#305: Jesson Lect Wed / Min Wage protest Fri

GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND
NEWSLETTER No. 305, October 27, 2009

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TWO EVENTS OF SPECIAL INTEREST THIS WEEK (see "What’s On in Auckland" below for additional details)

Wednesday, October 28, 6.30pm, Maidment Theatre, Alfred St, University of Auckland
Annual Bruce Jesson Lecture to be given by Robert Wade, Professor of Political Economy, London School of Economics. "How to stop the money men from taking over the world – (or, when will we face another September 2008)?" Taking off from Bruce Jesson’s ‘Only Their Purpose is Mad: ‘The money men take over NZ’

Friday, October 30, 7:00pm – 8:00pm, Aotea Square, Queen Street, Auckland CBD
Halloween Trick or Treat – Protest March for $15 hr Living Wage – On the night before Halloween join the PROTEST MARCH FOR $15HR LIVING WAGE in Aotea Square at 7pm followed by a Halloween party at a secret location. Wear a Halloween costume and be part of a protest with a difference. On Friday 30 October round up your friends and workmates and head into the city for the world’s biggest Trick or Treat. “John Key, trick or treat? Will the minimum wage in 2010 be a trick or a treat?”

WHAT’S ON IN AUCKLAND

Wednesday, October 28, 6.30pm, Maidment Theatre, Alfred St, University of Auckland
Annual Bruce Jesson Lecture to be given by Robert Wade, Professor of Political Economy, London School of Economics. "How to stop the money men from taking over the world – (or, when will we face another September 2008)?" Taking off from Bruce Jesson’s ‘Only Their Purpose is Mad: ‘The money men take over NZ’, Robert Wade discusses several reforms of the international monetary and financial system aimed at stabilising global financial markets and curbing the power of the financial sector. After considering the easy part — ‘what should be done’ — he goes on to discuss ‘what can be done’, nationally, regionally and globally. Professor Robert Wade is one of the world’s most prominent independent thinkers about the contemporary challenges facing the global economy. As professor of political economy at the London School of Economics, Wade espouses a heterdox approach to economics in contrast to the prevailing neoliberal / neoclassical paradigm. As an expatriate New Zealander he has continued to contribute to discussions on New Zealand’s economic direction, including in the context of the global economic crisis.The Maidment bar will open at 5.30pm. Supported by The University of Auckland Award for Distinguished Visitors and the Bruce Jesson Foundation

Friday, October 30, 6pm, The Women’s Bookshop, 105 Ponsonby Rd, Auckland
Canterbury University Pressand The Women’s Bookshop invite you to celebrate the publication of Looking for Answers A LIFE OF ELSIE LOCKE by Maureen Birchfield

Friday, October 30, 7:00pm – 8:00pm, Aotea Square, Queen Street, Auckland CBD
Halloween Trick or Treat – Protest March for $15 hr Living Wage – On the night before Halloween join the PROTEST MARCH FOR $15HR LIVING WAGE in Aotea Square at 7pm followed by a Halloween party at a secret location. Wear a Halloween costume and be part of a protest with a difference. On Friday 30 October round up your friends and workmates and head into the city for the world’s biggest Trick or Treat. “John Key, trick or treat? Will the minimum wage in 2010 be a trick or a treat?”

Thursday, November 5, 7.30pm, Socialist Centre, 86 Princes Street, Onehunga, Auckland
Socialist Worker Forum: Pollution Market & Bad Banks – KEYNOTE SPEAKERS •DAVID PARKER, writer for http://www.wellsharp.wordpress.com •BRONWEN BEECHEY, Socialist Worker – New Zealand. This educational forum explores why the so-called "Emissions Trading Scheme" should be more properly called the Pollution Market, and exactly how it will make our environmental problems worse. This is closely linked to the political agenda of big banks, investment drivers of the global economy and, therefore, of the politics of late capitalism. All greens and leftists welcome. For more information, contact Bronwen i_c_red or phone the Socialist Centre (09) 634 3984.

Thursday, November 5, 3-4pm, Seminar in WF710, 4-6pm Launch and refreshments in WF901, AUT
You are invited to the inaugural event for the Employment Law Forum. The Forum is the most recently established grouping in the New Zealand Work and Labour Market Institute at AUT University. Its focus is on providing both academic analysis of employment law development and the opportunity for discussion and debate on the law among employment lawyers and employment relations specialists. Convenor Pam Nuttall, Senior Lecturer, School of Law, will chair a presentation and discussion on: “Scabs or Santa’s Little Helpers? Strike-breaking and Section 97 ERA” Presenter: Dr Rodney Harrison, QC. Commentators: Helen White and Simon Mitchell. Dr Rodney Harrison, QC will require little introduction to employment relations specialists as one of our pre-eminent public law and employment law silks. We look forward to his reflections on his recent Court of Appeal appearances in the Finau and Air Nelson cases and to his insights into evolving developments in the jurisprudence. We are also fortunate to have commentary from senior employment barristers Simon Mitchell and Helen White, who have recently appeared for protagonists in various hearings related to the Open Country Cheese lockout and will have valuable contributions to make in response to the presentation. RSVP to nzwalmi by Monday 2 November for catering purposes

Saturday & Sunday, December 5-6, Mt Eden Summit Hall, Auckland
We are pleased to inform you that Migrante Aotearoa New Zealand (MANZ) will hold its Founding National Assembly on 5-6 December 2009 (Saturday, Sunday) at the Mt Eden Summit Hall, Auckland. Working on the theme “Advancing the Rights and Welfare of Filipinos and other Migrants in Aotearoa,” around 200 participants coming from the various regions in New Zealand will converge in Auckland for this momentous occasion. Sessions on advocacy and education for migrants, drafting of general program of action and election of the first set of national officers will be held in this assembly. Dennis Maga, Migrant Workers Support Coordinator, National Distribution Union (NDU), 120 Church St. Onehunga, Auckland 1643. Email: dennis.maga Mobile: 021971070 Tel. 09 6228355 Ext. 308

ANNOUNCEMENTS

NOMINATIONS FOR 2009 ROGER AWARD CLOSE OCTOBER31
Nominations are now open for the 2009 Roger Award for the Worst TransnationalCorporation Operating in Aotearoa/New Zealand, which is organised the CampaignAgainst Foreign Control of Aotearoa and GATT Watchdog. You can download thenomination form (in either Word or PDF) from http://canterbury.cyberplace.co.nz/community/CAFCA/publications/Roger/index.htmlNominations close on October 31, 2009. Send your nomination to: The RogerAward, Box 2258, Christchurch; e-mail cafca@chch.planet.org.nz

WAIHOPAI SPYBASE PROTEST JANUARY 22-24, 2010
The Waihopai spybase was dragged into the public spotlight in April 2008 whenthree Ploughshares peace activists penetrated its high security and deflatedone of the two domes concealing its satellite dishes from the NZ public. TheAnti-Bases Campaign was happy to support this non-violent direct actionanti-war activity (which is yet to come to trial). The public face of NewZealand’s role as an American ally is the NZ military presence inAfghanistan. But New Zealand’s most significant contribution to that, andother American wars, including the one in Iraq, is the Waihopai electronicintelligence gathering base, located in the Waihopai Valley, near Blenheim. Itis controlled by the US, with New Zealand (including Parliament and the PrimeMinister) having little or no idea what goes on there, let alone any control.Join us for the weekend of anti-war protest at this spybase. Come prepared forroughing it and camping out. We provide the food (we cater for vegetarians butvegans will have to bring their own). Bring sleeping bag, groundsheet, a tent,torch, water bottle, eating utensils, clothing for all weather, and $40 (or $20unwaged) 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) anddrive to Rarangi on the coast. Follow the steep Port Underwood Road over thehilltop before descending to the Whites Bay turnoff. There is a DoC public campat 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 inthe interests of New Zealanders or our neighbours. Basically it is a foreignspybase on NZ soil and directly involves us in America’s wars. Waihopaimust be closed. Register to take part in the protest ($40 waged / $20 unwaged).Writre to: CLOSE THE WAIHOPAI SPYBASE NOW! Organised by the Anti-BasesCampaign, P.O. Box 2258, Christchurch. E-mail cafca@chch.planet.org.nz http://www.converge.org.nz/abcMake all cheques to ABC

HAMMER THE POKIES: MORE HAMMERS NEEDED!
Thanks for the positive responses to the appeal for people to join thecampaign. We won’t be calling for action in the short term as we need to buildnumbers much higher. This campaign aims to enlist a minimum of 200 hammers(with people attached!) and take civil disobedience action to drive pokiemachines out of our neighbourhood communities. 80% of the cases of gamblingaddiction relate to pokie machines in the community (aside from casinos) Theseare 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 civildisobedience action against pokie machines then please email John Minto jbminto@xtra.co.nz or Phone 8463173.

INVITATION TO JOIN MARCH ON GAZA, JAN/1/2010. GAZA SHALL NOTDIE
Imagine hundreds of thousands of peaceful international and Palestinianmarchers, led by Noam Chomsky, Ralph Nader, Diana Buttu, Norman Finkelstein,Noami Klein, Arun Gandhi, George Galloway, and other prominent opponents of thesiege. Imagine them, approaching the Erez crossing under the eyes of theinternational media, breaking the siege for once and for all. This is the GazaFreedom March! The Gaza Freedom March Campaign plans to take thousands ofinternational marchers to Gaza on Jan. 1, 2010, and challenge once and for allthe Israeli blockade at the Erez crossing. Go with them, or support someoneelse who’s willing to go. Events to raise money to help enable people to go onthe March in Gaza are planned throughout the Fall. This group has many sistergroups, to enable each group to have a local focus for organizing, and to avoidexceeding Facebook’s limit of 5000 for messaging group members. Please join theappropriate campaign group which is best targeted to your locale. All FB groupswill be updated with the latest information. Please invite all your friends tothis or the appropriate other FaceBook group. This Campaign needs the supportof hundreds of thousands around the world! http://gazafreedommarch.org/article.php?id=5063International Movement to Open Rafah Border intmorb@googlemail.com

CALLING ALL NEW ZEALANDERS: JOIN THE NEXT SOLIDARITY BRIGADE TOVENEZUELA! DECEMBER 1-9, 2009
Organised by the Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network.Venezuela’s Bolivarian revolution led by President Hugo Chavez is shakingup global politics and inspiring millions of ordinary people with the evidencethat a better – a peaceful, democratic and socially just – world ispossible. The Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network-organised brigades toVenezuela 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-controlledfactories and cooperatives, free public education and health programs, andcommunity media outlets. They will observe “popular power” at workin communal councils, and speak to a range of grassroots organisations, unionsand government representatives about the radical changes being implemented bythe Venezuelan people. Brigade organisation and costs: The deadline forregistering for the December 2009 brigade to Venezuela is October 31, 2009.Participants will need to book their own international airfares, but thebrigade organisers can help with advice. Accommodation, transport and Englishtranslation within Venezuela will be organised for brigade participants. Youwill 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 forworkers, $300 for full-time students or pensioners). Reports and photos fromprevious 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 thereis another way. ICAP (the Cuban Institute for Friendship between Peoples)provides, through its Brigades, the opportunity for people from all over theworld to experience and participate in the Cuban revolution.
What does the Brigade entail? Join the Southern Crosswork/study tour and support Cuba in the most direct manner by working (pickingfruit or pruning fruit trees, etc) and then visiting schools, hospitals, urbanagriculture projects, etc You will experience at first hand the cultural,political and social conditions in revolutionary Cuba. This year we will behaving a closer look at Cuba’s innovative approaches to the environmentand climate change. Children are welcome on this tour as are olderparticipants. Our Cuban hosts take great care of visitors of all ages. The mainfeatures of the Brigade include: * Talks on various aspects of conditions inCuba given by prominent Cuban speakers; * Working with Cubans; * Visits toplaces of interest (eg schools, hospitals, factories); * Opportunities toexplore Havana independently; * Visits to provincial centres;* Homestays andvisit to Las Tunas Province. Unbeatable value – $1000. (Includes: Allmeals, accommodation, excursions and transportation in Cuba during program).Not included: – Air travel to Cuba – get in early to book your flights! (Checkout Aerolineas for cheap flights. There are now also weekly flights withContinental from Los Angeles to Havana.) – Compulsory travel insurance. – Anyadditional nights stay in Cuba prior to commencement of the Brigade orfollowing the conclusion of the program (prior to the flight home). Inexpensiveaccommodation is available – opportunity for independent tourism.Contacts: NZ Paul Maunder (03) 732 4010 email wkcultur@ihug.co.nz; Ina Lawrence (09)303 1755 email inashinaAustralia Robert Cooper – National Coordinator of the 27th Southern CrossBrigade – 0408 624 629, email robert@conceptis.com.au or write toPO Box 6139 Kingston ACT 2604.

JOIN ANTI-BASES CAMPAIGN IN SOLIDARITY WITH WAIHOPAI DOMEBUSTERSTRIAL STARTS MONDAY MARCH 8, WELLINGTON DISTRICT COURT
Monday March 8, 2010 has been set as the opening day for theWellington District Court jury trial of the Waihopai Domebusters – SamLand, Adrian Leason and Peter Murnane, the Ploughshares activists who deflatedone of the domes at the Waihopai spybase in April 2008. The trial has been setdown for a week (and may last several days longer). Anti-Bases Campaign urgesall our members and supporters, and everyone who believes that the Waihopaispybase should be closed, to come to Wellington to show active solidarity withthe Domebusters. It was a Ploughshares action, not an ABC one and we were assurprised by it as the rest of the country, but it was an action that we fullyendorse, the perfect example of non-violent direct action. At this stage wehaven’t worked out the details of what we are going to do in Wellington,but we want to get the word out now, and we will release details as they cometo hand. Activities will, hopefully, include:
•Being spectators at the actual trial, being there in court to support thethree of them
•Holding a picket outside the Wellington District Court for at least partof the trial
•Holding a protest action at the nearby HQ of the NZ GovernmentCommunications Security Bureau (GCSB), the top secret agency which runsWaihopai
•Holding a public meeting in central Wellington one night of the trial todiscuss Waihopai and related issues
These are just some of the ideas that we already have. There are others –we would like to have our excellent Waihopai spybase display in Wellingtonduring the trial, if a venue can be arranged. And there are other worthytargets for pickets, such as the US Embassy. We need help from Wellingtonians.ABC is a Christchurch group and it is difficult to organise a range ofactivities like this from long distance. There are a number of things that canbest be done by locals. And we urge people from all around the country to joinus in Wellington from Monday March 8 to show active solidarity with theDomebusters. What these brave guys did had not only national, butinternational, significance. This trial could, quite literally, be a once in alifetime event. You will have to arrange and finance your own travel andaccommodation. Bring appropriate placards and banners. The trial is, of course,on weekdays and during work hours. And it’s worth noting that courthearings can be subject to delays at short notice. But we are proceeding on thebasis that the trial has been set to start on Monday March 8.
SEE YOU IN WELLINGTON MARCH 8, Murray Horton, Anti-Bases Campaign, Box 2258,Christchurch, New Zealand. cafca@chch.planet.org.nz http://www.converge.org.nz/abc

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

"They tell us that we live in a great free republic; that our institutionsare democratic; that we are a free and self-governing people. That is too much,even for a joke. … Wars throughout history have been waged for conquest andplunder… And that is war in a nutshell. The master class has always declaredthe wars; the subject class has always fought the battles." : Eugene VictorDebs

"Few of us can easily surrender our belief that society must somehow makesense. The thought that The State has lost its mind and is punishing so manyinnocent people is intolerable. And so the evidence has to be internallydenied." : Arthur Miller playwright

"A human being is part of a whole, called by us the ‘Universe,’ a partlimited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings,as something separated from the rest–a kind of optical delusion of hisconsciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to ourpersonal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest us. Our task mustbe to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circles of compassion toembrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty." AlbertEinstein

BEST ONTHE WEB

NEW ZEALAND

State agency spy powers ‘chilling’ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10604944

WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO REAL WAGES IN NEW ZEALAND 1982-2009? By Mike Treen,Unite National Director http://www.unite.org.nz/?q=node/704

NZ agents join secret war in Afghanistan http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10596090

Mind the Gap: Inequality, Theology and the Quest for an Inclusive Society byMr Andrew Bradstock – Mr Andrew Bradstock is Howard Paterson Professor ofTheology and Public Issues at the University of Otago, Dunedin. Click here todownload Andrew Bradstock’s Ferguson Lecture (PDF Format 164KB)

Climate subsidies worth $225K for each Tiwai Pt job http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10605697

New $477m Threshold Makes Sick Joke Of Any "Oversight" Of Foreign Investmenthttp://www.infonews.co.nz/news.cfm?l=1&t=72&id=43696

It’s Time To Raise The Minimum Wage! BY CHRIS FORD http://www.voxy.co.nz/politics/its-time-raise-minimum-wage/1273/28422

Matt McCarten: Key’s sortie into enemy territory outflanks rival http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10605229

Gordon Campbell: Education Minister Pulls Resources From Front Line RememberNational’s election promise to return New Zealand to the top half of theOECD tables? In government, its moves in education seem motivated more by adesire to return New Zealand to the golden age of Victorianism http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2009/10/22/campbell-tolley%E2%80%99s-19th-century-education-approach/

FEATURES

Why the international media lies about events in Latin America http://links.org.au/node/1311

The Caribbean and Latin America at the Rendezvous of History http://www.socialistvoice.ca/?p=717

ALBA Summit: Caricom members enter reservations on Sucre, Defence Council.Norman Girvan. The 7th ALBA Summit (16-17 October 09) has concluded in Boliviawith the adoption of a 30-point Final Declaration containing a 36-point Plan ofAction for economic, social, political and defence cooperation. http://www.normangirvan.info/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/alba-summit-comment.pdf

We Do Not Defer To Any Authority" By Noam Chomsky – If someone was watchingthis from Mars, they’d collapse in ridicule. The United States is telling Iranto stop its aggressive militarism? I mean we occupy two countries on theirborder, US spending on arms is approximately equal to the rest of the worldcombined, we’re threatening them with attack and violation of the UN Charterand on and on. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article23805.htm

FOOD, FARMING AND THE ENVIRONMENT

350 PPM CO2: The Upper Limit Of Human Habitats By climate scientist AndrewGlikson – http://www.countercurrents.org/glikson221009.htm

Copenhagen: rich countries push dirty deal http://www.greenleft.org.au/2009/814/41858

Most Arctic Sea Ice ‘Gone In Decade’ – http://www.countercurrents.org/lowe161009.htm

Carbon Emissions Must Peak By 2015: UN Climate Scientist http://www.countercurrents.org/afp161009.htm

Four Degrees of Devastation – Four degrees of warming would be hotter thanany time in the last 30 million years, and it could happen as soon as 2060 to2070 http://climateandcapitalism.com/?p=1185

Fidel: Humanity is an endangered species – ‘Our duty is to demand thetruth. The populations of all countries have the right to know the factors thatare giving rise to climate change and what current possibilities sciencepossesses for reversing the trend’ http://climateandcapitalism.com/?p=1187

Update on Copenhagen Demo Plans http://climateandcapitalism.com/?p=1202

When the climate change centre cannot hold http://links.org.au/node/1317

WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS

Funding Sweatshops Globally By Stephen Lendman http://www.countercurrents.org/lendman161009.htm

REVIEWS

Establishing an idea of the self – Alexander Meshcheryakov’s Awakeningto Life is a joy to read and invaluable for educators, says Leda Kamenopoulouhttp://www.aworldtowin.net/reviews/Meshcheryakov.html

Shedding light on a troubled mind – Jelena Gerreyn says that a sensitiveexploration into the strange world of Asperger’s syndrome breaks newground http://www.aworldtowin.net/reviews/Feral.html

4 TV Series That Should Not Be Missed – Serial TV is the best way to get amini-escape into another land, another life, another person’s head –here are four shows that will help you understand where the country is. http://www.alternet.org/story/143314/4_tv_series_that_should_not_be_missed_?page=2

CUBA

Cuba’s 2009 report to United Nations on the US economic blockade http://links.org.au/node/1315

HONDURAS

"Twelve trade unionists have been killed since the coup" http://www.larevolucionvive.org.ve/spip.php?article423&lang=en

INDIA

Terrorism In Goa: The Plot Thickens By Mustafa Khan http://www.countercurrents.org/khan261009.htm

INDONESIA

Indonesia: President’s inauguration marked by anti-neoliberal protests http://links.org.au/node/1308

MEXICO

Mexican Government Seizes Power Plants, Liquidates Company, Fires Workers,Union in Jeopardy http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/labotz111009.html

On Saturday, October 10, thousands of Mexican Federal Police seized controlof hundreds of installations of the state-owned Central Light and Power Company(Luz y Fuerza del Centro), which supplies electricity to Mexico City andseveral neighbouring states. Minutes later the government announced that thecompany was being liquidated and the 40,000 unionized workers dismissed. Ifallowed to stand, the government’s decree could lead not only to theprivatization of the country’s electrical industry, but also to the destructionof the Mexican Electrical Workers’ Union (SME) and elimination of its members’collective agreement and pension benefits for 15,000 retirees. The SME is oneof Mexico’s oldest independent trade union organizations with one of the bestcollective agreements in the country. It has been playing a leading role in thefight against privatization, proposed regressive reforms to the Federal LabourLaw, and other neoliberal policies. Its destruction would therefore represent amajor setback for Mexico’s independent labour movement and for all Mexicanworkers. Please click hereto send on your protest

PACIFIC

The politics of Fiji news media under scrutiny by David Robie http://cafepacific.blogspot.com/2009/10/politics-of-fiji-news-media-under.html

PAKISTAN

Obama is Only Making It Worse – Farce in Kabul, Tragedy in Pakistan By TARIQALI – Karzai has been a total disaster but so has the occupation that implantedhim in Kabul. Now with a war going badly wrong and the insurgents controllinglarge swathes of territory, Karzai is being scape-goated for sins for which heis not exclusively responsible. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article23762.htm

PALESTINE

UN must immediately adopt and act on Goldstone report By Omar Barghouti http://www.zcommunications.org/znet/viewArticle/22782

YES to BDS! An answer to Uri Avnery BY Michel Warschawski http://www.internationalviewpoint.org/spip.php?article1733

No way home: The tragedy of the Palestinian diaspora – You might thinkPalestinian refugees would be welcomed by their Arab neighbours, yet they aredenied basic rights and citizenship http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/no-way-home-the-tragedy-of-the-palestinian-diaspora-1806790.html

Debunking The Myths Surrounding Hamas – "They’re not bad,they’re just drawn that way" http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article23799.htm

PHILIPPINES

Typhoon devastation exposes Metro Manila’s town planning disaster http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2009/10/typhoon-devastation-exposes-metro-manilas-town-planning-disaster/

OFWs robbed of vote, twice http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/letterstotheeditor/view/20091019-230804/OFWs-robbed-of-vote-twice

Manila, After the Floods, Battles ‘Rat Fever’ http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1932199,00.html

WESTERN SAHARA

‘Sahrawi Gandhi’ awarded New York peace prize — Aminatou Haidar, achampion of peaceful resistance in the disputed African territory of WesternSahara, won Wednesday a leading international peace award. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gixank2PE-Cl8r8MlwMcsJBzAwdg

SRI LANKA

Brian Senewiratne on the humanitarian crisis facing the Tamil people http://links.org.au/node/1318

UK

A Postal Strike In Britain Is The War At Home By John Pilger – The Browngovernment is to mount a "fire sale" of public assets and services worth 16bn.Unmatched since Margaret Thatcher’s transfer of public wealth to a new grosselite, the sale, or theft, will include the Channel Tunnel rail link, bridges,the student loan bank, school playing fields, libraries and public housingestates. The plunder of the National Health Service and public education isalready under way. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article23780.htm

Fury as anti-terror laws used on climate activist http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/britain/Fury-as-anti-terror-laws-used-on-climate-activist

In the U.K. a national postal strike is looming. The right-wing tabloidpress is already whipping up anti-union hysteria. The Sun newspaper, forexample, writes: "Senior cops are drawing up plans to stop this week’s postalstrikes sparking violent clashes . . . There are fears that riots could breakout when the Royal Mail brings in 30,000 temporary workers to handle post."LabourStart has full coverage of thedispute, updated 24/7.

URUGUAY

Ex-Guerrilla Vies for Presidency of Uruguay http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/26/world/americas/26uruguay.html?_r=1

USA

America’s real quagmire – The biggest obstacle to reforming the US economy,healthcare or foreign policy isn’t Republicans – it’s the media http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/oct/23/obama-media-afghanistan-healthcare

4 Prisoners Facing Executions or Serving Extreme Jail Sentences Who VeryWell May Be Innocent – Recent evidence shows that an executed Texas man wasinnocent. There are others who still might avoid that fate. http://www.alternet.org/rights/143499/4_prisoners_facing_executions_or_serving_extreme_jail_sentences_who_very_well_may_be_innocent/

Obama Is Keeping Bush’s Worst "War on Terror" Policies Firmly In Place http://www.alternet.org/story/143400/obama_is_keeping_bush%27s_worst_%22war_on_terror%22_policies_firmly_in_place

WEST SAHARA

Polisario Front briefing paper on the question of Western Sahara http://links.org.au/node/1300

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