#328: May 12 Meeting Stop the 3 strikes law! with Rev Ron Givens

GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND
NEWSLETTER No. 328, May 6, 2010

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Wednesday, May 12, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Road, Grey Lynn.
Public Meeting – Stop the three strikes legislation!

Guest Speaker Rev Ron Givens. Ron is the executive director of the Chaplains’ Ass. In California and leads an organization in California dedicated to prison reform and the abolition of the notorious "three strikes law". He will out-line the horrific conditions in their jails and illustrate his speech with photos taken inside Californian Prisons and recordings of interviews with some of the 3,000,000 family members in California who have a family member in prison there. Ron’s visit to N.Z. is arranged by the Howard League for Penal Reform lead by Peter WilliamsQC and supported by those opposed to the introduction of the “three strikes law” in N.Z. Make this a blow against injustice by your attendance. Please spread through your networks.

WHAT’S ON IN AUCKLAND

Thursday, May 6, 7PM, 24 Church Rd, Mangere Bridge, Auckland.
READING GROUP… INVITE… READING GROUP… INVITE… READING GROUP… INVITE… Coming up: a collective discussion of Grant Morgan’s in-depth essay ‘Beware! The end is nigh!’ Why global capitalism is tipping towards collapse, and how we can act for a decent future. 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 an eco-leftist wanting to talk over this ground-breaking essay with like-minded activists, come along: WHEN: 7pm on Thursday, 6 May 2010. WHERE: Grant Morgan’s home, 24 Church Rd, Mangere Bridge, Auckland. It would be appreciated if you flagged your intention to participate so we have an idea of numbers at the Reading Group. Email Grant at grantmorgan@paradise.net.nz or txt/phone him on 021 2544 515.

Saturday, May 8, 1pm, JB HIFI, Queen St, Auckland
THE QUEEN STREET JB STORE WILL NOW BE THE SITE OF PROTESTS EVERY SATURDAY FROM ONE UNTIL TWO PM- UNTIL THE THREE MILLION DOLLAR MAN, CEO RICHARD EUCHTRITZ, COMES BACK TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE WITH SOMETHING BETTER THAN NOTHING. MUSICIANS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS WILL JOIN THE PICKET IN WEEKS TO COME- MAKE SURE YOU MAKE IT DOWN! "The JB HiFi protest in Queen st is very cool, very vocal. Low paid workers are being ripped off.”- METIRIA TUREI, GREEN PARTY MP. “I support the stand UNite members are making. I boycott JB Hi Fi and will encourage other would be customers to buy my music elsewhere until this matter is resolved fairly, equitably, and swiftly. In solidarity,” TIGI NESS, REGGAE LEGEND. Auckland- “LOW PAY? LUNACY!” JB Hifi’s flagship store in Auckland’s Queen St was the scene of a colourful and noisy protest on Saturday May 1st- the first action on a day that saw hundreds of thousands of workers all round the world march for their rights. Hundreds of people wore stickers supporting the JB staff, and all customers coming out of the store agreed with the Union that the workers deserve a living wage- Unite’s petition to have it increased to $15ph has gathered over 160,000 signatures. The 40 people strong picket was joined by Carol Beaumont, Labour MP, and Metiria Turei MP, Leader of the Green Party. Reggae legend Tigi Ness and hip hop act Shine Forum also kick started Kiwi Musicians supporting Fair pay for JB workers. This Saturday’s coming rally promises to be bigger- become friends with Living Wage on Facebook to find out more! http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=107727229270370

Saturday, May 8, 10am, Ponsonby Community Centre, Ponsonby Terrace
Join the Our Auckland team on Saturday morning and be part of the "Weekend of Action". Please come to our Open Meeting at 10am at the Ponsonby Community Centre, Ponsonby Terrace – and bring your friends! Our aim is to get ballot papers and ballot boxes out to every corner and community of the Auckland Region, but to do that we need your help. We want to enable everyone to have their say on their Super City because its about time someone asked Aucklanders what they think! So come along and pick up a pack for YOUR community. Lets make it happen and have your say – its the only one you’re going to get! Sign up via our website at http://www.ourauckland.org.nz and tell us which part of the Region you can help with. Read about the campaign in The Aucklander at http://www.theaucklander.co.nz If you’d like to help us make ballot boxes before then (probably Weds evening) please let me know! Thanks – and please spread the word far and wide to your networks – let’s get everyone voting 🙂 cheers, Mels. Mels Barton, 09 816 8337 / 021 213 7779, OurAuckland on Twitter

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

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

Monday, May 10, 7.30pm, The Peace Place, 22 Emily Place, Auckland City.
Films at The Peace Place: Sophie Scholl – The true story of the last six days of Sophie Scholl’s life, from arrest to interrogation, trial and death sentence. In 1943, as war rages across Europe, a group of college students mount an underground resistance movement against Hitler and the Third Reich war machine. They call themselves the White Rose. Its only female member, 21-year-old Sophie Scholl, is captured while distributing pamphlets on campus with her brother Hans. Unwavering in her convictions and loyalty to her companions, her cross-examination by the Gestapo becomes a searing test of wills as Sophie delivers a passionate call for freedom and personal responsibility. Running Time: 120 minutes. Admission: by Koha / donation

Tuesday, May 11, 6:30-7:20pm, Clock Tower Building, Lecture Theatre 039, Auckland University
A panel discussion focusing on the prospects of disarming Israel’s nuclear weapons inventory while exploring ways to discourage Iran from acquiring an arsenal of its own. http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=574170653#!/event.php?eid=116029668418593&ref=ts

Tuesday, May 11, 7.30pm, Musgrove Studio, AucklandUniversity
Caryl Churchills Play for Gaza, ‘Seven Jewish Children’ This play will be atthe University of Aucklands Musgrove Theatre on the week of Al Nakba toremember the catastrophe of 1948. This event is free of entry but we havelimited seating. To confirm a seat please email: justiceinpalestineSJP@gmail.comwith your full name so we can add you to the guest list. If you would like tobring along others, please give us their names also. This is vital as we arehoping for a full house and seat are limited so get in quick! One of theconditions of the play is that we fundraise for Medical Aid in gaza so all kohadonated will go towards that.We will in additon be selling food, drinks,t-shirts, kaffeiyyahs etc. There will be a panel dicussion held after theperformace. We hope you can join us on this night and look forward to seeingyou.

Wednesday, May 12, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Road, GreyLynn.
Public Meeting – Stop the three strikes legislation! Guest Speaker RevRon Givens. Ron is the executive director of the Chaplains’ Ass. In Californiaand leads an organization in California dedicated to prison reform and theabolition of the notorious "three strikes law". He will out-line the horrificconditions in their jails and illustrate his speech with photos taken insideCalifornian Prisons and recordings of interviews with some of the 3,000,000family members in California who have a family member in prison there. Ron’svisit to N.Z. is arranged by the Howard League for Penal Reform lead by PeterWilliamsQC and supported by those opposed to the introduction of the“three strikes law” in N.Z. Make this a blow against injustice byyour attendance. Please spread through your networks.

Thursday, May 17, 7pm, AUT Conference Centre, Main Entrance, WABuilding, Wellesley Street, Auckland.
A celebration of Fair Trade Fortnight the Auckland Trade Aid trust inassociation with AUT invites you to an inspirational evening with MeeraBhattarai. Meera is the immediate Past President of Fair Trade Group Nepal. Shehas been widely acknowledged by both social and business organisationsworldwide for her outstanding contribution to developing the independentlivelihood and productivity of women in Nepal. RSVP to Patrick at aucklandtradeaidtrust@gmail.com

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-2pm, New Lynn Community Centre in WaitakereCity
ECOMATTERS ENVIRONMENT TRUST PRESENTS: A REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL HUI "ThrivingIn Our Changing Environment". All groups and individuals working in theenvironmental sector in the Auckland Region are welcome to attend this event onSaturday 15 May. Prior registration is required. The purpose of the Hui is: 1.Networking and 2. To share views on thriving in our changing environment. Wewill meet at the New Lynn Community Centre in Waitakere City at 9am forregistration. Anyone wishing to bring a small display may do so, set-up is from8.30am. The Hui will last until approximately 2pm. An optional tour of theEcoMatters Environment Trust site in New Lynn will follow. The format of theday will comprise brief presentations and open space working on specific,relevant topics. If you would like to suggest a group discussion topic forconsideration please let us know when you register. A full programme will bereleased to registrants nearer the time. Registration fees will apply: Groups$40 (covers 2 individuals); Individuals $25; Unwaged $10. Includes lunch.Please register online by visiting: https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dEZYLUhuWGNTa2g1VTZuLVg4azMxcVE6MQClosingdate for registrations and payments is 30 April. For any further enquiries please contactinfo@ecomatters.org.nz

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

Monday, May 17, 7pm, Liston Hall (entry off St Patrick’sSquare or Hobson St). Parking – Wilson’s CathedralCarpark, Cnr Hobson /Wyndham Sts. $1 after 6.30 pm for ticketsvalidated in Liston Hall
The ROLE of PALESTINE in GLOBAL PEACE with Antony Loewenstein author of bestseller “My Israel Question” interviewed by Afroz Ali.

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, School of Population Health, Tamaki CampusUniversity of Auckland. Gate 1, 261 Morrin Rd, (Bldg 730, Function Room 220 onlevel 2), Glen Innes, Auckland
10TH ANNUAL CPAG POST-BUDGET BREAKFAST BUDGET 2010: ACCOUNTING FORCHILDREN? This year’s Budget is looming as one of great concern to allwho are interested 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. RSVP and Enquiries: contact Julie Timmins at admin@cpag.org.nz ph (09) 303 9260 toregister. Cost: $30 waged, $15 unwaged. Payment: prefer direct credit CPAG38-9003-0066858-00 giving surname, ref ‘Breakfast’ + # of attendees) or sendcheque, advising contact details + # attendees, PO Box 56-150, Auckland 1446.Early payment will secure your booking. Kind Regards, Julie Timmins. http://www.cpag.org.nz

Monday, 4.30-9pm, AUT UNIVERSITY, cITY cAMPUS, WA224, Conference Centre, Wellesley St entrance
PMC, RED CROSS TO HOST WAR REPORTING SEMINAR AUCKLAND (Pacific MediaCentre/Pacific Media Watch): The Pacific Media Centre, International Committeeof the Red Cross and New Zealand Red Cross are jointly hosting twin specialevents on reporting wars at AUT University next month. They are:
• 4.30-6.45 pm, May 24, WA224 (AUT city conference centre): Screening ofthe film Balibo about the killing of six journalists in East Timor in 1975.This is followed by a Q and A session with one of the film’s consultants.
• 7.15-9pm : Reporting Wars: The Ongoing Challenges seminar, featuring aspecial video message from Chris Cramer, head of multimedia news of Reuters,New York, and a panel debating "cutting edge issues", including the safety andprotection of journalists.
The panel will include war correspondents Cameron Bennett (TVNZ), MikeMcRoberts (TV3) and independent journalist Jon Stephenson. Guest speaker willbe former ABC journalist Tony Maniaty, of the Australian Centre for IndependentJournalism, who was at Balibo shortly before the TV journalists were killed. Heis author of the recent book Shooting Balibo and was a consultant for themaking of Balibo. The seminar will be chaired by Dr Camille Nakhid of the PMCAdvisory Board. It follows up two conferences on war reporting in Sydney andWellington sponsored by the ICRC last May. A special edition of PacificJournalism Review on reporting wars will be launched at the event by Jean-LucMetzker, head of the ICRC Delegation in the Pacific, based in Suva. The editionhas been edited by professor Wendy Bacon (ACIJ), Dr David Robie (PMC) and AlanSamson (Massey). Refreshments will be served between the film screening and theseminar. This will be a compelling event for media and communicationprofessionals, journalism students, NGOs, and those interested in internationalhumanitarian law – don’t miss it. Open entry and free. Register to attend withrosemarie.north@redcross.org.nzMore information: Pacific Media Centre niusblog http://pacificmediacentre.blogspot.com/2010/04/pmc-red-cross-plan-war-reporting.html

September 29-30, Telstra Clear Pacific Events Centre, ManukauCity
JUST ACTION CONFERENCE: Just Action is for all those with a heart for TheSalvation Army’s mission to fight suffering in all its forms, to speakout and act against injustice, and to be a force for justice, faith and mercyin the world. Here’s some information to bring you up-to-date on plansfor next year’s Just Action Conference, ‘The Power toChange’, which is being held as part of Mission 2010, a combined congressof The Salvation Army New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory. Full Conferencedetails and registration information will be available next year. For moreinformation, contact Major Ian Kilgour, The Salvation Army Social Policy andParliamentary Unit. p: (09) 261 0883 or e: ian_kilgour@nzf.salvationarmy.orgPlan to join us and explore how the Gospel can bring international, national,community and neighbourhood change. Plan to join us and explore how the Gospelcan bring international, national, community and neighbourhood change.SPEAKERS: Jim Wallis is a best-selling author, publictheologian, speaker, preacher and international commentator on religion andpublic life, faith and politics. He is President and Chief Executive Officer ofSojourners, where he is editor-in-chief of Sojourners magazine. DaveAndrews, Coordinator for training with the Community InitiativesResource Association, and educator-atlarge for TEAR Australia. Dave, his wifeAnge, and their family, have lived and worked in intentional communities withmarginalised groups of people in Australia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India andNepal for more than 30 years.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

VOTE ONLINE TO HAVE YOUR SAY ON OUR AUCKLAND
Voting has opened on the Our Auckland website at ourauckland

4TH INTERNATIONAL INDIGENOUS TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE CONFERENCE, 6-9JUNE 2010, AUCKLAND, AOTEAROA/NEW ZEALAND
"Kei muri i te awe kapara he tangata ke – behind the tattoed face astranger stands: Recognising, engaging, understanding difference" http://www.traditionalknowledge2010.ac.nz

Tena Koutou Katoa (Greetings), There is just over a week to go before theclosing date for abstracts on Friday, 30 April, 2010. • Find all thedetails about Abstracts here: http://www.traditionalknowledge2010.ac.nz/submissionsand information about the conference theme here: http://www.traditionalknowledge2010.ac.nz/explanation-key-questions
• Scholarship recipients please submit outlines or title talks toproceedings@traditionalknowledge2010.ac.nz by Friday, 30 April, 2010
• Visit our conference website http://www.traditionalknowledge2010.ac.nz toRegister for the Conference online (early bird rates end on May 14th 2010)
Contact details: enquiries@traditionalknowledge2010.ac.nz / Telephone+64-9-3737599 ext 82376 or 84220

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

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

"Thou shalt not be a victim. Thou shalt not be a perpetrator. Above all,thou shalt not be a bystander": Holocaust Museum, Washington,DC:

"Cautious, careful people, always casting about to preserve their reputationand social standing, never can bring about a reform. Those who are really inearnest must be willing to be anything or nothing in the worlds stimation." —Susan B. Anthony, reformer and suffragist – (1820-1906)

"The media’s the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to makethe innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that’s power. Becausethey control the minds of the masses." – Malcolm X

"Whoever controls the media, controls the mind." – JimMorrison

BEST ONTHE WEB

NEW ZEALAND

GPJA: Key’s secret visit an admission of failure http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1005/S00018.htm

Gordon Campbell: Deliberate defeat in Afghanistan http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2009/08/19/gordon-campbell-deliberate-defeat-in-afghanistan/

On RWC fever, and Obama’s Supreme Court choice http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2010/04/27/gordon-campbell-rwc-fever-obama%E2%80%99s-supreme-court/

Corporate welfare to Dannevirke McDonald’s must end http://unitewellington.blogspot.com/2010/04/corporate-welfare-for-mcdonalds-must.html

John Minto: Big agribusiness the only winners in ECan sacking http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/opinion/columnists/john-minto/3625328/Big-agribusiness-the-only-winners-in-ECan-sacking

Real meaning of May Day lost in the daily slog By Matt McCarten http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10642119

Scoop Report: Protest Against Mining ‘Biggest In Living Memory’ Photo Essay,Text, Video: Auckland – Organisers of Saturday’s protest claim up to 50,000people marched up Queen St united in their opposition against the National-ledGovernment’s plans to mine conservation land and national parks. The Sign Onwebsite stated the march was the biggest in living memory. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1005/S00013.htm

Aotearoa is Under Attack – This is what democracy looked like, Mayday 2010http://socialistaotearoa.blogspot.com/2010/05/aotearoa-is-under-attack.html

Huge protest says no to mining on conservation land http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10642083

UN can see that our rights are not all right http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/opinion/3641985/UN-can-see-that-our-rights-are-not-all-right

Planned changes to $26m aid funding creates concern http://www.guide2.co.nz/politics/news/planned-changes-to-26m-aid-funding-creates-concern/11/15737

Closing The Books on Libraries – The current climate in local government,and the fate of libraries by Gordon Campbell. http://werewolf.co.nz/2010/05/closing-the-books-on-libraries/

Rodney Hide’s Wet, Hot Colorado Dream – How the Supercity will ratchetdown spending on public services by Gordon Campbell http://werewolf.co.nz/2010/05/rodney-hides-wet-hot-colorado-dream/

Low wage growth emphasises need for new focus http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1005/S00093.htm

Legislation: Hide’s Local Government Bill Tabled The Local Government Act2002 Amendment Bill tabled yesterday in Parliament will effectively privatiseall aspects of water supply services, the Green Party said today. "RodneyHide’s new Local Government Amendment bill should be entitled‘Rogernomics Part 2," Green Party Local Government spokesperson SueKedgley said. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1004/S00422.htm

Early childhood funding cuts untenable http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED1004/S00093.htm

Blair Peach: Reports On Death Of NZ-Born Protestor Released Blair Peach diedon 24th April 1979. The day before he had attended a protest in Southall andreceived a head injury which led to his death… fourteen witnesses said theysaw a police officer hit Blair Peach and that there is no evidence which showshe received the injury in any other way. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1004/S00508.htm

FEATURES

May Day 2010: For workers’ rights and the environment, oppose racism, defendrevolutions http://links.org.au/node/1657

Wealth, Income, and Power in the US by G. William Domhoff http://tinyurl.com/y6zst6

FOOD, FARMING AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Proposedl Universal Declaration of the Rights of Mother Earth adopted atWorld Peoples Summit on Climate Change, Cochabamba, Bolivia http://boliviarising.blogspot.com/2010/05/proposal-universal-declaration-of.html

Dissecting those ‘Overpopulation’ Numbers: Part One –Population Where? Is global warming caused by too many people? This begins aseries of articles in which Climate & Capitalism editor Ian Angus showsthat population numbers can conceal far more than they reveal. http://climateandcapitalism.com/?p=2270

BP Rakes in Billions, the Environment Pays the Price http://climateandcapitalism.com/?p=2351

Greg Palast: Slick Operator: The BP I’ve Known Too Well http://www.truthout.org/slick-operator-the-bp-ive-known-too-well59178

Farmers Cope With Roundup-Resistant Weeds http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/04/business/energy-environment/04weed.html?src=busln

Sea Ice Loss Driving Arctic Warming Cycle, Scientists Confirm By David Adamhttp://www.countercurrents.org/adam300410.htm

WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS

A Baltic future for Greece? Latvia and Estonia show us what Greece may lookforward to if it follows the advice it gets from the IMF and European Union http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/apr/28/greece-financial-crisis

The Financial Power Elite by John Bellamy Foster and Hannah Holleman http://monthlyreview.org/100501foster-holleman.php

Class Struggles and National Debts by Rick Wolff http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/2010/wolff050510.html

REVIEWS

The Mark Twain they didn’t teach us about in school http://www.marxists.de/culture/twain/noteach.htm

The Rise and Fall of the United Farm Workers Michael D. Yates http://www.monthlyreview.org/100501yates.php

Ken Loach movies on Youtube http://www.youtube.com/user/KenLoachFilms

AFGHANISTAN

Seven Deadly Sins In Afghanistan By David Swanson – If we could establishthat funding an escalation of war in Afghanistan was illegal, immoral, againstthe public will, economically catastrophic, counterproductive on its own terms,and a cynically motivated intentional failure, well then nothing would change.Unless people use that information in pressuring their representatives to voteNo. Because most of this is pretty easily known. Nonetheless I think it’s agood place to start, so let me take these points one at a time http://www.countercurrents.org/swanson300410.htm

AUSTRALIA

John Pilger: Support NT Indigenous fightback http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/43897

BOLIVIA

Bolivia’s Evo Morales Regains ‘Power For the People’ http://inewp.com/?p=2842

CUBA

What Cuba Can Teach Us About Health Care http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/04/cuban-health-lessons/#ixzz0mY2IyHFO

Photo Essay: Election Day In Cuba – Photo Essay: Election Day in Cuba byJulie Webb Pullman Click to enlarge 2010 Cuban Elections Click to enlarge Theballot boxes are sealed, and in place Click to enlarge guarded by Cuban schoolchildren Click to enlarge Click to enlarge Some voters check … http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1004/S00205.htm

EGYPT

Workers, activists demand national minimum wage http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/news/workers-activists-demand-national-minimum-wage

GREECE

Paul Buchanan: Explaining the Greek Crisis http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1005/S00038.htm

Trouble erupts as protesters try to storm Greek parliament http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8662117.stm

The myth of the “lazy Greek workers” http://www.marxist.com/myth-of-lazy-greek-workers.htm

HAITI

"We want our voices to be heard": Democracy in Haiti’s Earthquake Zone http://www.haitiaction.net/News/AFD/5_3_10/5_3_10.html

HAITI UNION LEADER SPEAKS ACROSS CANADA: "We need your solidarity" By RogerAnnis http://www.canadahaitiaction.ca/node/324

INDIA

Inside the Maoist insurgency in India’s Jharkand state http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8659501.stm

We,The People Of India By Amit Sengupta – In the remote zones of tribalOrissa, epical non-violent land struggles against mass displacement and themining mafia are blooming. And despite violent police repression, they haverefused to succumb or pick up arms. So why is the political establishmentpushing the people of India to the wall? http://www.countercurrents.org/sengupta040510.htm

IRAN

What’s At Stake in the Issue of Iran By Noam Chomsky – "Iran is perceived asa threat because they did not obey the orders of the United States. Militarilythis threat is irrelevant. This country has not behaved aggressively beyond itsborders for centuries. Israel invaded Lebanon with the blessing and help of theU.S. five times in thirty years. Iran has not done anything like this" http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article25347.htm

IRAQ

Iraq in pieces: Hadani Ditmars returns to find a broken Baghdad, stillreeling from sectarian divisions and facing an uncertain future. http://www.newint.org/features/2010/05/01/keynote-iraq-in-pieces/

JAPAN

The Evolution of Income Concentration in Japan, 1886-2005: Evidence fromIncome Tax Statistics Chiaki Moriguchi Northwestern University & NBEREmmanuel Saez University of California, Berkeley & NBER July 2007 Abstracthttp://www.econ.berkeley.edu/~saez/moriguchi-saezRESTAT07japan.pdf

KAZAKHSTAN

The current state of the trade union movement in Kazakhstan http://www.internationalviewpoint.org/spip.php?article1862

KYRGYZSTAN

Popular insurrection opens new page of history http://www.internationalviewpoint.org/spip.php?article1861

NEPAL

High noon in Nepal — eyewitness to revolution http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/43910

PALESTINE

Chomsky: Obama’s No Human Rights Crusader — Just Look at How He AidsIsrael’s Atrocities http://tinyurl.com/23mqn3y

THAILAND

Thailand: The struggle is for democracy http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/43934

Thailand: Land of smoke and mirrors http://links.org.au/node/1667

UK

Army to be sued for war crimes over its role in Fallujah attacks – Parentsof children with birth defects say Britain knew of US chemical weapons use http://tinyurl.com/23u67a6

UK budget deficit ‘to surpass Greece’s as worst in EU’ http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/may/05/uk-budget-deficit-worse-than-greece

Warmongers Of The World, Unite By John Pilger – Is there any differencebetween Australia’s leaders and the three front-runners inBritain’s election when it comes to attitudes to war? http://www.countercurrents.org/pilger050510.htm

USA

Obama’s Tragic Guantanamo Legacy: Prosecuting a Child Soldier and Victim ofU.S. Torture http://tinyurl.com/25j9q2h

VENEZUELA

Venezuela: Push to re-launch union federation http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/43907

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