#202, September 27, 2007 - Rally in support of democracy protests in Burma TOMMOROW
GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND NEWSLETTER #202, September 27, 2007
Website http://www.gpja.org.nz/ Contact details: Forums – John Minto, Work: (09) 845 2132, Home 09 846 3173 jbminto@xtra.co.nz; Newsletter Editor – Mike Treen 0295254744 / 09 845 4027 mike@unite.org.nz; Web page - media@ndu.org.nz Donations can be sent to GPJA, P O Box 7175, Welesley St, Auckland. To subscribe or unsubscribe to this newsletter visit http://www.gpja.org/ or click the unsubscribe link at the bottom of this email.
Dear friends,
RALLY IN SUPPORT OF DEMOCRACY PROTESTS IN BURMA
The peaceful people's revolution in Burma against an oppressive and brutal military dictatorship now faces a crucial few days, as the Junta declares it will crack down on protests and demonstrations with the utmost of severity. But the huge marches in Rangoon, Mandalay and other major cities that have been led by monks, have now been joined by students and workers. Solidarity Union calls on workers and students here in Aotearoa to come and show your support for our courageous brothers and sisters in Burma this Saturday, 2pm, in Auckland's Aotea Square. Please bring your union or organisation banners and placards calling for freedom for Burma. This world does not need a horrific repeat of the massacres of 1988. Special speaker at the rally in Auckland will be Naing Ko Ko, a trade union and democracy activist with the Burmese Federation of Trade Unions, who was jailed and tortured for six years by the military dictatorship. The rally is also supported by the CTU, the Service and Food Workers Union, Amnesty International and Radical Youth. We appeal to other community groups to come and stand with Naing and the Burmese people in solidarity, and demand that the NZ Government has no truck with the military butchers or the companies that are profiting from Burmese slave labour.
- Joe Carolan, Solidarity Union Secretary, 021 186 1450, joe@solidarityunion.com
IMAGES FROM HUGE RANGOON DEMONSTRATION
20,000 monks and nuns (the largest protest in 20 years) marched at the golden Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0709/S00632.htm
Labour news from Burma
http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/show_news.pl?country=Burma
PUT POKIES UNDER THE HAMMER - CAMPAIGN PROPOSAL – OCT 1 MEETING - This proposal is being presented by Global Peace and Justice Auckland as part of our Parasites on Poverty Campaign which aims to stop loan sharks and pokies from their parasitical practices in New Zealand communities (mainly low income communities). Please read through the proposal outlined below and come to the meeting to discuss it. The meeting is being held at – Trades Hall, 147 Great North Road, Grey Lynn, Monday 1st October, 7.30pm. Please forward this proposal and meeting invitation around your networks.
PROPOSAL
That the Parasites on Poverty campaign website set up an on-line register for people to register their hammers for acts of civil disobedience. When there are a minimum 200 hammers registered an evening meeting will be called in a local Auckland community, a pokie venue will be visited, the machines disconnected and removed to the footpath where the hammers will be put to work.
OBJECTIVES
- To sharpen public debate about the destructive effects of pokies.
- To reduce the number of machines operating.
- To embarrass local authorities and government into action to close down on pokies.
- To begin a shift of democratic power back to local communities
INVITATION
Anyone interested in the health of our local communities is invited to attend the meeting. Please think about this proposal and extend the invitation to individuals and networks to which you belong.
We look forward to seeing you on the 1st of October. Regards, John Minto, for the POP Campaign
Ph 8463173 (H), jbminto@xtra.co.nz
“MY DAUGHTER THE TERRORIST” is a documentary film about the “Tigers”. It was awarded many awards (Best International Feature-length Doc in St. Petersburg Russia, Best Norwegian Documentary in the Norwegian Short Films Festival in Grimstad, Norway, etc) It has been selected as a finalists in the DOCNZ Documentary Film Awards to be held here in Auckland New Zealand on Monday 1st October.
http://www.docnz.org.nz/2007/ak/film/my-daughter-the-terrorist
http://www.snitt.no/mdtt/index.htm
It is now screening in Auckland. The screening Schedule in the ‘Academy Cinemas’ is:
- Thursday 27th September, 1:30 PM
- Friday 5th October, 6:00 PM
http://www.docnz.org.nz/2007/ak/schedule/2007-09-27
FREE FILMS _ COLOMBIA PEACE MEDIA PROJECT - Film Festival - Art Resistance, Colombia Peace Media Project, aims at portraying an accurate picture of Columbia, today.
Films:
1)Thurs. Sept.27 - El Baile Rojo (The Red Dance) re Columbia since the 1980s.
2)Mon. Oct.1 - Hip Hop, Resistence in Colombia.
3)Thurs. Oct.4 - Voices from the Magdalena. ALL screenings, 6pm. Viewing Room, AV Library (2nd Floor Arts Building), Auckland University.
All free.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."- Albert Einstein (1879-1955)Physicist and Professor, Nobel Prize 1921
ANNOUNCEMENTS
WAIHOPAI SPYBASE PROTEST JANUARY 25-27, 2008
The public face of New Zealand’s role as an American ally is the NZ military presence in Afghanistan. But New Zealand’s most significant contribution to that, and other American wars, including the one in Iraq, is the Waihopai spybase. Waihopai is controlled by the US, with New Zealand (including Parliament and the Prime Minister) having little or no idea what goes on there (let alone any control).
The Waihopai electronic intelligence gathering base is located in the Waihopai Valley, near Blenheim. First announced in 1987, it is operated by New Zealand’s Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) in the interests of the foreign Powers grouped together in the super-secret UKUSA Agreement (which shares global electronic and signals intelligence among the intelligence agencies of the US, UK, Canada, Australia and NZ). Its two satellite interception dishes (shielded from public view by giant domes) intercept a huge volume of telephone calls, telexes, faxes, e-mail and computer data communications. It spies on our Asia/Pacific neighbours, and forwards the material on to the major partners in the UKUSA Agreement, specifically the US National Security Agency (NSA). Its targets are international communications involving New Zealanders, including the interception of international phone calls. The codename for this – Echelon – has become notorious worldwide as the vast scope of its spying has become public. New Zealand is an integral, albeit junior, part of a global spying network, a network that is ultimately accountable only to its own constituent agencies, not governments, and certainly not to citizens.
Waihopai does not operate in the interests of New Zealanders or our neighbours. Basically it is a foreign spybase on NZ soil and directly involves us America’s wars. Waihopai must be closed.
We invite people from around the country to join us for the weekend of anti-war protest at this spybase. Come prepared for roughing it and camping out. We provide the food (note: we cater for vegetarians but vegans will have to bring their own). Bring sleeping bag, groundsheet, a tent, torch, water bottle, eating utensils, clothing for all weather, and $40 (or $20 unwaged) to cover costs. Absolutely no open fires.
How to find our camp at Whites Bay: turn off SH1 at Tuamarina (9km north of Blenheim or 20 km south of Picton) and drive to Rarangi on the coast. Continue on the steep Port Underwood Road which climbs over the hilltop before descending to the Whites Bay turnoff. There is a Department of Conservation public camp at the bay with basic facilities. ABC has to pay a fixed charge per person.
To register send $40 ($20 unwaged) to the Anti-Bases Campaign, P.O. Box 2258, Christchurch. Make all cheques to ABC. E-mail cafca@chch.planet.org.nz www.converge.org.nz/abc
THE STATE OF OUR WORLD
The Centre for Continuing Education at The University of Auckland, in association with the United Nations Association of New Zealand, brings you three lectures looking at the state of the world. You may choose to attend individual lectures or register for the series. The fee is $27 per lecture or $67.50 for the series. $18 per lecture or $45 for the series is available to students and unwaged. There will be an opportunity at the end of each lecture for questions and discussion. To register contact:
Continuing Education, phone 09 373 7599 ext 87831/87832, or email conted@auckland.ac.nz
Website: www.cce.auckland.ac.nz
THE STATE OF THE PLANET, WEDNESDAY 3 OCTOBER, 7-9PM
Klaus Bosselmann, Dr Iur F.U.Berlin, David Kettle, ME, PhD. In the last 50 years ecosystems have changed more rapidly and extensively than in any comparable period of time in human history, largely due to the growing demands for food, fresh water, timber, fibre and fuel. This has resulted in a substantial and largely irreversible loss in the diversity of life on earth. This lecture will look at the concept of sustainable development (with specific reference to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Report 2005) and will discuss actions to conserve resources and use them sustainably. New Zealand’s commitment to the environment and sustainable development will be discussed, using results from the 2007 OECD Environmental Performance Review of New Zealand. The lecture will conclude by discussing the concept of Earth Governance and will present an ethical and legal framework for a just, peaceful and sustainable world.
Klaus Bosselmann is a Professor of Law at The University of Auckland and Director of the New Zealand Centre for Environmental Law
David Kettle is an engineer and over the past eight years he has focused on sustainable water and waste solutions
THE STATE OF OUR PEOPLE, WEDNESDAY 10 OCTOBER, 7-9PM
Susan St John, PhD, Barry Coates, Masters in Public and Private Management (Yale). This lecture will give an overview of poverty and the Millennium Development Goals established for reducing it. The broader measures of poverty (beyond income), which include issues of natural resources, environment and culture, will be discussed as will the policies, roles and interventions of governments, Non Governmental Organisations, official aid programmes and international campaigns. Causal drivers (why are people poor?) and the relationship of poverty to conflict, unsustainability and human rights will be addressed, along with the undermining of the welfare state, and the widening gap in wealth and income distribution. The enigma of child poverty in New Zealand and poverty in our neighbourhood (Melanesia) will be examined and discussed.
Susan St John is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Economics at The University of Auckland
Barry Coates is Executive Director of Oxfam New Zealand
THE STATE OF PEACE, WEDNESDAY 17 OCTOBER, 7-9PM
Treasa Dunworth, LLB (Hons), LLM (Harvard). Terence O'Brien, BA. How can the world sustain a state of peace and co-operation? Can this be achieved collectively or by hegemony? This lecture will look at the pros and cons of various methods for attempting to reach a state of sustained peace and co-operation, and will discuss what we can expect from America and the rising powers of India and China. The traditional dichotomy between unilateral and multilateral approaches to peace and co-operation is blurring in the light of what has been termed "unilateralism in multilateral disguise". This lecture will also identify, and critique that trend.
Treasa Dunworth is a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Law at The University of Auckland
Terence O’Brien is a former New Zealand diplomat and UN ambassador
DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL AUCKLAND
http://www.skycitycinemas.co.nz/?Control=FilmFestival2&festivalid=8#cont...
NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR THE THE ROGER AWARD
Nominations are now open for this most prestigious and keenly contested annual Award (won by Progressive Enterprises in 2006; the previous winners are: Westpac/BNZ, Telecom, Juken Nissho, Carter Holt Harvey, TransAlta Monsanto and TranzRail – 3 times). Nominations close on October 31.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0706/S00327.htm
VISIT CUBA THIS SUMMER
Cuba consistently makes the news: whether it is it’s health care system (see Salud or Sicko), its response to its oil crisis, its environmental programmes, or by remaining a political opponent of US imperialism for forty years. It is also the home of salsa and its music is world renowned.
Registrations are open for the 25th Southern Cross Brigade to Cuba. Members of the Brigade, which is made up of Australians and New Zealanders, spend approximately four weeks in Cuba, leaving 27th December and returning 24th January. The all up cost is $5500, including airfare, spending money and all accommodation and meals. Members of the Brigade often stay longer in Cuba as private travelers or move onto other countries in the region. For further enquiries and registration e- mail Ina at inashina@clear.net.nz or Paul at wkcultur@ihug.co.nz (03 732 4010).
International Solidarity Forum Oct 11-14 - Agenda
LATIN AMERICA AND ASIA PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY FORUM - OCT 11-14, 2007 "Fighting and organising globally against neo-liberalism" Trades Hall & RMIT Storey Hall. Melbourne, Australia. Trade unionists, social movement activists, academics, students, progressive political parties and all interested members of the community are invited to participate in the Latin American & Asia Pacific International Solidarity Forum. The four-day forum aims to strengthen international coordination and solidarity with those fighting neoliberalism. More than 30 representatives from progressive organisations and campaigns in 22 countries will address the forum.
Register early and help fund the forum. You can register and pay online using PAYPAL (a secure third-party payment site). PLEASE CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ONLINE. http://solidarityforum2007.org/?q=node/8 Or you can Download a registration form and send the completed form with your payment attached to LAAPISF, PO Box 813, North Melbourne 3051. Make cheques/money orders payable to Latin America & Asia Pacific International Solidarity Forum.
http://solidarityforum2007.org/files/LAAPISF%20registration%20and%20work...
Or you can deposit registration fees directly into the forum bank account. Please then email info@solidarityforum.org to confirm and identify the payment. Bendigo Bank; BSB: 633000 Account number: 130716889
Submit a workshop proposal
Conference organisers are inviting all interested groups and individuals to submit workshop proposals. All submissions must be recieved by September 24th. You can submit your proposal online
DOWN LOAD THE LEAFLET http://venezuelasolidarity.org/?q=/files/images/LAAPISF_Leaflet_FINAL2.p...
Visit the October Forum website http://solidarityforum2007.org/
Further Information: Email solidarityforum2007@yahoo.com
WHAT’S ON IN AUCKLAND
24th Sept. – 5th Oct. – Exhibition ‘Creating a Culture of Peace: The Right to Human Security’ produced by Soka Gakkai International as part of the United Nations Decade for Peace. Available for public viewing at AUT Library foyer in Wellesley Street.
Saturday, September 29, 2pm, Aotea Square, City
Democracy for Burma now! "Support the people power revolution against the Military Junta"
Sponsored by Solidarity Union. Contact solidarityjoe@yahoo.com
Tuesday, October 2, 8pm, Dorothy Winstone Theatre, Auckland Girls' Grammar School, Howe St, off K' Rd
AN EVENING WITH LOUISE NICHOLAS: Celebrate Louise's courage, her newly published book LOUISE NICHOLAS: MY STORY, and the changes she is bringing about in NZ society. Louise will be speaking. Tickets $20 waged, $15.00 unwaged AT THE DOOR or from THE WOMEN'S BOOKSHOP, 105 Ponsonby Rd. Visa & Mastercard bookings accepted by phone (09)376 4399, email
books@womensbookshop.co.nz or website www.womensbookshop.co.nz A donation from ticket sales will be made to Rape Crisis and to the Auckland Sexual Abuse Help Foundation
Wednesday, October 3, 5pm, Lynfield Room, Fickling Centre, 546 Mt Albert Rd, Three Kings
IMMIGRATION BILL PUBLIC MEETING: This draconian Bill could affect any traveller, not just immigrants and asylum-seekers. Hear immigration lawyers and community representatives discuss the Immigration Bill. All welcome. Organised by the Human Rights Foundation, Amnesty International, and the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand, contact margo.hrf@ihug.co.nz A printable A4 poster for this meeting is available at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/hrf0907.pdf
Saturday, October 6, 7.30pm, the Crypt, St Benedicts Church, 1 St Benedicts Church, Newton: entrance on Alex Evans St - (signposted on the night)
THE TEKEE TOKEE TOMAK TOUR - clarinettist Ros Dunlop and composer Martin Wesley-Smith
a program of multimedia pieces about West Papua, East Timor etc. Admission: Koha (funds raised above costs go to IHRC) Organised by Indonesia Human Rights Committee – contact: maire@clear.net.nz
Tuesday, October 9, 7pm, Centrestage Theatre, Orewa (Cost: $10-20 Sliding Scale)
U.S. PEAK OIL EXPERT RICHARD HEINBERG is visiting Auckland, discussing life after oil
Richard Heinberg is one of the world's foremost Peak Oil (oil depletion) educators and has earned his reputation lecturing, writing several well-known books, and appearing in popular films. The Green Contact: Mandi (09) 422 0577
Wednesday, October 10, 6.30pm, B28 (under University Library), Alfred St
U.S. PEAK OIL EXPERT RICHARD HEINBERG is visiting Auckland, discussing life after oil
Richard Heinberg is one of the world's foremost Peak Oil (oil depletion) educators and has earned his reputation lecturing, writing several well-known books, and appearing in popular films. The Green Party and Engineers for Social Responsibility are happy to host Richard Heinberg in Auckland and warmly invite you to come to his talk. Co-hosted by the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand and Engineers for Social Responsibility. Richard Heinberg is one of the world's foremost Peak Oil (oil depletion) educators and is a Research Fellow of Post Carbon Institute. He is the author of eight books including The Party’s Over: Oil, War and the Fate of Industrial Societies (2003), Powerdown: Options and Actions for a Post-Carbon World (2004), and The Oil Depletion Protocol (2006). He is a journalist, educator, editor, lecturer, and a Core Faculty member of New College of California where he teaches a program on “Culture, Ecology and Sustainable Community”. Since 2002, he has given over three hundred lectures on Peak Oil to a wide variety of audiences—from insurance executives to peace activists, from local and national elected officials to Jesuit volunteers. Richard Heinberg appears prominently in the film The End of Suburbia (2003), which has been widely screened in NZ, as well as more recent documentaries such as 11th Hour (produced and narrated by Leonardo diCaprio, 2007); and Oil, Smoke & Mirrors (2006). For Auckland contact details please contact Kim Mazur Ph. (09)-302-0166 greenmps.auckland@greens.org.nz
Friday, October 12, 6pm, WS116/7, Science and Technology Building, AUT University, 24 St Paul St
PACIFIC MEDIA CENTRE launch by Associate Minister for Pacific Affairs, Hon. Luamanuvao Winnie Laban. This coincides with the Pacific Islands Media Association (PIMA) annual conference. Pacific Media Centre/CIRI
Wednesday, October 31, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn
HIDDEN VOICES - A Filipino Muslim Woman On The US “War On Terror” And Its Impact On Her People. Amirah Ali Lidasan is the National Vice-Chairperson of the Suara Bangsamoro Party List Organisation, which aims to get representation in Congress for the Philippines’ several million Muslims (known as Moros and heavily concentrated in the southernmost islands). Amirah is a young progressive Muslim woman, with a history of senior leadership in the student movement in Manila, and is a leader in groups such as the Moro Christian People’s Alliance. She has an international profile. In March 2007 she was part of a Philippine human rights delegation which toured North America and Europe, drawing international attention to the human rights crisis at home.
Contact: Helen Te Hira, ph (09) 3039018; 021 0554969; e-mail: helent@nzctu.org.nz
BEST ON THE WEB
NEW ZEALAND
John Minto: New entity means white-collar criminals can now breathe easy
http://www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4204149a16155.html
John Minto: The real victims of the finance markets are the loan sharks' prey
http://www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4179095a16155.html
John Minto: Rating review carries a reminder of global trail of destruction
http://www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4187900a16155.html
Matt McCarten: Spies who went into the cold to find a 'good, model citizen'
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/author/story.cfm?a_id=284&objectid=10463779
Matt McCarten: Even God seems to have thrown in the towel - now it's over to us
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/author/story.cfm?a_id=284&objectid=10465313
REVIEWS
On Naomi Klein's "The Shock Doctrine" By Alexander Cockburn
http://counterpunch.org/cockburn09222007.html
Max Roach: Speak Brother Speak
http://www.socialistreview.org.uk/article.php?articlenumber=10086
AUSTRALIA
Scoop Video Doco: Beyond The Rabble-Free Fence Produced by Selwyn Manning - Far from being a bunch of "rabble" as Australia's prime minister John Howard had labeled them, around 8-10,000 people gathered in Sydney to send APEC leaders one simple message: "Peace!" And they walked the talk. Police and government claims that the combined protest would result in violence were proven ill-founded as people of all walks of life took part in a largely peaceful march from Sydney's town hall to Hyde Park. Here is Scoop's documentary titled: Beyond The Rabble-Free Fence.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0709/S00404.htm
ENVIRONMENT
Carbon Pricing Problem: It Doesn’t Work - mainstream media outlet reports the obvious – it makes no sense to use markets to solve a problem that was caused by markets
http://climateandcapitalism.blogspot.com/2007/09/carbon-pricing-problem-...
Ice Withdrawal 'Shatters Record' By BBC - Arctic sea ice shrank to the smallest area on record this year, US scientists have confirmed. The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) said the minimum extent of 4.13 million sq km (1.59 million sq miles) was reached on 16 September
http://www.countercurrents.org/bbc220907.htm
'Too late to avoid global warming,' say scientists: A rise of two degrees centigrade in global temperatures - the point considered to be the threshold for catastrophic climate change which will expose millions to drought, hunger and flooding - is now "very unlikely" to be avoided, the world's leading climate scientists said yesterday.
http://environment.independent.co.uk/climate_change/article2976669.ece
Let's Respect Our Mother Earth By Evo Morales - Letter from President Evo Morales to the member representatives of the United Nations on the issue of the environment
http://www.countercurrents.org/morales260907.htm
WORLD
Making a killing: how private armies became a $120bn global industry
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/article2984818.ece
BURMA
Burmese Generals Play Waiting Game - For now the generals are playing a waiting game, trying
to find a way to control the deeply revered monks. A stand-off exists between the morally courageous monks and a morally bankrupt military junta. The next few weeks will prove decisive.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0709/S00539.htm
PALESTINE
Palestine: democracy not Zionism - A decent two-state solution to the 'Palestinian problem' has become impossible.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0914/p09s01-coop.html
Barak Appoints War Criminal Yaron
http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/09/barak-appoints-war-criminal-yaron/
Justice Forgotten - Whatever Happened to Palestine?
http://counterpunch.org/christison09202007.html
Dare To Compare – Israel By Ghali Hassan - Let's not forget that Israel is a rogue state in possession of the fourth largest military force in the world. Israel amasses an arsenal that includes biological and chemical weapons and more than 200 nuclear warheads. Israel is rightly considered by the overwhelming majority of people around the world as the biggest threat to world peace.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article18455.htm
USA
Dan Rather: Tased and Confused by Greg Palast - The Still-Unreported Story of "Top Gun" George Bush: New York- Newly unearthed records reveal that, in 2004, when Americans were in the midst of a brutal electoral battle over whether to reelect a president posing as a war hero, a commanding US reporter, Dan Rather, went AWOL.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0709/S00472.htm
La. protests hark back to '50s, '60s – 50,000 protest in Jena, Louisiana
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070920/ap_on_re_us/jena_six_protest_10;_ylt...
Federal Reserve Twists and Turns
http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/wolff190907.html
Alan Greenspan vs. Naomi Klein: Democracy Now! exclusive debate, former federal reserve chairman Alan Greenspan and journalist Naomi Klein square off on the Iraq war, oil, President Bush tax cuts, social security, economic populism in Latin America, corruption and crony capitalism
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/09/24/1412226
GERMANY
German Greens Slide Into Turmoil over Afghan war
http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,506473,00.html
CUBA
Secret elections in Cuba
http://www.cubaheadlines.com/2007/09/21/5935/secret_elections_in_cuba.ht...
The Cuban Five By Lawrence Wilkerson, former Secretary of State Colin Powell's Chief of Staff
http://thehavananote.com/2007/09/the_cuban_five.html
COLUMBIA
Letter From Colombia
http://www.socialistreview.org.uk/article.php?articlenumber=10066
IRAQ
The real story of Baghdad's Bloody Sunday - Six days ago, at least 28 civilians died in a shooting incident involving the US security company Blackwater. But what actually happened? Kim Sengupta reports from the scene of the massacre
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article18448.htm
BURMA
Aung San Suu Kyi Makes Rare Appearance
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0709/S00574.htm
Burma Protests By Monks, Nuns, Civilians Escalate
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0709/S00582.htm
NICARAGUA
Nicaragua’s Sandinista Government Allies with Anti-Imperialist Forces By Phil Cournoyer
http://www.socialistvoice.ca/SV-PDF/SV-140.pdf
EGYPT
Egypt - 15,000 workers at the Ghazl al-Mahallah textile factory in Egypt on strike
http://www.sendika.org/english/yazi.php?yazi_no=13347
IRAN
Iranian University Chancellors Ask Bollinger 10 Questions - TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Seven chancellors and presidents of Iranian universities and research centers, in a letter addressed to their counterpart in the US Colombia University, denounced Lee Bollinger's insulting words against the Iranian nation and president and invited him to provide responses for 10 questions of the Iranian academicians and intellectuals
http://farsnews.com/english/newstext.php?nn=8606300370
Full text of President Ahmadinejad's speech at General Assembly
http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/iran/2005/iran-050918-irn...
Full Transcript: President Ahmadinejad Delivers Remarks to the National Press Club: When we take a look around us, we are not happy with what we see. Indeed, it is a most unsatisfactory state of affairs. Insecurity, discrimination and threats of war and security concerns have affected everyone. Continuous wars have, in fact, hurt the human spirit.
http://snipurl.com/1r86g
INDIA
Scandal In The Palace - Arundhati Roy examines the efficacy of the Contempt of Court law in India, in the light of the imprisonment handed out to four journalists for publishing reports against former chief justice of India, Justice (retd) Y K Sabharwal
http://www.countercurrents.org/roy250907.htm