#315: Jane Kelsey speaks on Crisis Feb 1

GLOBALPEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND
NEWSLETTER No.315, January 21, 2010

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Jane Kelsey, Professor of Law at Auckland University, is to speak at first GPJA Forum for 2010. Her topic is "Is the Global Financial Crisis the beginning of the end of global capitalism?" This forum will be on Monday, February 1 at 7.30pm at the Auckland Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn. We hope to reestablish the monthly schedule on the first Monday of each month.

The events in Haiti are also featured strongly in this newsletter. The appalling imperial intervention by the US regime and its military has underlined the fact that this is much more than a ‘natural’ disaster. Below are a few links to groups you can donate to that are committed to empowering not colonising the Haitian people. A Socialist Aotearoa forum with Gerald Perreira and Joe Carolan will discuss “HAITI-from Revolution to Occupation – Black Jacobins and Shock Doctrines” at the Trades Hall at 7.30pm on Friday, January 29.

Cancel Haiti debt – You may want to sign this petition, which calls for theimmediate cancellation of all of Haiti’s foreign debt (Haiti "owes" $890million to the International Monetary Fund, the Inter-American DevelopmentBank, and a handful of others). http://one.org/international/actnow/haiti/index.html?rc=haiticonfemail

An urgent appeal from the Haiti Emergency Relief Fund 14 January 2010:Thousands may have been killed and tens of thousands left homeless. This is amoment in which your solidarity is of critical importance. Haiti’s grassrootsmovement — including labor unions, women’s groups, educators and human rights activists, support committees for prisoners, and agricultural cooperatives — is attempting to funnel needed aid to those most hit bythe earthquake. Grassroots organizers are doing what they can — with themost limited of funds — to make a difference. Please take this chance tolend them your support. This is a time for all of us to act.

If you want to donate here are a couple of suggestions. Partners In Health is a NGO which is substituting for a state health system but it’s evident that food andmedicines are the immediate priorities. The Haiti EmergencyRelief Fund is a radical network which supports grassroots activity.

Emergency Earthquake Appeal: Support Cuban-Trained Haitian Doctors – Giveyour donation staying power… with MEDICC and Global Links http://www.medicc.org/ns/index.php?s=19&p=19

NUMBERS: GDP of Haiti: $8.5 billion. Goldman Sachs bonus pool: $20billion.

WHAT’S ON IN AUCKLAND

Tuesday, January 26, 7pm, A Mount Eden Road, Mount Eden,Auckland
COROMANDEL-NO MINING! – FILM SCREENING AND ALK CAMPAIGNKICKOFF. We invite you to an evening of short films: “Prospects”– the story of the first campaign that saved the Coromandel. Extractsfrom “Choropampa the Price of Gold” – Newmont Gold andfriends in Yanacocha Peru! Green MP Catherine Delahunty will be discussing theongoing effort to prevent mining in the Hauraki/Coromandel peninsula. Learnmore about Newmont’s overseas record and behaviour. Watch the true storyof our own communities stopping multinationals from destroying the environmentDiscussion on the defence of Opoutere and the Hauraki/Coromandel from theprospecting and mining threat. Where –8A Mount Eden Road, Mount Eden,Auckland When –Tuesday 26th January @ 7:00 contact: chris.zack@gmail.com

Friday, January 29, 7.30pm, Auckland Trades Hall, 147 Great NorthRoad, Grey Lynn.
HAITI- FROM REVOLUTION TO OCCUPATION – BLACK JACOBINS AND SHOCK DOCTRINES. ASocialist Aotearoa forum With Gerald Perreira and Joe Carolan. Tens ofthousands of people in Haiti are dead and hundreds of thousands more wounded orhomeless after the earthquake that tore through the country last Tuesday.People across the world will feel deep sympathy for those who have lost so much, and a great desire to help. Earthquakes are natural events: but the scaleof the suffering depends on where they happen and how much assistance the victims receive. The world’s great powers have been criminally slow to respond. They have dragged their feet while huge numbers of people are left without food or clean water and have to sleep in the open. The US can always get a cruise missile to its target anywhere in the world. There is never a lack of money for a military “surge”. But there’s always delay and lack of resources when poor people suffer. Haitians will not get even 1 percent of the trillions handed out to the bankers to shore up the financial system. And even now while Haitians face such pain, the millionaire tourists are still enjoying luxury in the Dominican Republic that shares the same island as Haiti.By last Friday sections of the starving and thirsty population of Haiti’scapital Port-au-Prince were building barricade of bodies in protest at the lackof aid. The destruction in Haiti is so serious because of its extreme poverty, and because it has suffered from two centuries of imperialist intervention.Sixty percent of the housing in Port-au-Prince was sub-standard. Even before the earthquake prices for rice, beans, water, cooking oil and gas had skyrocketed to the point where many Haitians simply cannot afford to eat. The Associated Press recently ran an article reporting that many Haitians were now eating “mud cookies.” Over half the population survive on less than$1 a day. This is all the legacy of capitalism and imperialism. In the eighteenth century thousands of slaves were transported to Haiti by theEuropean powers. The great slave revolts under Toussaint L’Ouverture not only defeated the slave-owners and three European armies but also struck a magnificent blow against the whole slave system. The revolt frightened and enraged the rich everywhere – and still does. While most people have reacted to the earthquake by trying to help, the racist US evangelist PatRobertson said that Haitians had “sworn a pact to the devil” when they rose up against slavery. Although freed from slavery, Haiti was forced by military threats to pay compensation to France of 150 million francs (the equivalent of $25 billion today) – which it did not finally finish paying until 1947. In 1915, the US invaded Haiti to police debt repayments and to protect US firms. The troops stayed until 1934, running Haiti as a virtual colony. The US then backed the brutal Duvalier dictatorships from 1957 on the basis that they represented a barrier against Communism. In 1986, a massive uprising overthrew “Baby Doc” Duvalier, who fled the country. But Western interference continued. Haitians elected Jean-Bertrand Aristide to be president after he promised land reform, better housing and improved wages but the US then backed a coup that removed him from office. US president BillClinton eventually restored Aristide – but only on the condition that he implement the US neoliberal plan – which Haitians called the "plan of death." When Aristide was slow to do his master’s will, the US conspired with Haiti’s rich to drive out Aristide again. US and then UN troops have occupied the country ever since. We say: •Rush food, shelter and other aid to Haiti now; •No to the use of aid as a political weapon to impose the US’s will; •End the neoliberal policies that squeeze Haiti’spoor; •End the occupation of Haiti by foreign forces. http://socialistaotearoa.blogspot.com/2010/01/black-jacobins-and-shock-doctrines.html

Saturday, January 30, 12 noon, Devon Lifestyle 308 Ti Rakau Drive.DON’T BUY KWILA!! The first action for the decadeagainst the sale of rainforest kwila is being organised for Saturday 30 Januaryby Rainforest Action and Indonesia Human Rights Committee (Auckland). "Don’tBuy Kwila" demonstration in Auckland: 30 January 12 noon outside kwila furniture retailer: Devon Lifestyle 308 Ti Rakau Drive. Protect the Rainforest and the people of West Papua . Protect the climate. Save kwila from extinction. Please advise if you can come and if you need transport or can offer transport. Maire Leadbeater, Indonesia Human Rights Committee, maire@clear.net.nz

Monday, February 1, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn

GPJA FORUM: Jane Kelsey, Professor of Law at Auckland University, is to speak at first GPJA Forum for 2010. Her topic is "Is the Global Financial Crisis the beginning of the end of global capitalism?".

Friday, February 5, 8pm, Socialist Centre, 86 Princes St, Onehunga, Auckland
INVITATION TO PUBLIC MEETING: IS CAPITALISM ON A PATH TO COLLAPSE? Organised by Socialist Worker. Speakers: GRANT MORGAN, International secretary of Socialist Worker; JOHN ROBINSON, global trends researcher, author of The Limits to Growth and Excess Capital; ROB GEORGE, eco-activist & union organiser. A quintet of contradictions are besetting global capitalism, they are the profitability crisis, the resource crisis, the ecological crisis, the imperial crisis, and the legitimacy crisis. As a result of these interconnected crises, could capitalism collapse within a historically short time span? What will replace it? Join us at the Socialist Centre to debate these questions. Each speaker will talk for a maximum of 30 minutes, followed by open discussion and questions from the floor.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

EYEWITNESS TO A REVOLUTION IN NEPAL – NZ SPEAKING TOUR BY BEN PETERSON, 21-26 MARCH 2010
Ben Peterson is a young Australian socialist who spent one year in Nepal in close association with the revolutionary forces who recently overthrew feudalism and are today confronting capitalism and imperialism. Ben is crossing the Tasman for a speaking tour of New Zealand from 21-26 March. His visit will be a great opportunity to learn more about the exciting events in Nepal. Ben has this to say about the struggle: "In 2006, a Peoples’ Movement overthrew Nepal’s ruling monarchy. They’re fighting to build a new Nepal free of poverty, oppression and discrimination by sex, caste or race. When I was in Nepal I met amazing people, peasant farmers, workers, students, youth, and the elderly, all fighting for a democratic future. Everywhere I went there was a common desire for something better. Leading the struggle is the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), who built on support earned during the Peoples’ War (1996-2006) to win a majority of votes in democratic elections, enabling them to form a revolutionary government. That government was undermined by forces hostile to the Peoples’ Movement. Today, the struggle continues at all levels of Nepalese society. It’s not over, but the people of Nepal are experiencing more control over their lands and communities. And if this 21st century revolution continues it will impact on the lives of many more.” To find out more about Ben’s experiences and the Nepal Revolution go to Ben’s blog: http://maobadiwatch.blogspot.com/ Activists from the Workers Party and Socialist Worker are organising the tour, with meetings planned in Auckland, Hamilton, Rotorua, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. We’re inviting other interested groups and individuals to support and promote Ben’s tour. If you would like to help out, contact these regional and national coordinators: Auckland – Daphna Whitmore, wpnz(at)clear.net.nz. Hamilton – Jared Philips, jared(at)unite.org.nz, 029-4949 863. Rotorua – Bernie Hornfeck, bernieh(at)clear.net.nz, (07)345 9853. Wellington – Alastair Reith, alastair.reith(at)gmail.com, 027-711 9591. Christchurch – Phil Ferguson, philp.ferguson(at)canterbury.ac.nz, 021-443 948. Dunedin – Andrew Tait, andrewmtait(at)hotmail.com, 027-606 9549. National coordination/publicity – Vaughan Gunson, svpl(at)xtra.co.nz, 021-0415 082. As meeting details are finalised a full tour itinerary will be circulated. You can join the Facebook group: Ben Peterson NZ Speaking Tour. More information and links will be posted there. A PDF publicity flyer can be downloaded here. LINKS ON THE NEPAL REVOLUTION: Mike Ely, Eyes on the Maobadi: Four Reasons Nepal’s Revolution Matters. Introductory PDF pamphlet – A Revolution at the Brink: Stand with Nepal. More in depth PDF pamphlet – Kasama Articles: On the Maobadi and the Crisis in Nepal.

ROGER AWARD WINNER TO BE ANNOUNCED IN WELLINGTON ON THURSDAY, MARCH 11
The Roger Award Ceremony – Drinking Liberally presents the annual CAFCA/Gatt Watchdog Roger Award ceremony. The Roger Award is presented each year to the worst transnational corporation operating in New Zealand, and the winner of the 2009 Roger Award will be announced at a ceremony in Wellington on Thursday March 11 2010, at the Southern Cross Bar, 39 Abel Smith Street. Speakers include Christine Dann (for the judges) and Murray Horton (CAFCA). Doors open 5.30pm, with some food provided, and presentations will get underway from 6pm. This year’s Roger Award finalists are: ANZ, BNZ, Infratil, Newmont, Rio Tinto Aluminium NZ, Rymans, Telecom, Transpacific and Westpac. For more info: kane.oconnell .

SAVE MUMIA ABU-JAMAL FROM LEGAL LYNCHING!
We are calling a demonstration on Tuesday, 26 January, at 5.30 pm at the American Embassy in response to a call from Mumia’a lawyer for action to be taken as the US Supreme Court makes its final ruling. Please forward this information to as many people as you can. I have included at statement by the Labor Action Committee about the current situation. Cheers, Adaire Hannah hannahad@actrix.gen.nz
ALERT! NEW THREAT TO MUMIA’S LIFE! SUPREME COURT SET TO ANNOUNCE A DECISION http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/01/18/18635523.php

INVITATION TO THE ESSENCE OF ISLAM STUDY CIRCLE STARTING 12 FEBRUARY
ESSENCE OF ISLAM an 8 week study circle First session 12th Feb 2010 Time 7:00 pm Location Unitec / Gate 4 [Carrington Rd, Mt Albert]. There will be guides positioned at the gate from 6:40 to 6:55pm. What do the Six Principles of Faith include? What do the five pillars mean over and beyond the ritual actions? What are the Two Principles of Islam? What is the Triune Model of Islam? An 8-week journey into what Islam is really all about From the basic elements to some profound thought provoking propositions from Islam, the Essence of Islam Study Circle is aimed to break misconceptions, reinforce Islamic Principles and shed proper light on what Islam really is. Registration Essential: http://www.rmdt.org.nz $40 for full study circle / $5 for a casual session Contact: Ashif 021 122 7833 or email: essence@rmdt.org.nz

SAVE ACC MARCH and RALLY Tuesday 16 February, 12pm, Parliament
A march and rally to protest against the Government’s attacks on ACC will take place at Parliament in Wellington on 16 February. The rally will be held under the banner of the ACC Futures Coalition but will aim to attract many organisations and individuals from beyond the coalition to express the widest possible opposition to the assault on ACC.

LIVING WAGE PETITION – Stalls in your area:
AUCKLAND: Contact Joseph – 029 4455702 joseph@unite.org.nz
WELLINGTON: Contact Joel – 027 600 9282 joel.cosgrove The Wellington crew operate their own e loop 15dollarwgtn and regular stalls in different areas and events.
WHANGEREI: Contact Vaughan – 021 041 5082 svpl@xtra.co.nz
ROTORUA: Contact Bernie – bernieh 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

WAIHOPAI SPYBASE PROTEST JANUARY 22-24, 2010 – END NZ INVOLVEMENT IN US WARS
People from all around New Zealand will be converging on Blenheim and the super-secret Waihopai satellite interception spybase, in Marlborough, on the weekend of January 22-24. The war in Afghanistan, in which the NZ military is directly involved, has got dramatically worse and President Obama’s surge of 30,000 extra US troops will escalate it further. Already it has spread across the border into Pakistan. Hillary Clinton’s NZ visit this week is aimed at whipping America’s allies into shape and to get more troops out of the Key government, whilst simultaneously dangling a Free Trade Agreement as the"reward" – nothing has changed since Holyoake’s "guns for butter" catchcry ofthe Vietnam War years. The theme of our activities, both at the spybase and inBlenheim, will be anti-war. The US says that Intelligence is the key componentof all the wars that it is fighting, or planning to fight, throughout the world(Yemen is the latest target in this endless war). The Anti-Bases Campaignpoints out that Waihopai, an important source of intelligence for the Pentagon,is New Zealand’s most important contribution to the American war machine and itmeans that we New Zealanders have blood on our hands. To symbolise that, ourprops will include crosses, coffins and white masks. This will be the firstprotest at the spybase since the April 2008 deflation of one of its domes bythe Ploughshares peace activists. In solidarity with them, we will be poppingwhite balloons at the base (and we will be at their Wellington trial, for theweek starting March 8). Waihopai, of course, is a "New Zealand" base – or sothe Government says. The fact is, however, that in everything but name it is anoutpost of American Intelligence – paid for by the long suffering NZ taxpayer.More than $500 million of public money has been spent on the NZ GovernmentCommunications Security Bureau (the agency which runs Waihopai) in the 22 yearsof Waihopai’s operation. That money could have been much better utilised onhealth and education, not spying on behalf of Uncle Sam. On Saturday 23rd wewill meet in Blenheim’s Seymour Square at 11 am. From there we will marchthrough central Blenheim, with speeches at the band rotunda in the Forum. Thiswill be followed by a visit to the Waihopai spybase itself at 2 pm. Informationwill be provided on the function of the base and there will be a peacefulprotest, calling for its closure. Speakers, either in Blenheim and/or thespybase, will be: Keith Locke, Green MP; John Minto, of Global Peace andJustice Auckland; and Murray Horton of ABC. Waihopai does not operate in thenational interest of New Zealand. In all but name it is a foreign spybase on NZsoil, paid for with hundreds of millions of our tax dollars, and directlyinvolves us in America’s wars. Waihopai must be closed. (For details onWaihopai and what it does, go to our Website http://www.converge.org.nz/abcRegister to take part in the protest ($40 waged / $20 unwaged). Writre to:CLOSE THE WAIHOPAI SPYBASE NOW! Organised by the Anti-Bases Campaign, P.O. Box2258, Christchurch. E-mail cafca@chch.planet.org.nz http://www.converge.org.nz/abcMake all cheques to ABC – Murray Horton, for ABC Anti-Bases Campaign.

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

JOIN THE 2010 `MAY DAY’ SOLIDARITY BRIGADE TO VENEZUELA! APRIL24 – MAY 2, 2010
Registrations close February 1, 2010. The Australia-VenezuelaSolidarity Network’s brigades to Venezuela are a once-in-a-lifetimeexperience – the opportunity to see first-hand an unfolding revolution that isnot only radically transforming the lives of Venezuelans, but is challengingthe greed, exploitation and destructiveness of global capitalism by showingthat a better world is possible. Join the AVSN’s “May Day”solidarity brigade, to run from April 24 to May 2, 2010, and visit worker-runfactories and cooperatives; free, high-quality public health and educationprograms; Indigenous controlled programs of sustainable economic developmentand environmental repair; and community controlled TV and radio stations.Observe “popular power” at work in Venezuela’s new communalcouncils, and speak to a wide range of grassroots organisations, communityactivists, trade unions and government representatives about the radicalchanges being implemented by the Venezuelan people. And join tens of thousandsof Venezuelans at the May Day rally in the capital city, Caracas, oninternational workers’ day, May 1. The 2010 May Day brigade is the 10thsolidarity tour to Venezuela organised by the AVSN. Don’t miss thisunique opportunity to witness the remarkable Bolivarian revolution. Reports andphotos from previous AVSN brigades are posted athttp://www.venezuelasolidarity.org. We are also happy to put you in touch withpeople who have participated in AVSN brigades, if you would like to find outmore. Brigade registration and costs
The deadline for registering for the 2010 May Day brigade is February 1, 2010.To obtain a registration form, please email brigades@venezuelasolidarity.orgor visit http://www.venezuelasolidarity.org.Participants will need to book their own international airfares, but the AVSNcan help with advice. Accommodation, transport and English-Spanish translationwithin Venezuela will all be organised for brigade participants. You will needto budget for a total cost of approximately $4000. This will cover:international return airfares and taxes; accommodation (twin-share basis);transport and basic food while you are in Venezuela; and the brigaderegistration fee ($500 for workers, $300 for students or pensioners). For moreinformation, email brigades@venezuelasolidarity.orgor phone Jim McIlroy 0423 741 734 or Lisa Macdonald 0413 031 108.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

Jan 16: Happy Birthday Dr. King – "I am convinced that if we are to get onthe right side of the world revolution, we as a nation must undergo a radicalrevolution of values. We must rapidly begin the shift from a ‘thing-oriented’society to a ‘person-oriented’ society. When machines and computers, profitmotives and property rights are considered more important than people, thegiant triplets of racism, materialism, and militarism are incapable of beingconquered." Rev. Martin Luther King – http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article2564.htm

“Disobedience, in the eyes of anyone who has read history, is man’soriginal virtue. It is through disobedience that progress has been made,through disobedience and through rebellion.” — Oscar Wilde, Soul ofMan Under Socialism

“The free market is perfectly natural… do you think I am some kindof dummy?” — Jarvis Cocker

BEST ONTHE WEB

NEW ZEALAND

Gordon Campbell: On The NZSAS In Kabul – So once again, we have to rely onthe foreign media telling us what our SAS have been doing in Afghanistan. Theseforeign media reports are proving to be consistent. Last year, the Norwegianmedia told us that our SAS would be replacing… http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2010/01/20/gordon-campbell-on-three-strikes-sas-in-kabul#a

Employment: 61% Support Raising Minimum Wage To $15ph “The NZ Heraldpoll this morning that found that 61% of New Zealanders support raising theminimum wage to $15 per hour, underestimates the support we are getting fromthousands of people every week at our campaign stalls and workplaces”said Living Wage campaign organizer Joe Carolan, today. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1001/S00048.htm

International Day Of Action To Free Tamil Refugees: On Monday 18th January,30 Aucklanders representing half-a-dozen organisations protested outside theAustralian consulate as part of a seven-country international campaign. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1001/S00345.htm

Editorial: Why NZ is important to Obama http://www.nzherald.co.nz/government/news/article.cfm?c_id=49&objectid=10620520

Catching up with Australia: Murray Horton – Don Brash’s 2025 Taskforce madea range of recommendations about how our economy could catch up with Australia.Its ideas, which included slashing Government spending met with widespreadcondemnation. Murray Horton: Secretary/Organiser for the Campaign AgainstForeign Control of Aotearoa (CAFCA) is one of a range of New Zealandersapproached by nzherald.co.nz to share their thoughts on how we can shorten thegap. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10619570

John Key’s economic myths are busted http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/blogs/frontline/3233650/John-Keys-economic-myths-are-busted

Fawning frenzy seeks to win back US favour http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10620636

It’s the police who are out of line, not the protesters http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10619307

Clinton comes bearing a poisoned chalice, but calls off Pacific trip http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2010/01/clinton-comes-bearing-a-poisoned-chalice-but-calls-off-pacific-trip/

CAFCA’s Historic Comalco Comic Now Online: “Power Junky”,CAFCA’s famous historic Comalco comic (1977; updated 1982; text by PeteLusk, drawing by Ron Currie) is now available online. Obviously some of thefacts and details have changed in the ensuing 30+ years but, sadly the greatbulk of it is just as relevant today, because NZ is still saddled with RioTinto Aluminium NZ’s Bluff smelter. It remains the single biggest user ofelectricity in the country and the beneficiary of a top secret mates’rates power price. The 40 page classic comic can be read at: http://historicalwatchdog.blogspot.com/2009/01/comalco-comic.html

BOYCOTT Israel & get arrested! (MR NEWS) http://www.guerillamedia.co.nz/content/boycott-israel-get-arrested-mr-news

WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS

The Economy Is a Disaster: We Should Fix It http://www.truthout.org/the-economy-is-a-disaster-we-should-fix-it56176

Moral Bankruptcy – Why are we letting Wall Street off so easy? By Joseph E.Stiglitz – We have created a society in which materialism overwhelms moralcommitment, in which the rapid growth that we have achieved is not sustainableenvironmentally or socially, in which we do not act together to address ourcommon needs. Market fundamentalism has eroded any sense of community and hasled to rampant exploitation of unwary and unprotected individuals. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article24425.htm

FOOD, FARMING AND THE ENVIRONMENT

The 350 ppm carbon dioxide challenge and how to achieve it http://links.org.au/node/1463

Robin, your carbon market ship is sinking fast http://www.zcommunications.org/znet/viewArticle/23656

The three legacies of Darwin by Achin Vanaik – The legacy of Darwin is notonly the knowledge that there is a biological continuum between the animal andthe human worlds, but also that there is a link between culture and nature. Ifonly mainstream economics could learn from the life sciences which Darwin didso much to nourish, it might recognise that you cannot have unlimited growth ina finite world. http://www.tni.org/article/three-legacies-darwin

FEATURES

UN: grim picture of world’s indigenous peoples It is a comprehensive andfascinating, if somewhat depressing, document organised by the Secretariat ofthe United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, with chapters writtenby independent experts. There is a copy of the full report at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/sowip09.pdfand separate links to each chapter at the end of the page at http://www.un.org//esa/socdev/unpfii/en/sowip.htmlThe press package, which provides a summary of each chapter, is at http://www.un.org//esa/socdev/unpfii/documents/SOWIP_Press_package.pdf
There are references to the situation of Maori throughout the report – but asit is 250 pages long (!), if you don’t want to read the whole thing, theeasiest way to find them is to search within the document using ‘Zealand’ asthe search term.

Evidence is surfacing, according to Scott Horton writing in Harper’s,http://www.harpers.org/archive/2010/01/hbc-90006368that the supposed group suicide of three prisoners at Guantanamo in summer of2006 may have in fact been murder

What I’ve Learned About U.S. Foreign Policy – Video – The history of theterrorism conducted by the CIA, since the end of the World War II whencountries in Asia and Latin America, were trying to make changes to improvetheir economical and political situation, the Unite States of North Americarealized that it was not good for their status as new super power; and began anew campaign, with only one rule, Anything Goes. This is the story of theterrorism of the CIA. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article24441.htm

REVIEWS

Review: Haiti, From Revolution to the Kidnapping of a President – RandallRobinson. An Unbroken Agony: Basic Civitas. 280 pages. Reviewed by Roger Annis.http://www.socialistvoice.ca/?p=219
Damming the Flood: Haiti, Aristide and the Politics of Containment PeterHallward. Verso Press. 2008 Reviewed by Roger Annis http://www.socialistvoice.ca/?p=297

‘Fuck you, we didn’t do what you told us’ http://www.greenleft.org.au/2010/822/42287

AUSTRALIA

Tamil refugees face indefinite detention on Christmas Island http://www.greenleft.org.au/2010/822/42274

Why the left should support Sea Shepherd’s anti-whaling campaign http://www.greenleft.org.au/2010/822/42290

AUSTRALIAN TENNIS PROTEST: Against Israeli Shahar Peer 20Jan10 January 19,2010

222 years of Aboriginal struggle http://www.greenleft.org.au/2010/822/42292

AFGHANISTAN

Afghan Govt. Demands Arrest of US "Death Squad" Who handcuffed, executed 8children. US refuses By Carl Herman – Kai Eide, UN Representative toAfghanistan confirmed the Afghan government’s investigative conclusions that UStroops handcuffed and then executed eight students enrolled in grades 6 through10 in a night raid on December 27, 2009. The US military and NATO responded thetroops involved were non-official. The most likely source of para-military"non-official" troops in Afghanistan is Blackwater/Xe. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article24403.htm

BOLIVIA

Evo Morales, the Best Ally of the Middle Class http://boliviarising.blogspot.com/2010/01/bolivia-evo-morales-best-ally-of-middle.html

CANADA

Vancouver Winter Olympics: A Festival of Corporate Greed by Roger Annis http://www.socialistvoice.ca/?p=926

CUBA

Cuban doctors in Haiti: `The worst tragedy is not being able to do more’ http://links.org.au/node/1469

Fidel Castro: The lesson of Haiti http://links.org.au/node/1464

Fidel: We are proud of Cuba’s doctors in Haiti http://www.socialistvoice.ca/?p=938

HAITI

Haiti: A natural and human-made catastrophe combine http://www.greenleft.org.au/2010/822/42255

Discovered by Columbus, built by France – and wrecked by dictators -He ended years of brutal regime. Now an exiled ex-president wants to be thesaviour again. By Andrew Buncombe. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/discovered-by-columbus-built-by-france-ndash-and-wrecked-by-dictators-1869513.html

Disaster Imperialism in Haiti by Shirley Pate http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/2010/pate170110.html

Patrick Cockburn: The US is failing Haiti – again – There is nobody toco-ordinate the most rudimentary relief and rescue efforts http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/patrick-cockburn-the-us-is-failing-haiti-ndash-again-1869539.html

Is the Haiti Rescue Effort Failing? By Danny Schechter, AlterNet. PostedJanuary 18, 2010. Everyone wants to believe in the best intentions of allinvolved, but five days after the quake, with so few being helped, we have toask: how did this get so badly done? http://www.alternet.org/story/145226/is_the_haiti_rescue_effort_failing/?page=entire

The West’s role in Haiti’s plight http://links.org.au/node/1462

Haiti Disaster Capitalism Alert: Stop Them Before They Shock Again http://www.naomiklein.org/articles/2010/01/haiti-disaster-capitalism-alert-stop-them-they-shock-again

Haiti Smashed, Diaspora Shaken, Deportations Frozen By Michelle Chen -January 13th, 2010 – The devastation in Haiti is unrelenting, an avalanche ofnatural catastrophe exacerbated by man-made injustice. Perhaps 100,000 feareddead, homes shattered, people digging neighbors out of rubble without safefood, water or electricity. It’s hard to fathom just how much tragedy onetiny island country can bear, and Haiti seems to be testing the limits of apeople’s resilience in the face of crisis. http://www.naomiklein.org/articles/2010/01/haiti-smashed-diaspora-shaken-deportations-frozen

Haitians plead: `Where is the help?’ http://links.org.au/node/1466

Haiti – a kinder gentler imperialism – The International Monetary Fundannounced on Thursday that it will give Haiti a loan of $100 million. As is itsnormal practice the loan comes with aimage whole tangle of neo-liberal stringsattached. These will include increased prices for electricity and pay freezesfor public employees. http://liammacuaid.wordpress.com/2010/01/17/haiti-a-kinder-gentler-imperialism/

A must watch from Al-Jazeera: "Most Haitians here have seen littlehumanitairian aid so far. What they have seen is guns, and plenty of them.""Here the Americans have taken control. It looks more like the Green Zone inBaghdad than a centre for aid distribution."

CNN: A working hospital in Haiti – "There are so few places where ordinaryHaitians can turn to when they are in need of urgent medical care in the centerof the city. We came across one: La Paz hospital. It is now being administeredby Cuban medical personnel here in Haiti alongside crews from Spain and LatinAmerica. And it is amazing to see. They are giving medical attention – ‘qualitymedial care’ to severely injured people, six to seven hundred patients a day,several dozen surgeries a day. They have three theaters going around the clock,24-7, and it is one of the only places deep in the city where Haitians can goand be treated and have a reasonable expectation of surviving." http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xbw37c_a-working-hospital-in-haiti_news

Relief Efforts in the Shadow of Past “Help”: Moving fromcrimes-as-charity to actual support for Haiti by Dan Freeman-Maloy http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/297.php

Cruise ships still find a Haitian berth – Luxury liners are still docking atprivate beaches near Haiti’s devastated earthquake zone for holidaymakers toenjoy the water http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jan/17/cruise-ships-haiti-earthquake

Greg Palast: History of a Haitian Holocaust http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1001/S00101.htm

Haiti – The Price of Freedom By Carolyn Cooper – The US refused to recognisethe new Haitian republic and imposed an embargo that lasted until 1862. In1915, the US invaded Haiti to protect its economic interests and remained inoccupation until 1934. Local Haitian leaders were no less predatory thanforeign forces, as demonstrated in the truly terrifying reign of Papa and BabyDoc. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article24432.htm

US Corporations, Private Mercenaries and the IMF Rush in to Profit fromHaiti’s Crisis http://www.alternet.org/world/145279/us_corporations%2C_private_mercenaries_and_the_imf_rush_in_to_profit_from_haiti%27s_crisis/

Haiti earthquake: US ships blockade coast to thwart exodus to America: A USaircraft carrier is spearheading a blockade of Haiti’s waters as Americaprepares for a mass sea exodus of Haitians with thousands fleeing thedevastated capital of Port-au-Prince. http://snipurl.com/u4z72

Haitian Earthquake: Why the Blood Is on Our Hands By Ted Rall http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article24391.htm

US accused of ‘occupying’ Haiti as troops flood in: France accused the US of"occupying" Haiti on Monday as thousands of American troops flooded into thecountry to take charge of aid efforts and security. http://snipurl.com/u4ma7

Haiti, Again? Phyllis Bennis – The marginalisation of the UN and themilitarisation of the US aid effort in Haiti reflect how the humanitarian needstake a back seat to the Pentagon’s priorities. http://www.tni.org/article/haiti-again

Debt is Haiti’s real curse – Eric Toussaint and Sophie Perchellet of theCommittee for the Abolition of Third World Debt (CADTM) explain how Haiti wasforced into a debt trap from its founding. http://socialistworker.org/2010/01/20/debt-is-the-real-curse

IRAN

Interview: In Iran, Labor Activists Face Repression http://www.labornotes.org/blogs/2010/01/interview-iran-labor-activists-face-repression

ITALY

A racist pogrom in Italy – Nicole Colson looks at the recent violence in theItalian town of Rosarno, where exploited African agricultural workers stood upto a racist attack. http://socialistworker.org/2010/01/20/racist-pogrom-in-italy

LATVIA

Latvia’s EU handcuffs – Latvia shows the damage that rightwing economicpolicies can do – with help from the European Union and the IMF http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2010/jan/15/latvia-economy-eu-imf

NEPAL

Struggle for civilian supremacy heats up http://www.greenleft.org.au/2010/822/42258

PALESTINE

For Israel, A Reckoning By John Pilger – A new global movement ischallenging Israel’s violations of international law with the same strategiesthat were used against apartheid http://www.newstatesman.com/international-politics/2010/01/pilger-israel-palestinian-gaza

Israel ratcheting up the pressure on Gaza http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article11006.shtml

Israeli Democracy or Hypocrisy by Stephen Lendman http://dissidentvoice.org/2010/01/israeli-democracy-or-hypocrisy/

Gaza Freedom March: Why I went to Cairo By Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, co-founderof Shomer Shalom Network for Jewish Non-violence and The Community of LivingTraditions at Stony Point Center, NY. http://australiansforpalestine.com/rabbi-lynn-gottlieb-gaza-freedom-march-why-i-went-to-cairo

Auschwitz survivor: "I can identify with Palestinian youth" http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article10568.shtml

Gaza in Plain Language http://dissidentvoice.org/2010/01/gaza-in-plain-language/

PHILIPPINES

PPT Verdict: Arroyo Guilty of Crimes Against Humanity http://www.peaceforlife.org/projects/witness4justice/philippines/pptssp/07-0326-verdict.html

SRI LANKA

ACTION ALERT: Help Tamil Refugees in Indonesia Reach Safety http://www.pearlaction.org/action-alerts/2010/aa97.php

TURKEY

Tekel workers threaten ‘death fast’ http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=tekel-workers-threaten-death-fast-2010-01-15

USA

Cindy Sheehan: CIA actions killing innocent people

‘Even Charles Manson could beat him now’ – One year after his election,Barack Obama’s approval rating is lower at this stage than for any US presidentsince Eisenhower. So why has the optimism surrounding his victory disappearedso suddenly? by Gary Younge http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2010/jan/16/gary-younge-obama-first-year

More (or Less) on Reform of Health Care: Claudia Chaufan, MD, is anArgentine physician and assistant adjunct professor in the Institute for Healthand Aging and Social and Behavioral Sciences at the University of California,San Francisco. She is also vice president of the California Chapter ofPhysicians for a National Health Program. According to its web site, PNHPsupports "single-payer national health insurance – a system in which a singlepublic or quasi-public agency organizes health financing, but delivery of careremains largely private." Dr. Chaufan talks to, and writes for, lay and expertaudiences on the social dimensions of the diabetes epidemic and on single-payerhealth care reform. This is a recent email interview with her. http://www.truthout.org/article/more-or-less-reform-health-care

Muckraking AlterNet Coverage Exposes Wrongful Incarceration By LilianaSegura – After 23 years behind bars for a crime he did not commit, MichaelTillman, a victim of police torture, is finally free. http://www.alternet.org/rights/145191/muckraking_alternet_coverage_exposes_wrongful_incarceration/

VENEZUELA

Unemployment, Inflation and Poverty Rates Declining http://www2.minci.gob.ve/noticiaingles.asp?num=2299

YEMEN

Yemen – The Return Of Old Ghosts – What I find so fascinating about thereporting of the War on Terror is the way almost all of it ignores history – asif it is a conflict happening outside time. The Yemen is a case in point. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article24400.htm

Yemen in the crosshairs http://www.greenleft.org.au/2010/822/42251

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