#319: HAND’S UP FOR LEARNING: PUBLIC MEETINGS

GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND
NEWSLETTER No. 319, February 23 , 2010

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

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WHAT’S ON IN AUCKLAND

Wednesday, February 24, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, Grey Lynn
NEXT PUBLIC ORGANISING MEETING TO BUILD THE AUCKLAND REGIONAL RATE$ REVOLT TO STOP THE $UPERCITY! Contact: Penny Bright waterpressure

Wednesday, February 24, 7pm, Kelson Community Centre
HAND’S UP FOR LEARNING: PUBLIC MEETINGS ON THE GOVERNMENT’S NATIONAL STANDARDS. Why should parents be concerned? With leading educationalistProfessor Martin Thrupp.
– Wed Feb 24- Kelston Community centre-7pm
– Wed March 3-Otahuhu Town Hall-7pm
– Wed March 10-Balmoral School auditorium -7pm
These meetings are open to teachers, principals, Board of Trustees, parents and other interested members of the community. For additional info call Tony Dunn on 09 3606213 or email: tony.dunn

Sunday, March 7, 10am, 505 B Pt Chevalier Road, Pt Chevalier.
WORKING WOMEN’S RESOURCE CENTRE CHAMPAGNE BREAKFAST. You are invited to join with the WWRC in celebrating International Women’s Day with a hearty two course breakfast. Cost $25.00 per person includes your first glass of bubbly. Enjoy good company, good food and a great place to meet. To pre book tickets contact Ros Hiini, WWRC Organiser, 09 379 7906 or 021 299 2921, or wwrc

ANNOUNCEMENTS

STUDENTS ARE WORKERS- WORKERS ARE STUDENTS!
Unite on Campus spreads its wings. Poverty and debt force many students into working their way through college, mostly in low paid jobs on or just above the minimum wage. In response, Unite Clubs are being set up on campus in the University of Auckland, AUT, MIT, UNITEC, Massey Albany and in Polys and Unis throughout the country, to organize students who are pro worker and pro union. The biggest task over the next two months will be to gather tens of thousands of names in the lecture halls and on campaign stalls for the Campaign for a Living Wage referendum. We need students, campus workers and academic staff to help us build these clubs and harvest the support that is out there. Are you on one of the campuses above? Would you be free to help on the stalls during O week and after? Can you organize for a speaker to come to your class or lecture theatre? Please contact Living Wage Campaign Organiser Joe Carolan at 029 44 55 702, email joseph@unite.org.nz

LIVING WAGE PETITION – Stalls in your area:

AUCKLAND: Contact Joseph – 029 4455702 joseph

WHANGAREI
Contact Vaughan- 021 041 5082, email: svpl

HAMILTON
Contact Jared- 029 494 9863 email: jared

COROMANDEL and THAMES
Contact Levi- 027 7746 278, email: whukoro

ROTORUA
Contact Bernie- email: bernieh , 07 345 9853

PALMERSTON NORTH
Contact Gerard- email: gerard , 06 3297 737

WELLINGTON
Contact Omar on 029 455 5789, email: omar. The Wellington crew operate their own e loop 15dollarwgtn and regular stalls in different areas and events

CHRISTCHURCH
Contact Matt – 029 201 3837 email: matthew

DUNEDIN
Contact Chris- 027 781 0371, email: mr_matahaere

A MESSAGE TO EVERYONE IN AUCKLAND WHO WANTS TO GET INVOLVED IN CAMP FOR CLIMATE ACTION AOTEAROA 2010.
As you probably already know, Climate Camp Aotearoa 2009 was organised by local Climate Camp groups all across Aotearoa. Climate Camp local groups are made up of individuals who work on all sorts of things like local climate justice direct actions, outreach and fundraising events, skill sjkaring, planning and coordinating all sorts of aspects of Climate Camp itselfand always – addressing the root causes of climate change at a local level. Whether or not you’ve been involved in a Climate Camp local group before, you are invited to come along to a special Auckland local group meeting. This upcoming meeting is aimed at gathering input on the agenda points in order to feed plans for the future into the upcoming North Island Climate Camp meeting in Hamilton on the following weekend [the 26th-28th Feb]. Hope to see you there! Gary Cranston, Camp for Climate Action Aotearoa – Auckland Local group
What: Auckland Regional Climate Camp meeting
When: Next Tuesday the 23rd February, 7.30pm
Where: Cityside Baptist Church 8a Mount Eden Road, Mount Eden, Aucks.
Proposed Agenda: 1. Camp debrief and the feedback form to look at and learn from; 2. Feedback from Jan 30 movement mapping climate conference in Wellington; 3. Safer space, conflict resolution process revised; 4. Possible name change eg. climate justice aotearoa or structure change? (having issues explaining ourselves as a ‘climate camp’ group while doing local project stuff…); 5. Helping set up new members/groups eg. hamilton, Dunedin; 6. Funding Sources; 7. The NZ Climate Movement / How we fit in [or not / or whatever]; 8. Campaigning Opportunities [community / project opposition based]; 9. Campaigning Opportunities ; 10. Allies [existing / new groups]; 11. Agriculture and Climate / Agriculture and Emissions Trading – our response; 12. Researching for Climate Justice [and
agriculture?]; 13. Future actions/camps; 14. Considering a climate justice speaking tour?

2010 NATIONAL PEACE WORKSHOPS: ‘EXPOSING AND OPPOSING MILITARISM AND MILITARISATION’ – FRIDAY, 16 APRIL TO SUNDAY, 18 APRIL 2010
This is the initial notice to let you know that the 2010 National Peace Workshops (NPW) – the national gathering for people interested in peace, social justice, and human rights – will be at the Quaker Settlement in Whanganui from Friday, 16 April to Sunday, 18 April. The theme of the 2010 NPW is ‘Exposing and opposing militarism and militarisation’ and the focus is on sharing stories and experiences, workshops and participatory discussion with contributors who have experience of community and individual non-violent resistance to militarism and militarisation in Aotearoa and overseas. The programme will include campaign updates from peace and related groups, follow up to the Waihopai Ploughshares trial, and the Peace Movement Aotearoa Annual General Meeting.
Information about the programme, venue, accommodation, registration and travel options will be circulated in the last week of February and will be availableon the NPW web page at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/npw10.htmIf you, or your group, is interested in contributing a campaign update,leaflets or other resources, a donation, or being a co-sponsor of the 2010 NPW,please read the sections below. Campaign updates and resources from peacegroups: if you would like to update NPW participants on what your group iscurrently working on, space is set aside in the programme for campaign updates,but it is helpful if we can know as soon as possible what topic/s you wouldlike to cover. You are welcome to bring leaflets or other resources to the NPW,or if no-one from your group is able to attend, we can take them for you(details of when any material for the NPW needs to be in the Peace MovementAotearoa office will be included in the NPW update at the end of February).
Donations and co-sponsorship: whether or not you are planningon attending the NPW, if you are able to send a donation to assist with thecosts that would be gratefully received. Because these NPW are residential, weare providing substantially subsidised rates for low income participants toensure that anyone who wishes to attend is not prevented from doing so becauseof the cost. Donations will be used to help with the subsidised rates; and, aswith previous NPW, if there are any surplus funds they will be held in trust byPeace Movement Aotearoa for the next NPW. There is also the opportunity forpeace groups to co-sponsor the NPW: co-sponsorship comprises a minimum donationof $100, and in return co-sponsoring organisations are listed on publicitymaterial, on the 2010 NPW web page, and in any published report. If you areinterested in being a NPW co-sponsor, please let us know as soon as possible.Donation and / or co-sponsorship cheques should be made payable to ‘PeaceMovement Aotearoa: Special Projects’ and sent to the address below. Pleaseremember to include your name, address, and organisation (where applicable) ifyou would like a receipt.
Contact details: Peace Movement Aotearoa, PO Box 9314,Wellington 6141. Tel (04) 382 8129, email pma@xtra.co.nz The National Peace Workshopsweb page is at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/npw10.htm

WAIHOPAI DOMEBUSTERS IN COURT
Monday March 8th is the court appearance of Adi Leason, Peter Murnane and SamLand for busting the dome at the Waihopai spybase. A week of activity isplanned from a picket at court on the Monday, a public meeting on the newproposed spy legislation and the annual Roger award presentation also in thesame week. Is anyone from Auckland planning to go down. If so we shouldco-ordinate travel/accommodation. Please call John Minto if you are interested- contact details at start of newsletter. Regards, John M

CLOSE WAIHOPAI SPYBASE NOW! SUPPORT THE DOMEBUSTERS!
Update: Support for the Waihopai Ploughshares trial, 16 February 2010.The trial of the Waihopai Ploughshares team is set to begin in Wellington on 8March 2010, and the Wellington Ploughshares Support Group now has a range ofactivities planned to take place before and during the trial. This message isto provide information about the planned activities, as well as to invite youand your organisation to become involved – wherever you are based, you do notneed to be in Wellington to support Waihopai Ploughshares before and during thetrial. There are eight sections below: some background information; ways youcan support Waihopai Ploughshares wherever you are; the ‘Let’s shut downWaihopai’ CD; a reminder about media spokespersons and statements; details ofthe weekly planning meetings in Wellington; the Waihopai spy base display atWellington central library; an outline of events in Wellington around thetrial; and the Waihopai Ploughshares’ statement. This message is availableonline at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/plsupport.htm

A WEEK OF ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF THE DOMEBUSTERS
Solidarity activities will focus on: the District Court; theheadquarters of the spy agency, the Government Communications Security Agency(GCSB); and the embassies/high commissions of the four other countries who,with NZ, comprise the top secret intelligence sharing UKUSA Agreement –the US, UK, Australia and Canada. Plus a public meeting; and a display aboutthe Waihopai spybase. Please join us!

Monday March 8 – 8.30 a.m., assemble at Cenotaph, silent procession toDistrict Court (43-49 Ballance St, off Lambton Quay) at 9 a.m. for a silentvigil. The trial starts at 10 a.m.
Monday March 8 1-2 p.m. Picket and vigil at headquarters of GCSB, FreybergHouse (enter through St Paul’s Square next to National Library, 58Molesworth St).
Tuesday March 9 1-2 p.m. picket and vigil at US Embassy, (29 FitzherbertTerrace, corner of Murphy St. Parking on Fitzherbert Terrace; access via HobsonSt).
Wednesday March 10 1- 2 p.m. picket and vigil at British High Commission (44Hill St, off Molesworth St)
Wednesday March 10 – 7 p.m., public meeting, St Johns Church Hall (cornerof Willis & Dixon Streets). “Waihopai: The Spybase; The Wars; TheTrial”. Speakers: Murray Horton of Anti-Bases Campaign; Moana Cole ofPloughshares; Bryan Law, of Christians Against All Terrorism (Australia).
Thursday March 11 – 1-2 p.m. picket and vigil at Australian HighCommission (72-76 Hobson St).
Friday March 12 – 1-2 p.m. picket and vigil at Canadian High Commission(125 The Terrace; Commission is on Level 11).
March 8-14 inclusive – Anti-Bases Campaign’s display on Waihopaispy base in Wellington City Library, 65 Victoria Street.

The rally at the court and the lunchtime pickets/vigils are jointlyorganised by the Anti-Bases Campaign, Wellington Ploughshares Support Group andPeace Movement Aotearoa. For a full list of activities, check the PeaceMovement Aotearoa Website at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/pltrial.htmWellington Ploughshares Support Group, Box 9314, Wellington pma@xtra.co.nz

THE WESTERN SAHARA SINGER MARIEM HASSAN WILL BE COMING TO NZ TOPARTICIPATE IN WOMAD 12-14 MARCH 2010
Mariem Hassan (Western Sahara): After more than 30 years of performing, MariemHassan is hailed as the true voice of the Western Sahara. Her people areSaharawis, living in exile within Algeria since Spain abandoned the WesternSahara in 1975 and their desert lands were claimed by Morocco. Within theAlgerian refugee camps, women singers are recognised as pillars of strength,humanising the harsh living conditions through their powerful songs of hope.Mariem sings in hassania, the language of her dessert homeland and deemedclosest to classical Arabic. During the 1970s, Mariem joined forces with Matirel Uali Mustafa Sayed (more popularly known as El Uali), touringinternationally with his band until she recorded her first solo album, Deseos,during 2005. In concert, her intense voice sits atop two electric guitars(substituting for the rustic tidinit) and two tebals (ground-drums played bywomen), melding ancient spiritual sounds with whispers of blues, reggae andother current music, driving her music into the 21st century. Different dances,performed by the percussionists, enrich a repertoire based on traditional andspiritual songs. Her solo fame has been further enhanced by a documentary film,Mariem Hassan, The Voice of the Sahara, released in 2008 at the FisaharaFestival. Websites: http://www.myspace.com/saharafree
http://womad.co.nz/womad_index.html

CD FUNDRAISER FOR CLOSE WAIHOPAI CAMPAIGN
$20 – Order from jeffsimmonds.org Musician Jeff Simmonds has produced a30-minute CD with five original songs to help fundraise for the Close Waihopaicampaign. According to GPJA Spokesperson John Minto the CD is remarkable. "Iwasn’t familiar with Jeff Simmonds’s music so played it without knowing what toexpect – I was gobsmacked – it’s brilliant. I haven’t heard a better song – thetitle song – in a long time. Musically, lyrically and vocally – not to mentionpolitically – it’s very impressive. It’s not too much to say it bowled meover!" The CD also includes interview with Adi Leason, Peter Murnane and SamLand who popped the ballon at Waihopai. Their trial starts in Wellington onMarch 8th. Get your copy on-line from http://www.jeffsimmonds.org

TWO ANTI-WAR SONGS
the first, “George and Tony” about the illegal Iraq invasion andthe second, “Letter to Mr Obama” concerns the possible escalationby his administration of the Afghanistan conflict. Have a listen –hopefully the sentiments will resonate ( just got my son to hold up the mike,so quality not wonderful – hoping to do a better job one day, when have somespare cash) , and , if so, please pass this on to anyone who may be interested.If it can be used in any way in the debate concerning Afghanistan etc, I wouldbe more than pleased. http://www.myspace.com/subversifpoet

MAKING THE DECLARATION WORK: THE UNITED NATIONS DECLARATION ON THERIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
5 February 2010, Kia ora, we are pleased to let you know that we have access toa limited number of copies of the excellent new book ‘Making the DeclarationWork: The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples’ atreduced rates for indigenous and non-governmental organisations (detailsbelow). The publication is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in thedevelopment and the potential of the UN Declaration. This message is availableon-line at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/iwgia09.htm

JUSTICE AND LIBERATION: THE ROAD TO PEACE – FILIPINO PROGRESSIVELEADER TO TOUR NZ LATE 2010 – APPEAL FOR FUNDS
Luis Jalandoni is the International Representative of the National DemocraticFront of the Philippines (NDF), a post that he has held since 1977, and since1994 he has been the Chairperson of the NDF’s Negotiating Panel for peacetalks with the Government of the Philippines. The NDF is the coalition ofseveral underground groups, including the Communist Party of the Philippinesand its New People’s Army, which has been waging a war of liberationthroughout the Philippines for more than 40 years, making it one of the longestrunning armed struggles in the world. The country desperately needs peace withjustice and security, so resolving this people’s war is central to that.Luis will be accompanied by his wife Coni Ledesma, who will also be speaking.She is a member of the NDF Negotiating Panel for peace talks; and is theInternational Spokesperson of MAKIBAKA, a revolutionary women’s groupwhich belongs to the NDF. This is the first time we’ve had two speakerstogether, let alone such high powered ones. We are appealing for funds. PSNAwill underwrite the tour, but we definitely need financial help because we arehosting two people. The amount needed is at least $10,000. Two internationalfares from Europe will be the biggest cost. We will keep their domestic travelcosts as cheap as possible (all accommodation will be in private homes). Pleasemake cheques to PSNA, Box 2450, Christchurch, with a note saying that it is forthe Jalandoni tour. Or, we will supply our bank account details upon request.cafca

DONATING TO HAITI RELIEF
If you want to donate here are a couple of suggestions. Partners In Health is a NGO whichis 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 – Give yourdonation staying power… with MEDICC and Global Links http://www.medicc.org/ns/index.php?s=19&p=19
Support the Cuban medical brigades in Haiti: A Cuban bank account has nowbeen opened to receive financial contributions to help with the Cuban medicalteams working in Haiti. If you wish to support the Cuban efforts in Haitidirectly then you can do so in the following ways: The preferred method: 1.Make a donation via Cuba SolidarityCampaign. We will collate all donations and forward them in lump sums toCuba to avoid multiple transfer fees (please make cheques payable to ‘CSC’ andwrite Cuban doctors in Haiti) on the back) and send to this address . You can alsodonate by Credit Card at 0208 800 0155. All donations will receiveacknowledgement. 2. You can make a direct bank transfer to the Cuban bankaccount (below) set up to receive donations for the Cuban medical effort inHaiti. Please note that making direct bank transfers to Cuba will involvepaying significant bank and transfer charges and that you may not receiveconfirmation or receipts for your donation.
Title: Terremoto Hait (Haiti Earthquake)
Bank: BICSA
Bank Identification Code (BIC) Cdigo SWIFT del Banco: BIDCCUHH
Account number: 01321010770900
Bank Address: Havana, Cuba
Please note: Payments to Cuba should be made in pounds sterling or euros, NOTUS dollars.
For details of the Cuban efforts in Haiti including video reports see http://www.cuba-solidarity.org.uk/news.asp?ItemID=1768

EYEWITNESS TO A REVOLUTION IN NEPAL – NZ SPEAKING TOUR BY BENPETERSON, 21-26 MARCH 2010
Ben Peterson is a young Australian socialist who spent one year in Nepal inclose association with the revolutionary forces who recently overthrewfeudalism and are today confronting capitalism and imperialism. Ben is crossingthe Tasman for a speaking tour of New Zealand from 21-26 March. His visit willbe a great opportunity to learn more about the exciting events in Nepal. Benhas this to say about the struggle: "In 2006, a Peoples’ Movementoverthrew Nepal’s ruling monarchy. They’re fighting to build a newNepal 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 wentthere was a common desire for something better. Leading the struggle is theUnified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), who built on support earned duringthe Peoples’ War (1996-2006) to win a majority of votes in democraticelections, enabling them to form a revolutionary government. That governmentwas undermined by forces hostile to the Peoples’ Movement. Today, thestruggle continues at all levels of Nepalese society. It’s not over, butthe people of Nepal are experiencing more control over their lands andcommunities. And if this 21st century revolution continues it will impact onthe lives of many more.” To find out more about Ben’s experiences and theNepal 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, Christchurchand Dunedin. We’re inviting other interested groups and individuals to supportand promote Ben’s tour. If you would like to help out, contact these regionaland national coordinators: Auckland – Daphna Whitmore, wpnz(at)clear.net.nz.Hamilton – Jared Philips, jared(at)unite.org.nz, 029-4949 863. Rotorua – BernieHornfeck, 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 arefinalised a full tour itinerary will be circulated. You can join the Facebookgroup: BenPeterson 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: FourReasons Nepal’s Revolution Matters. Introductory PDF pamphlet – ARevolution at the Brink: Stand with Nepal. More in depth PDF pamphlet – KasamaArticles: On the Maobadi and the Crisis in Nepal.

ROGER AWARD WINNER TO BE ANNOUNCED IN WELLINGTON ON THURSDAY, MARCH11
The Roger Award Ceremony – Drinking Liberally presents the annualCAFCA/Gatt Watchdog Roger Award ceremony. The Roger Award is presented eachyear to the worst transnational corporation operating in New Zealand, and thewinner of the 2009 Roger Award will be announced at a ceremony in Wellington onThursday 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 underwayfrom 6pm. This year’s Roger Award finalists are: ANZ, BNZ, Infratil, Newmont,Rio Tinto Aluminium NZ, Rymans, Telecom, Transpacific and Westpac. For moreinfo: www.cafca.org.nz or contact Kaneon 021-186-3430 or kane.oconnell@gmail.com .

JOIN THE 2010 NATIONAL ELECTIONS BRIGADE TO VENEZUELA SEPTEMBER 17 -28, 2010
The Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network’s brigades to Venezuela are aonce-in-a-lifetime experience – the opportunity to see first-hand an unfoldingrevolution that is not only radically transforming the lives of Venezuelans,but challenging the greed, exploitation and destructiveness of globalcapitalism by showing that a better world is possible. A special feature of theSeptember 2010 brigade will be observing Venezuela’s vigorous democracyin action. The brigade will coincide with Venezuela’s next NationalAssembly elections, on September 26th, enabling brigadistas to observe the lastweek of campaigning – including the traditionally huge election ralliesheld on the weekend before – and polling day itself. As well as observingthe national elections, brigade participants will experience Venezuela’sparticipatory democracy at work, with visits to communal councils and communes.They will also visit worker-run factories and cooperatives; free, high-qualitypublic health and education services; Indigenous-run sustainable developmentprograms; and community controlled media stations. During the 10 days,brigadistas will have the opportunity to speak to a wide range of grassrootsorganisations, community activists, trade unions and government representativesabout the radical changes being implemented by the Venezuelan people. The 2010national elections brigade is the 11th solidarity tour to Venezuela organisedby the AVSN. Reports and photos 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 National Elections brigadeis July 1, 2010. To express interest in participating and obtain a registrationform, please contact brigades@venezuelasolidarity.orgParticipants will need to book their own international airfares, but the AVSNcan help with advice. Accommodation, transport and English-Spanish translationwithin Venezuela will be organised for all brigade participants. You will needto budget for a total cost of approximately $4000. This will cover:international return airfares and taxes (approximately $2500 from Sydney);accommodation (twin-share basis); transport and basic food while you are inVenezuela; and the brigade registration fee ($500 for workers, $300 forstudents or pensioners). For more information, email brigades@venezuelasolidarity.orgor phone Lisa Macdonald +61 413 031 108, Jim McIlroy +61 423 741 734 or RobertoJorquera +61 425 182 994.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

"The powerful have invoked God at their side in this war, so that we willaccept their power and our weakness as something that has been established bydivine plan. But there is no god behind this war other than the god of money,nor any right other than the desire for death and destruction. Today there is a’NO’ which shall weaken the powerful and strengthen the weak: the "NO" to war":Subcomandante Marcos – Source: No to war, 2/16/03

"Don’t be taken in when they paternally pat you on the shoulder and say thatthere’s no inequality worth speaking of and no more reason to fight because ifyou believe them they will be completely in charge in their marble homes andgranite banks from which they rob the people of the world under the pretence ofbringing them culture. Watch out, for as soon as it pleases them they’ll sendyou out to protect their gold in wars whose weapons, rapidly developed byservile scientists, will become more and more deadly until they can with aflick of the finger tear a million of you to pieces": Jean-PaulMarat (May 24, 1743 & July 13, 1793), was a Swiss-born scientistand physician

"An oligarchy of private capital cannot be effectively checked even by ademocratically organized political society because under existing conditions,private capitalists inevitably control, directly or indirectly, the mainsources of information.": Albert Einstein – Physicist whodeveloped the special and general theories of relativity. Nobel Prize forPhysics in 1921. 1879-1955

BEST ONTHE WEB

NEW ZEALAND

Poli,poli,poli, Politician? Can you make a right decision?” Key admitshe couldn’t survive on the Minimum Wage! Stories, photos, video and musicfrom the campaign here http://www.unite-news.org.nz/Politcian.html

Mike Treen: Minimum wage: truth and lies – The Prime Minister admitted hecould not live on the minimum wage at the Big Gay Out yesterday. http://www.unite.org.nz/minwage_truth_lies

Government MPs challenged across the country over Minimum Wage – Mediacoverage http://www.unite.org.nz/no_love_for_workers_media

John Minto: Govt Fails National Honesty Standards http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1002/S00098.htm

Right to silence removal ‘radical and unwarranted’ http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1002/S00135.htm

Key in trouble: Uranium mining shares & Union Protesters confront Key atBig Gay Out http://tvnz.co.nz/one-news/update-video-966704

The super city is a blueprint for privatisation (Campbell live) http://www.guerillamedia.co.nz/content/super-city-blueprint-privatisation-campbell-live

Fair share for workers best way to close gap with Aussie http://www.thestandard.org.nz/fair-share-for-workers-best-way-to-close-gap-with-aussie/

Socialist Aotearoa Forum – Haiti: from revolution to occupation part 1 of 12

John Key admits he couldn’t live on the minimum wage http://www.3news.co.nz/Key-admits-he-couldnt-survive-on-min-wage/tabid/370/articleID/142112/Default.aspx

Civic honour for Balibo murder victim http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/asia/3323408/Civic-honour-for-Balibo-murder-victim

NZ must act on Balibo deaths: activists – The New Zealand government hasbeen criticised for its "appalling" failure to hold Indonesia to account overthe Balibo Five killings in East Timor. http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/nz-must-act-on-balibo-deaths-activists-20100212-nx9h.html

Movie on Balibo Five to be released in NZ http://tvnz.co.nz/entertainment-news/movie-balibo-five-released-in-nz-3363061/video?vid=3363112

2005: MOSSAD SPIES IMPRISONED IN NEW ZEALAND – Our Passports ValuedFor Use By Israeli Covert Killers by Murray Horton http://www.converge.org.nz/abc/pr30-111.html

2006: SRAEL APOLOGISES TO NZ FOR BUNGLED MOSSAD PASSPORTS OPERATION byMurray Horton http://www.converge.org.nz/abc/pr32-123b.html

Hi all .. check out this terrific video link from Australia’s Channel 7’TodayTonight’ news re: free public transport. http://au.video.yahoo.com/watch/7001808/18204661

The NZ fare-free public transit network: http://www.farefreenz.blogspot.com

Back behind bars By ROSEMARY MCLEOD – Sunday Star Times http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/features/3322146/Back-behind-bars

On the problems in making the tax cuts equation stack up http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2010/02/12/gordon-campbell-problems-making-tax-cuts-stack-up/

The PPTA’s video of Anne Tolley and Stephen Joyce turning out thelights on adult education – as featured in today’s press – can beseen at www.dimming.co.nz. Attached is agraphic which you can place on your websites and link to the video also. Thoseof you who have YouTube sites can go to http://www.youtube.com/user/NZPPTAand favourite the video so that it is linked from your site too.

Justice System: Treating Children As Criminals ‘Backward Step’ -A Bill that would see children aged 12 and 13 referred to the Youth Courtinstead of the Family Court is at odds with New Zealand’s internationalobligations, says the UN Children’s Fund. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1002/S00245.htm

Susan St John: John Key’s claims on saving money http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/print.html?path=HL1002/S00171.htm

Save Radio New Zealand – Get out your portable radios folks because someminor protest action is planned for this week! Check the discussions (fourthtab across) for Wellington and Christchurch. These events are being organisedby individual Save Radio NZ fans who live in these cities. If you live there gojoin the discussion and find out when and where to be! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-Radio-New-Zealand/312651831782?ref=mf

Privatising accident compensation will cost workers more http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1002/S00180.htm

REVIEWS

‘Capitalism is evil … you have to eliminate it’ – After guns and theIraq war, Michael Moore is now taking on an entire political and economicsystem in his latest documentary, Capitalism: A Love Story. So what messagedoes the man who once planned to become a priest have? http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2010/jan/30/michael-moore-capitalism-a-love-story

John Lennon’s power for the people by Tariq Ali: http://www.europe-solidaire.org/spip.php?article16368

Power to the People: John Lennon and Yoko Ono talk to Robin Blackburn andTariq Ali for the left-wing newspaper Red Mole http://www.marxsite.com/Lennon%20interview.htm

James Cameron says his movie’s blue-skinned aliens aim to open our eyes toWar on Terror http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article6952427.ece

CRIME FICTION — Ian Rankin ‘Crime fiction is about socialinequality’ http://leftclickblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/crime-fiction-crime-fiction-is-about.html

Exploring the Dialectic of the Bolivarian Revolution Michael A. Lebowitz -Iain Bruce, The Real Venezuela: Making Socialism in the 21st Century (London:Pluto Press, 2008), 240 pages, $27.90, paperback http://www.monthlyreview.org/100201lebowitz.php

FEATURES

False Profits: We Will Be Suffering from Greenspan and Bernanke’s Ineptitudefor a Long Time – An $8 trillion housing bubble fostered by the Federal Reservehas burst, and with it much of the wealth of America’s middle class. Thefollowing is an excerpt from Dean Baker’s new book: False Profits: Recoveringfrom the Bubble Economy (PoliPointPress, 2010). http://www.alternet.org/story/145248/false_profits%3A_we_will_be_suffering_from_greenspan_and_bernanke%27s_ineptitude_for_a_long_time?page=entire

The Myth of the Good War: America in World War II – Why was DresdenDestroyed By Jacques R. Pauwels: The bombing of countries and of cities hasalmost become an everyday occurrence, rationalized not only by our politicalleaders but also presented by our media as an effective military undertakingand as a perfectly legitimate means to achieve supposedly worthwhileobjectives. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article24631.htm

Beyond the World Social Forum … the Fifth International – Eric Toussaintinterviewed by Igor Ojeda for the Brazilian weekly paper Brasil de Fato. http://links.org.au/node/1507

FOOD, FARMING AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Climate science and the IPCC: Time to change the model? by Renfrey Clarke http://www.greenleft.org.au/2010/827/42520

Resource wars and the Middle East Phil Hearse http://marxsite.com/Middle%20east%20Resource%20wars.html

John Bellamy Foster – The Crisis of Capital: Economy, Ecology and Empire http://vimeo.com/8838868

WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS

Robin Hood Tax:

CORRUPT ACROSS THE GLOBE: How Goldman Sachs Helped Greece Hide It’s NationalDebt http://dailybail.com/home/corrupt-across-the-globe-how-goldman-sachs-helped-greece-hid.html

Central Bank Independence: From Whom? by Mark Weisbrot http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/2010/weisbrot180210.html

How a New Jobless Era Will Transform America http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/201003/jobless-america-future

Nice PBS News Hour report on how Goldman Sachs is operating a giantgovernment-subsidized hedge fund masquerading as an investment bank.

Obama in Chains Jeffrey D. Sachs http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/sachs159/English

CRISIS IN THE HEARTLAND – Consequences of the New Wall Street System http://www.newleftreview.org/?page=article&view=2759

The Stakes in "Punishing" Greece by Rick Wolff http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/2010/wolff110210.html

The New Poor Millions of Unemployed Face Years Without Jobs http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/21/business/economy/21unemployed.html?th&emc=th

AFGHANISTAN

Malalai Joya condemns ridiculous Afghan military strategy by NATO. http://kenthink7.blogspot.com/2010/02/malalai-joya-condemns-ridiculous-afghan.html

Bloody war drags on http://www.greenleft.org.au/2010/827/42517

Reports indicated that NATO planes fired at a convoy of three vehicles,killing at least 27 people, including four women and a child, and injuring 12others. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article24825.htm

BOLIVIA

‘People’s Summit’ to challenge rich nations on climate http://www.greenleft.org.au/2010/827/42566

Bolivian women spearhead Morales revolution http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8498081.stm

CANADA

THOUSANDS PROTEST OPENING OF VANCOUVER WINTER OLYMPICS By Roger Annis – Fivethousand people took to the streets here on February 12 to protest the openingof the corporate spectacle known as the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. Thelargest social rights action in Vancouver in many years coincided with theGames’ opening ceremony at a downtown arena attended by 60,000 people. http://www.socialistvoice.ca/?p=1009

MANIFESTO FOR A PLURALIST QUEBEC Introduction by Richard Fidler – Quebec’spublic debate over reasonable accommodation of minorities, especially religiousminorities, continues to rage. A recent contribution that has attracted muchcomment and controversy is the Manifesto for a Pluralist Quebec, the shortversion of which is translated below. http://www.socialistvoice.ca/?p=1012

COLOMBIA

Hiring Death Squads Is Coming Back to Haunt U.S. Companies – Dole Foods andChiquita may be on the verge of facing justice for ‘pacifying’ their workforce, suppressing labor unions and terrorizing peasant squatters in Colombia.http://www.alternet.org/story/145696/hiring_death_squads_is_coming_back_to_haunt_u.s._companies

CUBA

Cuba’s aid ignored by the media? http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/2010/01/201013195514870782.html

GERMANY

Dresden Beats the Nazis by Victor Grossman http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/2010/grossman170210.html

HAITI

Haiti: A Creditor, Not A Debtor By Naomi Klein – The very idea of Haiti asdebtor needs to be abandoned. The west should pay arrears for years ofviolations http://www.countercurrents.org/klein120210.htm

US must be Haiti’s watchdog – Ahead of the rainy season there are hugeconcerns over shelter, sanitation and human rights. The US has a responsibilityto help http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2010/feb/08/haiti-rainy-season-us

Good intentions gone wrong By Paul Waldie, Globe and Mail http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/good-intentions-gone-wrong/article1462227/

Two articles by Amy Goodman: Humanitarian aid for Haiti – Not troops andoccupation! and The World Bank’s role in Haiti http://louisproyect.wordpress.com/2010/02/10/two-guest-articles-on-haiti/

"Reconstructing Haiti: Time to Break with Foreign Interference." by ReganBoychuk, a CHAN activist in Calgary. The pamphlet examines the issues andchallenges facing the Haitian people and their international allies as theyfight for a reconstruction of Haiti that is socially meaningful and respectfulof Haiti’s sovereignty. http://canadahaitiaction.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Reconstructing-Haiti.pdf

The Undermining of Haitian Health Care: Setting the Stage for Disaster – InDecember 2003, the dedication ceremony of Haiti’s first and only publicmedical school, a project jointly supported by the governments of Haiti, Cuba,and Taiwan, took place at the University of Tabarre inPort-au-Prince…………… The mood of optimism and hope expressed on thatDecember day didn’t last long. Just two weeks later, on the evening ofFebruary 28, 2004, Aristide was overthrown and forcibly removed to the CentralAfrican Republic in an internationally organized coup d’tat. Less thanone month after its opening, the hospital and the university complex it waspart of were closed down at gunpoint and occupied by U.S. Marines and theUnited Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). The 247 new medicalstudents watched as their classrooms were turned into barracks, theirinstructors forced to flee from political persecution (due to threats on hislife, Dr. Polynice fled to Europe), and much of their material and equipmentpillaged to service the capital’s private medical clinics. The school wasfinally abandoned by MINUSTAH and reopened to students in the summer of 2009,but with widespread budget cuts and curriculum changes that downplayed itsoriginal community service mission. https://nacla.org/node/6427

HONDURAS

Interview: Tortured, Exiled Honduran Journalist Recalls His Experiences byTamar Sharabi http://upsidedownworld.org/main/honduras-archives-46/2362–interview-tortured-exiled-honduran-journalist-recalls-his-experience

Dr. Juan Almendares – a representative figure of the Honduranpeoples’s endurance and resistance. From the Blogspot of HondurasResists/Resiste http://hondurasresists.blogspot.com/

INDIA

The Economics, Politics, And Ethics Of Non-Violence By Radha D’Souza – Arewe prepared to be party to an economy founded on cheap labour and confiscatedland? Are we going to allow our land and people to be auctioned in the globalbazaars? Are we people-of-the land? Or, are we not? http://www.countercurrents.org/dsouza100210.htm

IRAN

New Grist for Hype on Iran By Ray McGovern, former CIA analyst http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article24828.htm

NICARAGUA

FSLN on the Fifth Socialist International: Globalise struggle and hope! http://links.org.au/node/1516

PACIFIC

Human rights or corruption? Trotting out the real Fiji issues http://cafepacific.blogspot.com/2010/02/human-rights-or-corruption-trotting-out.html

PALESTINE

Goldstone Facts – The Real Story Behind Israel’s Attack On Gaza http://www.countercurrents.org/colon110210.htm

Video: Deliberate Attacks against the Civilian Population. Factual Findingsnarrated by Ross Vachon . Factual and Legal findings narrated by Noam Chomsky.http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article24649.htm

A new booklet of Israeli women soldiers’ stories. http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/israels-women-soldiers-share-stories-of-hate-and-despair-20100216-o5or.html

How Settlers Prevented The Construction of a Palestinian Hospital http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hagit-ofran/how-settlers-prevented-th_b_467705.html

Gaza: Treading on Shards By Sara Roy – "Do you know what it’s like living inGaza?" a friend of mine asked. "It is like walking on broken glass tearing atyour feet." http://www.thenation.com/doc/20100301/roy

Israel’s contemptuous response to Goldstone findings http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article11090.shtml

Begin’s grandson: ‘murderous blood flows in Israeli arteries’: AvindavBegin, who is also the son of the current Likud Knesset member Benny Begin,refuses to stand during the Israeli national anthem "Hatikva" and participatesin protests against the Apartheid Wall. He does not see himself as a Jew or aZionist and believes that his grandfather did not make real peace with Egypt.http://snipurl.com/udn5o

PHILIPPINES

International concern on Morong 43 mounts as Palace takes hands-off stancehttp://www.gmanews.tv/story/184182/international-concern-on-morong-43-mounts-as-palace-takes-hands-off-stance

Nightmares – THE MILITARY RAID LAST SATURDAY ON THE Velmonte property inMorong, Rizal, resurrects martial-law nightmares of the worst kind. http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/editorial/view/20100210-252489/Nightmares

Inescapable Conclusion by Atty. Alnie G. Foja – Today, I was awakened withthoughts of Doc Merry and Rey. Doc Merry (Dr. Merry Mia-Clamor) and Rey(Reynaldo Macabenta) are two of those illegally arrested at a health trainingin Morong, Rizal and who are now being illegally detained at Camp Capinpin. http://tatayk.wordpress.com/2010/02/18/inescapable-conclusion/

SOMALIA

How Colonial Powers Drove A Country Into Chaos: Interview With MohamedHassan http://www.countercurrents.org/colon110210.htm

UN says US aid restrictions on Somalia are hurting millions of hungrySomalis: "What we are seeing is a politicization of humanitarian issues,"Bowden told journalists in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi. "The options for alot of Somalis look pretty bleak." http://www.courant.com/news/nation-world/sns-ap-af-somalia-us,0,877672.story

SOUTH AFRICA

20 years after Mandela’s release, class apartheid continues http://links.org.au/node/1515

SWAZILAND

`The people are getting angrier and angrier’; Swaziland Democracy Campaignto be launched http://links.org.au/node/1513

TURKEY

Alevi Future Bleak Despite Equality Moves – A political initiative toeliminate discrimination against the Alevi, Turkey’s main religiousminority, risks being stymied by the Diyanet, the country’s powerfulreligious body that does not recognise anything but Sunni Islam. http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=50351

UK

The verdict: A fiasco, disgrace and utter failure – Tony Blair given softestof rides by Iraq Inquiry – Over one issue after another, the Iraq inquiryproved entirely unwilling or unable to challenge Blair. The boos thataccompanied him as he left were the most troubling opposition he experiencedall day in front of this pitiful committee of establishment fogeys. http://stopwar.org.uk/content/view/1723/1/

USA

Tariq Ali: PRESIDENT OF CANT http://www.newleftreview.org/?page=article&view=2821

Rising Income Inequality in the US: Divisive, Depressing, and Dangerous http://www.rdwolff.com/content/rising-income-inequality-us-divisive-depressing-and-dangerous

Obama’s Nuclear Option By Amy Goodman – Obama’s publiclyfinanced resuscitation of the nuclear power industry in the U.S. is bound tofail, another taxpayer bailout waiting to happen. http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/obamas_nuclear_option_20100216/

Tea Party Lights Fuse for Rebellion on Right http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/16/us/politics/16teaparty.html

The Richest 1% Have Captured America’s Wealth — What’s It Going to Take toGet It Back? http://www.alternet.org/story/145705/the_richest_1%25_have_captured_america%27s_wealth_–_what%27s_it_going_to_take_to_get_it_back

VENEZUELA

United Socialist Party of Venezuela to hold Elections For National AssemblyCandidates http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news/5145

Venezuela’s revolution faces crucial battles http://www.greenleft.org.au/2010/827/42532

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