Global Peace And Justice Auckland Newsletter #81, February 21, 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,

GPJA is asking people to support a protest this Saturday 2pm at Mt Eden Remand Prison to protest the imprisonment and pending deportation of Thomas Hossein Yadegary, an Iranian asylum seeker. The following appeal has been issued on his behalf by a support group in Auckland working with the International Organisation of Iranian Refugees. A photo of Thomas with Bill Clinton (when he stayed at a hotel Thomas worked at) can be viewed at http://www.gpja.pl.net/images/picturewithbill.jpg

FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE AND FREEDOM Thomas Hossein Yadegary is an Iranian man who has been in New Zealand for about twelve years. He came to this country as a political asylum seeker in 1993 and asked for help from our government. He worked all these years and paid his taxes and now this is the way this government is paying him back! Over these years he has spent over $60,000 on legal fees in order to gain residency, only to find the doors of a free life in New Zealand closed on him after all this time. He waited all twelve years and yet there was no answer. All his applications have been declined and now he has been put in prison to be deported back to Iran. He has been in prison from 1 November 2004. Thomas became Christian and accepted Jesus in his heart in 1997. This is an unforgivable crime under the Islamic Law in Iran and it is punishable by death. If he ever sent back to Iran he will be executed because he committed apostasy. It is time to release Thomas. Thomas is not a criminal. All he ever wanted to do was to live in peace and freedom. He has never been a harmful person or a danger to society. He has the right to live freely as a human being. Deportation will bring dire consequences for him. Please support Thomas Hossein Yadegary by participating in a protest in front of the Mt. Eden Remand Prison on 26 February 2005 from 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm. Your support is vital If you have any questions or would like any more information please contact one of these numbers: 1.Edrian King 09-8176398 or 0211598157; 2.Homeira/Shahin 09-8324531 or 021 533899; 3.Vahid 021 447544; 4.Sohail: 021 1835468 5. Fax Number: 09 - 5781018. Also you can get more information in Farsi on this website: http://www.bimarz.net

WHAT'S ON IN AUCKLAND

Saturday, February 26, 2-4pm, Mt Eden Remand Prison PROTEST DEPORTATION OF IRANIAN REFUGEE.

Wednesday, March 2, 6.30pm, St Columba Centre, 40 Vermont Street, Ponsonby UN Association AGM: Keynote Address, Fadela Novak, Refugees, New Zealand and the UNHCRFadela Novak, a French-Moroccan born New Zealand citizen, manages the Refugee Status Branch-Department of Labour, the branch dealing with claims from asylum seekers in New Zealand. Fadela has a Masters degree in refugee studies and managed a non-governmental organisation assisting refugees in the Czech Republic in the 1990s. The presentation will cover the 1951 Geneva Convention on refugees and what makes a person a refugee, before looking at the current world trends and the situation in New Zealand. The presentation will also cover the partnership between New Zealand and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

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. Plus NAOMI KLEIN's movie on factory occupations in Argentina.

Tuesday, March 8, 7.30am, UNIFEM BREAKFAST TO CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY 2005. Guest speaker is Sandra Alofivae- a senior family law practitioner of Samoan descent who specializes in children and youth issues. She has wide-ranging experience working in the community and voluntary sector with a particular focus on education for families and communities and has an extensive knowledge of family structures and the critical issues for Pacific families. Sandra is a Youth Advocate who in October 2003 was appointed as one of two Manukau Advocates for Children and Youth ( this is different - a collaborative venture between Manukau City Council, Child Youth & Family and Work & Income New Zealand ). In 2004, Sandra was appointed a Family Commissioner which brings with it responsibilities for in-depth consideration of issues that impact on families at a national level. She has a most interesting story to tell as she speaks to: "Facing Challenges, Celebrating Achievements" For more information contact: Diana Asdollah-zadeh, President, UNIFEM Auckland Regional Committee. If you need more information, or would like a hard copy of the invitation, please contact either of us - my email is: dianazadeh@paradise.net.nz Beverley's e-mail is beverleyturner@nznet.gen.nz.

Tuesday, March 8, 5.30pm, Aotea Square, Queen St INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY RALLY. 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; Stop violence against women and children. The band "The Coolies " will be playing. The event is supported by the EPMU (Engineers Union) , the Service and Food Workers Union, and the Waitakere branch of UNITE! Organising meetings are being held Sundays 5pm at 2 Conway Rd, Mt Eden. If you want more details please contact me on (09) 846 6494. 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

ANOUNCEMENTS

The OVERSEAS INVESTMENT BILL has been referred to the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee. February 28 is the deadline for submissions. So, please get your submissions off to that Committee ASAP. All relevant details are on our Website. Go to http://www.cafca.org.nz and you will find a whole section on the Overseas Investment Bill. There are links to the Bill itself and the official papers on the Treasury site; a CAFCA leaflet about it; a model submission of opposition to it; several articles about it from recent issues of Foreign Control Watchdog; and two speeches opposing the Bill, from a December Christchurch public meeting. CAFCA has produced two postcards (one to be sent to Michael Cullen, the other to an MP of your choice) protesting the Bill and demanding its withdrawal and replacement by a law which strengthens rather than weakens NZ's foreign investment regime. The text is identical on each. No stamps are required, because postage is free to Ministers and MPs at Parliament. We urge you to help us distribute these as widely as possible, so that Cullen and all the other MPs get the message. If your organisation has a mailout coming up and would like to include one or both of these cards, let us know. If you're ordering more than 100, a koha would be appreciated to help us defray costs (make cheques to CAFCA at the below postal address). Plus we have available hard copies of our regularly updated leaflet on the Bill. The same offer applies. The only difference is that the leaflet can also be downloaded from our Website http://www.cafca.org.nz

PROTEST AGAINST SPIES AND SPY BASES, WELLINGTON, EASTER, SATURDAY MARCH 26, SUNDAY 27. The Anti-Bases Campaign (ABC) is organising something a little different after many years of protests at the Waihopai spybase, in Marlborough. It has decided to focus attention instead on Wellington. Why? (a) because it is home to the headquarters of the NZ Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB), New Zealand's biggest and most secret spy agency. The GCSB operates the Waihopai and Tangimoana spybases on behalf of the foreign powers grouped together in the super-secret UKUSA Agreement (which shares global electronic and signals intelligence among the intelligence agencies of the US, UK, Canada, Australia and NZ). (b) because Wellington is the diplomatic and political capital of New Zealand. It is in Wellington, not the Waihopai Valley or Blenheim, where control of New Zealands intelligence agencies and foreign policy resides. There is a whole "Secret Wellington" to be explored and exposed. It is a secret world ranging from the HQ of the Security Intelligence Service, NZ's best known spy agency, to the embassies and high commissions of our Big Brothers, such as the US, UK and Australia. (c) because it is the closest main city to the "forgotten" Tangimoana spybase. Details about Tangimoana can be found on the ABC Website at: http://www.converge.org.nz/abc/otherbases.html The programme for the weekend is as follows: SATURDAY MARCH 26 Seminar, St Johns Presbyterian Church, corner of Willis and Dixon Streets. 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Bus tour of 'Secret Wellington' - with expert guides 1:45 p.m - 5 p.m. SUNDAY MARCH 27 Trip to Tangimoana spybase. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. The weekend will cost $30 waged (or $15 unwaged). Registration includes a seat on the bus for both trips. For further details and an e-registration form e-mail cafca@chch.planet.org.nz Please register EARLY.

REVIEW OF THE TERRORISM SUPPRESSION ACT "There is also a danger that, by its very nature, a concern for national security may bring forth measures that are not objectively justified. Sometimes, of course, as with the Reichstag fire, national security can be used as a pretext for repressive measures that are really taken for other reasons." Lord Roger http://www.greens.org.nz/searchdocs/speech8300.html

ANTHONY RAVLICH: COMPLAINING TO THE UN - At the United Nations New Zealand maintained its distance from the American camp which is opposed to a complaints procedure (Optional Protocol) for those suffering serious social injustices i.e. violations of economic, social and cultural rights. See... UN Divided Over Complaints for Social Injustices http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0502/S00125.htm

REVIEW: Mekim Nius: South Pacific Media , Politics and Education By David Robie http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2005/January/01-13-rev.htm

SNAP! #19 out NOW! - Anti-Rebel Protest - Cars versus Bikes - Who'll own the ownership society http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0502/S00112.htm

POINTSEVEN CAMPAIGN AND PETITION. For information on the pointseven Campaign see:http://www.cid.org.nz/advocacy/point-seven.html. You can also download a PDF copy of their petition from there - or contact them or tim.hannah@parliament.govt.nz if you would like hardcopies to be sent to you. The Council for International Development would like signed petition forms to be with them by 31 March 2005 - so get onto it.

VENUE FOR HIRE - Kotare Trust has a beautiful venue for hire in Wellsford. For activities such as civil union ceremonies, kaupapa reviews, teambuilding / strategic planning - It's a great place for reflection, uninterrupted strategizing and celebration. Set on farmland, accommodates up to 22 people. Catering and facilitation assistance by arrangement. Reasonable rates. Inquiries to Kotare (09) 423 9228 or kotare.trust@xtra.co.nz

"THE WAR ON TERROR" - LEARNING MODULE/UNIT FOR SECONDARY STUDENTS. This resource includes a student text with comprehension questions and learning activities, supplementary readings and teacher's guide. The module gives a brief overview on the history of terrorism and critically examines the current US-led "War on Terror." Questions are raised, such as: "Who's winning the war on terror?" "Has the Bush Doctrine made the world safer?" "Torture: who gave the orders?" "Is this a 'war without end?'" Suitable for Year 9-13 students in Social Sciences. If interested in accessing this free teaching/learning resource email to: jpldcm@yahoo.com

ASIA PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY CONFERENCE MARCH 24-28, 2005 Ashfield Boys High School, Sydney, Australia http://www.apsc.net.au/ Only 8 weeks to go - register now! Registrations: email apisc2005_kirazj@g... or ring Max or Kiraz on +61 2 9690 1230. See http://www.apsc.net.au for registrations costs and other information. New confirmations of international guests! GERMANY: The Party of Democratic Socialism in Germany has confirmed that one of its leaders in the German parliament, Petra Pau, will be attending and speaking at APISC. Petra Pau is a leading campaigner in Germany on refugee rights and will speak on one of the feature panel: Walling out the poor: the struggle for an end to immigration oppression. WEST PAPUA: The chairperson of the National Student Front of Papua, Hendrik Sorondanya, will also be attending throughout the conference. VENEZUELA: An activist from the peoples power movement. Themes for plenary and major sessions include: . The social tsunami: global capitalism and the Third World . Iraq, Palestine, the Middle East and the future of the American Empire . The global economy: its crisis and the dynamics of who bears the burdens . Rebuilding the anti-war movement . Venezuela and the rise of popular power in Latin America . Vietnam: 60 years on - building socialism in a neo-liberal world. . The environment and global capitalism . Walling out the poor: the struggle for an end to immigration oppression. There will also be around 100 workshops. There will be speakers from 20 countries, including: Stan Goff, USA, Former Special Operations soldier, now campaigner and writer against the war in Iraq; Dita Sari - INDONESIA Labour leader, former political prisoner and anti-globalisation campaigner; Raihan Dyani - ACEH Women's movement and democratic rights campaigner; Avelino da Silva, EAST TIMOR Freedom fighter under Suharto, now leader of the Socialist Party of Timor; Hendrik Sorandanya, WEST PAPUA Chairperson, Papuan National Student Front; Sonny Melencio, PHILIPPINES Imprisoned and tortured under dictator Marcos, political leader of labour in the Philippines; Farooq Tariq, PAKISTAN Founder of the Labour Party of Pakistan; Matt McCarten, NEW ZEALAND Campaign coordinator, Maori Party; Ram Seegobin, MAURITIUS Leader of LALIT, socialist opposition in Mauritius; Ali Kazak, PALESTINE Head of the Palestinian delegation to Australia. For a full list of speakers, and to find out about the latest updates to the agenda, visit http://www.apsc.net.au

VENEZUELA ... SEE PEOPLE'S POWER IN ACTION -1ST INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY BRIGADE FROM AUSTRALIA (JULY26 - AUG13, 2005). Across Latin America the struggle for change continues to deepen - and nowhere is this phenomenon more evident than in Venezuela. After decades of harsh economic policies and poverty on the rise, people across Latin America are developing a real alternative to the neo-liberal policies imposed upon them. Social movements are clamouring for social justice and people's rights - including the right to share in the natural wealth of the nation. In Venezuela these movements came to the forefront with the election of Hugo Chavez in 1998. But much turmoil has unfolded since then. The Venezuela Solidarity Network (Australia) would like to invite you to travel to Venezuela to explore recent events and the future of the Bolivarian process. Cost: Aprox. A$4000 (including airfare). How to Register: We must receive your application and Brigade registration fee (Students $150 and Workers $300) by May 31. Payment can be made to the Venezuela Solidarity Network Brigade. Contact Fred on (02) 9690 1230 or Jorge on 0425 237 285 or email Brigade@VenezuelaSolidarity.org

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U.S. INTERVENTION IN THE MIDDLE EAST: A list of the invasions, bombings, assassinations, coups and other interventions by the U.S. government, its allies, or its client states, nor does it fully document the U.S.'s economic domination and exploitation of the region's people and resources. http://207.44.245.159/article6308.htm

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VIDEO OUTFOXED: Outfoxed examines how media empires, led by Rupert Murdoch's Fox News, have been running a "race to the bottom" in television news. This film provides an in-depth look at Fox News and the dangers of ever-enlarging corporations taking control of the public's right to know. http://207.44.245.159/article7798.htm HIJACKING CATASTROPHE: Hijacking Catastrophe is powerful, understated, straightforward and educational. In a single meticulously organized hour of evidence and analysis, viewers are treated to a thoughtful explanation of modern American empire, neo-conservatism as a driving force for the current Bush administration. http://207.44.245.159/article6895.htm

Mike

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