#225: SPECIAL GPJA FORUM – WEDNESDAY – DR HANS KOECHLER ON THE WAR ON TERROR
GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND NEWSLETTER #225, February 16, 2008
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.
Kia ora koutou,
Special GPJA Forum - Wednesday 20th February
Dr Hans Koechler: The 'Global War on Terror - Contradictions of an Imperial Strategy'
7.30pm Wednesday, February 20, 2008 (Note change of date from previous newsletter)
Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Auckland
Special GPJA Forum, chair Jane Kelsey
Prof. Dr Hans Koechler, President of the International Progress Organisation (IPO) will be in Auckland next week, on Tuesday 19.2.08 and Wednesday 20.2.08. He is a renowned international jurist, activist expert on international law, injustice, and power politics, academic and much-published progressive author:
Dr Koechler's clear perceptions on the subject have even greater relevance here now, following the terror raids, arrests, and mass intimidation of Tuhoe last October; and the subsequent Law Commission review now underway of NZ's criminal and terrorist legislation.
For more information on Dr Koechler, see his website: http://hanskoechler.com/
Media enquiries: Hans Koechler
FORWARD
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CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANISING MEETINGS: Civil Rights Defence Committee, 6pm, Tuesday Feb 26, 6A Western Springs Rd, Morningside, Auckland. Discuss the upcoming trials.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our
humanity." - Albert Einstein
WHAT’S ON IN NEW ZEALAND
Monday, 18 to Friday, 22 February (registration deadline is Friday, 18 January)
- Wellington CONFERENCE ON CLUSTER MUNITIONS, with approximately 350
participants expected from more than 100 governments, as well as around 100
civil society experts in the removal of cluster munitions, assistance to
victims, and advocacy. Information for NGOs is available at
[http://www.stopclusterbombs.org.nz/the-conference] If you wish to register for
the conference, the registration form is at
http://www.stopclusterbombs.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/nzcmc_wlgr...
[http://www.stopclusterbombs.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/nzcmc_wlgregistration_form_26nov07.doc]
- please note that participants from NGOs in Aotearoa need to register as soon
as possible, the absolute deadline is 18 January. There will be public meetings
in Auckland and Wellington (and possibly other cities) around the time of the
conference; registration is not required for those events. Information about
what you can, wherever you are, to support the conference reaching its goals
will be available at [http://www.stopclusterbombs.org.nz/take-action/] in
January; the government's web site for the conference is at
[http://www.mfat.govt.nz/clustermunitionswellington/index.php]
Tuesday 19 February, 2008 6pm -8pm at the Aotea Chapel, 370 Queen Street,
Auckland Central
Cluster Munitions – Public Meeting. Two of the delegates who will be
attending the Conference on Cluster Munitions in Wellington in February will be
speaking in Auckland on the banning of cluster munitions and divestment. The
speakers are:
- Miriam Struyk from the Netherlands who is a policy advisor on human security
and disarmament for IKV Pax Christi which is working in partnership with local
NGOs in more than 25 conflict affected countries. She helped produce a Dutch
documentary ‘The Clusterbomb Feeling’ that revealed how Dutch pension funds
were being invested in the production of antipersonnel mines and cluster
munitions. Following a public outcry, the biggest pension funds changed their
policies to divest from cluster munitions and landmine manufacturers.
- Stan Brabant, Handicap International Belgium, who heads their policy unit,
where he has worked since 1994 on mine clearance and mine risk education
programmes in countries such as Afghanistan and Cambodia. He serves on the
leadership of both the Cluster Munitions Coalition and the International
Coalition to Ban Landmines. He has been instrumental in securing Belgium’s
domestic cluster munition ban and has overseen the publication of several
important reports on the impact of cluster munitions.
What these speakers have to say is very relevant to the New Zealand
Government’s position with regard to cluster munitions. On the one hand they
are part of a group of countries which is endeavouring to achieve an
international treaty to ban the manufacture and use of cluster munitions and on
the other hand is doing nothing about the Superannuation Fund investment in the
manufacture of these weapons. This meeting is being arranged by WILPF Aotearoa,
Pax Christi and the Peace Foundation. Contact Joan Macdonald. Ph 360 8001 email
[joanmac@pl.net] Kevin McBride Ph 377 5541 email [kevinm@cda.org.nz] Marion
Hancock Ph 373 2379 email [peace@fps.pl.net]
Thursday February 21, 7.30am - 9am, Auckland Museum Events Centre, Atrium
Entrance, Auckland Domain, Parnell.
Oxfam Breakfast – Is peace more than the absence of conflict? Oxfam is
offering a unique opportunity to hear from two inspiring women, who have
dedicated their lives to building lasting peace. Jody Williams won the 1997
Nobel Peace Prize for her work to secure the international ban on landmines. She
chairs the Nobel Women's Initiative and advocates on a range of human security
issues. Eileen Kolma leads Oxfam's work to tackle the root causes of tribal
conflict and gun violence in Papua New Guinea and build stronger and safer
communities. Join Oxfam for this inspiring breakfast event.
Tickets: Single tickets $45 each, or $400 to book a table of 10.
Tuesday, February 26, 6pm, Unite Organising Centre, 6a Western Springs Rd,
Morningside, Auckland
CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANISING MEETINGS: Discuss the upcoming trials.
Wednesday 5th March
Special charity premiere of John Pilgers new film “The War on Democracy” sponsored by the Peace Foundation.
Academy Cinema, Lorne Street. 7.30pm refreshments, 8.30pm film screening.
Tickets $25. Phone 3732761. Further information Ph 3732379
Friday, 14 to Sunday, 16 March - 'Promoting peace through active non-violent
resistance' is the theme of the 2008 National Peace Workshops - postponed
earlier this year, the National Peace Workshops have now been re-scheduled and
will be held at the Quaker Settlement, Whanganui, in March. The weekend will
include workshops and panel discussions with Maori, Moriori, Pacific and Pakeha
contributors who have experience of community and individual non-violent
resistance, and/or non-violent direct action in Aotearoa and overseas; as well
as workshops on campaigns of our member and other groups. More information and
registration details will be available in late January at
[http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/npw08.htm]
Saturday, March 15, 8.30am-5pm, Auckland University
On 15th March, the Faculty of Law, University of Auckland will be hosting a
one-day Symposium entitled "Civil Society: Using Law as a Sword". The symposium
will be open to the public, but pre-registration (cost $30) is essential. The
organisers of the Symposium are Treasa Dunworth and Kris Gledhill of the Law
Faculty, Rt Honourable Ted Thomas, Janfrie Wakim and Deborah Manning. We are
also pleased to have the support of the Human Rights Commission with this
initiative. If you are interested in this event or wish to register (there is a
fee of $30.00) please email Treasa Dunworth at [t.dunworth@auckland.ac.nz] or
phone on (09) 3737599 ext 88008.
~ Ongoing - Help us ban cluster bombs, online petition: "I support the global
call to ban cluster bombs", you can add your name at
[http://www.stopclusterbombs.org.nz/take-action/petition/]
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CANCELLED: TOUR FOR NOTED US CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYER LEONARD WEINGLASS. Because of
upcoming court activity in the US for the Cuban 5 this tour has been cancelled.
FLY THE FLAG: COMPETITION, LETTERS AND DONATIONS
February 2008, Kia ora, this message is about this year's fly the tino
rangatiratanga flag campaign. There are three main sections below: the Te Ata
Tino Toa media release announcing this year's 'Fly that Flag' competition, and
an update with details of the 'fly the flag' convoy that will cross the Auckland
Harbour bridge on Waitangi Day; details of how you can make a donation to help
with Te Ata Tino Toa's costs; and links to the letters from Te Ata Tino Toa,
Annette King, and Transit NZ re flying the flag on Auckland Harbour bridge, and
contact details for the Minister and Transit.
[http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/trflag08.htm]
CUBAN DOCUMENTARY HITS TOWN BEFORE GOING GLOBAL
New Zealand-Cuba documentary ¿La Verdad? opens in Auckland Academy Theatre
this week 21 February, before heading offshore to the United States and then
Cuba. The film, by Wellington journalist Helen Smyth, tells the story of Cuban
oligarch Néstor Baguer. Smyth’s family met Baguer when travelling in Cuba in
2000. He befriended the family and nominated himself their Cuban Grandfather.
Baguer told Smyth he was the leader of the dissident journalist movement in
Cuba. In 2003 Smyth learned he was in fact a Cuban spy who set up the movement
to trap would-be dissident writers. Baguer gave key evidence at summary Cuban
trials that led to long imprisonments for more than 30 writers. She returned to
Cuba with husband and co-director Tim Rose to film Baguer’s story and reasons.
¿La Verdad? premiered at last year’s New Zealand International Film
Festival. It is now being released cinematically in New Zealand just prior to
the world debut at the presitgious international film festival, Cinequest. Smyth
also plans to then travel to Cuba to present the film there. “The story is
about Cuba and the United States, with New Zealand taking the part of distant
and curious observer,” Smyth said. “I’m nervous of both the United States
and Cuban reactions, but especially the latter.
It is a highly political story and I’ve tried to tell it with empathy and
honesty, as well as recognition of my outsider status.”
¿La Verdad? opens on Thursday, 21 February and is running for a week. For more
information, including a film trailer, see www.laverdadfilm.com
[http://www.laverdadfilm.com]
SAY NO TO ORPHEUS DAY FEBRUARY 9TH
Don’t insult tangata whenua. Learn about our history. What’s happening in
Mangere Bridge on February 9th. The Mangere Historical Society, Mangere
Community Board and the Manukau City Council have declared Feb 9th ‘Orpheus
Day’.
The Orpheus was a British Naval Corvette involved in supplying weapons to
the British troops based in Onehunga in 1863. Fortunately it hit the sand bar at
the entrance to the Manukau Harbour and sank with the loss of 189 lives. The
weapons were to be used in the invasion and confiscation of Waikato and Taranaki
Maori owned land. This was in total contravention of the Treaty of Waitangi. The
colonial government of the time was controlled by wealthy land speculators in
Auckland who had no regard for the law, the Treaty of Waitangi or Maori. They
engineered the war to illegally gain control of 12,000sq km of land that the
Maori owners did not want to sell to them.
This is the political and social context that the Orpheus came sailing into on
the 7th of February 1863 loaded to the gunnels with the weapons to be used to
achieve part one of the land ripoff scam of the century. Why the Manukau City
Council would want to commemorate the sinking of a warship from an invading army
bringing weapons to assist in the alienation of what is now Manukau City needs
answering. The tangata whenua whose ancestors lived through those obscene events
are still acutely aware of the pain and darkness that descended on them. There
was no tangata whenua involvement last year and there will be none this year.
Let us not insult them with our ignorance. This event must not be given council
sanction or funding. $40,000 was last year’s grant. Say NO to Orpheus Day
February 9th
Len Brown the mayor of Manukau is the guest speaker and will fire the Orpheus
replica cannon. Email [len@lenbrown.co.nz] Phone/text 021893196
FOR MORE INFO Ph Ben 0210577478 – Email [bcorbett@ohs.school.nz]
Waitangi Tribunal Report on Manukau claim
http://www.waitangi-tribunal.govt.nz/reports/view.asp?reportid=D6BBBFAC-...
[http://www.waitangi-tribunal.govt.nz/reports/view.asp?reportid=D6BBBFAC-EB90-4AEB-9113-8F8D2305BA3F]
CLIMATE CHANGE - SOCIAL CHANGE CONFERENCE, APRIL 11-13, 2008, SYDNEY
The world is teetering on the brink of unstoppable climate change. Many now
recognise the need for serious change in the way we produce and use energy, our
transport systems, food production, urban design and forestry practices. Yet
politicians are still mouthing platitudes while allowing corporations to
continue to profit from polluting our atmosphere and destroying our ecosystem.
The need for social change has become an urgent part of preventing catastrophic
climate change. Can the market fix the problem? What is the real record of
carbon trading? How can we build a social movement capable of averting this
disaster? What models and experiences can offer real solutions? To strengthen
the exchange of ideas and contribute towards that urgent action Green Left
Weekly is organising the Climate Change - Social Change conference from April
11-13, 2008 in Sydney.
We are pleased to have confirmed:
- John Bellamy Foster, author of Marx's Ecology: Materialism and Nature, editor
of Monthly Review ([http://sociology.uoregon.edu/faculty/foster.php])
- Patrick Bond, Director of the Centre for Civil Society, University of Natal,
South Africa; editor of Climate Change, Carbon Trading and Civil Society
www.zcommunications.org/zspace/patrickbond
[http://www.zcommunications.org/zspace/patrickbond]
- Roberto Perez, Cuban permaculturalist (featured in The Power of Community:
how Cuba survived peak oil) ()
We invite your participation in making this more than just an exchange of ideas
- important as that is - but a part of building up resistance to corporate-led
climate change and strengthening the movement for sustainable development. To
receive updates about the conference, send an email to
[climatechange_socialchangeconf_announce-subscribe@yahoogroups.com] Please
forward this conference call to your networks. In solidarity, Kamala Emanuel and
Pip Hinman, Climate Change - Social Change conference organisers
ANNOUNCING THE MAY DAY 2008 BRIGADE TO VENEZUELA
Registration deadline: March 30th, 2008 (including payment). The
Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network’s (AVSN) next solidarity brigade to
Venezuela is schedule for May 2008 and will coincide with May Day (May 1st) in
Venezuela. The brigade will be a unique opportunity to see first-hand the
unfolding revolution in Venezuela. If you are interested in being part of this
inspiring and educational experience, please send the completed registration
form to [brigades@venezuelasolidarity.org]
BEST ON THE WEB
NEW ZEALAND
The latest Greenpeace GE Free Food Guide reflects a strong ongoing non-GE
position from New Zealand food companies and an unprecedented anti-GE stance
from Australasia's largest food company.
[http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0801/S00243.htm]
Tension in the House by subersivepoet
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLKaySj75tQ]
ENVIRONMENT
WORLD ECONOMY
The new Bank of the South assaults neoliberal economics
[http://www.forumdesalternatives.org/EN/readarticle.php?article_id=4616]
AFGHANISTAN
NATO winning battles, losing Afghanistan: "Make no mistake", begins a new issue
brief from non-partisan think-tank the Atlantic Council of the United States,
"NATO is not winning in Afghanistan".
[http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/JB02Df02.html]
IRAQ
New analysis ‘confirms’ 1 million+ Iraq casualties
[http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0802/S00012.htm]
LATIN AMERICA
ALBA, an Economic Alternative for Latin America
[http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/3116]
Indianismo and Marxism: The Missed Encounter of Two Revolutionary Principles by
Álvaro García Linera, vice president of Bolivia
[http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/garcia310108.html]
WEST SAHARA
Swedish Fund Öhman to divest from Wesfarmers Australia - The Australia Wester
Sahara Association (AWSA) applauds the decision of Öhman Funds from Sweden to
divest from the Australian phosphate company CSBP (Wesfarmers) due to its
imports of phosphate rock from the occupied Western Sahara.
[http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0802/S00019.htm]
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