Global Peace And Justice Auckland Newsletter #48, October 27, 2003

Website http://www.gpja.pl.net/ Contact details: Forums - John Minto, (09) 846 3173, jbminto@xtra.co.nz; Newsletter Editor - Mike Treen 0212547440 / 3616989 miket@pl.net Web page - Geraldine Peters (09) 3765994 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 gpja@xtra.co.nz

Dear friends,

GPJA is looking at taking a van or two down to the Social Forum Aotearoa November 21-23, Wellington (See messages below). If you are interested in this cheaper way of getting there contact Mike Treen miket@pl.net

WHAT'S ON IN AUCKLAND

Wednesday, October 29, 7pm at The Classic Comedy Bar, 321 Queen Street, City Auckland Indymedia presents The Antidote #4, an evening of alternative political docos screening: - 'The Yes Men' (a selection of video exploits) - The Yes Men are a genderless, loose-knit association of some three hundred impostors worldwide. Their feeling today can be summed up in one simple phrase: Guerrilla Marketing Lifestyle acted out in the form of pranks against the institutions that seek to vex and control us. - 'The Wind' - Julian Temple's evocative short film about wind power shows the bleak future we face without a switch to renewable forms of energy. Why continue down an energy path to famine, flood, disease, and climate chaos, when offshore wind power can provide a sustainable alternative? - 'SAFE' - compilation of clips put together by Save Animals From Exploitation which documents recent animal rights protests in New Zealand as well as the campaign to end circus animal slavery. It takes a critical look at factory farming and ends with the story of a New Yorker who goes through a crisis of conscience and devotes his life to educating people about animal rights. - 'Community workshops in Porto Alegre' - video about the work of a Centro do Medios Independente (Indymedia Brasil), Porto Alegre, which does media workshops with the MST (landless rural workers movement) and poor people of local favelas (hillside shantytowns). It explains their practice and how through working as one of the nodes of indymedia it applies ideas shared over the internet; - 'Companero Piquetero' - world pressures on the Argentine economy have caused a tremendous collapse, leaving masses of workers and their families without jobs or homes. The local Independent Media Centre leant a camera to a young piquetero’ (protester, one who carries pickets) to document how members of the Unemployed Workers Movement (MTD) occupy the land in the municipality of Lanus on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. Edited in-camera, his insights into the nature of life in the slums, the divisions between the ruling powers and the poor people, the dangers and simple pleasures of his life show a people who are desperate, defiant and determined to carry on with their lives. $3/$5 entry. For more info contact email auckland@indymedia.org

Wednesday, October 29, 6.30pm and Thursday, October 30, 7.30pm, Centennial Theatre, Auckland Grammar School. AMERICAN HOSTAGE TO VISIT NEW ZEALAND. Foreign correspondent Terry Anderson shares his astounding story of survival. Anderson was Bureau Chief for Associated Press in Beirut in 1985 when Shiite Muslims captured him. He was the first American hostage taken and the last released – after nearly seven years. At the mercy of his captors he lived blind-folded and in chains in secret locations, wondering fearfully if each day would be the one he was released – or killed. He was tortured by grief, by fatigue, by hopelessness. But he never gave up and nor did his sister, his fiancée, his daughter. “People call me a victim of Lebanon, say I lost seven years of my life. I didn’t lose them – I lived them.” says Anderson, who these days teaches journalism at Ohio University, runs a Blues Bar and speaks internationally on American international policy. A commentator on Middle East politics, Anderson uses his experience in Beirut to debate the United States’ “war on terror”. He is a champion of the free press. “America is telling other countries to muzzle their press”. Anderson visits New Zealand as a guest of The Museum Circle Foundation, an independent charitable trust set up to assist the Auckland Museum. His talk, Slow Learners – American Middle East Policy is this year’s Hillary Lecture. The Hillary Lecture is an annual event organized by The Museum Circle and named after their patron Sir Edmund Hillary. Actor and English MP Glenda Jackson wowed Auckland audiences at last year’s Hillary Lecture. Entry fee $38. Book through Ticketek. For more information contact Rozelle Edwards, ph 4139212, 0252729604, rozelle@value.net.nz

Thursday, October 30, 9pm, Galatos Outback Down Under' 100% Indigenous Hip Hop in the week of the signing of the Declaration of Independence - "Aboriginal hip hop crews Local Knowledge, Gudabah, and free.B, along with Maori hip hop revolutionaries Upper Hutt Posse and assorted comrades take to the stage to celebrate indigenous resistance to colonisation." Entry $15 on the door. The organisation spearheading this cultural and political exchange is Te Kawau Maro, for more info check out http://www.obscure.co.nz/events/outback_down_under

Thursday, October 30, 7.30pm, Rm 3.407, School of Engineering, 20 Symonds Street FILM ON LANDMINES: 'Bombies' is Jack Silberman's film about the cluster bomb, and its impact upon the civilian population of Laos. The film traces the history of the cluster bomb and describes its impact upon the population of Laos from the time of the Vietnam War to the present day. This presentation forms part of the 'Clear Up!' campaign, organised by Landmine Action in order to obtain an international moratorium on the use. Organised by Engineers for Social Responsibility; for more info contact Lawrence Carter tel (09) 373 7599 x88177 or email lj.carter@auckland.ac.nz

Saturday, November 1, 2.00pm, Aotea Square, Queen St, City PALESTINE / ISRAEL RALLY FOR PEACE. We call on people in Auckland to support Justice and Peace for Palestinians and Israelis based on: Removal of Israeli Occupation; Right of Return for Refugees; Sharing Jerusalem; Cessation of Jewish only Settlements in occupied Palestine.

Monday, November 3, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn GPJA FORUM: The foreshore and seabed debate – A discussion introduced by John Minto

Monday, November 10, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn. GPJA ORGANISING COMMITTEE. All helpers welcome.

Saturday, November 15, 5-7pm, St Mathew’s Cathedral, Wellesley Street, Auckland Courage Day. Don’t take your freedom of speech for granted. Join the New Zealand Society of Authors for an international day of remembrance & celebration. Come to remember & acknowledge: writers and thinkers imprisoned for expressing their opinions. Writers who have died in prisons. Writers and thinkers exiled from their countries. Come, to celebrate: the right to free speech. The diversity of our views. Join with other cultures in an affirmation of the unity of the human spirit. Support a common cause for freedom of speech and cultural expression. Join famous authors; Witi Ihimaera, Kapka Kassabova, and Stephanie Johnson. Together with a line-up of stimulating speakers, who will further challenge your thinking. Hear some of the best international music to be found in NZ. Children Welcome. Contact Stephen Dalley 629-0244 or 021-783-743

Monday, November 17, 6.30pm, Maidment Theatre, Auckland University Bruce Jesson Foundation Public Lecture by Prof. Jane Kelsey. Bar open 5:30 pm. The Jesson Foundation exists to promote through various means, the vigorous political, social and economic investigation, debate, analysis and reporting which Bruce was so adept at. This activity is organised by the Foundation's Trustees. The trustees are a somewhat eclectic collection of persons but have two characteristics which in my recollection of Bruce, he would applaud - they have genuinely open minds which sincerely welcome and enjoy n ew ideas or debate none of which would shift them from their fundamental viewpoint. Speaking this year is Professor Jane Kelsey who will attack the question of “De-colonisation or Re-colonisation - which is our future." Outside her academic duties in the Law School, Jane has spent a good deal of time recently at events and in places of immediate relevance to this issue. For more information contact Dr. Joce Jesson, Director Research Development, Auckland College of Education, Wk 623-8859, Mob. 0274-610 –796, Hm 64-9-6222-142

Wednesday, December 10, 11.30am – 2.30pm, Aotea Square United Nations Human Rights Day. Laurie Ross has offered to co-ordinate this working under umbrella of Pax Christi as part of the Human Rights Network Trust and the Human Rights Commission. The Human Rights Day Committee is seeking funding or donations and welcomes help to cover costs for the event. This is an ideal opportunity for Schools or Human Rights Community Groups to offer multicultural performances e.g.. music, dance, artwork, banners, education stalls and speakers. We are eager to have some ethnic food stalls if you wish to fund raise for a particular cause. We also require assistance with promotion and distribution of flyers and would welcome other offers of help. PLEASE CONTACT Laurie Ross on 811 8696 email: laurie-ross@xtra.co.nz

MESSAGES

SOCIAL FORUM AOTEAROA Social Forum Aotearoa, Te Wananga o Aotearoa, Porirua, November 21-23, 2003 'Another world is possible'. Social Forum Aotearoa "aims to gather together people who share the desire for a world with more respect - for ourselves, each other and the environment. It is inspired by the World Social Forum (WSF), which since its first meeting in Porto Alegre, Brazil in 2001 has helped transform the globalisation debate." Social Forum Aotearoa will be held at the Porirua campus of Te Wananga O Aotearoa (University of New Zealand).

Participate in workshops on topics ranging from human rights, the global economy, peace, justice, participatory democracy, the environment, the union movement, local economic development, welfare. "Open space" forums will allow additional workshops to be held. For more info check out http://www.socialforum.org.nz tel 0800 355 553 or email info@socialforum.org.nz

Posters now available (A3) order from Pat Hanley angoa@clear.net.nz

Speakers and Presentations: Dr. Jane Kelsey, economist, Maxine Gay, trade unionist, Colin Fox, MP Scotland, Roger Blakely, CEO Porirua City, ARENA, Social & Civic Policy Institute, East Side Cannons Creek Porirua, Paekakariki residents, John Roughan, Solomon Islands Civil Society network, Tian Chua, Malaysian Trade Unionist, Socialist Workers, Human Rights network, representative of Ahmed Zaoui, Paul Bruce, Latin American Committee, Housing Action Porirua, Universal Income Trust, Peace Activitists Groups, and more.

Performances Friday evening; Te Activist o Aotearoa Saturday evening: Guest performers.

Displays, information table space available. Accommodation for up to 200 people marae style on the Te Wananga o Aotearoa campus Register now if you want accommodation.

Powhiri will begin at 1:00 pm on Fri. November 21 with closing at 4:00pm Sunday November 23.

Your financial donation to Social Forum Aotearoa trust account c/o Pat Hanley, 76 Rawhiti Rd. Pukerua Bay Wellington.

AHMED ZAOUI The Anglican Social Justice Commission has printed postcards to be sent to the Prime Minister and Minister of Immigration (see text below). The postcards are available free from the ASJC, and they would like your help to distribute them! If you are interested, please tel (04) 384 5458 or email just_mike@clear.net.nz and say how many you would like, and provide your name and address so they can be posted to you.

New Trust Fund for Ahmed Zaoui's legal costs - money raised is being held in a trust account and will be used to bring overseas witnesses here for a hearing with the Inspector General. If you are in a position to make a contribution to the legal costs involved in trying to gain justice for Ahmed Zaoui, please make your cheque out to the Human Rights Foundation and post to 'Friends of Ahmed Zaoui, c/o Holy Trinity Cathedral, PO Box 37 148, Parnell, Auckland; remember to include your name and address if you wish to be sent a receipt.

NEW RAM WEBSITE... The rates boycott committee decided unanimously on Wednesday the 8th of October to change its name to Residents Action Network (RAM). RAM's new website is located at... http://www.r-a-m.150m.com Again it is a free site and their fore has annoying ads etc, apologies for this. RAM will continue to help organise the mass boycott of the increase in the ARC rates across the Auckland region. We will be broadening out our campaign, to unite Aucklanders sick of the dominance of big business over the city and the people. Our movement is open to everyone interested in the campaign. For more information, contact: Grant Morgan 634 3377 (days & evenings) gcm@actrix.gen.nz

2003 ROGER AWARD Nominations close on October 31 for the annual Roger Award for the Worst Transnational Corporation Operating in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Dunedin is to host the event to announce the winner(s). It will be held in February 2004 and details will be announced closer to the time. This will be the first time that Dunedin has hosted the Roger Award event (the first three were held in Christchurch; one in Wellington, and the last two in Auckland). The organisers - Christchurch-based groups CAFCA and GATT Watchdog - are pleased that the only major city not to have thus far hosted the Roger will now do so. And Dunedin is even more appropriate because of the high profile role played by its Mayor, Sukhi Turner, who has been a judge several times, from the very beginning, and is again this year. The judges are (in addition to Sukhi Turner, Mayor of Dunedin): Dr Ranginui Walker, Emeritus Professor at the University of Auckland; John Minto, veteran Auckland activist and National Chairperson of the Quality Public Education Coalition; Alister Barry, documentary maker, of Wellington; and Jill Hawkey, of Christchurch, National Director of Christian World Service. They will be given a shortlist of nominations from which to make their decision.

You can read all about the Roger Award and access the online nomination form at the CAFCA Website www.cafca.org.nz Click on the below for the nomination form: http://canterbury.cyberplace.co.nz/community/CAFCA/publications/Roger/Rogern omination.pdf Nominations close on October 31. Send your nomination to: The Roger Award, Box 2258, Christchurch or fax it to (03) 3663988. E-mail: cafca@chch.planet.org.nz

VOTE POWERLYNK Auckland Energy Consumer Trust. Voting Papers Out Now!! The big issue is whether Vector (owner of your power lines) should remain in 100% community ownership, or whether Vector should be privatised. Powerlynk believes that Vector should remain 100% community owned. C&R Now believes that it is acceptable to sell 24.9% of the company: and that's just for starters. When your voting papers arrive in the post we urge you to: 1. Find the five Powerlynk candidates on the voting paper 2. Vote for all five Powerlynk candidates 3. Post your vote back straight away. VOTE FOR THE WHOLE POWERLYNK TEAM Shale Chambers, Trust and Commercial Lawyer / Professional Director Ph 378 6662 Stuart Nash, Businessman – Australasian Importing and Trading Ph 021 444 888 Jill Ovens, Journalist & Tertiary Teacher Union Field Officer Ph 276 9433 Coralie Van Camp, AECT Trustee / Self Employed Company Director Ph 520 0362 Pauline Winter , AECT Trustee / Company Director / Chair Pacific Business Trust Ph 376 6524 WE WON’T SELL YOUR POWERLINES www.powerlynk.org.nz

PLAN A SPECIAL SUMMER BREAK NOW - JOIN THE WAIHOPAI SPYBASE PROTEST, JANUARY 16-18, 2004. The Anti-Bases Campaign (ABC) is organising its annual summer camp to protest the Waihopai e-spy base (near Blenheim). For details about the base and the camp, and to reserve a place, write to Anti-Bases Campaign, Box 2258, Christchurch or e-mail cafca@chch.planet.org.nz or go to http://www.converge.org.nz/abc Aucklanders can contact John Minto (See above) to coordinate participation/travel

THE RIGHT TO PROTEST IS BEING ENDANGERED UNDER THE PRETEXT OF 'FIGHTING TERRORISM'. Keith Locke raised this concern in Parliament on October 14, speaking at the second reading of the Counter-Terrorism Bill. He said ''Perhaps the most dangerous change is proposed new section 307A in clause 7 to be inserted in the Crimes Act that could lead to heavy penalties for people who threaten to engage in forms of protest action that cause "major economic loss to one or more persons". Read the whole speech under Analysis, below, or at http://www.greens.org.nz/searchdocs/speech6824.html

BEST ON THE WEB

NEW ZEALAND/AUSTRALIA GE Free march – Photo essay http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0310/S00095.htm http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0310/S00096.htm New Pacific Journalism Review Launched At Weekend http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0310/S00058.htm Thousands mach against lifting GE moratorium http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0310/S00098.htm http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0310/S00097.htm Howard denies Australia has 'sheriff' role http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/10/17/1065917588513.html Manus Island's last prisoner denied justice http://www.GreenLeft.org.au/back/2003/558/ Australia's new colonialism http://www.zmag.org/content/print_article.cfm?itemID=4371§ionID=44

CUBA Rodney Hide corrected over Cuba http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0310/S00207.htm Noam Chomsky: Cuba in the cross-hairs: A near half-century of terror http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=11&ItemID=4394

THE TERRORIST WAR When American Intangibles Do Not Save Afghan Lives An Open Letter From Dr. Mohammed Daud Miraki http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0310/S00072.htm US eyes second-tier threats in terror war: Hardening stance focuses on Syria, Libya, and Cuba. http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/1014/p02s01-usfp.html Spending on Iraq sets off a Gold rush http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A496-2003Oct8?language=printer Red Cross breaks silence on Guantanamo prisoners to lambaste US approach http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=452157 U.S. Strives to Privatise Iraqi State - Owned Firms http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/international/international-iraq-usa-business es.html?pagewanted=print&position= US soldiers driving bulldozers, with jazz blaring from loudspeakers, have uprooted ancient groves of date palms as well as orange and lemon trees in central Iraq as part of a new policy of collective punishment of farmers who do not give information about guerrillas attacking US troops. http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/story.jsp?story=452375 Briton held as terror suspect says CIA threatened torture http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1055628,00.html

US TROOPS IN IRAQ – SICK, WOUNDED, AND WANT TO GO HOME US Media ignores casualties http://www.editorandpublisher.com/editorandpublisher/headlines/article_displ ay.jsp?vnu_content_id=2008146 Sick, wounded U.S. troops held in squalor http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20031017-024617-1418r Unknown illness strikes US troops http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/1773-print.shtml US troops question presence in Iraq http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,1064852,00.html Robert Fisk: The worst problem facing US forces not armed resistance but a crisis of morale. http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=15&ItemID=4407

LESSONS FROM THE PAST In 1983, the US 'pre-emptively' invaded Grenada. Sound familiar? http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1060745,00.html

CORPORATE GLOBALISATION Global trade keeps a billion children in poverty – Unicef http://news.independent.co.uk/world/politics/story.jsp?story=455868 Cancun: End of illusions http://www.flonnet.com/fl2021/stories/20031024001004900.htm Naomi Klein: US may block cheap AID’ drug http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1061634,00.html Scientists prove it - Free markets can hurt economic growth http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99994247 Strange fruit: Florinda Lollo Matinez lost her job so your bananas could stay cheap http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0340/pacenza.php Oil and gas running out much faster than expected, says study http://news.independent.co.uk/low_res/story.jsp?story=449053&host=3&dir=507 The coming First World debt crisis http://www.opendemocracy.net/debates/article-6-28-1463.jsp

SOUTH AFRICA What went wrong in the new’ South Africa http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0310/S00197.htm

GE – PROBLEMS EMERGING The Enemies of Science: Nothing damages science more than forcing researchers to develop GM By George Monbiot http://www.monbiot.com/dsp_article.cfm?article_id=611 GM crops unlikely to remain contained, study shows http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/environment/story.jsp?story=453163 US firms 'tried to lie' over GM crops, says EU http://news.independent.co.uk/world/environment/story.jsp?story=453124 How GM crop trials were rigged: Ministers knew of the environmental dangers, but the tests were designed not to focus on this http://news.independent.co.uk/low_res/story.jsp?story=452413&host=3&dir=58 Study reveals first evidence that GM superweeds exist http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/environment/story.jsp?story=451733

UNITED KINGDOM John Pilger: The fall and rise of liberal England http://pilger.carlton.com/print/133138

PALESTINE/ISRAEL Israel accused of starving Palestinians http://www.gulf-news.com/Articles/news.asp?ArticleID=99397 US helps Israel deploy nuclear arms in submarines http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1061399,00.html Fisk: Israel’s attack is a lethal step towards war in the Middle East http://fairuse.1accesshost.com/news1/fisk1.html Israeli weapons of mass destruction http://www.wagingpeace.org/articles/02.03/0331steinbachisraeli.htm

USA Tens of thousands of antiwar demonstrators marched in Washington http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17636-2003Oct25.html Bush family Nazi links confirmed http://www.nhgazette.com/cgi-bin/NHGstore.cgi?user_action=detail&catalogno=N N_Bush_Nazi%20Link Arnold's Enron secret http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=16902 US bullies Europe over chemical testing http://lists.essential.org/pipermail/corp-focus/2003/000164.html

THE AMERICAS IN REVOLT Across the Americas, Indigenous Peoples Make Themselves Heard http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-indigenous19oct19010442, 1,5380971,print.story?coll=la-headlines-world-manual Bolivia Watch http://www.zmag.org/lam/boliviawatch.htm Venezuela: Chavez rides on http://www.flonnet.com/fl2021/stories/20031024000406100.htm Cuba: Resisting a blockade http://www.flonnet.com/fl2021/stories/20031024000506300.htm

VIETNAM WAR Elite US unit massacred civilians in Vietnam http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20031020/SRTIGERFORCE/ 110190169 Pentagon refuses to reopen probe into alleged Vietnam War atrocities http://sg.news.yahoo.com/031019/1/3f3xc.html

© Scoop Media