Global Peace And Justice Auckland Newsletter #46

Global Peace And Justice Auckland Newsletter #46, September 17, 2003

Website http://www.gpja.pl.net/ Contact details: Forums - John Minto, (09) 8456155 jbminto@xtra.co.nz; Newsletter Editor - Mike Treen 0212547440 / 3616989 miket@pl.net Web page - Geraldine Peters (09) 3765994 bern@ihug.co.nz Donations can be sent to GPJA, Private Bag 68905, Newton, Auckland. All communication regarding the GPJA mailing list (email or snail) should be addressed to gpja@xtra.co.nz

Dear friends,

Thanks to those who participated in the protests last Saturday against corporate globalisation and war. The government decision to go ahead with the deployment of NZ troops to assist the US/UK occupation of Iraq deserved to be condemned. The protest was also in solidarity with the tens of thousands in Cancun and around the world out to stop the corporate agenda at the WTO talks. These protests meshed with a rebellion by leaders of the worlds poorest nations against the neoliberal economic agenda being forced on them. The end result was the collapse of the WTO talks and a bloody nose for the corporate globalisers. Links to Sept 13 and Cancun reports are before What's On in Auckland with other web links coming after.

October's GPJA forum will have an eye-witness account of these events from Jane Kelsey as well as a report and slide show on the Apartheid Wall in Palestine by South African activist Anne Weekes. Not one to be missed.

GPJA hasn't had a formal structure and the organising committee thought we should look at the question over the next few months. A draft set of rules has been prepared and will be circulated at the October forum for discussion and decision in November.

The address gpjamailinglist@xtra.co.nz will no longer be used for this email list. The new address is gpja@xtra.co.nz. People may want to add this to their address book to make sure you continue to get these newsletters without the risk of them being blocked or dumped in your junk mail folder!

The next big event on the calendar is the Huge GE free rally planned for October 11 in Auckland http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0309/S00077.htm See also GE action updates http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0309/S00080.htm

MESSAGES

RATES BOYCOTT MOVEMENT GETS ORGANISED A meeting on Friday 12th September voted unanimously to organise a rates boycott movement against the ARC's massive rate increases. The meeting included representatives from groups actively opposing the ARC increases, including the Samoan community, Auckland City Residents & Ratepayers Association, Greypower, Water Pressure Group, Socialist Worker and other outraged citizens.

It was resolved to "endorse a boycott of the ARC rate increase. We call on all homeowners to pay only what they paid last year, and put this year's increase in dispute." It was also agreed unanimously to set up "a rates boycott committee to organise a boycott of the ARC increase across the whole Auckland region. The committee to be broad-based and open to everyone who wants to help with the boycott." The meeting unanimously endorsed a "Rates Revolt" leaflet which includes four easy steps for homeowners to dispute their ARC bill. Thousands of these boycott leaflets are now being printed for distribution across the whole Auckland region.

The leaflet also points out that the main reason behind homeowners' rates skyrocketing is because the ARC's business politicians got rid of the "business differential". This delivered huge decreases to business ratepayers, who are being massively subsidised by ordinary ratepayers. The rates boycott committee is requesting speaking rights at the next ARC meeting. There will be a protest in support of the boycott at this ARC meeting as well. Meet outside the ARC headquarters at 3.30pm on Monday 22nd September, corner of Pitt & Hopetoun Streets, Auckland central city.

To obtain "Rates Revolt" leaflets or join the rates boycott committee or get more information, contact: Grant Morgan 634 3377 (days & evenings) gcm@actrix.gen.nz

SOCIAL FORUM AOTEAROA ( message from the Wellington organising group) The next Meeting of the Social Forum Aoteatroa will be at 2:00 Thursday Sept. 18th at Te Wananga O Aotearoa Porirua. It will be an important meeting and we hope all posible will attend. We can confirm that we have 14 organisations and presenters from New Zealand, Solomon Islands and Australia on topics including human rights, the global economy,peace and justice, participatory democracy, the environment, the union movement, local economic development, welfare, and more. There will be entertainment, videos and movies. Topics will indeed extend from the very local to the global picture.

We are happy to receive proposals for other presentations and in addition there will space and time set aside for those who show up at the forum with their own idea for a workshop. You can register on line at our web site www.socialforum.org.nz. When registering please consider making a financial donation to meeet the costs of the Forum. We also have a 0800 service thanks to Te Wananga O Aotearoa and you can also register by phoning 0800 808 345.

We have established local contacts in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch who will also provide asistance and registration services. These contacts are: Auckland Mike Treen , Global Peace and Justice , 09 361 6989, 021 254 7440 Wellington, Nick Henry, Peace Action Wellington, 04 Christchurch, Nate Cull, Peace Action Network - phone 03 981 5178

Cheers, Pat Hanley, Social Forum Aotearoa

FOREIGN CONTROL WATCHDOG The August issue is now online. http://www.converge.org.nz/watchdog/03/index03.htm

ROGER AWARDS NOMINATIONS Nominations close at the end of October for the annual Roger Award for the Worst Transnational Corporation Operating in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Details for accessing the online nomination form, and where to send it, are at the end of this message. Dunedin is to host the event to announce the winner(s). It will be held in the first few months of 2004 and details will be announced closer to the time. This will be the first time that Dunedin has hosted the Roger Award event (the first three were held in Christchurch; one in Wellington, and the last two in Auckland). The organisers - Christchurch-based groups CAFCA and GATT Watchdog - are pleased that the only major city not to have thus far hosted the Roger will now do so. And Dunedin is even more appropriate because of the high profile role played by its Mayor, Sukhi Turner, who has been a judge several times, from the very beginning, and is again this year. The judges are (in addition to Sukhi Turner, Mayor of Dunedin): Dr Ranginui Walker, Emeritus Professor at the University of Auckland; John Minto, veteran Auckland activist and National Chairperson of the Quality Public Education Coalition; Alister Barry, documentary maker, of Wellington; and Jill Hawkey, of Christchurch, National Director of Christian World Service. They will be given a shortlist of nominations from which to make their decision. You can read all about the Roger Award and access the online nomination form at the CAFCA Website www.cafca.org.nz Click on the below for the nomination form: http://canterbury.cyberplace.co.nz/community/CAFCA/publications/Roger/Rogern omination.pdf Nominations close on October 31, 2003. Send your nomination to: The Roger Award, Box 2258, Christchurch or fax it to (03) 3663988. E-mail: cafca@chch.planet.org.nz. CAFCA Campaign Against Foreign Control of Aotearoa Box 2258, Christchurch, New Zealand www.cafca.org.nz

NZ ANTIWAR ANT-CORPORATE GLOBALISATION PROTESTS 'The actions of the Wellington Police at a peaceful demonstration against the deployment of New Zealand troops to Iraq sent today were violent and completely irrational' said Peace Action Wellington member Valerie Morse http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0309/S00092.htm 8 Arrested in Wellington antiwar protest http://www.indymedia.org.nz/ Activists bemused and angry after Wellington arrests http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0309/S00088.htm No troops for trade - Labour must make a stand http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0309/S00078.htm

WTO AND CANCUN PROTESTS WTO implodes at Cancun - Jane Kelsey and others report http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0309/S00139.htm Mexican standoff - the West is rumbled http://www.guardian.co.uk/wto/article/0,2763,1042074,00.html He took a patch of harsh mountain land and turned it into a thriving farm. But when Korea was flooded with foreign imports he was ruined - and last week, during the world trade talks, Lee Kyung-hae plunged a knife into his heart. Jonathan Watts on one man's struggle against the system http://www.guardian.co.uk/wto/article/0,2763,1042865,00.html No new MAI - Let it die http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0309/S00089.htm The Council for International Development recognises that international trade can play an important role in development, and can be an effective means of reducing poverty. However, the current international trading system does not operate in the best interests of developing countries. http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0309/S00071.htm The slaves of money - and our rebellion, Subcomandante Marcos http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1039691,00.html Free trade is war, by Naomi Klein http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20030929=klein

A SONG OF PROTEST Anti-WTO campaigners from the international network 'Our World is Not for Sale" are celebrating victory in the foyer of the press hall of the Cancun Conference Centre with a chorus to the tune "Can't buy me love"

Our world is not for sale my friend Just to keep you satisfied. You say you'll bring us health and wealth Well we know that you just lied. We don't care too much for Zoellick Zoellick can't buy the world. Can't buy the wo-orld, listen while we tell you so Can't buy the wo-orld no no no nooo!

No new issues in Cancun You know that's just not right. No arm twisting delegates or green rooms through the night. We son't care too much fpr bullies Business can't rule the world. Can't rule the wo-orld, listen while I tell you so Can't rule the wo-orld no no no nooo!

WHAT'S ON IN AUCKLAND

Wednesday, September 17, 7pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn "The crisis facing the NZ health system and solutions needed" Open forum led by Dr barry Gribben. Sponsored by Central Auckland Alliance Party. Contact 3763780.

Wednesday, September 17, 7.30pm, Western Springs Garden Complex, 990 Great North Rd, Western Springs PUBLIC MEETING ON DETENTION OF AHMED ZAOUI Speakers include: Paul Buchanan (Auckland University), Bishop Robin Leamy SM, Amnesty International, Umarji Mohammed & Reps of the Algerian Community. Ahmed Zaoui is a democratically elected member of the Algerian parliament who was forced to flee Algeria following a military takeover. He arrived in NZ seeking safety and justice, instead he has spent nine months in solitary confinement without being charged and despite being officially declared to be a refugee - he may yet be returned to Algeria where he faces torture and death. Organised by Friends of Ahmed Zaoui, for more info contact email friendsofzaoui@yahoo.co.nz For more info about Ahmed Zaoui, check out http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/az070803.htm

Sunday, September 21, 2pm, Rationalist House, 64 Symonds St. Auckland City, (opposite top of Wakefield St.) Hear the CUBAN AMBASSADOR SPEAK on Cuba's internationalism and the Cuban Five. We are honoured to have Miguel Angel Ramirez, Cuba's ambassador to New Zealand, who is based in Indonesia, visit Auckland. He is here as a guest of Te Wananga O Aotearoa, the Te Awamutu-based tertiary institute which is launching an adult literacy initiative with the assistance of the Cuban government. Miguel Angel Ramirez will speak on issues facing Cuba today. This includes the case of the Cuban Five, five Cuban patriots falsely convicted and jailed on charges of espionage, who were in Miami monitoring the counter-revolutionary terrorist groups there in order to prevent future violence against the Cuban people. Sponsored by the Auckland Cuba Friendship Society, phone Janet, 525-5412, or Malcolm, 276-2054 P.O. Box 6716, Wellesley St, Auckland

Monday, September 22, 3.30pm, ARC Office, Cnr Pitt and Hopetoun Streets, Central City PICKET TO SUPPORT ARC RATES BOYCOTT outside ARC meeting

Wednesday, September 24, 11-30am to 12-30pm, outside WINZ, Queen Street PICKET AGAINST THE JOBS JOLT - Jobs Jolt is a Government initiative that attacks the civil rights of beneficiaries; it removes the exemption for 55-50 year olds from having to seek work; threatens to cut benefits from those who move to country areas; will drug test some job applicants; and pressurises DPB, and some invalids and sickness beneficiaries with intensive case management. Its effect will be to put more people onto the labour market, and hence a reduction of wages, without making any more jobs available. It is an intimidatory form of beneficiary bashing which affects workers and beneficiaries alike! Picket from. Organised by members of Unite. For more info tel 021 268 5978, email dpb_action@yahoo.co.nz

Wednesday, September 24, 7-30pm at St Columba Centre, 40 Vermont Street, Ponsonby (entrance and parking at the rear). TIME TO ACT FOR WEST PAPUA! screening of 'The Act of Free Choice', followed by discussion about the next steps in the Aotearoa Free West Papua campaign, recent documentary footage about the Timika Freeport mine murders, and tea / coffee; For more info contact Kevin McBride, Pax Christi Aotearoa NZ, tel (09) 377 5541, Maire Leadbeater, Indonesia Human Rights Committee, tel (09) 815 9000, or David Tutty, Catholic Justice and Peace Office, tel (09) 360 3037.

Saturday, September 27, 7.30pm, Meeting House, The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), 113 Mt.Eden Road. “MURDER IN RHE SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE”, A one-woman show by Barbara Thompson. The performer, Barbara Thompson, a Quaker, wrote both the music and the play which she has presented many times in Australia and New Zealand. This is her first performance in Auckland, and she comes to us highly recommended. The evening will actually commence at 6pm with a Shared Meal at which everyone is welcome on a bring a plate basis. Admission is $5 or more if people wish as all proceeds will go to our Quaker Peace and Service Work in Iraq.

Ongoing to 4 October, Awha ka Uta." At Te Taumata Gallery, 124 Symonds Street, City. 'Te Waiora E' - Environmental Justice and the Sustenance of Traditional Maori Cultures, an "exhibition by 5 artists from Kawerau who are standing up against huge multinational corporations in defence of the waters and the earth we all share. Representing the tribal areas of Te Arawa, Ngati Awa, Tuwharetoa -Ki-Kawerau and Tuhoe, they have created an art exhibition that challenges Maori and NZ citizens to protect the seas, rivers and other waters contained within the land of Aotearoa. Te Waiora E will also feature at this year's Maori Expo on September 11 alongside John Miller's photographic installation, For more info contact Mere Takoko, tel (09) 358 0608 or email tag@mwdi.co.nz

Monday, October 6, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn GPJA FORUM: Anna Weekes on "THE APARTHEID WALL" and Jane Kelsey on "WHY THE WTO TALKS COLLAPSED". Anna Weekes, is currently with the Palestine Solidarity Committee of South Africa (http://psc.za.org) and the International Womens Peace Service to Palestine (www.womenspeacepalestine.org). Before this she was a trade unionist in South Africa for the past 7 years, in the SA Municipal Workers Union which was fighting privatisation of water by French multinationals. She's also active in the social movements of South Africa, namely the Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign (www.antieviction.org.za). Jane Kelsey is a Professor of Law at Auckland University and was a participant in the peoples protests in Cancun against corporate globalisation.

Saturday, October 11, 12 noon, Bottom of Queen St, Downtown Mass protest to demand the extension of the GE moratorium

BEST ON THE WEB

EDUCATION ACT and the Business Roundtable’s Education Forum are using the plight of the poor to advance the agenda of the wealthy in their support for more government funding for private schools. http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/ED0309/S00056.htm

US ANTIWAR Families for Peaceful Tomorrows statement http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0309/S00066.htm

WAR ON FREEDOM The Border Security Bill currently before parliament is both unnecessary and undesirable, according to David Small, who appears before the select committee considering the bill today. http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0309/S00068.htm America's dirty torture secret, by Henry Porter http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,3604,1038845,00.html How the War on Terrorism Affects Access to Information and the Public's Right to Know By the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press http://www.rcfp.org/homefrontconfidential/

US TERRORISM A timeline of CIA atrocities http://www.korpios.org/resurgent/CIAtimeline.html How we trained al-Qa’eda: Brendan O'Neill says the Bosnian war taught Islamic terrorists to operate abroad http://www.antiwar.com/spectator/spec19.html

ANTI-ZIONISM The Australian-Jewish Democratic Society http://www.ajds.org.au/

IRAQ In his latest New Statesman column, JOHN PILGER describes viewing videotape of the attack on Iraq that was not shown in the West and is horrific evidence of a great crime. http://pilger.carlton.com/print/133098 Robert Fisk: Secret slaughter by night, lies and blind eyes by day http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article4704.htm Seeking honesty in U.S. policy - Ex-US diplomat says White House is in full retreat from Iraq reality, By Joseph Wilson. http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/editorial/6769302.htm Time to face reality of failure in Iraq http://www.sunspot.net/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.chapman05sep05,0,1214388.sto ry?coll=bal-oped-headlines Globalisation at gunpoint http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0309/S00096.htm “Iraq's new finance minister said on Thursday a clear framework for the privatisation of the country's state industries would be in place in two years.” http://www.forbes.com/markets/newswire/2003/09/11/rtr1078964.html America's hidden battlefield toll: New figures reveal the true number of GIs wounded in Iraq http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1041722,00.html

THE OTHER SEPTEMBER 11 The Pinochet files: A series of declassified US documents have revealed the extent of America's role in the Chilean coup, says Jonathan Franklin http://www.guardian.co.uk/chile/story/0,13755,1038615,00.html Survivors' accounts of the terror that followed the 1973 coup in Chile http://www.guardian.co.uk/chile/voices/0,13756,1037742,00.html

ARMS TRADE Welcome: this way for cluster bombs Arms fair fails to stop promotion of controversial weapons http://www.guardian.co.uk/armstrade/story/0,10674,1039088,00.html Why an arms fair on September 11 is an affront to victims of terror http://www.sundayherald.com/36620

ISRAEL/PALESTINE A lifetime credo: Kill unarmed civilians then lie through your teeth: Ariel Sharon's been doing it for half a century. Azmi Bishara examines the career of Israel's prime minister http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2003/654/op2.htm Sharon Aide Says Israel Is Considering Killing Arafat http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/15/international/middleeast/15MIDE.html International community supports a deluxe occupation By Meron Benvenisti, former deputy mayor of Jerusalem http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/338995.html

WORLD ECONOMY / ENVIRONMENT Deflating the bubble economy before it bursts http://www.earth-policy.org/Books/PlanB_pr.htm The coming first world debt crisis http://www.opendemocracy.net/debates/article-3-77-1463.jsp Europe's harvest crisis: Fear of severe effect on economies after heatwave devastates grain crops http://www.guardian.co.uk/food/Story/0,2763,1036729,00.html

REMEMBERING JOHNNY CASH IN HIS OWN WORDS

Man In Black by Johnny Cash

Well, you wonder why I always dress in black, Why you never see bright colors on my back, And why does my appearance seem to have a somber tone. Well, there's a reason for the things that I have on.

I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down, Livin' in the hopeless, hungry side of town, I wear it for the prisoner who has long paid for his crime, But is there because he's a victim of the times.

I wear the black for those who never read, Or listened to the words that Jesus said, About the road to happiness through love and charity, Why, you'd think He's talking straight to you and me.

Well, we're doin' mighty fine, I do suppose, In our streak of lightnin' cars and fancy clothes, But just so we're reminded of the ones who are held back, Up front there ought 'a be a Man In Black.

I wear it for the sick and lonely old, For the reckless ones whose bad trip left them cold, I wear the black in mournin' for the lives that could have been, Each week we lose a hundred fine young men.

And, I wear it for the thousands who have died, Believen' that the Lord was on their side, I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died, Believen' that we all were on their side.

Well, there's things that never will be right I know, And things need changin' everywhere you go, But 'til we start to make a move to make a few things right, You'll never see me wear a suit of white.

Ah, I'd love to wear a rainbow every day, And tell the world that everything's OK, But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back, 'Till things are brighter, I'm the Man In Black.

© 1971 House of Cash, Inc

ENDS

Issued on behalf of Vero by Network PR (Victoria Rainbow).

For more information and photography please contact Victoria on 09 306 5806 or 021 246 8100 or Leonie Williamson, Vero Senior Marketing & Communications Adviser on 09 363 2242 or 021 565 607.