GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND NEWSLETTER #125, February, 2006
Dear friends,
Coming events to watch out for are this Monday’s GPJA Forum at The Classic presenting the Roger Awards, an International
Women’s Day Forum on March 8 and a double action day of March 18 – a march against war and a march/concert for the
supersizemypay.com campaign.
2005 ROGER AWARD WINNER(S) TO BE ANNOUNCED MONDAY MARCH 6, AUCKLAND
The winner(s) of the 2005 Roger Award for the Worst Transnational
Corporation Operating in Aotearoa/New Zealand will be announced on
Monday March 6. It's at the Classic Comedy and Bar, 321 Queen Street, Auckland Doors Open at 7pm. BAR ALSO OPEN. Please
direct all inquiries about the event itself to: John Minto. The event is organised by Global Peace and Justice Auckland.
There are eight finalists, equalling the highest number ever (from 2003). These transnational corporations (TNCs) are
(in no particular order of preference): Telecom, Westpac, Toll, BNZ, Comalco, Guardian Healthcare, Merck Sharp and
Dohme, and British American Tobacco.
Helen Clark is going to the Philippines in a fortnight to attend the Asia/Pacific Interfaith Forum.
SEND A MESSAGE TO HELEN CLARK OVER HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN PHILIPPINES
I suggest that she be bombarded with letters urging her to personally convey to the highest levels of the Philippine
government NZ’s condemnation of the State of Emergency and demand that it be revoked.
Thus far, New Zealand has made no comment on the Philippine situation.
Murray Horton, Secretary, PSNA, Philippines Solidarity Network of
Aotearoa, Box 2450, ChCh
PROTEST EMERGENCY RULE IN THE PHILIPPINES - Early morning on the eve of the 20th year anniversary of the People Power
revolution in the
Philippines, 24 Feb. 2006, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared a State of National Emergency. This declaration
became the mantle of authority for the government and the military to violently disperse all civilian demonstrations
held yesterday in commemoration of the 1986 People Power revolution. Arrests without warrants of demonstrators, trade
unionists, political activists, and opposition legislators were conducted by the police and the military within 24 hours
of the issuance of the state of emergency. An opposition daily newspaper was also raided and taken over by the
Philippine National Police (PNP) without any legal document to search the premises or any explanation to validate the
take over. Arroyo, upon proclaiming the state of emergency, claims that this empowers her to take over public utilities,
including media corporations, to authorize the military to arrest without warrants and detain opposition leaders whom
she deemed dangerous to public interest.
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY MARCH 8
See “What’s on in Auckland” for forum details.
GLOBAL WOMEN’S STRIKE - END POVERTY AND WAR AGAINST OUR PEOPLE AND OUR PLANET! INVEST IN CARING NOT KILLING!
VENEZUELA: As Chávez announces money for the poorest women, women put forward their demands.
CO-EXISTENCE EXHIBITION, Britomart Heritage Precinct - Behind Britomart Station FREE- 24/7 February 11th - March 5th.
Israel's Raphie Etgar arrives in New Zealand to curate Coexistence, the 44-piece exhibition of giant, thought-provoking
posters featuring compelling images by international artists. Some notable people associated with COEXISTENCE through
their quotes are Nelson Mandela, Jean-Paul Sartre, the Dalai Lama, Karl Marx, Sigmund Freud, Albert Einstein and John
Lennon. New Zealand works are part of the exhibition.
CORRECTION: NOAM CHOMSKY INTERVIEW ON 95 B FM, Tuesday 28th of March @ 9.10am with Wallace Chapman (breakfast show
host). Approx. 20 Mins.
Topics of discussion focus on Iran, Venezuala and Palestine
THE PALESTINIAN MOVIE "PARADISE NOW" has been nominated for an Oscar at this year's Academy Awards ceremony. Israeli
diplomats and influential people in Hollywood are trying to pressure the organizers of the event to not declare the
movie as coming from "Palestine". See:
So far, more than 11'000 people have signed an online petition supporting the pressure to not only change the
description of the country, but to withdraw the nomination all together. In turn, another online petition has been
started to express support for the decision to nominate "Paradise Now" for the Oscars and to name "Palestine" as the
country. Sign the petition if you believe the event organizers should maintain the description as it is, and forward
this to your friends.
Perhaps it should be "Paradise Now - Occupied Palestine".
PARLIAMENT MUST CONDEMN GUANTANAMO - There is a motion currently before Parliament calling on it to condemn the US
detention camp at Guantanamo Bay and back the European Parliament's call for its closure. So far, the government has
managed to get away with weaseling on the issue, but this will force them to put up or shut up, and either vote for
international law and human rights, or against them. If we want this motion to pass, and for New Zealand to take a stand
against arbitrary detention and torture, we need to make sure our representatives know how we feel on the issue.
The best way is to contact party leaders urging them to vote for it.
Please contact one or more of the following:
Helen Clark
Don Brash
Winston Peters
Pita Sharples
Tariana Turia
Peter Dunne
Rodney Hide
Jim Anderton
(I've left the Greens off because it’s their motion, and they will bevoting for it). Don't let the government weasel any
more. Show them we're watching, and that we care about the positions they take in our name. For further information, see
Idiot/Savant - No Right Turn - New Zealand's liberal blog
WHAT’S ON IN AUCKLAND
Wednesday, March 1, 6.30pm, St Colomba Centre, 40 Vermont Street,
Ponsonby. The AGM for the UNANZ Northern Region Branch in 2006 followed by apresentation and interactive discussion on
Global Futures and the UN led y Gray Southon.
Thursday, March 2 (both meetings)
(1) 1-3pm, McLaurin Chapel, University of Auckland, Princes St
(2) 7.30pm, All Saints Anglican Church, Howick, cnr Selwyn Rd and Cook St.
PEACE ACTIVIST SPEAKS ON PALESTINE: Christina Gibb, a peace activist in her early seventies, originally from Dunedin,
and part of the Christian Peacemakers Team, will be speaking in Auckland in early March. Each year for the past three
years Christina has spent three months in Hebron as part of the peace-making team. Join us to get an update about what’s
happening in Palestine. Christina is a ‘must hear’ for those who know little or a lot about the situation in Palestine.
For further details contact: Jacqui Ryan, CWS Northern Fieldworker. Supported by Christian World Service – Action
Against Poverty
Saturday, March 4, 2pm, QEII Square, Cnr Queen & Customs St, Downtown
RALLY FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE IN PALESTINE / ISRAEL - Come support
JUSTICE and PEACE based on: 1. End Israeli Occupation of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank including East Jerusalem. 2.
Right of Return for Refugees. 3. Sharing Jerusalem. 4. Removal of all illegal settlements in occupied Palestine. 5. Stop
construction of Israel's annexation/apartheid wall
Sunday, March 5, 2pm, Socialist Centre, 86 Princes St, Onehunga.
IS LABOUR ANY KIND OF WORKERS' PARTY ? Introduction by DAPHNE LAWLESS, an editor of UNITY journal. Followed by open
discussion. Happy Hour afterwards. Hosted by Socialist Worker. For more information, contact: Grant Morgan, Socialist
Worker secretary.
Monday, March 6, 7.30pm, The Classic, 321 Queen St
GPJA FORUM: ANNUAL PRESENTATION OF THE RODGER AWARD FOR WORST
TRANSNATIONAL COMPANY OPERATING IN NZ. The winner(s) of the 2005 Roger Award for the Worst Transnational Corporation
Operating in Aotearoa/New Zealand will be announced on Monday March 6. It's at the Classic Comedy and Bar, 321 Queen
Street, Auckland Doors Open at 7pm. Please direct all inquiries about the event itself to: John Minto. The event is
organised by Global Peace and Justice Auckland. There are eight finalists, equaling the highest number ever (from 2003).
These transnational corporations (TNCs) are (in no particular order of preference): Telecom, Westpac, Toll, BNZ,
Comalco, Guardian Healthcare, Merck Sharp and Dohme, and British American Tobacco.
BAR OPENS @ 7PM
Wednesday, March 8th, 7pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY - "A WOMAN'S PLACE IS IN THE STRUGGLE". A
Forum of Speakers, Discussion, Music and Drink. There will be a panel of speakers on "Women organising women ". Jill
Ovens (Activist and Unionist) will speak on "Women workers:making the invisible visible". Daphna Whitmore will speak on
"International struggles." Music by About Town, Rosetta Vai, and the Romanovas (to be confirmed). Entry: free / koha
(optional) to cover hall hire and organising costs. Proceeds from drink sales to the Working Women's Resource Centre.
Organised by the Auckland International Womens' Day Committe. Contact Nicki Jonas.
Saturday, March 18, 12 noon, US Consulate, Citybank Building, Customs
St East INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ACTION AGAINST TORTURE AND WAR. MARKING THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF THE INVASION OF IRAQ.
Saturday, March 18, 1pm, Brittomart, bottom of Queen St THE BIG PAY OUT - MARCH, RALLY AND CONCERT to support the
SuperSizeMyPay.com campaign against low wages, youth rates and for secure hours. March up Queen St to a concert in Myers
park from 2pm with bands including – 8foot Sativa; Stylus; Shona Laing; Olmecha Supreme; Geneva
May 10th - May 17th. Academy Theatre HUMAN RIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL 2006 With Panel Discussions of experts and speakers,
Performances and entertainment. More details on doco's/films closer to the date.
QUOTES OF THE WEEK – ON PROPAGANDA
"The propagandist's purpose is to make one set of people forget that certain other sets of people are human."- Aldous
Huxley -(1894-1963)
Author
“Through clever and constant application of propaganda, people can be made to see paradise as hell, and also the other
way round, to consider the most wretched sort of life as paradise” - Adolf Hitler – German Chancellor, leader of the
Nazi party
“See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind
of catapult the propaganda." - George W. Bush - 43rd US President
BEST ON THE WEB
NEW ZEALAND
Lighting strikes twice at Starbucks
Young Workers Strike as Youth Rates Bill Debated
Matt McCarten Speech: The Great Rip Off! Restaurant Industry has halved wages in 20 years
AUSTRALIA
Protesters to camp in city parks
JOHN PILGER: Refusing To Fly The Flag - Hicks became a Muslim and drifted through Kosovo, then on to Afghanistan, where
he was kidnapped by the Americans and sent to their concentration camp at Guantanamo Bay. Not a shred of evidence exists
that Hicks fought for al-Qaeda, or is a terrorist.
BOLIVIA
The Second Foundation of Bolivia, by Eduardo Galeano
Evo Morales backed by 79% of the population
ROBERT FISK
Everyone in the Middle East rewrites history, but never before have we had a US administration so wilfully, dishonestly
and ruthlessly reinterpreting tragedy as success, defeat as victory, death as life - helped, I have to add, by the
compliant American press. - We are pushing hundreds of thousands of Arabs though the butchers' shops - and don't even
care.
Something more serious is happening to our planet which we are not being told about
VIDEO/VENEZUELA
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised - Video: Sometimes, a good documentary is all about being in the right place at the
right time. It does not get much better for Kim Bartley and Donnacha O'Briain, who, in late 2001 began filming a
documentary about Hugo Chavez, the controversial President of Venezuela.
IRAQ
Exit without a strategy: The popular response to Iraq's latest atrocities has been to blame the occupation, not rival
sects
Abu Ghraib leaked report reveals full extent of abuse
• 1,325 images of suspected detainee abuse
• 93 video files of suspected detainee abuse
• 660 images of adult pornography
• 546 images of suspected dead Iraqi detainees
• 29 images of soldiers in simulated sexual acts
Nearly two years after the first pictures of naked and humiliated Iraqi detainees emerged from Abu Ghraib prison, the
full extent of the abuse became known for the first time yesterday with a leaked report from the US army's internal
investigation into the scandal.
Video: Abu Ghraib - The Sequel: These are the photos the American
Government doesn't want you to see. While researching a story on guards at Abu Ghraib, I obtained a copy of the
unreleased photographs and videos. Taken at the same time as the photos released in 2004 and often of the same abuses,
this is the first time they have been shown to the public.
New Images: Iraq: Horrific New Torture Pictures Released – MORE photographs have been leaked of Iraqi citizens tortured
by US soldiers at the notorious Abu Ghraib prison on the outskirts of Baghdad. Warning: These pictures should only be
viewed by a mature AUDIENCE:
UN report blasts Guantanamo prison, says detainees should be tried or freed: The world body also called on the United
States to refrain from practices that "amount to torture."
Cindy Sheehan and Sam Bostaph: The Human Cost of War - The land that nourished the first written language and the roots
of civilized political order has become a charnel house.
More Proof of Prewar Intelligence Manipulation by the Bush Administration: Writing in the March/April 2006 issue of
Foreign Affairs, Paul R. Pillar has launched a furious assault on the Bush administration for its manipulation of prewar
intelligence about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and links to al Qaeda. Mr. Pillar should know, because he
was the CIA's National Intelligence Officer for the Near East and South Asia (NESA) from 2000 to 2005.
Victims of War Are Not To Be Seen Or Heard Or Mentioned - Joseph
Bonham was an American soldier. He lost both of his arms and legs and all of his face to an artillery shell. He could
not see or hear or speak. Other than that he was healthy and lucid. That was Joe's nightmare. He could be kept alive a
long time.
WAR ON FREEDOM
Civil liberties fear as US terror suspect list rises to 325,000: Civil liberties organisations expressed outrage
yesterday after it was reported that the database of terrorist suspects kept by the US authorities now holds 325,000
names, a fourfold increase in two and a half years.
US soldiers face accusations of murder in Iraq and Afghanistan - At least 98 deaths occurred, with at least 34 of them
suspected or confirmed homicides - deliberate or reckless killing - the group of US lawyers told BBC television on
Tuesday.
How an internal effort to ban the abuse and torture of detainees was thwarted.
NEPAL
U.S. Embassy Ready To Evacuate As Nepal's King Plan For Exile: EPAL remains tense as the 7-Party agitation against the
Monarchy gains strength and the Maoist continue to have success on the battle-field. Sources within the Palace report
the King and his family are preparing for exile.
USA
Mike Whitney: Hurricane Katrina; “National Failure” or Criminal
Negligence: The senate investigation of Hurricane Katrina is turning out to be another White House whitewash. The senate
strategy has been to characterize the Bush administration’s response as “a national failure” or “bureaucratic bungling”
when in fact the evidence proves that the top officials in the administration, including George Bush himself, are
responsible for the deaths of hundreds of New Orleans residents.
To combat hunger, more in US turn to soup kitchens: In 2005, it found more than 38 million Americans lived in "hungry or
food insecure" households, an increase of 5 million since 2000.
Paul Krugman : Graduates versus Oligarchs: We're seeing the rise of a narrow oligarchy: income and wealth are becoming
increasingly concentrated in the hands of a small, privileged elite.
A tale of two deficits by Joseph Stiglitz
CUBA
Bush and the Waning U.S. Position in Latin America
PALESTINE
Life in Occupied Palestine
For Those Who Haven't Noticed - Watching the Dissolution of Palestine
Stop scaring us! The State of Israel is the strongest state in the region - militarily, economically, scientifically and
culturally. It enjoys broad support from the United States and European countries. It has peaceful relations with Egypt
and Jordan. We could even have built a peace arrangement with Lebanon and Syria, if we had wanted to, but certainly no
threat is hovering over Israel from that direction
Scenes Of Israeli Massacre In Qana 1996: Warning! - This video of an
Israeli Massacre of Palestinian & Lebanese civilians in April of 96 is very graphic and should only be viewed by a mature audience.
INDIA
Arundhati Roy : Bush in India: Just Not Welcome: On his triumphalist tour of India and Pakistan, where he hopes to wave
imperiously at people he considers potential subjects, President Bush has an itinerary that's getting curiouser and
curiouser.
ENVIRONMENT
Sea levels likely to rise much faster than was predicted: Global warming is causing the Greenland ice cap to
disintegrate far faster than anyone predicted. A study of the region's massive ice sheet warns that sea levels may - as
a consequence - rise more dramatically than expected.
Global warming '30 times quicker than it used to be': Greenhouse gases are being released into the atmosphere 30 times
faster than the time when the Earth experienced a previous episode of global warming.