#238: Palestine Rally Sat / Forum Mon - "REMEMBERING AL NAKBA "

GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND NEWSLETTER #238, May 7, 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,

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PALESTINE IN AUCKLAND IN MAY 2008 – REMEMBERING AL NAKBA – THE CATASTROPHE

Saturday, May 10, 12 noon, Aotea Square
RALLY FOR PALESTINE - Next week May 15th, will see loud and lasting applause for Israel’s 60 years anniversary while ignoring 60 years of Palestinian dispossession and suffering – the catastrophic upheaval of Palestinian society. The Palestinian al Nakba or “Catastrophe” was not a one-off historical event beginning in 1948, but has been a continuous process of systematic violence, destruction, demonisation and oppression inflicted by the new nation-state of Israel and it supporters on generations of indigenous Palestinians. Already we have seen Israel given resounding plaudits in the NZ Herald 6/5/08 with no material offered from a Palestinian perspective.
For more information: Contact Janfrie Wakim 5200201

Monday, May 12th, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Road, Grey Lynn.
GPJA FORUM: “Facing the Forests: What peace and justice mean, 60 years on” Maher Mughrabi Scottish-Palestinian journalist and writer, currently the foreign desk news editor for The Age, Melbourne. Global Peace & Justice Auckland (GPJA)

Tuesday, May 13th, 7pm, Tivoli, Oneroa, Waiheke Island,
Prospects for Palestine Questions and Answer session, Maher Mughrabi,

Wednesday, May 14th, 6-7.30pm, Lecture Theatre 029 Clock Tower Building, Princes St
“State of Siege: Problems & Prospects for Palestinians & Israelis” - Maher Mughrabi. NZ Institute of International Affairs University of Auckland,

Wednesday, May 21st, 8pm, Rialto Theatre, Newmarket
“ Occupation 101” followed by discussion, Human Rights Film Festival,

Thursday May 22nd, 6pm, Rialto Theatre, Newmarket
“Occupation 101” followed by discussion, Human Rights Film Festival,

ANNOUNCEMENTS

18 HOUR RADIO BROADCAST ON 60 YEARS OF PALESTINIAN DISPOSSESSION - THURSDAY, MAY 15th, from Midnight until 6pm (EST) - Join us for this historic international radio reflection of the Palestinian Nakba or catastrophe. Content will be hosted by the International Middle East Media Center in Bethlehem (Palestine), in collaboration with CKUT 90.3fm in Montreal (Quebec, Canada), CHRY 105.5fm in Toronto (Ontario, Canada), and KBOO 90.7fm in Portland (Oregon, USA). Including contributions from Pacifica Radio and Democracy Now! Tune-in and remember! Thursday, May 15th, 2008, commemorates 60 years of the Palestinian Nakba. In 1948 eighty-five percent of the Palestinians living in the areas that became the state of Israel became refugees. More than 500 Palestinian villages were depopulated and later destroyed to prevent the return of the refugees. Today there are a total of 7 million Palestinian refugees, dispersed throughout the world - the largest and longest running refugee problem yet unresolved. 60-years later, Israel continues to occupy and colonize Palestinian land through the construction of Jewish only settlements and the Wall in the West Bank. The Gaza Strip has been turned into one large prison. Israel violates international law and commits ongoing war crimes and crimes against humanity. And Palestinians abroad are the world's oldest refugee population, making-up more than one fourth of all refugees. On Thursday, May 15th, we will broadcast throughout the day on these and many other topics. A complete schedule will be available soon, email news[at]ckut.ca for details. Download MP3 Promo for participating radio stations Poster for promotion (PDF)
Stay tuned for more information. YOUR SUPPORT IS NEEDED. CLICK HERE
https://co.clickandpledge.com/default.aspx?wid=17066
OR
securely donate to donation@imemc.org through PayPal
George N. Rishmawi, The Palestinian Center for Rapprochement between People (PCR), Director, Phone: +972(0)2-277-2018 Fax: +972(0)2-277-4602, +970-599-833-888 (cell), +972-(0)544-351-339 (cell)
www.pcr.ps , www.imemc.org

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

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 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

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 "OIL WARS: Thinking Globally, acting locally." 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

Monday, May 12, 6pm-9pm Monday, Cityside Church, 8A Mt. Eden Road, Newton
AUCKLAND ANARCHIST ASSEMBLY - an informal evening of presentations and short films on what anarchists are up to in Tamaki Makaurau/Auckland City, all welcome - What: a forum for anarchists and interested people to discuss and share information on activism and organizing around the city and the world. -- Short presentations on -- Eyewitness report on State and Paramilitary Repression in the Phillipines; Fur Free Auckland Campaign and upcoming ANZCART Summit, (anti-Vivisection Protest); Autonomous activism and organizing in Britain and Israel; Recent Climate Change activism in Auckland; Report on national Anarcha-Feminist Conference; Update on situation of Danny "Vegas" Wilson, former Auckland anarchist, now in jail in the US (please bring a gold coin or so, to help raise funds for Danny's bail bond, which is US$5000). Organised by the Auckland Anarchist Network, an information-sharing network for Auckland anarchists http://akanarchists.blogspot.com/

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”.

Thursday, May 15, 7.30pm, Room 3.407, School of Engineering, 20 Symonds St, University of Auckland,
Ethics and Climate Change: Are New Ethical, Economic and Governance Systems Required? Dr Robert Howell, Lecturer in Business Ethics, AUT University, CEO Council for Socially Responsible Investment. Abstract: The World Scientists' Warning to Humanity (1992) said, "Human beings and the natural world are on a collision course. … A new ethic is required - a new attitude towards discharging our responsibility for caring for ourselves and for the earth." The Stern Report stated: "It is not possible to provide a coherent and serious account of the economics of climate change without close attention to the ethics underlying economic policy raised by the challenges of climate change." This presentation provides a multidisciplinary perspective to map the ethical issues with links to science, economics, political theories, international governance, and global warming negotiations. www.esr.org.nz
Contact: Thomas Neitzert at thomas.neitzert@aut.ac.nz.

Saturday, May 17, 7pm, 7 Mason Ave, Otahuhu. (Off Great South Rd. Upstairs, above laundromat.) Dinner at 6pm.
Militant Labour Forum: Hear Róger Calero and Chauncey Robinson: Róger Calero, the Socialist Workers candidate for U.S. president, will be in Auckland for a speaking tour May 16-20 to meet working people and youth and exchange information and experiences. Chauncey Robinson from the Young Socialists for Calero and Kennedy (Alyson Kennedy is Calero's running mate) will accompany him and also speak. Suggested donations: $3 forum, $7 dinner.

Monday, May 19, 1pm, Mtg Room 2, AUSA House, Alfred St, Auckland University,
Hear Róger Calero and Chauncey Robinson (See above). Hosted by AUSA.

Monday, May 19, 6pm, Clock Tower Lecture Theatre 029 at Auckland University, 22 Princes St.
Free the Cuban Five! Hear Róger Calero (see above): Institute of International Affairs

Tuesday, May 20, 5pm, Lecture Theatre WT003,. AUT Tower, cnr Rutland and Wakefield Sts.
Hear Róger Calero and Chauncey Robinson (see above): AUT University, Pacific Media Centre.

BEST ON THE WEB

NEW ZEALAND
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
Spybase attack accused bailed
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4511221a10.html
All three men charged with damaging the Waihopai spy base were released on bail today in Blenheim District Court.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/national/7724.html
KiwiFM Audio: Wallace n Manning – Tame Iti Free to Travel Abroad
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0805/S00041.htm
Matt McCarten: Junior doctors deserve support from CTU - not back-stabbing
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=204&objectid=10507785
Crossing ditch to prosperity - From The Left - Chris Trotter
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4507187a1861.html
Average family in the red just to get by
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4509480a10.html
Gordon Campbell: Back on Track - Today’s $665 million buy-back of the rail network from the Australian firm Toll Holdings is a genuine cause for celebration.
http://election08.scoop.co.nz/gordon-campbell-back-on-track/

FEATURES
JOHN PILGER: Latin America: the hidden war on democracy
http://www.johnpilger.com/page.asp?partid=485
Global economic crisis: ‘No-one knows where the toxic debt is buried’
http://www.greenleft.org.au/2008/749/38711
The World Food Crisis Sources and Solutions by Fred Magdoff
http://www.monthlyreview.org/080501magdoff.php
The global food crisis - Slideshow created by Peter Boyle
http://www.links.org.au/node/384
NOAM CHOMSKY: Elite Policy And The "Axis of Evil" - The official story right now is that after having been forced to accept an agreement on dismantling its nuclear weapons facilities, North Korea is again trying to evade its commitments in its usual devious way-"good news" for superhawks like John Bolton, who have held all along that the North Koreans understand only the mailed fist and will exploit negotiations only to trick us.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article19856.htm

ENVIRONMENT
Oxygen-poor ocean zones are growing - Linked to global warming, these areas of the Pacific and Atlantic cannot
sustain most marine life, a new study warns.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-deadzone2-2008may02...

REVIEWS
Book Asserts Black Reporter Didn?t Kill White Officer in ‘81
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/02/us/02philadelphia.htm

AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan: Taliban continue growing in strength
http://www.greenleft.org.au/2008/749/38726

BOLIVIA
Evo Morales: A "grand rebellion" against the exploiters has been born
http://boliviarising.blogspot.com/2008/05/evo-morales-grand-rebellion-ag...
Bolivia nationalises four energy firms, takes control of telecom operator news
http://boliviarising.blogspot.com/2008/05/bolivia-nationalises-four-ener...
Bolivian military warns against autonomy vote
http://boliviarising.blogspot.com/2008/05/bolivian-military-warns-agains...
The future is at stake in Bolivia
http://boliviarising.blogspot.com/2008/05/future-is-at-stake-in-bolivia....
FIDEL CASTRO: AN ACID TEST
http://www.cuba.cu/gobierno/reflexiones/2008/ing/f300408i.html

CANADA
Canada's Shameful Legacy Of Aborginal Abuse By Dave Bennett
http://www.countercurrents.org/bennet300408.htm

ECUADOR
Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa forced the resignations of his defense minister and three top commanders over various lapses.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-ecuador2-2008may02,0...

GUATEMALA
Bullets And Bananas: The Violence Of Free Trade In Guatemala By Cyril Mychalejko - The ongoing violence against workers in Guatemala makes it clear that talk of free trade improving human rights in developing countries is lost in translation. Free trade has done nothing but exacerbate poverty and inequality, while rewarding governments for sustaining repressive conditions that allow corporations to exploit vulnerable, and often powerless workers
http://www.countercurrents.org/cyri030508.htm

IRAQ
Iraq - May Day 2008 Statement from the Iraqi Labour Movement
http://www.sendika.org/english/yazi.php?yazi_no=16771
Shadowing Slaughter in Sadr City - As the first UK journalist to be embedded with the rebel Mahdi Army, Hala Jaber reports on its terrifying battle
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article19864.htm

JAPAN
The Robert L. Capp collection at the Hoover Institution Archives contains ten never-before-published photographs illustrating the immediate aftermath of the Hiroshima bombing
http://faculty.ucmerced.edu/smalloy/atomic_tragedy/photos.html

NICARAGUA
Patronage Stirs Fears in Nicaragua
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/04/world/americas/04nicaragua.html?_r=1&r...

SOLOMON ISLANDS
Solomon Islands: report slams Australian-led intervention
http://www.greenleft.org.au/2008/749/38718

UK
Tariq Ali: Power Can't Shape Truth Forever - New Labour is Dead: New Labour has suffered a crushing defeat. The Blair project of promoting and implementing right-wing policies in the knowledge that traditional working class voters would remain solid died on 1 May 2008.
http://counterpunch.org/tariq05032008.html

USA
25,000 Dockworkers Shut Down West Coast Ports in Historic Antiwar Protest
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/5/2/25_000_dockworkers_shut_down_west
Stokely Carmichael & The US In The 1960s
http://sonsofmalcolm.blogspot.com/2008/05/stokely-carmichael-us-in-1960s...
What if 5.3 Million More Americans Could Vote?: Across the country there are 5.3 million Americans who are denied the right to vote because of a felony conviction in their past. Nearly 4 million of these people are not in prison; they live, work, pay taxes, and raise families in our communities, but remain disenfranchised for years, often for decades, and sometimes for life.
http://www.alternet.org/rights/82457/?page=entire
"Torture is terrorism", ex-Guantanamo man tells US
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL02898954

VENEZUELA
"Venezuelan Labor Day Rally Attracts Hundreds of Thousands, Wages Raised by 30%"
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news/3407
"Venezuela?s Labor Movement at the Crossroads"
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/3398