Global Peace And Justice Auckland Newsletter #29, March 31, 2003

Website http://www.gpja.pl.net/ Contact details: Forums - John Minto, (09) 8463173 mailto:jbminto@xtra.co.nz; Newsletter Editor - Mike Treen 0212547440 / 3616989 mailto:miket@pl.net Web page - Geraldine Peters (09) 3570655 mailto:bern@ihug.co.nz Donations can be sent to GPJA, Private Bag 68905, Newton, Auckland. All communication regarding the GPJA mailing list (email or snail) should be addressed to mailto:gpjamailinglist@xtra.co.nz

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ACTION SATURDAY, APRIL 12

GPJA are supporting the next international protest day on Saturday April with a 12 noon protest march from Western Park (cnr Ponsonby and Karangahape Rds) that will take in the TVNZ studios and the US-UK-Australian consulates.

The next GPJA forum 7.30pm this Monday, April 7 will discuss the campaign against the war. We also have a special guest speaker who has worked with Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. (See What's On in Auckland for details). The GPJA committee will meet Sunday 10am April 6 at a new venue - Supper Room, Trades Hall.

A Wellington-based group is promoting the ideas of a World Social Forum regional conference to be held later this year. A meeting of those interested with Teddy Goldsmith (founder of The Ecologist) is being held next Thursday, April 10. (See "What's On" below)

An international statement for peace and justice initiated by Noam Chomsky and others is included below for people to sign.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Distribute posters and leaflets: available from the front porch 84 Paice Ave, Sandringham. (Contact John Minto, see above). A separate mailing with a PDF attachment of the poster will be sent soon.

Cars with a roof rack needed to be a mobile sound system announcing the April 12 protest. Anytime Thursday-Sat this week and Thurs/Fri next week. Contact mailto:miket@pl.net

People with cars to place signs on the entrances/exits of the motorways early morning Friday April 11. Contact mailto:miket@pl.net

Flat-deck truck or Ute for use on April 12 march. Contact mailto:miket@pl.net

Help sell “No blood for oil” bumper stickers. Up to 50 $1 each. 50-100 75 cents. 100 plus 50 cents. Contact mailto:miket@pl.net

Help sell “Stop the war on Iraq badges” $2 each. Contact mailto:miket@pl.net.

OTHER ANTIWAR ACTIVITIES

Pickets of the US consulate are being held daily from 7-9am, 12-2pm, and 5-7pm

Simon Oosterman is planning to begin a 24-hour a day vigil outside the consulate. Look out for this strong personal statement and take some (vegan) support along.

Antiwar vigil church service with Rev Craig Forbes, every weekday 12noon-1pm, Pitt St Methodist Church, Newton.

Silent Peace Vigil every Sunday, 9.15-945am, Quaker Meeting House, 115 Mt Eden Rd. All welcome. For more information phone Friends Centre (09) 630 6834

Direct Antiwar Action meets Wednesdays, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great Nth Rd mailto:euphemiak@yahoo.com

MESSAGEBOARD

New! - 'Our Children: The priority for Policy' (2nd edition), published by the Child Poverty Action Group. "By almost any measure of child poverty, NZ remains near the bottom of the league of comparable countries, at odds with its commitments under the Convention on the Rights of the Child." For more information or to get your copy ($10 each), write to CPAG, PO Box 56 150, Dominion Road, Auckland or check out their web site at http://www.cpag.org.nz You can get a free four page summary of the report from the Downtown Community Ministry, tel (04) 384 7699 or email mailto:dcm@paradise.net.nz

Buy USA? No Way! Boycott US brands, we can help peace every time we go into a shop and we can choose where to spend our money. We can send a message to Bush and his band of bullies that is strong and clear and effective. For more info check out Spend for Peace Boycott at http://www.spendforpeace.co.nz

We're a small record label based in New Zealand who wrote a track called The Evil Plans of George W Bush IIIrd just after September 11th. We've released it under a Copyleft license which means that anyone can copy it, and give it out freely. We don't care if we never make a cent - we just want to get the message out there. Please have a listen and if you like it - let your network know and feel free to play it at any gatherings. There's more info on downloading and streaming it here: http://www.tmet.net/rec/releases_goodvevil.htm Peace, MsBehaviour

The Parliamentary Network for Nuclear Disarmament has information on the debate over Iraq and weapons of mass destruction http://www.pnnd.org/

WHAT'S ON IN AUCKLAND

Tuesday April 8 & Thursday April 10, 7.30pm, Triangle TV (Episode 2) "The Gulf War Project" Episode one a 10-part series. Each episode shown on Tuesday and Thursday of each week at 7.30pm 1) War, Oil and Power 2) Operation Dissidence 3) Getting out of the sand trap 4) Bring the troops home 5) News World order 6) Manufacturing the enemy 7) Lines in the sand 8) Global dissent 9) Just say no 10) War on the home front

Saturday, April 5, 2-3pm, Aotea Square, Queen St, Auckland City 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, April 6, 3pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn "Behind the war on Iraq - Palestine, oil, empire, globalisation". Speakers: 3pm Munjid Umara from Iraq. 4pm Rana Sobh from Palestine. 5pm Mike Treen Alliance International spokesperson. 6pm Video "Not in my name". A powerful new documentary which tells the story of the US wars you DIDN'T see on TV. Features John Pilger, Tony Benn, Tariq Ali. Contact: mailto:alliance@pl.net Ph 376-3780

Sunday, April 6, 7.30pm, The Crypt, St Benedict's Catholic Church "40 minutes for Peace", a time to light candles and pray for peace in the world. Contextual liturgies: Creative and contemporary feminist liturgies for women and men in response to specific events in our context of Aotearoa New Zealand. All welcome. Presented by the Working Women's Resource Centre ph 5719158 or email mailto:info@womanspirit.org.nz

Monday, April 7, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn GPJA Forum with special guest Sue Rhodes and ongoing antiwar organising Sue is a 64-year-old British Quaker with a Zambian background who is working in Palestine with Christian Peacemaker Teams or CPT, which is a Quaker, Mennonite and Brethren initiative. Christian Peacemaker Team grew out of a call in 1984 for Christians to devote the same discipline and self-sacrifice to non-violent peacemaking that armies devote to war. It embraces the vision of unarmed intervention waged by peacemakers ready to risk injury and death in bold attempts to transform lethal conflict through the non-violent power of God's truth and love.

Tuesday, April 8, 7pm, Queens Head Tavern, cnr Queen St and Mayoral Dr, City Aotearoa Indymedia meeting. Calling all camcordistas, writers, radioheads, web jockeys, and people discontented with the media status quo. " Don't hate the media, become the media."

Thursday, April 10, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn Meeting to promote the World Social Forum with Teddy Goldsmith, founder of the magazine The Ecologist. The following message was received from Pat Hanley: “On behalf of the Social Forum Aotearoa Coordinating Committee I am inviting individuals and groups that have an interest in the World Social Forum movement to meet in Auckland to discuss the possibility of holding a Social Forum here in New Zealand. A group met here in Porirua in February and established a coordinating group. However if the proposed Social Forum Aotearoa is to succeed as a national Forum there is a need to involve individuals and groups from Auckland in the development and promotion of such a Forum. The purpose of the meeting would be to gage support for a Social Forum in Aotearoa, to identify a way of linking Auckland and Wellington groups, to consider the proposed timing i.e. suggested Friday Nov 21 - Sun 23. The location we are discussing is Porirua, hopefully at Te Wanaga Aotearoa campus. This location was regarded as being central for a national event and within a diverse community reflecting the values which underpin the Social forum and with local government support. I would stress that at this stage all issues are up for debate but we would like to move quickly with particular regard to holding the Forum prior to the next World Social Forum January, 2004.

Friday, May 2, 5.30pm, Freyberg Square, High St, Auckland City Two Christchurch-based groups (CAFCA and GATT Watchdog) which organise the annual Roger Award say that TNCs are the real "government" of New Zealand; the public were invited to nominate the worst of 2002. The six finalists The criteria for judging are by assessing the transnational that has the most negative impact in New Zealand in each or all of the following fields: unemployment, monopoly, profiteering, abuse of workers/conditions, political interference/running an ideological crusade, environmental damage, cultural imperialism, impact on tangata whenua, impact on women, health and safety of workers and the public. The judges: Sukhi Turner, Mayor of Dunedin; Dr Ranginui Walker, Emeritus Professor at Auckland University, Prue Hyman, academic and feminist, of Victoria University; and John Minto, National Chairperson of QPEC (Quality Public Education Coalition) and community activist.are: Tranz Rail; Novartis; Carter Holt Harvey; Shell; Telecom and Sky City. The winner of 2002 Roger Award will be announced on the evening of Friday 2nd May in Freyberg Square, High St, Auckland. Music and revelry preceding the awards begin at 5.30pm. For more information on the awards ceremony contact the Roger Award organisers: mailto:g.baxter@auckland.ac.nz CAFCA-Campaign Against Foreign Control of Aotearoa Box 2258, Christchurch, New Zealand mailto:cafca@chch.planet.org.nz http://www.cafca.org.nz

Monday, May 5, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn GPJA Forum with Murray Horton, Anti-bases Campaign and CAFCA.

Friday May 16, Venue to be announced. "I'm currently organising in conjunction with Performing Artists For Peace Association a Full Moon Dance For Peace event celebrating life, unity and peace on the 16th of May at a venue yet to be confirmed. It will be a chance for people to make a stand for peace while experiencing other forms of dance and acknowledging our creator and Mother Earth." Helpers, leaders, performers or supporters inspired by a stand for peace please contact Clancy at mailto:clancycroft@hotmail.com or 021 452177.

NZ GOVERNMENT POSITION

The NZ government expressed "regret" for the war in a statement to the NZ Security Council. It did not condemn the invasion nor call for the withdrawal of the US/UK forces. According to the NZ Herald (28/3/03) Foreign Minister Phil Goff assured pro-war critics "that there was no question of the US-UK forces withdrawing at this time’" and that "there was nothing in New Zealand's statement to the Security Council which the US, Australia or Britain would find offensive." The statement includes the extraordinary view that "Those involved in initiating military action appear to have acknowledged their responsibilities" in respect of minimising "risks to the Iraqi people" and meeting their "humanitarian needs". http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0303/S00513.htm

A welcome and a roasting for Te Kaha http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0303/S00264.htm

Condoleezza Rice, Bush's national security advisor says thanks "Many more countries are providing supplies, logistical and intelligence support, basing and over-flights, and humanitarian and reconstruction Aid. .Every instance of support, from every country, no matter how small or Large, is helping to win this war, and every one is valued." http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/03/20030326.html NB: Waihopai, a NZ spy station supplies "intelligence" direct to the US National Security Agency and the NZ frigate Te Mana is escorting US warships through the Gulf.

PEACE MOVEMENT AOTEAROA

Alert: Stop all NZ military cooperation with the US and British armed forces http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/nzparlt0303.htm

Regular updated site on war and NZ response http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/iraqa.htm#oiraq

INTERNATIONAL STATEMENT FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE

Please join Ezequiel Adamovsky, Vittorio Agnoletto, Michael Albert, Tariq Ali, Patrick Bond, Leslie Cagan, Noam Chomsky, Bill Fletcher, Eduardo Galeano, Susan George, Marta Harnecker, Boris Kagarlitsky, George Monbiot, Suren Moodlar, Hector Mondragon, Tanya Reinhart, Carola Reintjes, Arundhati Roy, Lydia Sargent, Howard Zinn, and many more in signing the following statement by using this form -- and, even more, please join us in working to encourage other people to sign it, and for them in turn to get others to sign it.

"I stand for peace and justice.

I stand for democracy and autonomy. I don't think the U.S. or any other country should ignore the popular will and violate and weaken international law, seeking to bully and bribe votes in the Security Council.

I stand for internationalism. I oppose any nation spreading an ever expanding network of military bases around the world and producing an arsenal unparalleled in the world.

I stand for equity. I don't think the U.S. or any other country should seek empire. I don't think the U.S. ought to control Middle Eastern oil on behalf of U.S. corporations and as a wedge to gain political control over other countries.

I stand for freedom. I oppose brutal regimes in Iraq and elsewhere but I also oppose the new doctrine of "preventive war," which guarantees permanent and very dangerous conflict, and is the reason why the U.S. is now regarded as the major threat to peace in much of the world. I stand for a democratic foreign policy that supports popular opposition to imperialism, dictatorship, and political fundamentalism in all its forms.

I stand for solidarity. I stand for and with all the poor and the excluded.

Despite massive disinformation millions oppose unjust, illegal, immoral war, and I want to add my voice to theirs. I stand with moral leaders all over the world, with world labor, and with the huge majority of the populations of countries throughout the world.

I stand for diversity. I stand for an end to racism directed against immigrants and people of color. I stand for an end to repression at home and abroad.

I stand for peace. I stand against this war and against the conditions, mentalities, and institutions that breed and nurture war and injustice. I stand for sustainability. I stand against the destruction of forests, soil, water, environmental resources, and biodiversity on which all life depends.

I stand for justice. I stand against economic, political, and cultural institutions that promote a rat race mentality, huge economic and power inequalities, corporate domination even unto sweatshop and slave labor, racism, and gender and sexual hierarchies.

I stand for a policy that redirects the money used for war and military spending to provide healthcare, education, housing, and jobs.

I stand for a world whose political, economic, and social institutions foster solidarity, promote equity, maximize participation, celebrate diversity, and encourage full democracy.

I stand for peace and justice and, more, I pledge to work for peace and justice."

To sign the statement, click here http://www.zmag.org/wspj/sign_statement_frm.cfm To promote the statement to others, either via email or print, click here http://www.zmag.org/wspj/outreach.cfm

THE COST OF THE WAR

Two new articles on the financial costs of the invasion of Iraq: "US and British taxpayers could pay the price for a conflict that may cost trillions of dollars’" Philip Thornton, 25 March 2003 at http://news.independent.co.uk/business/news/story.jsp?story=390495 The cost of war: $75bn, and rising’, Rupert Cornwell, 26 March 2003 http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=390852

MEDIA

Eliminating truth: the development of war propaganda http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0303/S00277.htm

BBC chief stresses need to attribute war news sources "We're absolutely sick and tired of putting things out and finding they're not true. The misinformation in this war is far and away worse than any conflict I've covered, including the first Gulf war and Kosovo," said a senior BBC news source. http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,924172,00.html

News consumers beware: you are being lied to http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0303/S00282.htm

SCOOP COVERS THE FULL TRUTH

Scoop Editorial: The Graphic Portrayal Of Real War - Scoop is determined that its editorial policy will continue to serve truth, accuracy and honesty and that its reportage of this US invasion of Iraq will not be censored nor sanitised. Let us consider why this is so. See... Scoop Continues To Publish Reality Of War Images. http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0303/S00261.htm See also Photo-Essay 1: Death and Casualty From Iraq, Part 2 and Part 3 (WARNING. GRAPHIC IMAGES MAY DISTURB) http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0303/S00258.htm http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0303/S00259.htm http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0303/S00260.htm Consider whom you bomb http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0303/S00286.htm

THE LIES CONTINUE

Being lied to - missile strikes and executions, by Russell Brown http://publicaddress.net/default,hardnews.sm#post352

Our Luke was not executed http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/page.cfm?objectid=12783733&method=full&siteid=50143

Downing St backtracks on claim soldiers executed http://politics.guardian.co.uk/iraq/story/0,12956,924450,00.html

Pitiful apology attempt angers hero's family http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/page.cfm?objectid=12788037&method=full& siteid=50143

MIDEAST VIEWS

Al Ahram weekly http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/

REPORTERS WORTH FOLLOWING

Robert Fisk: http://www.robert-fisk.com/ John Pilger: http://pilger.carlton.com/print Michael Moore: http://www.michaelmoore.com/

IRAQI RESISTANCE TO INVASION

You should have known we'd fight http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,921197,00.html

Exiles head home to fight invaders’ http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,921351,00.html

Basra: Why they are not cheering http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2884769.stm

WAR NOT GOING TO PLAN

A Turkey shoot’ but with marines as the target http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A40567-2003Mar28?language=printer

Supply lines in chaos http://businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/mar2003/nf20030328_4776_db071.htm

US will lose this war - Scott Ritter http://www.gulufuture.com/news/scott_ritter030325.htm

THE VULTURES GATHER - WAR PROFITEERS LINE UP

Contracts doled out to rebuild Iraq are questioned WASHINGTON -- Like a vanguard of Marines eager to storm ashore, U.S. companies -- fuelled by federal contracts worth billions of dollars -- are preparing to surge into Iraq to help rebuild a country devastated by war and years of harsh leadership. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/114656_rebuild28.shtml

Unfinished business Richard Perle's resignation highlights questions over US economic involvement in post-war Iraq, writes Brian Whitaker http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/dailybriefing/story/0,12965,924728,00.html

HUMANITARIAN CRISIS

The other war: Iraq's humanitarian crisis http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=15501

WAR AIMS

The wraps come off US colonialist ambitions http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=15468

Rumsfeld threatens Syria and Iran http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,5944-627288,00.html

PALESTINE

On man's fence is another man's prison http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=275277

PHILIPPINES

As we mobilize against the murderous onslaught on Iraq we cannot afford to ignore US military operations in other parts of the world. By Aziz Chaudrey http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0303/S00291.htm

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