#237: SURVEILLING THE STATE - A public forum with NICKY HAGER and JANE KELSEY
GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND NEWSLETTER #237, May 2, 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 mike@unite.org.nz; Web page - media@ndu.org.nz Donations can be sent to GPJA, P O Box 7175, Wellesley 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,
AUCKLAND: SURVEILLING THE STATE - A public forum with NICKY HAGER and JANE KELSEY
Wednesday 7 May, 6pm – 7:30pm, Whare Wananga, Second Floor, Auckland Central Library, Lorne Street
ACTIVISTS DENIED BAIL - DONATE | SUPPORT!
Yesterday afternoon the three Christian pacifist activists arrested for their protest action at Waihopai spybase, were denied a fundamental human right (the right to Bail) and will be behind bars till at least Monday, and police told Blenheim District Court they were considering charging the men with sabotage under the Crimes Act, an offence which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years' jail. Sam Land is now on hunger strike. Your support is critical!
Go to http://indymedia.org.nz where there are details of upcoming protests and bank account details, so you can support this important kaupapa. Every dollar counts...
For complete details of the Ploughshares action at Waihopai on 30 April, please see http://indymedia.org.nz/feature/display/71808/index.php
ANZAC Ploughshares deflate Waihopai spy dome
http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/plshares.htm
WELLINGTON: SHUT DOWN THE SPY BASE – MARCH AND RALLY WELLINGTON SAT MAY 3
There will be a rally and march THIS Saturday starting at 12 noon at Manners Mall going to the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) calling for the immediate closure of the Waihopai and Tangimoana spy bases and the unconditional release of the three activists arrested for deflating the dome covering one of the satellites at Waihopai. As this is very short notice, please pass this along to people in your email networks.
If you are able to do any set-up on Saturday with sound, banners, speakers or anything else, please can you email/text me directly? red_emma@riseup.net
BLENHEIM: CALL-OUT FOR SOLIDARITY WITH THOSE ARRESTED YESTERDAY AT WAIHOPAI SPY BASE
This is a call-out to get as many supporters as possible to Blenheim on Monday to support the three Waihopai Anzac Ploughshares activists who were arrested yesterday for deflating one of the domes. At least one car load, but hopefully more, will be traveling up from Christchurch and a number of people will be traveling down from the North Island to show their support and solidarity for this action. It is important that this issue get as much coverage as possible. This is an opportunity to expose Waihopai for what it is - a foreign spybase on NZ soil that directly involves us in America’s wars. It is equally important that Sam, Adrian and Peter who took the action know that they have supporters. If you are able to come to Blenheim on Monday please contact Lynda Boyd on 0274797789 or email lyndab@slingshot.co.nz so that travel arrangements can be co-ordinated. We look forward to seeing you there!
for other ways of showing support - please visit http://ploughshares.org.nz/support/
AUCKLAND: SURVEILLING THE STATE - A public forum with NICKY HAGER and JANE KELSEY
Wednesday 7 May, 6pm – 7:30pm, Whare Wananga, Second Floor, Auckland Central Library, Lorne Street
The terrorist attacks on the US of September 11, 2001 have had a profound effect on the way nation states protect their territories. In the United Kingdom and the United States, we have seen the introduction of an increased level of surveillance on everyday citizens, ranging from CCTV to the recording of private conversations. Here in New Zealand, we have seen the introduction of the Terrorism Suppression Act 2002, which grants the Government additional powers in its ability to surveil, search and detain those suspected of terrorist acts. While designed to protect citizens, the arrest of a number of environmental and Maori activists in the so-called “terror raids” since October last year have raised widespread debate on the use and limits of surveillance. In this third session of the Talk About Terror series, we are joined by independent investigative journalist NICKY HAGER and Professor of Law JANE KELSEY to talk about the topic of civil surveillance.
SURVEILLING THE STATE brings together two of New Zealand's prominent experts on issues of surveillance and decolonisation to discuss the implications of this new terrorism legislation. NICKY HAGER brings an intimate knowledge of the organisation of intelligence networks in New Zealand. The author of four books, including Secret Power: New Zealand's role in the international spy network (1996) and The Hollow
Men: A study in the politics of deception (2006), Hagar is widely considered to be one of New Zealand's leading investigative journalists.
Professor JANE KELSEY is an internationally renowned expert on globalisation, economics, social policy and decolonisation. The author of six books, including The New Zealand Experiment. A World Model for Structural Adjustment? (1995) and Reclaiming the Future. New Zealand in
the Global Economy (2000), Kelsey travels extensively as a consultant,
keynote presenter and accredited journalist.
MEDIA CONTACTS : GERALDENE PETERS geraldene.peters@aut.co.nz 021 104 5624; PHOEBE FLETCHER
p.fletcher@auckland.ac.nz 027 324 5855
THIS LECTURE IS PART OF THE TALK ABOUT TERROR SERIES ORGANISED BY NOVA PAUL, GERALDENE PETERS AND PHOEBE FLETCHER. Supported By: SCHOOL OF ART AND DESIGN, AUT University SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION STUDIES, AUT University DEPARTMENT OF FILM, TELEVISION AND MEDIA STUDIES, University of Auckland THE PACIFIC MEDIA CENTRE, AUT University
FORWARD
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MAHER MUGHRABI, PALESTINIAN WRITER AND JOURNALIST NOW WORKING IN MELBOURNE AT THE AGE AND A MEMBER OF THE PALESTINIAN DIASPORA
Monday May 12th 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Road, Grey Lynn.
GPJA MONTHLY FORUM – THE PALESTINIAN STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE - "Facing the Forests: What peace and justice mean, 60 years on".
Wednesday May 14th 6-7.30pm, Lecture Theatre 029 Clock Tower Building, 22 Princes Street, University of Auckland
NZ INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS – “State of Siege: Problems and Prospects for Palestinians and Israelis”.
MAHER MUGHRABI is a Scottish-Palestinian journalist and writer with more than 12 years' experience on newsdesks in Britain (including The Independent, The Scotsman and The Daily Mail), the Middle East (Khaleej Times) and Australia who currently works as Foreign Desk News Editor for The Age in Melbourne.
His work as a current affairs writer for The Age has dealt with Western perceptions of Islam, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the war in Iraq, including an exclusive interview with the son of one of the two Iraqi men who were kidnapped with Australia's Douglas Wood and later murdered. He has also written on politics in India, Pakistan and Britain.
Mughrabi has also lectured at Melbourne, Monash and La Trobe universities on the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, to the Melbourne Writers' Festival on the history of Zionism and to public audiences around Australia on Middle Eastern affairs and issues of Muslims and migration. In 2007 he was a guest speaker at Palestine Uncut, a film festival to mark 40 years of occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and in April 2008 he was a special guest at the Sydney Arab Film Festival's session on Palestinian films
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
ANNOUNCEMENTS
WAIHOAI SPY BASE DISPLAY AVAILABLE
Suddenly the Waihopai spybase is all over the news. So it’s timely to remind everyone that the Anti-Bases Campaign has a very good, portable display available about Waihopai. It’s been up and down the country several times in the past couple of years, being displayed in alls orts of venues and at all sorts of events. If you’re interested in making use of it, please reply to this e-mail. There are conditions. You would have to pay the cost of having it courier delivered to you and back. And it needs to be displayed, handled, transported and stored with care. We can’t get insurance for it and the graphic artist who created it has left the country, so we couldn’t get it easily repaired or replaced. In terms of its transport, it needs to lie flat in a van or station wagon, as its size and shape (two shoulder carry bags, totaling about 14 kgs) means that it doesn’t fit in a car boot or back seat. In terms of its display, it’s not suitable for use in marches, rallies or outdoor venues. It is not wind or weather proof. It can only be displayed indoors. Having said, it is there to be used and to inform and educate people about this (suddenly most newsworthy) spybase. Murray Horton, Anti-Bases Campaign, Box 2258, Christchurch, New Zealand cafca@chch.planet.org.nz
www.converge.org.nz/abc
HUMAN RIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL 2008
Wellington 8 - 16 May, Paramount Theatre; Auckland 15 - 23 May, Rialto Newmarket; Christchurch 22 - 30 May
Regent on Worcester; Dunedin 29 May - 6 June, Rialto Dunedin
Ten Feature films and seven short films addressing current issues in Human Rights. The Human Rights Film Festival provides a safe space to explore and debate national and international human rights issues. To assist this, we have organised after each screening a discussion forum examining issues raised by the ?lms. Audience members are encouraged to listen to and join in the discussion. Visit the website for a full schedule of the Festival. For more information, visit
http://www.humanrightsfilmfest.net.nz/the-films/
FAIR TRADE FORTNIGHT 08
Dear Fair Trade friends, FAIR TRADE FORTNIGHT 08 is happening from the 3rd - 18th May! Below are a few ideas on what is happening during Fair Trade Fortnight and how you and your friends and family can get involved. Full details can be found at www.fairtrade.org.nz/ftf08
SHORT DOCUMENTARIES ON THE ISSUE OF ILLEGAL OR UNSUSTAINABLE LOGGING PRACTICES
IHRC has some very important short documentaries on the issue of illegal or unsustainable logging practices in Indonesian controlled West Papua. They help us to look at the problem of logging at the sharp end - where local communities are threatened with the loss of their traditional way of life and their livelihood by the all powerful logging companies and their backers. All are made by NGOs and local communities. We also have available " Echoes from Indonesia's Forests" made by the Environmental groups EIA and Telepak, the NGOs which conducted the major investigation into the practice of illegal logging in Indonesia. The modus operandi of the illegal loggers is exposed in graphic detail. Kwila (known in Indonesia as merbau) is a dominant in the Auckland outdoor furniture market and most of it comes from West Papua and most of it is illegally logged. These movies underline the importance of the "Don't buy kwila" campaign. If your organisation would like to view these documentaries please get in touch with Maire maire@clear.net.nz . We can also provide a speaker to introduce the films and make the links to Aotearoa
BASES OF EMPIRE THE GLOBAL SPREAD OF US MILITARY & SPY BASES - CORA FABROS TOURING NZ July 7 – 18
Cora Fabros, from the Philippines, has been a high profile activist, domestically and internationally, for more than 30 years with the anti-bases, anti-nuclear and peace movement. She has been to New Zealand before, as a guest of the Anti-Bases Campaign. Cora will be touring New Zealand as the Asia/Pacific Coordinator of the International Network for the Abolition of Foreign Military Bases.
The US has been on a global war footing since 2001 and sees the Asia/Pacific region, NZ’s backyard, as being of immense strategic significance. This is the region that Cora will be speaking about. In countries such as Japan (particularly Okinawa) and South Korea the huge US presence there covers the full range from nuclear warfighting bases to conventional combat bases to a whole variety of spybases. Despite having been kicked out of the Philippines by the world’s most successful anti-bases campaign in the early 1990s, the US military is now permanently entrenched back in that country, which it has designated “The Second Front In The War On Terror”. Guam, which is a US territory in the Pacific, has been turned into a major US nuclear warfighting base in recent years. Australia hosts a variety of US bases and has given the US permission to build its first new spybase there in 40 years. And, of course, New Zealand hosts one medium level US military transport base (at Christchurch Airport) which is a cog in the chain of regional US bases; and two “New Zealand” spybases, at Tangimoana and Waihopai. The latter is NZ’s single most important contribution to all US wars.
2008 is election year in both NZ and the US (this only happens every 12 years). The Anti-Bases Campaign believes that it is vital that NZ’s continuing role as a small but very important satellite of the US military and intelligence empire be thoroughly ex-posed and that voters demand that the Government finish the job begun when this country became nuclear free and out of ANZUS in the 1980s. Cora Fabros’ tour is vital in providing an international context for how we aid and abet that empire. US bases and the struggle against them are a huge issue for many of our neighbours.
For local date and venue details contact:
Dunedin — Kay Murray (03) 4542057, 021 1672843, email: ksimmondsmurray@xtra.co.nz
Christchurch — Murray Horton (03) 3663988, email: cafca@chch.planet.org.nz
Blenheim — Steffan Browning 021 725655, email: sjb@steffan.co.nz
Wellington — Sam Huggard (04) 8033054, 021 1810508 email: samhuggard@yahoo.co.nz
Palmerston North — Dion Martin (06) 3569658 w, 021 776029 w; email: dion.martin@ndu.org.nz
Auckland — Del Abcede (09) 3787543, 021 02376019; email darobie@hotmail.com
Donations are needed to help with our costs. Our budget is $5,000. Please make cheques payable to ABC, Box 2258, Christchurch. cafca@chch.planet.org.nz www.converge.org.nz/abc
INVITATION TO VENEZUELA EDUCATION STUDY TOUR
A Collaborative Exchange and Study Tour for Academics, Teachers & Students February 2009
Dear Friends and Colleagues, We would like to invite you to participate in the first Education Exchange and Study Tour of Venezuela. A number of educators here in Australia and internationally have become increasingly interested in the radical education reform currently taking place in Venezuela. The reconstruction of public education has been positioned as a driving force for the wider process of social change manifest in Venezuela's Bolivarian Revolution.
It is clear that the changes are providing access to education for many Venezuelans previously excluded from the system, as well as new models of provision and new curricula based on the ideals of a “Bolivarian socialism for the 21st Century.” The early outcomes of this nationwide radical reform of education are certainly inspiring! This educational exchange aims to deepen participants' understanding of these processes in all their complexity, including the successes, the challenges and the relationship between education and the broader process of social change.
This exchange provides a unique opportunity to join educators and students from around the globe, in an investigative and collaborative tour aimed at learning more about Venezuela's revolution in education. The issues and themes of access, equity, school and university community partnerships and education for social change are at the core of our own work and experiences with education, providing a strong basis for the sharing of practice and perspectives. It is also hoped that the exchange can lead to the development of collaboration, new links and projects with institutions, community organisations and unions working in the education sector in Venezuela.
The study tour will take place in January 2009 and will involve a range of meetings (seminars) and visits with educational groups, institutions, and community organisations. The details of the week are to worked out in conjunction with colleagues from the Bolivarian University of Venezuela, and local schools and community organizations in Caracas.
Initial details:
Preliminary dates: January 6 - 14, 2009
Estimated costs: International Airfare ($3500)
Registration fee: $300/$150 concession
Estimated internal travel costs: $150
Estimated accommodation costs: $250
Food is cheap and participants will also have to budget for spending money.
The Study Tour Organising Committee will assist with advice on airfares and accommodation.
The Study Tour is hosted by Dr Tom Griffiths, University of Newcastle, Australia, and Jo Williams, Victoria University, Australia in collaboration with the Bolivarian University of Venezuela. It is supported by Centre for Latin American Solidarity and Studies (CLASS) and the Australian Venezuela Solidarity Network (AVSN), please contact us if you would like to register the support of another organization.
For further details, to contribute ideas and/or to register your interest please contact the organising committee:
Tom Griffiths
Tom.Griffiths [at] newcastle [dot] edu [dot] au
Jo Williams
Jo.Williams [at] vu [dot] edu [dot] au
Roberto Jorquera
roberto [at] latinamericasolidarity [dot] org
Jorge Jorquera
Jorge.Jorquera [at] rmit [dot] edu [dot] au
WHAT’S ON IN AUCKLAND
Saturday, May 3, 2pm, QEII Square, Customs Street and Queen St intersection, Outside Downtown Shopping Centre
RALLY FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE IN PALESTINE www.palestine.org.nz On the First Saturday of Every Month. Come support JUSTICE and PEACE based on:
1. End 41 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, May 5, 6pm, Northey Lecture Theatre, 2nd floor, LAW SCHOOL BUILDING, 9 Eden Crescent, AUCKLAND FACULTY OF LAW EVENING SEMINAR SPEAKER: LISA TABASSI: “Nuclear Disarmament in the 21st Century: Making Non Proliferation Work”. Lisa Tabassi is a Legal Officer in the Provisional Technical Secretariat of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) in Vienna, Austria. Her main area of responsibility is national implementation of the treaty and its preparatory process, including legislation and the legal arrangements underpinning the CTBTO international monitoring system.
There will be no charge to attend this Seminar. R.S.V.P. your interest today to Piers or Raewyn, phone 379 5026, or email us at piers@wwandd.co.nz or raewyn@wwandd.co.nz
Sunday, May 11, 3pm, TIVOLI, 5/143 Ocean View Rd, Oneroa, Waiheke
You are invited to the opening of FOCUS: IRAQ at TIVOLI. (09) 3723361, 021 1752218, tivolinz@gmail.com
The exhibition includes work by
• Bruno Stevens
• Alexis Hunter
• Malcolm Evans
• Dave Brown, cartoonist for the Independent
• Harmeet Sooden
*non-Waihekians: ferries (35 mins) on the hour every hour from Downtown Ferry Terminal bus link-up from Matiatia to Oneroa. TIVOLI books / exhibits / internet ,P.O. Box 316, Oneroa, Waiheke Island, Auckland 1840. ph/fax +64 9 372 3361 / 021 175 2218 / tivolinz@gmail.com / www.tivoliNZ.com
Monday 12th May: GPJA MONTHLY FORUM – THE PALESTINIAN STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Road, Grey Lynn. 7.30pm Maher Mughrabi, Palestinian writer and journalist now working in Melbourne at The Age and a member of the Palestinian Diaspora. This meeting comes just two days before the anniversary of al Nakba – the anniversary of the proclaiming of the state of Israel in Tel Aviv.
Monday, May 12, 5:00pm - 6:30pm, at the University of Auckland in Clock Tower Room TO39, Princes Street
Keith Locke will be giving a PowerPoint presentation on the ‘Geopolitics of Oil’. The talk looks at the problems in the world through the lens of oil politics - past and present. Learn why wars are often fought over oil, and why even the countries that have oil are often burdened by authoritarian government and social inequality. Keith explains how Peak Oil will increase contention for this scarce resource, but is optimistic that we can achieve a more peaceful and equitable world, using more sustainable energy and less beholden to oil interests.
More info, contact: greensoncampus@greens.org.nz
Monday, May 12, 5.00pm-6.30pm, WE 230 within the WE block, AUT Wellesley Campus
PUBLIC LECTURE HOSTED BY THE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE CENTRE with Vivien Stern and Professor Andrew Coyle
These two very known prison reform and policy advisors from the UK will speak on “Understanding Prisons – Key Issues in Policy and Practice” and “ Alternatives to Imprisonment”. Andrew Coyle is Professor of Prison Studies in the School of Law at King’s College. Before that he worked for 25 years at a senior level in the prison services. Vivien Stern is Senior Research Fellow at the International Centre for Prison Studies at King’s College, London. She is also Honorary President of Penal Reform International , an NGO promoting penal reform throughout the world. RSVP to Islay Brown by phone or email by 1 May islay.brown@aut.ac.nz Ph. 921-9999 x 6036
Wednesday May 14th 6-7.30pm, Lecture Theatre 029 Clock Tower Building, 22 Princes Street, University of Auckland
MAHER MUGHRABI, PALESTINIAN WRITER AND JOURNALIST - NZ INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS – “State of Siege: Problems and Prospects for Palestinians and Israelis”.
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BOLIVIA
Evo’s ‘ten commandments’ to save the planet
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"Welcome to the Axis of Evil" - Bolivian President Evo Morales to Paraguayan President-Elect Fernando Lugo
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IRAQ
Iraqi dockers May Day strike in solidarity with US West Coast: BREAKING NEWS: Members of the General Union of Port Workers in Iraq plan to shutdown the ports of Umm Qasr and Khor Alzubair for one hour on May Day in solidarity with the shutdown of all West Coast ports by members of ILWU in opposition to the occupation of Iraq.
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http://www.labournet.net/world/0804/iraq2.html
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PALESTINE
Protest against Israel as “guest of honour” at the Turin Book Fair
http://www.globalwomenstrike.net/AntiZionism/TurinBookFair.htm
Denying Palestinians Free Movement In The West Bank By Stephen Lendman - This article summarizes an August 2007 B'Tselem report now available in print. It's one of a series of studies it conducts on life in Occupied Palestine to reveal what major media accounts suppress. This one is titled: "Ground to a Halt - Denial of Palestinians' Freedom of Movement in the West Bank."
http://www.countercurrents.org/lendman010508.htm
WEST PAPUA
West Papua National Coalition For Liberation
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0804/S00291.htm