Global Peace And Justice Auckland Newsletter #103, August 24, 2005

Website http://www.gpja.pl.net/ Contact details: Forums - John Minto, (09) 846 3173, jbminto@xtra.co.nz; Newsletter Editor - Mike Treen 027 525 47440 / 09 845 4027 mike@unite.org.nz; Web page - bobo@enzyme.org.nz. Donations can be sent to GPJA, 6a Western Springs Rd, Morningside, Auckland. All communication regarding the GPJA mailing list (email or snail) should be addressed to gpja@xtra.co.nz

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Dear friends,

The struggle for workers and democratic rights has exploded in Tonga these last few weeks with a general strike of public sector workers. There will be a public solidarity protest soon initiated by the Tongan community. One chance to discuss the issues behind the strike is at the Workers Charter Forum this Friday (see What’s On below). For on line coverage check out http://www.matangitonga.to/article/global_index.shtml

Some people have reported missing out on the newsletter since we changed systems in Mid July. If you are aware of cases let us know. Just a reminder that people can resubscribe by clicking on the link

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Our only hope today lies in our ability to recapture the revolutionary spirit and go into a sometimes hostile world declaring eternal hostility to poverty, racism, and militarism”. - Martin Luther King, Jr.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Nominations are now open for the 2005 Roger AWARD FOR THE WORST TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION Operating in Aotearoa/New Zealand. The nomination form is at www.cafca.org.nz follow the Roger links. Nominations close on October 31. They can be sent to: The Roger Award, Box 2258. Christchurch; faxed to (03) 3663988; or e-mailed to cafca@chch.planet.org.nz

The annual Roger Award is organised by the two Christchurch-based groups, Campaign Against Foreign Control of Aotearoa (CAFCA) and GATT Watchdog. Extensive details on the Roger Award, including a list of winners and Judges Reports, can be found at www.cafca.org.nz follow the Roger links

Murray Horton, for the organisers, The Roger Award, Box 2258, Christchurch, New Zealand

cafca@chch.planet.org.nz www.cafca.org.nz

WHAT’S ON IN AUCKLAND

Friday, August 26, 6pm, Unite Office, 6a Western Springs Rd, Morningside

“TONGA – WORKERS STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE AND DEMOCRACY”. Speakers from the Tongan Community and Luke Coxon, union organiser for Finsec. This is one of the regular Workers Charter Forums, held weekly. All welcome. For more info contact Joe Carolan, 845 2132

Saturday, August 27, 9.30am-1pm, St Heliers Presbyterian Community Centre, 100 St Heliers Bay Road

Pacific Women’s Watch (NZ) Incorporated: MOVING FORWARD FROM BEIJING +10 - UNRESOLVED ISSUES FOR NEW ZEALAND WOMEN. Report back on outcomes from the 10-year Review of the Beijing Platform for Action and the way forward for New Zealand women.Registration open at 8.45am. Speakers Panel includes: Jo Fitzpatrick: Director -Women’s Health Action; Jane Prichard: ICW Board -Beijing Review; Dr. Francis Townsend – Lifelong education for women; Equal Employment Opportunities Trust speaker

With choice of two workshops to follow: 1. Women’s health issues; 2. Employment/workplace challenges; 3. Womens’ empowerment; 4. Diversity of cultures – issues for women; 5. Lifelong education literacy and empowerment; 6. Violence and abuse related to mental health and poverty . All women are warmly invited to this important meeting. Your registration and registration fee of NZD$20.00 must reach us by no later than 20th August 2005. Mail to: Kathleen Sawaya, Bridgebuilders, 70 Khyber Pass Road, Grafton, Auckland

Sunday, August 28, 7pm, The Comedy Clasic, 321 Queen St, CBD

Auckland Indymedia presents.......THE ANTIDOTE #13: An evening of alternative political docos, $5. Yes, the Antidote is back! With an election coming up, this month’s screening focuses on political participation and local democracy in action.

DEMOCRACY? DON’T KNOW, DON’T CARE, 47 minutes, Produced by - Aotearoa Indymedia, 2001. Documentary investigating falling voting and political participation rates in New Zealand particularly at local government level. It is very timely look at voter apathy in New Zealand and a local political race in action. The film follows the election process in Auckland City and, in particular, the high-profile mayoral race

between Dick Hubbard, John Banks and Christine Fletcher. The documentary investigates reasons for

why people aren't voting by going out onto the street to find out ordinary people's attitudes to voting and local body politics and by talking to academics who specialise in the study of elections, political commentators, the electoral commission, those seeking electoral reform and, of course, the politicians themselves, including personal interviews and fly on the wall moments.

STORE WARS: WHEN WAL-MART COMES TO TOWN, 59 minutes, Director - Micha Peled, 2001

STORE WARS looks at the impact on a small town when Wal-Mart plans to build a mega-store there. It raises questions about consumerism, suburban sprawl and the decline of community, issues applicable to New Zealand. In the US, Wal-Mart opens a new mega-store every two business days. This is the story of the impact of discount chain stores on American towns and cities, and on society as a whole. "A fascinating study in community action." Julie Salamon, New York Times.

WHAT WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION?, 4 minutes, Director / Producer - Matthew Donaldson, 2005

Commemorating the 60th anniversaries of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, New Zealand artist Matthew Donaldson uses a bright orange billboard to highlight the hypocrisy of the United States government's position on weapons of mass destruction. For information contact: auckland@indymedia.org

Sunday, August 28, 11.45am-4pm, Westwind Theatre, 177 Riversdale Road, Avondale

WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOR PEACE AND FREEDOM, AUCKLAND BRANCH

Lunch and Film “Osama”. This is the first feature shot in Afghanistan after the Taleban were toppled. It is the story of a young girl trying to save herself and her mother by dressing as a boy and working in the fundamentalist state. Lunch which includes a roast meal, vegetarian dishes and desserts. Cost $25. Tickets available from Joan Macdonald email joanmac@pl.net or phone 360 8001

Tuesday, August 30, 7.30pm, St Columba Centre, 40 Vermont St, Ponsonby

HUMAN RIGHTS NETWORK – DISCUUSES THE RIGHTS OF INDIGINOUS PEOPLE

Do they have special rights in their own countries? Are their human rights being ignored? Speakers : Tracey McIntosh, Sociology Department, University of Auckland; Chris Lawrence, Barrister, Human rights and Treaty Issues; Grant Powell, lawyer specialising in Treaty of Waitangi Claims. Enquiries : Joan Macdonald ph 360 8001 joanmac@pl.net

Friday, September 2, 6pm, Unite Office, 6a Western Springs Rd, Morningside

“VENEZUELA EYEWITNESS – WORKERS START TO TAKE CONTROL”. Andrew Martin, a young Australian unionist and socialist, has been in Venezuela speaking with workers, farmers and the poor. He tells of an unfolding revolution that stopped a US-backed military coup and is inspiring Latin America. A workers Charter Forum. Contact Grant 021-2544515, or gcm@actrix.gen.nz

Saturday, September 3, 3-5pm, Mt Roskill War Memorial Hall, 13 May Road, Mt Roskill

The Consortium of Tamil Associations in New Zealand announce and cordially invite you to a forum:

Election 2005! Which Policy is for You ??? Policies enunciated by various political parties on social, economic and settlement issues of Ethnic migrants have to be spelt out clearly so that we can understand and vote with confidence at the forthcoming general election. In order to hear polices from political parties, a public meeting has been organised and representative from various political parties are presenting their policies. ACT - Rodney Hide MP; Green - Keith Locke MP; Labour - Hon Phil Goff MP; Maori - Tariana Turia; Progressive - Matt Robson MP; National - Dr Richard Worth MP; New Zealand First - Dail Jones MP; United Future - Bernie Ogilvy MP. Contact: George Arulanantham (09) 620 6200, 021 577 351

Monday, September 5, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn

GPJA FORUM: EYEWITNESS REPORTS – RESISITNG THE EMPIRE: FROM VENEZUELA TO THE PHILIPPINES. Hear two speakers recently returned from participating in solidarity activities with the peoples struggles in Venezuela and the Philippines. Andrew Martin, and Australian unionist was part of a 60 strong group from Australia that went to witness the unfolding Bolivarian Revolution. Tim Howard from Whangarei participated in a Human Rights delegation to the Philippines where human rights lawyers and labour leaders have been assassinated in increasing numbers while the regime has entered a crisis from recent fraudulent elections.

BEST ON THE WEB

NEW ZEALAND

CPAG deplores the lack of recognition of child poverty

The poorest children have been quite invisible in both Labour and National's tax packages. If there is so much extra money to spend why have they both chosen to exclude the worst-off?

>http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0508/S00275.htm

WAR ON FREEDOM

John Pilger: Fears For Free Speech - Will those who support liberation movements in, for example, Kashmir or Chechnya be denied freedom of expression?"

" target="_blank">http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article9836.htm

G8 & AFRICA

How the G8 lied to the world on aid: The truth about Gleneagles puts a cloud over the New York summit

" target="_blank">http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article9933.htm

The wealth of the west was built on Africa's exploitation: Britain has never faced up to the dark side of its imperial history

" target="_blank">http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1552921,00.html

INDONESIA / PAPUA

Indonesian military accused of calculated violence in Papua: A damning report accuses the Indonesian military of committing systematic violence against the citizens of the Jakarta-controlled province of Papua.

" target="_blank">http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2005/s1440745.htm

Indonesia: an interview with Dita Sari

" target="_blank">http://www.nosweat.org.uk/article.php?sid=1368&mode=thread&order=0

CUBA

Cuban Five ruling confirms climate of fear in Miami

" target="_blank">http://www.workers.org/2005/us/cuban-five-0825/

Castro Speech Medical Graduates

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0508/S00187.htm

VENEZUELA

Chavez Calls for Democracy at Work

" target="_blank">http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/print.php?artno=1525

Land for people not for profit in Venezuela

" target="_blank">http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/articles.php?artno=1529

IRA

qRobert Fisk : People torn to pieces, relatives scream - another week in the theme park of death. “There are now two Baghdads. One is the Green Zone, where US and Iraqi officials live in a protected realm; the other is the danger zone, where everyone else lives.”

" target="_blank">http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article9896.htm

PALESTINE

Gaza Stripped: But the Occupation Remains: Despite U.S. mainstream media reports that the 38-year-occupation of Palestinians within Gaza has "ended," the Israeli military still controls water, the Palestinians' passage through checkpoints and air space.

" target="_blank">http://www.counterpunch.com/nettnin08222005.html

VIDEO

Steve Earle's "Rich Man's War"

" target="_blank">http://www.artemisrecords.com/media/SteveEarle-RichMansWarVid.ram

Exposed: The Carlyle Group: I defy you to watch this 48 minute documentary and not be outraged about the depth of corruption and deceit within the highest ranks of our government.

" target="_blank">http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article3995.htm

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