GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND NEWSLETTER #91, MAY 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 / 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,

GPJA Organising meeting, Monday May 9, Unite Office, 6a Western Springs Rd, Morningside Anyone who wants to help organising GPJA activities welcome. PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE

Tomorrow (Thursday 5 may) at 6pm, a few students have decided to hold a meeting at AUT WB132, in regards to organizing a "campus-left", student political wing at the AUT campus that will (hopefully) work closely with GPJA on common issues. For further enquiries: Emir Hodzic, noxius@ihug.co.nz 021 552 880

MESSAGES

"ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE": THE WORLD SOCIAL FORUM TODAY - HEAR FOUNDER OF WSF FRI MAY 20

Francisco Whitaker Ferreira, or Chico Whitaker as he is better known both in his home country Brazil and the world over, is a leading social activist and one of the founding figures of the World Social Forum (WSF) --- a movement against capitalist globalisation and neo-liberal economic policies. The first WSF was first organised in 2001 in the city of Porto Alegre in Brazil and, following popular demand has become an annual event attracting tens of thousands of people from around the globe --- a reflection of the growing strength of this movement. Hear him speak at at special GPJA forum co-sponsored by the Working Women's Resource Centre, Friday May 20. (See details in "What's On" below). Extract from an interview on his work: "Well, my basic work these days is as executive secretary of the Brazilian Committee of Justice and Peace, which is an organisation working on human rights issues. While these issues have always been important in the Brazilian context, today they are even more so when peoples' rights, especially those of indigenous peoples, are being trampled upon in the name of neo-liberal economic policies. In earlier days, when Brazil was under military dictatorship and many activists including myself were engaged in opposing the dictatorship, my wife Stella and I were forced to spend 15 years in exile --- 5 years in France and the rest in different parts of Europe. I am associated with the Catholic Church in Brazil and what is popularly known as the "radical theology" movement which holds that true religion, especially Christianity, basically means working for the upliftment of the poor, fighting for their rights and against the exploitation of the have-nots by the haves. I have also been active in the Workers Party (Partido dos Trabalhadores or PT) in Brazil and have even held elected office as Councillor."

http://pd.cpim.org/2002/dec01/12012002_snd.htm

Fair Trade Fortnight 2005! 7th - 21st May. Hundreds of consumers in Aotearoa have been helping producers and workers in the Third World to earn a dignified and sustainable livelihood by choosing Fair Trade. Sales of Fairtrade certified coffee have soared over the last few months as shoppers opt for products which guarantee a better deal for the coffee farmers. Find out more and show your support at some of the great events that are happening around the country during Fair Trade Fortnight 2005. Biggest Morning Tea! Help us to set the record for New Zealand's Biggest Morning Tea ever on Saturday 14th May! Trade Aid shops will shout you Fairtrade tea and coffee between 10am and 12noon or visit one of the other cafes or shops around the country who are taking part in the Biggest Morning Tea. Or hold a Fairtrade coffee morning of your own with your friends or work colleagues. If you are interested in organizing a Fairtrade coffee morning as part of the Biggest Morning Tea, email pennie.stringer@tradeaid.org.nz For complete up-to-date information about Fair Trade Fortnight or to find out more about Fair Trade, visit www.oxfam.org.nz. If you or your organization would like to get involved, email Linda@oxfam.org.nz M Fair Trade Fortnight 2005 is being coordinated by Oxfam, Trade Aid and the Fair Trade Association of Australia and New Zealand, with the support of NZAID.

WHAT'S ON IN AUCKLAND

Thursday, 5 may, 6pm, room WB132, AUT

"AUT left" organising committee meeting. Agenda: to start a student political wing at AUT that will work closely with GPJA and other groups on common issues and interests

Saturday, May 7, 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 Aparthied 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

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 CLICK HERE

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. 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

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 www.humanrightsfilmfest.net.nz

Thursday, May 19, 7.30pm, Parnell Anglican Cathedral, Auckland Friday, May 20, 10am, Auckland University, Auckland

Come and meet Guillermo Vargas Leiton, a coffee farmer from Costa Rica, and find out what Fair Trade means for him and his community. Guillermo will be speaking at the following public venues together with speakers from Oxfam and Trade Aid:

Friday, May 20, 6pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn

Hear WSF founder Chico Whittaker speak on the struglle for human rights and against corporate globalisation

Saturday, May 21, 2pm-5.30pm, Aotea Square, Auckland

Fair Trade Fiesta: Try delicious free Fairtrade coffee, enjoy great music and find out more about Fair Trade at our Fair Trade Fiestas:

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

Monday, June 6, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn

GPJA FORUM: Parasites of Poverty Campaign - This campaign aims for significant changes in the law which will make life easier for people living in low income communities, those in financial difficulty and those with gambling addictions. More broadly it aims for much healthier communities based on "empowering local communities" to decide important issues in the face of poor regulation and unsympathetic governments. HEAR JOHN STANSFIELD, Chief Exec Officer for the Problem Gambling Foundation of NZ, John Minto and others speak.

Winner Of Roger Award For The Worst TransnationaL

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0505/S00014.htm

MAY DAY

Venezuelan workers defend socialism

http://www.venezuelasolidarity.org/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=60

Fidel Castro's May Day Speech

http://www.cuba.cu/gobierno/discursos/2005/ing/f010505i.html

UK

George Galloway: These are Blair's last days - Iraq is our greatest foreign policy calamity in modern history and the reckoning has only just begun

GODZILLA IS BACK

Godzilla vs. the Giant Scissors: Cutting the Antiwar Heart Out of a Classic http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/01/opinion/01sun3.html?ex=1115697600&en=1c1287bf73e632be&ei=5070

WEST PAPUA

George Monbiot: In bed with the killers - BP has a legal right to get a licence from Indonesia to extract gas in West Papua. Its moral case is less clearcut

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Columnists/Column/0,5673,1475243,00.html

Ground Zero-Zero-Zero

Greg Palast Reports From Center Of The World, Ecuador

http://www.gregpalast.com/ecuador.html

Draft U.S. paper allows commanders to seek preemptive nuke strikes

http://asia.news.yahoo.com/050501/kyodo/d89qa7lo0.html

ENDS

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