GPJA - What's On In Auckland
GPJA - What's On In Auckland
NEWSLETTER No. 301, September 25, 2009
Saturday 26th September, 1pm, The Gus Fisher
Gallery, The Kenneth Myers Centre, 74 Shortland Street,
Auckland
Award-winning director and producer Annie Goldson is screening her early documentaries Framing the Panthers (in Black and White), Counterterror: North of Ireland and Death Row Notebooks at the Gus Fisher Gallery on Saturday 26th September at 1pm. Both documentaries deal with the aftermath of the US administration’s efforts to stifle movements for political change in the 1960s and 1970s. The screening is being held in conjunction with the visit of American artist Emory Douglas, the Minister of Culture of the Black Panther Party, who is in New Zealand as Elam International Artist in Residence.
Goldson’s two early films on the Black Panthers were part of a series, which explored how the term “terrorism” was used to criminalize political dissent during the 1990s. As well as addressing the fate of the Black Panthers, Goldson and her collaborator Chris Bratton produced films in Northern Ireland, Lebanon and Puerto Rico. Counterterror: The North of Ireland (1990, 30 mins) which will also screen at the Gus Fisher Gallery examines an incident that exemplified what was called the British “shoot-to-kill” policy in the North of Ireland. Framing the Panthers (in Black and White) (1991, 30 mins) explores the framing of former Black Panther Party leader, Dhoruba Bin Wahad, who wrongfully spent 19 years in prison while Death Row Notebooks (1993, 20 mins) looks at the story of Mumia Abu-Jamal, a former Black Panther Party leader, who remains on Death Row in Pennsylvania. Emory Douglas, who has an exhibition at the Gus Fisher Gallery until 3rd October, has toured New Zealand over the last month and addressed “sell-out” audiences. Because of the demand, he is holding an additional public lecture in Auckland on Monday 21st September, 6.30pm in the ‘Glass Box’ Engineering lecture theatre, 20 Symonds Street. Douglas created the striking graphic images that came to represent the Black Panther Party in the 1960s and 1970s. His powerful visuals addressed the effects of poverty, police brutality, and poor living conditions on the African-American community.
Goldson’s last completed film, An Island Calling recently received its seventh award, Best Documentary at the Outtakes International Film Festival in Dallas, Texas. Last year it won Best Documentary at the Qantas Media Awards and the Grand Prix at FIFO in Tahiti. She is currently directing Brother Number One, a Pan Pacific production, which follows the story of Rob Hamill, the Kiwi rower whose brother was tortured and murdered in Cambodia in the late 1970s. http://www.gusfishergallery.auckland.ac.nz
Sunday,
september 27, 9am, QEII Square, Downtown, Auckland
CBD
AUCKLAND HERITAGE PEACE WALK - New Zealand is the
starting place for a World March for Peace and Nonviolence
which will travel around the globe with stops in 90
countries, beginning with an event in Auckland, to be
followed by the official launch in Wellington on 2 October.
The World March was initiated by the organisation World Without Wars. The objectives of the World March are: •To give a voice to the majority of world citizens who want peace by having them send out a unified signal •To create global awareness of the urgent need to condemn of all forms of violence and bring about real peace •By highlighting the work of individuals and organizations around the world to end violence and promote peace, citizens who are moved to support this work will be empowered to do so. Aotearoa-New Zealand was chosen in recognition of: •The nonviolence traditions of Moriori and Parihaka •Being the first country to grant women the vote •Being the only country to have a Minister for Disarmament •Our inclusion of peace studies in the school curriculum and the establishment of Peace Cities •Our moves towards peaceful resolution of past injustices to Tangata Whenua and other ethnic communities
•Our nuclear-free status •Our government’s support for the UN. The Auckland Heritage Peace Walk Launch is Auckland’s welcome to the international participants in the World March. The walk will visit various peace landmarks around the central city, ending at St Matthew-in-the-City with performances, exhibits, music and speakers. Sites on the walk include: • Rainbow Warrior mural, Marsden Wharf
• The Peace Place, Emily Place • Memorial - Tiananmen Square Massacre , Maclaurin Chapel, Princes St, • Albert Park - the band rotunda • Gateway sculpture, Victoria St • Suffragette mural, Khartoum Place. Local individuals and groups have endorsed the World March including: Helen Clark, Jim Anderton, Jacinda Ardern, Phil Goff, Phil Twyford, Sir Paul Reeves, Kerry Prendergast, Dr Kate Dewes, Marion Hancock, Kevin Clements, Pauline Tangiora, Moana Manipoto, Yulia, Amnesty International, Greenpeace, Disarmament and Security Centre, The Peace Foundation, Oxfam, United Nations Association of NZ. We are seeking further endorsements as well as participation in the Auckland Heritage Peace Wal. Auckland co-ordinators for the volunteer team organising the Auckland events: Audrey van Ryn: 368 1516 audrey@writeaway.co.nz and Wende Jowsey: wende@jowsey.com www.worldmarch.co.nz www.theworldmarch.org
Monday 28th SeptemberMonday, September 28, 7.30pm, The Peace Place, 22 Emily Place, Auckland City
PART TWO: Three more short films continuing the same theme as on Monday 21st. 4. Denmark 1940 - A country organized to resist the Nazi invasion without violence; 5. Poland 1981 - Shipyard workers organize for just pay and overcome their own repressive government and begin the downfall of the Soviet Empire; 6. Chile 1988 - A nation organizes to overthrow the dictator Pinochet. Length: 3 x 30 minutes
Thursday, October 1, 7.30pm, Socialist Centre, 86 Princes St, Onehunga A Socialist Worker Forum, with Green MP Sue Bradford and UNITY editor Daphne Lawless. The forum is part of the Bad Banks campaign.About the campaign:The operations of the Big Four Aussie-owned banks, ANZ National Bank, BNZ, Westpac and ASB, are harmful to the lives of grassroots Kiwis.The Bad Banks campaign has been initiated by Socialist Worker. We welcome other groups and individuals producing their own publicity that targets the banksThe initial thrust of the campaign will be educational, building towards campaign demands that reflect a dialogue between broad left activists and grassroots people.For more info, visit http://www.badbanks.co.nz/
Saturday, October 3, 2pm, QEII
Square, Customs Street and Queen Street intersection,
outside Downtown Shopping Centre.
Rally for Justice and
Peace in Palestine, come and support justice and peace based
on an end to 40 years of Israeli Occupation of the West Bank
and Gaza Strip (including East Jerusalem), the right of
return for Palestinian refugees, sharing Jerusalem, vacating
all settlement colonies in Israeli occupied Palestine, and
stopping Israel's annexation / apartheid wall in occupied
Palestine. Starts 2pm, Organised by the Palestine Human
Rights Campaign, for more information contact email or go to
this web site.
October 7-8, Manurewa Marae, 81 Finlayson
Ave, Manurewa, South Auckland
NA TA TATOU ROUROU - With
Our Baskets the Children Will Prosper - A hui to build
activism to end child poverty in Aotearoa. For registration
details see the CPAG website at www.cpag.org.nz
Hui
speakers: The following speakers/presenters have confirmed
their participation. Di Grennell, Family violence prevention
worker from Northland will talk about her experience of
community based violence prevention programmes; Teuila
Percival, A paediatrician at Kidz First Children's Hospital
in South Auckland will discuss the health needs of poor
children & the challenges we face in addressing these; John
Minto, Teacher and trade unionist will discuss equity in
education; Shirley Maihi, Manurewa Primary school principal
will talk about her progress in building community around a
Decile 1school; Peter Sykes, Social worker from Mangere will
discuss the role of community based social work in meeting
the needs of poor communities & alienated youth; Paul Blair,
Welfare advocate from the Rotorua Peoples Advocacy Centre
will discuss his community activism as a welfare and ACC
advocate; Nikki Turner, General practitioner, university
senior lecturer & member of CPAG executive will discuss ways
in which we can move toward community based health practice;
Taz Harrison, Musician & television producer will talk about
the role of music in social activism; Susan St John,
Associate Professor of Economics, University of Auckland &
CPAG Executive member will discuss welfare
alternatives
Thursday, October 1, 9am, Ellerslie
Convention Centre, Ellerslie Racecourse
PICKET
TELECOM’s AGM - All workers, their families and
supporters, gather to send Telecom the message: WORK RIGHTS
ARE OUR RIGHT — WE STAND UP TO CORPORATE BULLIES
Friday,
October 9, 8.30pm, Academy Theatre, Lorne St, CBD
Pakiwis
are proud to bring you: Khuda Kay Liye (In the name of God)
- A fundraising event for the displaced people of Pakistan.
Khuda Kay Liye is a film about the difficult situation in
which Pakistanis in particular and the Muslims in general
are caught up in since 9/11. There is a war going on between
the fundamentalists and the liberal Muslims. This situation
is creating a drift not only between the Western world and
the Muslims but also within the Muslim community. (Source:
www.inthenameofgod.com) All funds raised from the ticket
proceeds will go to Pakistan Rising, a not for profit
organization made of up members of civil society. Since the
recent tensions of terrorism in Swat Valley, Pakistan Rising
has been closely working with the hundreds of displaced
Pakistanis. For more information on Pakistan Rising visit -
http://www.pakistanrising.com.pk/index.html. You can also
join Pakistan Rising on facebook. Come and watch a powerful
film, and hear more from fantastic speakers around the
current and future projections of the situation in Pakistan.
Disclaimer: Pakiwis will not be selling tickets through
Academy to save costs. If you would like to purchase tickets
please contact Naveed Hamid on 021 298 2343 or me 021 286
5426 . Tickets $15. We will not be selling tickets on the
day.
Saturday, October 10, 9.30am-3.15pm, Room 018,
Clocktower Bldg No. 105, 22 Princes St, The University of
Auckland
Dialogues with Islam.This Continuing Education
seminar will explore and discuss many aspects of Islamic
religion and culture and the challenges to be faced. The
diverse topics will include Islam's relationship to the
West, post Suharto Indonesia, Muslim feminist issues, human
rights and the role of "moderate" Muslims. There will be the
opportunity for discussion and debate at the end of the
morning and afternoon sessions. Presenters: Mohsen Al Attar,
Zain Ali, Ghazala Anwar, Tim Behrend, Shahlaa al Tiay. Class
no: 47967; Fee:$75/$25 student/ unwaged. To enrol ph:0800
864 266 or visit our website:
www.cce.auckland.ac.nz
Tuesday,October 13, 6.30-9pm, Room
018, Clocktower Bldg 105, 22 Princes St, The University of
Auckland.
>From Growth to Development: Alternative
Measures of Success, Ross McDonald and Rod Oram - How do we
measure progress in our communities or nations? Does
economic growth equal success? This Continuing Education
seminar will explore some of the leading alternatives that
are emerging globally and their potential to guide us
forward towards more secure, sustainable and happy modes of
collective development. In addition this seminar will
identify more relevant measures of growth that apply at a
corporate level. Presenters: Ross McDonald is an
award-winning teacher at The University of Auckland Business
School, his teaching focuses on ethical issues, and the
relationship between business functioning and social
outcomes. His current research activities centre on the
relationship between economic growth and well-being,
particularly in the context of Bhutan, a Himalayan country
that has declared Gross National Happiness (and not Gross
National Product) to be its national development goal. Rod
Oram has more than 30 years' experience as an international
financial journalist. He has worked in Europe and North
America for publications such as the Financial Times of
London. Class no: 48142; Fee: $35/ $15 student/unwaged. To
enrol ph:0800 864 266 or visit our website:
http://www.cce.auckland.ac.nz
Saturday, October 17, 3pm,
Mt Albert War Memorial Hall, 775 New North Road, Mt Albert,
Auckland
AUCKLAND HUMAN RIGHTS NETWORK FORUM -
IMPRISONMENT AND IMPUNITY IN SRI LANKA HUMAN RIGHTS IGNORED.
There will be a panel of speakers, a film and discussion,
and food stalls. For more information contact Joan Macdonald
joanmac@pl.net ph 360 8001 or Nirupa George
vyjp.info@gmail.com This function is being held for United
Nations Day 24 October and supported by the Human Rights
Commission
ANNOUNCEMENTS
SUPPORT THE LOCKED OUT OCC
WORKERS
Collections of money and or non perishable food
items and food vouchers are needed to enable the 36 workers
to succeed in keeping Talley's "low road" model out of the
dairy industry. -Monetary donations can be banked direct to
"Solidarity Fund" Bank of New Zealand - #02 0320 0082084 026
- Supermarket vouchers (Countdown is the closest
supermarket). Food iterms can also be dropped at the
Hamilton Trade Union Centre 34 Harwood St. - The picket is
located outside the Open Country Cheese plant at Waharoa
just north of Matamata on the main Auckland to
Rotorua/Tauranga highway (27).
HOW TO APPLY FOR YOUR SIS FILE If you think that the SIS might have, or had, a file on you, than all you need to do is to write to: Director, NZ Security Intelligence Service, Box 900, Wellington and ask. They don’t do e-mail. As you’re applying for personal information under the Privacy Act, it is free. But be prepared for a very long wait for any response
"EXPLOSIVE
EXPRESSION"- CREATIVE RESISTANCE TO THE STATE TERROR RAIDS
OF OCTOBER '07. "ART EXHIBITION AND AUCTION."
Art Auction
- 7pm, Saturday 17 October, Thistle Hall, Wellington - or
bid online at
http://www.october15thsolidarity.info/artauction For those
in Wellington, there is a week of events (Tues 13 - Sun 18
Oct) commemorating the 2007 'terror raids'. These include
the Exhibition Opening with Tame Iti, political music, a
screening of the film 'Tuhoe: a history of resistance' and
two free workshops on screenprinting and documentary making.
For more info check out
http://www.october15thsolidarity.info/ The 'Operation 8'
raids on houses in Te Urewera and around Aotearoa targeted
indigenous rights, environmental, anti-war and union
activists. 18 people still face politically motivated
charges. Funds raised will support those affected by the
raids.
HAMMER THE POKIES: MORE HAMMERS NEEDED!
Thanks
for the positive responses to the appeal for people to join
the campaign. We won't be calling for action in the short
term as we need to build numbers much higher. This campaign
aims to enlist a minimum of 200 hammers (with people
attached!) and take civil disobedience action to drive pokie
machines out of our neighbourhood communities. 80% of the
cases of gambling addiction relate to pokie machines in the
community (aside from casinos) These are parasites on
poverty and predominate in low-income areas of the country.
They have to go. If you are prepared to join a crowd (min
200) and take civil disobedience action against pokie
machines then please email John Minto
jbminto@xtra.co.nz.
INVITATION TO JOIN MARCH ON GAZA,
JA/1/2010. GAZA SHALL NOT DIE
Imagine hundreds of
thousands of peaceful international and Palestinian
marchers, led by Noam Chomsky, Ralph Nader, Diana Buttu,
Norman Finkelstein, Noami Klein, Arun Gandhi, George
Galloway, and other prominent opponents of the siege.
Imagine them, approaching the Erez crossing under the eyes
of the international media, breaking the siege for once and
for all. This is the Gaza Freedom March! The Gaza Freedom
March Campaign plans to take thousands of international
marchers to Gaza on Jan. 1, 2010, and challenge once and for
all the Israeli blockade at the Erez crossing. Go with them,
or support someone else who's willing to go. Events to raise
money to help enable people to go on the March in Gaza are
planned throughout the Fall. This group has many sister
groups, to enable each group to have a local focus for
organizing, and to avoid exceeding Facebook's limit of 5000
for messaging group members. Please join the appropriate
campaign group which is best targeted to your locale. All FB
groups will be updated with the latest information. Please
invite all your friends to this or the appropriate other
FaceBook group. This Campaign needs the support of hundreds
of thousands around the world!
http://gazafreedommarch.org/article.php?id=5063
International Movement to Open Rafah Border
intmorb@googlemail.com
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT THE TELECOM
WORKERS
How can I help? You can: - Call 0900 STAND TALL
to make a $10 donation to the support fund.
- Make a
donation at any BNZ branch or by online transfer to this
account: 02-0568-0177685-00, Reference: Telco
- Start
fundraising on your site for more information call 0800 1
UNION.
- Email Telecom CEO Paul Reynolds (the $5 million
dollar man) at paul.reynolds@telecom.co.nz to tell him to
get Visionstream to come to the table.
- Show your
support by ringing talkback, talking to your friends and
workmates and writing letters to the editor about this
dispute and what it means for Kiwi workers. For more
information you can visit the campaign site here
http://www.epmu.org.nz/telecom
CALLING ALL NEW ZEALANDERS:
JOIN THE NEXT SOLIDARITY BRIGADE TO VENEZUELA! DECEMBER 1-9,
2009
Organised by the Australia-Venezuela Solidarity
Network. Venezuela’s Bolivarian revolution led by
President Hugo Chavez is shaking up global politics and
inspiring millions of ordinary people with the evidence that
a better – a peaceful, democratic and socially just –
world is possible.
* Whereas in Australia and Aotearoa,
public health, education and infrastructure is being run
down or privatised, in Venezuela, major industries are being
nationalised and put under workers’ control, and universal
access to health, education and social welfare is now
guaranteed.
* Whereas in Australia and Aotearoa, workers
are being sacked, and wages and conditions are being eroded
under the guise of “weathering” the economic crisis, in
Venezuela, wages are increasing, and union membership and
organisation is growing.
The Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network-organised brigades to Venezuela are a unique opportunity to see an unfolding revolution first-hand. The AVSN warmly welcomes the participation of New Zealanders on the brigades. Participants in the December 1-9, 2009, brigade will visit worker-controlled factories and cooperatives, free public education and health programs, and community media outlets. They will observe “popular power” at work in communal councils, and speak to a range of grassroots organisations, unions and government representatives about the radical changes being implemented by the Venezuelan people.
The AVSN has organised nine
solidarity brigades to Venezuela, involving more than 165
participants. These study/solidarity tours are inspiring
experiences, providing an opportunity to observe and
understand why Venezuela’s goal of creating “socialism
of the 21st century’’ is transforming the
world.
Brigade organisation and costs: The deadline for
registering for the December 2009 brigade to Venezuela is
October 31, 2009. Participants will need to book their own
international airfares, but the brigade organisers can help
with advice. Accommodation, transport and English
translation within Venezuela will be organised for brigade
participants. You will need to budget for a total cost of
approximately $4000. This includes: international return
airfare and taxes; accommodation (twin-share basis);
transport and food in Venezuela; and the brigade
registration fee ($500 for workers, $300 for full-time
students or pensioners). Reports and photos from previous
AVSN brigades are posted at
http://www.venezuelasolidarityorg. For more information,
please email brigades@venezuelasolidarity.org
27TH
SOUTHERN CROSS BRIGADE TO CUBA
"A better world is
possible": The Cuban people have proven that there is
another way. ICAP (the Cuban Institute for Friendship
between Peoples) provides, through its Brigades, the
opportunity for people from all over the world to experience
and participate in the Cuban revolutio.
What does the
Brigade entail?
Join the Southern Cross work/study tour
and support Cuba in the most direct manner by working
(picking fruit or pruning fruit trees, etc) and then
visiting schools, hospitals, urban agriculture projects, etc
You will experience at first hand the cultural, political
and social conditions in revolutionary Cuba. This year we
will be having a closer look at Cuba’s innovative
approaches to the environment and climate change. Children
are welcome on this tour as are older participants. Our
Cuban hosts take great care of visitors of all ages. The
main features of the Brigade include:
* Talks on various
aspects of conditions in Cuba given by prominent Cuban
speakers;
* Working with Cubans;
* Visits to places of
interest (eg schools, hospitals, factories);
*
Opportunities to explore Havana independently;
* Visits
to provincial centres;* Homestays and visit to Las Tunas
Province
Unbeatable value – $1000. (Includes: All meals,
accommodation, excursions and transportation in Cuba during
program). Not included:
- Air travel to Cuba - get in
early to book your flights! (Check out Aerolineas for cheap
flights. There are now also weekly flights with Continental
from Los Angeles to Havana.)
- Compulsory travel
insurance
- Any additional nights stay in Cuba prior to
commencement of the Brigade or following the conclusion of
the program (prior to the flight home). Inexpensive
accommodation is available – opportunity for independent
tourism
WAIHOPAI SPYBASE PROTEST JANUARY 22-24,
2010
The Waihopai spybase was dragged into the public
spotlight in April 2008 when three Ploughshares peace
activists penetrated its high security and deflated one of
the two domes concealing its satellite dishes from the NZ
public. The Anti-Bases Campaign was happy to support this
non-violent direct action anti-war activity (which is yet to
come to trial). The public face of New Zealand’s role as
an American ally is the NZ military presence in Afghanistan.
But New Zealand’s most significant contribution to that,
and other American wars, including the one in Iraq, is the
Waihopai electronic intelligence gathering base, located in
the Waihopai Valley, near Blenheim. It is controlled by the
US, with New Zealand (including Parliament and the Prime
Minister) having little or no idea what goes on there, let
alone any control.
First announced in 1987, Waihopai is operated by New Zealand’s Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) in the interests of the foreign Powers grouped together in the super-secret UKUSA Agreement (which shares global electronic and signals intelligence among the intelligence agencies of the US, UK, Canada, Australia and NZ). Its two satellite interception dishes intercept a huge volume of civilian telephone calls, telexes, faxes, e-mail and computer data communications. It spies on our Asia/Pacific neighbours, and forwards the material on to the major partners in the UKUSA Agreement, specifically the US National Security Agency (NSA). Its targets are international civilian communications involving New Zealanders, including the interception of international phone calls. Post- 9/11 the GCSB and Waihopai now spy further afield, to those regions where the US is waging wars. The codename for this – Echelon – has become notorious worldwide as the vast scope of its spying has become public. New Zealand is an integral, albeit junior part of a global spying network, a network that is ultimately accountable only to its own constituent agencies, not governments, not citizens.
Join us for the weekend of anti-war protest at this spybase. Come prepared for roughing it and camping out. We provide the food (we cater for vegetarians but vegans will have to bring their own). Bring sleeping bag, groundsheet, a tent, torch, water bottle, eating utensils, clothing for all weather, and $40 (or $20 unwaged) to cover costs. No open fires.
How to find our camp at Whites Bay: turn off SH1 at Tuamarina (9km north of Blenheim or 20 km south of Picton) and drive to Rarangi on the coast. Follow the steep Port Underwood Road over the hilltop before descending to the Whites Bay turnoff. There is a DoC public camp at the bay with basic facilities. ABC has to pay a fixed charge per head.
This will be the first Waihopai spybase protest since the Domebusters’ courageous 2008 citizens’ deflation action. Waihopai does not operate in the interests of New Zealanders or our neighbours. Basically it is a foreign spybase on NZ soil and directly involves us in America’s wars. Waihopai must be closed.
Register to take part in the protest ($40 waged / $20 unwaged). Writre to: CLOSE THE WAIHOPAI SPYBASE NOW! Organised by the Anti-Bases Campaign, P.O. Box 2258, Christchurch. E-mail cafca@chch.planet.org.nz www.converge.org.nz/abc Make all cheques to ABC
NOMINATIONS FOR 2009 ROGER AWARD
Nominations are
now open for the 2009 Roger Award for the Worst
Transnational Corporation Operating in Aotearoa/New Zealand,
which is organised the Campaign Against Foreign Control of
Aotearoa and GATT Watchdog. You can download the nomination
form (in either Word or PDF) from
http://canterbury.cyberplace.co.nz/community/CAFCA/publications/Roger/index.html
Nominations close on October 31, 2009. Send your nomination
to: The Roger Award, Box 2258, Christchurch; e-mail
cafca@chch.planet.org.nz
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
Our only political party has two right wings, one called Republican, the other Democratic. But Henry Adams figured all that out back in the 1890s. 'We have a single system,' he wrote, and 'in that system the only question is the price at which the proletariat is to be bought and sold, the bread and circuses.'" : Gore Vidal - The Decline and Fall of the American Empire
" The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to the point where it becomes stronger than the democratic state itself. That in its essence is fascism - ownership of government by an individual, by a group or any controlling private power. " : President Franklin Delano Roosevelt
“Climate change is not a cause, rather an effect. It is a product of the capitalist system, which favors the obtaining of the maximum profit possible. That is the purpose of the capitalist system, without taking into due consideration the lives of others. In Copenhagen, we should enter into a thorough analysis of what countries are the ones that are hurting the environment the most, and we should consider those damages and focus on the countries that bear a major responsibility for the payment of this climate debt, this obligation.” Bolivian President Evo Morales:
"Sometimes one gets the sensation that there are two Obamas. One, who gave the speech, is good. The other, really, makes decisions that are contradictory to his speech." Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez
BEST ON THE WEB
NEW ZEALAND
Editorial: Israel's war on humanity, The Dominion Post, 17/09/2009 - OPINION: To read the United Nations report on the Gaza conflict is to descend into a 21st-century version of Dante's Inferno http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/opinion/editorials/2872720/Editorial-Israels-war-on-humanity
Pay Equity Challenge Coalition Launches With Pay-equi-tea At Parliament http://www.voxy.co.nz/national/pay-equity-challenge-coalition-launches-pay-equi-tea-parliament/5/24546
See Photos of the Launch http://www.flickr.com/photos/union/sets/72157622275631911/
Popular pro-public transport blog. You may enjoy these photos of the Jumping Sundays event I included a link to the progressive youth site. http://www.aucklandtrains.co.nz/2009/09/20/tim-shadbolt-marks-jumping-sundays-but-why-is-auckland-still-so-dull-photos-auckland-greens/
http://www.aucklandtrains.co.nz
Biography
of influential writer and activist published: The life story
of a woman who helped shape New Zealand history but went
largely unrecognised during her lifetime has been published
by Canterbury University Press. Looking for Answers: A life
of Elsie Locke is a compelling biography of a writer and
activist who campaigned for birth control, women’s rights,
nuclear disarmament, social justice and the environment long
before such causes were popular. F
Gender pay disparities
highlighted
http://www.odt.co.nz/your-town/dunedin/74739/gender-pay-disparities-highlighted
BAD BANKS: Targeting late capitalism's exploitation of labour and nature http://www.badbanks.co.nz/
ECONOMIC CRISIS
GRIT TV: Can Capitalism Be Saved? On the eve of the G-20 summit, The Nation's Alexander Cockburn and others discuss the future of capitalism - Nation columnist and Counterpunch co-editor Alexander Cockburn, William Tabb, associate editor of the Monthly Review and author of The Amoral Elephant: Globalization and the Struggle for Social Justice in the Twenty-First Centuryir?t=lauraflanders-20&l=as2&o=1&a=158367036X, and Boris Kagarlitsky, director of the Institute of Globalization and Social Movements and the author of Empire of the Periphery: Russia and the World Systemir?t=lauraflanders-20&l=as2&o=1&a=074532682X talk alternatives. http://www.thenation.com/doc/20091005/cockburn_video
Bailouts Revisited: Who Got Rescued and Who Got Screwed? http://www.alternet.org/politics/142634/bailouts_revisited%3A_who_got_rescued_and_who_got_screwed/
FEATURES
Claudio Katz on Latin America, the right and imperialism: `The solution to the crisis of capitalism has to be political' http://links.org.au/node/1256
Greg Palast: Secret White House Letter To G-20 I still get a thrill whenever I get my hands on a confidential memo with "The White House, Washington" appearing on the letterhead. Even when—like the one I'm looking at now—it's about a snoozy http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0909/S00205.htm
REVIEWS
Indigenous Resistance in the Americas and the Legacy of Mari�tegui by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz http://www.monthlyreview.org/090921dunbar-ortiz.php
Visuals - The Revolution Will Be Illustrated - Early-20th-century artists and designers greatly admired Russian revolutionary posters and typography, and the art movements that sprang from the October Revolution http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/20/books/review/Heller-t.html
Mike Moore's Capitalism: A Love Story--An Early Review http://www.thenation.com/blogs/notion/475969/i_capitalism_a_love_story_i_an_early_review
FOOD, FARMING AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Global Warming - Can Self-interest And Science Save Australia, US And The Planet? By Dr Gideon Polya http://www.countercurrents.org/polya170909.htm
Corporate locusts leave hunger behind - Since 2006, corporations and countries have spent $30 billion buying up 20 million hectares of fertile farmland – an area that equates to a fifth of all the agricultural land in the European Union. The chief culprits of this obscene land grab are countries that accumulated massive surpluses from the boom in oil prices and in the export of consumer goods. http://www.aworldtowin.net/blog/corporate-locusts-leave-hunger-behind.html
AFGHANISTAN
4 Deadly Delusions About Afghanistan Held by Obama's Top Advisors - http://www.alternet.org/story/142596/4_deadly_delusions_about_afghanistan_held_by_obama%27s_top_advisors
Meet The Afghan Army By Ann Jones - The big Afghanistan debate in Washington is not over whether more troops are needed, but just who they should be: Americans or Afghans -- Us or Them. Having just spent time in Afghanistan seeing how things stand, I wouldn't bet on Them http://www.countercurrents.org/jones230909.htm
BOLIVIA
Evo Morales Closes an Old Wound – The Bolivian President’s Speech at Legan�s, Spain - Speech by Evo Morales Ayma, Constitutional President of the Pluri-national State of Bolivia, at Legan�s (Madrid), September 13, 2009, translated by Machetera http://boliviarising.blogspot.com/2009/09/evo-morales-closes-old-wound-bolivian.html
CANADA
BRITAIN'S CONQUEST OF QUEBEC: 250 YEARS LATER by Richard Fidler. The conversion of the French colonizing population into a colonized subject people resulted in a new national question that in various transformations and permutations has persisted to this day. http://www.socialistvoice.ca/?p=615
COLOMBIA
U.S. Military Buildup In Colombia, Is The U.S. Preparing For War With Venezuela? By Mark Vorpahl http://www.countercurrents.org/vorpahl180909.htm
CUBA
200 Urban Farms in Havana http://www.cityfarmer.info/?cat=130
Cuba Undertakes Reforms in Midst of Economic Crisis http://globalalternatives.org/node/109
Cuba has achieved the lowest rate of HIV infection and the highest level of AIDS treatment in the Caribbean region. Yet the Cuban HIV program — part of its famous health system — has been subjected to many criticisms, usually linked to the themes of “freedom” and “rights.” http://links.org.au/node/1258
HONDURAS
International solidarity with the Honduran people's struggle for democracy http://links.org.au/node/1267
(Updated Sept. 25) Honduras: Zelaya returns — Resistance prepares more action; coup regime reacts with repression http://links.org.au/node/1261
IRAN
Intelligence Agencies Say No New Nukes in Iran - Secret updates to White House challenge European and Israeli assessments. The U.S. intelligence community is reporting to the White House that Iran has not restarted its nuclear-weapons development program, two counterproliferation officials tell NEWSWEEK. U.S. agencies had previously said that Tehran halted the program in 2003. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article23520.htm
IRAQ
Why I Threw My Shoes At Bush By Mutadhar al-Zaidi http://www.alternet.org/story/142741/why_i_threw_my_shoes_at_bush
PALESTINE
UN Fact Finding Mission - the Report is available at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/specialsession/9/docs/UNFFMGC_Report.pdf and the media release, 'UN Fact Finding Mission finds strong evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the Gaza conflict; calls for end to impunity" is at http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/9B63490FFCBE44E5C1257632004EA67B?opendocument
Judge Goldstone and the pollution of argument http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/sep/15/human-rights-gaza-israel
Below are links to two parts of a You Tube video of the song "In Palestine", written and performed by Rich Siegel. Rich is a Jewish activist for Palestinian rights from New Jersey. He is a professional musician, singer, song writer, pianist and more. A few months ago he decided to write a song together with a fellow musician to express his pain and anger about what Israel is doing to the Palestinians. The result is in this You Tube video. You can watch the video on youtube in two parts: Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1x2axqjhI6g Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojv1FWFGCgw&feature=channel
Bruce Clark: The Goldstone Report On Gaza http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0909/S00191.htm
THAILAND
Coup anniversary reveals two faces of Thailand http://links.org.au/node/1257
TIMOR
Los! Hau Bele! -- `Yo! Si Puedo' comes to Timor-Leste: Cuba assists the eradication of illiteracy - In Timor-Leste , which is one of the world’s newest countries and Australia’s poorest Asia-Pacific neighbour, Cuba is delivering an educational aid program which aims to eradicate illiteracy, currently affecting nearly 50% of the adult population, within a period of less than 10 years. The Timor-Leste national literacy campaign, utilising the Cuban-developed /Yo! Si Puedo/ (Yes! I can) audiovisual teaching method, opened its first classes in the capital Dili in June 2007. Eighteen months later, by December 2008, nearly 18,000 adults had completed a course of 65 lessons, led by local village monitors who work under the close supervision of 36 Cuban education advisers deployed throughout the country. If it continues at this rate, the literacy campaign can be expected to have a major impact on the stabilisation and development of Timor-Leste, providing a model for other Pacific countries struggling to overcome their educational disadvantage. http://links.org.au/node/1265
UK
For Britons, The Party Game Is Over By John Pilger - By refusing to bring the troops home, Brown is likely to provoke an atrocity by young British Muslims who view the war as a western crusade; the recent Old Bailey trail made that clear. He has been told as much by British intelligence and security services. Brown's own security adviser has said as much publicly. As with Tony Blair and the bombs of 7 July 2005, he will bear ultimate responsibility for bringing violence and grief to his own people. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article23523.htm
Britain’s unions commit to a mass boycott movement of Israeli goods http://www.palestinecampaign.org/index7b.asp?m_id=1&l1_id=4&l2_id=24&Content_ID=678
USA
The rich still run the US - America's traumatic recession should have ushered in a wave of progressive political reform. It hasn't happened http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/sep/17/healthcare-us-economy-reform
America's Teacher - The Nation's Naomi Klein interviews Michael Moore on the roots of the economic crisis and the promise and peril of this political moment. http://www.thenation.com/doc/20091012/klein
ends