#210: Court Thurs / LP Conf Sat / Forum Mon
GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND NEWSLETTER #210, October 31, 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.nz/ or click the unsubscribe link at the bottom of this email.
Dear friends,
ORGANISING MEETINGS
AUCKLAND: Civil Rights Defence Committee, 6pm, Tuesdays, Unite House, Level 12, 300 Queen St
WELLINGTON: Weekly support group meetings - open to all - 6pm Tuesdays at 128 Abel Smith St
AUCKLAND
WED 8-11PM -RADIO WAATEA PROGRAMME - Terrorism and Te Ao Maori: what's going on? - an information education panel on 'anti terrorism' as it affects Te Ao Maori will be on Radio Waatea from 8pm to 11pm. During this time, three members of the University of Auckland Faculty of Law will cover issues including: Tim McBride on the rights of individuals to privacy, Khylee Quince on the criminalisation of protest, and Nin Tomas on Maori resistance and law. You are welcome to ring in with your questions and comments, tel (09) 257 0603 or 0800 4603603. Radio Waatea broadcasts in the Auckland area at 603AM, and live online anywhere - click on the link at http://www.waatea603am.co.nz
THURS & FRI - BE AT THE COURT HEARINGS
This Thursday and Friday, November 1-2, all defendants are appearing in the Auckland District Court. Be there to show support from 9am.
Thursday, November 1, 6pm, Te Whare Wananga, Level 2, Auckland City Library, 44 - 46 Lorne Street, Auckland
WAHANUI: LEGAL BEAGLES TALK TERRORISM, a panel discussion with Annette Sykes, Moana Jackson and Jane Kelsey; Entry by koha, all funds will go to whanau affected by the so-called 'terror' raids. Organised by Conscious Collaborations, in association with Auckland WEA, Tamaki Treaty Workers, and Auckland a.r.c A printable poster for this event is available online at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/NgaKorero1107.jpg
PROTEST OUTSIDE LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE, 9AM, SAT NOV 3, BRUCE MASON CENTRE, corner Hurstmere Road and The Promenade, Takapuna Beach, North Shore City - directions for getting to the Centre are available at http://www.bmcentre.co.nz/How-to-Find-us.asp
Let Helen Clark hear our demands – no Pontius Pilate act – she and her government must take responsibility and call off the police dogs, stop use of the terrorism laws
SPECIAL GPJA FORUM AND DEFENCE CAMPAIGN PLANNING MEETING
Monday November 5, 7.30pm, Methodist Chapel, Queen St, Opposite Town Hall
DEFENDING CIVIL RIGHTS - NO USE OF TERROR LAWS
WELLINGTON
Wednesday, October 31, 8pm @ Happy, cnr of Tory and Vivian Sts, $10 entry
Fundraising gig featuring Death Rattle, Goodbye Galaxy, Sweet Fanny Adams, the Feminazis, and more; $10 entry, proceeds to prisoner support.
Thursday, November 1, 5pm to 6pm at the Cenotaph (corner Lambton Quay and Bowen Street)
Tino rangatiratanga is not terrorism / Respect human rights! the fortnightly peace vigil will be focused this week on support for the communities, families and individuals affected by the 'terrorism' raids; from. Bring candles to show your solidarity with political prisoners here and elsewhere, for more information contact Peace Movement Aotearoa email pma@xtra.co.nz
November 3 & 4, Tapu Te Ranga Marae, Island Bay, Wellington
WELLINGTON HUMAN RIGHTS HUI - Tapu Te Ranga Marae, in association with Peace Movement Aotearoa and several independent environmental activists, invites all those concerned about the recent 'terror' raids to a hui on human rights in Aotearoa at on the weekend of 3 and 4 November 2007. A hui to identify common concerns and to develop positive relationships and strategies for dealing with the issues arising from recent events (see programme outline below). This message is available online at
http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/hrhui1007.htm
CHRISTCHURCH
Thursday, November 1, 8.30pm at the Wunder Bar, Lyttelton; $5 entry
WHAT SIDE ARE YOU ON? benefit gig, a celebration of the right to dissent without fear - singers, talkers and poets throw their words in the air with a tribute to the songs, words, melodies and hearts that make a difference. Starts, proceeds to the Civil Defence Rights Fund.
WEBSITES TO LOOK AT
www.civilrightsdefence.org.nz
http://www.indymedia.org.nz/
http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/nzterror.htm
http://www.conscious.maori.nz/front.php
GET SUBSCRIBERS TO THIS NEWSLETTER
Please forward this newsletter to anyone you think may be interested and tell them they can subscribe at http://gpja.org.nz/
DEFEND CIVIL LIBERTIES, NO USE OF TERROR LAWS
Everywhere: Any letters emailed to lettersforprisoners[at]riseup[dot]net will printed out and distributed to arrestees. Obviously don't write anything that could negatively impact on you or anyone else! If you can help with processing these letters, please email the crew on the same address. For more information, see http://www.civilrightsdefence.org.nz.
NATIONAL EVENTS CALENDER
http://www.civilrightsdefence.org.nz/event
POSTER AND OTHER RESOURCES
Or download national posters from
http://www.civilrightsdefence.org.nz/resources
MAKE A DONATION TO A DEFENCE FUND ONLINE
38-9000-0099726-00 GLOBAL PEACE & JUSTICE AKLD
Indentify donation as being for the defence fund. Initial patrons of the fund are Jane Kelsey, John Minto, Simon Oosterman and Mike Treen
Or Use your credit card through Paypal
http://www.civilrightsdefence.org.nz/donate
SEND A MESSAGE OF SUPPORT TO BE FORWARDED TO PEOPLE IN PRISON
http://www.civilrightsdefence.org.nz/node/add/support
INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY
Respect Indigenous Peoples' Rights! Free the Arrested Maoris!
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Free-the-Maoris/?e
ÓGRA SHINN FÉIN condemn New Zealand authorities crackdown on Maori activists - Speaking following the news of a wave of serious activity against Maori rights and trade union activists in New Zealand, Barry McColgan, National Organiser of Ógra Shinn Féin, condemned the actions conducted by the New Zealand authorities calling them “unwarranted and unjustifiable”. “This month the authorities of New Zealand showed their true colours – raiding the homes of dozens of trade unionists, Maori-rights activists and political activists in act of severe state repression. The criminalisation of dissent and political activism must not be allowed to continue. “Not only have they targeted a wide range of activists and arrested many on trumped up charges, as part of their crack down this week they raided the home of Jimmy O’Dea – a 72 year old life long activist on Irish and Maori rights. “These raids are a blatant attack on activism in general and are unwarranted and unjustifiable. Oppressive governments the world over are renowned for this kind of technique; from the British in the six counties to the Spanish government in the Basque country and now the New Zealand authorities against the Maori movement. “Ógra Shinn Féin is calling on the international community to engage with the authorities of New Zealand and push them to drop these spurious charges immediately. “
QUOTE
“The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.” Martin Luther King
MINTO VS TROTTER
Open Letter from John Minto to Chris Trotter
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0710/S00415.htm
OTHER NEWS REPORTS
Helen Clark - abuse of the rights of accused
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0710/S00422.htm
Four avoid Terrorism Act charges
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4255980a10.html
PM's Remarks Potentially Prejudicial, Locke Says
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0710/S00558.htm
JOHN MINTO: 'Anti-terror' raids leave a battered democracy in their wake
http://www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4253812a16155.html
Remaining Wellington "Terror" Accused Moved To Auckland
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0710/S00436.htm
'Willie Jackson calls Peters a disgrace'
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0710/S00414.htm
Attorney General's Response to GPJA release - The decision to delegate decisions around criminal prosecutions is not specific to these cases or to the Terrorism Suppression Act. Successive Attorneys-General have taken the view that it is inappropriate for them as Government Ministers to become involved in decision-making about prosecution of individuals. In practice, the authority to give consent to lay charges is delegated to the Solicitor-General. This is outlined in Crown Law's Prosecution Guidelines. Scoop Note: This reponse was received in relation to this story:
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0710/S00405.htm
TV3: Winston Peters v Pita Sharples
http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/2736.html
TUHOE
The New Zealand Wars And Confiscation Of Tuhoe Land In The Bay Of Plenty, 1863–67
http://www.waitangi-tribunal.govt.nz/doclibrary/public/researchwhanui/di...
Don't blame Tuhoe for underdevelopment
http://readingthemaps.blogspot.com/
INTERNATIONAL WAR ON FREEDOM
The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein and Alfonso Cuarón
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=176...
A New Form of State: War and Criminal Law
http://monthlyreview.org/0807paye-tigar.htm#tigar
DEALING WITH POLICE – KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/YourRights.pdf
ANNOUNCEMENTS
NOV 25 - INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN - UNIFEM NZ introduced the White Ribbon campaign from Canada four years ago and it had such a good public response that the Families Commission** picked it up on behalf of a number of statutory agencies. A wide range of community NGOs also hold special events to raise awareness of this hidden problem facing many women and children throughout New Zealand society. Wearing a white ribbon before / on Sunday 25 November (and then through 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence: Nov 25 – Dec 10) signals commitment “to always speak out against violence towards women and children” For more info and ideas on both White Ribbon and 16 Days of Activism campaigns, see: www.unifem.org.nz
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. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0701/S00036.htm
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
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).
WHAT’S ON IN AUCKLAND
Tues Oct 30 and Thurs Nov 1
PROFESSOR STEPHEN CHAN, Professor of International Relations, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London University ‘The Succession battles in South Africa: after Mbecki, what?’
Tuesday, October 30, 6.30pm, Engineering Lec Theatre 401, 20 Symonds St
'Vexatious virtue or shallow opportunism: China and Africa', 2.30pm, THURS. 1 Nov. Presentation Room 204, Clock Tower, 22 Princes St
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
Thursday, November 1, 9am, Auckland District Court
RALLY TO SUPPORT ARRESTED ACTIVISTS - FREE THEM NOW - NO TERROR CHARGES
Saturday, November 3, 9am, Bruce Mason Centre, Takapuna
PROTEST USE OF TERROR LAWS OUTSIDE LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE
Saturday, November 3, 2pm, QE2 Square, Downtown Shopping Centre
RALLY FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE IN PALESTINE On the First Saturday of Every Month.
Come support JUSTICE and PEACE based on: 1. End 40 years of Israeli Occupation of the West Bank & Gaza Strip (including East Jerusalem); 2. Right of Return for Palestinian Refugees; 3. Share Jerusalem; 4. Vacate all settlement colonies in Israeli occupied Palestine; 5. Stop Israel's annexation / apartheid wall in occupied Palestine
Monday,November 5, 7.30pm, Methodist Church, Queen St (Opposite Town hall)
SPECIAL GPJA FORUM TO DISCUSS ACTIVIST ARRESTS AND PLAN PROTEST ACTION
Thursday, November 8, 7.30pm, Maidment Theatre, Auckland University
2007 MEDIA PEACE AWARDS - Special Guest Bill Ralston interviewed by John Campbell. MC’s Michele A’Court and Jeremy Elwood. Tickets $30 waged $15 unwaged. Ph 09 3082383 www.maidment.auckland.ac.nz
Friday, November 9, 6.30pm (5.30pm bar), Maidment Theatre, Auckland University
2007 BRUCE JESSON LECTURE: Laila Harre, National Secretary National Distribution Union: “Union relevance in Aotearoa in the 21st Century”. For 20 years unions have been engaged in a struggle for relevance - relevance to both workers and the wider social and economic environment in which we organise. This lecture will look at possible futures for the union movement and the potential and need for workers to organise industrially and politically. More than ever we are dependent on what happens at work and what we get from doing it. The question is not whether we need unions, but what sort of unions we need. A collection for donations to the Bruce Jesson Trust will be taken. Sponsored by the Faculty of Arts and The Bruce Jesson Foundation
Sunday, November 11 @ 11am, Waikaraka Park, Cemetary, Onehunga
MEMORIAL FOR UNIONIST VICTIM OF STATE TERROR - Fred Evans was batoned to death by police outside the Waihi Miners Hall during a Miners Strike in 1912. His grave is easy to spot as it has a broken column that his workmates erected to signify a life taken so early.
Friday, Nov 23 to Sat Nov 24, St Columba’s Centre, 40 Vermont St, Ponsonby
PAX CHRISTI ANNUAL ASSEMBLY: ‘Pax Christi’s Place in Peacemaking in the Pacific’
The Friday programme begins with a keynote address by Professor Joe Camilleri of the Centre for Dialogue, Latrobe University, Melbourne, titled ‘From the Middle East to Asia Pacific: Arc of Conflict or Dialogue of Cultures and Religions’. Saturday’s programme will look at different aspects of the relationship between New Zealand and Pacific Islands, some unresolved conflicts in the region and hopefully, some paths towards resolutions of those conflicts by peaceful means. Contributions to the discussion will include Pacific Island and New Zealand speakers with experience in justice and peace work in the region. There will also be plenty of time for discussion on a wide range of topics. We offer a warm invitation to anyone who would be interested in this gathering. Morning and afternoon tea will be provided but we would be grateful for a plate of finger food, or a contribution towards the costs of the venue and meals. The programme runs from Friday 23 November: 6pm (shared meal); 7pm prayer and welcome; 7.30pm to 9.30pm keynote address; to Saturday 24 November: 9.15am – 4.30pm. We hope you can join us for this important review of peace needs in the Asia-Pacific region.
BEST ON THE WEB
NEW ZEALAND
Investors losing faith in housing
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/3/story.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10473067
SCIENCE AND SOCIETY
James Watson’s 'scientific' racism is inferior science
http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=13332
WORLD ECONOMY
Financial Capital: Crises Are Part of the Game
http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/schmidt271007.html
A World at War
http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/hattingh251007.html
Our Sub-prime Economy
http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/wolff101007.html
That hissing? It's the sound of bubblenomics deflating - Merely cutting the cost of borrowing will do little to remedy the long-term weaknesses of the advanced economies
http://business.guardian.co.uk/economy/story/0,,2177177,00.html
POETRY
CHE IN VERSE, an anthology of poems and songs which explore the various attitudes towards Che as a cultural/political ikon and an inspiration. Three kiwis are among the 53 authors (including some famous names): Mike O'Leary, Bernard Gadd, Mark Pirie. Ask your library to get it (Aflamebooks. com).
ADRIENNE RICH is the author of more than sixteen volumes of poetry and four nonfiction prose books. She is the recipient of numerous awards and prizes, including a MacArthur Fellowship and the 1999 Lannan Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. This poem appears in her forthcoming book, Telephone Ringing in the Labyrinth: Poems: 2004–2006, published by W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.
DIRECTOR’S NOTES
You don’t want a harsh outcry here
not to violate the beauty yet
dawn unveiling ochre village
but to show coercion
within that beauty, endurance required
Begin with girl
pulling hand over hand on chain
only sound drag and creak
in time it becomes monotonous
then must begin sense of unease produced by monotony
repetitive motion, repetitive sound
resistance, irritation
increasing for the viewers
sense of what they are here for anyway
dislike of the whole thing how boring to watch
(they aren’t used to duration
this was a test)
Keep that dislike that boredom as a value
also as risk
so when bucket finally tinks at rim
they breathe a sigh, not so much of relief
as finally grasping
what all this is for
dissolve as she dips from bucket
AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan: the 'other' occupation must end
http://www.greenleft.org.au/2007/729/37788
CUBA
TARIQ ALI: Under the Shadow of the Big Neighbor - Bush's Cuba Detour
http://www.counterpunch.org/tariq10242007.html
FROM THE ARCHIVES: Errol Flynn's 1959 documentary about the Cuban revolution.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2748872556869712014
IRAN
No Evidence Iran Building Nuclear Weapons : Mohamed ElBaradei - The head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog said Sunday he had no evidence Iran was working actively to build nuclear weapons and expressed concern that escalating rhetoric from the U.S. could bring disaster.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article18636.htm
Turning Truth On Its Head - The US has opened up a new front in its now sharply accelerated war drive on Iran. The announcement last week by Condoleezza Rice, branding Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps a terrorist organisation, and imposing the strongest sanctions yet since 1979 Iranian Revolution, alarmed several democratic presidential candidates who described it as an indication that the White House had begun its "march to war"
http://www.countercurrents.org/shahabi301007.htm
IRAQ
The Catastrophic Military Occupation Of Iraq Is Rarely Described Accurately In The U.S. Media -
An Interview with independent journalist Dahr Jamail “The bogus idea that if the U.S. leaves things will worsen is both inherently racist and ignorant.”
http://www.countercurrents.org/zeese301007.htm