Global Peace And Justice Auckland Newsletter #124, February 17, 2006

Website http://www.gpja.pl.net/ Contact details: Forums - John Minto, (09) 846 3173, jbminto@xtra.co.nz; Newsletter Editor - Mike Treen 027 525 4744 / 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. To subscribe to this newsletter send an email to news-subscribe@gpja.org.nz or to unsubscribe send an email to news-unsubscribe@gpja.org.nz

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

“The only tired I was, was tired of giving in.” : Rosa Parks Biography - Seamstress, Civil Rights Leader, 1913 –

“War against a foreign country only happens when the moneyed classes think they are going to profit from it”. – George Orwell

ANNOUNCEMENTS

CALLING ALL PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS…Young fast-food workers need your help. Young members of Unite Union are engaged in a campaign to gain a better deal in McDonalds, KFC, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Starbucks etc. We need small groups of people able to spend an hour or so on different days giving out leaflets to the public going in and out of these stores. Can you help in the next few weeks? If so please come to a very brief meeting at Unite Union, 6A Western Springs Road, Western Springs at 1pm on Sunday morning 19th February – this Sunday – or phone John Minto at 8454761 (Wk) or 8463173 (Hm). These young workers have done brilliantly well so far but they need our help in what is a very important campaign for the whole community. John Minto, Unite Union, Ph (09) 8454761

“MODERN HEROES, MODERN SLAVES”. A Filipino documentary about low paid Filipino migrant workers (of whom there are now estimated to be eight million around the world). Their remittances are the single biggest source of income for the Philippine government. Saturday February 18 (tomorrow night), Maori TV, 9-10 p.m.

2005 ROGER AWARD WINNER(S) TO BE ANNOUNCED MONDAY MARCH 6, AUCKLAND The winner(s) of the 2005 Roger Award for the Worst Transnational Corporation Operating in Aotearoa/New Zealand will be announced on Monday March 6. It's at the Classic Comedy and Bar, 321 Queen Street, Auckland Doors Open at 7pm. Please direct all inquiries about the event itself to: John Minto, Phone (09) 8463173; fax (09) 8463176; jbminto@xtra.co.nz The event is organised by Global Peace and Justice Auckland. There are eight finalists, equalling the highest number ever (from 2003). These transnational corporations (TNCs) are (in no particular order of preference): Telecom, Westpac, Toll, BNZ, Comalco, Guardian Healthcare, Merck Sharp and Dohme, and British American Tobacco. Telecom is the defending champion, having been a finalist every year since the Award’s inception in 1997, but not actually winning it until 2004. Toll is making its second appearance, having taken ownership of the railways in 2004 (this was its first full year of ownership). Westpac, British American Tobacco and Comalco (and/or its subsidiary, NZ Aluminium Smelters Ltd) have all been finalists before, more than once in some cases. The BNZ, Guardian Healthcare, and Mercks Sharp and Dohme are the, very worthy, newcomers to the ranks of the finalists. The judges are: John Minto, from Auckland, a veteran political activist, National Chairperson of the Quality Public Education Coalition and a spokesperson for Global Peace and Justice Auckland; Maire Leadbeater, from Auckland, a veteran anti-nuclear and human rights activist, current spokesperson for the Indonesia Human Rights Committee; Laila Harre, from Auckland, National Secretary of the National Distribution Union and former Cabinet Minister; and Mary-Ellen O’Connor, from Nelson, a senior educationalist and political activist. The criteria for judging are by assessing the transnational that has the most negative impact in each or all of the following categories: - Economic Dominance - monopoly, profiteering, tax dodging, cultural imperialism. - People - unemployment, impact on tangata whenua, impact on women, impact on children, abuse of workers/conditions, health and safety of workers and the public, cultural imperialism. - Environment - environmental damage, abuse of animals. - Political interference - cultural imperialism, running an ideological crusade. The Roger Award, sadly, shows no sign of not being needed. In fact, it is more necessary than ever, in light of the 2005 Overseas Investment Act. That law has only one goal – to make the transnational corporate takeover of New Zealand even easier. Just reading the criteria why the above eight TNCs have been selected as finalists for the 2005 Roger Award reminds us of the huge crime perpetrated on the people of New Zealand by a system that permits our country to be converted into a backwater branch office of the corporations that rule the world. Bad luck to all the finalists. And may the worst man win! The Roger Award is organised by the two Christchurch-based groups, Campaign Against Foreign Control of Aotearoa (CAFCA) and GATT Watchdog. Full details of the Roger Award can be read online at www.cafca.org.nz Murray Horton, for the organisers

CO-EXISTENCE EXHIBITION, Britomart Heritage Precinct - Behind Britomart Station FREE- 24/7 February 11th - March 5th. Israel's Raphie Etgar arrives in New Zealand to curate Coexistence, the 44-piece exhibition of giant, thought-provoking posters featuring compelling images by international artists. Some notable people associated with COEXISTENCE through their quotes are Nelson Mandela, Jean-Paul Sartre, the Dalai Lama, Karl Marx, Sigmund Freud, Albert Einstein and John Lennon. New Zealand works are part of the exhibition.

'OPEN DOOR' - THE NEW 2006 SERIES - offers you the opportunity to speak to the people of New Zealand. Morningside Productions Ltd., Auckland. Do you, or a group that you're involved with, have something to say to the people of New Zealand? If you're actively involved with an issue, be it social, sexual, political, family or whatever, a door is about to open again on TV3 Network Television. We are looking for people to work with for our new series of "Open Door" television documentaries. Open Door is unique in that it allows groups and individuals to speak for themselves. The format is straightforward; only people directly involved in the issues appear on the screen, rather then "experts", commentators or outside observers. The programmes are made using the expertise and equipment of the production team but with participants taking editorial control. Open Door offers the opportunity to let people "have their own say in their own way". The key to the success of the process is having a clear idea of what you want to say. We are looking for people with firmly held opinions and an energetic commitment to a matter that they're actively involved in. The programmes, which are fully funded by New Zealand On Air, will be broadcast by TV3 who also approve for production the best ten proposals received. Many of the previous participants also found that the videotape copies of their programme proved to be a valuable and lasting resource. You can apply to make a programme directly from the site, or send a brief outline of your interest or issue to: Shirlie Fairbrother, P.O. Box 108, Kaukapakapa 1250, Ph. 09- 8359285, email. opendoor@xtra.co.nz website: www.opendoor.net.nz

NOAM CHOMSKY INTERVIEW ON 95 B FM, Saturday 25th of March @ 5am with Wallace Chapman (breakfast show host). Approx. 20 Mins. Topics of discussion focus on Iran, Venezuala and Palestine

HUMAN RIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL 2006 With Panel Discussions of experts and speakers, Performances and entertainment. May 10th - May 17th. Academy Theatre More details on doco's/films closer to the date.

INTIFIDA MAGAZINE ISSUE # II Compilation of articles and poems by Students for Justice in Palestine members, Palestine Human Rights Campaign members and other individuals. Includes pictures, other articles, upcoming events, recommended websites, books, documentaries and films, and more! Only $3.00- Support SJP students and their hard work! On sale MARCH 3rd, at Auckland University. For your copy contact: Golee @ malaaeka@gmail.com

MAY DAY IN CUBA: Dear Friend: Please accept fraternal greetings on behalf of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP) and myself. This year our Institute will welcome the “May Day” Solidarity with Cuba World Brigade, which is made up by delegations of friends of our country coming from all over the world. The Brigade is aimed at jointly celebrating the World Workers’ Day, as well as to provide a wider understanding of Cuban reality and performing voluntary work sessions as a contribution to Cuban agricultural and productive sectors development. This year 2006 we will be hosting this Brigade, whose Program is to be accomplished from April 24th to May 7th in the provinces of Havana, City of Havana and Matanzas, including the Bay of Pigs, site of the first great defeat of imperialism in America. For further information we are enclosing the Program. The whole stay is of 14 nights, 11 of which will be at Julio Antonio Mella International Camp (CIJAM) -which is located in Caimito Municipality, 45 kms from the City of Havana- plus 3 nights in Matanzas province. The full cost of stay is 280.00 CUC (Cuban Convertible Pesos), covering for accommodation in rooms shared by up to 8 people at CIJAM, three meals a day, in-out airport transfers and transportation to all the activities contained in the Program. Optional visits are not included in the package’s price. The cost for an additional night stay in CIJAM is 10.00 CUC. Please send us confirmation of date, time and flight of arrival/departure of Brigade members before April 15th, 2006. You may contact us through: E-Mail: dasia@icap.cu/ alicia@icap.cu Fax: (537) 55-2430. Telph: (537) 55-2430. Fraternally yours, Alicia Corrdera Morales. Director of Asia and the Pacific Division. Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples.

GOOD NEWS FROM NEPAL Ten days ago I wrote to tell all of about the arrests of trade union leaders in Nepal -- and you responded instantly with over 1,600 messages to the King telling him to release our jailed brothers. Your emails worked -- under the pressure of a big international campaign spearheaded by two national trade union centers in Nepal (GEFONT and the NTUC), nearly all the jailed unionists have now been freed. Full details of this victory are here: http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/show_news.pl?country=Nepal

DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN IN INDONESIA If this story sounds familiar, it should. In recent months we've told you about palm oil workers in Indonesia who formed a union, which triggered a ferocious response by the company. Over 700 union members lost their jobs, workers and their families were evicted from plantation housing and their children expelled from school. And that was only the beginning. The company then arranged the arrest and conviction of five union leaders, who early this month got terms of 14 months to two years in prison (a sixth is on trial now). Enough is enough. These jailed unionists are prisoners of conscience. It's time to tell the Indonesia government to back off, and to allow these workers to have their union. It will take you only a few seconds to support this IUF-sponsored campaign. Please do so now: http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=76

WHAT’S ON IN AUCKLAND

Saturday, February 18, 3pm, 76 Buckland Rd, Mangere East TREE PLANTING IN MEMORY OF RUDY CARCAMO, A TRUE REVOLUTIONARY (former GAP) and Militant of the Movement of Revolutionary Left (Chile). The Chilean Exiles living in Auckland and the family of Rudy Carcamo Ruiz will be meeting this Saturday 18th February 2006 at 15;00hrs to plant a tree in memory of Rudy Carcamo, a member of MIR and ex Salvador Allende’s bodyguard(GAP), who was kidnapped and later dissapeared by the Pinochet dictatorship in 1974. His widow is currently visiting New Zealand and is an opportunity for his family, comrades and friends to pay homage to a brave and audacious man who in face of the terror of these days remained in Chile caring for the persecuted and reorganising the resistance against facism. The ceremony will commence with music, few words from the family and members of the local Chilean community to follow with the planting of a native tree COMRADE RUDY CARCAMO AND ALL THOSE FALLEN IN THE STRUGGLE FOR LIBERTY AND JUSTICE, PRESENT FOR EVER !!

Sunday, February 19, 1pm, Unite Office, 6a Western Springs Rd, Morningside CALLING ALL PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS…Young fast-food workers need your help. Young members of Unite Union are engaged in a campaign to gain a better deal in McDonalds, KFC, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Starbucks etc. We need small groups of people able to spend an hour or so on different days giving out leaflets to the public going in and out of these stores. Can you help in the next few weeks? If so please come to a very brief meeting at Unite Union, 6A Western Springs Road, Western Springs at 1pm on Sunday morning 19th February – this Sunday – or phone John Minto at 8454761 (Wk) or 8463173 (Hm). These young workers have done brilliantly well so far but they need our help in what is a very important campaign for the whole community. John Minto, Unite Union, Ph (09) 8454761

Monday, February 20, 7.30pm, Unite Office, 6a Western Springs Rd, Morningside GPJA COMMITTEE MEETING - All volunteer helpers welcome. Focus will be on planning the March 18 antiwar actions to mark the third anniversary of the invasion of Iraq.

Wednesday, February 22, 3.15pm, Carpark, Edmonton Rd, Te Atatu South There will be a march and motorcade to protest the proposed clousure of Te Atatu South library. It will arrive at Waitakere council offices at 4.45pm.It’s also a motorcade so decorate your cars. Kids dress as your favourite book characters , there will be prizes for the best costumes . Together we can keep our library open. For more info phone Mered on 098366389. Organised by Citizens against Privatisation.

Monday, March 6, 7.30pm, The Classic, 321 Queen St GPJA FORUM: ANNUAL PRESENTATION OF THE RODGER AWARD FOR WORST TRANSNATIONAL COMPANY OPERATING IN NZ. ANNOUNCEMENTS

Wednesday March 8th, International Womens' Day. 7pm, Trades Hall Bar , 147 Great North Rd,Grey Lynn "A WOMAN'S PLACE IS IN THE STRUGGLE". A Forum of Speakers, Discussion, Music and Drink. There will be a panel of speakers on "Women organising women ". Jill Ovens (Activist and Unionist) will speak on "Women workers:making the invisible visible". Daphna Whitmore will speak on "International struggles." Music by About Town, Rosetta Vai, and the Romanovas (to be confirmed). Entry: free / koha (optional) to cover hall hire and organising costs. Proceeds from drink sales to the Working Women's Resource Centre. Organised by the Auckland International Womens' Day Committe. Contact Nicki Jonas, email: nickijonas@hotmail.com Phone 6238189.

Sunday, March 12, (venue to be announced) PUBLIC LECTURE BY RENOWNED JOURNALIST ROBERT FISK

BEST ON THE WEB

NEW ZEALAND Town Hall Meeting Supports Campaign against Low Wages: Over 1000 fast food workers and their supporters filled the Town Hall yesterday to give added impetus to the SuperSizeMyPay.Com campaign and to other low paid workers campaigns. http://indymedia.org.nz/newswire/display/41359/index.php Video: Unite Mobilises Youth In Minimum Wage Push http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0602/S00120.htm Matt McCarten Speech: The Great Rip Off! http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0602/S00073.htm Pita Sharples Speech: Rally to Support Low Paid http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0602/S00139.htm Campaign to lift life chances for poorest children http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0602/S00080.htm

FILM Karen Kwiatkowski: Why We Fight: Why We Fight will eagerly be consumed and digested by millions and millions of real and loyal Americans who are now weary of strange endless wars in far away places and an economy wasting under the demands of voracious spending on "defense." http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article11874.htm Watch it on line: Why We Fight : What are the forces that shape and propel American militarism? This award-winning film provides an inside look at the anatomy of the American war machine. Real video. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article8494.htm

THE CARTOONS Rotten judgment in the state of Denmark - The Danish paper that printed the cartoons wanted to stir up trouble -- and the government wanted a culture war. They got more than they bargained for. http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2006/02/08/denmark/print.html

AFGHANISTAN Fury over foreigners http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060220/parenti Losing Hearts and Minds in Afghanistan: Patience of many Afghans with the U.S. presence is wearing thin. We heard repeated accounts of aggressive tactics during raids on homes or shops, particularly by U.S. troops in the southern and eastern provinces, and of torture and ill-treatment in U.S. custody. http://minutemanmedia.org/GOERING%20020608.htm

IRAQ Western Targets: The Iraqi insurgency is still primarily an anti-occupation effort - New data reveal, surprisingly, that the vast majority of the Iraqi insurgents' attacks are still aimed not at Iraqi security forces or at civilians, but rather at U.S. and coalition troops. In other words, as much as was the case a year or two ago, the Iraqi insurgency is primarily an anti-occupation insurgency. http://www.slate.com/id/2135859/ The corporate plunder of Iraq: The looting of Iraq’s oil wealth is unprecedented in the history of corporate crime, writes criminologist Dave Whyte http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php?article_id=8245

BOLIVIA 'Coca is a way of life' - He's tackling poverty and corruption, he's the first ever indigenous Bolivian president - and then there's that jumper. No wonder they adore him at home. But elsewhere Evo Morales is not so popular because of his refusal to cut down on the production of coca, the raw material for making cocaine. At the presidential palace in La Paz, Steve Boggan was granted an audience http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1705685,00.html

JOHN PILGER John Pilger describes the headlong rush by the United States, aided by Britain, to attack Iran. Like the attack on Iraq, there is a secret agenda. http://pilger.carlton.com/print/133526

VENEZUELA Chávez tells Blair to go to hell http://www.guardian.co.uk/venezuela/story/0,,1706206,00.html

ENVIRONMENT Global warming: passing the 'tipping point' – a Guardian special investigation reveals that critical rise in world temperatures is now unavoidable http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/article344690.ece World Is at its Warmest For a Millennium by Steve Connor http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0210-07.htm

IRAN The Oxford Research Group has just released a new Briefing Paper - 'Iran: Consequences of a War'. The paper "provides a comprehensive analysis of the likely nature of US or Israeli military action that would be intended to disable Iran's nuclear capabilities. It outlines both the immediate consequences in terms of loss of human life, facilities and infrastructure, and also the likely Iranian responses, which would be extensive." www.oxfordresearchgroup.org.uk/publications/briefings/IranConsequences.pdf

UK A Good Model for a Mugging - Labour’s first full-scale privatisation involves the multiple fleecing of the taxpayer http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2006/02/14/a-good-model-for-a-mugging/#more-975

WAR ON FREEDOM Rumsfeld and Cheney Revive Their 70's Terror Playbook http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article11900.htm

PALESTINE/ISRAEL Israel cuts off eastern West Bank from rest of West Bank: While the international community busied itself with the disengagement from the Gaza Strip last summer, Israel completed another cut-off process, which went unnoticed: Israel completed cutting off the eastern sector of the West Bank from the remainder of the West Bank in 2005. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/681938.html U.S. support has allowed Israel to violate Palestinian rights repeatedly: Washington's support for Israel's occupation and gradual takeover of Palestinian lands prevents the creation of a viable Palestinian state and a just and lasting peace, strengthens hawks and weakens doves on both sides, and means more needless Israeli and Palestinian deaths. http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/115471 IT’S OFFICIAL: Israel unveils plan to encircle Palestinian state: The acting Israeli prime minister, Ehud Olmert, said yesterday that he plans to annex the Jordan Valley and major Jewish settlement blocks to Israel in drawing new borders, according to a television station that recorded an interview with him yesterday. http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1705020,00.html

© Scoop Media