Global Peace And Justice Auckland Newsletter #115, November 19, 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 mike@unite.org.nz; Web page - bobo@enzyme.org.nz. Donations can be sent
to GPJA, 6a Western Springs Rd, Morningside, Auckland. All communication regarding the GPJA mailing list (email or
snail) should be addressed to gpja@xtra.co.nz
QUOTE OF THE WEEK "Disobedience, in the eyes of anyone who has read history, is man’s original virtue. It is through
disobedience that progress had been made, through disobedience and through rebellion." -- Oscar Wilde - (1854-1900)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
SUPERSIZE MY PAY CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED BY UNITE UNION – HELP NEEDED The scandalously low pay many workers in NZ endure is
being tackled in a special campaign beginning in the fast food industry. After unionizing around 2000 workers in BK,
McDonalds KFC and Pizza Hutt, Unite is calling for a $12 an hour minimum wage, the end of youth rates and secure hours.
At present workers in the industry subsist on the minimum wage of $9.50 an hour (or less if under 18), and have no
guarantee of hours worked in any week. The campaign is taking its message out to the public this weekend at the Grey
Lynn Festival (Sat Nov 26) and Farmers Parade (Sun Nov 27). Unite will have petition forms and stickers for the public
to wear when they go into the many fast food joints and Cafes. If you can help for an hour or two on Saturday come to
the Unite tent in the park. On Sunday we’ll meet in Aotea Square at 12 noon. If you want to help email
simon@unite.org.nz or ph 09 8452132 or 0274 555 789.
GOVT MUST RESIST UK CALL TO SEND NEW TROOPS TO AFGHANISTAN - New Zealand should rebuff British overtures to send a new
counter-insurgency combat force to Afghanistan, Green Party Defence Spokesperson Keith Locke says. “We should be like
France and stick to a strictly peacekeeping role. “New Zealand officers have worked with European peacekeepers in the
International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in and around Kabul. But now the British want to inveigle ISAF nations
into America’s dirty war elsewhere in the country. “New Zealand special forces being engaged under ISAF would be no more
acceptable than their present assignment as part of the American-led Operation Enduring Freedom in the south and east.
We just shouldn’t be part of an American combat operation that is so trigger happy, so lacking in cultural sensitivity
and so mistreats any prisoners it takes. New Zealand will be horribly embarrassed if it comes out that a prisoner
captured by our SAS has been tortured at Guantanamo Bay or in one of the CIA’s gulag prisons in Poland or Romania. We
all want a peaceful, democratic Afghanistan, but the American conduct of the war, as in nearby Iraq, has been
counter-productive and destabilising. New Zealand has held its end up with peacekeeping, aid and reconstruction work,
particularly around Bamian. There is absolutely no need for us to be part of Britain or America’s combat operations in
south and east Afghanistan,” Mr Locke says. See http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1=10355457 http://www.guardian.co.uk/afghanistan/story/0,,1642926,00.html
THE GE INFORMATION BULLETIN - IN THIS ISSUE: Rural NZ Supports GM-free Production; One-fifth Of Human Genes Patented;
Aus: New GM Contamination Confirmed; Harvesters Unhappy GM Protocols Not Established; GE Organisms Out Of Control In
Romania; Disappointing Biotech; GM Crop 'Ruins Fields For 15 Years'; WTO Ruling On EU GMO Laws Delayed; Peruvian Farmers
Move To End Terminator Seeds. http://www.geinfo.org.nz/112005/bulletin39.html Subscribe to the Bulletin, or download a
PDF version of this Bulletin at http://www.GEinfo.org.nz http://www.petitiononline.com/bauen/petition.html
THE INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT CAMPAIGN FOR THE WORKERS OF THE BAUEN HOTEL Dear Friends, The movements of worker-run
businesses in Latin America are growing, creating dignified democratic jobs in the rubble of neoliberalism's ruinous
experiments on that continent. In Caracas recently, the first pan-Latin meeting of recovered companies was a tremendous
success, with 600 workers from 263 companies in eight countries taking the first steps to build an alternative trading
network that will deepen and broaden the power of these new social movements. We are writing you today to ask you to
help save one of the most important sites in this emerging network: the Bauen Hotel in Buenos Aires. The Bauen is a five
star hotel that was abandoned to bankruptcy by its owners, and has been recovered and is now operated by a cooperative
of its workers. It is also the informal living room/meeting place of the movement in Argentina, and as such has been
targeted by right wing politicians in the city legislature of Buenos Aires for eviction. The hotel is now on emergency
footing, with eviction possible within days. At the request of the workers, we're asking you to sign the petition at
http://www.petitiononline.com/bauen/petition.html Naomi Klein, Arundhati Roy, Michael Hardt, Antonio Negri, Michael
Albert, and Avi Lewis have already signed. You can also send emails to President Nestor Kirchner at
privada@presidencia.gov.ar and Anibal Fernandez, the Minister of the Interior at: anibalfernandez@infovia.com.ar
WHAT’S ON IN AUCKLAND
Sunday, November 20, 3pm, St Matthews-In-The-City, Cnr Hobson and Wellesley Streets, Auckland City MEMORIAL SERVICE IN
MEMORY OF ROD DONALD Please distribute as widely as possible through Green friendly networks, or to anyone who may be
interested. Enquiries contact the Green Party in Auckland on 376-4143.
Monday, November 21, 7.30pm, Unite Office, 6a Western Springs Rd, Morningside, Auckland GPJA COMMITTEE MEETING – ALL
VOLUNTEERS/HELPERS WELCOME
Monday, November 21, 5-45pm, Amnesty International office, 145 Nelson Street, central Auckland - Auckland Human Rights
Network meeting; (directions for drivers - drive northwards down Nelson Street, between Union Street and Cook Street,
take small drive on left running parallel downhill off Nelson Street, and proceed to parking beside Amnesty
International office). For more information, or to add items to the agenda, contact email joanmac@pl.net
Monday, November 21, 7.30pm, the Crypt under St Benedict’s Church, 1 St Benedict’s St, Auckland Amnesty International’s
West Auckland group is holding a public meeting about human rights in Burma, “Burma – Land of Orwell”. This will be the
first public speech in NZ by a young activist from the Karen Women’s Organisation, Naw Htoo Paw, who arrived in NZ last
week to do a three-month internship learning about NZ democracy in Phil Goff’s electorate office. The other speakers are
Labour MP Ann Hartley, Green MP Keith Locke, Auckland University politics student Tinmama Oo, and photojournalist Chris
Henderson. We would be very grateful if you could spread the word to anyone who may be interested.
Tuesday, November 22, 9am to 12-30pm, at the Maritime Rescue Centre, 3 Solent St, Mechanics Bay - just off Tamaki Drive
on the waterfront;- Forum TO DISCUSS REPEAL OF SECTION 59 OF THE CRIMES ACT, with addresses by Sue Bradford, MP, 'The
Crimes (Abolition of Force as a Justification for Child Discipline) Amendment Bill and its anticipated progress through
the Select Committee process'; Nicola Taylor, Children's Issues Centre, University of Otago, 'What does repeal mean? A
legal perspective on repeal of s59'; Mereana Ruri, Office of the Children's Commissioner, 'Will parents become criminals
and kids run wild? Overseas experiences with repeal of similar legislation'; Rev Glynn Cardy, Vicar, St
Matthew-in-the-City, 'What does God say? A religious perspective on repeal'; and Beth Wood, UNICEF NZ, 'What do children
say? A children's perspective on repeal; morning tea; and concurrent workshops (Chatham House Rule) on engaging with the
media, the public, MPs, and networks on the subject of repeal; closing session - next steps, where to from here? There
is some free parking in the Marine Rescue Centre car park (drive up to the Marine Rescue building and the parking area
is on the right). Otherwise, there is parking on Tamaki Drive. Free entry, if you are planning on going, please RSVP to
Valerie Serrao, tel (09) 921 9999 x8399 or email valerie.serrao@aut.ac.nz
Friday, November 25, 5.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Road, Grey Lynn The Working Womens Resource Centre invites you
to come to congratulate and celebrate the election of Auckland/Northland Labour and Green Party Members of Parliament.
We will have the pleasure of the company of some Members of Parliament and it will be an opportunity for us all to get
together to enjoy a pre Christmas drink or three, have some nibbles and meet up with old friends. Ros Hiini Organiser
WWRC phone 09 3797906
Sunday, November 27, 6pm, Tom Forde's Bar, Anzac Ave SINN FEIN MP TO TOUR NZ - Bairbre de Brún is MEP for the Six
Counties and the Sinn Féin spokesperson on equality and human rights.
Monday, 28 and Tuesday, 29 November, 9am to 3-45pm both days, at the Avondale Community Centre, 99 Rosebank Road,
Avondale - TREATY OF WAITANGI INTRODUCTORY COURSE: "this 12 hour course by the Manukau Institute of Technology Treaty
Unit will provide you with a basic introduction to the Treaty of Waitangi. At the end of the course, you will be able
to: describe the motivations of the British Crown and the hapu for having a Treaty; compare and contrast meanings of the
articles in the Maori Text and the English Version; outline the history of NZ after 1840 and how breaches of the Treaty
have shaped our society today; and consider the application of Te Tiriti in your own life." From; free of charge to
adult members of the public. "If you want to understand the present you must first understand the past. The
circumstances of today were shaped by the events of yesterday"; for more information tel (09) 828 3302.
Thursday, December 1, 12 noon, Auckland Downtown square corner of Customs St and Queen December 1 is West Papua
Independence Day. But in West Papua those who raise the West Papua flag risk lengthy jail terms or worse. We can use our
freedom to promote theirs. Join us to promote West Papua's rights. IHRC will hold a lunchtime stall and raise the West
Papua flag. December I is also World Aids Day and West Papua is facing an unacknowledged pandemic of HIV/Aids - the most
serious HIV/Aids problem in Indonesia. Contact Maire maire@clear.net.nz
Sunday, December 4, 7.30pm, The Classic Comedy Bar and Theatre, 131 Queen Street, CBD INDYMEDIA (AUCKLAND) PRESENTS THE
ANTIDOTE #14 - An evening of alternative political documentaries 7.45 pm start time for films. $5. Feature Documentary:
MCLIBEL (2005), 85 mins. “Brand” New – released in time for McDonald’s 50th Anniversary earlier this year. Never seen
before in New Zealand. With new material and completely re-edited archival footage, this updating of the David and
Goliath story – ordinary people facing off against the corporate ogre - is the culmination of ten years of filming by
director, Franny Armstrong, and her crew. An example of low to no budget documentary-making at its most successful, the
documentary came together through donated equipment and largely voluntary crew work, and acclaimed film-maker Ken Loach
donated his services to directing the dramatic reconstructions. Aotearoa Indymedia, http://www.indymedia.org.nz/ McLibel
- www.spannerfilms.net/?lid=161 Reviews - http://www.spannerfilms.net/reviews McSpotlight - http://www.mcspotlight.org/
Monday, December 5, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn GPJA FORUM: JANE KELSEY REPORTS BACK FROM WTO
PROTESTS IN HONG KONG. How so-called trade liberalisation and free trade form the agenda of the majopr corporates that
dominate the world economy. How workers in both the first and third work are the ultimate victims.
Tuesday, December 6, 7-30pm, at the St Columba Centre, 40 Vermont Street, Grey Lynn (opposite the Mosque)- 'SWORDS INTO
PLOUGHSHARES: HOW IS LIFE IN ACEH AS THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE TSUNAMI APPROACHES?', your chance to hear two
prominent advocates for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Aceh - Imam Syuja, National Mandate Party MP,
Chairperson of Muhammadiyah in Aceh and the Aceh Task Force; and Hendra Budian, Human Rights Lawyer, Programme Director
Aceh Judicial Monitoring Institute and founder of the Aceh Relief Aid Centre.; organised by the Indonesia Human Rights
Committee, for more information contact tel (09) 815 9000 or email maire@clear.net.nz
Saturday 10 December, 7pm to 9pm, SkyCity Casino, Victoria St, City PARASITES ON POVERTY PROTEST. This protest is the
second public protest of the GPJA "Parasites on Poverty" campaign which is calling for action against pokie machines and
loan sharks. See www.pop.org.nz for more information. Many families are under serious financial pressure in the run up
to XMAS and the casino is ready to exploit their vulnerability. Sky City contains the lion’s share of pokies in Auckland
and has reported a profit of $104 million for the past year. This is money redistributed from the poor to the rich by
the largest community parasite in Auckland. Come along and help develop pressure on poverty, loan sharks and pokies!
BEST ON THE WEB
NEW ZEALAND Kiwi workers backing their Aussie mates today http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0511/S00113.htm CYF staff
should spend time in police cell, say Maori party http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1=10355142 NZ stance on Indigenous issues queried http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0511/S00186.htm Hand and finger
amputations are occurring on an average of more than three times a week in New Zealand workplaces.
http://www.dol.govt.nz/News/Media/2005/amputations.asp
AUSTRALIA Biggest workers' protest in Australian history - More than 600,000 workers rallied and marched in cities
around the country on November 15 in the biggest trade union organised demonstration ever in Australia. They were
protesting the Howard Liberal-National government's draconian anti-union and anti-worker laws which are now before the
federal parliament. http://www.socialist-alliance.org/page.php?page=497
WORLD ENVIRONMENT Fish numbers plummet in warming Pacific; Disappearance of plankton causes unprecedented collapse in
sea and bird life off western US coast http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/article326752.ece Sewage altering fish
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-fish14nov14,0,3080268,full.story We need to stop eating seafood
http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2005/s1490388.htm New Dams Destroying Water Sources and Damaging Economies
http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=9246
UK Corrections and clarifications - The Guardian and Noam Chomsky
http://www.guardian.co.uk/corrections/story/0,,1644017,00.html
WORLD ECONOMY Economists expect sharp recession after real-estate bubble bursts
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/local/sfl-zrealestate12nov12,0,4871892.story?track=mostemailedlink
FRANCE Riots Are a Class Act - And Often They're the Only Alternative - France now accepts the need for social justice.
No petition, peaceful march or letter to an MP could have achieved this http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1114-31.htm
VIETNAM UN report says Vietnam's social progress 'exceptional' http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/649/649p20.htm
KOREA Police fight back South Korea protesters http://www.sciencedaily.com/upi/?feed=TopNews=UPI-1-20051118-07370800-bc-skorea-apec-protest.xml
WAR ON FREEDOM They couldn't take away my dignity' - Four former Guantánamo detainees talk about their experiences
http://www.guardian.co.uk/guantanamo/story/0,13743,1646014,00.html CIA's Harsh Interrogation Techniques Described -
Sources Say Agency's Tactics Lead to Questionable Confessions, Sometimes to Death
http://www.abcnews.go.com/WNT/Investigation/story?id=1322866 Our Monsters In Iraq
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/20051118/our_monsters_in_iraq.php
ISRAEL/PALESTINE Labor Party Leader Shakes Up Israeli Scene
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051118/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_new_man_in_town
Yours, Simon Oosterman