Global Peace And Justice Auckland Newsletter #59, April 28, 2004

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,

At this Monday's GPJA Forum we have an eye-witness account of the struggle in Palestine by Helen Te Hira. Helen is a union organizer in Auckland who recently visited Palestine on behalf of Arena to liase with an aid project they help sponsor. Monday, May 3, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd. Also remember that this Saturday is May Day (See What’s On below).

1) MESSAGES

FOREIGN CONTROL WATCHDOG ONLINE http://www.converge.org.nz/watchdog/05/index05.htm

Join the Palestinian people & the INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT (ISM) for FREEDOM SUMMER PALESTINE 2004. Registration & Additional Info: Since August 2001, the International Solidarity Movement, in close cooperation with Palestinian community leaders, has been organizing campaigns against the injustices of the Israeli Occupation. We, the ISM and the people of Palestine, have called on international civilians from all over the world to join us in Palestine for active non-violent resistance against 56 years of Palestinian displacement and dispossession, specifically the violence, discrimination and oppression resulting from Israel's 37-year military Occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Commemorating 56 years of Palestinian dispossession (since the exile of 750,000 Palestinians in 1948 and the destruction of hundreds of Palestinian villages), Freedom Summer 2004 will be 56 days of community-organized resistance and direct-action against the Israeli Occupation, with the last two weeks dedicated to a freedom march along the path of the Apartheid Wall. Campaign dates: June 25 - August 19, 2004. Two-day orientation & training sessions will be held once a week on Fridays and Saturdays. The first training of the campaign will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, June 23 We look forward to welcoming you in Palestine! http://www.palsolidarity.org/traveltopalestine/freedomsummer2004.php

WMD'S: It is being widely reported that GW Bush was grossly inaccurate, in his media session last week in citing the stocks of mustard gas that Libya has pledged to destroy, as being "50 tons" see for example: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/617385.cms "The White House moved on Wednesday to correct the record, with press secretary Scott McClellan seeking out reporters to point out the mistake. "The president should have said in his Tuesday night address and press conference that 23.6 tons of mustard gas were found in Libya, instead of 50 tons, McClellan said. " Meanwhile in the US, the method planned by DuPont corporation to destroy more than 1,200 tons of the nerve agent VX is causing "a great deal of concern" - see below http://www.uswaternews.com/archives/arcquality/4govespea4.html

PARENTING PROGRAMME TRAINERS: The Peace Foundation is seeking additional part-time contractors in the Auckland region and beyond, to work as trainers for its two parents’ programmes: Healthy Families & the Cool Schools Parents Programme. The Healthy Families programme consists of 5 sessions and the Cool Schools Parents programme consists of three. They are usually held in the evening at a school but can be delivered during the day where circumstances permit. Trainers would need to have good presentation and communication skills, a keen interest in parenting and a previous background in education/training is desirable but not essential. For further information please contact: Louise Belcher Breuer belcherl@ihug.co.nz

2) WHAT'S ON IN AUCKLAND

Wednesday, April 28 to May 8. Aotea Gallery level 4, Aotea Centre Bruno Stevens' photographs 'PALESTINE NOW' on show. Admission free. Photographic Display by International Award Winning Photo Journalist Bruno Stevens, (who has just been awarded the 1st Prize in the World Press Photo, daily life category.) 'PALESTINE NOW' will show at Aotea Gallery level 4, Aotea Centre from 28th April to the 8th May 2004. Admission free.

Thursday, April 29, 5.30-7.30pm, Auckland Art Gallery NZ BIG BROTHER AWARDS: The awards ceremony, a speech about privacy by Nicky Hager and refreshments. Hosted by the Auckland Council for Civil Liberties. Contenders for this year's awards include Paul Swain, Wayne Mapp, Phil Goff, Stephen Franks, Helen Clark and Deborah Coddington for worst elected representative, Baycorp and Pacific Retail Finance for worst corporate and Housing NZ, LTSA, NZ Police and WINZ for worst public agency. There will also be a Person of the Year award. Be there! For more information, contact Tim McBride phone 025 289 4127.

Friday, April 30, 7.30pm, St Columba Centre, Vermont St, Ponsonby Auction for Action. Speaker John McTavish will give an amusing talk about how to auction a house. The evening will include a silent auction. Coffee and dessert will be served. $20 per person, $35 per couple. This is a fundraiser for Pacific Women¹s watch to establish a Secretariat hub in the Pacific. Tickets from Katie at PWW office 70 Khyber pass Road, Grafton or ph 09 307 0701; 445 6431 or 418 0700

Saturday, May 1, 10.45pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn ‘SITES OF STRUGGLE’: A May Day bus trip to visit various sites that have special interest and history for trade unionists. Dean Parker will provide a commentary at each of the 15 stops. $10 per head. Book by contacting Gay Simpkin at pgsimpkin@xtra.co.nz or 815 1873

Saturday, May 1, 11-12noon, Duxton Hotel, Greys Ave Protest outside Duxton Hotel......... Remove the Waiver free visa agreement with Israel.....(Mossad agent staying there) Greys Avenue

Saturday, May 1, 12.30-1.30, Aotea Gallery Dr Robin Briant speaking on her recent time in PALESTINE at the Bruno Stevens -Palestine Now exhibition

Saturday, May 1, 2pm, Aotea Square RALLY FOR PEACE, We call on people in Auckland to support Justice and Peace for Palestinians and Israelis based on: 1.Removal of Israeli Occupation. 2.Right of Return for Refugees. 3. Sharing Jerusalem. 4. Cessation of Jewish only Settlements in occupied Palestine. Join in the May Day at ALBERT PARK after rally.

Saturday, May 1, 2pm, QEII Square, Downtown. MAY DAY: March to Albert park for a 3pm Rally with music and speeches. Everyone welcome at the Maritime Club afterwards,, 68 Anzac Ave. Cash Bar available. Contact Gary Parsloe MUNZ, 021 326 261 or Linda Holt, NZNO, 0274 750 655.

Sunday, May 2, 3pm, Manaia Room, Auckland Museum "Vietnam the New Zealand Story" 150 mins in partnership with NZTV Archive. NZ’s participation in the Vietnam War is examined through rare historic footage and interviews with high-level players from both the government and the peace movement.

Sunday , May 2, 5pm, 2 Conway St, Mt Eden. Planning Meeting for Mothers Day Protest- Money for Caring Not Killing. End the poverty of women and children, particularly mothers on the DPB. Stop spending on warfare, end the occupation of Iraq. All welcome. Organised by members of the International Women's Day Committee. contact janetbogle@hotmail.com for details.

Monday, May 3, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn GPJA FORUM: Helen Te Hira speaks on ``PALESTINE: WOMENS AND WORKERS RIGHTS''. Helen is a union organizer in NZ and recently visited Palestine to see the situation first hand.

Saturday, May 8, 10am-3pm, Polynesian Centre, 90 Bader Drive, Mangere FACING POVERTY: a workshop to address poverty and low incomes. No cost to participants. Free lunch provided. Trade unions estimate there is more than $1.2 billion of Government surplus that could be spent on education, health and getting rid of poverty. As much as $500 million may be in the Budget for increases in benefit payments, plus extra money for preschool and childcare. Unions support these priorities. At a time when Don Brash's attacks have divided our community, we call on all workers to defend initiatives to redistribute wealth, and to achieve a more equitable and democratic society. Opening speakers: Taito Phillip Field, Labour, MP for Mangere, Darien Fenton, Service and Food Workers Union National Secretary, Panellists: Bill Anderson, chairperson (National Distribution Union president) Sue Bradford ( Green MP); Matt McCarten (Unite; Alliance Leader); Susan St John (Child Poverty Action Group); Alan Johnson (Child Poverty Action Group); Plus visiting expert: Prof Adrian Sinfield (University of Edinburgh). For further information: Jill Ovens, convenor, 6 Wedgwood Ave, Mangere East, Ph 276 9433 or (027) 4424 809

Monday, May 10, 11.30am-12.30pm, Shop 6 Three Lamps Plaza, 283 Ponsonby Rd. (office of Judith Tizard.) MOTHERS DAY PROTEST. Money for Caring Not Killing. End the poverty of women and children. Raise the DPB to a Living wage. Stop spending on warfare. End the occupation of Iraq. Money for the Poor , not for War. Money for schools and hospitals, not soldiers and spies. Organised by members of the International Women's Day Committee. All welcome. contact janetbogle@hotmail.com for details.

Monday, May 32, 7.30pm, St Columba Centre, Vermont St, Ponsonby Hear KAMAL FADEL speak about the present situation in WESTERN SAHARA. Kamal Fadel, the representative of the Polisario Front of the Western Sahara is visiting New Zealand to tell the story of the conflict in Western Sahara and the prospects for peace today. He will be testifying for the Western Sahara at the UN Seminar on Decolonisation to be held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea on 17-20 May 2004. He has just returned to Sydney, where he is based, from leading a visit by a range of dignitaries from Australia to the refugee camps in Algeria, where many of the West Saharans live, and to the liberated zones of West Sahara. For more information contact Felicity Coggan Ph (09)579 5707 fcoggan@xtra.co.nz or Joan Macdonald ph(09) 360 8001 joanmac@pl.net

Sunday, May 16, 3pm, Manaia Room, Auckland Museum "Vietnam Under Fire". How do the Vietnamese of the ‘90s feel about the war and its effect on their country?

Sunday, June 6, 3pm, Manaia Room, Auckland Museum "Uncle Ho and Uncle Sam", BBC 60 mins. This film looks at the alliance between the CIA and Ho Chi Minh during the Japanese occupation of Vietnam.

Until June 6, Auckland War Memorial Museum VIETNAM EXHIBITION TO SHOW BOTH SIDES OF CONFLICT. A collection of startling, never-before-published images of the Vietnam War by North Vietnamese photographers. It will be accompanied by "Vietnam - A Kiwi Snapshot" an exhibition presenting New Zealanders' memories of power politics, protest and the sacrifice made by our own soldiers in this unpopular war. "Another Vietnam: Pictures of the War from the Other Side," presents over 100 evocative black-and-white photographs by North Vietnamese soldier-photographers who risked their lives to capture their country's struggle. Many perished - nine out of 10 did not survive. The exhibition is co-produced by the National Geographic Museum at Explorers Hall, Washington, and the International Centre of Photography, New York. "Vietnam - A Kiwi Snapshot, includes photography by frontline Kiwi soldiers and documentary film footage. $8 adults, $6 concessions.

Monday, June 7, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn GPJA FORUM: Luke Coxon speaks on ``THE 2004 WORLD SOCIAL FORUM IN INDIA''. Luke is a union organizer in NZ and attended the WSF for ARENA.

December 2-5, Massey University, Albany An International Interdisciplinary Conference on Restorative Justice to be held at Centre for Justice and Peace Development Massey University Albany Auckland. "NEW FRONTIERS IN RESTORATIVE JUSTICE: ADVANCING THEORY AND PRACTICE" To express interest in attending and/or to offer a presentation email newfrontiers@massey.ac.nz or write to Dr. Warwick Tie, Centre for Justice and Peace Development, School of Social and Cultural Studies, Massey University, Private Bag 102 904, North Shore MSC, Auckland. Closing date for the submission of abstracts is the 31st May 2004. Conference URL: http://justpeace.massey.ac.nz/

3) BEST ON THE WEB

Negroponte, a Torturer's Friend: Bush's announcement that he intends to appoint John Negroponte to be the U.S. ambassador to Iraq should appal anyone who respects human rights. http://www.progressive.org/webex04/wx042004.html http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0404/S00250.htm

The British soldiers in Iraq who fear they are fighting a forgotten war http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=460882004

US admits transfer of power is a fraud http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=514687

Creating a Bantustan in Gaza: The political, military, and economic aspects of the plan for the Gaza Strip and the enclave in the northern West Bank are amazingly similar to the homelands, one of the last inventions of the white minority in South Africa to perpetuate its rule over the black majority. http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasen/spages/416059.html

East Timorese: 'We only want what is rightfully ours' http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2004/579/579p3.htm

Bougainville's Itch For Independence - Some secessionists want it now http://www.pacificislands.cc/pm42004/pmdefault.php?urlarticleid=0038

Robert Wade on Michael Moore, A World Without Walls. The road from Seattle to Cancún. Back-room politics of the global trade agenda in the account of an ex-Director General of the WTO. http://www.newleftreview.net/NLR25907.shtml

Beware the fossil fools: The dismissal of climate change by journalistic nincompoops is a danger to us all By George Monbiot http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1204194,00.html

Landless, and restless: Brazil's poor grow more aggressive in property grabs http://www.boston.com/news/world/articles/2004/04/24/landless_and_restless/

Mike

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