Last chance for lift to Social Forum Aotearoa / picket Friday / what's on next week

We have a van booked to leave at 8am Friday morning to attend the Social Forum Aotearoa. A couple of seats remain available. Contact Mike Treen asap. email miket@pl.net.

If you aren't going then maybe you'd like to join the fight against a social injustice in NZ. Unite Workers Union is planning a picket from 7.30am at Quay West in Albert St to protest a nil pay offer to the hotel's cleaners. They currently get $9.50 an hour and the boss says he can't afford an increase until 2005!

WHAT'S ON IN AUCKLAND (Updated)

Saturday, Dec 22, Grey Lynn Park Festival The campaign to have Ahmed Zaoui freed continues. We have a stall at the Grey Lynn Park Festival with Free Ahmed Zaoui tee-shirts for sale, plus postcards, petitions, an open letter to Ahmed himself, and information on him and his case. If you and/or a friend can spare an hour or two to help run the stall we would be glad to hear from you Please advise which time is best for you - we will be running pretty much all day from 9am till 5 p.m.. If we get enough people we will try to spread our coverage by sending petition gatherers further a field. Please reply by email to pastfinders@clear.net.nz or phone: 815-9000 (leave a message if not in)

Monday 24-Friday 28 November, AUT Conference Rooms, Ground Floor, W’ Building, Wellesley Campus, Auckland COSSACKS AND COMRADES:AN EXHIBITION TO COMMEMORATE THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1913 WATERFRONT DISPUTE The Cossacks and Comrades exhibition and the programme of presentations around it place many new facts in the public arena about the Auckland Waterfront Dispute and the use of the Special Constabulary. A display of photographs, printed ephemera and memorabilia relating to the strikers and special constables involved in the 1913 Auckland waterfront dispute. Speakers during the week include : Dean Parker (writer and founder member of the Trade Union History Project, 7pm Tuesday); Chris Trotter (Editor of Political review, Friday 1pm ); Sherwood Young (Police historian) John Crawford Defence Forces historian). For more info contact Dr Cathy Casey, Programme Leader, Crime & Justice Institute of Public Policy Auckland University of Technology.09 917 9999 x 8323 (w)09 849 6662 (h)021 176 6633 (cell)

Tuesday, November 25, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn LEGAL INJUSTICE Threats to NZ civil liberties. PUBLIC FORUM - speakers: BRUCE HUBBARD arrested for anti-war email to local US Embassy. KEITH LOCKE (Green MP) NZ civil liberties threatened by Anti-Terrorism Act. MIKE TREEN (Alliance) global erosion of free speech by anti-terrorism laws. KANE FORBES (Socialist Worker) history of grassroots struggles for civil liberties. All welcome. Hosted by Socialist Worker. Email gcm@actrix.gen.nz or ph 6343984.

Tuesday, November 25, 7-30pm, St Columba Centre, 40 Vermont St, Ponsonby (parking at rear). INSIDE INDONESIA'S HIDDEN WAR ON ACEH. Hear William Nessen, free lance journalist give a talk plus data show and video footage on his 6 weeks behind the lines with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and 40 days in an Indonesian jail. William Nessen barely escaped with his life from covering a conflict that is officially barred to all but Government approved and 'embedded' journalists'. Hundreds have died since the May 19 imposition of martial law and thousands have been displaced - but world is blind to the ongoing suffering. See an article http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2003/11/02/CM280194.DTL

He has a unique story - it is a once only opportunity to hear a first hand account of the war in Aceh. Get in touch if you want more details contact Maire Leadbetter: Ph 09-815-9000 or 025-436-957 maire@clear.net.nz

Wednesday, November 26, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn SCOTTISH SOCIALIST MP TOURS NZ: Colin Fox, Member of the Scottish Parliament, is touring New Zealand prior to attending the Alliance Party's national conference at the end of November. Colin Fox is one of six members of the Scottish Socialist Party elected to Scottish Parliament in 2003, and will be talking about the growing mood of activism amongst ordinary people in Scotland and the UK that has the status quo parties worried. The Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) is Scotland's fastest growing and most active political party. The SSP has exciting and radical policies such as free, nutritious school meals for all school children, a fair alternative to council taxes that will make the rich pay their share, opposing council housing sell-offs and public service privatisation, fighting racism, supporting asylum seekers, and opposing the Bush/Blair war in the Middle East. For further information contact Mike Treen, Alliance International Spokesperson, Mobile 021 2547440. Phone 09 3616989, Fax 09 3616991, Email mike.treen@alliance.org.nz

Saturday, December 6, 8:00am, 308 Great North Rd. GREEN FUNDRASISER GARAGE SALE. We need Your Stuff for Our GREEN GARAGE SALE Set aside your old books, clothes and bric-a-brac for us! Bring your donation items to the office. Queries: contact Kim 376-4143.

Sunday, December 7, 7pm til late, The Classic Comedy Bar, 321 Queen St. CBD Antidote #5. Auckland Indymedia Doco Screening and Anti-Xmas Party. A FUNdraising evening of alternative political documentaries possibly including clips from: Adbuster anti-ads , Guerrilla News Network, Yes Men, GE docos, locally made "Dear Baghdad" Iraq documentary, Auckland Indymedia retrospective, subversive cartoons and more (tba) - followed by an after party !!! Cost: only $3/$5 - all welcome. This is the fifth and final screening presented By Auckland Indy media for 2003. The Antidote aims to be a regular forum for the exposure of alternative political filmmaking and media art. For more information, contact auckland@indymedia.org.nz. Auckland Indymedia is part of a nationwide network that runs the independent news website, www.indymedia.org.nz

Monday, December 8, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn GPJA FORUM: Auckland - Run for the community or private profit (details later)

Wednesday, December 10, 8.45am, North Shore Magistrates Court, Cnr of Corinthian Drive and Don McKinnon Rd Albany. Please support GPJA supporter Bruce Hubbard. He has been charged with 'Misuse of telephone' Telecommunications Act 1991 because of an email sent to the US Embassy protesting the US war on Iraq..

Wednesday, December 10, 11.30am - 2.30pm, Aotea Square UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS DAY. Laurie Ross has offered to co-ordinate this working under umbrella of Pax Christi as part of the Human Rights Network Trust and the Human Rights Commission. The Human Rights Day Committee is seeking funding or donations and welcomes help to cover costs for the event. This is an ideal opportunity for Schools or Human Rights Community Groups to offer multicultural performances eg. music, dance, artwork, banners, education stalls and speakers. We are eager to have some ethnic food stalls if you wish to fund raise for a particular cause. We also require assistance with promotion and distribution of flyers and would welcome other offers of help. PLEASE CONTACT Laurie Ross email: laurie-ross@xtra.co.nz

Friday, December 12, 7:00pm till late, 308 Great North Rd., Grey Lynn. GPJA'ers are invited to the Green's End of Year Party to help us thank volunteers in the green social justice and political movements. Book it in your diary! Music, food, drinks, friends. See you there.

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