Acknowledgement of Country//

Headlines:

• Democrats win Senate and House majorities in US election
• US continues air strikes on Iran
• Civilian casualties rise in Somalian conflict
• Israel closes Rafah crossing, settler attacks continue cross West Bank
• Protestors lock on to heavy machinery to stop work on Djabwurrung Country

Kate recently sat down with Jenifer Ávila Reyes, a Honduran journalist and founding editor-in-chief of digital news outlet, ContraCorriente, to talk about the controversial ZEDEs operating within Honduras, the potential for their expansion under new US-backed president, Nasry Asfura, following failed attempts by the previous government to shut them down, and the impacts the zones are having on local communities and Honduran sovereignty. Special Economic and Employment Zones (ZEDEs) were established in Honduras in 2013 under then-President, Juan Orlando Hernández. Often referred to as ‘micro-states’ for foreign interests, ZEDEs carve out zones within host countries that allow transnational companies operating within them to create separate commercial and tax regimes, as well as administrative, judicial, and regulatory systems. This week, we heard part 1 of Kate’s conversation with Jenifer.//

CW: This episode contains the names of people who have died, and describes military violence and state violence in detail. If you need support, you can call mob only helplines 13 YARN on 13 92 76 and Yarning Safe'n'Strong on 1800 959 563, or Lifeline on 13 11 14 which is open to anyone.

We played an excerpt of 'Linked by Pacific Currents, United Against Nuclear', a panel featuring Oongi Barb Flick and Mere Tuilau, moderated by Dimity Hawkins from the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. This discussion was held as part of the (CANaM) Conference Against Nuclear and Militarism in Naarm Melbourne last weekend. In the first half of the recording, Oongi Barb Flick, described her first meeting with Kanak independence activist Alphonse Dianou at Pine Gap in the 80’s and the powerful relationships she forged in solidarity with the Kanak community after the devastating killing of Alphonse and his friends by French troops in Ouvéa. In the second part of the recording, rights activist, facilitator and leader from Fiji, Mere Tuilau builds on the context illustrated by Oongi Barb to unpack the legacies of nuclear weapons testing, militarism and radioactive harm to Pacific community and land, still felt today.//

Jane Dicka, Health Promotion Team Coordinator at Harm Reduction Victoria, spoke with us about International Drug User Day this past Sunday the 1st of November. Jane discussed the art exhibition and maker's market held by Harm Reduction Victoria last Sunday to showcase the creativity, talent, humour, ingenuity and imagination of diverse communities of people who use drugs. The exhibition is still open until Friday the 6th of November, 12-4PM at the Harm Reduction Victoria Odditorium, 299-305 Victoria Street, Brunswick.//

Jinghua Qian, Senior Media Advisor at Economic Media Centre, joined us for a critical conversation about the current state of news media production, consumption, ownership and diversity in so-called australia. Economic Media Centre is a project of Australian Progress and the Australian Council of Social Service, and works to identify and provide media training to a broad range of people to engage with news outlets as expert commentators on economic issues.//

Events:

• Eating Justice
  A peer-facilitated radical therapy group for those of us living with eating disorders or any form of troubled relationships to food, eating and our bodies.
  When: first group is from 2-4PM on Sunday the 8th of November
  Location: IRL Infoshop, 5 Munro St Coburg, Wurundjeri Country. Wheelchair accessible.
  RSVP: '; // -->
  This is a sister group to the Mad Chats group and will run on alternate fortnights.

• Radioactive waste submission-writing session
  The Nuclear Free Collective invites you to dinner and a submission-writing session to share a meal, learn about the decisions being made (and not made) on radioactive waste management, and write individual submissions together.
  When: 6-7PM on Thursday the 5th of November
  Location: Friends of the Earth Melbourne, Level 1, 312 Smith St, Collingwood, VIC.
  RSVP: here, on the FOE website.

• Palestine Cultural Festival
  Palestine Cultural Festival is a vibrant celebration of Palestinian culture, heritage and identity, bringing the sights, sounds, flavours and spirit of Palestine to the heart of Melbourne at Fed Square.
  When: 4-10PM on Saturday the 7th of November
  Location: Fed Square.

Other Promos:

• Grab a copy of former Thursday Breakfast presenter max p castle’s beautiful poetry collection ‘Speculative eating’ from Incendium Radical Library press.