crime of “cyberlibel” in the PhilippinesAsia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from the Asia Pacific Region.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from the Asia Pacific Region.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from the Asia Pacific Region.Interview with Sami Adnan Co-founder of Workers against Sectarianism in Iraq on the continuing popular uprising in central and south Iraq.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
Labour updates from the Asia Pacific Region.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from the Asia Pacific Region.Speech by Sri Wulandari, Myanmar Country Officer for APHEDA, speaking about workers responding to the economic crisis caused by COVID-19.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from the Asia Pacific Region.Interview with Hassan from the Association in Defence of Freedom in Iran. Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from the Asia Pacific Region.Interview with Cristina Palabay from Karapatan in the Philippines about the recent crack down on May Day activities there.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
On the morning of 24 April 2013, over 1100 workers at Rana Plaza died when the building they worked in collapsed. The day before the building collapse, workers complained of clear cracks in the walls and refused to go to work because they feared for their safety. Every other business in Rana Plaza stopped work because of safety issues – these included banks and other retail outlets. But the 8000 garment workers were forced to go to work. On this week's APC, we remember Rana Plaza, 7 years on.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
The Gezi Park protests in Istanbul in 2013 were the catalyst for the human rights and labour movements to come out and protest against the repressive policies of the President Erdogan. There have been many issues since then, including the attempted coup in 2016, President Ergodan is still in power and tens of thousands of activists have been targeted by the government.APC talks to Ecehan Balta from the socialist collective Başlangıç Kolektifi about the current situation in Turkey.Due to the Covid 19 virus and infection control measures, 3CR Radio has temporarily suspended normal programming until April 15. APC will not be produced in this period. If this period of suspension is not extended, the next podcast of APC will be on Saturday April 18.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia. You can also follow AAWL on its Facebook Page.
The Philippine working class has a history of militant actions and resistance against repressive governments and exploitative working conditions. The last three years under the Presidency of Rodrigo Duterte have been particularly hard.We talk with Elmer Labog, Chairperson of the militant labour union federation KMU, about the situation for workers in the Philippines and some of the ways that they organise and stay alive.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
International Women's Day (IWD) has been commemorated since 1908. It has always been a movement for women to gain rights and achieve equality in the economic, social and political fields. It is marked by rallies and actions every year around the world on the 8th of March.For this years IWD, APC brings you an interview with Zoe Xhao, a sociology student on issues of gender, digital labour and transnational social movements, looking at the issues facing the global women's movement.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
This week, the ongoing tensions over the government Citizenship Act, in conjunction with the nationalistic fervour unleashed by USA President Trump’s visit, spilled over in mass acts of violence that left whole neighbourhood burnt and close to 40 people dead. All reports indicate that the perpetrators of this violence were Hindu fascist militias with ties to the governing party of the BJP.APC spoke to Shivani Kaul, Political Activist with Bigul Mazdoor Dasta, about these riots, the response to them, and the political significance for the working class in India.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
Trade union repression is a global problem that affects all workers. In some countries, the repression is via beatings, arrests and murders. In other countries, it is via sackings, fines and anti union legislation. The ultimate aim is the same - weakening the power of workers.At a forum in Melbourne, Australia, on trade union repression, APC interviewed Thy Yann, the Secretary of the Building & Wood Workers Trade Union Federation of Cambodia (BWTUC) on the issues facing construction workers in Cambodia. The interpreter is Rany.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
The long awaited 'deal of the century' by the current USA administration to resolve the Palestinian issue is nothing of the sort and is just a continuation of the ongoing dispossession of Palestinian lands and the the creation of a Greater Israel.We talk to Reem, a local Palestinian activist, about this supposedly new deal for Palestine, its significance, and its ramifications for the future.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
The last three years of the Government of Rodrigo Duterte in the Philippines is increasingly bringing back memories of the Marcos dictatorship in the 1970's and 80's. Pres Duterte has unleashed a terror campaign via unleashing death squads and granting total impunity to police and the army. Tens of thousands of working class people and activists have been killed. Nevertheless, as under the Marcos regime, opposition to this terror is continuing in the Philippines. We talk to Renato Reyes, the Secretary General of BAYAN Philippines, on the current situation in the Philippines, the level of opposition to President Duterte, and how solidarity activists can support their comrades in the Philippines. Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
Australia’s national holiday, 26 January, is Invasion Day. It commemorates the start of the British invasion in 1788 and the dispossession and genocide of that land’s First Nations peoples. Aboriginal people have resisted this from the beginning and their resistance continues today. For many decades, Aboriginal people were forced to labour or had their wages stolen. Under the theme of ‘Abolish Australia Day’, demonstrations calling for a stop to the ongoing exploitation, repression and injustice that First Nations peoples and communities still endure occurred all around Australia. APC spoke to Tarneen Onus-Williams from the Warriors of Aboriginal Resistance (WAR) about these events.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
For the last two and a half months Iraq has experienced mass protests against corruption, exploitation and poverty by millions of people from working class communities. Notwithstanding heavy repression by the IRaqi government and associated militias that have killed more than 400 protestors, the uprising is still continuing demanding the resignation of the whole Iraqi political class.We interviewed Nadia Mahmood, an Iraqi socialist, on these mass working class uprisings that started in early October, the reasons behind such protests, the dynamics and its effect on Iraqi society.This episode is the last show of APC for 2019. Pier and Jiselle would like to wish all our listerners a safe and happy Christmas and New Year break.APC first episode for 2020 will be on Saturday February 1.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
We usually do the year's round up of stories and issues affecting workers in the Asia Pacific region on our last program of the year but this year we did it a week earlier because of interviewing scheduling issues.So, labour updates of the week's stories but also what has happened in the last year.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
The shipping industry around the world is one of the most globalised sectors on the world economy, dominated by global companies that have terminals in multiple countries. It is characterised by a fierce global race to the bottom in terms of wages and conditions as companies try to continually shorten the time it takes to upload and download containers.APC interviewed Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) Victorian organiser, Aarin Moon about the ongoing struggles of dock workers against the global stevedoring companies of ICTSI and Hutchinson attempts to increase the intensification of work and cut pay and conditionsAsia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
Over the last two decades, the Indian economy has fully integrated intp the global capitalist economy. This has led to the growth of huge industrial zones where companies seek to take advantage of low wages and favourable laws.One of these areas in the Gurgaon region in Haryana state just to the north of the capital New Delhi. Automotive factories are one of the sectors that have established in this sector. There have been many huge labour actions and strikes in the last decade, for example the Maruti-Suzuki struggle that began in 2011, as workers protest against low wages, unsafe working conditions, and precarious employment contracts.This week, we spoke to Shivani Kaul, Political Activist with Bigul Mazdoor Dasta and Legal Advisor, Automobile Industry Contract Workers Union, about the strike that began earlier this month by thousands of contract workers employed at the Honda Automotive factory in Gurgaon.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
On October 31st, police and military personnel arrested 61 labour and human rights activists belonging to Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Kadamay, and the National Federation of Sugar Workers in a series of co-ordinated operations across the Philippines. While they have all been released, many have been put under heavy bail conditions, including raising substantial amount of money.Even more worrying, many of these activists have been 'Red Tagged' by the military as communists. Under President Duterte's murderous 'War on Drugs' campaign over the last three years, more than 25,000 working class people have been killed in extra judicial killings. The result of this reign of terror is that there are numerous militias and death squads organised throughout the Philippines that are acting with impunity. Many labour activists have been shot and killed after being publicly 'Red Tagged'.APC interviewed May Kotsakis, co Chairperson of PASA (Philippine Australia Solidarity Association) and the finance Officer of ILPS (International League of People's Struggle), on the significance of these latest arrests in the Philippines.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
Repression against journalists, researchers and writers unfortunately occurs around the world as governments and organisations try to suppress information from being publicised.Julian Assange, the founder of the investigative social media organisation Wikileaks, became world famous in 2010 when he disseminated a whole raft of secret documents that exposed US military war crimes and operations. In response, the USA government initiated a campaign to arrest and silence him. Assange is now in a UK jail fighting extradition to the USA.We talk to Jacob Grech, long time anti military activist and AAWL co-ordinator of its anti military project, on the global fight to support Assange, to bring him back to Australia, and why his fight is a workers and union issue.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
The strenght of the labour movement in every country goes up and down depending on economic conditions and the level of repression it is facing.While in part of Asia we are seeing huge working class struggles erupting, the labour movement in Australia is still struggling to go on the offensive and regain the ground that it has lost over the last 30 years. We hear a talk by Gwynnyth Evans, Assistant Secretary of the Victorian Australasian Meat Industry Employees' Union (AMIEU), that was delivered at a recent Workers Solidarity Conference on 'Where are we at'?.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
The Chinese working class movement is probably the largest in the world, it is constrained in its ability to organise and form independent unions. The ongoing mass protests in Hong Kong have focused renewed attention to the situation in China and its labour movement.For this week's program, we play a recorded talk by Kevin Lin, an activist and researcher of China’s labor movement, on the Chinese labour movement and international solidarity. The full recording of the international meeting that Kevin participated in can be found on the page of the Alliance of Middle Eastern and North African Socialists.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region.It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
The country of Iraq has had a very turbulent history since the USA military invasion of 2003 that overthrew the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein. The invasion led to a series of social and military crisis since then, with armed militias now a feature of the countries political landscape.Working class communities have borne the brunt of this violence. In addition, this instability has fostered a climate of nepotism, sectarianism and corruption that has seen billions of dollars being stolen.Earlier this month, working class communities all over Iraq staged massive protests against this corruption, against widening inequalities, and the widespread poverty and unemployment affecting workers and their families. APC spoke to Moustafa Awad, a human rights campaigner, in regards to these latest protests and their significance.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
Global mining companies are not only one of the most important and strategic pillars of the capitalist system, but their are also some of the most predatory companies in the world, leaving a trail of social and environmental destruction in their wake.Kevin Bracken, former leader of the Maritime Union of Australia Vic Branch and long time union activist, talks to us about the background and history of the campaign against the Australian company Oceana Gold and the crimes that the company has committed in both El Salvador and the Philippines.A solidarity action will be held in Melbourne, Australia on Monday October 14 in solidarity with the Save Nueva Vizcaya Movement in the Philippines who are at the forefront of the fight against Oceana GoldAsia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
The increasing tensions between Iran and the USA/Saudi Arabia may have been triggered by events associated with the war in Yemen, but the issues are deeper than that with both historical roots going back to the Iranian revolution of 1979 and political/economic issues associated with the Arab Spring that started in 2010.APC talked with Joseph Daher, a media commentator and academic, on the possibilities of a war breaking out between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and how these tensions are reflected on the ongoing popular struggles that are continuing in the region.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
It has been a bit over three years since President Duterte was elected as President of the Philippines. President Duterte administration authoritarian and repressive policies have surpassed those of the late Dictator Ferdinand Marcos in terms of people jailed and killed. While not initially targeted, the situation for labour activists has now deteriorated with increasing arrests and murders, with many others fearing for their safety. The lexicon of 'Red Tagging' has now become part of the language where labour activists are identified by military and militias. We talk to Wilson Fortaleza, Executive member of the Partido Manggagawa - Labour Party of the Philippines, about the current situation and what steps labour activists are taking to ensure their safety.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
Ever since the infamous Tampa Affair in 2001, Australia asylum seekers and refugee policies has been marked by xenophobia, cruelty and government intransigence. Even thought there has been a mass movement since the Tampa affair against these policies, both major parties continue this hard line stance. The latest victims of this repression has been a Tamil family of four who had been quietly living in the regional Queensland town of Biloela. Priya, Nadesalingam and their children, Kopika, 4, and Tharunicaa, 2, are now imprisoned in the offshore concentration camp of Christmas Island waiting for a last minute appeal that might allow them to remain in Australia.APC talked to FSU union organiser, Tamil Refugee Council spokesperson, and a former refugee himself, Aran Mylvaganam on why this case has generated such a upswell of support for this family. Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
In early June, massive protests exploded in the city state of Hong Kong against the local government's proposal to introduce a bill allowing the extradition of people to mainland China. The demonstrations have numbered up to two million people on the streets. Even against mounting repression by the police and paid thugs, the protests have now continued for over three months. While the original extradition bill has been withdrawn, the protest movement is now fighting for much wider political demands.APC this week was able to interview Jaco, a member of the group Socialist Action (CWI in Hong Kong), on the protests, the politics of the movement, its relationship with the labour movement in mainland China, and where is the movement aiming now.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
East Asia is one of the industrial hubs of the world with countries like Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and China producing and exporting goods all around the world. The working class in these countries numbers in the hundreds of millions.Due to conflict and wars, workers have not historically had many links between these countries. This is now changing and a recent Labor Notes Conference brought hundreds of these workers and activists together.APC interviewed an Australian delegate to this conference, Sherry Huang from the Migrant Workers Centre in Melbourne, about her reflections on this conference.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
While the political situation in Kashmir has always been tense, with India and Pakistan engaging in military conflicts a number of times over this disputed territory, the recent India's government abrogation of Kashmir's special constitutional status has plunged the region in uncharted waters.In contrast to previous flashpoints, this time the changes are driven by internal politics and by the nationalist and xenophobic drive by Modhi's government to create a Hindu Indian state.The APC team spoke to Kavita Krishnan, a member of the politburo of the Communist Party of India (M-L) about the imposition of martial law in Kashmir, the significance of the legislative changes, and its significance for the rest of India.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
Ever since the sham Act of Free Choice in 1969 when the Indonesian Government engineered a vote for West Papuans to join up within the Indonesian state, conflict has never stopped.The Indonesian government, and its capitalist allies, have always kept a close control West Papua as the region is incredibly rich in natural resources in areas such as mining, timber, farming and fishing.APC interviewed West Papuan Independence activist O'Neil Waromi on the latest upsurge of resistance and repression that has occurred both in Java and in West Papua.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
Somyot Pruksakasemsuk, a long time union and democracy activist in Thailand, was jailed for 11 years in 2011 under the repressive Lese Majeste Law - Article 112. He was pardoned in 2018 after serving seven years in jail.Somyot had been a labour and human rights activists for decades. He was jailed because of his opposition to military rule and the power of the Monarchy.APC interviewed him recently in Malaysia (he is barred from entering Australia) about the ongoing struggle against repression in Thailand.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
The trade union movement in Malaysia was destroyed decades ago in a combination of outright repression and slow strangulation by restrictive laws.While workers have continued to organise in this period, it has been difficult to develop strong militant unions. In the last couple of years, a new leadership team has revitalised the hospital cleaners union. It still faces lots of challenges.Jiselle Hanna, a member of the APC team, was in Malaysia last month on a trade union visit. Jiselle talks about the growth of the cleaners union, its achievements, its strategies to counter contracting out and the challenges it still faces.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
The Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were both devastated in August 1945 by atomic bombs dropped by the USA military. The devastation these bombs caused shocked the world.In the decades after 1945, millions of people campaigned to limit and abolish atomic weapons. Unfortunately they are still around and these bombs, and the industry and research that develops them, are a serious threat to working class people everywhere.APC spokle to Denis Doherty from the Hiroshima Day Committee in Sydney about the relevance of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki anniversary 74 years after the bombs were first dropped, and what activities the Hiroshima Day Committee is undertaking.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
Low wages, outsourcing and sub contracting are a scourge for workers all around the world with companies using these methods to 1) increase profits and 2) cut costs by shifting responsibity and dangers to workers.South Korea is no different in a part of the world where governments like Japan, China and Taiwan are trying to help their respective capitalists by keeping workers as un-organised as possible. The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) has been engaged in an increasingly bitter and wide ranging confrontation against the South Korean government and companies to try and inprove workers conditions.APC interviewed Mikyung Ryu, the International Relation Director of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) on which sectors of workers where more affected, what are the main demands by workers, and the overall political situation. Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
President Rodrigo Duterte's 'War on Drugs' has been going on for more than three years. During this time there has been a normalisation of extra judicial killings, impunity for death squads, vilification of human rights defenders and arrests of activists. His death squads have murdered over 25,000 people.These massacres has had a terrorising effect on on urban, working class communities in the Philippines. Nevertheless, opposition and organising against this repression is growing both internally and internationally.APC interviewed May Kotsakis, co Chairperson of PASA (Philippine Australia Solidarity Association) and the finance Officer of ILPS (International League of People's Struggle), on the current situation on the Philippines.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
Yemen is often described as the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. The country was already one of the poorest in the region and years of war have ravaged the countryThe origings of the current situation can be traced back to the Houthi movement, an Islamic religious-political-armed movement that emerged from Sa'dah in northern Yemen in the 1990s as a response to local grievances. It overcame adversity and repression to take the capital, Sana’a in 2014. Saudi Arabia then decided to exploit the internal conflicts to expand its regional influence by invading Yemen in 2015.APC talked to Kamillia el-Eriani, who is currently teaching in sociology and politics at Melbourne University and RMIT, about the dynamics of this conflict.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
The recent tensions and threats of war between the USA and Iran have roots to the origins of the Islamic Republic following the 1979 Revolution that overthrew the despotic dictatorship of the Shah.Since then, Iran has continued to remain a regional power, especially after surviving the 10 year long war with Iraq. The current tensions are different front the past in that they come after years of popular uprisings in the region and have seen new players emerge, with alliances becoming much more fluid.APC interviewed Joseph Daher, an academic and socialist activist. He is also the author of the recent book 'Syria after the Uprisings , the political economy of state resilience'.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
India is the world's biggest democracies and its elections campaings are huge undertakings. This year's election saw the chrismatic leader, Narendra Modhi, of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claim a landslide victory. This victory cements the Hindu nationalist leader as the country’s most formidable politician in decades.Modhi's first tenure as Prime Minister has seen a wave of intolerance and violence unleashed against religious and caste minorities with his supporters advocating the creation of a greater Hindustan nation, for Hindus by Hindus.APC interviewed Abhinav Sinha, a long time labour activist and now National Spokesperson and Member, National Convening Body, Revolutionary Workers Party of India (RWPI), in the reasons why the BJP won and what this will mean for Indian workersAsia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
Hong Kong is a special administrative of China with its own set of laws and regulations separate from most of mainland China. Hong Kong is in a transition period following the withdrawal of the UK as its colonial power in 1997.Since then, the city state has seen spikes in political activities and protests when major changes to its laws have been proposed. In the last few months, the Hong Kong government, headed by Chief Executive Carrie Lam, proposed to introduce a new law that would allow people to be extradited to mainland China.APC talked to Carol Ng, the Womwn's Officer of the Confederation of Hong Kong Trade Unions, earlier in the week as to the reasons why this proposed laws saw demonstrations of up to two millions people flood the streets of Hong Kong.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
3CR Radio was started in 1976 by working class communities to provide an avenue for workers, their families and their communities to tell their stories and struggles in their own voices.The radio is run by the broadcasters, members and listerners. 3CR Radio self funds and relies on its listerners to fund the station.Today is Radiothon time for 2019, so donate to keep us on the air. You can donate in person, over the phone, via post or online.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
As Indonesia is the largest country in South East Asia and the most populous Islamic country in the world, elections are closely followed.The recent elections saw the incumbent Jokowi defeat the ex General Prabowo. Economic and social issues where the main issues of this election. Given the widespread poverty in Indonesia, there are a lot of expectations for what President Jokowi can deliver to workers in his second term as President.APC talked to Yasinta Sonia, the Deputy Director of Programs for the Trade Union Rights Centre (TURC) - a labour NGO based in Jakarta, about the elections and their ramifications.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
The mid term elections in mid May were seen by everyone as a test for Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and his authoritarian rule and policies. Human rights and labour activists were hoping that by exposing Pres. Duterte's corruption, lies and murderous campaings in the War on Drugs and martial law in Mindanao, it would weaken his allies and elect senators, governors and mayors that would become his opponents. Unfortunately Duterte's allies used the media and state bureaucracy to their advantage to mount an election campaign focused on safety, security and nationalism. APC talked to Manuel Del Rosario, Secretary General - Migrante Australia, about the election outcome and where to for the left in the Philippines.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
The APC team apologises for the recent 6 weeks interruption of APC podcasts This was due to issues beyond our control.We are now back :-) It has been 71 years since the founding of the state of Israel in West Asia and the problems arising from the dispossession of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian from their lands have not been resolved. The struggle by the Palestinian for their land, their rights and the right to return has taken many forms over this time. Every year on May 15, Palestinians mark Nakba Day (Day of the Catastrophe), the commemoration of the displacement that preceded and followed the proclamation of Israeli Independence.APC talked to Hilmi Dabbagh from the Australian Chapter of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Campaign about the situation for Palestinians in Israel, the Occupied Territories, and the current campaigns for the right of Palestinians. Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
The massive Tianjiayi Chemical factory explosion in eastern Jiangsu province in late March, where at least 78 workers were killed, and many hundreds injured, is another tragic example of the weak Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) laws in China.One of the main problems in achieving safer workplaces is the weal bargaining power of the great majority of Chinese workers.APC was able to interview Geoffrey Crothall, the Communications Director of China Labour Bulletin, on the background to this disaster, the dynamics of OHS enforcement in China and the possible ways forward for increasing the strenght and effectiveness of workers organising, both at the local level and nationwide. Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
Hutchinson is a Hong Kong based global stevedoring giant with a network of port operations that comprise 319 berths in 52 ports, spanning 26 countries throughout Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, the Americas and Australasia.Hutchinson is also renowned as a union busting company. Whether in Australia, INdonesia, Malaysia or Pakistan, it directly works to target, victimise and isolate labour activists. Currently two Pakistani dock workers, Marvia Islam (Union President) and Moeed Murad, have been in jail since mid March due to their union activities.Apc spoke with Surya, the Deputy President of SP JICT trade union, in Jakarta, Indonesia about their continuing fight for the right to organise and for a safe workplace. Between 2016 and 2018, five workers have been killed at this port, while through 2018, there have been more than 10 incidents per month.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
The BJP government of India, headed by President Modi is the most right wing Indian government since Independence. It has quite clear fascist expressions and has unleashed an unrelenting attack on workers wages and conditions under the guise of making 'India great'There are constant actions and strikes by workers against these attacks. On the 3rd of March there was a big rally in the capital New Delhi for the right to work.APC interviewed Shivani from Bigul Mazdoor Dasta and the Campaign for Bhagat Singh National Employment Guarantee Act, and Abhinav, Editor of Workers Political Monthly, 'Mazdoor Bigul', to talk about this rally, ongoing organising efforts in India and the upcoming national electionsAsia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
The modern history of Thailand has seen a constant struggle by civil forces of society to try and break the power and wealth of the established ruling elites and the Monarchy.This struggle has seen the military carry out a number of military coups in an effort to repress and destroy these anti autocratic movements. Its now 5 years since the last coup and the military is allowing a national vote to take place while under military dictatorship.APC spoke earlier in the week with Wan, a Thai social activist in exile based in a neighbouring country, about the elections, what they might mean and how free and fair they really are.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
The origins of International Women's Day (IWD) go back to 1909 when tens of thousands of women garment workers, the majority of whom were migrants, went out on strike in New York, USA demanding equal pay.The fight for justice and equality is still being fought all around the world with working class women at the forefront of the battle against exploitation, inequality and repression.APC was at the IWD march in Melbourne, Australia and brings you some speeches from Aboriginal women and the issues that they are facing.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
India is fast becoming a global industrial power as it intergrates further into the global economy. Attracted by a low wage, educated workforce and lax environmental regulations companies are keen to invest in India.In the Tamil Nadu town of Tuticorin a copper smelter owned by Sterlite, a subsidiary of the giant Vedana Group, has generated massive opposition among the population due to the pollution it has been creating. Repression by police and army has killed many protestors.APC spoke to Lavanya Thavaraja, a labour activist, about this movement and the recent disappearance of Mugilan, a noted social and environmental activist who had been at the forefront of the campaing against the plant.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
The last two and a half year of the Presidency of Rodrigo Duterte has seen massive violations of human rights in the Philippines.While the most publicised issue has been his murderous War on Drugs, many other sectors and organisations have felt under pressure from his administration. The Philippines is now regarded as one of the most dangerous places for journalists.APC interviewed Maria Ressa, the CEO of Rappler - an internet based multi media organisation, about her recent arrest and the pressures that journalists and others are under in the Philippines.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
Due to a last minute technical problem, we are replaying an interview from last year about OHS in South Korea.Labour updates from the region are current news.(Supporters for the Health And Rights of People in the Semiconductor) SHARPS has recently forced Samsung Electronics to commit to pay compensation to its workers as well as a commitment to improve its workplaces. APC interviewed Jeong-ok Kong from SHARPS and she details the results of their campaign.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
Outsourcing and sub contracting is a scourge for workers all around the world with companies using these methods to increase profits and cutting costs by shifting responsibity and dangers to workers.In mid December 2018, a young worker in South Korea, Kim Yong-gyun, was killed by a conveyor belt at the thermal power plant where he had been recently employed at. Yong-gyun was employed on an insecure contract. His death was the result of inadequate training, supervision and occupational health and safety conditions.The Korean labour movement initiated a large protest movement as a result. APC interviewed Wolsan Liem, Director of International and Korean Peninsula Affairs of the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers' Union (KPTU), about this movement, its aims and the results so far.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
Welcome to all APC listerners to the first program of 2019.The 26th of January in Australia is a public holiday marking Australia Day. It celebrates the anniversary of the 1788 arrival of the First Fleet of British ships at Port Jackson, New South Wales, and the raising of the Flag of Great Britain at Sydney Cove by Governor Arthur Phillip.To the Indigenous people of Australia this day marks the start of colonialism, dispossession, exploitation and genocide. The first organised protests against this Day were held in 1938. The movement to abolish Australia Day has gathered momentum over the last few years. On Saturday January 26, protest rallies were held in all major cities around Australia attracting tens of thousands of Aboriginals and their supporters.Meriki Onus is a leading member of the Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance (WAR), the group who organised the protest rally in Melbourne. The interview looks at the issues that confront Indigenous people in Australia to this day and the significance of the Invasion Day marches.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
Samsung Corporation is one of the biggest companies in South Korea. It has a vicious anti union stance and of repressing any independent worker activity at its factoriesFor over ten years, OHS activists grouped around the organisation SHARPS (Supporters for the Health And Rights of People in the Semiconductor) have conducted a campaign against Samsung Electronics about its unsafe workplaces that have led to hundreds of workers falling ill or dying due to the toxic chemicals they are exposed to.SHARPS has recently forced Samsung Electronics to commit to pay compensation to its workers as well as a commitment to improve its workplaces. APC interviewed Jeong-ok Kong from SHARPS and she details the results of their campaign.This is the last program for 2018. The APC team will have a summer break. The first program of 2019 will be Saturday February 2.The APC team would like to thank all our listerners who have supported us this year and would like to wish everyone a safe and happy end of year.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
While China is still the world's factory, it is also increasing its labour force in areas of health, education and welfare.Since the Tiananmen protest of 1989, workers have been tightly controlled by the Chinese Communist Party of (CCP). While over the last decade, there has been upsurges in workers action, the last couple of years has seen the CCP tighten its control of workers and repress any attempt for independent organising.This month, Sheung So from the Labour Education and Service Network, a Hong Kong based NGO, was in Melbourne. APC was able to interview her for an update on the situation for workers in China.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
Turkish workers have a proud history of organising and fighting for better conditions. Unfortunately, the last few years under the Presidency of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan have seen conditions deteriorate with workers coming increasingly under more pressure.The huge new airport being built just outside Istanbul examplifies this new reality with workers continually facing insscure and dangerous workplaces but then when they try to organise to win better conditions, the full force of the state is brought against them.APC recently spoke with Hasan Demir (not his real name), a labour activist at the Istanbul airport, who explained the conditions facing workers and the recent events that saw hundreds of workers detained by the police.Due to circumstances beyond our control there was no APC program for Saturday Nov 24. Our apologies.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
President Rodrigo Duterte's 'War on Drugs' has been going on for more than three years. During this time there has been a normalisation of extra judicial killings, impunity for death squads, vilification of human rights defenders and arrests of activists. His death squads have murdered over 25,000 people.These massacres has had a terrorising effect on on urban, working class communities in the Philippines. Nevertheless, opposition and organising against this repression is growing both internally and internationally.APC interviewed May Kotsakis, co Chairperson of PASA (Philippine Australia Solidarity Association) and the finance Officer of ILPS (International League of People's Struggle), on the current situation on the Philippines.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
In this week's program, independent journalist and long time human rights activist Nick Mclellan, talks about the recently held independence referendum in New Caledonia and the national elections in Fiji.While is both countries the eventual results preserved the current political status quo, the reality is that both show that Pacific island societies are changing and that the previous social order is not guaranteed to last into the future.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
The Arab Spring that swept across north Africa and West Asia promised a new beginning for working class communities. The reality has been one of broken promises, repression and war.Syria has probably witnessed the greatest bloodshed where during the last 7 years, all kind of reactionary, repressive, conservative and imperialist forces have conspired to defeat the popular uprising.APC asked Joe Daher, a long time Syrian activist, to assess the current situation, to look back over the last few years to see how we got to this disaster and what lessons can the left and solidarity movements learn.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
The use of workers on temporary visas has increased in Australia over the last twenty years. Temporary migrant workers are very vulnerable due to the precarious nature of their work visa.Employers from all industries in Australia exploit their vulnerability by systematically underpaying them and making billions of dollars from unpaid wages.APC interviewed author and researcher Laurie Berg from the University of Technology Sydney about her latest research on the extent of this underpayment and the structural barriers that make it difficult for these workers to organise and claim their wages back.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
As with many other countries in the Asia Pacific region, Australian workers are also facing rising rates of job insecurity, wages that are not keeping up with the cost of living, and harsh laws that prevent workers from organising freely at the workplace.Trade unions in Australia have come together under the banner of 'Change the Rules' to campaign for a change of government and better laws for workers. Tens of thousands of workers came out in Melbourne last Tuesday in support of this campaign.Asia Pacific Currents hosts, Pier and Jiselle, analyse the campaign so far and discuss whether 'Change the Rules' is too focussed on an electoral strategy and not enough on building workers power at the workplace level.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
Bananas are one of the big agricultural export items of the Philippines. Rural regions of the Philippines have always seen some of the worst instances of semi feudal exploitation and human rights abuses.Almost a 1,000 workers at the giant banana plantation of the Sumifru corporation have been on strike since the start of October. They are demanding a collective agreement so as to get a pay rise and secure employment contracts.APC interviewed Paul John Dizon, the President of the local union NAMASUFA, about the strike and the dangers that they are facing from company thugs, the police and the army.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
The popular uprising in Syria in the last few years has created a big debate among the left around whether activists should prioritise anti imperialist work, especially against the USA war machine, or stand in solidarity with working class movements.In the same region, the Iranian government is at ongoing risk of being bombed by the USA but the Islamic government is also heavily repressing actions and protests by workers.Jiselle and Pier discuss the political issues around anti imperialism and class struggle in relation to the ongoing situation in Iran, both internally and regionally.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
The current Islamic for of government has been ruling Iran since the 1979 revolution that overthrew the dictatorship of the Shah. After almost 40 years, the economic and social situation for the majority of Iranian is increasingly becoming worse and worse.Since late last year there have been massive working class protests throughout Iran. The Iranian government has tried to both repress and co-opt these protests but unemployment, starvation wages and corruption are bringing more and more people onto the streets.APC interviewed Bahman Yusufi, an Iranian labour activist, about these working class actions and especially the current massive strike by around 600,000 truck drivers that has literally stopped all road commercial traffic in Iran.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
Australia and New Zealand have similar histories, both being settler societies and imperial outposts of the British Empire.They share similar laws and industrial landscape, though organising the working class in these two countries also has its differences.APC interviewed Mrunal Shroff, who is now employed as an organiser with the Migrant Workers Centre at Trades Hall in Melbourne, about his views on organising workers in New Zealand and in Australia. In New Zealand, Mrunal was an organiser in the Finance and Retail sector.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
President Rodrigo Duterte's 'War on Drugs' has been going on for over two years. His death squads have murdered over 20,000 people. During this time there has been a normalisation of extra judicial killings, impunity for death squads, and the vilification of human rights defenders.These massacres has had a chilling effect on on urban, working class communities in the Philippines, terrorising millions of people. Nevertheless, opposition and organising against this repression is growing by the day.Jennifer Binegas from Movement Against Tyranny (MAT) was recently in Melbourne, Australia. APC managed to catch up to her and explore with Jennifer how labour and human rights activists are fighting back against the government and Duterte's death squads.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
Working class struggle is hard, with many activists not only facing isolation and victimisation from management at their workplaces but also running the risk of being beaten, jailed or killed by a whole range of state or quasi state actors.The workers movement has many examples of activists who over time lose their radical politics and accommodate themselves to the confines and rules of the capitalist system.This week APC takes the example of the Malaysian politician Tian Chua, featured in the previous week's program, to discuss the pressures and reasons of why activists give up on working class struggle.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
The elections earlier this year in May saw the Barisan Nasional lose power after 61 years. One of the more surprising facets was the comeback of the 92 year old former Prime Minister, Mohamed Mahathir, who had come out in retirement to lead the opposition.There was much excitment and expectations at what this new government could do.Tian Chua, a long time political activist and now vice-president of People's Justice Party (PKR), a component party of the ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition came to Melbourne recently to give a public forum and talk about the new government. APC was there to record his views.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
The South Korean company Samsung Electronics is one of the giant global corporations in the world of electronics. Samsung since its founding in the late 1930's, the company has been ferociously anti union. Its Electronic arm of the company, Samsung Electronics, has also had a shocking health and safety record. There have been hundreds of recorded cases of assembly line workers contracting diseases and even dying because of the toxic nature of their work. After years of campaigning, actions and sit-ins, SHARPS (Supporters for the Health And Rights of People in the Semiconductor industry) the OHS advocacy group managed to force the company to the negotiating table. APC recently interviewed Jeong Ok Kong, volunteer for SHARPS and the person in charge of compensation negotiations with the Samsung Electronics Corporation on their recent victory.In addition, finally, for the first time ever, an independent union has now been able to be organised and registered for workers in Samsung Electronics in South Korea.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
The working class is under attack in Australia from many sides. One of the ways that capitalists and governments try to undermine workers organisations and conditions is by bringing in temporary migrant workers.These workers are especially prone to exploitation due to the temporary status of their working visas as well as their unfamiliarity of the laws and culture in Australia. While some unions have been successful at organising these groups of workers, many migrant workers face terrible working conditions.The Migrant Workers Centre was recently set up in Melbourne, Australia to help these groups of workers. Asia Pacific Currents spoke with Matt Kunkel, the Director of the Migrant Workers Centre, about the work that they have been doing.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
In early August 1945, the USA military dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing hundreds of thousands of civilians.The global arsenal of atomic weapons has only grown since then. The fight to outlaw these weapons of mass destruction continues.The Asia Pacific Currents program spoke to Shomi Yoon, a member of the International Socialist Organisation in Aeteoroa/New Zealand on the international campaign against nuclear weapons.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
In every country, capitalists and their allies use racism as one of the ways to divide and weaken the working class. In Australia, the issue of the colonialism and dispossession of the Indigenous people is central when discussing and resisting racism in Australia.The show will focus on two anti racist forums that were held in Melbourne in the past week and examine how they looked at racism but also the best ways to build working class solidarity in our work as labour and anti racists activists.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
Malaysia has relied heavily on migrant workers over the last decades to power its economic growth.The complicated visa system in that country puts millions of these workers in very insecure conditions, leading to widespread exploitation. In addition, these workers face regular waves of repression from government agencies.We interviewed Adrian Pereira, Director of North South Initiative, a human rights organisation that works on labour rights issues in Malaysia, about the current situation and the stance of the new government.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
The island of New Caledonia has been a colony for the 164 years and is one of France's last colonies in the world.The indigenous inhabitants, the Kanaks, have waged a long struggle for independence. This coming November 20 an independence referendum will be held in New Caledonia to decide its status.We caught up recently in Melbourne, Australia with Daniel Goa, spokesperson for the independence movement Front de Libération Nationale Kanak et Socialiste (FLNKS), at a community function. We asked Daniel about the prospects for the Kanaky people in the upcoming referendum. The voice of the interpreter is that of Ms. Sophie Dutertre.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
The Australian Confederation of Trade Unions (ACTU) is the peak body for unions in Australia. It recently held its national conference in Brisbane, Queensland.Close to 1,000 unionists came together to discuss the situation for workers in Australia and the 'Change the Rules' campaign.Piergiorgio Moro took part in the conference as a delegate for the Australian Services Union A&S VicTas Branch. Pier talks with Jiselle about the main themes of this conference.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
The mass protest movement of 2015 and 2016 in South Korea against corruption and abuse of power were able to bring down the President - Park Geun-hye. The working class, headed by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions were central in organising this movement.The KCTU paid a high price for their succeess with two of their leaders, Han Sang gyun and Lee Young joo both jailed. In addition, many workers had expectations that the new government headed by President Moon Jae-in was going to be more worker friendly than past Presidents. This unfortunately has not happened.We caught up with Ms Lee earlier in the week to discuss the state of the workers movement in South Korea under the new government of President Moon Jae-in. The interview was conducted through an interpreter and the voice that you hear translating Ms Lee’s answers is that of Mikyung Ryu, the KCTU International Director.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia each July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.While this week's activities are a celebration, the past and current struggles faced by the Indigenous people of Australia are not forgotten.This week we replay an interview by Lalitha Chelliah from Friday Breakfast show with Gunnai-Kurnai Gunditjmara woman and Greens MP Lidia Thorpe on the current fight to save close to 300 trees sacred to the Djap Wurrung peoples in Western Victoria under threat from a planned Highway upgrade projectAsia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
The situation for refugees and asylum seekers in Australia is becoming progressively worse as the Government continues its crackdown.In the last few weeks, the desperate situation of the family of Priya and Nadesalingam has become national news. The family is hanging on to its hopes to remain in Australia with support from their town of Biloela and thousands of supporter around Australia while the government sends its armed border units to arrest and detain the family.We speak to Aran Mylvaganam, spokesman for theTamil Refugee Council on the circumstances surrounding the desperate situation of Priya's family and the continuing resistance to the Australian governments inhumanity. Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
While the Philippines is a country that is often talked about in terms of the damage that natural disasters cause to its infrastructure and population, it is also a country where the working class movement has a very proud and militant history. Unfortunately, it has declined in strenght in the last years which has put Filipino workers in a much more vulnerable position.We talk to Steph Rabusa, a member of Migrante Melbourne, about the state of the workers movement in the Philippines especially in light of the ever more repressive policies of President Duterte.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
This week is a special Radiothon program to keep 3CR Radio on air.You can donate in person, by phone, by mail or via the internet.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region.It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
Since late last year, Iran has witnessed a wave of strikes and demonstrations on a scale unprecedented since the revolutionary days of the late 1970s. While the Iranian government likes to portray these protests as imperialist plots from the USA and Israel to overthrow the Iranian government, the reality is that the causes of these protests are to be found in workers' anger at corruption, exploitation, repression and poverty. We speak to Bahman Yusufi, an Iranian independent labour activist, who gives some background to these protests and how workers are able to organise in an environment where independent unions are effectively repressed and non-existent. Next week is a special 3CR Radiothon program.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
The elections two weeks ago in Malaysia saw the Barisan Nasional lose power after 61 years. One of the more surprising facets was the comeback of the 92 year old former Prime Minister, Mohamed Mahathir, who had come out in retirement to lead the opposition.During his reign as Prime Minister, between 1981 and 2004, Mahathir routinely cracked down on labour and human rights activists via the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA) as well as running a government based on economic and political patronage.For our second part on our analysis on what these election results mean, we talk to Sonia Randhawa, a long time human rights activist and co- organiser of the Bersih (the coalition for clean and fair elections) movement.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
The 26th of May each year in Australia is known as National Sorry Day. The day is to acknowledge and recognise members of the Stolen Generations. It has been marked since 1997, the day the recommendation from the Bringing Them Home report was tabled in the Australian Federal Parliament highlighting the decades of mistreatment of Aboriginal families by the state and its institutions. To talk about what this day means, its significance to Aboriginal people, and the current struggles by Aboriginal workers in Australia, we talked to Kara Keys, the Australian Confederation of Trade Unions Indigenous Officer. Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
The recent elections in Malaysia have seen the Barisan Nasional lose power after 61 years. One of the more surprising facets was the comeback of the 92 year old former Prime Minister, Mohamed Mahathir, who had come out in retirement to lead the opposition.During his reign as Prime Minister, between 1981 and 2004, Mahathir routinely cracked down on labour and human rights activists via the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA) as well as running a government based on economic and political patronage.We talk to Irene Xavier, a long time activist who herself was jailed under the ISA by Mahathir, on why Mahathir is now seen as a democratic reformer and was co-opted to lead the opposition.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
The Cambodian Food and Service Workers’ Federation has a newly elected President – a woman who was formerly herself a beer promotions worker. Listeners might recall the major campaign run back in 2016, in defence of women in teh beer promotions industry in Cambodia – this is where women are required to encourage tourists in night clubs to keep drinking, and are compelled to drink themselves, putting them in very dangerous situations.The Cambodian Food and Service Workers’ Federation represents workers across a very broad range of industries from beer promotions, to karaoke workers, to workers at Chevron. This newly elected president is Ou Tep Phallin, and she was in Australia in March this year as a guest of APHEDA and the International Food Workers Union.
The British Empire is again celebrating it’s world wide colonial conquests in the form of the Commonwealth Games, currently underway on the Gold Coast in Queensland. Indigenous activists and their supporters are conducting a protest campaign against the Commonwealth Games, under the title of the “Stolenwealth Games”. They are demanding land rights and recognition that Aboriginal sovereignty has never been ceded.
Israeli troops killed at least 15 Palestinians and injured more than 1,400 on Friday 30 March, during demonstrations along Gaza’s border and in cities throughout the Palestinian enclave. The demonstrations were scheduled to take place for six weeks along the border of Gaza, and have been called the “Great Return March”. This area has been subject to an 11 year illegal blockade by Israel and Egypt. The demonstrations were planned to continue until May 15, the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the state of Israel, al Nakba (Catastrophe) Day. On today’s program, we speak with visiting Palestinian activist and militant, Huwaida Arraf. Huwaida is in Australia as a guest of the annual international Marxism conference organised by Socialist Alternative and held in Melbourne Australia every Easter.Plus, our regular round up of news from around the region.Asia Pacific Currents is a show of Australia Asia Worker Links
Due to ongoing economic and political crisis around the world, the number of asylum seekers and refugees continues to grow.Successive Australian governments have been at the forefront internationally in devising and implementing increasingly repressive and harsher policies against ayslum seekers and refugees.We talk to Umesh Perinpanayagam, from the Tamil Refugee Council, about the situation for Tamil refugees in Australia and the ongoing political fight for the rights of all asylum seekers and refugees in Australia.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
The origins of International Women's Day are to be found in the working class struggles of working women in the late 19th century.Over 100 hundreds years later, while there has been much progress, there are still many areas before women achieve equality.We listen to two short speeches by Kim Bullimore and Dita Nur at this year's Melbourne IWD rally on how women's liberation is part of other working class struggles against oppression, repression and inequality.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
After the victory of the Sri Lankan government over the Tamil Tigers in 2009, many working class Sri Lankans expected that the 'peace dividend' was going to lead to an improvement in their lives.Unfortunately this has not proved the case with corruption, repression and inequality still prevalent in the country. Ethnic and communal issues are also being stoked up by powerful sections of the ruling class and far right groups like the far-right Buddhist group Bodu Bala Sena (Buddhist Power Force).We talk to Lionel Boapge, a long time labour and human rights activist, on the reasons and dynamics behind the current anti-Muslim pogroms in Sri Lanka.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
The uprising against the government of Syria, headed by the dictatorship of Bashar Hafez al-Assad, began in 2011 as part of the broader Arab Spring that saw millions of people rise up in North Africa and West Asia against repression, exploitation and corruption.The Syrian government responded by shooting at the civilian demonstrators. This militarised the conflict and soon various regional and imperialist powers got involved in a bid to squash the uprising and gain influence.After 7 years, the government, with massive Russian and Iranian military aid, has regained the upper hand. Currently one of the most brutal battles is happening in East Ghouta, just outside Damascus. We spoke to Monther Alhamdoosh, a Syrian activist with the Australian Syrian Association Victoria on the conflict and the desperate situation for civilians.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
International Women's Day (IWD) has a history going back to the early 20th century when urbanised and working class workers started to organise and demand their rights.While there has been a lot of progress in the last century, much remains to be done, especially for working class women in poorer countries. We speak to Jiselle Hanna, one of the main organisers of the IWD rally in Melbourne, Australia, about the demands of IWD and the central role of working class women in advocating and campaining for better rights.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
The first officially recorded protest by Aboriginal people against Australia Day, the day that commemorates the United Kingdom colonisation of the Australian landmass, occurred in 1938 in conjunction with the 150th year celebrations.Aboriginal people have continued to resist and protest against this day as it symbolises colonialisation, invasion and dispossession. They have renamed it 'Invasion Day'.This year, the Invasion Day protests were the biggest in recent years, with the one in Melbourne attracting over 40,000 people. We talk to Celeste Liddle, the Indigenous liaison officer with the National Tertiary Education Union, a social commentator and one of the organiser of the Melbourne rally, on some of the main demands of this demonstration.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
With the continued globalisation of the economy, companies all around the world are expanding their operations in many different countries.In the last few years, a Filipino based company, International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI), has aggressively undertaken to expand in the Australasian region to become a major global company in the maritime industry.ICTSI has a strong anti union stance looking to establish union free, or at least company union, workplaces. We talk to Katie Hepworth, from the International Transport Federation Asia Pacific Campaign Centre, on how ICTSI in Papua New Guinea has sought to stop workers from organising.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
Welcome to the first program of APC of 2018.The explosion of working class protests in Iran in late December 2017 caught many people by surprise. The reality thought has been that inequality and poverty have been increasing in Iran for many years.Even though independent unions are not allowed and labour protests are often heavily repressed, Iranian workers have continued to organise and demand better working conditions and a right to organise.We interview Bahman Yusufi, an Iranian labour solidarity activist living in Melbourne, Australia, about how working class people are central to these protests, how the protests are organised and what we can expect for the rest of 2018.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
Export processing zones are used by countries around the world as areas of extremely cheap labour for companies to use as union organising is severely repressed.Hundreds of mainly women workers in the Cavite Export Processing Zone just north of Manila, The Philippines, have gone out on strike in protest at the dismissal of union organiser at their factory.We talk to Arnel, spokesperson of the Labor Party of the Philippines, on the dispute at the Lakepower Converter electronics factory and the determination of the workers to stay on the picket line even in the face of repeated attacks by thugs.This is the last program podcast for Asia Pacific Currents for 2017. We will be taking a summer break. Our first program for 2018 will be Saturday the 3rd of February 2018. The APC team wishes a safe and relaxing break to all our listerners.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
Workers in South Korea have managed to overcome the offensives against them in the last few years from governments and companies.Nevertheless, even after ousting the former President Park, they face many hurdles in improving their wages and conditions.This week we talk to Wolsan Liem, Director of International and Korean Peninsula Affairs of the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers' Union (KPTU), about the strike by Seoul metro workers and the issues that they are facing.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
The large gas and oil sectors in Australia are dominated by global companies. In the last few years, they have launched an offensive against workers in Australia to slash wages and conditions.Longford in the south eastern Australian state of Victoria is the latest flashpoint of this battle. Esso is trying to force its maintenance workers to be employed by a shelf company which would pay them up to 40% less in wages and introduce brutal shifts that would see workers working up to 4 weeks straight.We talk to Dane Colman, a maintenance workers with the Electrical Trades Union of Victoria, about their 5 months long community assembly and the dynamics and impacts of their struggle.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
The labour movement in South Korea is one of the strongest in the Asia Pacific region with its roots in the anti dictatorship protests of the 1960's and 1970's.In the last few years it has come under sustained attack from successive Government administrations. Its Secretary, Han Sang-gyun is still currently in jail for the crime of organising demonstrations.We talk to Mikyung Ryu, the International Relation Director of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), about the latest worker mobilisations and the issues that the Korean labour movement is currently facing.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
Workers all around the world face pressures and repression as capitalists try to increase their profits by spending less on workers welfare and making them work faster, longer and harder for less pay.The Global Day to stop the repression against unionists was initiated in 2014 as a joint project by a number of labour organisations in the Asia Pacific region. This Day is to support workers rights, to call for the end of repression against our brothers and sisters, and to stand together united around the world as a class.Piergiorgio Moro, as AAWL's co-ordinator of this day, talks about the significance of this event and the actions and events that take place around the world to mark this occasion.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
The current BJP Government in India, headed by Prime Minister Modi, has been in power for over three years.His government has been one of the most pro business governments in Indian history. Modi has set our to free up the hand of capitalists in India while at the same time undermining the power of workers to organise. The demonetisation program that was unveiled last year has only worsened conditions for many workers.We talk to Vusudevan Nambiath, labour leader with the New Trade Union Initiative in Mumbai, about the current labour protests occurring in New Delhi, see video.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
Since 1989, the Australian Government's policies and actions against asylum seekers and refugees have increasingly become xenophobic, nationalist and repressive.On top of turning back boats in acts of piracy on the high seas, deporting refugees back to dangers in countries they escaped from, Australia has created a series of concentration camps for refugees both onshore and offshore.Currently, the camp at Manus Island is closing, leaving hundreds of refugees in a desperate situation. We talk to Tamil Refugee Council spokesperson Aran Mylvaganam about the latest situation on Manus Island.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
While the wars in Iraq and Syria have offered a historical opportunity for Kurdish forces to advance their right to autonomy and independence, there are also major dangers.The recent advances by Kurdish forces in northern Syria in taking Raqqa and their capitulation and losses in northern Iraq examplify the difficulties and uneven situation that Kurdish groups face in West Asia.We talk to Mahmut Kahraman, spokesperson for the Kurdish Democratic Community Centre of Victoria, Australia, on the significance of these recent developments.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
Last week, the two biggest Palestinian political factions, announced that they signed an initial unity agreement. This deal was announced by both sides as a ‘a declaration of the end to division and a return to national Palestinian unity’.While this is a positive steps, there are many big issues to resolve between the two organisations, including the ongoing occupation, a crackdown on independent Palestinian media and the repression and jailing of Palestinian activists by Israel.We interviewed interviewed Reem Yunis, Palestinian and socialist activist in Melbourne Australia, on the reasons of this latest unity agreement and possible outcomes for Palestinian people.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
Around 150 workers in the Australian city of Sydney have been in a brutal struggle from last August against their employer, Streets Ice Cream, a subsidiary of the global giant Unilever, over a new enterprise agreement. The company wants to reduce workers’ wages by over 40%, as well as cuts to overtime and redundancy payments.Matt Kunkel from 3CR Radio's Stick Together program interviews Steve Murphy, the NSW Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) State Secretary, on the workers struggle and the attempts by Streets management to silence them.While a boycott of Streets Ice Cream has been proposed, co-ordinated industrial actions at other Unilever sites around the world would be much more effective in maximising workers’ power.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
While the Rohingya people in Western Burma have suffered discrimination in the past, the current disaster is of unprecedented proportions.We talk to Mahi Ramakrishnan, a blogger and documentary film maker from Malaysia, who has made three documentaries about the Rohingya people about the current campaign of ethnic cleansing by the Myanmar Government.Mahi also talks about some of the possible ways forward to resolve this humanitarian and political crisis.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
With tensions rising in the Asia Pacific region, there are many organisations and groups that have campaigned for a long time against the hegemony of the USA military in the region.New Zealand has been one of the leading countries that have tried to create a less militarised region.We play a recording of the speech of Murray Horton, spokesperson for the Campaign Against Foreign Control of Aotearoa (New Zealand), at the recent Australian conference of The Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN) about the ongoing campaign in Aotearoa against the military industrial complexes and the threat of wars.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
The escalating war of words between the USA President Trump and the North Korean Chairman Kim, is dangerously increasing tensions on the Korean Peninsula.Given the destruction that the USA military caused in North Korea during the war in the early 1950’s, and its use of nuclear weapons on Japan in 1945, there is widespread fear among working class communities that another devastating war could break out.We talk to Wolsan Liem, Director of International and Korean Peninsula Affairs of the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers' Union (KPTU), about the increasingly tense situation and how working class organisations are reacting to this and working against the outbreak of a new conflictAsia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
Workers from the Pacific Islands have been used, and exploited, by the Australian state and companies, since the late 1800's.This relationship has not changed in the 21st century with Pacific workers being exploited via new work programs that seek to take advantage of the widespread poverty present in many Pacific Islands.We talk to Nic Maclellan, a human rights activist and independent journalist, on some of the ways that Pacific workers are trying to protect themselves while working in Australia, as well as the continuing threat of climate change to many Pacific island communities.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
Philippines Airlines (PAL) tried to outsource its workforce in 2011 by terminating 2,600 workers. The workers, organised by the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) fought back and organised an indefinite picket line.We talk to Alnem Pretencio, spokeperson from PALEA, about how they had thought they had won their incredibly struggle in 2013, but PAL has used every trick at its disposal to delay the reinstatement of the workers in an attempt to break their commitment and the union.This struggle is only one of many in the airlines industry woldwide as companies continue to cut workers conditions via contracting out, casualisation and flexibility arrangements. Workers are now organising internationally via a global picketline arrangement to co-ordinate demands and actions at a global level.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
Since the overthrow of the dictator Soeharto in the late 1990's, Indonesia has been a formal democracy with a number of elections being successfully held.Nevertheless for working class communities, both in the rural and urban areas, gaining justice and having their human rights respected is not just about the law.We talk to Herlambang Wiratraman, Director at the Centre of Human Rights Law Studies (HRLS), Faculty of Law, Airlangga University, Surabaya, Indonesia, at the systematic and structural barriers that exist in Indonesia that favour powerful interests and prevent human rights abuses, some dating back 40 years, from being addressed.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
This week sixteen human right activists were sentenced to up to 18 months in jail for taking part in protests during the 'yellow umbrella' protest movement in 2014.Thirteen activists were jailed for protesting in the Legislative Council against a proposed multi millior dollar development in the New Territories, while in a separate case, three leaders of the umbrella movement were jailed for participating in an unlawful assembly.We talk to Shek Pui Yin, a student leader and activist in the Umbrella protest movement, what the implications of these latest court sentence are to the human rights and democracy movements in Hong Kong, and how the movement will react to this latest wave of repression.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
President Rodrigo Duterte's 'War on Drugs' is now almost a year old. His death squads have murdered almost 10,000 people.We interview Ellecer 'Budit' Carlos, spokeperson for In Defense of Human Rights and Dignity Movement (iDEFEND), on the normalisation of extra judicial killings, the impunity of death squads, the vilification of human rights defenders, and the effects this has had on urban, working class communities in the Philippines.Budit also comments on the reasons why Duterte still seems to be so popular despite these killings and his general anti workers policies, including the targeting of trade unionists.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
There are hundreds of thousands of rural health workers in India, called Anganwadi, that monitor and support the health and welfare of mothers and their children.While they are implementing government programs, they are not employed directly by the government, but are treated as volunteers and given an honorarium instead of wages.Tens of thousands of Anganwadi women have being on strike for over 45 days, demonstrating in New Delhi, demanding that they be employed as regular workers and receive the benefits that they are entitled to. Interview is conducted with an Anganwadi labour activist, who preferred to remain anonymous, and the interpreting is done by Vrishali Shruti.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
The garment sector in Bangladesh competes in the world via a brutal 'Race to the Bottom' where wages and OHS are depressed as much as possible.In conjunction with the widespread repression of labour activists and trade unionists, many workers are killed at work in cases of industrial homicides.Saydia Gulrukh, labour rights activists and researcher from Bangladesh, talks about the latest fatal boiler explosion in a garment factory and discusses some of the improvements that have happened since the Rana Plaza disaster of 2013Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
In our globally interconnected world, companies are now structured at a global level where they integrate their production, storage, transport and retail arms over many different countries in a never ending quest for the highest profits.Workers have had difficulty in countering this strategy by companies and also organising at a global level. The Global Picket Line is a new concept that aims to overcome this weakness.We interviewed Manrico Moro, vice-president of AAWL and a campaign co-ordinator on the International Committee of the Global Picket Line, on how this concept and framework came about, and how it can be used to strenghten workers power around the world.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
While the latest upsurge in violence at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem was sparked by an armed attack by Palestinians, the level of unrest points to deeper issues.We interviewed Reem Yunis, Palestinian and socialist activist in Melbourne Australia, on how the recent events are part of the ongoing effects of the Israeli occupation of Palestine and the struggle for liberation by Palestinians.Only via the ending of Israeli occupation will the status of Jerusalem ever be resolved and for human rights to be respected.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia
In relation to labour issues, Cambodia is often seen through the context of the exploitation of workers in its garment sector. Cambodia also has an expanding tourism industry with increasing numbers of workers employed in these sector.We talk to Sar Mora, President of Cambodian Food and Service Workers' Federation (CFSWF), about the disputes workers are engaged in against Cambrew, a local beer producer that is part of the global giant Carslberg.In addition to the issues of organising workers in a resource poor environment, the union is now facing legal action by the company in an attempt to bankrupt and destroy the CFSWF.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
Aboriginal people in Australia have a history of being exploited as workers since the first years of colonisation. This ranged from being made to work for only food and tobacco to having their wages kept by governments - now known as the Stolen Wages.Currently over 30,000 indigenous workers, mainly from remote communities, are being forced to work in a state sponsored programme called Community Development Program (CDP) for around 60% of the minimum wage with no rights to leave, OHS or legal protection.We talk to Lara Watson, the Indigenous Officer at the Australian Council of Trade Unions, about their new initiative to organise and support these workers via the creation of the First Nations Workers Alliance.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
Indonesian workers are still recovering from the mass murders and repression of the 1965-67 period which totally destroyed their organisations and wiped out a whole generation of labour activists.Bob Carnegie, Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) Secretary of the Queensland Branch, recently went to Indonesia on a solidarity visit with another labour actvist, Jeff Rickertt. Bob describes how the Indonesian workers are organising their union in a very resource poor environment amid an environment characterised by causalisation, precarious employment, victimisation by employers and violence from police and thugs.Bob also describes the International Dockworkers Council (IDC), a new international federation for dockworkers around the world, as a new attempt to implement international solidarity among workers globally. The IDC sees that an injury to one is an injury to all and that in a global environment, workers need to organise across regions and countries.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
Updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region.Interview with Shivani Kaul, labour organiser with Bigul Mazdoor Dasta and legal advisor with the Automobile Industry Contract Workers group, on the situation with workers in the auto workers in the industrial belts of northern India.Shivani talks about the the campaign to free the imprisoned Maruti Suzuki workers and the difficulties that this campaign faces.The ongoing struggle at the Aisin Automobile factory is also analysed in the context of the ongoing struggles by workers to form independent unions.Lastly, Shivani gives an assessment of the working class movement in these industrial belts and the effects of ongoing repression by the state and companies on workers ability to organise.Asia Pacific Currents is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links. Asia Pacific Currents is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links. 0Asia Pacific CurrentsSaturday 9:00am to 9:30amStories and issues from the Asia Pacific region with a labour and grassroots perspective. Regular interviews with activists from countries in the Asia Pacific region. Produced by Australia-Asia Worker Links.PresenterJiselle Hanna and Pier MoroTopicCurrent affairsEpisodesOverview and special Radiothon program17 Jun 2017Listen | DownloadOrganising women workers in Cambodia10 Jun 2017Listen | DownloadThe dangers of martial law in the Philippines3 Jun 2017Listen | DownloadAboriginal recognition and change in Australia27 May 2017Listen | DownloadAsia Pacific Currents is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links. 0Asia Pacific CurrentsSaturday 9:00am to 9:30amStories and issues from the Asia Pacific region with a labour and grassroots perspective. Regular interviews with activists from countries in the Asia Pacific region. Produced by Australia-Asia Worker Links.PresenterJiselle Hanna and Pier MoroTopicCurrent affairsEpisodesOverview and special Radiothon program17 Jun 2017Listen | DownloadOrganising women workers in Cambodia10 Jun 2017Listen | DownloadThe dangers of martial law in the Philippines3 Jun 2017Listen | DownloadAboriginal recognition and change in Australia27 May 2017Listen | Download
Labour updates on the struggles and campaigns by workers in the Asia Pacific region.Special fundraising Radiothon program. Radiothon target AUS $1,500.00.To donate, click here.Asia Pacific Currents is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates on the struggles and campaigns by workers in the Asia Pacific region.Extended interview with woman labour organiser on the issues and difficulties of organising women in the construction, entertainment and sex industries in Cambodia.She also talks about the ongoing campaign to ban asbestos in Cambodia.Asia Pacific Currents is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Interview with Berlin Guerro, from The Philippine Caucus for Peace, on the implications of the recent declaration of martial law in the southern island of Mindanao.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Interview with Sam Watson, Aboriginal activist and member of Socialist Alliance, on the 50th anniversary of the Constitutional Referendum on Aboriginal recognition and the present national Aboriginal convention at Uluru.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia-Pacific region.Interview with Dr. Jeong-ok Kong, Spokesperson from SHARPS (Supporters of Health and Rights of People in Semiconductor Industry), about the prospects for workers health at Samsung electronics under the new President.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia-Pacific region.Interview with Hasan Barghouti, Director of the Democracy and Workers Rights Centre in Palestine, on the continuing hunger strike by over 1,500 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links
Labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Interview with Catherine Scerri, spokesperson from the Network Against Killings in the Philippines, on the effects of President Duterte's murderous War on Drugs on poor working class communities in the Philippines.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia Pacific region.Interview with Sonia Qadir, member of the Awami Workers Party and Feminist Collective, on how Blashemy and Anti Terrorism laws are used to stifle workers organising, especially its effects on women.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.APC is produced in the Melbourne studios of 3CR Radio.
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia-Pacific region.Recorded talk by Dipankar Bhattacharya, General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, on the development and struggles of the working class in India. Talk was recorded at Marxism 2017 Conference in Melbourne.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links
Labour updates from the Asia Pacific regionInterview with Joseph Daher, Syrian commentator and activist, on the latest chemical attack in Syria, the USA bombing of the air base, and the prospects for the popular revolution in Syria.Asia Pacific Currents is the program of Australia Asia Worker Links
Labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Extended interview with Jitenda Kumar, member of the Maruti Suzuki union Provisional Committee, on the ongoing Maruti Suzuki struggle in the Gurgaon region of northern India. Interpreting carried out by Nayan Jyoti, labour activist and member of Maruti Suzuki support group.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Interview with Kalpona Akter, former child garment worker and prominent union organiser and labour rights activist from Bangladesh.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates of workers struggles in the Asia Pacific region.Interview with Mikyung Ryu, International Relations Officer of the Korean Confederation of Trade Union (KCTU), on workers involvement in the popular movement to impeach President Park, their objectives and what next now that Pres. Park has been removed from office.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links
Labour updates of workers struggles in the Asia Pacific region.Interview with Ji Ungpakorn, a Thai exile, on the transition to a new king in Thailand and the state of opposition against the ruling military dictatorship in Thailand.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates of workers struggles in the Asia Pacific region with specific reference to the court decisions on President Park's impeachment in South Korea and the 117 Maruti Suzuki workers in northern India.Interview with Alex Moodie, Research Officer with the Myanmar human rights organisation Progressive Voice, on the situation for workers in Myanmar and especially in the expanding garment sectors.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates of workers struggles in the Asia Pacific region.Interview with Damian King, Electrical Trades Union organiser in Echuca - Victoria, on the lock out of workers by the global dairy giant Parmalat as it tries to cut workers wages and conditions.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia-Pacific region.Apologies as the first two APC programs for 2017 are not available as podcasts.Interview with Dr. Sepali Kottegoda who is the Executive Director for the Women and Media Collective and a Founding Coordinator of the Sri Lanka Women’s NGO Forum. Dr. Sepali spoke about the reasons for the visit of their delegation to Australia and the situation for women workers in Sri Lanka.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia-Pacific region.Overview of the year and discussion of the wins, the highlights, the losses and the battles that the labour movement has had in 2016.Asia Pacific Currents will be going on a summer break for 6 weeks.The first programme in 2017 will be on Saturday the 4th of February 2017.The APC radio group would like to wish to all our listerners a safe and happy end of 2016.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia-Pacific region.Interview with Matt Kunkel, Project organiser with the Victorian Trades Hall Council, on the union organised rally and Global Street Party in Melbourne, Australia, and why workers need to come out and show opposition to racism and for multiculturalism.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia-Pacific region.Interview with Jiselle Hanna from Australia Asia Worker Links (AAWL) reporting back on her solidarity trip to New Delhi and Mumbai and the state of workers organising and struggle in northern India.Next Saturday the 3rd of December is International Disability Day. 3CR Radio will have special programming on that day, so there will be no APC program that Saturday.APC will return on Saturday the 10th of DecemberAsia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia-Pacific region.Interview with Nasir Mansoor, Deputy General Secretary of the National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) of Pakistan, on the recent explosion and massacre of workers at the Gadani shipbreaking yards and the ongoing fight to win better wages and conditions.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia-Pacific region.Interview with Steve Diston, organiser with Electrical Trades Union Victoria Branch, on the ongoing battle against union busting and precarious work at the CUB Brewery in Melbourne, Australia.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia-Pacific region.Interview with Guruh Riyanto from the Media and Campaign Department of Indonesian Confederation of United Workers (KPBI), about the petrol tanker drivers strike in the greater Jakarta metropolitan area, East Indonesia, against casualisation and unpaid overtime.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia-Pacific region. Interview with Piergiorgio Moro, from Australia Asia Worker Links, about the upcoming Global Day of Action against trade union repression on the 16th of November and how internationally workers are repressed by companies and governments. Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia-Pacific region.Interview with Arnel, spokesperson of the Labor Party of the Philippines, on the effects of the continuing War on Drugs is having on working class communities in the Philippines.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker LinksAsia Pacific Currents is produced at the studios of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia-Pacific region.Interview with Wol-san Liem, Director of International and Korean Peninsula Affairs, Korean Public Service and Transport Workers' Union (KPTU), on why truck drivers have also gone out on an indefinite strike in South Korea.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia-Pacific region.Interview with Shivani, a union organiser with Bigul Mazdoor Basta, about the ongoing strike, protests and hunger strike by Honda motor workers in New Delhi.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia-Pacific region.Interview with Kim Yong-Nam, union member from the Railways Union in South Korea, on the current mass strikes in South Korea and the issues that South Korean workers are facing.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia-Pacific region.Interview with Moniruzzaman Masum, Co-ordinator of the Comrade Rubel Workers Centre, on the recent fire at a packaging/foil factory that killed 34 workers. Also discussed was the state of workers organising in Bangladesh and prospect for the future.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia-Pacific region.Interview with Dian and Jumasi, labour activists in the garment industry in Indonesia, on gender and LGBTI issues facing workersAsia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia-Pacific region.Interview with Nambiath Vasudevan, President, New Trade Union Initiative - a federation of Indian trade unions, belonging to formal and informal sectors - and convenor, Trade Union Solidarity Committee, Mumbai, on the massive general strike in India on September 2nd that saw 180 million workers participate.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia-Pacific region.Interview with Manrico Moro, vice president AAWL, on how the global picketline concept can make international solidarity between workers much more powerful.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia-Pacific region.Interview with Joe Daher, actvist from Syria Freedom Forever, about the current situation in Syria, the state of the popular uprising, and the need for concrete solidarity to stop the war.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia-Pacific region.First interview is with Steve Diston, organiser with the Electrical Trades Union of Victoria, on the continuing dispute at the CUB brewery against outsourcing and its international links and significance.Second interview is with Nick McLellan, journalist and long time activist, and the production of a documentary, titled Kirisimasi, on the continuing issue of radiation exposure and sickness among Fiji service personnel from the UK atomic tests.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia-Pacific region.Interview with Chris Breen, from Refugee Action Collective, on the latest scandal to hit Nauru's concentration camp and what the release of these latest files on Nauru incidents will mean for the fight for refugee rights in Australia.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia-Pacific region.Interview with Arnel, International Relations Officer of the Labour Party of the Philippines, on the murder of hundreds of working class people by death squads as part of Philippines President Duterte campaign against drugs.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia-Pacific region.Interview with Matthew Boyd, organiser with the Electrical Trades Union of Victoria, on how Filipino migrant workers were told not to join a union by the giant engineering company Thiess, and the difficulty of obtaining justice for migrant workers in Australia .Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia-Pacific region.Interview with Mora Sar, president of the Cambodia Food Workers’ Association, on the recent murder of political activist Kem Ley and its significance for workers and labour organising in Cambodia.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia-Pacific region.Interview with Mikyung Ryu, International Relations Officer with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), on the 5 year jail sentence given to Han Sang-gyun, KCTU President, the detention and arrests of other prominent labour leaders, and the significance of this crakdown on the working class movement in South Korea.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia-Pacific region. Interview with Farooq Tariq, from the Awami Workers Party, on the reasons and political significance of the sentencing of Baba Jan and 11 of his fellow activists to 40 years in jail. Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia-Pacific region.Interview with Farid Partovi, spokesperson from the International Alliance in Support of Workers in Iran (IASWI), on the repression that workers in Iran face, how they organise against it, hunger strikes in prison, and the value of international solidarity.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia-Pacific region.Interview with Steve Diston, organiser with the Electrical Trades Union, on the fight by 50 workers to oppose outsourcing at the giant Carlton United Brewery Company in Melbourne, Australia.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links
Asia Pacific Currents (APC) is a unique program that brings you labour struggles from the Asia Pacific region from the worker's perspectives.APC can be heard on independent and radical 3CR Radio. 3CR Radio is self funded and needs your support to stay on air.To donate to 3CR RadioAsia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia-Pacific region.Interview with Zulkiflie Anwar Haque, known as Zunar, a political cartoonist in Malaysia who is facing 43 years in jail under the Sedition Law because of his work exposing corruption and censorship in Malaysia.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia-Pacific region.Interview with Celeste Little, organiser with the National Tertiay Education Union, on the Recognise campaign in Australia and the ongoing campaign for justice for Aboriginal people in Australia.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia-Pacific region.Interview with Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM) General Secretary Sivarajan Arumugam on the state of workers organisation in Malaysia and recent mobilisations against corruption and repression.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia-Pacific region.Interview with Piergiorgio Moro, AAWL Secretary, on his presentation of the Global PicketLine concept at the LabourStart conference held earlier in May in Toronto, Canada.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia-Pacific region.Interview with Arnel from the Labour Party of the Philippines on the importance of the struggle by Sytic Electronic workers in the Cavite export processing zoneAsia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia Pacific region.Interview with Sineat Yon, labour activist and founder of a workers co-operative for garment workers, on the reasons why workers in Cambodia are against the new Labour Law.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates of workers' struggles from Australia, the Philippines, Thailand, India and Bangladesh.Interview with Dr. Jeong-ok Kong, spokesperson of SHARPS (Supporters of Health And Right of People in Semiconductor Industry) on the continuing fight to protect workers employed by the giant Samsung Corporation in South Korea.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links
Labour updates from Ausralia, Sri Lanka, Iraq, Palestine, the upcoming International Workers Memorial Day, and May Day.Interview with Josh Cullinan, Secretary of the Australia Bangladesh Solidarity Network (ABSN), on the Rana Plaza collapse in Dhaka - Bangladesh in 2013, the aftermath of this mass murder of workers, and upcoming commemoration this Sunday in Melbourne, Australia.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia Pacific region.Interview with Rosalie Kunoth-Monks Arrernte, Alyawerr woman from Central Australia, on the terrible consequences of the NT Intervention on Aboriginal people and how the Basic Card is literally starving people.To support, you can donate at:WESTPAC BANKAccount Name: Alekerre First Nations Culture Trust (ABN 72898026672)Account Type: Community Solutions AccountHome Branch: Alice Springs BSB/Account No: 035303 / 391168 Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia Pacific region.Interview with Ali Abunimah, author of One Country: A Bold Proposal to End the Israeli Palestinian Impasse, and co-founder and director of the The Electronic Intifada on the way forward for the Palestinian struggle.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia Pacific region.Interview with Will Ilolahia, a co-founder of the civil rights New Zealand organisation the Polynesian Panthers, on racism and human rights in New Zealand.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia Pacific region.Interview with Farah Kobaissy, member of Socialist Forum in Lebanon, on the Syrian civil war and local perspectives.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia Pacific region.Interview with Amanda Zifcik from the Refugee Action Collective about the Let Them Stay campaignAsia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia Pacific region.Interview with Lisa Maza, spokesperson of Gabriela, a feminist women's organisation in the Philippines on the struggle for gender equality in the Philippines.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia Pacific region.Interview with Agnitra Ghosh, Executive Council Member, All India Central Council of Trade Union (AICCTU).He talks about the background and reasons for the sentencing of 8 workers from the Pricol automotive assembly company in Tamil Nadu. India, to double life sentences in jail.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates of workers' struggles from China, Singapore, Australia, India, Iran, Palestine and Syria.Interview with 'Ann', a community activist in Thailand on repression and resistance to the military dictatorship in Thailand.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates of workers' struggles from the Asia Pacific region.Interview with Joms Salvador from the women's organisation of Gabriela on gender violence and the USA military in the PhilippinesAsia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates of workers' struggles from China, Thailand, Pakistan, South Korea, Iran and the region.Interview with Aman Ravindra Singh, a human rights lawyer, on the human rights abuses in Fiji by the military dictatorship and resistance to the military.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates of workers' struggles from countries in the Asia-Pacific region.Interview with Sineat Yon, unionist and labour activist, on the recent global day of action by garment workers in Cambodia for a living wage of US $177/month.APC will take a summer break and this is the last show for 2015.The team at APC would like to thank all our listerners for their support and best wishes over the coming weeks.APC will be back on Saturday the 6th of February 2016.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates of workers' struggles from countries in the Asia-Pacific region.Interview with Len Cooper, Communication Workers Union - Telecommunication Division Victoria, on a series of solidarity conferences in the Philippines and updates on current workers struggles in that countryAsia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates of workers' struggles from countries in the Asia Pacific region.Interview with Chris Breen from the Refugee Action Collective in Victoria, Australia, about the continuing campaign to stop the repression against asylum seekers and refugees in Australia.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates of workers struggles from countries in the Asia Pacific region.Interview with Colin Long, Secretary of the National Tertiary Education Union of Victoria, on how and why the workers movement is involved in the climate change debate and movement.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates of workers struggles from Malaysia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Bahrain and Australia.Interview with Arnel, spokesperson of the Labour Party of the Philippines, on why workers and labour activists are mobilising against the APEC summit in the Philippines.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates of workers struggles from Thailand, Bangladesh, India and Australia.Interview with Farid Partovi from the International Alliance in Support of Workers in Iran (IASWI) on the situation for workers in Iran, how they are organising and surviving government repressions.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates of workers struggles around the Asia Pacific region and local events.Interview with Yon Sineat from the Cambodian Food and Service Workers’ Federation on labour issues in Cambodia and her solidarity trip and training in Australia.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates of workers struggles in the Asia Pacific region.Interview with Abhinav Sinha and Shivani Kaul from Dasta Bigul Mazdoor, an Indian labour organisation, on the recent industrial struggles at Bridgestone Tyres over the right to form a union, at Maruti Suzuki against casualisation, and the solidarity visit by Korean Ssangyong workers.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates of workers struggles in the Asia Pacific region.Interview with Reem Yunis, Melbourne based Palestinian and socialist activist, on the current state of the Palestinian struggle and its objectives.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from China, Thailand, Malaysia, Australia, Pakistan, Turkey and Palestine.Interview with S. Arutchelvan, General Secretary of the Malaysian Socialist Party, on the arrest of Khalid Ishmath under the Sedition Act and how the Malaysian government is craking down on dissent.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from Syria, Cambodia, China, Malaysia, Iran, Australia and Palestine.Interview with with Alnem Pretencio, spokeperson of PALEA union, on the renewed struggle against casualisation and sackings by Philippines Airlines.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Interview with Mikyung Riu, International Relations Officer with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, on workers resistance in South Korea to attacks on working conditions.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from Syria, Iran, Bangladesh, Thailand, Korea, Japan and AustraliaInterview with S. Arutchelvan, Secretary of the Malaysian Socialist Party, on the growing corruption scandal engulfing the Malaysian Prime Minister, the Bersih anti government rally and the Malay counter government rallyAsia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, South Korea, Japan, The Philippines and AustraliaInterview with Abhinav Sinha, member of the workers organisation Bigul Mazdoor Dasta, analysing the massive general strike in India on the September 2 this year.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from Australia, South Korea, Pakistan, Iran and the wars and repression in West Asia.Interview with Nambiath Vasudevan, President, New Trade Union Initiative - a federation of Indian trade unions, belonging to formal and informal sectors. Also, Convenor, Trade Union Solidarity Committee, Mumbai, on the massive general strike in India on the 2nd of September of this year.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from the historic general strike in India, refugees in Europe and West Asia wars, public transport strike Melbourne, Indonesian labour demonstrations, and ongoing labour problems at Philippines Airlines.Interview with Chie Matsumoto, independent journalist and labour activist, on the recent mobilisations in Japan against nuclear industry, war and militarisation.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates and events from the Asia Pacific region.Interview withAnton Marcus, General Secretary of the Free Trade Zones & General Services Employees Union in Sri Lanka about organising workers in Sri Lanka and the dispute and campaign of the Ansell workers.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.APC is produced in the Melbourne studios of 3CR Radio.
Analyses of the Tianjin warehouse disaster in China, update on the Migrant Trade Union in South Korea, Sri Lankan labour solidarity in Australia, upcoming democracy demonstrations in Malaysia and nationwide general strike in India, anti-fascist mobilisations in Victoria, Australia, and continuing working class demonstrations in IraqAsia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.APC is produced in the Melbourne studios of 3CR Radio.
Labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Interview with Aran Mylvaganam from Tamil Voice about the plight of asylum seekers in Australia and the dangers of forced deportations to Tamil people.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Regional labour updates.Discussion of the Global Picketline concept and how workers can use this to organise at an international level.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Discussion about far right and fascists movements in the Asia Pacific region and its significance to labour movements.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Interview with Elmurio Vila Nova, General Secretary of the General Workers Union of East Timor.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from the Australia, China and Afghanistan.Extended interviews with San Mora and Yon Sineat from the Cambodian Food and Services Workers Federation on organising workers in Cambodia and the issues that workers face.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from the Australia, Indonesia, China, South Korea, Bangladesh and Palestine.Interview with Daniel Matthews from the Maritime and Transport union of Papua New Guinea on the workers movement in PNG and how best to work together internationally.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Interview with Farid C. Partovi from the International Alliance in Support of Workers in Iran on the workers movement in Iran and how best to work together internationally.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from New Zealand, Australia, Thailand, Burma, Pakistan, Syria, Iraq and Palestine.Interview with Pranom Bee Somwong from Workers Hub for Change on organising migrant workers in Thailand, Burma and Malaysia.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from Australia, Bangladesh, Thailand, Taiwan, Pakistan, South Korea, and international days of OHS and May Day.Interview with S. Arutchelvan (Arul), General Secretary of the Socialist Party of Malaysia, on his recent arrest for sedition, the new anti-terror laws, and protests around introduction of GST. Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from Australia, The Philippines, South Korea, South Asia, Turkey, Israel and international days of OHS and May Day.Interview with Lex Wotton, Australian Aboriginal activist on his fight for justice on Palm Island.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, India and Yemen.Interview with Daniel and Sarinah from the Altenative Media and Education for Workers organisation in Indonesia on the state of the workers movement in Indonesia.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Labour updates from the Asia Pacific region.Interview with Joseph Daher from Revolutionary Left in Syria on the civil war in Syria and the state of the workers movement and progressive politics in Syria.Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.
Interview with Joe Daher from the Revolutionary Left Current on the situation in Syria and Iraq. End of year review of labour issues in the Asia Pacific region. This is the last program of APC for 2014. The first program for 2015 will be the first Saturday in February. Asia Pacific Currents is a program of Australia Asia Worker Links.