#309: PLANET A – CONCERT & MARCH – ON DECEMBER 5TH

GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND
NEWSLETTER No. 309, December 3, 2009

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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 December 3 & Friday December 4, University of Auckland, New Zealand
11th Pacific Islands Political Studies Association Conference, , 3-4 December 2009. Theme: Pacific Democracy, What’s Happening? More than 50 papers will be presented by leading scholars, analysts and political commentators from around the Pacific region including Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Hawaii, Australia, United States, Japan, Niue, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, on issues relating to constitutional change, coups, political violence, human rights, development, corruption, peace-building and conflict resolution, alternative political systems, parliamentary democracy and more. Sir Paul Reeves, former Governor General of New Zealand, distinguished statesman and eminent political mediator in the Pacific region, will open the conference. Sir Paul Reeves’ speech will focus on problems of democratization in the Pacific. The keynote speaker on day 2 (December 4) is Mr Phil Goff, former Minister for Foreign Affairs who will be speaking on “Pasifika New Zealanders in the new political scene.” PIPSA was established in Hawaii in 1987 as a forum for Pacific scholars, policy makers and analysts to engage in discussion, research and publications about political issues in the Pacific islands. The PIPSA general conference takes place once every two years in different locations around the Pacific, including Port Vila, Suva, Noumea, Queensland, Rarotonga, Honolulu, Christchurch and Guam. You are welcome to attend. The registration fees are: Academics (F/T) and Employed (F/T) (Non PIPSA Member)-NZ$80.00; Academics (F/T) Employed (F/T) (PIPSA Member)-NZ $70.00; Students/Pensioners-NZ$50.00. For further information please contact Folole Asaua f.asaua

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 Governmentin Aotearoa. What is our desired future for Maori and Local Government? This hui will discuss the issues, develop strategic responses to the rollback of Maori interests and launch a Declaration of intent towards advancing Tino Rangatiratanga in Local Government. Programme highlights: •Situational overview from mana whenua; •Keynote address from MoanaJackson; •Political commentary by Matt McCarten; •National Maori Leaders discussion; •Declaration launch. Koha.The Auckland Supercity is Governments proposed model for Local Governmentin Aotearoa. What is our desired future for Maori and Local Government? This hui will discuss the issues, develop strategic responses to the rollback of Maori interests and launch a Declaration of intent towards advancing Tino Rangatiratanga in Local Government. This hui is coordinated by IHI (Iwi Have Influence) Action Group http://www.ihi.org.nzand is made possible through sponsorship of NgaPaeo te Maramatanga: New Zealand’s Maori Centre of Research Excellence and the support of UNITEC.

Friday, December 4, 6pm, Room 104 . next to Fale Pasifika . 20 Wynyard St, (no vehicle access – entrance from Symonds St or Grafton Rd), Centre for Pacific Studies, University of Auckland
PUBLIC MEETING To mark the 3rd Anniversary of the 4th Fiji Coup. INVITATION to hear Reverend Akuila Yabaki Executive Director, Citizens’ Constitutional Forum – Fiji. Free Entry . All Welcome. Reverend Akuila Yabaki is Executive Director of the Citizens’ Constitutional Forum (CCF), which is an NGO that takes a leading part in trying to make Fiji a place where rule of law, constitutional democracy and human rights are respected, especially for those who are weak and vulnerable in society. He has held various key positions in the Methodist Church in Fiji and abroad, including the United Kingdom and the wider Asia-Pacific region. Rev Yabaki is also presenting a paper entitled “From Paramountcy to Equality: Constitutionalism, Dialogue and Ethno-political conflict in Fiji” at the PIPSA Conference being held on 4 & 5 December at the Fale Pasifika, University of Auckland. The Coalition for Democracy in Fiji, a group made up of former Fiji residents, and concerned New Zealanders, has been active since 1987 in support of the fight for the rights of Fiji people and Fiji democracy. For more information, please contact Nik Naidu on 021-2559955. COALITION FOR DEMOCRACY IN FIJI, PO Box 41-410, St Lukes, Auckland, New Zealand. Facsimile : +(649) 630 5003 email : fijidemocracy

Saturday, December 5, 10am outside John Key’s office at 365 Main Road Kumeu
PROTEST government cuts to support for deaf students – Saturday 5th December.The government has slashed all funding for the Advance Centre which providessupport for deaf and hearing impaired students to enrol and succeed in tertiaryeducation in any institution rather than being confined to a narrow range ofopportunities. At the same time the government found $35 million to supportprivate education. Deaf students will be chanting silently using sign language.They need wide support.

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

Tuesday, December 8, 5-7pm, Corner of Queen Street and VictoriaStreet outside the 220 Starbucks
Young Greens Signature Collecting for $15 Min Wage Petition -Join us to helpcollect signatures on Unite’s petition for a fair living wage for allNZers. We will give you a clip board, petitions and pen when you arrive

Friday, December 11, 9-10pm, 1 Queen Street, CBD,Auckland
Candle-lit Vigil for Climate Justice – Join Greens on Campus and people allover the world in this international vigil for climate change survivalcoinciding with the Copenhagen climate negotiations. The vigil is to raiseawareness of all those whose survival is threatened by the floods, droughts,storms and sea-level rise caused by climate change. Many of these people livein the world’s poorest countries in places like Africa and the Pacific. Therewill be brief speeches by representatives from different organizations fightingfor climate justice and then a silent vigil.

Friday, December 11, 12 noon, ASB Bank, cnr Queen St and WellesleySt, Auckland Central.
Invitation to Bad Banks Exposure of ASB – You will have noticed that the BigFour Aussie-owned banks have been trying to suck up to us lately. BNZ closedtheir doors for a day so staff could do community work. And ASB, well, they’retrying to convince us that they’re a "Kiwi bank". But as John Minto saidin his article for the Christchurch Press: "What a brazen lie – like hellit’s a kiwi bank". Because ASB is 100% owned by the Commonwealth Bank ofAustralia, one of the world’s biggest banks. (SeeJohn Minto’s full article ). Why are the banks trying to cuddle up tous? Because ANZ National, BNZ, Westpac and ASB Bank know there’s a bad moodrising against them. And it’s well deserved, here’s a few reasons why peoplehate the banks: • Despite the recession they’re continuing to makemega-profits by interest gouging grassroots Kiwis. • They’reinflicting high fees and penalties on low and middle income people. •They’re forcing mortgagee sales in increasing numbers. •They’re hiring teams of lawyers to try and get out of paying $2.25billion of unpaid tax. • And in the case of ASB, they’ve usedanti-union practices to drive Finsec, the bank workers union, out of ASBbranches.

Friday, December 11, 10am-1pm, Room 604, Level 6, Human SciencesBuilding, 10 Symonds Street
Gender & Psychology Symposium – Sexualisation and Pornography: Research,analysis, change? Pornography is perennially controversial. Some defend it as adomain for free sexual expression and enjoyment for all; others point to themisogyny displayed in its portrayals of women. In this age of so-called‘raunch culture’, pornography is no longer just hidden away in thebedrooms of boys and men. Women and girls are invited to share the gaze, andare told that it is empowering to do so. Beyond the consumption of pornography,pornographic images, styles of embodiment, and modes of sexual engagement havebecome ‘mainstreamed’ into advertising, music, and popular culturalfashions. Relatedly, an overtly sexualised style is increasingly promoted toyounger and younger girls in the form of toys, activities, clothing andaccessories. These cultural shifts have already become largely normalized andnaturalized. Do they amount to harmless fun? Or do they contribute to thecultural production of forms of masculinity and femininity that ultimately workagainst girls’ and women’s choices and wellbeing? In thissymposium, which showcases some of the best undergraduate student work inGender and Psychology at the University, young women will present research,critical analysis, and their creative ideas for change. We hope to generatewider discussion and debate, and foster constructive connections between peopleinterested in these issues.
PROGRAMME: 10am Welcome & Introductions Nicola Gavey; 10.15am Sexualisationand Children – Hazel Albertyn, Katie Malone, Courtney Ross, & NataliaSamorow; 11.30am Pornography and Society – Alex Antevska, Danielle Hay, LisaPaz, & Jaimee Robinson; 12.30pm Panel Discussion – Caroline Fergusson,Women’s Rights Officer, AUSA, Denise Ritchie, Stop Demand, MelanieGovender, Psychology Student, University of Auckland. Chair: Virginia Braun.ALL WELCOME – This symposium is free and open to the public. Please rsvp forcatering purposes to Meena Sadera m.sadera@auckland.ac.nz

Saturday, December 12, 12.30-3.30pm, Visitors Centre, AmburyFarm
Pasifika Greens Picnic for $15 Minimum Wage – The Pasifika Greens aresupporting Unite’s campaign to raise the minimum wage to $15. This willbe a fun, informal event with a sausage sizzle and games of Frisbee and soccer.Metiria Turei (Green Party co-leader) and a Unite representative will speak. Itis a good chance to get to know the Pasifika Greens, learn more about the $15minimum wage campaign and find out how you can get involved and support the $15minimum wage campaign

Tuesday, December 15, 2-5pm, Owen G. Glenn Building, The Universityof Auckland, 12 Grafton Road, Auckland
ACC Forum Hosted by:The ACC Group, in association with the Retirement Policyand Research Centre. Co-sponsored by: Department of Economics, Business School,The University of Auckland. The ACC debate: how do we pay for ACC? In the late1990s, it was decided that ACC should become fully pre-funded. Is that the bestway of setting the levies? An appropriate financial foundation is crucial forthe ACC so how might that be organised? Speakers will present the case fortheir preferred option: pre-funding, or PAYG. Other speakers will suggestpossible pitfalls in each of the options. Keynote speaker Professor RichardGaskins, Brandeis University Massachusetts, will offer some reflections fromabroad on the ACC’s place in the world, and why it matters to get itright. Professor Gaskins is Director of the Legal Studies Program and theJoseph M. Proskauer Professor of Law and Social Welfare. His research interestsinclude comparative studies in Iceland and New Zealand.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

64 DEATHS INCLUDING LAWYERS AND JOURNALISTS IN PRE-ELECTIONVIOLENCE: PLEASE SIGN LETTER TO PHILIPPINE GOVERMENT RE MAGUINDANAO MASSACRE
Dear Friends, Various groups in the Philippines suggest that groupsabroad also write to the Philippine government strongly urging them to throwthe full force of the law to bring the perpetrators of Maguindanao massacrevictims to justice. If you wish to join the call for justice, please sign theletter below with your name and organisation/position inorganisation/institution represented, if any, and send to migrante@xtra.co.nz before 6 December.Migrante will forward the letter to the Philippine government. Thank you verymuch.

URGENT APPEAL FOR JUSTICE

We, concerned Filipinos and New Zealanders, join the international communityin demanding justice for more than 60 civilians in the worst pre-electionviolence in Maguindanao, Philippines. We are deeply shocked and outraged at thegruesome rape of women and loss of so many lives including two human rightslawyers and the most number of journalists in a single day.

From New Zealand, we send our deepest sympathies with the victims’families as we echo the call of concerned citizens worldwide for the Philippinegovernment to:
1. Act swiftly to arrest and prosecute the mastermind and all those involved inthe massacre even as glaring evidence point to Pres. GloriaMacapagal-Arroyo’s major political ally as the main culprit.
2. End political dynasties and permanently dismantle all private armies inMaguindanao and the whole country.
3. Take steps to ensure that police and military forces will not in any way beused by any party to commit fraud and violence in the 2010 elections.

It is our hope that justice will be rendered to the massacre victims andthat the Filipino people will be able to exercise their right to vote withoutfear from any instrument of electoral fraud and violence.

SIGNED:

ORGANISATION (if applicable)

NEGLIGENT NEIGHBOUR by Maire Leadbeater
Available from IHRC PO Box 68-419, Auckland for special price NZ$10.00 (pluspostage) For further information, email Maire at maire@clear.net.nz ‘What happened inEast Timor tells us much about how the modern world is ordered, and where thetrue source of modern terrorism lies. Maire Leadbeater’s outstanding bookcarefully documents the often secret role played by New Zealand governments,and the opportunities that were wantonly lost’. – John Pilger‘…long time anti-nuclear and East Timor solidarity activist, MaireLeadbeater, draws largely on official declassified documents to paint a clearpicture of the NZ state’s shocking role in backing Indonesia’s 24year long occupation of East Timor (now known as Timor Leste).‘ –Cameron Walker. Read here for the full review: Cameron Walker on‘Negligent Neighbour’

JUMPING SUNDAY
A limited edition of the ‘Jumping Sunday – The Liberation of Albert Park’ 40thanniversary DVD has been produced at last! (Yes – just in time for Xmas!) -including unique archival footage & photos. You can get your copy byposting a $20 cheque to: ‘Jumping Sunday" PO Box 86022, Mangere East, Auckland2158 (this includes postage), or for only $15 at the Frank E. Evans Band showat the Dogs Bollix bar, 2 Newton Rd on the first Sunday of each month (exceptJanuary)… next performance is this Sunday 6 December from 5pm. Frank E. EvansBand jumpingsunday@clear.net.nz

ALCOHOL ACTION NZ
Alcohol Action NZ is a new national group in New Zealand responding to theexcessive presence of alcohol and the enormous social, medical and personaldamage alcohol misuse is inflicting on our society. It involves people from arange of health and medical services, social services, councils, churches, iwi,schools and other groups. The group is now being joined by increasing numbersof concerned New Zealanders who want a change in the way alcohol is supplied,marketed, sold and consumed in New Zealand. We invite you to join ustoo. Clickhere for details of the historic national stand by leading Doctors andNurses.

SOLIDARITY WITH WEST PAPUA ON 1 DECEMBER
Kia ora, Tuesday, 1 December, marks the forty-eighth anniversary of the WestPapuan Declaration of Independence from Dutch colonial rule – sometimesreferred to as West Papua Independence Day – and as in previous years, the Daywill be marked by solidarity events around the world, including in Aotearoa NewZealand. This message has four sections with information about: 1) West Papua,2) the importance of 1 December, 3) ‘Messages of solidarity’ – something youcan do wherever you are to add your voice to those who are calling for justice,peace and self-determination for the people of West Papua, and 4) details ofthe solidarity events in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. It is availableonline at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/wp011209.htm

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/

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

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

"Disobedience, in the eyes of anyone who has read history, is man’s originalvirtue. It is through disobedience that progress had been made, throughdisobedience and through rebellion." — Oscar Wilde -(1854-1900)

"I’m convinced that if we are to get on the right side fo the worldrevolution, we as a nation must undergo a radical revolution of values. We mustrapidly begin to shift from a thing-oriented society to a person-orientedsociety. When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights areconsidered more important than people; the giant triplets of racism,militarism, and economic exploitation are incapable of being conquered":Martin Luther King – http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article2564.htm

BEST ONTHE WEB

NEW ZEALAND

It’s time to return Auckland buses to public ownership http://www.aucklandtrains.co.nz/2009/10/11/time-to-return-the-buses-to-public-ownership/

John Minto: No surprises – tax burden to shift on to poor http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/blogs/frontline/3108951/No-surprises-tax-burden-to-shift-on-to-poor

Matt McCarten: National is taking NZ back down memory lane http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10612221

Phil Goff and the race card http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2009/11/27/gordon-campbell-on-phil-goff-and-the-race-card/

FOOD, FARMING AND THE ENVIRONMENT

‘Climategate’ emails: Scientists defend science http://www.greenleft.org.au/2009/820/42157

Video: `The Story of Cap and Trade’ (aka carbon trading), from the makers of`The Story of Stuff’ http://links.org.au/node/1380

Taking care of business by Oscar Reyes – The world’s biggestcorporations have hijacked the UN climate talks. That’s bad news for ourfuture. http://www.tni.org/article/taking-care-business

Climate Scientists: Delay risks irreversible damage – In a new report,‘The Copenhagen Diagnosis’, 26 researchers, most of whom areauthors of published IPCC reports, conclude that several important aspects ofclimate change are occurring at the high end or even beyond the expectations ofonly a few years ago. http://climateandcapitalism.com/?p=1329Download the full report here http://www.copenhagendiagnosis.org/default.html

Fee and dividend vs. cap and trade http://rwer.wordpress.com/2009/12/02/fee-and-dividend-vs-cap-and-trade/#more-265

WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS

How Free-Market Delusions Destroyed the Economy http://www.alternet.org/workplace/144151/?page=entire

The debt, excess and exploitation is not Dubai’s alone. We’ve all been at it- The glitzy Gulf state is a modern parable for a world living on tick. Howmuch better the wealth could have been spent http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/dec/01/dubai-uae-financial-crisis-investment

The Billion Dollar Gram http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/visualizations/the-billion-dollar-gram/

FEATURES

US builds up its bases in oil-rich South America – From the Caribbean toBrazil, political opposition to US plans for ‘full-spectrum operations’ isescalating rapidly http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-builds-up-its-bases-in-oilrich-south-america-1825398.html

Declaration from World Meeting of Left Parties, November 19-21, Caracas,Venezuela: 9 — Political parties and organizations from Latin America, theCaribbean, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania commemorate and celebrate theunity and solidarity that brought us together in Caracas, Bolivarian Republicof Venezuela, and from this libertarian city we would like to express ourrevolutionary rebelliousness. We are glad of and committed to the proudpresence of the forces of change in a special moment of history. Likewise, weare proud to reaffirm our conviction to definitively sow, grow and winSocialism of the 21st century. In this regard, we want to sign the Commitmentof Caracas as a revolutionary guide for the challenges ahead of us. Fulldeclaration at http://links.org.au/node/1375

REVIEWS

2009 Movies wrap-up, part one http://louisproyect.wordpress.com/2009/11/26/2009-movies-wrap-up-part-one/

The Dark History of Population Control – Book Review: Matthew Connelly:Fatal Misconception: The Struggle to Control World Population. HarvardUniversity Press, Cambridge, 2008. Reviewed by Simon Butler http://climateandcapitalism.com/?p=1293

AFGHANISTAN

Obama’s "Empire" By Real News – Obama says US is not an empire as he sends30,000 more troops to Afghanistan. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article24104.htm

Here We Go Again By Robert Scheer – President Barack Obama’s own topnational security adviser has stated that there are fewer than 100 al-Qaidamembers in Afghanistan and that they are not capable of launching attacks. Whatsuperheroes they must be, then, to require 100,000 U.S. troops to contain them.http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article24099.htm

Obama’s War By Jim Hightower – Obama has been taken over by the militaryindustrial hawks and national security theorists who play war games with otherpeople’s lives and money. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article24100.htm

Why Obama’s Surge in Afghanistan? By Shamus Cooke – Obama is compelled totell the really big lie because the truth is too damning. If he remotelyapproached the real motives behind the war, the public would be pushed intototal defiance – Obama’s new $660 billion military budget for 2010 would havecaused mass demonstrations. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article24101.htm

Some Simple Questions After Obama’s Afghanistan War Speech By David Sirota -Would you be OK sending yourself or a loved one over to face combat andpotentially death for the mission Obama articulated in Afghanistan? If not, howcould you support sending other people? http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article24102.htm

Malalai Joya: A troop surge can only magnify the crime against Afghanistan -If Barack Obama heralds an escalation of the war, he will betray his ownmessage of hope and deepen my people’s pain http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/nov/30/obama-afghanistan-troops

Michael Moore: An Open Letter to President Obama on Afghanistan – By MichaelMoore, MichaelMoore.com. Posted December 1, 2009. – You still have theopportunity to save thousands of lives and live up to your campaign promises.Don’t become the next war president, Mr. Obama. http://www.alternet.org/story/144254/michael_moore%3A_an_open_letter_to_president_obama_on_afghanistan

AUSTRALIA

Rudd’s CPRS wont solve the problem: radical climate action needed nowhttp://www.greenleft.org.au/2009/819/42123

Christmas Island hellhole: Refugees out of detention! http://www.greenleft.org.au/2009/820/42130

‘First they came for the Aboriginal people…’ — newplan to extend ‘welfare quarantining’ to all http://www.greenleft.org.au/2009/820/42144

BOLIVIA

Bolivia’s Elections Part III: The Issues http://democracyctr.org/blog/2009/11/bolivias-elections-part-iii-issues.html

BURMA

Karen people face starvation and uncertainty http://www.greenleft.org.au/2009/819/42126

CANADA

Canadian government rocked by accusations of abuse, torture of Afghanprisoners http://www.socialistvoice.ca/?p=796

George Monbiot: Canada’s image lies in tatters. It is now to climate whatJapan is to whaling – The tar barons have held the nation to ransom. Thisthuggish petro-state is today the greatest obstacle to a deal in Copenhagen http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cif-green/2009/nov/30/canada-tar-sands-copenhagen-climate-deal

ECUADOR

Closing bases – The closure of the US military base in Manta is a hugevictory for both the Ecuadorian activists who have been campaigning for adecade against the US military presence in their country, and for theinternational No-Bases campaign. http://www.tni.org/article/closing-bases

Dirty War in the Amazon – In the Ecuadorean Amazon basin our thirst for oilhas triggered an eco-disaster: wholesale pollution and catastrophic cancerrates. And a bloody turf war has broken out. Ecuador is taking a survival planto the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference. But will western governmentslisten? http://climateandcapitalism.com/?p=1345

INDONESIA

Fighting over the land and forest http://www.cetri.be/spip.php?article1414&lang=en

PALESTINE

Israel’s settlements are ethnic cleansing — justice for Palestine http://www.greenleft.org.au/2009/820/42159

A Right of Return primer (Arabic and English) http://www.uruknet.de/?s1=1&p=60427&s2=25

Israeli racism – theory and practice http://www.middleeastmonitor.org.uk/reports/69-by-zulaikha-abdullah/285-israeli-racism-in-theory-and-practice

PHILIPPINES

Behind the Philippines’ Maguindanao Massacre http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1943191,00.html

SRI LANKA

The Commonwealth and Sri Lanka http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/mar/04/sri-lanka-commonwealth-letter

‘Three Big Reasons’ is a video that explains why a country should besuspended from The Commonwealth Organisation. It explains the reasons withexample. http://www.vimeo.com/7844613

SWITZERLAND

Bigotry Wins in Switzerland By Juan Cole – Among the nearly 60Muslim-majority states in the world, only one, Saudi Arabia, forbids thebuilding of churches. Does Switzerland really want to be like Saudi Arabia? http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article24103.htm

UK

High court makes "historic" terrorism evidence ruling: London’s High Courtruled against the British government on Tuesday over the use of secret evidenceto deny terrorism suspects bail in what campaigners called an "historic"judgement. http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE5B030620091201

USA

Food Stamp Use Soars: A program once scorned as a failed welfare scheme nowhelps feed one in eight Americans and one in four children. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/29/us/29foodstamps.html

VENEZUELA

Chavez Sets Out Strategic Lines of Debate to PSUV Congress http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news/4947

Venezuela’s Chavez Calls for International Organisation of LeftParties http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news/4946

Venezuela Pledges Support for Palestinian Statehood during Abbas Visit: "Wedemand that the international community and the world understand that for sixtyyears, Palestine has wanted to live as a free, peaceful, independent, andsovereign country like the rest of the countries in the world," said Abbas inthe National Assembly. "We have inherited the of constructing ademocratic state in Palestine where Jews, Christians, and Muslims live in equalconditions," he said. http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news/4962

WEST SAHARA

Sahara activist reported weak from hunger strike http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i9pIW9W8jeuVVfcE6650XZmE8zGgD9C8LCN00

Nobel Laureate & President of East Timor, Jose Ramos-Horta, expresses‘profound solidarity’ with Haidar http://asvdh.net/3686

Spain: Nobel Prize nominee dying for freedom http://en.afrik.com/article16556.html

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