June 30, 2005

Global Peace And Justice Auckland Newsletter #96,

GPJA FORUM MONDAY

This Monday's GPJA Forum on the Pacific has two special guests: Avelino da Silva, General Secretary of the Socialist Party of Timor and David Robie, journalist and author of "Eyes of Fire - The last journey of the Rainbow Warrior". 7.30pm, Monday, July 4, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd. Avelino has another meeting on Sunday if you can't make the forum (Details below in "What's On").

Quotes Of The Week

"A human being is part of a whole, called by us the 'Universe,' a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separated from the rest--a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circles of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty." (Albert Einstein)

"Now my friends, I am opposed to the system of society in which we live today, not because I lack the natural equipment to do for myself but because I am not satisfied to make myself comfortable knowing that there are thousands of my fellow men who suffer for the barest necessities of life. We were taught under the old ethic that man's business on this earth was to look out for himself. That was the ethic of the jungle; the ethic of the wild beast. Take care of yourself, no matter what may become of your fellow man. Thousands of years ago the question was asked; ''Am I my brother's keeper?'' That question has never yet been answered in a way that is satisfactory to civilized society. Yes, I am my brother's keeper. I am under a moral obligation to him that is inspired, not by any maudlin sentimentality but by the higher duty I owe myself. What would you think me if I were capable of seating myself at a table and gorging myself with food and saw about me the children of my fellow beings starving to death" (Eugene V. Debs: 1908 speech)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY LAUNCH - AOTEAROANEWZEALAND - JULY 1 and First International Day of Action / Overseas Events. " We are the first generation that can look extreme and stupid poverty in the eye, look across the water to Africa and elsewhere and say this and mean it: we have the cash, we have the drugs, we have the science, but do we have the will? Do we have the will to make poverty history? Some say we can't afford to. I say we can't afford not to. " - Bono, 29 September 2004

AUCKLAND 1 July, 10.00am, Auckland Museum, Bands, Celebrities, Speakers: Please join us at the Auckland Museum where we will be making poverty history! We have an exciting event taking place involving white bands, celebrities and speakers. Please gather outside the museum from 9.30am on Friday 1st July to take part in this event. 1 July, 10.00am, Service, St Matthews in the City Church: A special service has been organised by the Mothers' Union on Friday July 1st at 10am. To show their solidarity with indebted nations and celebrate the 1st international White Band Day, white bands will be distributed to the guests as a symbol of Peace.

INTERNATIONAL LINK UP, 2 July, 2am! Live 8 Concert link-up, TV2. Live 8 will be broadcast live from around the world on TV2 from 2am-12pm on Sunday 2nd July. DIY! You can also get together with friends and take action yourself! Read our launch kit for ideas - html version or a print-friendly word version. Let us know what you're planning and we'll advertise it on this website. FIND OUT MORE: For more information on MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY Aotearoa/New Zealand, visit the website: www.makepovertyhistory.org.nz MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY POSTCARDS: Download Aotearoa New Zealand MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY postcards in PDF format and spread the word.

There is a wealth of information available if you're interested in understanding the issues better. Dev-Zone has key background documents, official links, and critiques of the upcoming G8 Gleaneagles Summit, where issues of development and poverty are high on the agenda. For more on debt issues visit the Jubilee Aotearoa Debt Action Network website. For more general information you can also look at Dev-Zone's extensive set of links on Economic Disparity and Poverty.

AROUNDTHEWORLD EVENTS On July 1st amazing events are happening all around the world in the run up to the G8 meeting in Scotland. Here is a snapshot of some events, such as Live8 concerts, conferences, demonstrations, rallies and teach-ins, all juxtaposing across the globe.

WHITE BAND DAY 1! On July 1st, the first international White Band Day, landmark buildings all around the world will be wrapped in massive white bands! From the African landmarks through European attractions and all the way to the Middle East and Australasia's milestones. towers, bridges, memorials and sites of international standing will be draped in white bands. Meanwhile marches, demonstrations and rallies in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Europe, Brazil and Zambia will send the message across the world. make poverty history!

LIVE 8! The Live8 concerts featuring international pop stars will take place across the globe to celebrate the White Band Day actions and remind world leaders to honour their commitments on world poverty. Live 8 will be broadcast live from around the world on TV2 from 2am-12pm on Sunday 2nd July LONG WALK TO JUSTICE! After the Live8 concerts thousands will make their way to the G8 meeting in Edinburgh. People will arrive from all around the world in the run up to the meeting on the 6th of July to ensure that international leaders move forward in eradicating poverty.

SAY NO TO ZIMBABWE TOUR WEBSITE http://www.saynotozimtour.com

Hi Friends, The sponsors of NZ CRICKET are the National Bank who have already expressed their distaste for the possible Zimbabwe cricket tour. I would like to suggest that there would be value in supporting their concern to the point of them thinking it would damage their image -so carefully developed and protected as it is.

I am a customer and have used their website to register my concern. If you go to http://www.nbnz.co.nz and click on Contact Us, first in the list is Email Us. If you took the time to write a note on this form under General Enquiries this may be a fruitful protest against the tour of NZ Cricket to Zimbabwe. A simple two minute protest that may make a difference. Regards,Terri

NEW APPEAL - BY CHRISTIAN WORLD SERVICE

For those left homeless in the wake of shantytown clearances across Zimbabwe: "It is extremely difficult for international agencies and the UN to get in to Zimbabwe at present but Christian World Service has a local partner already providing relief. They are distributing food and non-food items such as tents and blankets at transit/holding camps but need more help.

They have issued an appeal to meet immediate shelter needs (June and July are the coldest months of the year in Zimbabwe), cooking utensils, jerry cans, soap, basic food and trauma counselling. Money raised through the CWS Zimbabwe appeal will fund this work." More information about this appeal is available at http://www.cws.org.nz/News/media-release.asp#Zimbabwe%20appeal

To make a donation tel 0800 74 73 72 or you can donate online at https://secure.godzone.net.nz/CWS/donations/ProcessDonation.cgi

SOUTH PACIFIC BOOKS LTD

Presents "Eyes of Fire - THE LAST VOYAGE OF THE RAINBOW WARRIOR" Special 20th anniversary edition, By David Robie. Robie was on board as a journalist for 11 weeks leading up to the sabotage by French secret agents. His media coverage of the Rainbow Warrior affair led to Robie being awarded the New Zealand Media Peace Prize. The only account of the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior by somebody who was actually on board. More than 60 photographs (mostly by the author) and illustrations.

This memorial edition of the book marking the 20th anniversary of the bombing includes new sections and a preface by crew member BUNNY McDIARMID. rrp$39.95 due Mid July. Order from SOUTH PACIFIC BOOKS LTD, PO BOX 3533 SHORTLAND STREET, AUCKLAND. PH 09 8383821 Fx 09 838382 Author condemns Rainbow Warrior bombing http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED0506/S00074.htm

MANUFACTURING CONSENT:

Democracy requires that people have free access to information. How well do the media perform & what role do they play in a capitalist democracy? Discover how our consent is manufactured, how to combat indoctrination, and how to organise to participate in the democratic process. Based around Noam Chomsky's 'Manufacturing Consent' and 'Necessary Illusions', this is a course to make you think! Tutor: Aaron Skudder. 3131 Tue 9 Aug, 7-9pm; 4 Sessions $30. Please contact Northcote college community education. Visit the website http://www.learn4life.co.nz/2005generalinterest.htm PHONE (09)-481-0144 with your enrolment details, credit card number & expiry date. FAX (09)-481-0143 your completed enrolment form, credit card number & expiry date. BRING your enrolment details & payment to the Community Education Office at 6-10 Kauri Glen Rd, Northcote. We're open from 9am - 4pm Monday - Friday. E-MAIL your enrolment details to learn4life@xtra.co.nz Kind regards, Aaron Skudder, Radio Chomsky, www.radiochomsky.org

Saturday, 20 August - is the deadline for nominations for the 2005 DICK (Destructive Industries Connected to Killing) NZ Awards and 'Guided Missiles and Misguided Men' Awards. The Awards are your opportunity to say what you think about the companies who profit from bloodshed and war, and the politicians who support it. More information about the Awards, including the criteria and the nominations form, is available at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/dick05.htm or from No WARP! (Network Opposed to Weapons and Related Production) email nowarp@xtra.co.nz

FOCUS ON TRADE NEWSLETTER LATEST ISSUE:

As the G8 summit to be held in Gleneagles, Scotland, on 6-8 July draws near, we send a message to everyone going to the "Make Poverty History" rally in Edinburgh, while Stuart Hodkinson goes behind the scenes to see who is pulling the MPH strings. Also in this issue, Walden Bello makes the case at the World Tribunal on Ira qagainst "The Coalition of the Willing" and, in part two, Herbert Docena gives evidence to the WTI on the US attempts to restructure and control the Iraq's economy. The final session of the WTI, which concluded today in Istanbul, was described by Walden Bello as "truly historic, moving, and timely." For more reports see www.worldtribunal.org http://www.focusweb.org/main/html/Article628.html

WHAT'S ON IN AUCKLAND

Friday, 1st July, 12.00 noon, Study Centre Staff Lounge at Massey University, Albany Prof Kevin Clements will be holding a public lecture on 'Initiatives for the prevention of war'. Friday, July 1, 5pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn, Auckland The Working Womens Resource Centre is hosting a memorial EVENING TO CELEBRATE SONJA DAVIES LIFE. You are cordially invited to share in this celebration The formal speeches will start at 5.30 pm. We will have guest speakers and an open floor opportunity for others wishing to speak. Cash bar open from 5.00pm. Any questions contact Ros Hiini Ph 021 299 2921.

Saturday, July 2, 2pm, Queen Elizabeth Square, Downtown, Auckland Rally for Justice and Peace in Palestine. Based on the: 1. End to Israeli Occupation; 2. Right of Return to Palestinian Refugees; 3. Sharing Jerusalem; 4. No Israeli Settlements in Occupied Palestine. Remember to visit our Palestine website....... www.palestine.org.nz

Sunday, July 3, 2pm, St Benedicts Church, St Benedicts St Avelino da Silva, General Secretary of the Socialist Party of Timor

Sunday, July 3, 5.00pm onwards, Union Fish Company Building, 118 Quay St GREEN PARTY ART AUCTION -- The Auckland Green Party is delighted to announce its forthcoming Great Green Art Auction to help raise funds for this year's election. We have an superb line up of over 50 exceptional artists, including Brent Wong, Dean Buchanan, Luc Tutugoro, Michael Smither, Jacqueline Fahey, John Pule, Jim Viveaere, Judy Darragh, Stanley Palmer and many more established and emerging painters, photographers, sculptors and multi-media artists. An on-line catalogue can be found at www.thegreatartauction.org.nz Mark Sunday 3rd July on your calendar for this special event. Tickets are limited to and will be available mid-June $25 includes complimentary drink, food and music. For more information, phone Kim on 376-4143 or email: artauction@greens.org.nz

Sunday, 3 July and Tuesday, 5 July, Broadcast on National Radio after the 4pm news on Sunday, and after the 9pm news on Tuesday - 'A Nation in Change: The impact of Rogernomics on Maori and Pacific Island communities in NZ', made by Tatou Productions, researched and presented by Carol Archie, and produced by Siobhan Wilson.

Monday, July 4, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn GPJA FORUM - "FOCUS ON THE PACIFIC": Two speakers with outstanding qualifications to speak about Pacific Issues - David Robie - Author of "Mekim Nius" about the threat to democracy from corporate controlled Pacific media and Avelino da Silva, General Secretary of the Socialist Party of Timor Dr DAVID ROBIE, who has taught Pacific journalists for a decade at the University of Papua New Guinea and the University of the South Pacific, will talk about the media and politics in the South Pacific. He was threatened with expulsion from Fiji in 1998.

His book on the media, Mekim Nius: South Pacific Media, Politics and Education was recently published. He also has a special memorial edition of his book Eyes of Fire being published soon to mark the 20th anniversary of the Rainbow Warrior bombing on July 10. David is now an associate professor at Auckland University of Technology's School of Communication Studies. David's address will focus on "Coups, politics and the Pacific media - behind the self-censorship barrier" What was the role of the Fiji media during the Sleight coup in Fiji? And what role is it playing now as tension rises over Fiji's controversial Reconciliation and Unity Bill aimed at freeing the coup perpetrators? Why are there calls for an investigation into the alleged assassination of a prominent local editor in Tahiti?

Do training and aid agencies help provide a genuinely independent media in a region dominated by three media Mega corporations -Murdoch in Fiji and Papua New Guinea, Tribunal Hinau in Papua New Guinea and the Dassault-Hersant-Socpresse group in New Caledonia and Tahiti, which has been described as a "menace to the press and democracy"? AVELINO DA SILVA - General Secretary, Socialist Party of Timor (PST); Member, State Advisory Commission to East Timor President Avelino da Silva joined FRETILIN as a youth activist. During the 80s and 90s, he help found progressive East Timorese youth groups in East Timor and Indonesia.

He helped build an underground resistance in Java in the 1990s and was hunted by the Suharto regime, eventually seeking sanctuary for almost two years in the Austrian Embassy. He was the first general secretary of the PST when it was founded in the mid-1990s.

Monday, July 11, 7.30pm, 4 Warnock St Grey Lynn The Auckland Women's Centre is holding an election forum to discuss women's issues. The forum focuses on those major electoral parties that recognise the importance of gender by actually having specific women's policy. We checked all the parties out, and only the New Zealand Labour Party and the Green Party fall into this category. We are pleased that both the Hon Ruth Dyson, Minister of Women's Affairs and Sue Bradford, Green Party MP have agreed to speak. This is a great opportunity to hear these leading women and ask them questions on their party's women's policy. All women are welcome. For more info contact the AWC on akcentre@womenz.org or ph 376 3227. Website: www.womenz.org.nz

Monday, July 18, 5-45pm to 7pm, at Amnesty International office, 145 Nelson Street, central Auckland AUCKLAND HUMAN RIGHTS NETWORK MEETING; (directions for drivers - drive northwards down Nelson Street, between Union Street and Cook Street, take small drive on left running parallel downhill off Nelson Street, and proceed to parking beside Amnesty International office). For more information, or to add items to the agenda, contact email joanmac@pl.net

Thursday, July 21, 7-8-30pm, at the St Columba Centre, 40 Vermont Street, Ponsonby You are invited to a Symposium titled 'A Constitution for Aotearoa-New Zealand based on the Treaty of Waitangi' with Moana Jackson (Ngati Kahungunu, Ngati Porou, Lawyer, Academic). Much discussion about a constitution is centred around the place of the Treaty of Waitangi. That discussion raises the question "What is the relevance of the Treaty of Waitangi in Aotearoa-New Zealand today " Moana Jackson is clear that the Treaty shapes constitutional discussions. This symposium provides an opportunity for members of the public to enter into dialogue with Moana around the concept of building a constitution around the Treaty. If you are planning on attending this Human Rights Symposium, please RSVP to Marama Davidson by 12 noon, Tuesday 19 July, tel (09) 375 8646 or email maramad@hrc.co.nz

BEST ON THE WEB

NEW ZEALAND Waikato Maori unite behind Te Wananga o Aotearoa http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3325030a7694,00.html Director Says Wananga Delivers Benefits to NZ http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED0506/S00071.htm

RESTAURANT WORKERS ORGANISE, 1000 JOIN UNITE!

Over the last few weeks 900 Auckland restaurant workers from McDonalds (500), KFC (300), Starbucks (90) and Pizza Hut (80) joined the new Unite campaign for decent pay and working conditions for restaurant workers. These workers along with the 300 Burger King workers and 35 Denny's workers will be part of a push for collective employment agreements at job sites. Over the past month recruitment has tripled the numbers of workers involved in the campaign to 1300, all of whom will benefit from a collective agreement and union representation. http://indymedia.org.nz/feature/display/35689/index.php

AUSTRALIA

Anti-union laws will hurt millions: `If you don't fight, you lose! there is determination that we can and must take a stand, and there's a growing feeling that maybe this fight could be the beginning of the end for Howard and his gang. http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/631/631p14.htm

Guest Opinion: Remembering The Drowned Of SIEVX - On October 19, 2001 an unnamed fishing boat carrying over 400 refugees bound for Australia sank. 353 people just like us, 146 children, 142 women & 65 men, died under the Southern Cross http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0506/S00380.htm

G8 & DEBT AID WATCH:

Conditionalities Undermine G8 Debt Deal http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0506/S00292.htm Full report: https://www.aidwatch.org.au/assets/aw00732/G8%20jun%2005.pdf

"Debt" - Remaking Procrustes Bed: Less developed countries' external "debt" impedes their economic development and attempts to reduce poverty. But it generates huge revenues for rich countries. In the decade 1994 to 2004, Brazil paid rich country creditors US$400 billion just in interest, equivalent to the entire population of Brazil working a whole year." http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0506/S00355.htm G8 debt relief scam: Africa needs justice! http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/631/631p28.htm On now - 'Raised voices': Testimonies from the Majority World on the effects G8 policies have on their lives, stories available in print, audio and video format at http://www.raisedvoices.net/thestory John Pilger:

Power is accountable to the people, not to the "free market": Africa's imperial plunder and tragedy have been turned into a circus for the
benefit of the so-called G8 leaders due in Scotland next month and those of us willing to be distracted by the barkers of the circus: the establishment media and their "celebrities". http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article9254.htm

PACIFIC Trade union urges Fiji to withdraw law http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0506/S00460.htm

VENEZUELA Workers taking back control http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/631/631p18.htm Venezuela Solidarity Network http://www.venezuelasolidarity.org

ANTIWAR US antiwar groups call September mobilisation http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/article_2057.shtml

IRAQ WAR

Iraq: A bloody mess: Most of Iraq is today a bloody no-man's land beset by ruthless insurgents, savage bandit gangs, trigger-happy US patrols and marauding government forces. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article9323.htm Iraq: The carve-up begins: As the costs of the Iraq occupation spiral, British and American oil companies meet in secret next week to carve up the country's oil reserves for themselves. Tom Burgis reports http://www.thelondonline.co.uk/theline/article.php?articleID=437

Did U.S. Soldiers Shoot Iraqi Kids and Plant Weapons On Their Bodies? Warning this reports contain images that should only be viewed by adults. http://snipurl.com/fu04 Two years on, the echoes of Vietnam are getting louder - As the Ira qinsurgency grows, so do the similarities with Indochina http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1513338,00.html The real news is the shady April 2002 deal to go to war, the cynical use of the U.N. to provide an excuse, and the secret, illegal air war without the backing of Congress. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article9248.htm MEDIA ALERT: CONSPIRACY - THE DOWNING STREET MEMO - PART 1 http://www.medialens.org/

IRAQI WORKERS ORGANISE

Police open fire on Iraq demonstrators -- witness: Reuters correspondent Hamid Fadhil said a crowd of nearly 2,000 unemployed Iraqis was demonstrating because they had not been given jobs in the police in Samawa, 270 km south of Baghdad. Police opened fire first with warning shots and then shot into the crowd, Fadhil said, adding he had seen some demonstrators wounded. http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L28297697.htm

A View from Iraqi Oil Fields comes to the US - In August of 2003 the General Union of Oil Workers (GUOW) in Basra, Iraq led its 23,000 members in a general strike aimed at Kellogg Brown and Root (KBR). They surrounded their headquarters for six days, halted all oil extraction and forced the Halliburton subsidiary out of the region. By January of 2004 the mere threat of a strike was enough to get the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) to raise their monthly salary from $35 US dollars a month to about $100. http://lefthook.org/Politics/Lown062505.html Interview with Iraqi workers leaders http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0506/S00335.htm http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0506/S00289.htm Testimony From World Tribunal for Iraq by - H.C. von Sponeck - Larry Everest - Dahr Jamail - Jim Harding - Phil Shiner. The Tribunal will consist of hearings investigating various issues related to the war on Iraq, such as the legality of the war, the role of the United Nations, war crimes and the role of the media, as well as the destruction of the cultural sites and the environment. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article9278.htm

PALESTINE

Confronting Israeli Myth-Making: Propagandists on behalf of Israel - become increasingly deceptive and malign -- and increasingly effective - with time. http://www.counterpunch.org/christison06222005.html Withdrawal is a prelude to annexation: US hypocrisy is not new but Condi Rice has taken it beyond chutzpah http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article9226.htm Israel and the Occupied Territories: The Israeli army killed more than 700 Palestinians, including some 150 children.

Most were killed unlawfully - in reckless shooting, shelling and air strikes in civilian residential areas; in extrajudicial executions http://web.amnesty.org/report2005/isr-summary -eng

Both Palestinians and Israelis will benefit from a boycott: In the occupied territories, Israel maintains a strict racial and colonial segregation between Israeli Jewish settlers and the native Palestinians (Muslims and Christians). The former group enjoys economic benefits, special roads, heavily subsidised and more heavily protected housing, and full political rights. Even under apartheid there were never whites-only roads. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article8942.htm

WORLD ECONOMY

The Economist: The Global Housing Boom: "The worldwide rise in house prices is the biggest bubble in history. Prepare for the economic pain when it pops " http://snipurl.com/ftcg

ENVIRONMENT

Oil and food: A new security challenge: From farm to plate, the modern food system relies heavily on cheap oil. Threats to our oil supply are also threats to our food supply. http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Global_Economy/GF03Dj01.html The Climate Of Man: Disappearing islands, thawing permafrost, melting polar ice. How the earth is changing. http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/?050425fa_fact3

USA Torture Inc. Americas Brutal Prisons: Savaged by dogs, Electrocuted With Cattle Prods, Burned By Toxic Chemicals, Does such barbaric abuse inside U.S. jails explain the horrors that were committed in Iraq? http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article8451.htm

UK All it has delivered is one financial scandal after another - but the government remains wedded to PFI. http://www.guardian.co.uk/Columnists/Column/0,5673,1516043,00.html

UZBEKISTAN Papering over a massacre? http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/631/631p17b.htm

ENDS

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