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 / 09 845 4027 miket@pl.net Web page - bobo@enzyme.org.nz Donations can be sent to GPJA, 6a Western Springs Rd, Auckland. All communication regarding the GPJA mailing list (email or snail) should be addressed to gpja@xtra.co.nz

Dear friends,

A reminder for the GPJA Forum this Monday May 2 showing the hit documentary "Control Room" about the Arabic news service "Al Jazeera". It has been a smash hit internationally (see "What's On" below.) On Wednesday Students have the opportunity to see the Great Venezuelan doco "the Revolution will not be televised" (see "What's On" below).

ANNOUNCEMENTS

HUMAN RIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL Tickets on Sale Now!! Hi everyone, after months of planning and the sourcing of ground-breaking films from all over the world, tickets are now on sale for the inaugural Human Rights Film Festival in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington in May. Our website is fully live with all the details about the exciting films selected for screenings in the festival. You're welcome to download the electronic version of the programme directly from http://www.humanrightsfilmfest.net.nz or pick up a hard copy of the programme from the cinemas and other usual outlets. The films feature ordinary people and extraordinary stories. Highlights include the radical, entertaining Resistencia: Hip-Hop in Colombia, the global street battles of The Fourth World War, the independence struggles of West Papua and Aceh, the film the Singapore Government didn't want you to see, Singapore Rebel, the visually stunning Shipbreakers and many more inspiring and thought-provoking documentaries from around the globe. There are also high profile dramas including British director Ken Loach's Bread and Roses (starring Adrien Brody, lead actor in Peter Jackson's King Kong); and the newly released, compelling fictional account of the September 11 hijackers, Hamburg Cell produced by New Zealander Finola Dwyer. Phone the cinemas direct to make your bookings now! HUMAN RIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL May 12-19 Academy Cinema Auckland (09) 3732761; May 13-15 Regent on Worcester Christchurch (03) 366 0140; May 25-June 1 The Paramount Wellington (04) 384 4080. If you'd like to help us distribute posters or programmes, or want to pick some up to distribute to your friends and colleagues, please contact us at: Auckland@humanrightsfilmfest.net.nz Wellington@humanrightsfilmfest.net.nz Christchurch@humanrightsfilmfest.net.nz The Human Rights Film Festival is the initiative of the Human Rights Network of Aotearoa New Zealand, an independent, non-partisan, non-government organisation formed in 2000 to share information about human rights across New Zealand

WHAT'S ON IN AUCKLAND

Monday, May 2, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 new North Rd, Grey Lynn GPJA Forum: Special Screening of "Al Jazeera" - a documentary of the independent Arab news service whose facilities and journalists have been targeted by US occupation forces in both Iraq and Afghanistan."A documentary about the most-watched Arab news station al-Jazeera has broken box office records in its first week's showing in New York. BBC Report: "The film, Control Room, shows how al-Jazeera's journalists covered the Iraq war. Its success indicates the interest some Americans have in finding out more about a TV station that has been heavily criticised by the Bush administration. To many in the US, like Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, it is a fount of anti-American propaganda and even a mouthpiece for Osama Bin Laden. The controversy over its role has made the release in America of a documentary about al-Jazeera an event. In its opening weekend at the prestigious Film Forum Cinema in New York, every performance was sold out. Film-maker Jehane Nougaim followed al-Jazeera during the war. The influential political and cultural website, Salon.com, is predicting that Control Room will be the summer smash hit documentary. The film, directed by the Arab-American documentary maker Jehane Nougaim, depicts al-Jazeera as a serious, professional organisation that just happens to approach the news from a different perspective to American networks."

Monday, May 2, 7.30pm, New Lynn Community Centre, Totara Ave, New Lynn. Parking at rear Public meeting on Peak Oil & Climate Change. Jeanette Fitzsimons, Green Party, Co-Leader Presents: "Peak Oil & Climate Change: How will Auckland cope?" For further info contact: Lindis capper-Starr 376-4143, greenmps.auckland@greens.org.nz or visit http://www.greens.org.nz/events

Wednesday, May 4, 11am-1pm, AUSA Clubspace, Level 1, Student Union Building, Auckland University. MEETING ABOUT WORLD FESTIVAL OF YOUTH AND STUDENTS. This August 7-15, thousands of young people from across the globe will meet in Caracas, Venezuela, for the 16th World Festival of Youth and Students. Workers, students, and others will gather around the political theme of the event: "For peace and solidarity; We struggle against imperialism and war!" A delegation will be going from New Zealand to this festival. Come and find out more about the festival at this meeting. Speakers and showing of video "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised", about how an attempted military coup in Venezuela was defeated. Phone Morgan at AUSA 309-0789 ext. 243, or email nzwfys@yahoo.com.au.

Saturday, May 7, University of Auckland, Engineering School, Lecture theatre 1.401 on Symonds Street Attention teachers and high school students. The Auckland branch of the United Nations Youth Association of New Zealand (UNYANZ) will be running a model United Nations Assembly for high school students on the 7th of May. The Model UN provides young people an opportunity to research, relate to, and represent a member country of the United Nations General Assembly. It will also encourage students to engage in active negotiation and alliance-formation. Mostly, the MUN is an enjoyable and fun event which allows young people to become familiar with issues of international concern. The fee for the day (which includes lunch and afternoon tea) is $17.50 for UNYANZ members and $27.50 for non-members (includes year long membership to UNYANZ). For more information and registration forms see the MUN page on the UNYANZ website or email aucklandmun@unyanz.co.nz http://www.unyanz.co.nz Monday, May 9, 7pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn INDIA: TRIBAL PEOPLE DISPLACED FOR A "NATIONAL PARK" Sheela Ramanathan is a Human Rights lawyer in India. She is in Auckland speaking on the repression and displacement of tribal people in southern India in the name of making a National Park. Hear how the state forces are carrying out cold blooded killings in the "biggest democracy" in the world. Sheela is also a guest speaker at the Workers Resistance 2005 conference in Christchurch, where she is speaking on the struggles of the working class in India. ANTI-CAPITALIST ALLIANCE 0211867450

Tuesday, May 10 to Saturday May 14, 8pm, Heritage Auckland, 35 Hobson St, Central City HERITAGE 101 - A CONTRIBUTION TO THE DISCUSSION ON NATIONHOOD. WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY MICHELE A'COURT Book at Ticketek: (09) 307 5000. Free Admission to Anyone Born in 1961. Award-winning comedian, Michele A'Court, presents a one-hour comedic lecture about what it means to be a New Zealander, who belongs here, and how we define ourselves. "[There is a] dangerous drift towards racial separatism in NZ…The principles of the Treaty are the thin end of a wedge leading to a racially divided state…" - Don Brash, Speech to the Orewa Rotary Club, 27.1.04 "Maori are unique [in relation to] the other people who have come to this land, in that unlike them, we have no other country that we can claim as our homeland." - Tariana Turia, in a letter to M. A'Court, 2.11.04 New Zealand's official baby boom year was 1961. These "Sixty-Oners" have been the subject of considerable research - who they are, their achievements, their expectations, and their needs. As it happens, Michele A'Court was born in 1961. The past 12 months have seen the beginning of a discussion on Kiwi nationhood - who has the right to be called "indigenous", whether government policy is based on need or race, who should own our beaches, and whether race matters. As it happens, Michele A'Court is Pakeha. Her daughter is Maori. Through stories, pictures and comedy, "Heritage 101" paints a picture of what it is like to be a Kiwi Baby-Boomer, what "home" means, what makes us different from the rest of the world - and each other - and what makes us the same. There will be hand-outs, slides, prizes, awards, and an opportunity for Q&A. Feel free to take notes. Book early and often - three shows only in Wellington, and a tiny venue in Auckland. Michele is giving a free ticket to anyone, like her, born in 1961. Just bring a Driver's Licence or passport. Potential free guests include: Peter Jackson, Ahmed Zaoui, George Clooney, kd lang, Meg Ryan, Eddie Murphy and Fabio. And some of them have already booked. For further information, contact Michele on: a.court@xtra.co.nz 027 296 5370

Saturday, May 11, 11.30am, Foodtown corner, Opp. Tinley St. and Quay St. Corner. CATERPILLAR PROTEST: Caterrpillar sells its specially designed armoured bulldozers and earthmoving equipment to Israel where it is used illegally in occupied Palestine to kill people( like Rachel Corrie in March 2003), destroy homes, build roads and construct settlements and the evil Apartheid Wall - all considered war crimes under the Geneva Convention. Israel should not be there nor should Caterpillar allow its equipment to used illegally. Afterwards join in the monthly rally --NOTE-- change of venue. Now at Q.E.11 SQUARE (at the HARBOUR END of Queen St.Auck.), 2pm Sat. 7th MAY 2005. The 4th Year of the second Intifada..... Rally for Justice and Peace in Palestine. Demand: 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

Thursday, May 12-19, Academy Cinema, City HUMAN RIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL: Our exciting programme includes the 2005 Academy Award winning documentary, Born into Brothels, the radical, entertaining Resistencia - Hip Hop in Colombia, and some of the finest documentaries currently touring the globe. Further highlights include high profile British director Ken Loach's dramatic feature, Bread and Roses starring Adrien Brody (currently in New Zealand filming King Kong); and the controversial study of the September 11 hijackers, Hamburg Cell, produced by New Zealander Finola Dwyer. The full programme for each centre is on the website http://www.humanrightsfilmfest.net.nz

Sunday, May 22, 12 noon till 3.30 pm, Trades Hall , 147 Great North Rd Grey Lynn. Unite, Waitemata branch , is holding a teach-in and organising- for -action public meeting about benefit cuts All welcome, including beneficiaries, paid workers, and union members Refreshments Available. Please bring a plate if possible and a koha for the hall hire. Contact : Keith 8369104. or email: janetbogle@hotmail.com

BEST ON THE WEB

NEW ZEALAND Day to remember dead workers http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0504/S00310.htm

VENEZUELA Chávez Launches "Anti-Hegemonic" Media Campaign http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0504/S00438.htm Cuban, Venezuelan Leaders Woo Latin American Nations to Trade Pact Minus U.S. Leadership: U.S. officials have expressed alarm over the deepening alliance between Castro and Chavez, saying that Venezuela has become increasingly authoritarian as it tightens its links to communist Cuba. http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBHXKFF48E.html Chavez has US running scared over rise of Left: America is showing increasing signs of alarm at the influence of Hugo Chavez, the firebrand Leftist president of Venezuela who has eclipsed Fidel Castro as Washington's regional bogeyman. http://snipurl.com/ekff Will Colombia Be the Proxy in a US Attack on Venezuela?: The U.S. is gearing up its rhetoric against Venezuela again as Condaleeza Rice barnstorms through Latin America -- and there are subtle indications that the U.S. may be ready to increase Colombia's role in undermining the government of Hugo Chavez. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article8701.htm Washington Beating War Drums - Act Now, Defend The Venezuelan Revolution! : This renewed campaign against the Venezuelan revolution represents a serious threat, which the world labour movement will neglect at its peril. In all previous occasions in which this kind of language has been used, it has always been the preparation for military intervention. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article8702.htm

Latin America In Revolt: Continent Defies USA http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0504/S00278.htm

IRAQ Why an Iraqi deaths estimate was Ignored http://www.cjr.org/issues/2005/2/voices-guterman.asp?printerfriendly=yes This is our Guernica: Ruined, cordoned Falluja is emerging as the decade's monument to brutality Refugees told one of us that civilians carrying white flags were gunned down by American soldiers. Corpses were tied to US tanks and paraded around like trophies. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article8673.htm

DEPLETED URANIUM Horror Of Depleted Uranium Not Limited To Iraq: The radiation from depleted uranium can travel literally anywhere. It's going to destroy the lives of thousands of children, all over the world. http://www.coastalpost.com/05/04/09.htm

BUSH FAMILY The Bushes are robber barons, not capitalists: It's simply the way the Bush boys do business, trawling the globe for sweetheart deals and gushers of blood money from the war and terror they foment. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article8699.htm

PALESTINE To boldly go : Haifa University academic Ilan Pappe is one of the few Israelis supporting the university boycott of Israel. Here he explains why http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/news/story/0,9830,1464206,00.html New York Times Minimizes Palestinian Deaths http://www.counterpunch.org/weir04252005.html

UK Thousands die early as poverty gap widens: Thousands of people are dying prematurely in deprived inner cities as the gap between rich and poor in Britain widens. The difference in life expectancy between the poorest and most affluent parts of the country has grown to 11 years and is now more pronounced than in Victorian times, researchers say. http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health_medical/story.jsp?story=634036

Mike

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