EARTHCHAT: Why Gaza Matters: Violet Coco on Courage, Climate, and Conscience

Listen at noon, Tuesday 9 June on Seymour FM or anytime as a podcast.

Would you risk physical injury, sexual assault and more from a foreign militia just to get baby food and emergency supplies to people cut off from humanitarian aid?

Violet Coco did and was prepared to take on these risks because she knows the people of Gaza have endured and continue to endure so much greater hardships and suffering. Why?

Violet is a previous guest on EarthChat (one of our most popular conversations) when she talked about her motivation and actions to highlight the climate crisis and her determination to speak truth to power and to those who want to sweep the world's problems under the mat. She is back on our program this week, having recently returned to Australia after her participation in the Sumud flotilla, an international effort to highlight the appalling conditions faced by people in Gaza and the impact of Israel's war on their land. In the last 2.5 years, 72,900 Gazans have been killed with over 173,000 injuries. Lifesaving medicines, food and emergency supplies continue to be blocked by Israel from getting to the Gaza Strip.

Violet and other people on the boats were abducted in international waters, taken to Israel, assaulted and expelled. Since their return to Australia, their stories have been met with silence and no real interest from government. Violet's involvement in the flotilla is part of her commitment to environmental and social justice. She sees that issues of global heating, geopolitical alliances and irreparable climate damage are all linked and that all Australia and the whole global population are suffering because of empires, companies and institutions which are colluding to prevent real justice.

Violet is a passionate, eloquent and convincing exponent of non-violent protest and she walks the talk. Listen in to EarthChat this week when she talks about the experience of the flotilla, her commitment to social and environmental justice and the importance of connecting local actions to global issues.

Tune in! Can't listen to the radio show on Tuesday at noon? Catch up on Spotify, Apple Podcasts,  Podbean and the BEAM website. It is easy to EarthChat!