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&ItemID=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&c =StoryFT&cid=1027953256453&p=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.

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