What’s On In Auckland

Thursday, January 16, 4-30pm outside the US Consulate, Custom Street Vigil for Peace on the 12th Anniversary of the start of the Gulf War. Organised by Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF). For more info contact Joan Macdonald tel (09) 360 8001 or email mailto:joanmac@pl.net

Friday, January 17, from 8am, 10 Warnock St, Grey Lynn Ike's taking his family camping - but he's not taking his signs down. While Ike and Teri and their kids, Joshua and Yasmine are out there enjoying the freedom they're entitled to as New Zealanders, fellow citizens who support human rights and democracy, will gather at the Finau residence to defend his signs and our right to freedom of expression. Corflute and paint will be available for people who want to make their own signs to put up, and a contact list will be available for supporters to leave their details on. Contact Penny Bright (Water Pressure Group) mailto:pennybright@xtra.co.nz

Sunday, January 19, 10am, 84 Paice Ave, Sandringham GPJA Committee meeting. Help plan further antiwar action including the Peace Concert/Festival.

Thursday, January 23, 7-30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Road, Grey Lynn. 'The rising revolutionary tide' an public meeting, with screenings of 'March on Imperialism - Anti-Capitalists in NZ' and 'Nepal: it's only a matter of time', Organised by the Anti-Capitalist Alliance, for more info contact email mailto:WPNZ@clear.net.nz

Saturday, February 1, 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.

Sunday, February 2, 2pm, outside the Synagogue, Greys Ave (Pitt street end) City A March for Justice and Peace (Synagogue to Church to Mosque) - assemble at 2pm outside the Synagogue at Kadimah College Greys Ave (Pitt street end) City; then march via Hopetoun St, to Ponsonby Rd, to Vermont St to the grounds of the Church then to the grounds of the Mosque opposite - at each place there will be time for prayer, comments and song. The march is to support the international 'Open Jerusalem - end occupation' peace march supported by Jews, Christians and Muslims walking between Bethlehem and Jerusalem on 31 December 2001. For more info contact Kevin McBride, Pax Christi, email mailto:paxnz@xtra.co.nz tel (09) 377 5541 or David Wakim tel (09) 520 0201.

Monday, February 3, 7.30pm, Trades hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn 1st GPJA Forum for 2003. We return to the themes of globalisation and war with Mike Treen updating the situation regarding Gulf War II and Dr David Bedgood reporting on a recent trip to Argentina to see working class resistance to the crisis there.

Sunday, February 16, 2003, 2pm, Potters Park, Balmoral “Peace in the Park”. A festival of music to protest against war

Wednesday, February 19, 7pm, Auckland Community Learning Centre, Poronui St, Mt Eden. 1st of 7 weekly classes on “Human Rights” led by Anthony Ravlich. The political nature of human rights and globalisation has resulted in an increasing gap between the rich and the poor both in NZ and internationally. There is a need to have economic, social and cultural rights in law so all interests are represented and causes of crime, suicide, terrorism and refugees addressed. Course fee $40. Registration required. Phone 6388780.

NATIONAL EVENTS

Saturday, January 18 and Sunday, January 19 - Pakeha Support Ngawha - Stop the Prison weekend, come to Ngawha to help stop prison construction work due to begin in February, includes an interdenominational commemoration of Ngawha on Sunday at 11am. Support Ngati Rangi in their peaceful, principled stand for the whenua. Pakeha responsibility to protest state cultural atrocity against land and people: not in our name. Bring tents, food to share, koha, goodwill and creativity. Together we can stop the prison. For more info contact M Armstrong tel (09) 436 1679 or 021 042 9598 or mailto:reotahi@igrin.co.nz

Saturday January 18 to Monday, January 20 - Keep NZ GE Free Strategy Hui, with reports on where we've been and where we're at; strategising and planning for the future. Strategy input ideas are most welcome. Camping at the Levin Organic River Festival, food available from Festival stalls. Cost - all weekend $20 / $10, per day $10 / $5; plus $20 (reduced from $30) per person to camp at the Festival site all weekend, otherwise $2 per person per day entry to the Festival. Please register for the Hui as soon as is practicably possible, make your payment, advise us of your numbers, camp site requirements and we will organise all this for you. Cheques to ‘Keep NZ GE Free’, Levin Organic River Festival, c/o PO Box 84, Levin or contact mailto:gaye@flat.net.nz Check out the Festival web site at http://www.ecofest.co.nz

January 24-26 Waihopai spybase protest. Key times & events - Saturday 25. 11 a.m., Seymour square, Blenheim & 2.30 p.m. at the base (Waihopai Valley road) Theme: anti-war: The world has changed since the last Waihopai protest (2001). Reflecting that, this year’s one will have an explicitly anti-war theme. It will be serious, not lighthearted like some of the more recent ones. The timing is coincidental, but this protest is taking place just before key decisions are made in the US-led drive to invade Iraq. Waihopai is NZ’s key contribution to all American wars, whether in Afghanistan, Iraq or anywhere else. It is basically a US spybase operating on NZ soil, a vital outpost of the American Empire. ABC will bring a limited number of placards and banners. Please bring your own, relevant to the anti-war theme, linking Waihopai to the US war on Iraq, and elsewhere. Organised by Anti-Bases Campaign, Box 2258, Christchurch, New Zealand. Contact mailto:cafca@chch.planet.org.nz Web site: http://www.converge.org.nz/abc

Monday, January 27 - Flowers of peace to Islam - on the day of the report on the weapons inspection in Iraq, give a flower to Islam as a symbol of peace and to demonstrate that you do not support the intention of mass violence on Iraq. Either lay flowers at the gate of a mosque in your area or give a flower to a Muslim. But please respect Muslim tradition. Men only give flowers of peace to Muslim men, and women only give flowers of peace to Muslim women. Through this act, our government will witness our desire for peaceful, non-violent resolutions; and that we do not want our country to be party to war. Our cry for non-violence encourages peace. Our silence will only add to the violence. Organised by Families for NonViolence, check out http://www.geocities.com/families4nonviolence/peaceflowers.html or contact tel (09) 810 9066 email mailto:F4NV@yahoo.co.nz

Saturday, March 22 - Families for NonViolence March and Picnic, make a stand for safer homes, communities and a safer world for everyone. For details of a march near you, check out http://www.geocities.com/families4nonviolence/frontmarch.html or contact tel (09) 810 9066 email mailto:F4NV@yahoo.co.nz

OCEANIA SOCIAL FORUM - a forum inspired by the 2001 and 2002 World Social Forums that have been held in Porto Alegre, Brazil. (The 3rd WSF will be held from 23rd - 28th January 2003) The World Social Forums and the regional forums they have spawned including the Oceania Social Forum, seek to bring together individuals and groups "that are opposed to neo-liberalism and to domination of the world by capital and any form of imperialism". With their overarching theme "Another World is Possible," the Forums offer an opportunity to build "a planetary society directed towards fruitful relationships among Mankind and between it and the Earth," and represent a positive movement for change. The WSF’s Charter states that "The meetings of the World Social Forum do not deliberate on behalf of the World Social Forum as a body. No-one therefore will be authorised, on behalf of any editions the Forum, to express positions claiming to be those of its participants."

Initially the Oceania Social Forum was to be held in Nelson in April. A decision to reconsider both its timing and location has been made to enable wider participation and support. We would like to invite you to a meeting about the Oceania Social Forum chaired by Sukhi Turner Mayor of Dunedin at 1pm on Tuesday 4th February 2003, at the Porirua City Council offices Cobham Court, Porirua City. The agenda will include report on progress to date, finances, formation of a national core group, location and timing of the Forum. RSVP by Friday 31st January 2003 to mailto:info@oceaniasocialforum.org.nz. Website - for further information and to pre-register for the Forum www.oceaniasocialforum.org.nz. Co-convenors Bruce Dyer and Pat Hanley.

OTHER NEWS

TIME MAGAZINE WEB POLLS - VOTE NOW! http://www.time.com/time/europe/gdml/peace2003.html?cnn=yes Which country is the greatest threat to world peace in 2003? 7:00pm 15 Jan 2003 Votes: 148,446 North Korea: 9.3%, Iraq: 11.1%, United States: 79.7%

There's a new Time Magazine Poll 2: Why does the U.S. want to attack Iraq? As of 9:00 P.M. 01/13/03 83.1% voted for "To Get Iraq's Oil." http://www.time.com/time/europe/forecast2003/

STUDY SAYS PROTESTING IS GOOD FOR YOU A new British study suggests that taking part in campaigns, demonstrations, strikes, or protests helps improve psychological and physical health. According to researcher Dr. John Drury, "The take-home message from this research therefore might be that people should get more involved in campaigns, struggles and social movements, not only in the wider interest of social change but also for their own personal good." http://thunderbay.indymedia.org/news/2002/12/2599.php

EFFECTS OF A WAR

A "strictly confidential" UN document, written to assist with UN contingency planning in the event of war with Iraq, predicts high civilian injuries, an extension of the existing nutritional crisis, and "the outbreak of diseases in epidemic if not pandemic proportions." The existence of the draft document, entitled "Likely Humanitarian Scenarios" and dated 10th December 2002, was first reported in the Times (London) on 23rd December 2002, but this is the first time it has been made publicly accessible. http://www.cam.ac.uk/societies/casi/pr/pr030107undoc.html The full document is available at http://www.casi.org.uk/info/undocs/war021210.pdf

UN report warns of humanitarian impact UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 6-The United Nations estimates that a U.S.-led military campaign to overthrow Iraqi President Saddam Hussein could place about 10 million Iraqi civilians, including more than 2 million refugees and homeless, at risk of hunger and disease and in need of immediate assistance, according to a U.N. planning document. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18870-2003Jan6.html

Cancer deaths linked to US weapons http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2003/01/13/MN233872.DTL

ANTIWAR NEWS

Antiwar activists from across US prepare for weekend of protests http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A47595-2003Jan12.html

Activists bring war protests to Baghdad http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A51883-2003Jan13.html

Pope John Paul II says “No to War”! http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0301/S00060.htm

Up to 20,000 in LA Antiwar Rally http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2650299.stm

In response to the threat of war, the global peace movement continues to grow. Massive demonstrations continue to be held around the world. Some activists have traveled to Iraq to act as observers and human shields. A peace group in Canada has even committed to sending a group of citizen weapons inspectors to the U.S., holding the country accountable for it's double standards about weapons of mass destruction. http://www.rootingoutevil.org/index.php3/Home

According to a recent poll by the Los Angeles Times, most Americans don't believe that a war on Iraq is justified. The poll concluded that "72 percent of respondents, including 60 percent of Republicans, said Bush has not provided enough evidence to justify starting a war with Iraq, " and "63 percent of respondents said war would be justified only if the United Nations finds a pattern of serious violations by Iraq, while just 22 percent agreed with the administration's position." http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2002/12/17 /MN126102.DTL

Many major U.S. cities are signing resolutions opposing war on Iraq. For a list of cities that have passed resolutions, and more information on the campaigns behind them, see: http://www.citiesforpeace.org

The U.S. peace movement is far more diverse and technologically savvy than past peace movements. Perhaps the best news is that massive demonstrations have already been held before any U.S. soldiers begin dying in Iraq, while in Vietnam, it took many American deaths to begin fueling opposition. http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=14874

IRA

qUS will attack Iraq 'without UN backing' By Toby Harnden America will not delay a war with Iraq until the autumn and is prepared to launch military action against Saddam Hussein without further United Nations authorisation, a senior Bush administration adviser said yesterday. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2003%2F01%2F10%2Fwi rq110.xml

Robert Fisk: The double standards, dubious morality and duplicity of this fight against terror Meanwhile, we are ploughing on to war in Iraq, which has oil, but avoiding war in Korea, which does not have oil http://www.independent.co.uk/story.jsp?story=366199

For the US military the world is a training ground http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/01/03/1041566230135.html

COPRORATE GLOBALISATION

Hypocrisy underlies debt“relief” http://www.jubileeplus.org/worldnews/northamerica/hipc060103.htm

Debate over global inequality heats up http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/005/focus/Mind_the_gapP.shtml

Double standards and deceit, Vandana Shiva. The inability and unwillingness of the WTO to regulate the trade abuses of the powerful and rich is clearly demonstrated by the fact that US and European subsidies have actually increased since Doha. The Bush administration recently passed a farm act that increases US agricultural subsidies by 10 per cent http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_8-1-2003_pg3_3

VENEZUELA

A split screen in strike-torn Venezuela, by Mark Weisbrot http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A41444-2003Jan11.html

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