#242: Picket US Consulate Thurs 4pm - "Free the Cuban Five"
GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND NEWSLETTER #242, June 9, 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.
To access the newsletter online go to: http://gpja.org.nz/ This will allow people to link directly through articles until we fix the problem with the newsletter format.
Kindly forward this newsletter to your friends and encourage them to join this mailing list @ http://www.gpja.org.nz/
Kia ora koutou,
OCTOBER 15 ACCUSED SUPPORT GROUP
Please check out the website developed by the Wellington support group for the October 15th accused.
http://october15thsolidarity.info
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
"An error does not become truth by reason of multiplied propagation, nor does truth become error because nobody sees it": Mohandas Gandhi
"In the democracy of the dead all men at last are equal. There is neither rank nor station nor prerogative in the republic of the grave": John James Ingalls
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PICKET CALLED OF UNITED STATES CONSULATE, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 4PM, 23 CUSTOMS ST AUCKLAND CBD
Organised by Global Peace and Justice Auckland and the Auckland Cuba Friendship Society
Why we are protesting:Free the Cuban Five NOW!
Thursday's emergency protest is one of many being held in cities around the world, against last week’s court ruling by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, which upheld the convictions of the anti-terrorist activists known as the Cuban Five.
As their 10th year of imprisonment approaches on Sept. 12, supporters of the Cuban Five are demanding more energetically than ever that the Bush administration grant their immediate freedom.
WHO ARE THE CUBAN FIVE?
Gerardo Hernández, Ramón Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando González and René González are five Cuban men who were engaged in a peaceful mission to stop Miami-based rightwing organizations from continuing to carry out terrorist attacks against Cuba.
The Cuban Five had infiltrated the Miami terrorist groups to monitor and prevent attacks. The Five harmed no one, they possessed no weapons, and they saved lives.
Instead of prosecuting the terrorists, the FBI arrested the Cuban Five on Sept. 12, 1998. They were placed in 17 months of solitary confinement, and the judge denied the defence attorneys’ motions to move the trial out of the politically-charged, anti-Cuba environment of Miami. In June 2001, in a gross miscarriage of justice, the Five were convicted on false charges of espionage conspiracy and other charges, and sentenced to four life sentences and 77 years collectively.
Last week's Court ruling ordered the re-sentencing of the life terms of Antonio Guerrero and Ramón Labañino, and of the 19-year sentence of Fernando González. But it left intact all the convictions as well as the two life sentences of Gerardo Hernández and the 15-year sentence of René González. More appeals are planned in the future.
EXTRADITE THE TERRORIST POSADA CARRILES!
Just as outrageous as the railroading of the Cuban Five, is the complete impunity granted to the Miami terrorists by the U.S. government.
For almost 50 years, the anti-Cuba terrorist network in Miami has enjoyed an open and free reign of terror against Cuba. More than 3,400 Cuban people have died as a result of their terrorist attacks.
Luis Posada Carriles and Orlando Bosch are directly responsible for a long string of terrorist actions, including the murder of 73 passengers and crew in the mid-air bombing of a Cuban airliner in October 1976, using bombs that they fabricated and paid mercenaries to plant on the plane. Posada has openly admitted his role in the bombing of a Cuban hotel in 1997, which killed an Italian tourist,
Although the government of Venezuela has demanded Posada’s extradition since his illegal entry into the United States in March 2005, the Bush administration has refused to even reply to Venezuela’s extradition request. We demand that the U.S. extradite Posada Carriles to stand trial for his crimes.
NATIONAL LAWYERS GUILD SAYS POLITICS MOTIVATED DECISION IN CUBAN FIVE CASE
http://www.nlg.org/news/index.php?entry=entry080605-080621
FREE THE FIVE WEBSITE
http://www.freethefive.org/
EXHIBITION AND PROGRAMME OF EVENTS AT TIVOLI, 5/143 OCEAN VIEW RD, ONEROA, WAIHEKE ISLAND
3723361, 021 1752218, tivolinz@gmail,com
FOCUS: IRAQ + PALESTINE
EXHIBITION: WORK BY:
• Malcolm Evans, original cartoons relating to Iraq and Palestine/Israel conflict, including those that lost him his job at the Herald
• Bruno Stevens, photo-journalist, (recently honoured by Retrospective, Brussels) Baghdad, 2003, photographs prior to, during and after the bombing of Baghdad, in book and 10 minute video loop form
• Alexis Hunter, NZ artist based London, 1970s photograph with Twin Towers; modular painting tite London 2005, produced after the London bombings
• Dave Brown, cartoonist for U.K. Independent, original cartoon title :Iraq 2006
• Harmeet Sooden, interactive virtual book display of pages from Harmeet's notebook kept while in captivity in Baghdad
FILMS :
• Thurs June 12, 8pm: Reel Bad Arabs
• Fri June 13, 8pm: The Road to Guantanamo Bay
• Sat June 14, 8pm: The Yes Men
TALKS:
• Sat June 14, 6pm: Malcolm Evans
TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE CONFERENCE 2008 - 8th - 11th JUNE 2008
'Te Tatau Pounamu ¬ The Greenstone Door: Traditional knowledge and gateways to balanced relationships'.
The Conference focuses on traditional indigenous concepts, values, ideals, models and strategies for sustaining balanced and healthy relationships within and across families, communities, nations, nation-states, local, regional and global borders, territories and environments. The Conference will provide opportunities to discuss indigenous strategies for sustaining relationships between collectives and over generations, for resolving conflict, for peace-making, reconciliation and restorative justice. There will also be opportunities to share what has been learned from diverse contexts around the world about how indigenous models, values, concepts and processes have been incorporated into state or government initiatives and with what impact for indigenous peoples. The international conference with associated community workshops and satellite meetings enables us to bring together in dialogue a wide range of participants, perspectives, voices, frameworks and models for understanding indigenous frameworks.
Website: www.indigenous-peace-conference-2008.ac.nz
Contact email: indigenous-conference@auckland.ac.nz
“BASES OF EMPIRE – THE GLOBAL SPREAD OF US MILITARY AND SPY BASES” with international guest Cora Fabros
Touring NZ July 2008. Recent events have propelled the Waihopai spybase into the spotlight. It is a US spybase in all but name and NZ’s most important contribution to all US wars. Cora Fabros, from the Philippines, is a veteran activist with the anti-bases, anti-nuclear and peace movement. She is the Asia/Pacific Coordinator of the International Network for the Abolition of Foreign Military Bases. The US is on a global war footing and the Asia/Pacific region is of immense strategic significance. This is the region that Cora will be speaking about. In Japan (particularly Okinawa) and South Korea the huge US presence 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 in the early 90s, the US military is back. Guam, a US territory, has been turned into a major nuclear warfighting base. Australia has given the US permission to build its first new spybase in 40 years. NZ hosts a US military transport base (at Christchurch Airport); and two “New Zealand” spybases, at Tangimoana and Waihopai. NZ’s role as a small, but vital, US satellite must be exposed, and the covert links ended. Cora’s tour provides the regional context for how we aid and abet the US military and intelligence empire.
DUNEDIN Tuesday July 8, 7.30 p.m, Alexander MacMillan Room, Dunedin Community House, 283 Moray Place Kay Murray, (03) 4542057, 021 1672843, email: ksimmondsmurray@xtra.co.nz
CHRISTCHURCH Wednesday 9, 7.30 p.m., Oxford Terrace Baptist Church Hall, cnr Madras St & Oxford Terrace. Murray Horton (03) 3663988, 0274 307742 email: cafca@chch.planet.org.nz
BLENHEIM Thursday 10, 7.30 p.m., Wesley Centre, 3 Henry Street. Steffan Browning 021 725655, email: sjb@steffan.co.nz
WELLINGTON Monday 14, 5.30 p.m., St Johns in the City, Main Hall, cnr Willis & Dixon Sts. Sam Huggard (04) 8033054, 021 1810508 email: samhuggard@yahoo.co.nz
PALMERSTON NORTH Tuesday 15, 7 p.m. PSA House, 1st Floor, 43 King St. Dion Martin (06) 3569658 w, 021 776029 w; email: dion.martin@ndu.org.nz
AUCKLAND Wednesday 16, 7.30 p.m, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Road, Grey Lynn & Thursday 17, 5-6.30 p.m., WT0032, AUT Tower Building, 2 Rutland Street. Del Abcede, (09) 3787543, 021 02376917; email darobie@hotmail.com
DONATIONS ARE NEEDED to help with tour costs. Please make cheques payable to ABC, Box 2258, Christchurch.
Anti-Bases Campaign, Box 2258, Christchurch, New Zealand. cafca@chch.planet.org.nz
www.converge.org.nz/abc
INTERNATIONAL BRIGADE “50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TRIUMPH OF THE CUBAN REVOLUTION”
Dear Friends: Next year the Cuban Revolution will arrive to its 50th anniversary: 50 years of solidarity and friendship between Cuba and the peoples of the world. From October 5th through 19th this year, our Institute will welcome the “50th Anniversary of the Revolution” International Brigade and friends coming from all over the world will enjoy this unique opportunity to celebrate this important date in Cuba. We are looking forward to hosting you!!!! Asia-Pacific Division, Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples, Email: dasia@icap.cu Tlf: (53-7) 838 2430
INVITATION TO VENEZUELA EDUCATION STUDY TOUR
A Collaborative Exchange and Study Tour for Academics, Teachers & Students January 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. 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
Sunday, June 15, 1pm, Socialist Centre, 86 Princes St, Onehunga, Auckland
Marxist Forum: The Global Food Crisis - Fact or Fiction? From food riots in Haiti to rising prices in NZ, all the signs point to a global crisis. But is it a case of not enough food, or the drive of capitalism to increase its profits? Speakers: John Minto (Global Peace and Justice Auckland; Editor of Workers Charter) on the myth of the global food shortage; Grant Morgan (chair of RAM - Residents Action Movement) on the campaign to remove GST from food in NZ. Organised by Socialist Worker. For more details ph Peter 021-2304 128.
Friday, June 20, 7.30pm, Auckland Latin American Community Art Centre, 37 Selwyn St, Onehunga
Film Screening: "NOW THE PEOPLE HAVE AWOKEN" Entry by gold coin/koha
Saturday, June 21, 11.30am, Friends Meeting House, 113 Mt Eden Road, Auckland
WILPF Tamaki Makaurau Branch invites you to join us for lunch to celebrate Matariki. Janfrie Wakim will speak on the work of the Child Poverty Action Group. Suggested donation $10. R.s.v.p. Joan Macdonald, 09 360 8001
joanmac@pl.net
Wednesday, June 25, 7.30pm, St Lukes Church Hall, Cnr St Lukes Rd and New North Road, Mt Albert, Auckland
'FOOD PRICES GOING UP: FOOD QUALITY GOING DOWN' - Public Meeting with Sue Kedgley MP. Sue Kedgley will be speaking on why food prices are rising and food quality is going down. The threat of unaffordable and inaccessible food is gripping the world, as escalating food prices and global food shortages continue to grow, Ms Kedgley said. Even in New Zealand, skyrocketing food prices are putting some healthy foods out of reach of many people and this will inevitably impact on the health of New Zealanders. “We need a food security strategy to ensure we have enough healthy, affordable food for all New Zealanders, and to withstand any future global shortages and rocketing food prices. “We also need to regain control of our food supply, reduce our dependence on imported food, encourage a more self sufficient food production system through farmers markets, community gardens etc, and by growing, harvesting and preparing our own food.” For more information contact: Catherine McElwain 04 470 6717 or Email: catherine.mcelwain@parliament.govt.nz
Sunday 29 June. 2.30pm at St Columba Centre, Vermont St, Ponsonby
HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE OLYMPICS. Speakers:- Simon Reeves, Jeremy Pope, Carole Curtis and we will try to get Louisa Wall as an eminent sportsperson. Human Rights Foundation asked to provide a chairperson. HRN Forum.
Wednesday, July 16, 7.30pm, trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn
GPJA FORUM: “BASES OF EMPIRE – THE GLOBAL SPREAD OF US MILITARY AND SPY BASES” with international guest Cora Fabros from the Philippines, who is a veteran activist with the anti-bases, anti-nuclear and peace movement. She is the Asia/Pacific Coordinator of the International Network for the Abolition of Foreign Military Bases.
BEST ON THE WEB
NEW ZEALAND
Employees strike at Auckland Airport - Foodcourt employees at Auckland International Airport walked off the job this morning, protesting what their union is calling "New Zealand's worst employment contract".
http://www.tv3.co.nz/News/NationalNews/Story/tabid/423/articleID/58646/c...
Auckland Airport food workers strike
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/latest/200806071348/25bcb546
Read Keith Locke's speech in Parliament for the Vietnam Veterans Crown apology http://www.greens.org.nz/searchdocs/speech11893.html
John Minto: Govt's shameful exploitation of the world's starving
http://www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4577683a16155.html
Matt McCarten: Clark facing isolation as snubs come back to haunt Labour
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10515028
John Minto: Freeze profits, not wages
http://www.businessday.co.nz/blogs/frontline/2008/06/09/freeze-profits-n...
John Minto: Economist – all calculator with no brain
http://johnminto.org.nz/economist-%e2%80%93-all-calculator-with-no-brain...
ENVIRONMENT
Water crisis to be biggest world risk
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2008/06/05/ccwate...
Food & Water Watch is a nonprofit consumer rights organization that challenges the corporate control and abuse of our food and water resources.
http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/
FEATURE
The gods of greed: They promised economic stability, order and prosperity. But instead the world's bankers have delivered chaos, debt and uncertainty - and then blamed the feeble governments that surrendered control of the global economy to them. In the first of three extracts from their new book, Larry Elliott and Dan Atkinson explain how the reckless speculation of a super-rich elite has left us all the poorer
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/jun/02/globaleconomy.globalreces...
How Britain's middle class was betrayed: Britain's professionals are worried. Their careers and living standards are under threat. Lawyers, doctors, bank managers and postmasters face an uncertain future as faceless corporations take over their work. In the second of three extracts from their new book, Larry Elliott and Dan Atkinson reveal how a wealthy elite rewrote all the rules - and conned the middle class
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/jun/03/economics.policy
The fightback starts here: The excesses of banks, big business and the super-rich have shattered our economic system. In the final extract from their new book, Larry Elliott and Dan Atkinson put forward their principles for a fairer and more cohesive society
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/jun/04/economicgrowth.banking/pr...
BOLIVIA
Bolivia's autonomy referendums signal rightist backlash - On Sunday, the Amazonian states of Beni and Pando voted overwhelmingly in favor of more autonomy from the socialist government of Evo Morales.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0603/p06s01-woam.html
Referendums of reaction
http://www.greenleft.org.au/2008/754/38989
CUBA
The proper response to Castro - US elections 2008: Pandering to Cuban exiles is an election-year staple, but the next US president should open talks with Cuba
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/stephen_kinzer/2008/05/the_proper_re...
Cuba's Urban Agrarians Flourish - "Buy local. Eat seasonal. Eat organic." All now commonplace admonitions in the
United States. But while none of these slogans are household words in Cuba, 70 percent of the vegetables and herbs grown on the island today are organic and the urban gardens where they are raised are usually within walking distance of those who will consume them. So in one blow Cuba reduced the use of fossil fuels in the production and transportation of food. And they began doing this nearly 20 years ago.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/06/04/world/main4154650.shtml
Che Guevara’s Final Verdict on the Soviet Economy
http://www.socialistvoice.ca/?p=298
PALESTINE
18 years of work destroyed in less than 4 hours
http://sabbah.biz/mt/archives/2008/05/27/eighteen-years-of-work-destroye...
A change needs to come
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article9567.shtml
PHILIPPINES
Crispin Beltran: The people’s statesman
http://www.upiasiaonline.com/Politics/2008/06/05/crispin_beltran_the_peo...
Monocultures, Multinationals And Murders - The Philippines' Unfree Zones
http://www.zcommunications.org/znet/viewArticle/17847