What do I do with my heart?

Dear Listeners Today, the 21/12/2023, I release this episode of Love and Insubordination in solidarity with the Palestinian people and for our humanity. On the 75th day of Israel’s ruthless bombing of Gaza, Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor estimates that Israel has now murdered over 26, 600 Palestinian people (including those whose bodies remain buried under bombed buildings). The world's third-largest nuclear and military power has now killed over 10,000 babies and children - with military, economic, political and ideological support from the US, the UK and most European governments. On the 75th anniversary of Apartheid Israel’s colonial occupation of Palestine, its primary economic partners have used their undemocratic veto in the UN Security Council, to oppose a ceasefire. The majority of the world’s governments must use their power now to fully sanction Israel as was done to Apartheid SA, when it was killing Black people, and those white people who stood with us. The UN Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel, chaired by SA feminist Navi Pillay, immediately condemned the reported atrocities of October 7th, including those of rape. Rape is a crime that must be investigated and punished The UN Commission wanted to go to Israel to do this but Netanyahu’s government refused them entry, despite the fact that October 7th is part of the Commissions brief. Unlike colonial feminists, feminists in SA’s government, like Minister of International Relations, Naledi Pandor, have called for Israel to cease its genocide now; and for its genocidal leadership to be arrested and tried for war crimes. SA’s Government will arrest SA citizens fighting in Israel’s army. Across the world people of conscience and humanity, across religious, cultural and organisational affiliations, are undertaking action to honour the courage of the Palestinian people. Today, South Africans like Father Michael Weeder, have arrived in Bethlehem on pilgrimage to Palestine for Christmas. This episode reflects on history, the global war economy and feminist solidarity. I’m in conversation with African feminist Yaliwe Clarke and we end with prescient lines from Episode 1, ‘What do I do with my heart?’ ; a short extract from Sipho Mthathi’s poem Geography; and the Palestinian Feminist Collective’s Sarah Ihmoud, reading Mosab Abu Toha’s poem ‘We love what we have’. May the power of love inspire our insubordination to injustice. Pregs Govender is the author of Love and Courage, A Story of Insubordination, used to teach the power of love and insubordination against injustice (⁠⁠⁠https://www.pregsgovender.com) ⁠. A member of the SA Human Rights Delegation, Pregs directly witnessed Israel's Apartheid system against Palestinian people. A Senior Affiliate at the African Gender Institute (AGI), she is creating this podcast, to invoke critical and creative thinking and action. It draws on archival material, insights and experience as a writer, teacher, trade union educator and feminist organiser against the patriarchal, capitalist Apartheid state. In SA's first Democracy, as a member of parliament (MP) and Chair of Parliament's Committee on Women, Pregs initiated South Africa's globally influential gender-responsive budgets and legislative changes for women. Pregs was the only MP to register opposition to South Africa's arms deal in Parliament's Defence Budget Vote before she resigned as an MP. She was later elected as Commissioner and Deputy Chair of South Africa's Human Rights Commission and authored the SAHRC’s influential report on water and sanitation, while advocating that the global war economy be replaced with one that values life, the earth and humanity.   Acknowledgements: Fatima Seedat and Yaliwe Clarke, African Gender Institute, University of Cape Town (UCT) Fatimah Oriola, Student Intern, AGI Seredeal Scheepers, Sound Engineer; Audio Studio Rayne Moses, Music Gary van Wyk, Photograph

Pregs Govender's 'Love and Insubordination' podcast series draws its listeners into intimate yet globally resonant conversations, curated around deeply mindful questions. Episode 1, ' What do I do with my heart?' dances with feminist, teacher, writer and poet Sipho Mthathi. Sipho has led local and international organisations and movements, including the Treatment Action Campaign, Oxfam and currently Tekano.  Pregs' and Sipho's personal stories invite us to navigate complex political contexts that are governed by unjust economic,  military and ideological power.  They reflect on battles against their own government, greedy corporations, powerful states, unequal trade systems, and the struggle for universal healthcare, specifically affordable life-saving medication for all. They share what sustains their hearts in moments of individual and collective fear, grief and trauma. They celebrate social movements they became part of and those who shaped their feminist activism, including memories of beloved ancestors and teachers who affirmed their inherent dignity, equality, freedom, and connection to humanity and the earth. Episode 1 begins with Pregs' poem 'Fragments' and ends with Sipho's poem 'Geography'. Sipho rarely shares her poetry in public, so this is a moment of grace and gratitude for her, Pregs, and podcast listeners. Pregs concludes by inviting listeners to creatively reflect on and continue their own conversations about love and insubordination, wherever they are. Pregs Govender is the author of Love and Courage, A Story of Insubordination, which has been used locally and internationally to teach the power of love and insubordination against injustice (⁠https://www.pregsgovender.com/books⁠)⁠⁠⁠. As part of the South African Human Rights Delegation, she witnessed Israel's Apartheid system that is perpetuating a genocide against Palestinian people, especially children. She is currently a Senior Affiliate at the African Gender Institute (AGI), where she is creating this podcast, to invoke critical and creative thinking and action. It draws on archival material from her long herstory of feminist political organising, including her experiences of being a writer, teacher, trade union educator and feminist organiser against the patriarchal, capitalist Apartheid state. In SA's first Democracy, as a member of parliament (MP) and Chair of Parliament's Committee on Women, she initiated South Africa's globally influential gender-responsive budgets and ensured wide-ranging legislative changes for women. Pregs was the only MP to register opposition to South Africa's arms deal in Parliament's Defence Budget Vote. She chaired public hearings when Government denialism and the greed of the pharmaceutical industry resulted in tragic, preventable deaths of people who were HIV positive. She was later elected as Commissioner and Deputy Chair of South Africa's Human Rights Commission. Her report on water and sanitation was widely used by civil society,  government and human rights commissions in other countries. She advocates that the global war economy be replaced with an economic system that values life, the earth and humanity, so the rights of all human beings, including socio-economic rights, equality, dignity, justice,  peace and freedom can be realised.    Acknowledgements: Fatima Seedat and Yaliwe Clarke at the African Gender Institute at the University of Cape Town (UCT) Fatimah Oriola, Student Intern, AGI Hugh Dudley, Centre for Film and Media Studies, UCT Seredeal Scheepers, Sound Engineer Rayne Moses, Music Gary van Wyk, Photograph