Saturday, March 15, "CIVIL SOCIETY: USING LAW AS A SWORD". 8.30am-5pm, Auckland University On 15th March, the Faculty of Law, University of Auckland will be hosting a one-day Symposium entitled "CIVIL SOCIETY: USING LAW AS A SWORD". The symposium will be open to the public, but pre-registration (cost $30) is essential. The organisers of the Symposium are Treasa Dunworth and Kris Gledhill of the Law Faculty, Rt Honourable Ted Thomas, Janfrie Wakim and Deborah Manning. We are also pleased to have the support of the Human Rights Commission with this initiative. If you are interested in this event or wish to register (there is a fee of $30.00) please email Treasa Dunworth at [t.dunworth@auckland.ac.nz] or phone on (09) 3737599 ext 88008.

Wednesday 19th March, 7.30pm Public Meeting “NATURAL HEALTH PRODUCTS – DO YOU HAVE FREEDOM OF CHOICE?” Wesley Community Centre, 740 Sandringham Road, Auckland. Organised by the Green Party. Come along and discuss how to regulate our natural health industry while protecting our freedom of choice. Speakers: Sue Kedgley, Green MP Nicola Grace, Spokesperson for Health Freedom NZ Ron Law, Risk & Policy Analyst John Appleton, Natural Health Product Distributor Chair: Lisa Er, Founder of Lisa's Hummus Please send this invitation out to your networks. Hope to see you there.

Thursday 20th March – POT LUCK DINNER WITH NELSON DAVILA – Venezuela’s Charge D’affairs for Australia, NZ and the Pacific. (See bio details below) Bring something to share to Unite Union office, 6A Western Springs Road, Western Springs, Auckland, 6pm. All welcome!

Friday 21st March – SPECIAL GPJA MARCH FORUM – REVOLUTIONARY VENEZUELAN DIPLOMAT: A forum not to be missed! Meeting details: Trades Hall, 147 Great North Road, Grey Lynn. 7.30pm Revolutionary Venezuelan diplomat, NELSON DAVILA to speak. Nelson, who is based in Canberra, is Venezuela's charge d'affaires for Australia, NZ and the Pacific. He is not your traditional diplomat, starting out as a student activist, then becoming an indigenous rights activist, and joining Huge Chavez's secret revolutionary group inside the Venezuelan armed forces. He is one of President Chavez's closest and most trusted political collaborators right up to this day. Nelson will speak about the nature of the Venezuelan revolutionary process, including the recent formation of the five million strong United Socialist Party of Venezuela, the government's strong support for indigenous rights in Venezuela, and the growth of Communal Councils which have delegated powers to decide on local and regional priorities along with a huge chunk of state funding to implement their own plans at the grassroots. Nelson is hoping that his tour will give impetus to the establishment of a broad-based, inclusive Venezuela solidarity movement in New Zealand. It is hoped Nelson’s tour (one week in NZ) will result in the creation of a nationwide Venezuela solidarity network pave the way for a visit to New Zealand by President Chavez.

Saturday March 29th, ELECTION FORUM ON EDUCATION organised by QPEC (Quality Public Education Coalition) 10am, Saturday 29th March 2008, St Columba Centre, Vermont Street, Ponsonby. ALL WELCOME! Education spokespeople from the main political parties have been invited to discuss their party policies on education. The MPs that have confirmed are: Anne Tolley – National Chris Carter – Labour Te Ururoa Flavell – Maori Party Meteria Turei – Greens These spokespeople have been asked to speak about their party’s priorities in education and respond to issues raised by the audience. Issues of importance to QPEC include: 1. The long tail of under-achievement (with Maori and PI students over-represented) 2. Under-funding/creeping privatisation at all levels of education 3. Open entry to university under threat 4. Ever increasing school fees 5. Public funding for private ECE centres 6. Special education resourcing mechanisms. A 12 noon lunch will be provided – a koha will be requested. (The QPEC AGM will follow lunch – observers welcome to stay)

April 10th to 19th – THE HOLLOW MEN COMES TO AUCKLAND One Man One Mission Many Advisers .. The Hollow Men Acclaimed Play The Hollow Men Brings Politics Up-close in Auckland in April. Written by Auckland writer Dean Parker and based on Nicky Hager’s controversial book, The Hollow Men is at Maidment Theatre, Auckland from Thursday 10 April to Saturday 19 April for 10 performances only. The Hollow Men examines the months of Don Brash’s leadership of the National Party leading up to the 2005 election. The play had its world premiere in Wellington in September last year followed by a season in Palmerston and then a return season in Wellington. “Exciting, funny and totally absorbing” – Dominion Post "Full of half-lies" -- National Business Review "Who was it described John Key as the priest with his hand on your knee...?" -- The Hollow Men. In The Hollow Men, the cast plays a variety of political movers and shakers; many of whom still walk the corridors of parliament today. The Hollow Men plays at Maidment Theatre, Auckland for a strictly limited season from 10-19 April. Book by phoning 09 308 2383 or online at www.maidment.auckland.ac.nz [ http://www.maidment.auckland.ac.nz].

Monday 7th April: GPJA MONTHLY FORUM – ANTI-TERROR LAWS: Trades Hall, 147 Great North Road, Grey Lynn. 7.30pm Special Forum to update on the campaign to repeal the anti-terror laws. Details of panellists to follow.

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.

~ Ongoing - Help us ban cluster bombs, online petition: "I support the global call to ban cluster bombs", you can add your name at [http://www.stopclusterbombs.org.nz/take-action/petition/]

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Support the defence of activists arrested in the so-called “anti-terror raids” A CD of great music… Double CD & Booklet $25 TU KOTAHI - Freedom Fighting Anthems 25 excellent tracks of sheer Kiwi music/voice !!!!!!!!! >From CD sleeve note:- "Tu Kotahi - Freedom Fighting Anthems" is a non-profit, consciousness raising project. All funds will go to organisations in Aotearoa who are working specifically with those affected by the Oct 15th 2007 state raids. The booklet, called Wahanui, was put together by Conscious Collaborations T Shirts "Ke Whawhai Tonu Matu" $25 (orders taken - state size required) To order or to help sell - Contact VANESSA - [spadarkle@hotmail.com] Ph 09 836 9002 [http://www.freedomfighterscd.org.nz/]

CLIMATE CHANGE - SOCIAL CHANGE CONFERENCE, APRIL 11-13, 2008, SYDNEY The world is teetering on the brink of unstoppable climate change. Many now recognise the need for serious change in the way we produce and use energy, our transport systems, food production, urban design and forestry practices. Yet politicians are still mouthing platitudes while allowing corporations to continue to profit from polluting our atmosphere and destroying our ecosystem. The need for social change has become an urgent part of preventing catastrophic climate change. Can the market fix the problem? What is the real record of carbon trading? How can we build a social movement capable of averting this disaster? What models and experiences can offer real solutions? To strengthen the exchange of ideas and contribute towards that urgent action Green Left Weekly is organising the Climate Change - Social Change conference from April 11-13, 2008 in Sydney. We are pleased to have confirmed: - John Bellamy Foster, author of Marx's Ecology: Materialism and Nature, editor of Monthly Review ([http://sociology.uoregon.edu/faculty/foster.php]) - Patrick Bond, Director of the Centre for Civil Society, University of Natal, South Africa; editor of Climate Change, Carbon Trading and Civil Society www.zcommunications.org/zspace/patrickbond [http://www.zcommunications.org/zspace/patrickbond] [http://www.zcommunications.org/zspace/patrickbond] - Roberto Perez, Cuban permaculturalist (featured in The Power of Community: how Cuba survived peak oil) () We invite your participation in making this more than just an exchange of ideas - important as that is - but a part of building up resistance to corporate-led climate change and strengthening the movement for sustainable development. To receive updates about the conference, send an email to [ climatechange_socialchangeconf_announce-subscribe@yahoogroups.com] Please forward this conference call to your networks. In solidarity, Kamala Emanuel and Pip Hinman, Climate Change - Social Change conference organisers

ANNOUNCING THE MAY DAY 2008 BRIGADE TO VENEZUELA Registration deadline: March 30th, 2008 (including payment). The Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network’s (AVSN) next solidarity brigade to Venezuela is schedule for May 2008 and will coincide with May Day (May 1st) in Venezuela. The brigade will be a unique opportunity to see first-hand the unfolding revolution in Venezuela. If you are interested in being part of this inspiring and educational experience, please send the completed registration form to [brigades@venezuelasolidarity.org]

BEST ON THE WEB

NEW ZEALAND

Link to excellent 25 minute interview of Dr Hans Koechler by Jane Kelsey during his recent visit to Auckland - produced by Kamal of Teamwork Productions. Will be on Darpan - The Mirror, Triangle TV, 4pm Saturday March 15? 2008. [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5534185595806557954]

The latest Greenpeace GE Free Food Guide reflects a strong ongoing non-GE position from New Zealand food companies and an unprecedented anti-GE stance from Australasia's largest food company. [ http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0801/S00243.htm]

WORLD ECONOMY The new Bank of the South assaults neoliberal economics [http://www.forumdesalternatives.org/EN/readarticle.php?article_id=4616]

AFGHANISTAN NATO winning battles, losing Afghanistan: "Make no mistake", begins a new issue brief from non-partisan think-tank the Atlantic Council of the United States, "NATO is not winning in Afghanistan". [http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/JB02Df02.html]

IRAQ New analysis ‘confirms’ 1 million+ Iraq casualties [http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0802/S00012.htm]

LATIN AMERICA ALBA, an Economic Alternative for Latin America [ http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/3116] Indianismo and Marxism: The Missed Encounter of Two Revolutionary Principles by Álvaro García Linera, vice president of Bolivia [http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/garcia310108.html]

WEST SAHARA Swedish Fund Öhman to divest from Wesfarmers Australia - The Australia Wester Sahara Association (AWSA) applauds the decision of Öhman Funds from Sweden to divest from the Australian phosphate company CSBP (Wesfarmers) due to its imports of phosphate rock from the occupied Western Sahara. [http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0802/S00019.htm] -- Unsubscribe from this newsletter: [http://gpja.org.nz/newsletter/confirm/remove/cd3e50358e830t1]

ends