GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND
NEWSLETTER #262
November 26, 2008

Website: http://www.gpja.org.nz/

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DECEMBER'S GPJA FORUM IS THIS MONDAY!

Monday, December 1, 7.30pm, Trades hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn
GPJA FORUM – THE POLITICS OF THIRD WORLD MINING. Speakers include: Maire Leadbeater, human rights activist, will talk about the struggle for self-determination in West Papua and the impact of the Freeport mine operations, December 1st is the day the local people raise the West Papuan flag in defiance of their Indonesian occupiers who have banned the flag raising ceremonies in West Papua. Joe Hendren, New Zealand trade union activist recently returned from the Philippines and will talk will talk about the recent landslide at Itogon as an example of what damage mining can do and why people are concerned about the issue. He will then share some photos of the protest outside the Asia Pacific Mining Conference in Manila, where many speakers warned about the dangers of the Oceania Gold project. This will lead into an introduction of the campa

ANNOUNCEMENTS

PEACE RESEARCHER ONLINE Issue # 37 NOVEMBER 2008
Waihopai Domebusters: The Police Present Their Case – by Bob Leonard
ABC In Blenheim In Solidarity With Domebusters – by Murray Horton
The Cora Fabros Speaking Tour Of New Zealand – by Bob Leonard
Bases Of Empire: The Global Spread Of US Military And Intelligence Bases – by Cora Fabros
Citizensí Peace Watch Official Statement: On US Military Basing In Mindanao – by Cora Fabros & Virginia Suarez Pinlac
Organiserís Report – by Murray Horton
CAFCA/ABC Organiser Account – by Bob Leonard
Review by Jeremy Agar 'Arsenal Of Hypocrisy', A Film By Randy Atkins
Obituary by Murray Horton: Betty Roberts
Death In the Family: Brownie Dann.

WHAT'S ON IN AUCKLAND

Wednesday, November 26, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn
HEAR AFRIDAL DARMI, HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER FROM Aceh Director LBH Aceh (LBH- Indonesia Legal Aid Foundation). Mr Darmi is a graduate from Syah Kuala University, Banda Aceh and Northwestern University School of Law, Chicago. He is an expert on post-conflict reintegration, and community peace-building. He has played a leading role in major peace projects involving local government and local and international NGOs. Mr Darmi was appointed a team leader of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). Indonesia Human Rights Committee, PO Box 68-419, Auckland maire@clear.net.nz

Saturday, November 29, 9.30am-4.30pm, Engineering School, 20 Symonds Street
GOING GREEN 2008 - GREEN ìHOW TOíSî FOR EVERYDAY LIVING: Going Green is a day of free interactive seminars by leading environmental experts for green conscious but slightly confused consumers. This event has been organised by The University of Auckland. This free public event is designed to educate and promote green living practises and provide environmental insights for the way we work, play and live. Topics covered include ëHow to Buy Greení and ëHow to Renovate Greení through to ëHow to Travel Greení and ëHow to Have a Green Funeralí. For more information and to register visit Going Green also have 28 exhibition spaces (2 sizes) for businesses to purchase. These spaces are available for ëgreen consciousí businesses who want to reach a cross section of green minded consumers. If you are interested in exhibiting please visit out website and/or contact :
Carlee Atkin Ph: (09) 3737599 ext: 89539 Email: conference-sec@auckland.ac.nz

Saturday, November 29, 5pm, TIVOLI, 5/143 Ocean View Rd, Oneroa, Waiheke Island
Tivoli is presenting a special extra screening of two films shown recently at the Waiheke Community Cinema and aimed particularly at those unable to attend that popular event. The films will be introduced by Director Annie Goldson and by Basil Holmes. FIGHTING BACK (1949) director Cecil Holmes; SEEING RED (1995) director Annie Goldson Fighting Back was made during the historic Carpenters' Union struggle of 1949, a precurser to the events of 1951. Union publicity at the time described it as 'the first on-the-spot film of a dispute ever recorded in the Southern Hemisphere.' Seeing Red investigates Cecil Holmes's film-making career in New Zealand as a member of the National Film Unit in the 1940s, and his experience of New Zealand's version of McCarthyism. He later moved to Australia continuing his work relating to social justice issues. Annie Goldson is a major New Zealand documentary film-maker and lecturer in Film and Media Studies at the University of Auckland. Her many documentari es include the early Puni

Monday, December 1, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn
GPJA FORUM – THE POLITICS OF THIRD WORLD MINING. Speakers include: Maire Leadbeater, human rights activist, will talk about the struggle for self-determination in West Papua and the impact of the Freeport mine operations, December 1st is the day the local people raise the West Papuan flag in defiance of their Indonesian occupiers who have banned the flag raising ceremonies in West Papua. Joe Hendren, New Zealand trade union activist recently returned from the Philippines and will talk will talk about the recent landslide at Itogon as an example of what damage mining can do and why people are concerned about the issue. He will then share some photos of the protest outside the Asia Pacific Mining Conference in Manila, where many speakers warned about the dangers of the Oceania Gold project. This will lead into an introduction of the campa

Saturday, DECEMBER 6, 2pm, QEII Square, Customs Street and Queen St intersection, Downtown Shopping Centre
RALLY FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE IN PALESTINE On the First Saturday of Every Month. Come support JUSTICE and PEACE based on:
1. End 41 years of Israeli Occupation of the West Bank & Gaza Strip (including East Jerusalem) ;
2. Right of Return for Palestinian Refugees.
3. Share Jerusalem.
4. Vacate all settlement colonies in Israeli occupied Palestine.
5. Stop Israel's annexation / apartheid wall in occupied Palestine www.palestine.org.nz

PALESTINE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN END OF YEAR RALLY AND SOCIAL GATHERING!
The final rally of the year will be FOLLOWED BY @ 3.30 ish A SHARED AFTERNOON TEA / PICNIC at OUTHWAITE PARK & TIME TO DISCUSS 2009 .. & BEYOND. Cnr Corner Park and Carlton Gore Roads, Grafton. (Near to Domain and easy access to motorway and buses, has toilets etc see link below)
http://www.wonderwalkers.co.nz/default,619,outhwaite-park-grafton.sm

Saturday, December 6, 9am-5pm, Unitec, Mt Albert
UNVEILING THE VEIL/MUSLIM HEADSCARF: A 1-DAY WORKSHOP. Muslim Expert to conduct 1-day workshop on Muslim Hijab/Headscarf in December. A 1-DAY Workshop has been organised for all those seeking clarity on the ever-confusing and controversial issue of the Muslim headscarf. All those, Muslim and non-Muslim, who would like to understand the philosophy and practice of the hijab/headscarf are invited to come along with their questions, concerns or perspectives - there will be time set aside for questions and answers throughout the workshop.
Please visit the RMDT EVENTS page for more information, and to register now - places are limited. COST: $30 (waged) $20 unwaged. (Further details upon registration). REGISTER: now at www.rmdt.org.nz

Sunday, December 7, 1.30-5pm, Unitec, Mt Albert
INVITATION TO CONTRIBUTE TO CHRISTIAN-MUSLIM CO-OPERATION PLANNING
Co-operation between followers of the world's two largest faiths - Christianity and Islam - has always been held obvious importance for the world. Christians and Muslims, through their largely similar moral and ethical values, are able to pull together an enormous variety of diverse peoples under a single umbrella. It is hoped that such an umbrella unites as many people in New Zealand for projects that benefit our wonderful country, and the world.
An initial stragic planning session held earlier this year by the Council of Christians & Muslims and Rasheed Trust set the original foundation for local practical cooperation. This was attended and facilitated by reknowned workers and academics in the area. A planning session following on from that is now intended to identify and plan towards projects that will benefit our city and country. REGISTER: now at www.rmdt.org.nz

Tuesday, December 9, 7.30pm, Auckland Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn
RAM - Residents Action Movement invites you & your friends to VENEZUELA EYEWITNESS: PETER BOYLE from Australia gives an eyewitness account of his experiences in Venezuela. Its president Hugo Chavez is leading a people's revolution to build an economy and a political system which serve humanity, not corporate profits and privilege. Come and hear about the amazing transformations taking place there.

Wednesday December 10 to December 24, Northart Gallery, Norman King Square, Ernie Mays Street, Northcote
To celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the signing of the Universal declaration of Human Rights the Human Rights Commission is presenting an art exhibition Article 27 at the Northart Gallery, Norman King Square (opposite Northcote Library), Ernie Mays Street, Northcote Shopping Centre. The exhibition opening is on Wednesday December 10th, at 6pm and will continue until 24 December. For more information contact Eileen Burton at the Human Rights Commission. Phone 306 2655, email eileenb@hrc.co.nz

Friday, December 12, 7pm, Casa Latina, Latin American Community House, 37 Selwn St, Onehunga
Film: Mission Against Terror – the imprisonment of the 'The Cuban 5' for fighting terrorism in the USA
7pm - snacks nibbles and open bar; 7.30 to 8.20 - Screening of Mission Against Terror. $10entry, for snacks and movie

Saturday, December 13, 4-8pm, Fickling Centre (Hillsborough Room – Main Hall), Three Kings, Mt. Roskill
THIS IS A SPECIAL INVITATIOON TO YOU. December 10 marks the 60th Anniversary of the establishment of the UN and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We are organizing a workshop on – UN AND UN DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS – 60 YRS. FAILURES AND RESTRUCTURING – NEED FOR MEDIA ACTIVISM. There can be no two words that failure to understand the HR Declaration in the clear perspective has led to the failure over the years. The declaration hinges on the preamble that "if the people are not to REVOLT against the State, the provisions have to be implemented in full."
The ill-conceived Bush doctrine of "war on terror" has, as correctly pointed out by senior British diplomat, David Gladstone given ìlegitimacy to criminal groups whose strategy is to terrorize civilians. The long list of failures includes Kurds (in Turkey), Basques (in Spain), Dafur (in Sudan), Congo, Myanmar, Rwanda, Brundi, Eelam (in Sri Lanka)and West Papua (in Indonesia) among others. There are a number of cases in the African Continent. Most of these festered due to accepting post-colonization arbitrary revenue-oriented territorial boundaries as sacrosanct without restoring territorial status ante as at imperial subjugation. These revolts turned wars has had a huge toll of human lives and human suffering where the UN Human Rights Charter was just trampled with impunity - destroyed without remorse.
Ministers, MPs, academics and Human rights activists and organizations are earnestly invited to partake in the workshop and make their submissions in ten minutes. Please hand over At the workshop please give the text of your speech in a CD with your name written so that the proceedings can be published as a book with the title UN and UN Human Rights – New Zealand Declaration 2008. True we are a small country. But we do not lack in expertise. We believe you will give due thought to the seriousness of the purpose and make your valuable contribution. Each affected group like Dafur, West Papua Myanmar, Kurds etc. will be given a table and 2 chairs to exhibit any photographs and/or publications. A representative of these groups can also speak. We look forward to participation of media personnel because Media is the fourth engine of democracy and their activism is vital to the maintenance of a healt hy democracy in a world p

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

"America cannot have an empire abroad and a Republic at home." Mark Twain

"The power of the state is measured by the power that men surrender to it." Felix Morley

"Those who have the privilege to know, have the duty to act." Albert Einstein

"I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do. What I can do, I should do. And what I should do, by the grace of God, I will do." - Edward Everett Hale

BEST ON THE WEB

NEW ZEALAND
Gordon Campbell on John Keyís performance in Peru
http://election08.scoop.co.nz/gordon-campbell-on-john-key%E2%80%99s-performance-in-peru/

Creating Jobs In The Teeth Of The Financial Crisis
http://election08.scoop.co.nz/creating-jobs-in-the-teeth-of-the-financial-crisis/

JOHN MINTO: Douglas's reforms were an economic disaster for the country
http://www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4741443a16155.html

JOHN MINTO: The Maori Party Is Wrong
http://johnminto.org.nz/the-maori-party-is-wrong/

WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS
Lurching Toward Gomorrah: More Signs Of An Unstoppable Economic Meltdown By Stephen Lendman - Crisis denialists are still around but are slowly and grudgingly giving way to the reality that global capitalism is in serious crisis as recession lurches toward depression in a continuing downward spiral. Nearly every new data release confirm it
http://www.countercurrents.org/lendman251108.htm

Left Out of the Bailout: The Poor By Mark Kukis: "Recent data show poverty is already rising quite substantially," says Robert Greenstein, the executive director of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. "There is a strong potential for more hardship and destitution than we have seen in this country in a number of decades."
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article21319.htm

A Frenzy Over Free Food By Allison Sherry: In a sign of bad economic times. An estimated 40,000 people came to a Weld County farm Saturday to collect free potatoes, carrots and leeks.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article21326.htm

"A People's History of Poverty in America" By Democracy Now! – Audio - Census Bureau figures from 2007 show that 12.5% of the population, or over 37 million people, live below the poverty line. The Center warns hat number could increase to up to 47 million.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article21320.htm

Data shows sharper US contraction: The US Commerce Department said the downward revision was due to the biggest fall in US consumer spending in 28 years
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7748216.stm

Home prices in record plunge: Prices of single-family homes plunged a record 17.4 percent in September from a year earlier, according to a key S&P index released on Tuesday.
http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-Economy/idUSTRE4AN45720081125

BOLIVIA
Bolivia's vice-president, ¡lvaro GarcÌa Linera: We are going through the most radical ... social transformation:
In the following interview, the vice-president of Bolivia, ¡lvaro GarcÌa Linera, explains his interpretation of the changes that were made in the draft constitution, originally drafted in December 2007 by the country's constituent assembly, as a result of the recent negotiations involving the parties represented in Bolivia's National Congress. A popular referendum to adopt the new draft constitution is to be held on January 25, 2009. ¡lvaro GarcÌa Linera also discusses his view of the role of constitutional change in the social transformation of Bolivia that is now under way.
http://links.org.au/node/751

PALESTINE
Top UN official: Israel's policies are like apartheid of bygone era: United Nations General Assembly President Miguel D'Escoto Brockmann on Monday likened Israel's policies toward the Palestinians to South Africa's treatment of blacks under apartheid.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1040614.html

USA
The Third Clinton Administration By RALPH NADER - While the liberal intelligentsia was swooning over Barack Obama during his presidential campaign, I counseled "prepare to be disappointed." His record as a Illinois state and U.S. Senator, together with the many progressive and long overdue courses of action he opposed during his campaign, rendered such a prediction unfortunate but obvious.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article21297.htm

What Next? The Elections, the Economy, and the World By Noam Chomsky - Audio – Transcript:
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article21321.htm

VENEZUELA
Statement by the *Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network*: November 25, 2008 -- The results of the elections for local mayors and state governors held in Venezuela on November 23 underlined the continuing mass support for the Bolivarian revolution led by President Hugo Chavez.
http://links.org.au/node/758

Venezuela – Democracy in Action
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0811/S00351.htm

ZIMBABWE
Zimbabwe on brink of collapse as outbreak of cholera spreads: The situation in Zimbabwe may soon "implode" as a cholera outbreak spreads and basic services collapse, South African leaders and a group of international statesmen warned yesterday.
http://tinyurl.com/5hej3y

ENDS

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