Global Peace And Justice Auckland Newsletter #14, December 3, 2002 Website http://www.gpja.pl.net/ Contact details: Forums ­ John Minto, (09) 8463173 mailto:jbminto@xtra.co.nz; Newsletter Editor ­ Mike Treen 0212547440 miket@pl.net Web page ­ Geraldine Peters (09) 3570655 mailto: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 mailto:gpjamailinglist@xtra.co.nz

Dear friends,

This newsletter is to update 'What¹s On in Auckland' (including cancellation of STV film fundraiser for Dec 5), make an urgent appeal to help on the STV petition and remind people about the December 14 protest against the war. We are also looking for people who have some experience or contacts in the music/concerts area to help organise a big peace concert on February 16 next year. Another project suggested for next year is a GPJA film festival. Email us with you phone number if you can help in on either of these projects.

URGENT MESSAGE from the STV campaign:

Wellington City voters chose STV in their council-sponsored referendum, which ended Saturday 30 November. Here in Auckland, we still need several thousand signatures by 12 December to oblige the council to hold a referendum. We can do this ­ but we need more volunteers. Hamilton volunteers were able to get 2200 signatures in the final three days of their signature drive ­ because they had the volunteers. Please contact Lynne Serpe at 361-5975 or email mailto:lynneserpe@xtra.co.nz if you can help out in the next ten days. Petitions can be downloaded from http://www.stvnz.org/stv-auckland.htm and are available at most libraries.

ANTIWAR PROTEST DECEMBER 14

War preparations by the US continue relentlessly. They have asked 50 nations to help, including New Zealand. The government has promised ³humanitarian² and ³logistical² support. International media are predicting a bombing campaign beginning mid-December.

This protest assembling in QE2 Square (downtown Auckland) and moving on to the nearby US Consulate is our chance to say ³NO TO WAR, NO TO NZ INVOLVEMENT²

If you can help distribute leaflets and or posters contact John Minto mailto:jbminto@xtra.co.nz, Ph

8463173. Copies of publicity are available on the website http://gpja.pl.net/

Letter from John Minto for GPJA to Phil Goff regarding NZ¹s role in the so-called Œwar on terror¹.

http://gpja.pl.net/sub/Education/Iraq%20Publicity/GoffLetter26Nov02.html

WHAT¹S ON IN AUCKLAND

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

³Turn Up the Volume². 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 Pilger¹s documentary ³Palestine is Still the Issue² 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 6, 7:30pm, St Columba Centre, Vermont St, Ponsonby

Christian World Service invites you to ³A Conversation with Sue Bradford, Green MP with responsibility for employment, social services and children's issues, and Bimla Chandrasekar Founder and Director of EKTA - A Women's Human Rights Resource Centre in Southern India, focused on women's empowerment, gender, and globalisation. Bimla Chandrasekar is a women's activist addressing the deepening poverty and suffering of women caused by global structures, gender discrimination and violence against women. Bimla Chandrasekar is in New Zealand to launch the Women @ Work report, written by Christian World Service. This report highlights the vulnerability of women and children to global poverty, how the global economy worsens the situation, and women's creative strategies for community change. For more information & RSVP please contact - Angela McMorran, Christian World Service - (03) 366 9274 or 0800 74 73 72, mailto:angela.mcmorran@cws.org.nz

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 mailto: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 Women¹s Day 2003 Planning Committee Meeting. For more info contact Janet email mailto:janetbogle@hotmail.com

Saturday, December 7, 10am ­ 2pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn

City Vision meeting on its policy towards Public Private Partnerships

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.

Thursday, December 12, Deadline for STV petition

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

Give George Bush a Christmas message of ³Peace Not War². Mass picket of US Consulate, Customs Street after assembling in QEII Square.

Sunday, December 15, 10am, 84 Paice Ave, Sandringham

GPJA Committee meeting. Open committee meeting to plan action in the new year including the ³Peace in The Park² concert on February 16.

Monday, February 3, 7.30pm, Trades hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn

1st GPJA Forum for 2003

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

³Peace in the Park². A festival of music to protest against war.

RECENT WEB NEWS

Useful map showing military build-up in the Gulf

http://www.guardian.co.uk/flash/0,5860,791671,00.html

The BBC and impartiality by John Pilger

http://pilger.carlton.com/print/123458

The war against reason ­ Harold Pinter

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_26-11-2002_pg3_7 http://www.neravt.com/left/war/pinter1.html

CNN Peace protest becomes a 404

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0211/S00175.htm

Courage under fire

For almost a year Caoimhe Butterly has been standing in the way of Israeli tanks and troops in Jenin. Last Friday she was shot by a soldier - but she still won't leave, she tells Katie Barlow.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Print/0,3858,4555271,00.html

US not responding to urgent North Korea food appeal

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/international/international-korea-north-usa.h tml

Child hunger shocks Argentina

http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,846782,00.html

Bechtel strikes back at Bolivia

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0211/S00173.htm

© Scoop Media