GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND NEWSLETTER #13, November 24, 2002 Website http://www.gpja.pl.net/ Contact details: Forums ­ John Minto, (09) 8463173 jbminto@xtra.co.nz; Newsletter Editor ­ Mike Treen 0212547440 miket@pl.net Web page ­ Geraldine Peters (09) 3570655 bern@ihug.co.nz Donations can be sent to GPJA, 84 Paice Ave, Sandringham, Auckland. All communication regarding the GPJA mailing list (email or snail) should be addressed to gpjamailinglist@xtra.co.nz

Dear friends,

Further protests are planned as the US/UK continues its war preparations. We will be taking a Christmas message to George Bush saying “Peace not War for Iraq” through a mass picket of the US Consulate on December 14. The protest will assemble first at 11am in Queen Elizabeth Square before crossing over to the Consulate in Customs St.

GPJA FORUMS

The next forum on Monday, December 2 is on The State of Democracy in Auckland (See What’s On in Auckland below for details). The forums are held on the first Monday of the month. November’s forum on the WTO, privatisation and PPP’s went well with 70 attending. The first 20-30 minutes of the forum are also an opportunity for groups to explain upcoming activities and appeal for support. Representatives of the Steven Wallace Trust Fund for Justice asked for support and $200 was contributed to the cause. There will be no forum in January.

NZ’S DEEPENING INVOLVEMENT IN THE WAR

Signs that NZ is getting more deeply involved in the US war effort have also emerged which make the protest more urgent. Through dispatching a frigate and an Orion aircraft to the Gulf as part of the so-called “War on Terror” NZ is assisting the planned attack on Iraq at least indirectly by releasing a US or British warship for the task. Among the frigates duties will be “escorting United States and coalition vessels through the Straits of Hormuz.” In addition, the US aircraft carrier to which the NZ military report is also directing bombing flights over Iraq.

Last week Prime Minister Helen Clark confirmed that if the UN Security Council approved a US-led attack on Iraq, “New Zealand, as a conscientious member of the United Nations, would look to see if it could make a contribution.” However it gets dressed up NZ would be participating in a slaughter to advance the global ambitions of the US empire to dominate the resource rich region.

Helen Clark also linked NZ’s military support to the US to the negotiation of a “free trade” deal with the US. She said New Zealand has been “a good friend and strong supporter in the international campaign against terrorism” in the past 14 months. “Probably this has led to some revision of the thinking about New Zealand.” This statement came in response to the decision by the US Trade Representative, Robert Zoellick (3 days after the frigate Te Kaha was sent to the Gulf) that he would consult Congress about the inclusion of New Zealand in the Australia/US free trade talks. The blood of the people of Afghanistan and Iraq (and NZ military personnel) is part of the sacrifice to be made on the altar of free trade. Moreover, any trade agreement that eventuated would only reinforce international corporate control, undermine democratic decision-making and destroy jobs.

New Zealand to answer Bush’s call

http://www.stuff.co.nz/inl/print/0,1478,2117971a10,000.html

PEACE IN THE PARK FEBRUARY 16, 2003 ­ HELP ORGANISE

We are planning a major “Peace in the Park” music festival Feb 16 next year. If you can help in any way please email jbminto@xtra.co.nz

GPJA BANNER MIA

If anyone has the GPJA banner safely stored away can they let us know! It went missing after the last antiwar march.

WHAT’S ON IN AUCKLAND

Saturday, November 30, 8pm, Waipapa Marae, Wynyard Street, Auckland City

Peace women’s social evening. Come and meet with the speakers and other women from around the world who will be in Auckland for the International WILPF meeting. All women welcome. For more information contact Joan tel (09) 360 8001 or Edna tel (09) 378 1732.

Monday, December 2, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn

GPJA FORUM: “The State of Democracy in Auckland”. Speakers include: Marney Ainsworth (Wake Up Auckland) on Campaigning against the profit first policies of the Auckland City Council; Keith Locke (Green MP) on the threat to civil liberties in the Terrorism Act; Graeme Easte (Western Bays Community Board) on the Auckland City Council and GATS; Lynne Serpe (Electoral Reform Coalition) on the campaign for STV.

Tuesday, December 3, 8.00pm, Khuja Lounge, 536 Queen St (near K/Rd)

“Turn Up the Volume”. A fundraiser to help the people of Palestine in their struggle for peace, justice and international support. Speakers, music, food and performance. $10 Koha. Speakers include: Drs Alan and Hazel Kerr, cardiac surgeons recently returned from working in refugee camps in Palestine; Tuma Hazou and Jawed Yousef, Palestinian immigrants and members of the Palestine Human Rights Campaign. John Pilger’s documentary “Palestine is Still the Issue” will be screened in the back bar following the speeches. All proceeds are going to the Union of Palestine Medical Relief Committee in conjunction with UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Welfare Association).

Friday, December 5, 6.30pm, Rialto Cinema, 169 Broadway, Newmarket

Film showing top raise funds for the STV campaign. Tickets $15. See Samsara a spiritual love-story set in the majestic landscape of Ladakh, Himalayas.

Continuing until Friday, December 6 at 30 Aintree Ave, Mangere

Book collection for distribution by the Reading Association of Nigeria. There is a container for books for all levels and ages. If you can't drop the books off yourself, please contact Fiona email starandgarter@xtra.co.nz For more info check out http://www.theglobalbridge.com/bookswithoutborders

Saturday, December 7, 10.30am, The Roasted Addiction Café, Kingsland

International Women’s Day 2003 Planning Committee Meeting. For more info contact Janet email janetbogle@hotmail.com

Saturday, December 7, 2pm to 3pm, Aotea Square, Queen Street

Palestine/Israel Rally for Peace, supporting peace and justice based on Removal of Israeli Occupation, Right of Return for Refugees, Sharing Jerusalem and Cessation of Jewish only Settlements in occupied Palestine. Contact David Wakim tel (09) 520 0201.

Saturday, December 14, 11am, Queen Elizabeth Square, Downtown Auckland

Give George Bush a Christmas message of “Peace Not War”. Mass picket of US Consulate, Customs Street after assembling in QEII Square.

Sunday, February 16, 2003, 2-5pm, Potters Park, Balmoral

“Peace in the Park”. A festival of music to protest against war.

OTHER NEWS

STV CAMPAIGN NEEDS SUPPORT GETTING SIGNATURES BY DEC 12

STV is a more democratic voting system for the local council. The Auckland City Council refused to hold a referendum to change the system so over 12,000 signatures are required to force a poll. If you can help go to: http://www.stvnz.org/stv-auckland.htm and download a petition form. Contact lynneserpe@xtra.co.nz

MEDICAL SUPPLIES FOR IRAQ! Quaker Peace and Service Aotearoa/NZ are once more raising money to buy medical supplies for Iraq. These will be used again to support the US-based NGO, LIFE for Relief and Development, mainly in their cancer relief projects, and the Rome-based NGO, Bridge to Baghdad's Sindibad Primary Health Care Clinic in Basra. Cheques can be made out to Quaker Peace and Service and sent to QPS, 7 Moncrieff St.,

Wellington. We can also process credit card donations e-mailed to hoggard@top.net.nz. For more information contact Tony Maturin and Sandra Jones tel (04) 389-4715.

IRAQ: PRAYERS FOR PEACE

As churches and other organisations around the world have been holding major protests and vigils to oppose any war against Iraq, CWS National Director Jill Hawkey has written to all our supporters urging them to join the various initiatives as they are able. In a statement Jill said: “Christian World Service joins churches and justice organisations around the world in opposing military action against Iraq. We are deeply dismayed at the growing threat of war and the needless violence it will inflict on an already suffering people and a troubled region. Reasons for opposing US military aggression towards Iraq are outlined in a statement prepared by the Churches Agency on International Issues, which we have distributed to our member churches. Christian World Service supports this statement and its concern with the humanitarian consequences of escalating hostilities.” See www.forpeople.org.nz

ŒWHEN THE INVISIBLE HAND ROCKS THE CRADLE: NEW ZEALAND CHILDREN IN A TIME OF CHANGE’, by Alison Blaiklock, Cindy Kiro, Michael Belgrave, Will Low, Eileen Davenport and Ian Hassall. "This paper investigates the impact of economic and social reforms on the well-being of children. These reforms were among the most sweeping in scope and scale in any industrialised democracy. The reforms have not led to an overall improvement in the well-being of children. There has been widening inequality between ethnic and income groups which has left many Maori and Pacific children, and children from one parent and poorer families, relatively worse off. The New Zealand experience illustrates the vulnerability of children during periods of social upheaval and change and the importance of having effective mechanisms to monitor, protect and promote the interests of children." The full report is available on-line http://www.unicef.org.nz/newsline/livestories/story_3.htm A hardcopy of the full report or the child-friendly version is available from UNICEF NZ, PO Box 10-978, Wellington; email 2helpkids@unicef.org.nz or tel (04) 473 0879.

PEACE RESEARCHER is the journal of the Anti-Bases Campaign. The latest issue (Number 26, October 2002) is now online. Go to www.converge.org.nz/abc and click onto "Go To Peace Researcher" then "latest issue". Articles include:

The Terrorist “War On Terror” by Murray Horton

Why A War Against Iraq Would Be Illegal Under International Law by Moana Cole

Intelligence And Terrorism Bills ­ What’s Happening? By Bob Leonard

Hard copy subscription (which includes membership of the Anti-Bases Campaign) is $20 per year. Overseas subscriptions (airmail) are: Australia $NZ25; rest of world $NZ30. PR is not registered for GST. Send cheques and all correspondence to: Peace Researcher Box 2258, Christchurch, New Zealand cafca@chch.planet.org.nz www.converge.org.nz/abc

IRAQ PEACE DELEGATION. Dharmacharini Navachitta has asked to circulate a proposal for a delegation of New Zealanders to join an international effort to send “human shields” to Iraq to deter a US/British attack. Although GPJA hasn’t endorsed the project we are happy to pass on her contact email for people who may be interested. navachitta@compuserve.com

WAIHOPAI SPYBASE PROTEST JANUARY 24-26, 2003

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0211/S00157.htm

OCEANIA SOCIAL FORUM - Bringing together the peoples of Oceania to renew the vision of the world we share, Nelson, Aotearoa/New Zealand, 21st ­24th April 2003. A social forum inspired by the 2001 and 2002 World Social Forums that have been held in Porto Alegre, Brazil, is to be held in Nelson, from Monday 21st to Thursday 24th April 2003. For further information:

- Re the Oceania Social Forum: info@oceaniasocialforum.org.nz ph 03 548 7284.

- Re the World Social Forum: www.forumsocialmundial.org.br

- To subscribe to the WSF’s weekly bulletin: www.forumsocialmundial.org.br/cadastro.asp

NEWS FROM THE WEB

OPPOSING WAR AND CORPORATE GLOBALISATION

Half million protest against war in Italy

http://www.reuters.com/news_article.jhtml?type=search&StoryID=1708015#

US Christian leaders rally as peacemakers

http://www.sptimes.com/2002/11/02/Floridian/US_Christian_leaders_.shtml

Rally invigorates antiwar movement (NYT article after thousands objected to earlier dismissive report)

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/30/politics/30PROT.html?ex=1036998055&ei=1& en =e553a26abbeba84f

A democratic multitude ­ The European Social Forum

http://www.inthesetimes.com/issue/27/02/feature2.shtml

Fences and windows ­ Who are the real globalisers, Naomi Klein

http://www.inthesetimes.com/issue/27/02/feature1.shtml

THE WAR PREPARATIONS CONTINUE

The secret war ­ Daily bombings prepare invasion

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/politics/story.jsp?story=355121

War Whatever: Bush aide ­ Inspections or not we’ll attack Ira

qhttp://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/page.cfm?objectid=12377231&method=ful l& siteid=50143

Iraq’s non-nuclear capability (By leading Iraqi nuclear scientist)

http://www.yellowtimes.org/article.php?sid=874

A Call to arms by an enemy of war (Scott Ritter)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A46288-2002Nov12.html

Iraq war could kill 500,000

http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99993043

Iraqi oil lies below surface of UN talks

http://www.latimes.com/la-fg-iraq5nov05,0,2136798.story

Why Blair is an appeaser, by George Monibot

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Columnists/Column/0,5673,830013,00.html

The silent war ­ Iraqi women and children victims of sanctions

http://commondreams.org/views02/1017-09.htm

Carve up of oil riches begins

http://www.observer.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,825103,00.html

Moving in for the kill

http://www.observer.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,825102,00.html

GE, MEDICINES, THE WTO, GATS AND FREE TRADE’

WTO overrules GE free NZ

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0211/S00133.htm

Massive GE Free rally shows opposition strong

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0211/S00136.htm

Gats casts a long shadow over public education

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0210/S00211.htm

NZ government on Horns of a Dilemma, by Bill Rosenberg (Arena)

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0211/S00171.htm

Developing countries resist pressure on medicines

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0211/S00090.htm

The right to medicines or the right to profit from medicines

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0211/S00066.htm

Storms gather over WTO Ministerial

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0211/S00064.htm

THE WAR WITHOUT LIMIT PROMOTES TERRORISM & REPRESSION

GPJA: NZ Government must renounce CIA assassinations

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0211/S00028.htm

Justice the loser in rush to find Bali scapegoat

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?thesection=news&thesubsection=& st oryID=3002571

ASIO puts its foot in it again

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/11/02/1036027084723.html

A war that cannot be won ­ The west isn’t just losing the fight against terrorism it’s fuelling it across the globe, by Seumas Milne

http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,844184,00.html

Return of the warlords

http://www.sundayherald.com/print29101

Distant voices tell of life for Britons caged in Camp Delta

http://www.observer.co.uk/libertywatch/story/0,1373,825198,00.html

ISRAEL/PALESTINE

Amnesty accuses Israel of war crimes

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L03161607

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Beyond Vietnam: A time to break the silence - Speech by Martin Luther King

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0211/S00157.htm

FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH

GEORGE BUSH I

“While we hoped that popular revolt or coup would topple Saddam, neither the U.S. nor the countries of the region wished to see the breakup of the Iraqi state. We were concerned about the long-term balance of power at the head of the Gulf. Trying to eliminate Saddam, extending the ground war into an occupation of Iraq, would have violated our guideline

about not changing objectives in midstream, engaging in 'mission creep,' and would have incurred incalculable human and political costs. Apprehending him was probably impossible. We had been unable to find Noriega in Panama, which we knew intimately. We would have been forced to occupy Baghdad and, in effect, rule Iraq. The coalition would instantly have collapsed, the Arabs deserting it in anger and other allies pulling out as well. . . . Had we gone the invasion route, the U.S. could conceivably still be an occupying power in a bitterly hostile

land. It would have been a dramatically different‹and perhaps barren‹outcome”. - From "Why We Didn't Remove Saddam," by George Bush (Sr.) and Brent Scowcroft, in the March 2, 1998, issue of Time.

GEORGE BUSH II

"The-these terrorist acts and, you know, the responses have got to end in order for us to get the framework ‹ the groundwork ‹ not framework, the groundwork to discuss a framework for peace, to lay the all right."

Crawford, Texas, Aug. 13, 2001.

“My administration has been calling upon all the leaders in the in the Middle East to do everything they can to stop the violence, to tell the different parties involved that peace will never happen." Crawford, Texas,

Aug. 13, 2001.

"Redefining the role of the United States from enablers to keep the peace to enablers to keep the peace from peacekeepers is going to be an assignment." New York Times, Jan. 14, 2001.

"...to maintain the peace, we better have a military of high morale, and I'm certain that under this administration, morale in the military is dangerously low." Albuquerque, New Mexico, May 31, 2000.

"There's no doubt in my mind that we should allow the world's worst leaders to hold America hostage, to threaten our peace, to threaten our friends and allies with the world's worst weapons." South Bend, Indiana, Sept. 5, 2002.

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