Stop the war against Iraq - GPJA Newsletter #7, July 31, 2002
GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND NEWSLETTER #7, JULY 31, 2002 (Read online at: http://www.gpja.pl.net/Frames/NLetterFrames_index.html )
Dear friends,
A new US/British war against Iraq is being openly prepared. “Justifications” are being cynically manufactured with total
disregard of the facts. A new humanitarian disaster will befall the region if this war goes ahead. All supporters of
human rights, peace and social justice are urged to attend the next GPJA forum this Monday, August 5 to join the
international campaign to stop this war. (See “What’s On In Auckland” below for details).
This newsletter is devoted to giving people some resources to study and use to spread the facts about this war and its
likely effects.
Thanks to Peace Movement Aotearoa for information on activities. PMA publish a regular email newsletter available from
pma@xtra.co.nz. Their website is also an excellent resource. See: http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/index.htm
Please feel free to email miketreen@yahoo.co.nz with any items for “What’s On in Auckland”.
The new GPJA website is up and running. Visit this site to check on the next forum, read the current newsletter, and
find out what’s on in Auckland. http://www.GPJA.pl.net Geraldine Peters is looking people to help and can be contacted
at bern@ihug.co.nz
If you would like to be on our mailing list please email: jbminto@xtra.co.nz OR miketreen@yahoo.co.nz Or write to 84
Paice Ave, Sandringham.
WEB RESOURCES ON IRAQ AND THE US/BRITISH WAR PLANS
RECENT ARTICLES
“Bush and Blair agree terms for Iraq attack”, by Simon Tisdall http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,764197,00.html
“Target Iraq – US Plans Major War” by Larry Everest http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=40=2120
“Rolf Ekeus, head of United Nations weapons inspections in Iraq from 1991-97, has accused the US and other Security
Council members of manipulating the United Nations inspections teams for their own political ends.” http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory =StoryFT=1027953256453=1012571727102
“What, If Anything, Does Iraq Have to Hide?” By Scott Ritter Scott Ritter, a former UN weapons inspector, is author of
"Endgame: Solving the Iraq Problem, Once and For All." http://www.newsday.com/news/opinion/ny-vprit302803614jul30.story
“A compliant press is preparing for an all-out attack on Iraq. It never mentions the victims: the young, the old and the
vulnerable” by John Pilger http://pilger.carlton.com/print/100275
“The memories of my journey to Iraq are almost surreal. Beside the road to Baghdad from Jordan lay two bodies: old men
in suits, unmarked, their arms stiffly besides them.” Collateral Damage by John Pilger from the book Iraq: Under Siege
(edited by Anthony Arnove http://pilger.carlton.com/print/other_art
SITES FOR REGULAR UPDATES
STOP KILLING THE PEOPLE OF IRAQ Peace Movement Aotearoa site updated twice weekly with the latest news and articles from
the world’s press http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/iraqa.htm
ANTIWAR.COM Daily updates on the war without limit including Iraq http://www.antiwar.com/
AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE IRAQ PAGE http://www.afsc.org/iraqhome.htm
THE IMPACT OF SANCTIONS ON IRA
qTHE CAMPAIGN AGAINST SANCTIONS ON IRAQ – A UK based site. Their July newsletter available on site gives information on
the current state of the sanctions regime http://www.cam.ac.uk/societies/casi/
VOICES IN THE WILDERNESS – A US ANTI-SANCTIONS GROUP http://www.nonviolence.org/vitw/pages/220.htm
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
“Fallacies of US plans to invade Iraq”, by Stephen Zunes, associate professor of politics and chair of the Peace and
Justice Studies Program at the University of San Fransisco http://www.fpif.org/papers/iraq.html
US Policy Towards Iraq – Policy Alternatives by Stephen Zunes etc http://www.fpif.org/papers/iraq/
“10 things to know about US policy in the Middle East” by Stephen Zunes http://www.alternet.org/print.html?StoryID=11592
THE US VS IRAQ http://www.9-11peace.org/bulletin8.php3 The 9-11Peace.org bulletin is a weekly newsletter providing
resources, news, and action ideas to over 28,500 people around the world. The full text of all issues of the bulletin is
online at http://www.9-11peace.org/bulletin.php3; users can subscribe to the bulletin at that address also. The bulletin
is a project of 9-11Peace.org. Contact bulletin@9-11peace.org for more information.
WHAT’S ON IN AUCKLAND
Monday August 1, 7pm. St Columba Centre, 40 Vermont St, Ponsonby 'Pacific perspectives', Rae Julian, Executive Director
Council for International Development, speaks at the UNIFEM Auckland Regional Committee AGM; AGM at 7pm, Rae Julian at
7-30pm, evening concludes with supper. For further information contact Beverley Turner email sejt@nznet.gen.nz or tel
(09) 418 0700.
Monday August 5, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn GPJA FORUM: “Organising against the War without
Limit”. Introduction on the latest stage of the war preparations against Iraq and… by Mike Treen and a screening of the
John Pilger Video on Iraq. This will be followed by an organising session to plan antiwar action.
Wednesday/Thursday, August 6-7 'Politics of early childhood education' symposium, plenary speakers include Helen May,
Roger McClay and Action for Children and Youth Aotearoa Committee members Piripi Davis, Beth Wood and Alison Blaiklock;
organised by the Auckland College of Education. For further information please contact Di McKenzie email ecps@ace.ac.nz
tel (09) 623 8990 or write to Early Childhood Professional Support, Auckland College of Education, Private Bag 92601,
Symonds St, Auckland.
Sunday, August 10 - closing date for nominations for the 2002 Media Peace Awards. Categories include print, radio,
TV/film, internet, public relations and rangatahi/student. For more details and a nomination form contact the Peace
Foundation, tel (09) 373 2379 or peace@fps.pl.net
24 September to 17 October, Aotea Centre, BNZ Foyer, 9am-5pm daily. Hiroshima-Nagasaki A-Bomb Exhibition - a collection
of photographs and artifacts that depict the consequences of the bombings from 1945 through to the international peace
initiatives of today; the exhibition aims to promote the total abolition of nuclear weapons through increased knowledge
and understanding.
OTHER NEWS/EVENTS
“IN THE LAND OF PLENTY – THE STORY OF UNEMPLOYMENT IN NZ” Read the reviews of Alistair Barry’s great new film and order
a copy here: http://www.gpja.pl.net/Education/LandofPlenty.html
TE KURI/YOUNG NICK’S HEAD The web site with the on-line petition 'Stop the Sale of Te Kuri' (Young Nick's Head) is now
up and running - if you wish to add your name to the following:
“We, the undersigned, ask the Crown (NZ government) to stop the sale of Te Kuri (Young Nick's Head) to foreign parties.
Instead, we want to keep Te Kuri safely and solely in the hands of future generation New Zealanders. Sincerely, The
Undersigned” then go to
http://www.tekuri.com/
HIROSHIMA/NAGASAKI ANNIVERSARY ~ Before 6 August - send a message of solidarity and support to the Kobe Port Council
against A and H-Bombs (Kobe Port Gensuikyo). The Kobe Port Gensuikyo is composed of trade unions in the Port of Kobe,
where the nuclear-free 'Kobe Formula' has successfully prevented the entry of nuclear-armed warships into the port for
the past 27 years in the face of US government pressure to allow such ships into the port. KPG are about to celebrate
their 1000th '6 & 9 Action', held every month to commemorate the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, to demand the total
elimination of nuclear weapons and to support the Hibakusha (survivors of the US nuclear bombings). Send your message of
support, or enquiry for more info, to Shushi Kajimoto, Secretary General, Hyogo Gensuikyo email
kbnobu@fantasy.plala.or.jp or fax 00 81 78 371 2427.
SEPTEMBER 2-8 WIPE OUT POVERTY WEEK FOR YOUTH If you haven’t heard about it yet you must act now so young people can
“sign up, splash out, cash in” and help Christian World Service wipe out poverty. This is the new CWS Youth Programme to
be launched in Wipe Out Poverty Week, Sept 2-8.
It will be a fun-filled week of water, washing, cleaning and shining – all to aid projects supported by CWS and get
youth groups, schools and young New Zealanders involved in the fight against global poverty and injustice. Young people
will be sponsored or collect donations for the cleaning they do - cars, buses, windows, shoes, church pews, MPs, each
other. The possibilities are endless.
The theme is water: not just for cleaning, but also to focus on the importance of water for life. Getting involved with
Wipe Out Poverty week activities gives groups the chance to learn how water is used and abused as a resource, and the
importance of having clean, easily accessible water. Wipe Out Poverty Week is being held in conjunction with Youth Week
to emphasise the important role young people can play. Money raised will go to Christian World Service projects in
Africa, Asia, the Pacific and Latin America.