PUSHBACK Talks
Landlords without faces, apartments without tenants. In 2019, filmmaker Fredrik Gertten released Push, an award-winning documentary that explores the unaffordable, unlivable city, and the growing global housing crisis. Following the Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, Leilani Farha, the film sought to understand why cities around the world are becoming increasingly expensive.
In June of 2020, Fredrik and Leilani teamed up again to continue the conversation they began with the film, and PUSHBACK Talks was born. Since then, PUSHBACK Talks has grown into an exploration of the social, political, and economic forces that shape our world, and of the actions people are taking to push back against inequality, corruption, authoritarian systems, poverty, war, and the shift towards far-right conservatism.
Join the Filmmaker (Gertten) and the Advocate (Farha) as they dissect these topics, uncover the connections between them, and search for solutions. How can we, as individuals, movements, and communities, fight back – push back – to build societies where every human being has the right to live equally, freely, and with dignity?
Listen to PUSHBACK Talks and join the conversation for a better, fairer world.
For more about PUSH and to view it: www.pushthefilm.com
For more about Leilani Farha and her organization, The Shift: www.make-the-shift.org
For more about Fredrik Gertten and his other films: www.wgfilm.com
If you are interested in watching his newest documentary: www.breakingsocialfilm.com
PUSHBACK Talks
From Shadows to Shouts: The Global Student Uprising for Palestine
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In this episode of Pushback Talks, we delve into the global wave of pro-Palestinian student protests igniting campuses worldwide. After students at Columbia University treated the Gaza Solidarity Encampment on April 17th, they found themselves in a two-week standoff that inspired students around the world. In just 3 weeks, pro-Palestinian encampments had spread to nearly 140 campuses across 45 states in the US, as well as to Latin America, Australia, Japan, the Middle East, and Europe. This episode explores the resilience, unity, and relentless pursuit of justice driving these student-led actions.
We hear from Fabiola Villanueva, a Columbia College undergraduate and key protest participant, sharing her firsthand experiences and the solidarity inspired by the encampment. Additionally, Helena Hägglund, a journalist and PhD candidate in media studies, offers insights from her reporting on the Middle East and North Africa and her involvement in pro-Palestinian student groups.
Join us as we uncover the stories behind the headlines and discuss the broader implications of this international movement.
Want to learn more? Dive into Columbia University Apartheid Divest and Helena Hägglund’s impactful work.