#312: Org mtg Mon 7pm to protest Clinton visit
January 8, 2010 Leave a comment
GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND
NEWSLETTER No.312, January 9, 2010
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Website: https://gpjanz.wordpress.com/
Contact details:
Forums – John Minto, Work: (09) 845 2132, Home 09 846 3173 jbminto@xtra.co.nz
Newsletter Editor & Website – Mike Treen 0295254744 mike@unite.org.nz
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A WARM WELCOME TO 2010
It seems there is no rest for the wicked. I had just arrived back from a one week stay with friends in Australia to discover on my return that my goodfriend and GPJA spokesperson had been arrested outside the tennis tournament for speaking out against the presence of an Israeli athlete.
I also discover that international representative of the US empire and its wars is to visit NZ at the end of next week. GPJA is calling a meeting to organise protests against the US-NZ war on the people of Afghanistan thisTuesday at 7pm (6a Western Springs Rd, Kingsland).
Sometimes we get asked: "why bother?" Isn’t it unfair to target an individual like Shahar Peer?" "Won’t you alienate supporters?".
Actually we don’t have the luxury of choice. Hundreds of Palestinian organisations have asked for a comprehensive boycott of Israel. (See Palestinian United Call for BDS against Israel) This includes economic, diplomatic, military, sportingand cultural links. In NZ one of the most prominint links is this player’sparticipation in the ASB Classic. Israel doesn’t have a lot of internationallyprominent athletes. That is also why the Israeli state uses Shahar Peer astheir poster girl for their military recruitment campaigns. As the report inthe Jureusalem Post noted: “Pe’er was escorted to the press for her firstpictures in uniform. She took orders from the photographers and posed by a tankand a draft board notice, saluted and then waved goodbye, heading off forwhatever experience the IDF has planned.” http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1129540635307&pagename=JPArticle%2FShowFull
As distasteful as draping oneself over an Israeli tank may be, that was notthe reason we protested her presence. We would have protested any israeliathlete’s presence. But the JP article is a reminder that her feigned girlishinnocence is not all that it may seem.
What this protest has done is created a worldwide discussion and debatearound what sort of response is needed to the policies of the state of Israeland those who play/perform/shoot under its flag. While we may not have YETconvinced the majority in this country to support a complete ending of allrelations with the israeli state or its representatives we have started adiscussion that is reverberating around the world and will eventually win themajority to that position. People are discussing what is it about the Israeligovernment and its policies that provokes the boycott campaign. They are askingwhy do people say that the Israeli government’s policies are like that ofApartheid South Africa. Why was it (eventually) OK to boycott South Africa butnot Israel?
The international solidarity movement with palestine reaffirmed its supportfor the BDS campaign in the recent Cairo Declaration to end Israeli Apartheidissued by hundreds of people from around the world tring to break through theIsraeli blockade of Gaza. "Gaza Freedom Marchers approved today a declarationaimed at accelerating the global campaign for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions(BDS) against Israeli Apartheid. Roughly 1400 activists from 43 countriesconverged in Cairo on their way to Gaza to join with Palestinians marching tobreak Israel’s illegal siege. They were prevented from entering Gaza by theEgyptian authorities. As a result, the Freedom Marchers remained in Cairo. Theystaged a series of nonviolent actions aimed at pressuring the internationalcommunity to end the siege as one step in the larger struggle to secure justicefor Palestinians throughout historic Palestine. This declaration arose fromthose actions: http://www.zmag.org/znet/viewArticle/23535
NZ PROTESTS
Background to Global Peace and Justice Auckland support for the BDS(Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) campaign against Israel. (Notes prepared byGPJA Spokesperson Mike Treen) http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1001/S00009.htm
John Minto arrested at tennis protest http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3212353/John-Minto-arrested-at-tennis-protest
Minto’s Blog: http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/blogs/frontline/3211294/Where-are-the-Palestinian-tennis-players
Israeli tennis player targeted again http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/israeli-tennis-player-targeted-again-3325615
Protests continue today at Tennis Tournament http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1001/S00009.htm
Socialist Aotearoa supporter Malcolm France was arrested today protestingIsraeli apartheid for holding a megaphone. That he might use agin in thefuture. That constitutes offensive behaviour. Disorderly contact. A breach ofthe peace. Here the Commanding Officer justifies his arrest. See if you canfollow the logic here. http://socialistaotearoa.blogspot.com/2010/01/crappest-political-arrest-in-nz-stand.html
Day three- John and four other comrades arrested http://socialistaotearoa.blogspot.com/2010/01/defend-free-speech-defend-protesters.html
GLOBAL BDS MOVEMENT FOR BOYCOTT, DIVESTMENT, SANCTIONS
http://www.bdsmovement.net/
Boycotts don’t equal censorship: Film-makers should support the growinginternational movement to boycott Israel – it’s wrong to cast our actionsas censorship BY Ken Loach, Rebecca O’Brien and Paul Laverty http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/sep/01/israel-palestine-boycott-film
Time to boycott Israel: For the sake of our children, I am convinced that aninternational boycott is the only way to save Israel from itself Neve Gordon, aJewish political professor teaching in an Israeli university http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/aug/21/israel-international-boycott
ISRAEL AND SOUTH AFRICA
Worlds apart: Israelis have always been horrified at the idea of parallelsbetween their country, a democracy risen from the ashes of genocide, and theracist system that ruled the old South Africa. Yet even within Israel itself,accusations persist that the web of controls affecting every aspect ofPalestinian life bears a disturbing resemblance to apartheid. After four yearsreporting from Jerusalem and more than a decade from Johannesburg before that,the Guardian’s award-winning Middle East correspondent Chris McGreal isexceptionally well placed to assess this explosive comparison. Here we publishthe first part of his two-day special report http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2006/feb/06/southafrica.israel
Brothers in arms – Israel’s secret pact with Pretoria: During the secondworld war the future South African prime minister John Vorster was interned asa Nazi sympathiser. Three decades later he was being feted in Jerusalem. In thesecond part of his remarkable special report, Chris McGreal investigates theclandestine alliance between Israel and the apartheid regime, cemented with theultimate gift of friendship – A-bomb technology http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2006/feb/07/southafrica.israel
SPORTS BOYCOTT AS PART OF BDS
http://www.bdsmovement.net/?q=node/5
FIFA considers action over air strike Jeremy Last, The Jerusalem Post 7April 2006 http://www.inminds.co.uk/article.php?id=10001
For Palestinian women soccer players, a field is a dream By Amelia Thomas,Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor 4 December 2006 http://www.inminds.co.uk/article.php?id=10002
Israel Prevents Palestinian Athlete Attending Special Olympics – ArabsBoycott Israeli team Carl O’Brien The Irish Times 23 June 2003 http://www.inminds.co.uk/boycott-news-0417.html
WHO IS SHAHAR PEER
Tennis plays into Israel’s apartheid project http://www.scottishpsc.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3146:tennis-plays-into-israels-apartheid-project&catid=381:protests&Itemid=200283
Shahar Pe’er joins the IDF: “Pe’er was escorted to the press for herfirst pictures in uniform. She took orders from the photographers and posed bya tank and a draft board notice, saluted and then waved goodbye, heading offfor whatever experience the IDF has planned.” http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1129540635307&pagename=JPArticle%2FShowFull
It is Just to Boycott Shahar Peer http://www.kabobfest.com/2009/02/it-is-just-to-boycott-shahar-peer.html
International News stories following this weeks demonstrations(including NY times, ITN and Guardian articles):
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/jan/07/shahar-peer-anti-israel-protests
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1053793.html
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/tennis/peer-caught-between-sport-and-politics-20100105-lsea.html
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5gCCNQ6XmYbaVN4aieyXhgDjf5y8w
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/tennis/news/article.cfm?c_id=94&objectid=10618953
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/07/2787610.htm
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6060P720100107?type=sportsNews
http://jta.org/news/article/2010/01/06/1010026/peer-protester-arrested-in-new-zealand
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5huV-7tGp4QyXH8txjOaPd8aRiqng
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12110_5835394,00.html
http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/Content.aspx?id=90730
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/yb/139692622
http://itn.co.uk/f44b99f0924aba990c9f8f98f57d69a6.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/05/sports/tennis/05sportsbriefs-auckland.html
http://jta.org/news/article/2010/01/05/1010006/demonstrators-protest-israeli-tennis-star
ANNOUNCEMENTS
BOSSES SHOULD SHARE THEIR OUTRAGEOUS FORTUNES! LIVING WAGEPETITION
Win tickets to the Big Day Out
Living Wage Petition: We have two tickets for the Big Day Out, whichis headlined by pro worker bands like Muse
If you’d like to enter the draw for the BDO tickets, Download a copyof the petition and get it filled in with 10 names – one sheet = one entry(multiple entries allowed!), and write your name, address and mobile number onthe back. We’ll be pulling the names out of the hat on Jan 10th, so ifyou want to go, get them in soon!
Stalls in your area:
AUCKLAND: Contact Joseph – 029 4455702 joseph@unite.org.nz
WELLINGTON: Contact Joel – 027 600 9282 joel.cosgrove@gmail.com TheWellington crew operate their own e loop 15dollarwgtn@googlegroups.comand regular stalls in different areas and events.
WHANGEREI: Contact Vaughan – 021 041 5082 svpl@xtra.co.nz
ROTORUA: Contact Bernie – bernieh@clear.net.nz 07 345 9853
CHRISTCHURCH: Contact Joe – 029 201 3859 joe@unite.org.nz
DUNEDIN: Contact Chris – 027 781 0371 mr_matahaere@hotmail.com
HAMILTON – Contact Jared – 029 494 9863 jared@unite.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
STOLEN – DOCUMENTARY?
Dear friends, Stolen was made up to promote its makers and to create sensationand drama to sell the film. The film doesn’t reflect reality in theSaharawi refugee camps and it is not based on facts. Therefore, it’s nota documentary. It’s fiction film and has no place in a documentaryfestival. Please check this website for more information about Stolen: http://www.therealtruthaboutstolen.com/It’s a shame that those behind the festival in NZ selected this dodgyfilm.
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
"If you don’t stand for something, you stand for nothing." — MelThompson
"Those who stand for nothing fall for anything." — Alexander Hamilton
BEST ONTHE WEB
NEW ZEALAND
Protest being organised for Clinton visit http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2010/01/08/1247ebcd0655
NZ’s cyber spies win new powers By NICKY HAGER – Sunday Star Times http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3203448/NZs-cyber-spies-win-new-powers
When the party’s over, the resolutions kick in… By Matt McCarten http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10618138
Protest: Protest Boat Broken In Southern Ocean Sea Shepherd Report: In anunprovoked attack captured on film, the Japanese security ship Shonan Maru No.2 deliberately rammed and caused catastrophic damage to the Sea Shepherdtrimaran Ady Gil. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1001/S00097.htm
WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS
How Main Street Got Shafted While Wall Street Bounced Back http://www.alternet.org/story/144922/how_main_street_got_shafted_while_wall_street_bounced_back
Mega Giant Corporations Are Very Bad for America – Wal-Mart delivers atleast 30% and sometimes more than 50% of the entire U.S. consumption ofproducts. Why the monopolization of our economy should scare you. http://www.alternet.org/workplace/144716/mega_giant_corporations_are_very_bad_for_america/
FOOD, FARMING AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Earth Itself Has Become Disposable By George Monbiot http://www.countercurrents.org/monbiot050110.htm
FEATURES
2009: Indigenous struggles, tragedies and triumphs http://intercontinentalcry.org/2009-indigenous-struggles-tragedies-and-triumphs/
The Origins Of Modern Socialism By Shamus Cooke – This democratic aspect ofthe Venezuelan revolution is the key to the potential success of 21st centurysocialism. If the above contradictions of capitalism are resolved by theactive, democratic participation of the working class in Venezuela and beyond,then a viable alternative to capitalism would be visible to the internationalworking class, which would instantly recognize it as a superior form of socialorganization http://www.countercurrents.org/cooke030110.htm
AFGHANISTAN
Welcome To Orwell’s World By John Pilger – Obama’s lies over the Afghanistanwar remind us of the lessons of Nineteen Eighty-Four http://www.newstatesman.com/international-politics/2010/01/afghanistan-war-pilger-obama
Afghan govt. demands arrest of US "death squad": Kai Eide, UN Representativeto Afghanistan confirmed the Afghan government’s investigative conclusions thatUS troops handcuffed and then executed eight students enrolled in grades 6through 10 in a night raid on December 27, 2009. The US military and NATOresponded the troops involved were non-official. The most likely source ofpara-military "non-official" troops in Afghanistan is Blackwater/Xe. http://snipurl.com/tzyn1
Three children killed daily in Afghanistan: At least three children arekilled in Afghanistan every day in attacks, bombings and armed clashes betweeninsurgents and US/NATO occupying forces, Afghanistan Rights Monitor (ARM),anon-governmental organization said on Wednesday. http://www.dailynews.lk/2010/01/08/wld02.asp
The Afghan peace movement http://stopwarblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/afghan-peace-movement.html
CUBA
Fidel Castro: 51 years after the revolution, the struggle is now to save ourspecies http://links.org.au/node/1446
A terrorism designation Cuba doesn’t deserve http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/04/AR2010010402723.html?hpid=opinionsbox1
HONDURAS
Honduras: The First March of the National Front of Popular Resistance in 2010 http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/honduras070110.html
PACIFIC
Croz’s blast at ‘undemocratic’ Dominion Post editorial on Fiji http://cafepacific.blogspot.com/2010/01/sideswipe-at-undemocratic-dominion-post.html
PAKISTAN
US Attacks in Pakistan Killed 700 Civilians in 2009 By The Peninsula. Of the 44 Predator strikes carried out by the American drones in the tribal areas of Pakistan in 12 months of 2009, only five were able to hit their actual targets, killing five key Al Qaeda and Taliban leaders, but at the cost of around 700 innocent civilian lives. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article24309.htm
PALESTINE
Noam Chomsky: "Gaza: One Year Later" By Democracy Now – On December 27, 2008, Israel began one of the bloodiest attacks on Gaza Since 1948. The three week assault killed some 1400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis. One year later, little to no rebuilding has taken place and the siege in Gaza continues. Speaking in Watertown, Massachusetts on December 6, 2009, linguist and social critic Noam Chomsky delivered a talk entitled "Gaza: One Year Later." http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article24320.htm
Displaced and desperate in Gaza http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/gazaoneyearon/2009/12/20091230113310410824.html
Israel resembles a failed state by Ali Abunimah, The Electronic Intifada http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article10969.shtml
Viva Palestina Convoy Breaks Gaza Siege By Aljazeera http://www.countercurrents.org/aljazeera070110.htm
Israeli Theft Of Palestinian Property By Stephen Lendman – For over 60 years, Israel has disposessed Palestinins of their land, incrementally, systematically, and illegally, intending at most to leave Palestinians cantonized and surrounded in the least valued portions, the rest being exclusively for Jews http://www.countercurrents.org/lendman070110.htm
Neta Golan: An Israeli woman who lives in Ramallah: "I was a part of the consensus opinion in Israel, that we are morally superior. They are violent. We have purity of arms. If we do kill a civilian or an innocent, it’s by mistake. Even if these mistakes happen every single day. I refused to believe that a soldier would open fire on an innocent child, but I saw it. But when you are in the West Bank, and you see a child throw a stone at a tank, you understand that if that child is killed, that is murder. http://rete-eco.it/it/approfondimenti/opposizione-israeliana/10867–an-israeli-jewish-lives-in-ramallah-this-country-palestine-from-the-river-to-the-sea-.html
William Cook’s article: A Christmas Remembrance sees into the Zionist mind that continues past Euro-centric colonialism with “Israel’s invasion of a people locked behind walls with no place to go, an invasion by the world’s fourth largest military according to Israeli estimates, an invasion against a people that have no military, an invasion of a small speck of land that is home to 1.5 million people, an invasion that capped two years of siege by this same military that destroyed the infrastructure of Gaza, preventing food and medicine and oil and gas and water from entering Gaza, an invasion that was as merciless as that of any ferocious animal killing its prey, but here the prey is not one but 1400 with upwards of 5000 wounded and maimed, an invasion that can only mark the perpetrators as ruthless killers without compassion or conscience, a robotic mass that has lost all sense of humane sensitivity, a people that should be and must be isolated from the law abiding nations of the world.” http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article24248.htm
YEMEN
Obama’s War On Yemen By Stephen Lendman http://www.countercurrents.org/lendman040110.htm
Obama in Aden. http://leninology.blogspot.com/2010/01/obama-in-aden.html
Don’t Mess with Yemen By Patrick Cockburn, Independent UK. Posted December 31, 2009. "It is extraordinary to see the US begin to make the same mistakes in Yemen as it previously made in Afghanistan and Iraq." http://www.alternet.org/story/144892/don%27t_mess_with_yemen_
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