GPJA no. 298: Sunday Cuba forum and Sri Lanka protest

GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND

NEWSLETTER No. 298, September 4, 2009

Website: https://gpjanz.wordpress.com/
Contact details:
Forums – John Minto, Work: (09) 845 2132, Home 09 846 3173 jbminto@xtra.co.nz
Newsletter Editor & Website – Mike Treen 0295254744 mike@unite.org.nz
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DOCTORS OF TOMORROW – CUBA’S MEDICAL AID TO THE PACIFIC
In place of our regular GPJA forum on the first Monday of the month we have moved it forward one day (and at a different time and at a different place – see below) to take advantage of a visit by Australian academic Tim Anderson who is an expert on Cuba’s health programmes in the South Pacific. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear about the hidden but wonderful story of aid with conditions.

Sunday, September 6th, 2pm, Ponsonby Community Centre, 20 Ponsonby Terrace From Karangahape / Great North Rd, head down Ponsonby

“Doctors of Tomorrow -The revolutionary example of Cuba” – From Sydney, Dr Tim Anderson speaks on Cuban medical aid and disaster relief in the Asia-Pacific region. Cuban medical aid abroad is one of the good news stories the media fails to cover. Cuba gives more medical aid to the Third World than all the wealthy G8 countries combined. Recently Cuban doctors have begun work in the Pacific, in places like Timor-Leste, the Solomons, Tuvalu, Kiribati and Nauru. We are privileged to have Dr Tim Anderson, Senior Lecturer of the Department of Political Economy at the University of Sydney, speak of his interest in this many-faceted solidarity. As part of his presentation, Anderson will show his 20-minute documentary, The Pacific School of Medicine. The movie is a follow-up to 2008’s Doctors of Tomorrow. The meeting will also hear an update by Annalucia Vermunt on the international campaign to free the Cuban Five. In May Vermunt participated in an international youth conference in solidarity with the Five held in Havana, Cuba. Sponsored by: Auckland Cuba Friendship Society e-mail: inashina@clear.net.nz; or phone Ina, 303-1755; Global Peace and Justice Aotearoa Website: https://gpjanz.wordpress.com/ Contact – John Minto, Work: (09) 845 2132, Home: (09) 846 3173 jbminto@xtra.co.nz See Also: The Neglected State-builder: MICHAEL LEACH on Cuban medical programs in the Pacific. http://www.arena.org.au/archives/Mag_Archive/Issue98/leach98.htm

PROTEST AT HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN SRI LANKA

Before the forum there is an important protest against the continuing human rights abuses in Sri Lanks where hundreds of thousands of Tamils are being held in concentration camps while the Black caps play cricket without concern! There is a feeling within the New Zealand Tamil community that the Tamils in Sri Lanka have been abandoned by the international community. Let us show them some support. See What’s on in Auckland for details.

Blackcap cricketers cowardly and duplicitous on humanitarian support

Global Peace and Justice Auckland is angry the Blackcaps cricket team has bailed out on humanitarian support for the 280,000 Tamil people incarcerated in military camps following the recent civil war.

Before the cricketers left they met with representatives of the New Zealand Tamil community, along with GPJA, where the team was requested to use its high public profile to help keep the international spotlight on the humanitarian crisis facing the Tamil population.

NZ Cricket and player reps agreed they would do what they could without getting involved in the politics (which they were never requested to do). With this in mind no protests were organised against the team leaving for Sri Lanka.

Subsequently agreement was reached between Fonterra, World Vision and representatives of the New Zealand Tamil community whereby the Blackcaps would publicly and symbolically facilitate the transfer of milk powder products from Fonterra in Sri Lanka to World Vision for the victims of war in the military camps where there is an on-going humanitarian catastrophe.

The Blackcaps then got cold feet with Dave Currie (NZ Cricket manager with the Blackcaps) refusing to allow the cricketers to take part. Currie says he fears for the safety of the players. If helping feed starving people with milk powder is going to compromise player safety then what are the Blackcaps doing in Sri Lanka in the first place?

The team has cowered in silence, complicit in the oppression of the Tamil population.

Amnesty International has a campaign “Unlock the Camps” which aims to put pressure of the Sri Lankan government to allow free access to the camps for humanitarian organisations and the international media. The Sri Lankan government refuses and the cruel oppression continues while the Blackcaps turn a blind eye.

The Blackcaps have lost on the field in Sri Lanka but their behaviour off the field has been far worse. It has been cowardly and duplicitous.

Unlock the camps – protest.

GPJA will be supporting the Tamil community in a protest this Sunday 6th September, Aotea Square at 12noon. A replica barbed-wire camp will be set up on Queen Street with cricketers (mouths taped shut) playing outside the camp.

John Minto – (09) 8463173 (H) or 8469496(W)

Hammer the Pokies: More hammers needed!!
Thanks for the positive responses to the appeal for people to join the campaign. We won’t be calling for action in the short term as we need to build numbers much higher. This campaign aims to enlist a minimum of 200 hammers (with people attached!) and take civil disobedience action to drive pokie machines out of our neighbourhood communities. 80% of the cases of gambling addiction relate to pokie machines in the community (aside from casinos) These are parasites on poverty and predominate in low-income areas of the country. They have to go. If you are prepared to join a crowd (min 200) and take civil disobedience action against pokie machines then please email John Minto jbminto@xtra.co.nz or Phone 8463173.

WHAT’S ON IN AUCKLAND

Saturday, September 5, 2pm, QEII Square, Customs Street and Queen Street intersection, outside Downtown Shopping Centre.
Rally for Justice and Peace in Palestine, come and support justice and peace based on an end to 40 years of Israeli Occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip (including East Jerusalem), the right of return for Palestinian refugees, sharing Jerusalem, vacating all settlement colonies in Israeli occupied Palestine, and stopping Israel’s annexation / apartheid wall in occupied Palestine. Starts 2pm, Organised by the Palestine Human Rights Campaign, for more information contact email or go to this web site.

Saturday, September 5, 9:30 am to 2:30 pm, Council Chamber – Waitakere City Council, 6 Henderson Valley, Waitakere
In the spirit of ‘Working Together during times of Global Financial Crisis’. We invite you to: A follow-up forum – Migrants’ Solutions to Migrant Issues. This meeting is being set up: As a follow-up to the 30th of May Forum and meeting with Minister of Immigration Meeting last 9th July 2009; For migrants to put their thinking hats together and offer solutions to the issues faced by migrants and employers during the current global financial crisis; Migrant presentation of job creation initiative; To get your signature as we convert this paper into a national petition. It’s vital we get your full support. Kindly, advice by emailing migrantaction@xtra.co.nz , number of people from your group attending the forum. Thank you and we look forward to see you there. Regards | Agnes Granada | Coordinator | Migrant Action Trust, 161 Stoddard Rd, Mt Roskill | P O Box 8315 | Auckland. Tel# (09) 629 3500 Fax 629 3504 email a.granada@migrantactiontrust.org.nz migrantaction@xtra.co.nz www.migrantactiontrust.org.nz

Sunday, September 6, 12.30pm, Aotea Square, Queen St
Vigil and Protest against detention in Sri Lanka of hundreds of thousands of Tamils. Hundreds of Tamils living in NZ will put themselves behind a barbed wire fence while a game of cricket is played outsdie with the cricketters withe their mouths taped shut, showing how Sri Lanka’s government is using the current tour to gain legitimacy despite the gross human rights violations.

Sunday, September 6th, 2pm, Ponsonby Community Centre, 20 Ponsonby Terrace From Karangahape / Great North Rd, head down Ponsonby
“Doctors of Tomorrow -The revolutionary example of Cuba” – From Sydney, Dr Tim Anderson speaks on Cuban medical aid and disaster relief in the Asia-Pacific region. Cuban medical aid abroad is one of the good news stories the media fails to cover. Cuba gives more medical aid to the Third World than all the wealthy G8 countries combined. Recently Cuban doctors have begun work in the Pacific, in places like Timor-Leste, the Solomons, Tuvalu, Kiribati and Nauru. We are privileged to have Dr Tim Anderson, Senior Lecturer of the Department of Political Economy at the University of Sydney, speak of his interest in this many-faceted solidarity. As part of his presentation, Anderson will show his 20-minute documentary, The Pacific School of Medicine. The movie is a follow-up to 2008’s Doctors of Tomorrow. The meeting will also hear an update by Annalucia Vermunt on the international campaign to free the Cuban Five. In May Vermunt participated in an international youth conference in solidarity with the Five held in Havana, Cuba. Sponsored by: Auckland Cuba Friendship Society e-mail: inashina@clear.net.nz; or phone Ina, 303-1755; Global Peace and Justice Aotearoa Website: https://gpjanz.wordpress.com/ Contact – John Minto, Work: (09) 845 2132, Home: (09) 846 3173 jbminto@xtra.co.nz See Also: The Neglected State-builder: MICHAEL LEACH on Cuban medical programs in the Pacific. http://www.arena.org.au/archives/Mag_Archive/Issue98/leach98.htm

Monday, September 7, Mt Roskill Intermediate School Hall in Frost Road, Enter through Gate 1, there is plenty of parking
CALL TO ACTION – STOP NIGHT CLASS CUTS! We need your support to get this terrible decision reversed. Public meeting: Hear from your local Members of Parliament – Jackie Blue; Sam Lotu-Iiga; Phil Goff; Carol Beaumont. You will be aware by now that Adult and Community Education (ACE) in schools (night school, day classes, seminars, weekend workshops) has been axed from January 2010 by the National led Government. We are asking for the $13 million which has been cut from the ACE budget to be reinstated so that adult learning can continue to be offered at your local secondary school. This decision also affects 140 other community based providers in Auckland alone – their resourcing is at risk. Politicians care about what voters (you) think, so come along and have your say.

Monday, September 7, The Peace Place, 22 Emily Place, Auckland City
Films at The Peace Place… “Controlling Our Food” – ….. how the Monsanto company has damaged our environment with poisons, impoverishes Majority World farmers and is striving to control our world food supply. Admission: Koha / donation. (This film was scheduled to be shown on 11 August, but because of technical difficulties another film was shown instead)

Friday, September 11, 7.30pm, Auckland Trades Hall, Supper Room, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn
“Strike Benefit for Telecom workers” . Start your Friday off to with a good cause. A couple of drinks, some tunes and a bit of a chit chat to raise funds and lift spirits for workers battling Telecon. Strike Benefit for Telecom workers. DJs, drinks, rally for strikers. Fundraiser. Host: Socialist Aotearoa. To see more details and RSVP, follow the link below: http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=154597763974&mid=1091842G227fb72bG29ffb9aG7

Saturday, September 12, 12.30pm, Assemble Myers Park (off Upper Queen St) to Britomart.
Protest government cuts to night classes: March from Myers Park to Britomart. The government cut 80% of the funding for night classes in this year’s budget. From next year most of the 212 schools around the country will cease their night class programmes and more than 200,000 New Zealanders will miss the opportunity to learn new skills, take up hobbies, meet and mix as community members etc. Night classes have been a New Zealand tradition going back 100 years. Join the fightback to preserve adult and community education.

Saturday, September 12, 1pm, US Consulate, Citibank Building, Customs Street, City
PROTEST CONTINUING DETENTION OF ‘MIAMI FIVE’: September 12 marks the 11th year of imprisonment for the 5. Their “crime” was to investigate violent terrorist groups in the United States who have carried our numerous acts of murder and sabotage on Cuban soil. Their sentences include 4 life terms and 75 years imprisonment. The event is organised by the NZ Cuba friendship Society.

Saturday, September 12, 7pm, Samoa House, entrance off Beresford Street
Panther Party Celebration: The Black Panther Party’s Minister of Culture Emory Douglas is at Auckland University for a year. This evening is to celebrate the achievements of the Black Panther Party and its New Zealand counterpart, the Polynesian Panther Party. An evening of entertaimment from top New Zealand acts (such as Unity Pacific) is planned. GPJA has a table for 10. Tickets $20. Call John Minto at 8469496 or 8463173(H) to reserve a ticket.

Saturday, September 12, 7pm to 2am, Pearce Hall, 3 Pearce St, Onehunga
Chile’s National day Celebration. Adults $10. Children under 16 free. Traditional food, cash bar. Bands performing. For tickets: makehuedancegroup@gmail.com Ph 636 8757

Thursday, September 17, 5.30pm, University of Otago House, Level 4 (Street Level), 385 Queen Street, Auckland.
Professor Kevin P Clements, Director, National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies Winter Lecture on “Enlarging Boundaries of Compassion:Opportunities and Challenges for Peace Research in the 21st Century”. 5.30 for 6.00 pm with Light Refreshments at 7.00 pm to follow the Lecture. RSVP to National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, peaceandconflict@otago.ac.nz Telephone Wendy on 09 373 9700. Please note: Car parking is available under Otago House from 5.30 pm onwards. The barrier arms will be up and an attendant will direct you to which vacant spots are available. There is also a commercial parking building nearby in City Road.

Friday, September 18, 5pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn
The Working Women’s Resource Centre and the Red Flag Social Club invite you to join with us to Celebrate Suffrage Day And the Launch of the WWRC Valuing Experience project. Speaker, Labour MP, Jacinda Ardern

Saturday, September 19, 1pm, 3rd Floor, Auckland Public Library
DISPLAY AT THE AUCK PUBLIC LIBRARY: If you have any archival material from 1969 – photographs, clippings, leaflets etc, please send to ‘Jumping Sunday ‘09’, PO Box 86022 Mangere East 2158, or contact us by return email. The library display, including unique film footage, will continue for 2 weeks during the festival.

Sunday, September 20, 1pm, Albert Park
Come and Celebrate the Liberation of Albert Park – Bring Friends & Family. September this year marks the 40th anniversary of the “liberation” of Auckland’s Albert Park as a free speech area. On Sunday September 21st, 1969, Albert Park was taken as a free speech area, with a jug band in the rotunda and music interspersed with speakers. At first the Auckland City Council vehemently opposed the events, which became known in the media as “Jumping Sundays”. However, as the crowds increased the Council backed down, Albert Park was recognised as a free speech area and for several years served as an Auckland version of Hyde Park in London. The legacy lives on, and the occasion is being celebrated with music and speakers this September: 1pm on SUNDAY 20th SEPTEMBER 2009. (Rain day: Sun. 26th Sept.) Other events are in the pipeline. A fuller history of the event and photos can be found on: If you want to be on the organising group email list contact: jumpingsunday@clear.net.nz

Wednesday, September 23, 6.30pm Theatre 401, School of Engineering 20 Symonds Street, The University of Auckland
“The global financial crisis and the modern theory of the state” – Professor Gregory Claeys, Department of History Royal Holloway University of London visits the University of Auckland this month as a Hood Fellow. He will be giving the 2009 Chapman Lecture on Wednesday 23 September. Gregory Claeys is Professor of History of Political Thought in the History Department at Royal Holloway University of London. He has previously held teaching and research *positions at Cambridge University and in Germany. His research interests include the history of radicalism and socialism in nineteenth-century Britain, utopianism 1700-2001, Social Darwinism and Eugenics and British intellectual history from 1750 to the present. His main publications include Citizens and Saints: Politics and Anti-Politics in Early British Socialism (Cambridge University Press: 1989), Thomas Paine: Social and Political Thought (Unwin Hyman: 1989) and Machinery, Money and the Millennium: From Moral Economy to Socialism, 1815-1860 (Princeton University Press: 1987). He has also edited Utopias of the British Enlightenment (Cambridge University Press: 1994) and The Owenite Socialist Movement: Pamphlets and Correspondence (2006), 10 vols.

Friday, September 25, 7am-9am, Newmarket Room at the Ellerslie Event Centre, Ellerslie Racecourse, Auckland
Suffrage Breakfast commemorating Women’s Suffrage Day and Women’s Health Action’s 25th Anniversary. Click here to register online. Given that it is Womens Health Actions 25th Anniversary this year, we have invited Sandra Coney co-founder of the organisation to speak. Sandra will reflect on more than 25 years of women’s health activism focusing on what have we achieved for the “Little Health of Ladies” and what there is left to achieve? Celebrate Suffrage Day at this informative and entertaining event. Tickets are $35 each (GST inc.) or $330 for a table of ten (Includes breakfast). Book a table for your work colleagues or friends. For more information contact Womens Health Action on 09 520 5295 or email info@womens-health.org.nz We would love to see you at this event, please feel free to forward this email to your friends and colleagues and please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any queries or require any further information. Kind Regards, Isis Mckay, Email: isis@womens-health.org.nz Women’s Health Action, P O Box 9947, Newmarket, Auckland. Ph: 09 5205295, fax: 09 520 5731 Website: https://www.womens-health.org.nz

Saturday, October 3, 2pm, QEII Square, Customs Street and Queen Street intersection, outside Downtown Shopping Centre.
Rally for Justice and Peace in Palestine, come and support justice and peace based on an end to 40 years of Israeli Occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip (including East Jerusalem), the right of return for Palestinian refugees, sharing Jerusalem, vacating all settlement colonies in Israeli occupied Palestine, and stopping Israel’s annexation / apartheid wall in occupied Palestine. Starts 2pm, Organised by the Palestine Human Rights Campaign, for more information contact email or go to this web site.

October 7-8, Manurewa Marae, 81 Finlayson Ave, Manurewa, South Auckland
NA TA TATOU ROUROU – With Our Baskets the Children Will Prosper – A hui to build activism to end child poverty in Aotearoa. For registration details see the CPAG website at www.cpag.org.nz
Hui speakers: The following speakers/presenters have confirmed their participation. Di Grennell, Family violence prevention worker from Northland will talk about her experience of community based violence prevention programmes; Teuila Percival, A paediatrician at Kidz First Children’s Hospital in South Auckland will discuss the health needs of poor children & the challenges we face in addressing these; John Minto, Teacher and trade unionist will discuss equity in education; Shirley Maihi, Manurewa Primary school principal will talk about her progress in building community around a Decile 1school; Peter Sykes, Social worker from Mangere will discuss the role of community based social work in meeting the needs of poor communities & alienated youth; Paul Blair, Welfare advocate from the Rotorua Peoples Advocacy Centre will discuss his community activism as a welfare and ACC advocate; Nikki Turner, General practitioner, university senior lecturer & member of CPAG executive will discuss ways in which we can move toward community based health practice; Taz Harrison, Musician & television producer will talk about the role of music in social activism; Susan St John, Associate Professor of Economics, University of Auckland & CPAG Executive member will discuss welfare alternatives

ANNOUNCEMENTS

INVITATION TO JOIN MARCH ON GAZA, JA/1/2010. GAZA SHALL NOT DIE
Imagine hundreds of thousands of peaceful international and Palestinian marchers, led by Noam Chomsky, Ralph Nader, Diana Buttu, Norman Finkelstein, Noami Klein, Arun Gandhi, George Galloway, and other prominent opponents of the siege. Imagine them, approaching the Erez crossing under the eyes of the international media, breaking the siege for once and for all. This is the Gaza Freedom March! The Gaza Freedom March Campaign plans to take thousands of international marchers to Gaza on Jan. 1, 2010, and challenge once and for all the Israeli blockade at the Erez crossing. Go with them, or support someone else who’s willing to go. Events to raise money to help enable people to go on the March in Gaza are planned throughout the Fall. This group has many sister groups, to enable each group to have a local focus for organizing, and to avoid exceeding Facebook’s limit of 5000 for messaging group members. Please join the appropriate campaign group which is best targeted to your locale. All FB groups will be updated with the latest information. Please invite all your friends to this or the appropriate other FaceBook group. This Campaign needs the support of hundreds of thousands around the world! http://gazafreedommarch.org/article.php?id=5063 International Movement to Open Rafah Border intmorb@googlemail.com

HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT THE TELECOM WORKERS
How can I help? You can: – Call 0900 STAND TALL to make a $10 donation to the support fund.
– Make a donation at any BNZ branch or by online transfer to this account: 02-0568-0177685-00, Reference: Telco
– Start fundraising on your site for more information call 0800 1 UNION.
– Email Telecom CEO Paul Reynolds (the $5 million dollar man) at paul.reynolds@telecom.co.nz to tell him to get Visionstream to come to the table.
– Show your support by ringing talkback, talking to your friends and workmates and writing letters to the editor about this dispute and what it means for Kiwi workers. For more information you can visit the campaign site here http://www.epmu.org.nz/telecom

LIBERATION OF ALBERT PARK – ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION 1PM SEPTEMBER 20
September this year marks the 40th anniversary of the “liberation” of Auckland’s Albert Park as a free speech area, on September 21st 1969. An event with bands and free speech is planned for the afternoon of September 20th to celebrate the anniversary. Everybody is welcome! Remember – September 20, 1.00pm – Albert Park. Albert Park Photos: http://pym-vietnamwaractivismhistory.blogspot.com/ Contact: jumpingsunday@clear.net.nz Speakers include Tim Shadbolt & Sue Bradford. Entertainers: The Frank E. Evans Band, Graham Brazier (‘Hello Sailor’), ‘Starfish Magic’ with Dave Neumegen (Arif Usmani), Tigi Ness (‘Unity Pacific’), & special street theatre performance! We are also hoping to track down Alistair Riddell (‘Space Waltz’ singer) who played in the ‘Mad Dog Jug Band’ in 1969. If you know how to contact him, please let him & us know.ALSO! DISPLAY AT THE AUCK PUBLIC LIBRARY: Come to the launch 1pm on Sat 19 September (Floor 3). If you have any archival material from 1969 – photographs, clippings, leaflets etc, please send to ‘Jumping Sunday ‘09’, PO Box 86022 Mangere East 2158, or contact us by return email. The library display, including unique film footage, will continue for 2 weeks during the festival.

CALLING ALL NEW ZEALANDERS: JOIN THE NEXT SOLIDARITY BRIGADE TO VENEZUELA! DECEMBER 1-9, 2009
Organised by the Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network. Venezuela’s Bolivarian revolution led by President Hugo Chavez is shaking up global politics and inspiring millions of ordinary people with the evidence that a better – a peaceful, democratic and socially just – world is possible.
* Whereas in Australia and Aotearoa, public health, education and infrastructure is being run down or privatised, in Venezuela, major industries are being nationalised and put under workers’ control, and universal access to health, education and social welfare is now guaranteed.
* Whereas in Australia and Aotearoa, workers are being sacked, and wages and conditions are being eroded under the guise of “weathering” the economic crisis, in Venezuela, wages are increasing, and union membership and organisation is growing.
The Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network-organised brigades to Venezuela are a unique opportunity to see an unfolding revolution first-hand. The AVSN warmly welcomes the participation of New Zealanders on the brigades. Participants in the December 1-9, 2009, brigade will visit worker-controlled factories and cooperatives, free public education and health programs, and community media outlets. They will observe “popular power” at work in communal councils, and speak to a range of grassroots organisations, unions and government representatives about the radical changes being implemented by the Venezuelan people.
The AVSN has organised nine solidarity brigades to Venezuela, involving more than 165 participants. These study/solidarity tours are inspiring experiences, providing an opportunity to observe and understand why Venezuela’s goal of creating “socialism of the 21st century’’ is transforming the world.
Brigade organisation and costs: The deadline for registering for the December 2009 brigade to Venezuela is October 31, 2009. Participants will need to book their own international airfares, but the brigade organisers can help with advice. Accommodation, transport and English translation within Venezuela will be organised for brigade participants. You will need to budget for a total cost of approximately $4000. This includes: international return airfare and taxes; accommodation (twin-share basis); transport and food in Venezuela; and the brigade registration fee ($500 for workers, $300 for full-time students or pensioners). Reports and photos from previous AVSN brigades are posted at http://www.venezuelasolidarity.org. For more information, please email brigades@venezuelasolidarity.org

27TH SOUTHERN CROSS BRIGADE TO CUBA
“A better world is possible”: The Cuban people have proven that there is another way. ICAP (the Cuban Institute for Friendship between Peoples) provides, through its Brigades, the opportunity for people from all over the world to experience and participate in the Cuban revolutio.

What does the Brigade entail?
Join the Southern Cross work/study tour and support Cuba in the most direct manner by working (picking fruit or pruning fruit trees, etc) and then visiting schools, hospitals, urban agriculture projects, etc You will experience at first hand the cultural, political and social conditions in revolutionary Cuba. This year we will be having a closer look at Cuba’s innovative approaches to the environment and climate change. Children are welcome on this tour as are older participants. Our Cuban hosts take great care of visitors of all ages. The main features of the Brigade include:
* Talks on various aspects of conditions in Cuba given by prominent Cuban speakers;
* Working with Cubans;
* Visits to places of interest (eg schools, hospitals, factories);
* Opportunities to explore Havana independently;
* Visits to provincial centres;* Homestays and visit to Las Tunas Province

Unbeatable value – $1000. (Includes: All meals, accommodation, excursions and transportation in Cuba during program). Not included:
– Air travel to Cuba – get in early to book your flights! (Check out Aerolineas for cheap flights. There are now also weekly flights with Continental from Los Angeles to Havana.)
– Compulsory travel insurance
– Any additional nights stay in Cuba prior to commencement of the Brigade or following the conclusion of the program (prior to the flight home). Inexpensive accommodation is available – opportunity for independent tourism

Contacts: NZ Paul Maunder (03) 732 4010 email wkcultur@ihug.co.nz; Ina Lawrence (09) 303 1755 email inashina@clear.net.nz Australia Robert Cooper – National Coordinator of the 27th Southern Cross Brigade – 0408 624 629, email robert@conceptis.com.au or write to PO Box 6139 Kingston ACT 2604.

WAIHOPAI SPYBASE PROTEST JANUARY 22-24, 2010
The Waihopai spybase was dragged into the public spotlight in April 2008 when three Ploughshares peace activists penetrated its high security and deflated one of the two domes concealing its satellite dishes from the NZ public. The Anti-Bases Campaign was happy to support this non-violent direct action anti-war activity (which is yet to come to trial). The public face of New Zealand’s role as an American ally is the NZ military presence in Afghanistan. But New Zealand’s most significant contribution to that, and other American wars, including the one in Iraq, is the Waihopai electronic intelligence gathering base, located in the Waihopai Valley, near Blenheim. It is controlled by the US, with New Zealand (including Parliament and the Prime Minister) having little or no idea what goes on there, let alone any control.
First announced in 1987, Waihopai is operated by New Zealand’s Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) in the interests of the foreign Powers grouped together in the super-secret UKUSA Agreement (which shares global electronic and signals intelligence among the intelligence agencies of the US, UK, Canada, Australia and NZ). Its two satellite interception dishes intercept a huge volume of civilian telephone calls, telexes, faxes, e-mail and computer data communications. It spies on our Asia/Pacific neighbours, and forwards the material on to the major partners in the UKUSA Agreement, specifically the US National Security Agency (NSA). Its targets are international civilian communications involving New Zealanders, including the interception of international phone calls. Post- 9/11 the GCSB and Waihopai now spy further afield, to those regions where the US is waging wars. The codename for this – Echelon – has become notorious worldwide as the vast scope of its spying has become public. New Zealand is an integral, albeit junior part of a global spying network, a network that is ultimately accountable only to its own constituent agencies, not governments, not citizens.
Join us for the weekend of anti-war protest at this spybase. Come prepared for roughing it and camping out. We provide the food (we cater for vegetarians but vegans will have to bring their own). Bring sleeping bag, groundsheet, a tent, torch, water bottle, eating utensils, clothing for all weather, and $40 (or $20 unwaged) to cover costs. No open fires.
How to find our camp at Whites Bay: turn off SH1 at Tuamarina (9km north of Blenheim or 20 km south of Picton) and drive to Rarangi on the coast. Follow the steep Port Underwood Road over the hilltop before descending to the Whites Bay turnoff. There is a DoC public camp at the bay with basic facilities. ABC has to pay a fixed charge per head.
This will be the first Waihopai spybase protest since the Domebusters’ courageous 2008 citizens’ deflation action. Waihopai does not operate in the interests of New Zealanders or our neighbours. Basically it is a foreign spybase on NZ soil and directly involves us in America’s wars. Waihopai must be closed.

Register to take part in the protest ($40 waged / $20 unwaged). Writre to: CLOSE THE WAIHOPAI SPYBASE NOW! Organised by the Anti-Bases Campaign, P.O. Box 2258, Christchurch. E-mail cafca@chch.planet.org.nz www.converge.org.nz/abc Make all cheques to ABC

NOMINATIONS FOR 2009 ROGER AWARD
Nominations are now open for the 2009 Roger Award for the Worst Transnational Corporation Operating in Aotearoa/New Zealand, which is organised the Campaign Against Foreign Control of Aotearoa and GATT Watchdog. You can download the nomination form (in either Word or PDF) from http://canterbury.cyberplace.co.nz/community/CAFCA/publications/Roger/index.html Nominations close on October 31, 2009. Send your nomination to: The Roger Award, Box 2258, Christchurch; e-mail cafca@chch.planet.org.nz

AUCKLAND HERITAGE PEACE WALK
9.00am Sunday 27 September, QEII Square – New Zealand is the starting place for a World March for Peace and Nonviolence which will travel around the globe with stops in 90 countries, beginning with an event in Auckland, to be followed by the official launch in Wellington on 2 October. The World March was initiated by the organisation World Without Wars. The objectives of the World March are: •To give a voice to the majority of world citizens who want peace by having them send out a unified signal •To create global awareness of the urgent need to condemn of all forms of violence and bring about real peace •By highlighting the work of individuals and organizations around the world to end violence and promote peace, citizens who are moved to support this work will be empowered to do so. Aotearoa-New Zealand was chosen in recognition of: •The nonviolence traditions of Moriori and Parihaka •Being the first country to grant women the vote •Being the only country to have a Minister for Disarmament •Our inclusion of peace studies in the school curriculum and the establishment of Peace Cities •Our moves towards peaceful resolution of past injustices to Tangata Whenua and other ethnic communities
•Our nuclear-free status •Our government’s support for the UN. The Auckland Heritage Peace Walk Launch is Auckland’s welcome to the international participants in the World March. The walk will visit various peace landmarks around the central city, ending at St Matthew-in-the-City with performances, exhibits, music and speakers. Sites on the walk include: • Rainbow Warrior mural, Marsden Wharf
• The Peace Place, Emily Place • Memorial – Tiananmen Square Massacre , Maclaurin Chapel, Princes St, • Albert Park – the band rotunda • Gateway sculpture, Victoria St • Suffragette mural, Khartoum Place. Local individuals and groups have endorsed the World March including: Helen Clark, Jim Anderton, Jacinda Ardern, Phil Goff, Phil Twyford, Sir Paul Reeves, Kerry Prendergast, Dr Kate Dewes, Marion Hancock, Kevin Clements, Pauline Tangiora, Moana Manipoto, Yulia, Amnesty International, Greenpeace, Disarmament and Security Centre, The Peace Foundation, Oxfam, United Nations Association of NZ. We are seeking further endorsements as well as participation in the Auckland Heritage Peace Wal. Auckland co-ordinators for the volunteer team organising the Auckland events: Audrey van Ryn: 368 1516 audrey@writeaway.co.nz and Wende Jowsey: wende@jowsey.com www.worldmarch.co.nz www.theworldmarch.org

BEST ON THE WEB

NEW ZEALAND

Minto calls for limit on CEO salaries http://www.3news.co.nz/Veteran-activist-calls-for-cap-on-pay/tabid/421/articleID/119268/cat/52/Default.aspx

Video of Afghanistan protest

Photos and report of Afghanistan protest http://indymedia.org.nz/article/77602/sas-afghanistan-opposed

John Minto: Welcoming the storm of outrage

Welcoming the storm of outrage by John Minto – Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee knew he’d provoke a storm of outrage with his plans to open up conservation land for mining companies. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0909/S00014.htm

ECONOMIC CRISIS

Capitalist crisis throws 1 billion into starvation http://www.themilitant.com/2009/7334/733463.html

Finance Gone Wild By Simon Johnson – Simon Johnson, a professor of entrepreneurship at M.I.T.’s Sloan School of Management, is the former chief economist at the International Monetary Fund. http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/03/finance-gone-wild/?pagemode=print

REVIEWS

This month has been a very good one for leftist documentaries. Joining “The Cove” and “Crude” are two more films at the Film Forum. The first is “American Casino”, which opens today. Directed by Andrew Cockburn (Alexander’s brother) and his wife Leslie, this amounts to a film version of Matt Taibbi’s hard-hitting Rolling Stone article on the subprime meltdown but without the gonzo flourishes. This will be followed by “The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and The Pentagon Papers” that opens on the 16th. Both movies are outstanding. Read full review: http://louisproyect.wordpress.com/2009/09/02/american-casino-the-most-dangerous-man-in-america/

CHILE

Lamento Mapuche

KOREA

For those interested in the situation on the Korean Peninsula and in particular North Korea can find further information on the website of the NZ-DPRK Society: http://sites.google.com/site/nzdprksociety/

KOSOVA

Kosovo is restless again http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/aug/31/kosovo-supervised-independence

PALESTINE

Israel: A Stalemated Action of History By GABRIEL KOLKO http://www.counterpunch.org/kolko08252009.html

PARAGUAY

Change is still to come; The first year of Fernando Lugo’s government http://links.org.au/node/1226

USA

How American awfulness stacks up: Americans may be some of the least healthy people in the rich part of this world, but we sure do feel good about ourselves! That’s one of the more interesting revelations in the 2009 edition of the OECD’s Social Indicators. Americans lead the world in obesity, lag the world in life expectancy and infant mortality—yet 89% of us report ourselves to be in excellent health, just behind the world’s biggest health-boasters, New Zealanders, who beat us by a point in self-reported health, but who outlive us by more than two years. http://www.leftbusinessobserver.com/Awfulness.html

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