GPJA #80: Climate Change forum this Monday

GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND NEWSLETTER #80, FEBRUARY 4, 2005

Website http://www.gpja.pl.net/ Contact details: Forums - John Minto, (09) 846 3173, jbminto@xtra.co.nz; Newsletter Editor - Mike Treen 027 525 47440 / 3616989 miket@pl.net Web page - bobo@enzyme.org.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,

This Monday's GPJA forum is on Climate Change and Climate Justice. Prior to the forum there is a meeting with Japanese peace activists at the Peace Foundation. (See What's On below for details). The following Monday is the GPJA Organising Committee meeting which is open to anyone who wants to help.

WHAT'S ON IN AUCKLAND

Saturday, February 5, 2pm, Aotea Square, City

THE PAIN GOES ON and ON and ON..... The 4th Year of the second Intifada..... Rally for Justice and Peace in Palestine this Saturday~ based on - 1. End to Israeli Occupation 2. Right of Return to Palestinian Refugees 3. Sharing Jerusalem 4. No Israeli Settlements in Occupied Palestine. Remember to check out our Palestine website.......Its great,great,great www.palestine.org.nz

Saturday, February 5, 12 noon to midnight, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Parnell Tsunami Relief Event: A 12 hour variety event supported by Red Cross and Oxfam. Entry by donation. Hello, hope you can spend some time at this variety event next Saturday, its been organised by two teenagers (and their mums!) at Michael Park School. I'm helping them with publicity, it should be lots of fun, hope to see you there! Tilda (formerly Tracey!) Bostwick, 4-73A Michaels Ave, Ellerslie, Auckland. Telephone: 580 2580 Email: tracey.bostwick@xtra.co.nz

Monday, February 7, 5.30pm, Peace Foundation, 29 Princes St, Auckland. Two Japanese activists Yumi Kikuchi and Gen Morita will be screening part of this new controversial film, and talking about this and the effects of Depleted Uranium Weapons, and about their work with the Global Peace Campaign - "911 In Plane Site". The film, produced by Dave von Kleist, challenges the hitherto accepted version of events around September 11, using video footage to raise questions about whether an airliner hit the Pentagon and postulates that the US government used a cruise missile instead. It also raises questions about whether one of the airliners that flew into the World Trade Centre was a US military aircraft. For more information about the film see www.911inplanesite.com For more information about Yumi and Gen see http://www.awa.or.jp/home/gen/YumiGen.html Yumi & Gen have spent the last 3 weeks or so in Australia, networking with local peace groups, doing radio and TV interviews, and showing the movie 911 In Plane Site, to as many people as possible. For further info contact Wendy John, General Manager, The Peace Foundation/Te Tuapapa Rongomau o Aotearoa, PO Box 4110, Auckland/Tamaki Makau Rau 1020, Aotearoa/New Zealand Ph 09-373-2379, www.peace.net.nz

Monday, February 7, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn GPJA FORUM: "Climate Change and Climate Justice" Climate Change is the biggest threat that we have ever seen. It threatens to push 1/3 of the worlds remaining species to extinction, cause irreversible destruction of fragile ecosystems, the creation of 120 million environmental refugees with many of the worst effects being felt in the poorest countries where people are already on the edge of survival. Climate change is a direct result of the economic domination of over-developed countries interests and transnational corporations. 'Climate justice’ seeks solutions that address structural inequalities and recognise the historical responsibility of the rich nations for the problem. The Kyoto protocol and our governments 'answers' to climate change fail these requirements. Rising Tide is an international grassroots network of independent groups and individuals committed to taking action and building a movement against climate change.

Thursday, February 10, 6pm, St Columba Centre, Vermont St, Ponsonby The Annual General Meeting of the Human Rights Commission of Aotearoa New Zealand. Guest Speaker: Former Court of Appeal Justice Ted Thomas. "Human Rights and the Courts: Interpretation or Legislation?" Drinks and nibbles from 5:30pm.

Saturday, February 12, 8pm, Titirangi Folk Club (in the Hall at the end of Titirangi Beach Rd.) Flaky Jake (a.k.a. Flakito): Traveller's Tales. Recently returned from two years in Colombia as a volunteer with Peace Brigades International, musician Flaky Jake has travelled widely in North America, Mexico and Europe, playing his danceable blend of world music and livening up festivals, parties, music venues or the streets, whether with a band or with his unique one-man-band setup, based around the accordion. With a mixture of well-known songs, rare gems gleaned from his travels, and his own compositions, Flaky Jake weaves stories from his experiences and nurtures an atmosphere of fun and participation to blur the line between performer and audience. Members $3 Non-members $5.

Monday, February, 14, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn GPJA ORGANISING COMMITTEE. Anyone can come and help. We need more volunteers!

Monday, March 7, 7.30, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn International Womens Day Forum: "The Poverty of Women and Children": Speakers include Susan St John from the Child Poverty Action Group, and Jill Ovens, from the Campaign for Affordable Housing.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

THE AUCKLAND INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY (IWD) COMMITTEE is organising for an event on March 8th, building on very successful events over the past few years. In 2003 over 500 women and men attending from a wide range of organizations, worksites and ethnic groups took part in a rally and march. Last year a similar event was held, with one of the main themes being pay equity -linking up with the Nurses Organisation's campaign. This year we are planning another rally at the Queen Street side of Aotea Square, Central Auckland at 5:30pm. The central theme this year is "Stand up for our rights", with an emphasis on: Pay equity - focusing on low paid women; Benefits and social needs - highlighting how the cuts of 1991 are still hurting and calling for more spending on social needs; The housing problem - specifically how it is affecting women and children; Opposition to the war on terror and repressive legislation being introduced in New Zealand. We are also hosting a forum on the poverty of women and children, on March 7, 7.30pm at the Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn. Speakers include Susan St John from the Child Poverty Action Group, and Jill Ovens, from the Campaign for Affordable Housing. The IWD Committee would like to extend the invitation of involvement and/or support to your union or organisation. Organising meetings are being held Sundays 5pm at 2Conway Rd, Mt Eden. If you wish to send a representative and want more details please contact me on (09) 8340604. If you could contribute financially that would be greatly welcomed e.g. $50, $100 or even $20. Cheques should be made payable to "International Women's Day Committee" and posted to: International Women's Day Committee, c/- 50 Aroha Ave Sandringham, Auckland. We are also asking organizations to officially endorse the International Women's Day event, so if you would like to do this, please contact me. If you are able to distribute posters and leaflets at your office, or members' worksites or community centres, please let us know as soon as possible. Inclusion in any February newsletters, publications or websites would be appreciated, and an insert/leaflet is available that can be edited to the required space. On March 8th please bring your organisation's banner or signs/placards. Regards, Janet Bogle, Auckland IWD Committee

"MANUFACTURING CONSENT": COMMUNITY EDUCATION COURSE -- Democracy requires that people have free access to information. How well do the media perform & what role do they play in a capitalist democracy? Discover how our consent is manufactured, how to combat indoctrination, and how to organise to participate in the democratic process. Based around Noam Chomsky's 'Manufacturing Consent', and 'Necessary Illusions', this is a course to make you think! Tutor: Aaron Skudder. 1131 - Tue 22 February 7-9pm; 3131-Tue 9 August 7-9pm. 4 Sessions. $30. Information about the course and community education is available from http://www.learn4life.co.nz/2005generalinterest.htm Could you let people know about this course. If anyone is interested they should contact Northcote college community education for more information. Kind regards, Aaron Skudder, Radio Chomsky. www.radiochomsky.com

Kia ora, My name is Petrina Morunga, I am in the early stages of researching a DOCUMENTARY ON THE LEGISLATIVE TRACK RECORD OF THE NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT REGARDING MAORI LAND RIGHTS. The documentary "Legislation is Theft" (working title) will show how the NZ government purposefully formed legislation to take land and power away from Tangata Whenua and how that course of action continues with the enactment of the Seabed and Foreshore Act. I'd be interested in hearing your ideas on these issues, and also about other people who you think may be interested in this sort of project. Below is a summary of the guiding points to this documentary:

The debate around the Seabed and Foreshore legislation highlights how issues of Maori rights and the Treaty of Waitangi polarise opinion, especially as Maori rights are portrayed as being in conflict with the rights of the wider New Zealand population.

The truth of how New Zealand governments used legislation throughout the 19th and 20th centuries to blatantly take land away from Maori is a matter of public record, but, it is not something the wider New Zealand public is generally aware of, or even seems to care about.

We often hear that its all history and has nothing to do with modern life. Is this attitude part of the reason that in the new century the New Zealand government can take from Maori yet again?

The aim of this documentary, Legislation is Theft, is to provoke an informed debate on the complex and emotional issues that are involved in Maori Land Rights. I am looking for people who would be interested in contributing to this project. People who are active in the Tino Rangatiratanga movement. People with good knowledge of NZ legislation. People who have opinions, thoughts, feelings on these issues. Please email me at maranga_mai@yahoo.co.nz. Thank you for any assistance you can give, Petrina Morunga

REVOLUTIONARY PYJAMA PARTY - March the 5th and 6th, at Kotare, Wellsford. - A night and day of social activist themed doco's, covering movements such as anti-globalisation, the Ngawha protest, environmental activism, the media, culture jamming, civil disobedience and more. Please get in touch with Mandi at Kotare Trust if you are interested in coming (asap - limited spaces) - write to us at 510 Wayby Station Rd, RD 2, Wellsford or phone (09) 423 9228 or email kotare.trust@xtra.co.nz. Also - Kotare's beautiful venue at Hoteo North in Wellsford is available for hire (depending on activity). Please get in touch with Mandi at Kotare Trust if you are interested. Kim Mazur, for Auckland Green Party MPs Keith Locke and Nandor Tanczos, P.O. Box 1553, Auckland, Ph. 09-361-5925 Fax 09-361-5926. greenmps.auckland@greens.org.nz www.greens.org.nz

Hi everyone, the www.venezuelasolidarity.org website is off the ground and running. The news links are automatically updated at least twice a day. the other sections are being updated daily, with new resources, links and other features coming online everyday! All the latest info on the brigade to venezuela this July will be on the site - including a weblog of the trip the Roberto Jorquera is taking to Venezuela next month to organise the brigade. any questions or suggestions please email me thanks heaps for your support jorge jorquera

Dear friends, we would be grateful if you could help us to advertise the following position for our COOL SCHOOLS PROGRAMME. ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT. Permanent, part-time position available with not-for-profit educational organisation in CBD. 15 hours per week. Good computer and organisational skills required, and high level of English and communication skills. Applications close on 4th February. Apply in writing to The Peace Foundation, PO Box 4110, Auckland 1, or . Enquiries to 09-373-2379. With thanks and kind regards, Wendy John, General Manager, The Peace Foundation/Te Tuapapa Rongomau o Aotearoa, PO Box 4110, Auckland/Tamaki Makau Rau 1020, Ph 09-373-2379. www.peace.net.nz

FIELD OFFICER: ASSOCIATION OF STAFF IN TERTIARY EDUCATION ASTE TE HAU TAKITINI O AOTEAROA. We are seeking to appoint a full time field officer based in Auckland who will have responsibility for organising, recruiting, negotiating collective agreements, dealing with disputes and grievance work in polytechnics, universities, whare wananga and private training establishments. Travel will be required. We are an education union committed to employment equity and Te Tiriti o Waitangi and a similar commitment will be expected from the appointee.You will have: a permanent position; a car for work purposes; excellent conditions of service. For a copy of the job description phone or email Muriel Fisher on (04) 8015098, email muriel@aste.ac.nz or refer to our website http://www.aste.ac.nz. Applications for the position should be in writing, supported by two referees statements and addressed to: The National Secretary, PO Box 27 141, WELLINGTON. Applications close at 5:00 pm on Thursday 03 February 2005. Sharn Riggs, NATIONAL SECRETARY, ASTE Te Hau Takitini o Aotearoa 04 801 5098. www.aste.ac.nz

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ENDS

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