#220: Sat - 2 seminars, a picket and peace place opening - take your pick
GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND NEWSLETTER #220, December 14, 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.
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Dear friends,
Four Saturday events:
- Civil Rights Seminar Auckland University 10am-4.30pm;
- Workers Charter seminar, 1pm-2.30pm, Trades Hall
- Picket/Strike @ Bunnings, Botany Downs, 2-4pm
- Peace Place opening 9am-2pm
NEW ZEALAND
Political Storm Brews Over Auckland Housing
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0712/S00177.htm
Auckland mayor a disgrace over affordable housing
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0712/S00231.htm
Banks must honour affordable housing contract – Dr Cathy Casey
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0712/S00145.htm
New Site for GE Cows Ignores Biosecurity Questions http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0712/S00018.htm
Aucklanders rally for action on climate change
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0712/S00102.htm
Politicians should heed gambling survey
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0712/S00107.htm
Health: Call On Govt To Admit Spray Errors - The Ombudsman's report on Complaints Arising from Aerial Spraying is a damning indictment of the Government's handling of the painted apple moth aerial spraying campaign, the Green Party says.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0712/S00220.htm
Amnesty International Calls For Moratorium On Taser Decision http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0712/S00125.htm
Cases, Causes Of Wrongful Conviction In Spotlight - The accuracy of forensic DNA evidence, the investigative interviewing of witnesses and suspects, and the high-profile cases of Scott Watson and Peter Ellis are among presentations from speakers at the inaugural Innocence Project New Zealand conference.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED0712/S00045.htm
AUS Tertiary Update - investigation a sop, says QPEC - The Quality Public Education Coalition says that a decision by the University of Auckland Council to set up an investigation into the impact of its decision to restrict entry to undergraduate degree courses ...
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED0712/S00052.htm
PEACE RESEARCHER ONLINE:
http://www.converge.org.nz/abc/prcont34.html
- Waihopai 2007: Counting The Costs Of 20 Years Of Spying – by Murray Horton
- From “Secret Power” To “The Hollow Men” – by Nicky Hager
- Another Bloody Terror Submission – by Bob Leonard
- The Secret Policeman’s Ball: SIS Turns 50, All The Big Brothers Came To the Party – by Murray Horton
- Updates – by Murray Horton
Add Tonga To The Growing List Of NZ’s Pacific Interventions
US Building New Secret Spybase In Western Australia
Pine Gap Protesters Fined, But Not Jailed, In Groundbreaking Court Case
- Okinawa And Guam: US Military Pawns Since WWII – by Bob Leonard
- The US Troops’ “Unconventional” Presence: Are US Special Operations Forces Engaged In An “Offensive War” In the Philippines? – by Herbert Docena
- Reviews by Jeremy Agar
“The Hollow Men” by Nicky Hager
“Negligent Neighbour” by Maire Leadbeater
“Strange Liberators: Militarism, Mayhem And The Pursuit Of Profit” by Gregory Elich
- Obituaries
Stan Hemsley – by Murray Horton
Wilton Willis – by Maire Leadbeater
Phil Amos – by Murray Horton
- Deaths In The Family: Harry Dewes & Wolfgang Rosenberg
- Waihopai Display Creates A Stir: PSA Union Official Bans It From Trade Union Centre So As Not To Upset Her Members, The Spies – by Murray Horton
FUNDRAISING - URGENT - WE NEED $10,000 BY XMAS
We urgently need funds to help meet the large costs we have incurred so far and costs we can predict over the next few months. To put it bluntly we need to raise $10,000 before XMAS. MAKE A DONATION TO A DEFENCE FUND ONLINE 38-9000-0099726-00: 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 cheque to GPJA c/o treasurer Brian Van Dam, 16 Browning St Manurewa.
THE BEST SUPPORT IS A SMALL MONTHLY – IE $10 A MONTH - AUTOMATIC PAYMENT FOR THE LONG TERM THAT CAN SUPPORT THE ONGOING WORK OF GPJA.
ORGANISING MEETINGS
AUCKLAND: Starting again January 15.Civil Rights Defence Committee, 6pm, Tuesday Unite House, L12, 300 Queen St
For other events in Auckland see “What’s On In Auckland” below
WELLINGTON
Every Tuesday - 6pm - Support Meeting at 128 Abel Smith St.
1st and third Thursday - End NZ support for the 'war on terrorism' / Honour the Treaty, respect human rights, repeal the terrorism suppression legislation: the regular peace vigil will again be focused on support for the communities, families and individuals affected by the 'terrorism' raids; from 5pm to 6pm at the Cenotaph (corner Lambton Quay and Bowen Street). The vigils are held on the first and third Thursdays of each month, for more information contact Peace Movement Aotearoa, email pma@xtra.co.nz
WAIKAREMOANA 1ST - 4TH JANUARY 2007 - DRUG-CIGARETTES-ALCOHOL FREE
Ten year anniversary of the Waikaremoana occupation.
TUESDAY 1ST JANUARY 2008
10.00 am Powhiri Waiwherowhero ( next to motor camp ); 11.00 am Hangi
Settle in for the evening-----Whakawhanaungatanga. Bands and dance that evening
WEDNESDAY 2ND JANUARY 2008
Information Day - Open mic forum to discuss any issues/topics - Register with Adrienne if you wish to speak - 20min maximum time slot for each speaker. Maybe hold workshops or something of the sort
8--9am Breakfast; 12.30pm Lunch; 5.30 pm Dinner
THURSDAY 3RD JANUARY 2008
8---9am Breakfast; Market Day; FEE = $10.00 per Stall -- open to anyone; Kai, mirimiri etc....
5.30pm Dinner. Call Tina if you would like to run a stall ( Home-068373974) (0212167828) Email--- tina.m.wagner@hotmail.com
FRIDAY 4TH JAN
still to sort, bit of a windup of the week I imagine, Those who want to leave can, those that wish to stay are more than welcome.
PERSONAL CARE----bring tent, mattress, pillow, togs, raincoat, snowgear !! (4 seasons in one day?), walking shoes, fishing gear, lantern/torch and other camping basics as well as instruments. Camping available on site(big paddock type section or at motorcamp 30 secs away(booking required)) Bring ----- dry goods coffee teabags etc.... vegies fruit...crockery etc.
CONTACTS: Joseph jtakuta@hotmail.com Security Lorna 0212551624 {General Organisation} Chaz 0274270239 { Bands } Media Coverage TeWeeti 0275335665 / 0273129716
James 0211755147
If anyone out there has a large generator, chiller, marquees or porter loos that we may be able to use during these 4 days and 3 nites can u please let us know or contact let Julia know with quotes etc juliavioleta@gmail.com. Bands that are interested in performing, please contact Chaz. A panui has been put on the Web but at the moment we not sure where Tame has placed it, will find out. Please contact me for further info. All welcome, babies, children, youngins and oldies. Once again we would like to thank all of you for the support and efforts of you all through the past two months during this herrific nightmare. Julia Espinoza
CHRISTCHURCH
Every Friday until Christmas - Vigil in Solidarity with the Tuhoe people: "each week, the vigil will feature a speaker to talk about the issues that have emerged from the raids of the 15. To vigil means to ‘remain awake’. We must remain awake to the political agendas at work in the current climate of the “war against terrorism” and demand an end to the targeting of sisters and brothers who speak truth to power. The vigil will be a peaceful and prayerful presence." From 5pm to 6pm, in Cathedral Square; for more information contact email moanacole.barrister@paradise.net.nz
WEBSITES TO LOOK AT
www.civilrightsdefence.org.nz
Full Scoop Coverage: Urewera 17
http://www.scoop.co.nz/features/urewera17.html
http://www.indymedia.org.nz/
http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/nzterror.htm
http://www.conscious.maori.nz/front.php
http://kaupapamaori.com/
PHOTO GALLERY
Visit our Flickr photo group. (Join the group and add your pictures!)
http://flickr.com/groups/civilrightsdefence/
FACEBOOK
Visit our FaceBook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=12434385103
WHAT’S ON IN AUCKLAND
Friday, December 14, 8pm, Tivoli, Oneroa, below Harcourts, Waiheke Island
You are invited to a screening of the documentary NO NUKES IS GOOD NUKES! The Legacy of New Zealand's Grassroots Anti-Nuclear Movement directed and produced by Claudia Pond Eyley
ph/fax +64 9 372 3361 / 021 175 2218 tivolinz@gmail.com www.tivoliNZ.com
Saturday, 2-4pm, Bunnings, Botany Downs
Picket and Strike organised by the NDU (National Distribution Union)
Saturday, December 15, 1pm - 2.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Road Grey Lynn
THE FUTURE OF WORKERS CHARTER The Workers Charter newspaper has been published monthly for two years now. It has been part of an attempt to create a broad left alternative to Labour. It has brought a fresh look to union issues, worker struggles and social movements. The paper has endeavoured to combine reporting on these issues with insightful commentary and some in-depth analysis as well as providing general interest material including sports, film reviews and history pieces. It has a small but dedicated regular readership. However after two years we have just 300 subscribers and need to seriously look at the future of the paper. (We owe $4,800 in loans, $2000 to the printers and we have just $450 in the bank – all this before we look at printing the December issue!). Is it serving a useful purpose? If so then why has it not gained a wider subscription base? Does the product justify the huge effort to produce it? This needs to be a frank discussion with a broad range of individuals and organisations taking part. We welcome your participation – If you love the paper come along and let us know. If you hate the paper we need you even more!! If you’ve never heard of it come and find out about it. John Minto, Editor.
Saturday, December 15, 10.30am-4.30pm, Engineering School auditorium (Rm 1439), 20 Symonds St
TALK ABOUT TERROR - A Public Forum at the University of Auckland Reflections on politics, history, law and media. This forum addresses the on-going fallout for Tuhoe and New Zealanders of the October 15 police action. Public discussion and comment has focussed on whether police action was ‘warranted’ and whether the Terrorism Suppression Act was ‘good’ law. This drift in mainstream media obscures the real issues, which remain Tuhoe sovereignty, the compulsory nationalism of New Zealand democracy, the broken trust of state aggression against community, the enduring relevance of local history, and a global war on terror which has brought terror ‘home’ in support of international obligations that exclude the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The object of the forum is critical reflection that will highlight the substantive issues behind talk of terror in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Respondents include: Tracey McIntosh (Sociology, AU); David Williams (Law School, AU);
Stephen Turner (English, AU); Laurence Simmons (Film, Television and Media, AU); Kiritapu Allan and Teanau Tuiono (Conscious Collaborations). The format will be welcome and morning tea (10:30–11:00), a screening of a 50 minute interview with Tamati Kruger of Tuhoe, followed by 15 minute
presentations from respondents on different aspects of public talk about terror (12.00–1.00). Lunch break, followed by further responses and discussion. The forum will close with a screening of
Robert Pouwhare’s Tuhoe: A History of Resistance (3:00-4:00), still unseen on New Zealand television. Organisers: Nova Paul (nova.paul@aut.ac.nz), with Geraldene Peters, Tessa Laird and Adam White. ALL WELCOME
Saturday, December 15, 9am – 2pm, 2F / 22 Emily Place, Auckland
The Dominican Friars and their friends invite you to their HOUSE WARMING AT THE PEACE PLACE. With your help the Peace Place will be: a quiet place in the heart of the city for meditation and prayer where friends work for peace through hospitality, conversation between people of every faith, study of ecology, conflict resolution and social justice. Lifting of Tapu and blessings 9am. Join us for morning tea or call in during the day. Open House to 2pm.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
TOUR FOR NOTED US CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYER LEONARD WEINGLASS
Dear Friend, The Cuba Friendship Society in Auckland invites you to be part of an international campaign calling for the release of five Cubans imprisoned in the United States. Gerardo Hernández, René González, Ramón Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, and Fernando González – the Cuban Five, as they are known – have been in U.S. prisons for nine years. They were convicted in 2001 of conspiracy to commit espionage for the government of Cuba, and related charges.
The five men were monitoring Cuban-American organisations based in Miami in order to uncover plans and activities that posed a threat to the safety of the Cuban people. These organisations have an extensive record of carrying out violent attacks against Cuba from U.S. soil, including assassination attempts on Cuban officials, biological warfare, and bombings.
Leonard Weinglass, one of the U.S.-based attorneys for the Cuban Five, will be touring Australia early April 2008 to raise awareness and build support for this campaign. He will be available to visit Auckland for two days as part of this tour.
Beginning in the 1970s, Leonard Weinglass has defended many political activists, including Angela Davis, Mumia Abu Jamal, and leaders of the American Indian Movement. In 2004, the American Trial Lawyers Association voted to name an annual award, the Leonard I. Weinglass Award, honouring lawyers who contribute to human rights and civil liberties causes.
If you want to help with the tour, need further information, or have ideas on fund-raising or others to approach, please let us know. Email: cubafriendship@xtra.co.nz More information about the Cuban Five can be found at www.freethefive.org
BILLY BRAGG CONCERTS
In addition to playing at the Big Day Out in Auckland, singer Billy Bragg, favourite of many a unionist, will be playing at the Leigh Sawmill in Auckland on January 15 and the San Francisco Bathhouse in Wellington on January 16. Billy's website has details: http://www.billybragg.co.uk/shows/shows_2008.html
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
BEST ON THE WEB
WAR ON FREEDOM
The Unholy Trinity - Death Squads, Disappearances, and Torture -- from Latin America to Iraq
http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/174873/greg_grandin_on_the_torturable_an...
ENVIRONMENT
Toxic inaction: Why poisonous, unregulated chemicals end up in our blood
http://www.harpers.org/archive/2007/10/0081742
Forests Could Cool or Cook The Planet - A two-degree Celsius rise in global temperatures could flip the Amazon forest from being the Earth's vital air conditioner to a flamethrower that cooks the planet, warns a new report released at the climate talks in Bali, Indonesia Friday
http://www.countercurrents.org/leahy101207.htm
'The Biggest Environmental Crime In History' - BP, the British oil giant that pledged to move "Beyond Petroleum" by finding cleaner ways to produce fossil fuels, is being accused of abandoning its "green sheen" by investing nearly £1.5bn to extract oil from the Canadian wilderness using methods which environmentalists say are part of the "biggest global warming crime" in history
http://www.countercurrents.org/milmo101207.htm
BOLIVIA
U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. becomes law of the land in Bolivia
http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096416238
Bolivian lawmakers OK Chavez-like reforms
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jRh_ohaD32ZPPwKyrGwJP5vuCHIg
BURMA
Burma's "Saffron Revolution" Is Not Over - The underlying analysis is that the violent repression, particularly the targeting by the military of peacefully-demonstrating monks, has deeply antagonised Burma's society, at the same time as it has created new resistance dynamics. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0712/S00660.htm
Burma's Military Junta Bans 19 Writers, Performers
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0712/S00668.htm
CANADA
Crime policies actually make us less safe - America's "War on Drugs" and "three strikes" laws are both deemed massive and interconnected failures.
http://www.harperindex.ca/ViewArticle.cfm?Ref=00123
Poll highlights unease over U.S. foreign policy
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/freeheadlines/LAC/200...
PALESTINE
Omar Barghouti: "No State Has the Right to Exist as a Racist State" - Omar Barghouti belongs to a new generation of Palestinians who never adhered to the solution of " Two States, Two peoples". They are advocating, instead, the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) of Israel as well as a «secular, democratic state» solution, where Palestinians and Israelis would share equal rights, after historic injustices are redressed and the refugees are allowed to return.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article18853.htm
True Aim Of Annapolis,And Why It Failed - Although both Bush and Abbas are willing collaborators in this undemocratic endeavour, Israelis must wake up to the fact that their country is knee-deep in Apartheid, and nothing is significant enough to salvage their racially-selective democracy, except true democracy
http://www.countercurrents.org/baroud101207.htm
RUSSIA
Ford Strike: local authorities have attempted to ban picketing at the site and the struggle continues. According to one Russian news website, "The ongoing Ford strike has been heralded by many Russian social observers as the birth of organized union activity in post-Soviet Russia ... the Ford pickets represent the strongest union action in Russia for many years
http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/show_news.pl?country=Russia
UK
Money Matters: Poverty Forces Families Into High-Cost Loans - A new report by Save the Children reveals that as many as 2.3 million people in the UK on low incomes are being forced to take out high-interest loans at rates topping 183% APR - many simply to provide essentials for their children. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0712/S00755.htm
USA
Morgan Stanley issues full US recession alert: Morgan Stanley has issued a full recession alert for the US economy, warning of a sharp slowdown in business investment and a "perfect storm" for consumers as the housing slump spreads.
http://snipurl.com/1v4qu
The coming recession: Not an accident : The downward slide triggered by belated recognition of the subprime mortgage fiasco has a long way to go - and it's going. Recession is certain, and, despite the entire chorus of economists, bankers and government officials to the contrary, a depression such as that of the 1930s is possible.
http://www.jamesclayfuller.com/2007/12/recession-not-accident.html
New Orleans: Stop Racially Motivated Public Housing Demolitions
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0712/S00850.htm
VENEZUELA
After Referendum Defeat, Chávez Pledges to Continue the Struggle: A Report from Caracas
http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/rw091207.html
Democracy diary - Hilary Wainwright reports from Caracas on Venezuela’s referendum – and the next steps towards reform
http://www.redpepper.org.uk/article753.html
Ritual Gloating Postmortems - The Corporate Media v. Hugo Chavez
http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=45&ItemID=14480
WORLD ECONOMY
When Neoliberalism Implodes: Left Perspectives on the Current Political Economy. This is a movie file of the debate between Sam Gindin and Robert Brenner on December 7, 2007 at the Brecht Forum in New York. Brenner and Gindin each give a presentation, followed by a Q&A session. Moderated by Vivek Chibber. Robert Brenner is a professor of history at UCLA. Sam Gindin is Packer Chair in Social Justice at York University, Toronto. Vivek Chibber is a professor of sociology at NYU.
http://mgc.blogsite.org:60/blog