National - what's on where listings

* Emergency response vigil details * with the impending new 'official' war against the people of Iraq, the list of emergency response vigil details will be included in each 'what's on where' e-listing. If you wish to have the emergency response vigil details for your city or town included, please email them to PMA email pma@xtra.co.nz with the subject heading 'emergency response vigil details'. If you require more information about the emergency response vigils, please contact PMA and we will send you a message which gives some background information about their purpose, and how you can set them up in your area.

*** INTERNATIONAL ***

~ Ongoing - Iraq Peace Team: John Gleisner (Religious Society of Friends, Aotearoa / New Zealand) is currently on his way to Baghdad to join the Voices in the Wilderness Iraq Peace Team. Reports received from John during his time in Iraq will be available on-line at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/jgiraq.htm

~ THURS, 16 January - 12th anniversary of the start of the Gulf War; 18 and 19 January - Stop the war on Iraq! the next day of action scheduled by the International ANSWER coalition, to coincide with the anniversary. For more info check out http://www.internationalanswer.org/ See local listings below for Wellington, 16 January, and Christchurch, 18 January.

~ MON, 21 to THURS, 24 April - Oceania Social Forum, one of a number of Forums that are being held around the world as a result of the World Social Forums held over the past 2 years in Porto Alegre (Brazil), with speakers including: Edward Goldsmith, Maude Barlow, Susan Hawthorne, Pauline Tangiora, Sohail Inayatullah, Annette Sykes, Nafeez Mosaddeq Ahmed, and others to be confirmed. In Nelson; for more info check out website www.oceaniasocialforum.org.nz or email info@oceaniasocialforum.org.nz or tel (03) 545 2449.

~ Current - Medical supplies for Iraq - Quaker Peace and Service Aotearoa/NZ are once more raising money to buy medical supplies for Iraq. These will be used to support the US-based NGO, LIFE for Relief and Development, mainly in their cancer relief projects, and the Rome-based NGO, Bridge to Baghdad's Sindibad Primary Health Care Clinic in Basra. Cheques can be made out to Quaker Peace and Service and sent to QPS, 7 Moncrieff St., Wellington; credit card donations can be made by email - for more info about that, or about 'Medical supplies for Iraq', please contact Tony Maturin or Sandra Jones tel (04) 389-4715 or email hoggard@top.net.nz

*** NATIONAL ***

~ FRI, 24 to SUN, 26 January - Waihopai Spybase protest! NZ is one of George Bush's most enthusiastic allies in his apparently endless and borderless 'war on terror' - the public face of that is the involvement of the SAS in the war in Afghanistan; but New Zealand's most significant contribution to that war, and any other wars waged by our Western allies, is the Waihopai spybase. Even though the Government is not so keen on following the US in its plans to wage war on Iraq, Waihopai will play a key role in that too, because it is controlled by the US, with NZ (including Parliament) having little or no idea what goes on there (let alone any control). Waihopai does not operate in the national interests of New Zealand or our neighbours. Basically it is a foreign spybase on NZ soil and directly involves us in America's wars. Waihopai must be closed! We invite people from around the country to join us for the weekend of anti-war protest at this spybase. Come prepared for roughing it and camping out. For more info contact the Anti-Bases Campaign, Box 2258, Christchurch; email cafca@chch.planet.org.nz or check out http://www.converge.org.nz/abc

***** LOCAL *****

*** AUCKLAND

* Auckland Emergency Response Vigil Details * if the US government and its allies start an all-out 'official' war on the people in Iraq, there will be a rally at 5-30pm at the US Consulate, Citibank Bldg, Customs St East, Central Auckland on the day we hear of the attack. For more information contact Global peace and Justice Auckland, John Minto email jbminto@xtra.co.nz or Mike Treen email miket@pl.net

~ First day of spraying - protest outside Aer Aqua, health advisor and provider for MAF - Aer Aqua has advised MAF that the spraying is safe, even though it is currently relocating about 1,000 families because of health reasons; picket from 8am at Aer Aqua, Floor 2, Field Nathan Building,5-7 Kingdom St, Newmarket. Tel 0800 969696 to make sure they are spraying, we will be protesting on the first day of spraying which ever day that be.

~ SAT, 4 January - Palestine/Israel Rally for Peace, supporting peace and justice based on Removal of Israeli Occupation, Right of Return for Refugees, Sharing Jerusalem and Cessation of Jewish only Settlements in occupied Palestine, 2pm to 3pm, Aotea Square, Queen Street. Contact David Wakim tel (09) 520 0201.

~ TUES, 14 January - International Embryo Transfer Society's Conference public-information sharing forum, 8pm in the Hauraki Room, Aotea Centre, City; free entry. To make the most of the time available, please send in questions you would like to have addressed - these can be general issues or specific queries - to Dr Lora Hagemann, AgResearch Ruakura, PB 3123, Hamilton, email Lora.Hagemann@agresearch.co.nz or BeverleyTurner, Human Rights Network Liaison, tel/fax (09) 418 0700 email sejt@nznet.gen.nz

~ SUN, 2 February - A March for Justice and Peace (Synagogue to Church to Mosque) - assemble at 2pm outside the Synagogue at Kadimah College Greys Ave (Pitt street end) City; then march via Hopetoun St, to Ponsonby Rd, to Vermont St to the grounds of the Church then to the grounds of the Mosque opposite - at each place there will be time for prayer, comments and song. The march is to support the international 'Open Jerusalem - end occupation' peace march supported by Jews, Christians and Muslims walking between Bethlehem and Jerusalem on 31 December 2001. For more info contact Kevin McBride, Pax Christi, email paxnz@xtra.co.nz tel (09) 377 5541 or David Wakim tel (09) 520 0201.

*** WELLINGTON and HUTT VALLEY

* Wellington Emergency Response Vigil Details * if the US government and its allies start an all-out 'official' war on the people in Iraq, there will be a vigil at 5pm at the Cenotaph on the day we hear of the attack, and a march to the US embassy if sufficient numbers of people come to the vigil. For more info contact Peace Movement Aotearoa tel (04) 382 8129 or email pma@xtra.co.nz

~ THURS, 19 December - vigil for peace, 5pm to 6pm at the Cenotaph, for more info contact PMA, tel (04) 382 8129, pma@xtra.co.nz

~ MON, 23 December - 'Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers' - buy tickets for this screening and support the Campaign for a Better City at the same time! Book now to avoid disappointment - tickets can be purchased from Olive Cafe (170 Cuba St), Starfish (128 Willis St), or Aro Street Video; contact CBC email cbc@tradeshall.org.nz for a booking form, or download one from http://www.cbc.org.nz/php/display_web_content.php?rowid=53

~ THURS, 26 December - vigil for peace, 5pm to 6pm at the Cenotaph, for more info contact PMA, tel (04) 382 8129, pma@xtra.co.nz

~ THURS, 2 January - vigil for peace, 5pm to 6pm at the Cenotaph, for more info contact PMA, tel (04) 382 8129, pma@xtra.co.nz

~ THURS, 9 January - vigil for peace, 5pm to 6pm at the Cenotaph, for more info contact PMA, tel (04) 382 8129, pma@xtra.co.nz

~ THURS, 16 January 2003 - Stop killing the people of Iraq! all day peace presence at the US embassy to mark the anniversary of the start of the Gulf War and twelve years of ongoing bombing and strafing attacks, and vicious economic sanctions which have resulted in the deaths of more than one and a half million people. * 7-30am to 9am - protest along the Murphy Street side of the embassy as the morning commuters pass by; bring a banner, noise makers, and long strips of crimson or red ribbons or streamers * 9am to 6-30pm - organise your own peaceful protest along the Murphy Street side of the embassy * 5pm to 6pm - weekly vigil for peace at the Cenotaph, corner Bowen St and Lambton Quay * 6pm - march to the US embassy * 6-30pm - rally with speakers in Fitzherbert Tce. From 7-30am to 6-30pm Fitzherbert Tce is set aside as a quiet zone for those who wish to engage in silent or prayerful vigil; there will be an information table all day at the corner of Fitzherbert Tce and Murphy Street. All welcome to come to the above events and to call by at any time during the day. For more information please contact Peace Movement Aotearoa, tel (04) 382 8129, email pma@xtra.co.nz

~ Every Saturday - 'Behind the News' on Wellington Access Radio (783 AM), broadcast at 12-30pm, brought to you by Linda Hobman and Jim Delahunty. If you have something you'd like them to cover, or a comment on the programme, please contact Jim Delahunty tel (04)938 6943 or Linda Hobman tel (04) 380 0194.

~ Every Sunday - Te Aro Heritage guided walks, courtesy of Campaign for a Better City, take place each Sunday for the foreseeable future. Meet at 1pm at the junction of Cuba Street and Tonks Avenue, opposite Arthur Street; entry by koha. Contact Karen MacIntyre tel (04) 973 5355 for more information or to volunteer your time.

~ Every Sunday, 'Peace Report' on Wellington Access Radio (783 AM), broadcast at 11-45am, brought to you by the Peace Council, funded by PADET. If you or your group wish to make a free programme to be broadcast in this slot, please contact Des Brough tel/fax (04) 388 3173.

*** NELSON AND GOLDEN BAY

~ Ongoing to TUES, 31 December - Universal Income for a Sustainable Future events - workshops/demonstrations/stalls: Takaka 19th December 5-8pm Visions Festival; Pakawau 31st December, daytime stall, 12-30pm to 2pm workshop ... and more. For more info contact email ayre@actrix.co.nz

~ Every Friday - 'NO to war', join Nelson Peace and Justice Group every Friday between 4pm and 6pm, on the centre strip by the BP station in Haven Road. Bring your own signs or borrow one of ours. For more info contact email info@kites-rainbowflight.co.nz

*** CHRISTCHURCH

~ SUN, 22 December - "Merry Christmas and a Peaceful New Year to you, me and the people of Iraq. Keep New Zealand out of Iraq!" die-in and anti-war street theatre, 2pm to 2-30pm, in Cashel Mall. For more info contact Anna Hunter email ach66@student.canterbury.ac.nz

~ SAT, 18 January - 'People are dying in Iraq - no more war!', anti-war march - speak out to ensure NZ supports peace, not war, against Iraq; leaves 1-30pm from the Museum. For more info contact email ach66@student.canterbury.ac.nz

~ Every Friday - Christchurch Catholic Worker invite you to join their vigil at the US Air Force base at Harewood, flights from the base serve the vast US military/intelligence bases at Pine Gap and Nurrungar. Meet at 5pm, at the Airport Roundabout (where the totem pole is). For more info contact Christchurch Catholic Worker email mmc62@student.canterbury.ac.nz

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