#326: Sat – national protest against search and surveillance bill

GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND
NEWSLETTER No. 326, April 21, 2010

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STOP THE SEARCH AND SURVEILLANCE BILL NOW! NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION APRIL 24
The Search and Surveillance Bill, currently being debated by Parliament, is a massive threat to civil liberties in New Zealand. It grants the Police and other state agencies vast new powers to monitor, search and detain individuals for minor and nonexistent infringements. The Bill effectively removes the right to silence by allowing the Police to force people to answer questions and produce evidence using provisions known as examination orders and production orders. It also allows for warrant less searches in some circumstances and for video surveillance devices to be installed in private homes, using only the same burden of evidence currently required by the courts for granting Police a warrant for a one off search. Saturday 24 April is a national day of protest action against the Bill. Defend your freedom: Join the protest!
Wellington Protest March: Saturday April 24, 12:30pm, meet Manners/Cuba Mall intersection
Auckland Protest March: Saturday April 24, 2pm, grassy area opposite the Town Hall, Queen Street.
Christchurch Protest: saturday April 24, 1-3pm, Cathedral Square
New Plymouth: There will be an information stall and leafleting in the centre of town. Email stopthebillnow if you would like to help.
http://stopthebillnow.blogspot.com Updates will be posted on the Facebook group. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=204950191596

GPJA FORUM MONDAY MAY 3, 7.30PM, 147 GREAT NORTH RD, GREY LYNN
The “Voices of Resistance” forum will hear from people recently arrived back from the heart of two critical international struggles. Hela Rahman – is a young Iraqi student who has recently returned from a trip to Iraq visiting family and friends. She will give her assessment of Iraq alongside personal stories which bring home the reality of life under foreign military occupation. Sandy Gauntlett – is a New Zealander who has attended the mid-April Cochabamba International Climate Summit in Bolivia. Sandy will bring us up to date with international developments particularly as they affect indigenous peoples in the struggle against climate change. Gary Cranston from Climate Camp will talk about local action to challenge the powerful vested interests working for big business.

Links on Cochabamba conference

At least 15,000 people from 126 countries are expected to attend the World People’s Conference on Climate Change which has been called by Bolivia as a response to the failure of the recent COP15 climate change negotiations. As one of the few countries that openly criticised the negotiations in Copenhagen and has refused to sign the Copenhagen Accord, Bolivia has invited governments, organisations and people to take part in finding real solutions to fight climate change. Conference Blog http://peoplesconference.wordpress.com/

Bolivia: `Capitalism is the main enemy of the Earth’, Evo Morales tells people’s climate conference http://links.org.au/node/1634

Cochabamba Extended! Live Web Discussion with the World Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth – Join people at the Brecht Forum along with others meeting in cities across the U.S. for a direct interaction — via the Internet — with participants in the Bolivian conference on climate change. http://brechtforum.org/civicrm/event/info?id=11630&reset=1

News bulletin from World People’s Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth: The world comes to Cochabamba.. http://boliviarising.blogspot.com/2010/04/news-bulletin-from-world-peoples.html

Climate Change: Voice of Civil Society Loud and Clear in Cochabamba, Bolivia http://boliviarising.blogspot.com/2010/04/climate-change-voice-of-civil-society.html

WHAT’S ON IN AUCKLAND

Friday, April 23, 6:30pm – 8:00pm, Lib B15, Auckland University
Students for Justice and Palestine public debate: Sixty years later and after countless unnecessary deaths there seems to be no solution on the horizon for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. How much longer will the bloodshed go on? Can two people with such a bloody history live side by side? Is this an issue of the Middle East or an issue of the international community? Can the Palestinian and Israeli people live within one state? Or is a two state solution their only option for peace? The Students for Justice in Palestine and the Debating Society will be holding a public deabte around this issue on Friday 23 April, involving high profile members of the community Janfrie Wakim and Joe Carolan, lecturers Mohsen Al-Attar and Zaeem Baksh, debators Akif Malik and Max Harris. The moot is: "This house does not support a two state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict". Please feel free to invite all your friends and family as this is an event not to be missed. There will be a discussion and question and answer session after the debate. http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=113033765391778&ref=ts

Saturday, April 24, 10am, Ponsonby Community Centre
SUPERCITY CAMPAIGN: Hi everyone, Just a reminder that we have another open meeting planned for this Saturday 24 April 10am at the Ponsonby Community Centre. The Steering Group will report back on progress, which is going well. The launch is planned for Thursday 29 April. We would like to give a flavour of the organisations supporting the campaign in the launch article, so it would be good to be able to list your organisation – please can you let me know if this is possible asap. We have a copy deadline of 22 April. Thanks Mels. Mels Barton, 09 816 8337 / 021 213 7779; westiegag on Twitter; http://www.gag.net.nz

Saturday, April 24 ,2pm, grassy area opposite the Town Hall, Queen Street.
Auckland Protest March: National Day of Action Against the Search and Surveillance Bill. The Search and Surveillance Bill, currently being debated by Parliament, is a massive threat to civil liberties in New Zealand. It grants the Police and other state agencies vast new powers to monitor, search and detain individuals for minor and nonexistent infringements. The Bill effectively removes the right to silence by allowing the Police to force peopleto answer questions and produce evidence using provisions known as examinationorders and production orders. It also allows for warrant less searches in somecircumstances and for video surveillance devices to be installed in privatehomes, using only the same burden of evidence currently required by the courtsfor granting Police a warrant for a one off search. Saturday 24 April is anational day of protest action against the Bill. Defend your freedom: Join theprotest!

Saturday, April 24, 7pm, Pearce Hall, 3 Pearce St, Onehunga
A benefit gig, to raise awareness and fundraise for victims of thedevastating earthquake in Chile. In New Zealand, we can do our part to help ourbrothers and sisters in our homeland. Featuring: CALLE LATINA; LOS GONZALES;SIGUARAYA; MAKEHUE; VIVA SAMBA; MANA HULI; JAH RED LION y Iron Will a.k.a Wilithe Kid; CANDOMBLACK; DJ BOBBY BRAZUKA; SANTIAGO; MANU "DA" BANDA and muchmore. Proceeds will go: to UN TECHO PARA CHILE. $10 p/p. BAR y COCINA. Paratickets y reservaciones Llamar al 021-2651571. LIMITED DOOR SALES! A HUGE thankyou MR. VINTAGE for sponsoring our event and designing their limited editionChilean tshirt with 15% from each tshirt going to Un Techo Para Chile.MUCHISIMAS gracias a Mr. Vintage por su apoyo y por disear la polera deproduccion limitada, que la cual 15% de las ventas de esa polera va a Un TechoPara Chile.

Monday, April 26, 7.30pm, Salvation Army AucklandCity Corps, 369 Queen Street, Auckland
"Prison Realities" – Public Forum on Prisons with John Lonergan, Governor ofMountjoy Prison, Dublin, Ireland. Visiting New Zealand as guest of Nga WhaeaAtawhai Sisters of Mercy Ministries and the New Zealand Council of ChristianSocial Services, John will share his experiences as governor of one ofIreland’s largest prisons and what it might mean to change lives in themost challenging situations. We have invited a panel of speakers to respond toJohn’s address: Mark Tipene, Former prisoner “working amongst thethorns”; Kim Workman, National Director, Rethinking Crime and Punishment;Major Campbell Roberts, Director of the Salvation Army Social Policy &Parliamentary Unit; Peter Jenkins, Sensible Sentencing Trust. Entry is free(donations welcome). Contact: Major Ian Hutson, Salvation Army, ph. 09 639 1143ian_hutson@nzf.salvationarmy.orgPaul Barber, NZCCSS, ph. 04 473 2627 paul.barber@nzccss.org.nz

Tuesday, April 27, 7pm, Socialist Centre, 86 Princes Street,Onehunga
Socialist Worker Auckland Forum: CTU Alternative Economic Strategy – away forward for workers? GUEST SPEAKERS: BILL ROSENBERG, Policy Director of theCouncil of Trade Unions (CTU). Bill, who authored the draft CTU AlternativeEconomic Strategy, speaks on the reasons the strategy was written, what it saysand its potential as an organising and campaigning tool for the union movement.VAUGHAN GUNSON, National Chair of Socialist Worker. Vaughan, spokesperson ofthe Bad Banks campaign whose policies parallel some of the CTU AlternativeEconomic Strategy, discusses whether and how the strategy can become a broadplatform against neoliberal capitalism. Need a lift to the venue? Phone Len 6343984 @ Socialist Centre.

Saturday, May 1, 11am, lower Queen St, Auckland
March Against Mining The Government wants to open up the best of ourconservation land to mining… Will we value and protect our unique ecology andland, or squander it for a quick buck? Let’s show the Government this isnot the direction we want for our country! http://www.dontunderminenz.org

Saturday, May 1, 1.45pm, Takutai Square, Near Gore St, DowntownAuckland
UNIONS AUCKLAND MAY DAY MARCH. We will be marching from Britomart tothe Maritime Club. Celebration: Maritime Club – 68 Anzac Ave from 2.30onwards. Food will be provided (Buy your own drinks). We will be meeting atTakutai Square on the Gore Street side of Britomart for the March.

Saturday, May 1, 7.30pm, Bluestone Room, 9 – 11 Durham Lane ,Central City, Auckland
"MayDay- Workers Day! party for a Living Wage". For the last six months, theCampaign for a Living Wage has been going hard, and we have collected over150,000 signatures of support to raise the minimum wage to $15ph. May Day isWorkers Day, and it’s time to make the Bosses pay. Come to the May Day Partyand celebrate the last year of workers struggles, with speakers from thevarious strikes and campaigns that have happened. Support the JB Hi Fistrikers! And come find out about the next phase of the Movement for theWorking Poor. May Day – it’s time to party. with Tigi Ness andUnity Pacific and Hip Hop act Shine Forum.Sponsored by Unite Union and the Campaign for a Living Wage.

Sunday, May 2, 9.30am, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Road, GreyLynn.
Kia ora koutou katoa, We wanted to remind you about the meeting to organiseagainst the world dairy summit. We would love to see you and your friendsthere. For more information please email us on auckland@animalfreedom.org.nz.For catering purposes it would be great if people could RSVP. We, AnimalFreedom Aotearoa, invite you to a meeting to co-ordinate and plan actionsaround the World Dairy Summit happening in November 8-11th 2010 in AucklandCity. We feel that this is an important opportunity to highlight the manyissues relating to the dairy industry such as animal exploitation, ecologicaldestruction and climate change as well as broader social and economic issues ofglobalisation and neo-imperialism.

Monday, May 3, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn
GPJA FORUM: “Voices of Resistance – from Cochabamba toBaghdad” Hear from people recently arrived back from the heart of twocritical international struggles. Hela Rahman – is ayoung Iraqi student who has recently returned from a trip to Iraq visitingfamily and friends. She will give her assessment of Iraq alongside personalstories which bring home the reality of life under foreign military occupation.Sandy Gauntlett – is a New Zealander who has attendedthe mid-April Cochabamba International Climate Summit in Bolivia. Sandy willbring us up to date with international developments particularly as they affectindigenous peoples in the struggle against climate change. GaryCranston from Climate Camp will talk about local action to challengethe powerful vested interests working for big business and we hope SinaDavis, a climate activist from Australia (and formerly from NewZealand) will also be available to give her perspective.

Monday, May 3, 8.30pm, Academy Theatre, Lorne St, City
NEW ZEALAND PREMIERE OF BREAKING THE SILENCE: BURMA’S RESISTANCE
A new Canadian documentary directed by Pierre Mignault and filmed secretlyinside Burma showcases the country’s little known networks of resistancemovements. It sheds light on the enormous risks taken by ordinary Burmese, andtheir long struggle to remove the country’s brutal military dictatorship."Breaking the Silence:Burma’s Resistance"

Wednesday, May 5, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Road, GreyLynn.
Public Meeting – Stop the three strikes legislation! Guest Speaker RevRon Givens. Ron is a prison chaplain from California and is the PoliticalDirector of UNION (United for No Injustice, Oppression or Neglect). UNIONcampaigns against California’s three strikes policy of minimum sentencessimilar to those proposed here by ACT. Ron will talk about the horrendoussituation in California’s jails and the serious injustices caused by thethree strikes policy. The meeting will be chaired by well-known criminal lawyerPeter Williams QC. Please spread through your networks.

Thursday, May 6, 24 Church Rd, Mangere Bridge, Auckland.
READING GROUP… INVITE… READING GROUP… INVITE…READING GROUP… INVITE… Coming up: a collective discussion ofGrant Morgan’s in-depth essay ‘Beware! The end is nigh!’ Whyglobal capitalism is tipping towards collapse, and how we can act for a decentfuture. This 20,000-word essay is contained in UNITY journal, March 2010,published by Socialist Worker-New Zealand. Go to http://www.UNITYblogNZ.com If you are aneco-leftist wanting to talk over this ground-breaking essay with like-mindedactivists, come along: WHEN: 7pm on Thursday, 6 May 2010. WHERE: GrantMorgan’s home, 24 Church Rd, Mangere Bridge, Auckland. It would beappreciated if you flagged your intention to participate so we have an idea ofnumbers at the Reading Group. Email Grant at grantmorgan@paradise.net.nz ortxt/phone him on 021 2544 515.

Saturday, May 8, 8am-5pm, OGGB3 BusinessSchool
UNIMUN – UNITED NATIONS MODEL UN – For those of you who have taken partin one of these in high school and remember it as a glorified diplomatic datingservice, well the annual Auckland Region University Model United Nations isback again. A day of intense debate, passionate lobbying, negotiations, andespionage. Instead of one delegate representing one country, we will be havingteams of two this year. So grab a friend, put on your diplomatic hat and comejoin us for an epic day at the UN. No prior experience required. There will bean optional social to let the hair down and to continue diplomacy/hooking up.To register email Wilson at auckland.uni@unyanz.co.nz

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/event.php?eid=106948066001222&ref=ts

Friday, May 14, 4.30pm, ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre
Antony Loewenstein "My Israel Question" – General Admission, Auckland Writersand Readers Festival, Event 33. The election of Barack Obama brought hope tomillions around the world and has seen renewed diplomatic efforts in the MiddleEast, yet the Israel-Palestine conflict goes on unabated. AntonyLoewenstein’s bestseller, My Israel Question, generated a storm ofcontroversy, critical praise and robust public debate when it was firstpublished in 2006. A third, fully updated and expanded edition of his forensicdiscussion of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict came out in 2009. He examinesthe prospects of the Middle East peace process in the new geo-politicalcontext, and alternative suggestions on how to tackle the crisis, mapping outwhere hope lies for a resolution. Chair: Treasa Dunworth. Ticketinginformation: Festival Club members, Patrons and Friends of the Festival ticketsavailable until 12 May from the Aotea Centre Box office or by calling 09 3573354. Earlybird tickets available until 12 May. For group bookings call 09 3573354. Doors open 4.00pm. Event 4.30pm – 5.30pm. (Times are approximate and aresubject to change). For more information visit http://www.writersfestival.co.nz Thisevent is General Admission. Please note General Admission tickets cannot bereprinted if they are lost. We strongly recommend you select "courier" as yourdelivery method. http://www.the-edge.co.nz/Event-Pages/A/AWRF-main-events/33-My-Israel-Questio.aspx

Saturday, May 15, 9am to 4pm at St Matthew-in-the-City, cornerWellesley and Hobson Streets, Auckland
Disturbing the Peace: A Day of Reflection, Discussion & Networking. Purposeof the day: – meet other people interested in issues of peace; – talk about howpeace and spirituality intertwine; – talk about how peace and justiceintertwine; – save the world. Questions to be explored: Is peace justunrealistic? Is peace toothless verbiage? Has/is the church invested in thecontinuation of violence? Is peace just a word that politicians use to buy timein order to re-arm; or to get their country’s companies to move in tomaximize profits in a new market? What difference does doing anything in NZmake to anyone anywhere? Should NZ have soldiers? Should we be involved in‘peace keeping’ operations – like Afghanistan? What are thelimits of violence in non-violent protest? Who will be there? The day willfeature as keynote speaker Canon Paul “Apostle for Peace andReconciliation” Oestreicher, retired Director of the Centre forInternational Reconciliation at Coventry Cathedral; founding Chair of AmnestyInternational; Vice President, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament; QuakerChaplain to the University of Sussex and a lifelong worker for peace and socialjustice. Leading New Zealand peace advocates have been invited to respond tohis two presentations:
♦Fr Peter Murnane, Peace activist recently acquitted in the Waihopai 3trial
♦Revd Sande Ramage, School chaplain and former military chaplain
♦Ms Edwina Hughes, Coordinator of Peace Movement Aotearoa
♦Associate Professor Peter Lineham, Historian of Peace Movements
♦Dr Heather deVere, Lecturer in Peace and Conflict Studies
♦Mr Andrew Shepherd, Peace theologian
Programme for May 15:
9.00 Registration and morning tea
10.00 Address by Paul Oestreicher
11.00 Panel response and Q&A
12.30 Lunch (and Morning & Afternoon Teas) provided by the Women’sInternational League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF).
1.30 Address by Paul Oestreicher
2.30 Panel response and Q & A
4.00 Finish with afternoon tea and informal conversation
Canon Oestreicher will also be the guest preacher at St Matthew-in-the-City thenext morning, 8am & 10am, Sunday, May 16. Cost: $40.00 Registration /$20.00 for Students & Unwaged. (Includes lunch and teas for those whopre-register) Lunch cannot be guaranteed for those who do NOT pre-register forthe event. For more information email Clay Nelson at clay@stmatthews.org.nz or call StMatthew’s office: 09 379 0625

Tuesday, 7pm, May 18, Conference Centre Lecture Theatre, 22 SymondsStreet, University of Auckland, Auckland CBD
QUESTIONING ISRAEL – Liberated Jewish thought on Palestine/Israel – A talk byAntony Loewenstein, Sydney-based journalist, blogger and author of best seller"My Israel Question". Gold coin koha appreciated

Friday, May 21, 7.30am
CPAG Post Budget Breakfast. Please save this date & time! Thisyear’s Budget is looming as one of great concern to all who areinterested in the welfare of our children. Pre-budget commentary andannouncements from the Government are pushing us to a status of“alarm”. The impact of the fiscal policies of the 1990s is beingstill felt keenly today and this Government appears to not only be willing toignore this impact, but also determined to drive the wedge of inequality deeperinto our society. The response to the present recession is primarily aimed atcost-cutting, which increases the exposure of the vulnerable , especiallychildren. The proposed tax changes will do nothing to improve the position ofat risk families in New Zealand. Of particular concern is the proposal to raiseGST which will directly hit the pockets of the poorest families. CPAG’sannual Post-Budget Breakfast will this year feature two of CPAG’s ownexecutive. Susan St John, Associate Professor of Economics atUniversity of Auckland dissects the budget. “Is this 1991 all over again?Were the welfare reforms just to soften us up? Where are the children in thisbudget?” Alan Johnson, Economist and Salvation Armysocial policy analyst will reframe poverty through the lens of the“deserving and the undeserving”. Alan will examine our treatment ofthe children of beneficiaries and non- beneficiaries, and compare our treatmentof the young and the elderly. This is CPAG’s stellar event on our annualcalendar and is considered one of the most stimulating and discerningdiscussions around the Budget. Further information on the Post-Budget Breakfastwill be sent to you soon but you can register your interest now by emailing usat admin

ANNOUNCEMENTS

NEW ZEALAND PREMIERE OF BREAKING THE SILENCE: BURMA’SRESISTANCE
A new Canadian documentary directed by Pierre Mignault and filmed secretlyinside Burma showcases the country’s little known networks of resistancemovements. It sheds light on the enormous risks taken by ordinary Burmese, andtheir long struggle to remove the country’s brutal military dictatorship.Showing in Auckland on Monday 3 May, 8.30pm at Academy Cinema, 44 Lorne St andin Wellington on Monday 26 April, 8pm at Paramount Cinema, Courtenay Pl.Tickets are $25. Join us for free drinks at a social hour before the screening.contact unionaid@nzctu.org.nz for tickets.All proceeds to UnionAID. Trailer of the documentary film "Breaking the Silence:Burma’s Resistance"

FUNDS NEEDED TO STAGE PLAY FOR GAZA
Dear Friends, Students for Justice in Palestine is planning to stage CarylChurchill’s play for Gaza, ‘7 Jewish children’. They are going to be doing thison the week of Al Nakba to mark the day. Tuesday May 11th at 6pm We have agroup from Waiheke Is who will be performing the play headed by ElizabethEastmond. The play will be performed in the Musgrove Theatre, University ofAuckland and the cost of this is very high (over $500). One of the conditionsof the play is that it remains to be free of entry and any donations made mustbe for medical aid in Gaza. We are a student organization and we have limitedfunds. see anyone willing to contribute to this excellent initiative ? If so pleasesend a donation to PHRC bank account NBNZ 06 0145 0045138 00 ( ref PLAY) orpost chq to Box 56 150 Mt Eden Auckland 1446. Many thanks, Janfrie Wakim

COALITION AGAINST THE USE OF METHYL BROMIDE-Protest Schedule
Picton: Friday April 23, 12.00 noon, Shakespeare Bay Lookout, (meet atLe Caf, London Quay, 11.45am). Map – http://bit.ly/9tNucR
Wellington: Monday April 26, 12.00 noon, the footpathoutside of the Bluebridge entrance (Waterloo quay, over the road from therailway station) Map – http://bit.ly/9MqJ2R
Tauranga: Wednesday April 28, 12.00 noon, Corner of TotaraSt and Hull Rd. It is the first intersection from the wharf. Map – http://bit.ly/aZW3US
The Coalition includes the following organisations: Soil and Health NewZealand Association; The Green Party; The Rail and Maritime Transport Union;Council of Trade Unions; The Safe Food Campaign; Guardian of the Sounds; ThePesticide Action Network; Maritime Union New Zealand; Friends of Nelsonhavenand Tasman Bay

HERE’S YOUR CHANCE TO MAKE THE NEW ZEALAND BANKING AND FINANCEINDUSTRY FAIRER
Finsec and the Finance Sector Union of Australia are polling bankcustomers and workers on both sides of the Tasman as part of a major campaignto win a fairer banking industry down under. Go to http://www.better-banking.org to fill in thesurvey and have your say. Thousands of Australians and New Zealanders havealready had their say but at the moment the New Zealand return rates arelagging behind Australia. We can’t let the Aussies beat us so we need tomake sure plenty of people fill in the survey on this side of the Tasman too.The results will be printed in the Sunday Star Times in New Zealand. We need asmany people to fill in the survey as possible at http://www.better-banking.org toensure we can build real pressure on banks and government to give customers andworkers a better deal. Please forward this email on to your networks or sharethe survey on your Facebook page too. We can change the banking industry sothat it works for ordinary Kiwis. By filling in the survey you are making amajor contribution to us achieving the sorts of changes we need. The surveycloses at the end of this week so visit http://www.better-banking.org today and haveyour say.

2010 WHITE POPPIES FOR PEACE ANNUAL APPEAL
16 April 2010, Kia ora, The 2010 White Poppies for Peace Annual Appeal startstomorrow and runs until Saturday, 24 April. The white poppy is an internationalsymbol of remembrance for all the casualties of war – civilians and armedforces personnel – and of peace. White Poppies for Peace collection boxes forthe 2010 Appeal have now been distributed to collectors in different parts ofthe country from Hokianga to Dunedin, and there will be a street collection inWellington on Thursday, 22 April. Eachcollector has a collection box and ID card with a unique identificationcode. Collectors are still needed for the street collection inWellington for three collection times: from 7am to 8.30am (railway station),from 12.30pm to 2pm (central city), and from 4.30pm to 6pm (central city /railway station). If you can help with the street collection, please emailwhitepoppies@ymail.com as soon as possible and let us know what time/s you areable to come along. White poppies will be available at St Andrew’s on theTerrace (30 The Terrace, Wellington) from Tuesday 20th April. InAuckland, white poppies will be available atSt-Matthew-in-the-City (corner Wellesley and Hobson Streets) during the 10amservice on Sunday, 18th, and Sunday, 25th April. All donations from the Appealgo directly to the White Poppy Peace Scholarships. If you would like to orderpoppies, or make a donation to the Peace Scholarships, please use the form athttp://www.converge.org.nz/pma/poppiesform.pdfThe inaugural White Poppy Peace Scholarships were awarded earlier this month toMarianne Bevan and Ryan Bodman. Marianne is completing a Master of DevelopmentStudies at Victoria University, Wellington. Her research is titled ‘A GenderedApproach to Police Reform: Addressing Masculinities in Policing Projects inTimor-Leste’. Ryan is completing a Post Graduate Diploma in Arts in theDepartment of History at the University of Auckland. His dissertation is on thePassive Resisters Union, the organisation established in early 1912 topeacefully resist compulsory military conscription. The Peace Scholarshipscomprise at least two grants that are awarded each year to assist with researchinto: the impacts of militarism, militarisation and warfare; alternatives tomilitarism, militarisation and warfare; or collective non-violent responses tostate violence. Applications for the Peace Scholarship to assist a Maori orMoriori student with research during 2010 remain open – guidelines forapplicants and the application form are available at http://www.peacescholar.org.nz

AOTEAROA NZ’S MAY DAY CONCERT 2010
Celebrating International Workers Day: A great night of fun and solidarity inthe form of song, music, dance and performance art from unions, communitygroups and individuals from throughout New Zealand and internationally.Featuring Peter Hicks (Folk singer / activist, Tasmania), The Brazen Hussies intheir 20th year of performing and the Turakina Maori Girls College kapa haka.Also featuring Ahmed Zaoui (poems), the Michelle Robinson Dancers,Pi’ikea Clark (ukelele), John Maynard (Trumpet), Rob Thorne, Suzy Hawes,Luc Arnault (France), Folk-Us, the Congolese Community Dancers and much more.When: Saturday 1 May 2010, 7.30pm. Where: Regent on Broadway, Palmerston North.Cost: Entry by gold coin donation. Judges for the May Day Cup: Peter Conway(Secretary, NZCTU), Keith Locke (Green Party MP), Iain Lees-Galloway (LabourParty MP, PNth), Pat Kelly (PNth City Councillor), Tania Kopytko (ExecutiveDirector, Dance Aotearoa NZ). Contact: Organised by Dion Martin (coordinator)Manawatu MayDay Coalition, on behalf of Unions Manawatu. Post: PO Box 1327,Palmerston North. Tel: (06) 356 9658, Cell: (021) 776 029, Email: dion.martin@ndu.org.nz Organise for:*Proper funding for public health, education housing and all public services; *The unrestricted right to strike for significant political, social andenvironmental issues; * Free education (student debt $11 billion); * Stopprivatisation of ACC; * No to racism – welcome refugees/asylum seekers; *Peace – and a NZ foreign and trade policy independent of US andglobalised corporate control; * $15 per hour minimum wage – sign the petition;* All NZ & US troops OUT of Afghanistan & Iraq NOW * Support the FreeBurma campaign and the CTU Tamil Nadu project. * Leave our Personal Grievanceprocess alone. *Hands off our holidays. Supported by: the New Zealand Councilof Trade Unions, Community Arts Palmerston North and Creative CommunitiesPalmerston North City.

AFGHAN WAR FOR CHRISTCHURCH STAGE JULY 16—AUG 14.
329BC, Alexander the Great conquers Bagram, crossroads of Asia.
1839, the British army takes Kabul.
1970, a kiwi hippie gets stoned on quality hash beneath the Hindu Kush.
1980, the Socialist Action League organises a meeting in the Wellington TradesHall to explain Soviet intervention in Afghanistan.
2010, a New Zealand army unit sets out on a mission to the Chagai hills,southern Afghanistan….
All of this in “The Perfumed Garden,” a New Zealand play aboutAfghanistan, opening at The Forge / The Court in Christchurch, July16—Aug 14. http://www.courttheatre.org.nz/index.cfm/0,26,231,html?previewid=241

BLACKBALL MAYDAY AND OPENING OF ’08 MEMORIAL AND RESOURCE CENTRE
May 1st. Registration form and further information, http://www.blackballmuseum.org.nz

JUSTICE AND LIBERATION: THE ROAD TO PEACE – FILIPINO PROGRESSIVELEADER TO TOUR NZ OCTOBER/NOVEMBER – 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 (who previously toured New Zealand in 1987) will undertake a nationalspeaking tour between October 24 and November 14. His tour is beingcollectively organised and hosted by PSNA, Auckland Philippines Solidarity andWellington Kiwi Pinoy. His topic will be: Justice And Liberation: The Road ToPeace In The Philippines. The itinerary is still being finalised but definitevenues are: Christchurch, Blenheim, Wellington, Palmerston North, Hamilton,Auckland and Whangarei. New Plymouth is also a probability, still to beconfirmed. Luis will be accompanied by his wife Coni Ledesma, who will also bespeaking. She is a member of the NDF Negotiating Panel for peace talks; and isthe International 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. Luis and Coni are both veteranleading figures in the Philippine revolutionary Left. He was a Catholic priestin the 1960s and she was a nun. Both were founders of Christians for NationalLiberation, a member group of the NDF. When Ferdinand Marcos declared martiallaw in 1972, both went underground. They were both arrested and spent time aspolitical prisoners. They left the clergy, and were married in 1974, byCardinal Sin, no less. They have lived in The Netherlands since 1976; they werethe first Filipinos to apply for and receive political asylum there. They holdDutch passports and travel extensively as NDF representatives. We are appealingfor funds, on behalf of all three groups. PSNA will underwrite the tour, but wedefinitely need financial help because we are hosting two people. The amountneeded is $10,000. The two international fares from Europe is the biggest cost,at $6,000. We will keep their domestic travel costs as cheap as possible. LuisJalandoni and Coni Ledesma’s tour presents a unique opportunity to hearfirsthand about a four decades long war, and accompanying peace process, in ourown backyard that is almost totally unknown to New Zealanders. Please help makethis exciting tour possible. Please make cheques to PSNA, Box 2450,Christchurch, with a note saying that it is for the Jalandoni tour. Or, we willsupply our bank account details upon request. Murray Horton, Secretary, PSNA,Philippines Solidarity Network of Aotearoa, Box 2450, Christchurch, NewZealand. cafca@chch.planet.org.nz
http://www.converge.org.nz/psna

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

"Newspapers are unable, seemingly to discriminate between a bicycle accidentand the collapse of civilization" – George Bernard Shaw

"Not only is another world possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, Ican hear her breathing." – Arundhati Roy

BEST ONTHE WEB

NEW ZEALAND

Matt McCarten: Hypocrisy rears head under nuke-free limelight http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10639016

Immigration Act 2009 Amendment Bill – Keith’s speeches against http://www.greens.org.nz/speeches/immigration-act-2009-amendment-bill-keiths-speeches-against

Inequality in Aotearoa: Life expectancy http://blog.greens.org.nz/2010/04/12/inequality-in-aotearoa-life-expectancy/

Gordon Campbell: Paula Bennett’s Strange Welfare Panel Last week whenSocial Development Minister Paula Bennett named the working group on welfarereform, she also cited in a footnote two experts that the panel could draw onfor support – Professor Bob Gregory, an economics professor at Australian … http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2010/04/20/campbell-paula-bennett%E2%80%99s-strange-welfare-panel/

FEATURES

Ill Fares the Land: Something is profoundly wrong with the way we livetoday. For thirty years we have made a virtue out of the pursuit of materialself-interest: indeed, this very pursuit now constitutes whatever remains ofour sense of collective purpose. We know what things cost but have no idea whatthey are worth. We no longer ask of a judicial ruling or a legislative act: Isit good? Is it fair? Is it just? Is it right? Will it help bring about a bettersociety or a better world? Those used to be the political questions, even ifthey invited no easy answers. We must learn once again to pose them. http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2010/apr/29/ill-fares-the-land/?pagination=false

The Global War on Tribes ( General Analysis on Empire ) – The "War ofTerror" has expanded from Afghanistan and Iraq to Pakistan, Yemen and Somaliaand beyond. The main targets in this war against "Islamist Terrorism" aretribal regions. Indeed little seems to have changed since 19th Century westernimperialism. Western society continues to portray tribes as primitive orbackward, and – not understanding them – dismisses them as "lawless" and as"terrorist havens," thereby justifying the pillaging of their natural resourcesor other geo-strategic goals. http://www.globalpolicy.org/empire/general-analysis-of-empire/48954.html

Water Wars: How One City’s Fight Against a Multinational Ignited a MovementBattling Water Privatization – Cochabama, Bolivia was ground zero 10 years agoin the fight against water privatization, but the threat still persists acrossthe world. http://www.alternet.org/story/146521/water_wars%3A_how_one_city%27s_fight_against_a_multinational_ignited_a_movement_battling_water_privatization

FOOD, FARMING AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Can capitalism fix climate change? Albert Einstein defined insanity as doingthe same thing over and over again and expecting different results. It hastaken capitalism about 250 years to generate enough waste and pollution topress dangerously against nature’s limits. With such a damning record,there should be no grounds to expect a different outcome in the future. http://links.org.au/node/1630

Pricing Emissions is the Wrong Solution – “The greenhouse gas problemis not a pollution problem, and if you apply pollution thinking you will comeup with bad policies.” A criticism of Paul Krugman’s NYT article http://climateandcapitalism.com/?p=2114

Patents Trump Public Interest in Monsanto’s Agri-Empire – Findings byRobert Kremer, a US government microbiologist, raise fresh concerns aboutMonsanto’s products and the Washington agencies that oversee them. Many expertsnote that US government regulatory bodies are ill equipped to addresslonger-term health concerns resulting from GM crop consumption. As well, patentlaws interfere with health studies because independent research on biotechseeds cannot proceed without company approval. http://www.globalpolicy.org/social-and-economic-policy/world-hunger/agribusiness-companies/48941.html

Down with the Clown – McDonald’s Corporation is a pioneer of the world foodsystem. It has fashioned the way food is grown, subsidized, processed and eatenaround the world, and by targeting children as an advertising strategyMcDonalds is now a $32 billion brand. The success of McDonald’s raisesquestions as to why junk food is cheaper than healthier food, and why there isno real choice in the US diet? The answer partly lies at the feet of theworld’s largest agribusiness company http://www.globalpolicy.org/social-and-economic-policy/world-hunger/agribusiness-companies/48942.html

A Dying African Lake, Polluted, Overfished; Bad And Getting Worse http://trueslant.com/josephtreaster/2010/04/17/a-dying-african-lake-polluted-overfished-bad-and-getting-worse/

Capitalism and food: Let them eat junk – An interview with Rob Albritton -March 2010 — Rob Albritton’s Let Them Eat Junk: How Capitalism CreatesHunger and Obesity (2009), published by Arbeiter Ring Press in Canada and PlutoPress in the UK, offers a welcome and urgently needed analysis of “howthe profit fixation of capital has led us deeply into a dangerouslyunsustainable system of food provision, a system that totally fails when itcomes to distributive justice and to human and environmental health” (p.201). His analysis takes us inside capitalism and shows how its “deepstructures” manage our agricultural and food systems in irrational wayshttp://links.org.au/node/1616

Food sovereignty: we can feed the world http://www.internationalviewpoint.org/spip.php?article1855

The Natural World Vanishes: How Species Cease To Matter By John Waldman http://www.countercurrents.org/waldman170410.htm

WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS

Goldman’s Scam #5476, Yes, It Can Get Even Worse- We rely globally onover-complex, over-strained systems. Act now, or wait for the much more brutalcorrective of nature http://www.cepr.net/index.php/op-eds-&-columns/op-eds-&-columns/goldmans-scam-yes-it-can-get-worse/

What Links The Banking Crisis And The Volcano? By George Monbiot http://www.countercurrents.org/monbiot200410.htm

The Limits of Minsky’s Financial Instability Hypothesis as anExplanation of the Crisis by Thomas I. Palley http://monthlyreview.org/100401palley.php

Listen Keynesians, It’s the System! Response to Palley by John BellamyFoster and Robert W. McChesne http://monthlyreview.org/100401foster-mcchesney.php

The banker robbers – Lee Sustar says the Securities and ExchangeCommission’s lawsuit against Goldman Sachs should spur demands to make thebankers pay for wrecking the economy. http://socialistworker.org/2010/04/20/the-banker-robbers

The hedge fund parasites – Petrino DiLeo looks at how the worst economiccrisis in 70 years turned out to be a terrific opportunity for the hedge fundmanagers of Wall Street. http://socialistworker.org/2010/04/08/hedge-fund-parasites

How the great AIG heist was pulled off – Alan Maass traces the rise and fallof insurance giant AIG–from the part it played in the mid-decade Wall Streetfinancial boom, to its new incarnation as a government-backed conduit fortransferring bailout money to the big banks. http://socialistworker.org/2009/03/27/the-great-aig-heist

REVIEWS

The Collapse Of Jared Diamond by Louis Proyect http://www.swans.com/library/art16/lproy60.html

After “Avatar” – James Cameron in the Amazon http://www.europe-solidaire.org/spip.php?article16966

Interview: Sheila Rowbotham – Women who dreamed of emancipation http://www.socialistreview.org.uk/article.php?articlenumber=11222

Anybody’s Son Will Do By Bill Willers – In 1983, the National Film Board ofCanada produced a 57-minute film, "Anybody’s Son Will Do". Arguably the bestanti-war film ever made, and tailored for public television, it scared the hellout of the U.S. military machine, which has done its best to "disappear" it.For years it has been nearly impossible to find a copy, but some kind soul hasposted it on YouTube where it can be seen in six segments http://www.countercurrents.org/willers200410.htm

My Father Was A Freedom Fighter: Review By Jim Miles – Ramzy Baroud haswritten what should become an icon of historical-cultural writing for thepeople of Palestine. My Father Was a Freedom Fighter is an amazingly powerfuland wonderfully well written tapestry of the modern history of Palestine,combining a family history focussed on the individual of Ramzy’s fatherMohammed with the overall history of the Jewish-Zionist/Palestinian-Arabicconflict in the area http://www.countercurrents.org/miles200410.htm

AFGHANISTAN

Memo to America: Stop Murdering My People by Malalai Joya – Malalai Joya,now 31, was the youngest member of the Afghan Parliament, elected in 2005. In2007 she was suspended from Parliament because of her consistent criticism ofthe warlords and other human rights abusers in the Karzai regime. Joya hassurvived five assassination attempts to date, and has written her life story inthe book A Woman Among Warlords (with Derrick O’Keefe, Scribner, 2009).She writes from Kabul, Afghanistan. http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-04-19/memo-to-america-stop-murdering-my-people/

Ninety-Four Percent Of Kandaharis Want Peace Talks, Not War By Gareth Porterhttp://www.countercurrents.org/porter190410.htm

Contractor Deaths Accelerating in Afghanistan as They Outnumber Soldiers:The Pentagon reported 107,292 U.S.-hired civilian workers in Afghanistan as ofFebruary 2010, when there were about 78,000 soldiers. This is apparently thefirst time that contractors have exceeded soldiers by such a large margin. http://snipurl.com/vjfxq

ALGERIA

Remembering an Algerian freedom-fighter in Paris http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1004/S00136.htm

AUSTRALIA

Photo essay: `Stop the coal rush!’ — people’s blockade halts exports fromworld’s biggest coal port http://links.org.au/node/1628

BOLIVIA

Bolivia’s Lithium Challenge by Emily Achtenberg – Proclaiming itslithium deposits to be a permanent reserve of the state, the Boliviangovernment last month authorized a new state company to undertake “thefull chain of lithium production,” including “exploration,development, industrialization, and marketing.” At issue is the future ofBolivia’s vast Uyuni salt flats, the world’s largest untappedlithium reserve, holding at least 5.4 million tons—almost half theworld’s known supply. http://boliviarising.blogspot.com/2010/04/bolivias-lithium-challenge.html

CHINA

Chinese Factory Worker Can’t Believe The Shit He Makes For Americans http://www.theonion.com/articles/chinese-factory-worker-cant-believe-the-shit-he-ma,1343/

The image Microsoft doesn’t want you to see: Too tired to stay awake, theChinese workers earning just 34p an hour – http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1266643/Microsofts-Chinese-workforce-tired-stay-awake.html##ixzz0li56Nsdj

CUBA

How to Visit a Socialist Country BY Richard Levins http://monthlyreview.org/100401levins.php

Margaret Randall’s Years in Cuba by Mickey Ellinger and Jody Sokolowerhttp://monthlyreview.org/100301ellinger-sokolower.php

Reflections of Fidel – Sisterhood between the Bolivarian Republic and Cubahttp://www.granma.cu/ingles/2010/abril/lun19/Reflections-18april.html

Cuban Health Cooperation in Timor Leste and the South West Pacific by TimAnderson Aid Watch-Australia http://www.realityofaid.org/userfiles/roareports/roareport_eca617f3d4.pdf

EL SALVADOR

How we killed Archbishop Romero http://www.elfaro.net/es/201003/noticias/1416/

Special Update: One year after the People’s Victory in El Salvador! http://www.cispes.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=683&Itemid=1

HAITI

The Business of Disaster: Where’s the Haiti-Bound Money Going?

INDONESIA

Sri Lanka migrant stand-off in Indonesia port ends http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8629134.stm

INDIA

India’s poor hits 410m http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10639470

Orissa : Police Attack Villagers Protesting Against Tata Project By Times OfIndia http://www.countercurrents.org/toi170410.htm

Appeal From Bhopal Survivors’ Struggle http://www.countercurrents.org/bhopalappeal150410.htm

IRAN

History of Iran (Video) (March 29, 2010) – This insightful video on US-Iranrelations explores the unhappy history of relations between the two countries.The video begins with the US overthrowing the democratically elected leader ofIran, Mohammad Mosaddegh, in 1953 and installing a pro-US dictator, and endsdiscussing the controversial Iran-Iraq war and asking pertinent questions aboutUS sanctions against Iran. (Persians of Facebook) http://www.globalpolicy.org/security-council/index-of-countries-on-the-security-council-agenda/iran/48943.html

IRAQ

U.S. Soldiers From Wikileaks ‘Collateral Murder’ Video Apologizehttp://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article25241.htm

Torture Prisons in Iraq By Robert Dreyfuss – The Los Angeles Times reportstoday that the government of Iraq held hundreds of Sunni men in a secrettorture prison where they were suffocated with plastic bags, shocked withelectricity, and sodomized. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article25265.htm

PAKISTAN

Pakistan’s Dalits Demand Their Rights By Zia Ur Rehman http://www.countercurrents.org/rehman200410.htm

Pakistani Muslims blames CIA, Mossad for suicide bombing: Muslims blamedPakistan’s alliance with the U.S. for the violence and urged Islamabad onTuesday to break ranks in the war on terror. http://www.abna.ir/data.asp?lang=3&id=184946

PALESTINE

Their homes reduced to rubble – Nora Barrows-Friedman, is co-host and seniorproducer of Flashpoints and blogs at Pomegranates and Prose. She reportsregularly from Palestine, where she also runs media workshops for youth in theDheisheh refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. Here, she reports on homedemolitions in the West Bank. http://socialistworker.org/2010/04/20/homes-reduced-to-rubble

A Nation Behind Bars: Palestinian Political Prisoners In Israeli DetentionBy Reham Alhelsi http://www.countercurrents.org/alhelsi170410A.htm

Palestinian Women And Children Behind Zionist Bars By Reham Alhelsi – Since1967, Israel detained over 700,000 Palestinians including tens of thousands ofchildren. Since the outbreak of Al-Aqsa Intifada in 09.2000, more than 8000Palestinian children have been detained, of whom 337 are still in Israelidetention http://www.countercurrents.org/alhelsi170410.htm

PHILIPPINES

The Next Aquino: Can Noynoy Save The Philippines? http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1982219,00.html

Next president should abolish EVAT, etc http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/letterstotheeditor/view/20100420-265280/Next-president-should-abolish-EVAT-etc

Massacre families to appeal dropped charges – Families of those slain in thePhilippines’ worst political massacre vowed on Sunday to appeal a governmentdecision to drop charges against two members of a Muslim clan blamed for thekillings. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100418-264966/Massacre-families-to-appeal-dropped-charges

Obscenity: Murder Charges Dropped Against Two Senior Ampatuan Clan Leadershttp://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/editorial/view/20100419-265271/Obscenity

Outrage over Agra rising – By Julie M. Aurelio, Christian V. Esguerra andNorman Bordadora The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP)urged the public to wear black to express “rage and disappointment”over the decision of Justice Secretary Alberto Agra to drop murder chargesagainst two members of the Ampatuan clan. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100421-265511/Outrage-over-Agra-rising

SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa’s poor to pay for dirty World Bank loan http://links.org.au/node/1621

SUDAN

Sudan: US backs election farce http://links.org.au/node/1625

UK

Detainee-torture allegations spread to Britain: Allegations that Afghandetainees were routinely handed over to Afghan authorities for torture – up tonow a largely Canadian scandal – are poised to envelop fellow NATO countrieswith a London court case that claims Britain exposed hundreds of prisoners toabuse in similar circumstances. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/detainee-torture-allegations-spread-to-britain/article1539932/

Afghanistan: A conspiracy of silence: An IoS poll shows 77 per cent ofBritons want our forces to come home and a majority believe our presence makesUK streets less safe from terrorist attack. Yet all three parties are duckingthis most critical issue. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/afghanistan-a-conspiracy-of-silence-1947857.html

USA

"The Tea Party movement’s dirty little secret is that its chief financialbackers owe their family fortune to the granddaddy of all their hatred:Stalin’s godless empire of the USSR. The secretive oil billionaires of the Kochfamily, the main supporters of the right-wing groups that orchestrated the TeaParty movement, would not have the means to bankroll their favorite causes hadit not been for the pile of money the family made working for the Bolsheviks inthe late 1920s and early 1930s, building refineries, training Communistengineers and laying down the foundation of Soviet oil infrastructure." http://www.alternet.org/story/146504/

Keeping a finger on the nuclear trigger – The U.S. has repackaged itsstrategy–but the terrible threat of nuclear war remains http://socialistworker.org/2010/04/14/finger-on-the-nuclear-trigger

Juan Gonzalez published a fascinating article about New York’s over-priced,dysfunctional computer system that pointed to a number of problems with theworld we live in. First of all, the system, like many complex computer systems,does not work. Second, 230 consultants are getting an average salary of$400,000. Finally, one of the great ironies is that the system is supposed tokeep track of ordinary workers ordinary workers to make sure that they are notoverpaid. Gonzalez, Juan. 2010. "’Consultants’ Getting $722M from City forCoomed CityTime Computer Project." New York Daily News (26 March). http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2010/03/26/2010-03-26_city_pours_722m_down_consulting_contracts_black_hole.html#ixzz0jKVpsC5M

Bush Insider Reveals Guantanamo Deception: Hundreds of Innocents Jailed http://dissidentvoice.org/2010/04/bush-insider-reveals-guantanamo-deception-hundreds-of-innocents-jailed/

VENEZUELA

Venezuela: The People in Arms http://venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/5288

Workers’ control to solve power problems http://venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/5294

Large Crowds Turn Out for 200-Year Independence Celebrations in Venezuela http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/5295

Venezuela’s Recovery Depends on Economic Policy http://venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/5293

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