Global Peace And Justice Auckland Newsletter #41

GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND NEWSLETTER #41, July 25, 2003

Website http://www.gpja.pl.net/ Contact details: Forums - John Minto, (09) 8463173 jbminto@xtra.co.nz; Newsletter Editor - Mike Treen 0212547440 / 3616989 miket@pl.net Web page - Geraldine Peters (09) 3570655 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 gpjamailinglist@xtra.co.nz

Dear friends,

A reminder for the National GE Free Hui this weekend. As one of the editors I'd also like to draw your attention to the official launch this Monday of RED & GREEN, the NZ Journal of Left Alternatives. Speakers include Chris Trotter, Jane Kelsey, Keith Locke and Jill Ovens. (See below for details)

WHAT'S ON IN AUCKLAND

Ongoing to Friday, 1 August - 'On arrival', the exhibition which features forty artists from the refugee and migrant sector from throughout NZ, at the Bashford Gallery, 24 Williamson Avenue, Ponsonby. For exhibition open times, please contact Arts Access Aotearoa tel (09) 916 4885 or email info@artsaccess.org.nz

Friday, July 25, 7pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn NATIONAL GE FREE HUI PUBLIC MEETING; with speakers Jon Carapiet (GE Free NZ), John Clearwater (Physicians and Scientists for Responsible Genetics) and others; for more info contact tel (09) 358 4105 or email gefreehui@yahoo.co.nz

Friday, July 25 to Sunday July 27, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn NATIONAL GE FREE HUI, a conference for anti-GE activists from around the country, with the focus on developing strategies for campaigns to prevent the lifting of the moratorium in October. Sessions and workshops are planned on the following: current situation with GE in NZ, what effects will the lifting of the moratorium in October have; update on current campaigns (reports from anti-GE groups); strategies for campaigns; consumers, direct action, lobbying, GE-Free zone; coalition building skills; treaty issues; GE and GATS, WTO; GE and animal rights; and eugenics, human cloning, the new HART Bill. For more info, and to register, contact tel (09) 358 4105 or email gefreehui@yahoo.co.nz

Saturday, July 26, 3pm Heritage Park, 8 Harrison Rd, Panmure Action for Children and Youth Aotearoa (AYCA) Annual General Meeting, with update on AYCA activities and plans for the next 12 months; afternoon tea will be served. Please RSVP (for catering) by 24th July to Bettina Schempf, tel (09) 271 3532 or email tina.sch@ihug.co.nz

Sunday, July 27, 4pm, Mt Roskill Intermediate School Hall, Denbigh Ave 'Indelible Memories', a remembrance event, marking the beginning of the civil war in Sri Lanka and celebrating the peace process, with a lively cultural show of dances and music connected to the conflict and the path for the peace negotiation; Organised by the Entrenched Federation of Tamil Associations in NZ, for more info contact george_nzts@hotmail.com

Sunday, July 27, 3-10pm, Danish Society Hall, 6 Rockridge Ave, Penrose. PERUVIAN PARTY FIESTA! Supper 5-6pm. Price $18 includes Supper. Music for dancing: The Fabulous "D" Starlights. This event is to raise funds for the poor children of Lima. Ph Eva 8150671 or 0276212964

Monday, July 28, 5.30pm, Four Seasons, AUT, Cnr Wellesley St & mayoral Drive Official launch of RED & GREEN, The NZ Journal of Left Alternatives. Speakers include Chris Trotter, Jane Kelsey, Keith Locke and Jill Ovens.

Saturday, August 2, 3.30pm, War Memorial Museum, The Domain. SPECIAL RALLY OF REMEMBRANCE For all those who have suffered or died because of the Israeli government's continued occupation of Palestine (West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem). A floral tribute will be laid to honour the memory of all those who died or suffered. Then we will march to the olive grove at the rear of the museum where another tribute will be laid Prayers for peace from the Christian, Muslim and Jewish Faiths will be said. Your own floral contributions would be appreciated too. Contacts: David Wakim 09 5200201 Tuma Hazou 09 4738677

Monday, August 4, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn GPJA FORUM: Turning up the heat: NZs role in September's WTO Ministerial meeting in Cancun. Auckland Launch of ARENA's new booklet on NZ's role in current WTO negotiations.

Monday, August 4, 6.30-9pm, AUT Conference Centre, 55 Wellesley St, City "LEAD OR BE LED - NEW ZEALAND'S CRITICAL CHALLENGE". Two views are competing for our attention. One is to align ourselves with US strategy and action to protect our economic interest. The other is to take a more self-determined path and forge our own future according to the principles and objectives of our own. A distinguished panel will speak, opening it up for public discussion. Dr. Paul Buchanan, Univ. of AK, Political Science Lecturer, previous Analyst with US Defense Department, http://www.arts.auckland.ac.nz/pol/staff/pb.html Dr. Wayne Mapp, National MP, Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Disarmament and Arms Control, www.wayne-mapp.co.nz Ella Henry, Head of Maori Studies, UNITEC, Member UN Panel on Trade and Indigenous People, http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/mgroups/mgipday3.htm Matt Robson, Progressive Coalition MP, Deputy Leader, Foreign Affairs, Defense and Trade Select Committees, www.robsononline.co.nz/ Part of Anew NZ Forum Series; "Creating a New New Zealand" $20 each, concessions for Anew NZ associates, students and seniors - $15. Register by email to ensure a place anewnz@anewnz.org.nz. Contact Greg Liggins 3585790 or Dave Breuer 4139146

Saturday August 9, 1pm to 4pm at the Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn END THE GRIDLOCK! Transport Teach In Your chance to find out about Auckland's transport woes and the plans to overcome them. Speakers and workshops will include members of the Auckland Regional Council, Infrastructure Auckland, Auckland City Council, The Green Party, The Alliance, and others with transport expertise gained from working on Auckland local bodies and Transit NZ. This is a public forum. All welcome. Contact: Jill Ovens or Len Richards at 276 9433, kairos@actrix.gen.nz or Bob van Ruyssevelt at 838 8602, bobvanruyssevelt@yahoo.com

Sunday, August 10, 7pm, St Columba Centre, 40 Vermont St, Ponsonby FOCUS ON WEST PAPUA - OPPRESSION AND RESISTANCE: A critical issue for the Pacific Hear West Papuan Human Rights Advocate John Rumbiak of the West Papua Institute for Human Rights Study and Advocacy (ELS-HAM) and other delegates to the International Solidarity Meeting for West Papua. Contact: Kevin McBride Pax Christi Aotearoa NZ 377 5541 Maire Leadbeater Indonesia Human Rights Committee 815 9000 David Tutty Catholic Justice and Peace Office 360 3037

MESSAGES

PUBLIC STATEMENT Citizens Against Privatisation Unit 3, 14 Roberts' Rd, Te Atatu Sth. ph (09) 8366 389. e-mail capwaitakere@xtra.co.nz

A lively public meeting was held at Kelston Community Centre on Thursday evening 17th July at which Waitakere City Councillors Hulse, Yates and Presland attempted to explain to CAP members and supporters why council is deferring a long promised review of water funding under the Long Term Council and Community Plan. Their attendance was the result of a peaceful and good-humoured occupation of Council premises by CAP protesters the preceding Wednesday 9th July (see Attachment 1). In West Weekly's account of this event, Mayor Bob Harvey was reported to have likened the protesters to "terrorists". Upon taking legal advice CAP considers this remark defamatory, and unless Mr Harvey publicly retracts it we are prepared to sue. CAP called the meeting because despite over 1500 submissions calling for their abolition (not to mention 14000 since 1997), WCC has reneged on its undertaking to review the regressive user-pays charges for water and opted instead to include the review in a wider comprehensive assessment of water services that need not be completed before 2006. Mered Barrar, CAP's spokesperson, says, "We are aware of Council's obligations under the new Local Government Act, but every option for water funding has already been thoroughly investigated through the focus-group that has met over the last twelve months. Changes need to be made before the next local-body election. The thousands of submitters will expect no less. The council are blatantly trying to shelve their decision until after the next election. A new schedule has to be adopted without delay, otherwise direct action and boycotts will be resumed." The three councillors present echoed the earlier commitment of Mayor Harvey and Deputy Mayor Caroline Stone to re-look at the 2005-2006 schedule for the funding review. Considering the undemocratic interference by council officers in the publicity for it, the meeting was better attended than the organisers anticipated. The first of the three following resolutions was adopted with only one dissenting vote; the others unanimously. CAP is lodging a complaint with the Auditor General regarding this interference alluded to in the second resolution..

Resolution. That this meeting calls on WCC to honour its commitment to review the water funding system without further delay. If this review does not take place within a period of months rather than years we resolve to resume the community boycott of user charges until such time as the undertaking is fulfilled. Resolution. The meeting condemns WCC's blatant attempt to deny CAP their right to freedom of expression by removing hoardings advertising this meeting. This action is a shameful attempt to pervert the democratic process. Resolution. This meeting condemns utterly Mayor Harvey's reported comment where he likened a non-violent occupation to "terrorist" behaviour. His comment defames not only the CAP protesters but all other activists through history who have resorted to direct action when democracy has been denied. The list would include Te Whiti, Ghandi, the suffragettes, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela to name but a few. It is unforgivable that he should capitalise on the anxiety engendered by real terrorists post 9/11 to stigmatise genuine protesters and divert attention from the legitimacy of their complaint.

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