#308: Action for low paid Fri/Sat

GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND
NEWSLETTER No. 308, November , 2009

If you find this newsletter useful, kindly forward it to your friends and encourage them to join our mailing list by using this this link.

Website: https://gpjanz.wordpress.com/
Contact details:
Forums – John Minto, Work: (09) 845 2132, Home 09 846 3173 jbminto
Newsletter Editor & Website – Mike Treen 0295254744 mike
Donations can be sent to GPJA, P O Box 7175, Wellesley St, Auckland.

Subscriptions: To subscribe to this newsletter please use this link. To change your existing subscription details please use this link."

LIFT THE FREEZE ON LOW PAY SUPPORT THE DAY OF ACTION FOR LOW-PAID PUBLIC SECTOR WORKERS FRIDAY 27 NOVEMBER
A series of protest rallies will take place across the country on Friday 27 November to protest wage freezes in the public services, in particular the health, disability care and education sectors, and to build wider public support for the freeze to be thawed. The action will primarily involve members of the SFWU, NZEI and PSA but all other affiliates are encouraged to participate and show their support for this cause. The rallies are timed to take place for one hour at lunchtime on the 27th between 12.30 pm and 1.30 pm. The attached includes a list of the towns and locations where the rallies are planned. Please circulate this notice widely and encourage your members to join the rallies where they can and ensure a significant public display of support for the messages to the Government about low-paid state and state-funded workers opposing the wage freeze. In some locations transport will be arranged to help members attend. For further information contact the local SFWU organiser or call 0800 UNION1 (0800 864 661). Fliers and branding for banners etc is in preparation to ensure unity and consistency of message across the country and will be forwarded soon. For venues and more details http://union.org.nz/liftthefreeze

JOIN THE CROWD FOR A $15 AN HOUR MINIMUM WAGE AT THE GREY LYNN FESTIVAL THIS SATURDAY!
Join the good people from Unite Union and the Campaign for a Living Wage at this Saturday’s Grey Lynn Festival. Bring a plate and a few bottles, enjoy the good company of unionists and Living Wage activists, and combine a fun day out with gathering thousands of signatures together to raise the minimum wage to $15ph. Meet at the Big Red Blanket near the Whanau Stage at the bottom of Elgin Street entrance. Txt Joe at 029 44 55 702 if you’re coming! http://www.facebook.com/reqs.phpevent#/event.php?eid=183879539854&ref=mf

http://www.unite.org.nz/?q=node/690

PLANET A – CONCERT & MARCH – ON DECEMBER 5TH, THE SIGN ON CAMPAIGN WILL GO LIVE TO OPEN AIR!
In Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, you’ll be able to march, dance, listen to speakers, sing, and jump on bouncy castles in support of a good outcome in Copenhagen. From a massive free public concert in Auckland featuring top NZ bands and special ambassador performances, to a march to Parliament in Wellington, to a kids day in the River City, this is your LAST CHANCE to get out and show that you want NZ to do the right thing on climate change. See below for details on what’s happening near you. The Auckland event will be streamed live to the web via ziln.co.nz TV YEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHA!
Auckland: December 5th Auckland, Myers Park, Dec 5th, Free "PLANET A March and Concert for the Climate" – with Don McGlashan, Midnight Youth, Opshop and more! MC’d by Rhys Darby. Tell your friends – download the poster. Put it in your diary. MARCH begins at 1.pm and goes from Albert park up Queen Street to Myers Park. Help promote the march. On December 5, there will be a massive haka in Auckland to challenge world leaders to seal a fair, ambitious and binding climate change deal in Copenhagen. Everyone is encouraged to come to the ‘PLANET A — Concert for the Climate’ and join in. Take a stand for the sake of future generations and vulnerable people who are already struggling to cope with climate impacts that they did not cause. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPuqY7zxFww&feature=player_embedded
Wellington: WALK begins at 1.pm from Civic Square to Parliament -download the poster
Christchurch: In Christchurch we also have another great event planned for December 5: Sign On For The Next Generation. It’s going to be a fun, family fair with bouncy castle, games, speakers and spot prizes to support John Key doing the right thing at the Copenhagen climate talks. When: Saturday Dec 5, from 10:30-1:30pm. Where: Hagley Community College, 510 Hagley Avenue, Christchurch

WHAT’S ON IN AUCKLAND

Thursday, November 26, 5.30pm, Convention Centre, SkyCity, Federal St
On Behalf of the PSA: We have a number of PSA members at Abano Rehabilitation. They look after people who have suffered traumatic brain injuries. Our members have issued a strike notice to try and get a better offer than 0% from the employer. The employer has responded with a lockout. A number of members are on the minimum wage and many of them are paid close to it. As it happens Abano is up for the Company of the Year award at the Company Awards on: Thursday 26 November. The awards will be held at the Sky City Convention Centre (Federal St) and we will be picketing the site from 5.30-6.30pm.

Friday, November 27, 12.30pm, Methodist Church, Queen St (opp Town Hall)
LIFT THE FREEZE ON LOW PAY – 0% won’t pay the rent! Rallies nationwide Friday 27 November 12.30-1.30pm. Low paid workers in public services, schools and hospitals deserve a fair go. Demonstrate to tell the Government to lift the freeze on low paid workers. For further information contact your local SFWU organiser or call 0800 UNION1 (0800 864 661)

Saturday, November 28, from 9am Grey Lynn Park, Bottom of Elgin St
JOIN THE CROWD FOR A $15 AN HOUR MINIMUM WAGE AT THE GREY LYNN FESTIVAL THIS SATURDAY!
Join the good people from Unite Union and the Campaign for a Living Wage at this Saturday’s Grey Lynn Festival. Bring a plate and a few bottles, enjoy the good company of unionists and Living Wage activists, and combine a fun day out with gathering thousands of signatures together to raise the minimum wage to $15ph. Meet at the Big Red Blanket near the Whanau Stage at the bottom of Elgin Street entrance. Txt Joe at 029 44 55 702 if you’re coming! http://www.facebook.com/reqs.phpevent#/event.php?eid=183879539854&ref=mf
http://www.unite.org.nz/?q=node/690

Saturday, November 28, 11.30am, QE Square. March up Queen Street to rally in Myers Park at 12.30pm.
Think Pink on 28 November when low paid school support staff will march up Queen Street. Meet 12.30pm, QE Square. March up Queen Street to rally in Myers Park at 1pm. Message from NZEI; Lyndy McIntyre: Think Pink on 28 November when low paid school support staff will march up Queen Street with their schoolcommunities, families and supporters on Saturday 28 November. Deck the familyout in pink and march in support of a Fair Deal for these NZEI members who cancurrently be paid as little as $12.94 an hour.

Tuesday, December 1, 6pm, Pacific Media Centre AUT building cnrQueen and Wakefield sts
Indonesia Human Rights Committee :AGM and December 1 flag raising – AnnualGeneral Meeting December 1 at 6 pm at the Pacific Media Centre AUT building cnrQueen and Wakefield sts. If you can please bring a contribution to a sharedmeal. We are honoured to have a guest speaker to join us; Catherine DelahuntyMP sponsor of the important bill on deforestation and also active member ofInternational Parliamentarians for West Papua. This meeting will be preceded bya symbolic flag raising event on Queen St at 4-30 just close to the Town Hall.This year as in previous years IHRC marks the December 1 anniversary of the1961 date when the West Papuan people first raised the Morning Star flag andsang their national anthem. Now those who risk taking part in a flag raisingevent risk lengthy jail terms. for further information maire@clear.net.nz

Friday, December 4, 9.30am -5.00pm,Te Noho Kotahitanga Marae,UNITEC, Entry 3, Carrington Road, Auckland
MAORI AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT–BEYOND THE SUPERCITY Koteheate huarahitika?The Auckland Supercity is Governments proposed model for Local GovernmentinAotearoa. What is our desired future for Maori and Local Government? This huiwill discuss the issues, develop strategic responses to the rollback of Maoriinterests and launch a Declaration of intent towards advancing TinoRangatiratanga in Local Government. Programme highlights: •Situationaloverview from mana whenua; •Keynote address from MoanaJackson;•Political commentary by Matt McCarten; •National Maori Leadersdiscussion; •Declaration launch. Koha.The Auckland Supercity isGovernments proposed model for Local Governmentin Aotearoa. What is our desiredfuture for Maori and Local Government? This hui will discuss the issues,develop strategic responses to the rollback of Maori interests and launch aDeclaration of intent towards advancing Tino Rangatiratanga in LocalGovernment. This hui is coordinated by IHI (Iwi Have Influence) Action Groupwww.ihi.org.nzand is made possible through sponsorship of NgaPaeo teMaramatanga: New Zealand’s Maori Centre of Research Excellence and thesupport of UNITEC.

Saturday December 5, 1pm Albert Park, Princes St
Free "PLANET A March and Concert for the Climate" With Don McGlashan, MidnightYouth, Opshop and more! MC’d by Rhys Darby

Saturday, December 5, 2pm, Customs Street and Queen St intersection,Outside Downtown Shopping Centre
Rally for Justice and Peace in PALESTINE – Come support JUSTICE and PEACE basedon: 1. Ending 42 years of Israeli Occupation of the West Bank & Gaza Strip(including East Jerusalem); 2. Ensuring the Right of Return for Palestinianrefugees; 3. Sharing Jerusalem; 4. Vacating all settlement colonies in Israelioccupied Palestine; 5. Dismantling Israel’s annexation / apartheid wall inoccupied Palestine. Followed by picnic @ Albert Park .. band rotunda at 3.30pmon … bring a small contribution for shared refreshments if you can …

Saturday & Sunday, December 5-6, Mt Eden Summit Hall,Auckland
We are pleased to inform you that Migrante Aotearoa New Zealand (MANZ) willhold its Founding National Assembly on 5-6 December 2009 (Saturday, Sunday) atthe Mt Eden Summit Hall, Auckland. Working on the theme “Advancing theRights and Welfare of Filipinos and other Migrants in Aotearoa,” around200 participants coming from the various regions in New Zealand will convergein Auckland for this momentous occasion. Sessions on advocacy and education formigrants, drafting of general program of action and election of the first setof national officers will be held in this assembly. Dennis Maga, MigrantWorkers Support Coordinator, National Distribution Union (NDU), 120 Church St.Onehunga, Auckland 1643. Email: dennis.maga@ndu.org.nz Mobile:021971070 Tel. 09 6228355 Ext. 308

ANNOUNCEMENTS

HELP BRING THE 10 – 10 CAMPAIGN TO NEW ZEALAND
The organisers of the highly successful 10:10 Campaign in the UK may bebringing the idea to NZ. This campaign to persuade people to reduce theircarbon footprint by 10% during 2010 has attracted support from businesses,soccer teams and all the major UK political parties, as well as loads ofordinary people. 10:10 organiser Daniel Vockins told Chris Laidlaw on RadioNZ’s Sunday Morning show that if 1010 Kiwis sign up athttp://www.1010global.org/ then they’ll launch a local version by Christmas.Any queries please contact Bronwen Summers BronwenSummers@xtra.co.nz

C’MON JOHN SIGN ON!
When John Key broke his arm earlier this year, many local and worldleaders signed his blue plaster cast. We need that kind of collaboration now onclimate change, because it’s happening faster and harder than anyoneexpected. In December world leaders will gather in Copenhagen to agree on aplan of action. For NZ to do its bit John Key needs to Sign On to a 40 per centby 2020 emission reduction target. Join the cast of thousands and Sign On! http://www.signon.org.nz/

WHITE POPPY PEACE SCHOLARSHIPS LAUNCHED
Kia ora, this message is to let you know that the White Poppy PeaceScholarships were launched by Professor Cynthia Enloe at her public lecture inWellington on 30 October 2009, see http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/pslaunch.htmBelow is information about the Peace Scholarships. This message in full isavailable online at http://www.peacescholar.org.nzAbout the Peace Scholarships: The Peace Scholarships comprisetwo grants which are awarded each year to assist with research into: •theimpacts of militarism, militarisation and warfare; •alternatives tomilitarism, militarisation and warfare; or •collective non-violentresponses to state violence. The Peace Scholarships are for students at anytertiary education institution in Aotearoa New Zealand. Each grant is a minimumof $1,000 – one is for a Maori or Moriori student, and the other is open to anystudent with NZ citizenship or permanent residency. Applications for PeaceScholarships to assist with research during the 2010 academic year will open onMonday, 16 November 2009 – guidelines for applicants and the application formwill be available at http://www.peacescholar.org.nz atthat time.

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

"When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poorhave no food, they call me a communist" .- Dom Helder Camara

"Men fight for liberty and win it with hard knocks. Their children, broughtup easy, let it slip away again, poor fools. And their grand-children are oncemore slaves.": D. H. Lawrence – (1885-1938)

"The civilized have created the wretched, quite coldly and deliberately, anddo not intend to change the status quo; are responsible for their slaughter andenslavement; rain down bombs on defenseless children whenever and wherever theydecide that their ‘vital interests’ are menaced, and think nothing of torturinga man to death: these people are not to be taken seriously when they speak ofthe ‘sanctity’ of human life, or the ‘conscience’ of the civilized world." –James Baldwin [From chapter one of
"The Devil Finds Work" (orig. pub.1976), page 489 of Collected Essays
(1998)]

BEST ONTHE WEB

NEW ZEALAND

Harmeet Sooden, a member of Peace Movement Aotearoa, is part of theChristian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) sponsored delegation to Suleimaniyah in theKurdish Regional Government (KRG) controlled area in northern Iraq. This pagehas information about, and reports from, the delegation. http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/niraq09.htm

Robert Wade Material – Jesson Lecture 2009 http://brucejesson.com/item/2009/10/robert-wade-material—jesson-lecture-2009

Matt McCarten: Harawira feeding frenzy has panicked Maori Party http://www.nzherald.co.nz/matt-mccarten/news/article.cfm?a_id=284&objectid=10609284

Minto: Hone Harawira – Speaking Truth To Power http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0911/S00217.htm

SIS asks universities to watch for terror ‘science’ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10609858

Personal responsibility starts with the brewers by John Minto: Anotherappalling road crash. Two teenagers killed with others hospitalised in seriouscondition. http://johnminto.org.nz/personal-responsibility-starts-with-the-brewers/

New Zealand was a friend to Middle Earth, but it’s no friend of the earth http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/cif-green/2009/nov/12/new-zealand-greenwash

Matt McCarten: Mobilising to challenge ‘feudal era’ management http://www.nzherald.co.nz/matt-mccarten/news/article.cfm?a_id=284&objectid=10607921

Dirty Milk? Greenpeace Protest At Fonterra’s Cow Coal The four Greenpeaceactivists arrested today after closing down a Southland lignite coalmine saythey succeeded in drawing attention to Fonterra’s expanding use of coalfor milk processing.They labelled the burning of around 450,000 tonnes of coalevery year Fonterra’s climate crime with a large banner across the mine.http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0911/S00155.htm

Greenpeace Activists Shut Down Fonterra Coal Mine http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0911/S00158.htm

Raw Footage: Greenpeace shutdown Southland mine http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/business/29445.html

Greenpeace shut down mine http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/national/29447.html

Gordon Campbell: Putting The 9/11 Terrorists On Trial For years, humanrights advocates have argued that terrorism is essentially criminal behaviour,and terrorists should therefore be tried under the rules of due process thatdemocratic states have developed over centuries for dealing fairly with crime,and punishment. http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2009/11/18/gordon-campbell-the-911-terrorists-on-trial/

Enlarging Boundaries of Compassion: Opportunities and Challenges for PeaceResearch in the 21st Century, by Kevin P Clements. http://www.peacetrust.org.nz/downloads/2009KCInauguralLecture.pdf

Matt McCarten: Right to demonstrate supported – pity about the reason,though http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10610802

Media coverage of Working For Free Day From Now Until the End of theYear

Pay Equity Coalition to invoice government $4 billion TV3News 18.11.09 – TheGovernment will today receive an invoice to the tune of $4 billion in unpaidwages to women from the Pay Equity Challenge Coalition. http://www.3news.co.nz/Pay-Equity-Coalition-to-invoice-government-4-billion/tabid/419/articleID/130077/cat/67/Default.aspx

Protestors demand pay equality for women TV3 news 18.11.09 – Demo coverageand interviews: http://www.3news.co.nz/Protestors-demand-pay-equality-for-women-/tabid/209/articleID/130219/cat/772/Default.aspxhttp://www.3news.co.nz/Protestors-demand-pay-equality-for-women-/tabid/370/articleID/130219/cat/772/Default.aspx(video)

Angela McLeod interview TV23 Sunrise 19.11.09 http://www.3news.co.nz/Pay-equity–are-men-still-being-paid-more-than-women/tabid/572/articleID/130298/cat/772/Default.aspx(video)

Press: Women protest over working for nothing Manawatu Standard 18.11.09 http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/3073948/Women-protest-over-working-for-nothing(article)

Broadcast: NZ’s massive pay gap discussed TV1 Breakfast speaks toAngela McLeod 18.11.09 http://tvnz.co.nz/breakfast-news/breakfast-wednesday-november-18-3153459/video?vid=3155038

FOOD, FARMING AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Climate Rage By Naomi Klein – The only way to stop global warming is forrich nations to pay for the damage they’ve done – or face the consequences http://www.countercurrents.org/klein171109.htm

Naomi Klein on Climate Debt: Why Rich Countries Should Pay Reparations ToPoor Countries For The Climate Crisis – Listen/Watch/Read – http://www.democracynow.org/2009/11/23/naomi_klein_on_climate_debt_why

Direct action against climate change – As politicians meet for more climatetalks in Barcelona, they continue to be fixated on measures like carbon tradingthat will only exacerbate the climate crisis. Fortunately the last year in theUK and worldwide has shown that direct action against carbon-intensive projectscan deliver http://www.tni.org/article/direct-action-against-climate-change

David Spratt: Powerful working towards climate talks disaster http://www.greenleft.org.au/2009/817/41997

Food Summit Fails Before It Starts – Despite record-high harvests, thenumber of hungry people continues to rise – and the world’s rulersdo nothing http://climateandcapitalism.com/?p=1275

Stop the global land grab! GRAIN statement at the joint GRAIN-La ViaCampesina media briefing http://www.grain.org/o/?id=87

Antarctic Ice Loss Vaster, Faster Than Thought By The Independent http://www.countercurrents.org/ind231109.htm

Climate Sceptics ‘Put World At Risk’ By David Adam http://www.countercurrents.org/adam231109.htm

WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS

Rude awakening for ex-communist countries as financial crisis made in westhits hardest in east – New democracies that embraced the free market are facingtheir deepest crisis after years of rapid growth http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/nov/10/former-communist-countries-financial-crisis

FEATURES

Realities Collide at Halifax "War Conference" by Anthony Fenton – HALIFAX,Canada, 22 Nov (IPS) – While the world’s top military elites gather inside afortified hotel to discuss NATO’s future, protesters question theorganisation’s legitimacy, secrecy, and the lack of democratic debate about theincreasingly unpopular war in Afghanistan. http://www.ipsnorthamerica.net/news.php?idnews=2693

Remembering the Warsaw Ghetto uprising: a tribute to Marek Edelman By LindaWaldron – On October 2, Marek Edelman died in Warsaw at the age of 90. He hadbeen the last surviving commander of the resistance forces during the 1943Warsaw Ghetto uprising against the Nazi occupation. Born in Poland, Edelmanbecame a member of the youth organisation of the socialist General JewishLabour Union, commonly known as the “Bund”, in the late 1930s. http://directaction.org.au/issue17/remembering_the_warsaw_ghetto_uprising_a_tribute_to_marek_edelman

Indian political awakening stirs Latin America http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iHoYz3n0zaozmmUbzkxCkNUsOVlgD9BMRCH00

Nuclear Notebook: Worldwide deployments of nuclear weapons, 2009 By RobertS. Norris & Hans M. Kris tens en, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists,November / December 2009. As the United States and Russia continue toconsolidate their nuclear arsenals, the number of sites in the world that hostnuclear weapons also has decreased. As of the end of 2009, we estimate thatthere are approximately 23,360 nuclear weapons located at some 111 sites in 14countries. Nearly one-half of these weapons are active or operationallydeployed. – Read the report at http://thebulletin.metapress.com/content/xm38g50653435657/fulltext.pdf

REVIEWS

Ending the US War in Afghanistan A primer by Phyllis Bennis – In thiscompact, concise, jargon-free primer, the authors examine the U.S. war inAfghanistan and why it must be brought to an end. http://www.tni.org/tnibook/ending-us-war-afghanistan

Che Guevara: The Economics of Revolution – Helen Yaffe explores impact ofChe Guevara as an economist and politician http://palgrave.typepad.com/yaffe/2009/06/index.html

‘Precious’: How a Film About an Obese Harlem Teenager Turned the Tables onHollywood http://www.alternet.org/story/143876/%27precious%27%3A_film_about_an_obese_harlem_teenager_turned_the_tables_on_hollywood_

AFGHANISTAN

Stealing Money, Selling Heroin and Raping Boys – Meet Our Afghan Ally ByPATRICK COCKBURN http://www.counterpunch.org/patrick11132009.html

An Inside Look at Nepotism and Corruption in Karzai’s Afghanistan http://www.alternet.org/story/144024/an_inside_look_at_nepotism_and_corruption_in_karzai%27s_afghanistan

AUSTRALIA

John Pilger’s 2009 Sydney Peace Award speech: Breaking the Australiansilence http://www.greenleft.org.au/2009/818/42033

Solidarity is vital for Indigenous struggle http://www.greenleft.org.au/2009/817/42003

Why Australia must welcome refugees http://www.greenleft.org.au/2009/817/41996

COLOMBIA

Obama Signs Military Basing Deal with Colombia — Could Set Stage forExpeditionary Warfare http://www.alternet.org/story/143941/obama_signs_military_basing_deal_with_colombia_–_could_set_stage_for_expeditionary_warfare

CUBA

Reflections by comrade Fidel – A SCIENCE FICTION STORY – I very much regretto have to criticize Obama knowing that there are in that country othercould-be presidents worse than him http://www.walterlippmann.com/fidel-castro-on-obama-a-science-fiction-story-11-11-2009.doc

GREECE

A Typical Election (and its Aftermath) http://www.zcommunications.org/zspace/commentaries/4053

HONDURAS

Popular Resistance Rejects Fake Elections in Honduras http://www.socialistvoice.ca/?p=760

IRAQ

Huge rise in birth defects in Falluja – Iraqi former battle zone seesabnormal clusters of infant tumours and deformities http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/nov/13/falluja-cancer-children-birth-defects

MEXICO

A new united movement stops Mexico for a day http://links.org.au/node/1360

NEPAL

"I Want to Dance With the Real Hero of My Country" – The Andolan inKathmandu and the Revolution to Follow http://www.counterpunch.org/leupp11162009.html

New uprising builds against governmment http://www.greenleft.org.au/2009/817/42004

Eyes on the Maobadi: Four Reasons Nepal’s Revolution Matters http://www.socialistvoice.ca/?p=769

PACIFIC

Global lobby for West Papua takes off in PNG http://www.infopapua.org/artman/publish/article_2110.shtml

PAKISTAN

Civil War Spreads Across North West Pakistan By James Cogan http://www.countercurrents.org/cogan231109.htm

PALESTINE

Video: George Galloway interview with Shlomo Sand, author of The inventionof the Jewish People http://palestinevideo.blogspot.com/2009/11/george-galloway-interviews-shlomo-sand.html

TIMOR LESTE

How US trained butchers of Timor: The US programme, codenamed ‘IronBalance’, was hidden from legislators and the public http://www.guardian.co.uk/indonesia/Story/0,2763,200713,00.html

East Timor: The Role Of Journalists In The Freedom Struggle The struggle forjustice is not a contest between Indonesians and non-Indonesians. Rather, it isa contest between those around the world who want to justice to prevail andthose who want to see impunity prevail. http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2009/11/east-timor-the-role-of-journalists-in-the-freedom-struggle/

SRI LANKA

Cuba-ALBA Let Down Sri Lanka Tamils http://dissidentvoice.org/2009/11/cuba-alba-let-down-sri-lanka-tamils/

UK

Justice in Shades, george Monbiot – A damning judgement on army killingssuggests that officials at every level have covered up torture and murder http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2009/10/06/justice-in-shades/

USA

US cannot feed its hungry millions http://www.smh.com.au/world/us-cannot-feed-its-hungry-millions-20091117-ikem.html

Michael Moore Blasts House Health Care Bill http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/moore191109.html

WEST PAPUA

John Pilger on West Papua: Free the forgotten bird of paradise http://www.greenleft.org.au/2009/819/42105

Palm oil developers push into Indonesia’s last frontier: Papua Oil palmdevelopers in the Indonesian half of New Guinea are signing questionable dealsthat exploit local communities and put important forest ecosystems at risk,alleges a new report from Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and Telapak.http://www.eia-international.org/files/news566-1.pdf

—
If you do not want to receive any more newsletters please use this link