#330: ANTONY LOEWENSTEIN SPEAKING MAY 17TH -22ND

GLOBALPEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND
NEWSLETTER No.330, May 16, 2010

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Contact details:
Forums – John Minto, Work: (09) 845 2132, Home 09 846 3173 jbminto@xtra.co.nz
Newsletter Editor & Website – Mike Treen 0295254744 mike@unite.org.nz
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ANTONY LOEWENSTEIN SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS MAY 17TH -22ND latest and confirmed information!!

AUCKLAND

MONDAY, MAY 17TH, 7PM, LISTON HALL, ADJ TO ST PATRICKS CATHEDRAL, 32 -34Hobson St Auckland
" Role of Palestine in Global Peace"

TUESDAY, MAY 18TH, 7PM, ENGINEEERING LECTURE THEATRE Rm 1439, 20 SYMONDS STUNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND (Look for bright red neon artwork outside!)
"Liberated Jewish thought on Israel/ Palestine"

CHRISTCHURCH

WEDNESDAY, MAY 19TH, 7.30PM, OUR CITY OTAUTAHI, Cnr Oxford St &Worcester Blvd CHRISTCHURCH
"Liberated Jewish thought on Israel/ Palestine"

WELLINGTON

THURSDAY, MAY 20TH, 12 NOON, 1PMINTP 264 LECTURE, Ethics and InternationalRelations, Victoria University Wellington
"Liberated Jewish thought on Israel/Palestine"

THURSDAY, MAY 20TH, 1PM, Campus Talk STUDENT UNION HALL, Victoria UniversityWellington
"Liberated Jewish thought on Israel/Palestine"

SATURDAY, 6PM, MAY 22ND, FUNDRAISING DINNER & TALK, Wellington BridgeClub, 17 Tinakori Rd, Thorndon
"Liberated Jewish thought on Israel/ Palestine"

HAMMER THE POKIES
GPJA is still on the quest for 200 people willing to take part in a civildisobedience exercise whereby they register their hammers for a “hammerthe pokies” protest. We have around 40 people registered so far but to besuccessful we need a lot more. There are over 20,000 pokie machines in localcommunities (non-casino pokies) which are sucking the lifeblood from low-incomeareas (over half the machines are in the poorest third of communities).Families coping with pokie addicts in the recession just adds to the misery ofwhole communities left behind by growing inequality. We’d like GPJAmembers to help spread the word. You can get a copy of the campaign flyer,register your hammer or for more information email johnminto@orcon.net.nz or phone Johnat 8463173.

WANTED FOR CORPORATE GREED! SATURDAY, 1PM, JBHIFI, QUEEN ST,AUCKLAND
Richard Euchtritz, CEO of JB Hi Fi, gets paid $4 million per year. His company,JB HiFi, is set to make $150 million profit this year alone. Profits up 29% Newstore opening in Palmerston North. But he hasn’t given his workers a pay risein three years, and has dismissed their demand for a pay rise as "Absurd". ThisSaturday, saddle up and join the Posse for a how down outside JB Hi Fi store.Yer all Deputies of the Unite Union now, neighbours. Expose this CorporateCowboy!

NOISIEST PICKET EVER? Video of Protest at JB hifi last week- http://socialistaotearoa.blogspot.com/2010/05/jb-lo-pay-pickets-in-auckland-and.htmland photos of the Solidarity protest in Melbourne, Australia http://www.unite.org.au/2010/05/10/unite-in-solidarity-with-jb-hi-fi-workers/

WHAT’SON IN AUCKLAND

Monday, May 17, 6pm – 7.30 pm, 039 Clock Tower, University ofAuckland City Campus
In association with University of Auckland, ECOFEST presents a paneldiscussion: "A Financial Transactions Tax — Can Robin Hood save theworld’s poorest?". Tim Hazledine, Professor of Economics, University ofAuckland; Jim Stanford, Economist, Canadian Auto Workers’ Union; BarryCoates, Executive Director, Oxfam New Zealand. Moderated by YvonneUnderhill-Sem, Director of Development Studies, University of Auckland. Ourpanel will discuss the Financial Transactions Tax, a tiny tax on banks whichcould provide billions of dollars of vital funding for tackling poverty andclimate change. There’s growing international momentum behind the socalled ROBIN HOOD TAX, so come along and find out what it’s all about!

Monday, May 17, 7pm, Liston Hall (entry off St Patrick’sSquare or Hobson St). Parking – Wilson’s Carpark, CnrHobson /Wyndham Sts. $1 after 6.30 pm for tickets validated inListon Hall The ROLE of PALESTINE in GLOBAL PEACE with AntonyLoewenstein author of best seller “My Israel Question” interviewedby Afroz Ali.

Tuesday, 7pm, May 18, ENGINEEERING LECTURE THEATRE Rm 1439, 20SYMONDS ST UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND
QUESTIONING ISRAEL – Liberated Jewish thought on Palestine/Israel – Atalk by Antony Loewenstein, Sydney-based journalist, blogger and author of bestseller "My Israel Question". Gold coin koha appreciated

Thursday, May 20, 7pm, Lib B10 Lecture Theatre, Library BuildingBasement, Auckland University
AMNESTY ON CAMPUS ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS PANEL DISCUSSION: THE HUMAN RIGHTSIMPLICATIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE – As a key part of our events calendar thisSemester, Amnesty on Campus hosts the annual Human Rights Panel Discussion.Climate Change is increasingly identified as one of the major crises affectingthe international community in the 21st century. Although climate change isalready understood as an environmental problem, and increasingly as an economicone, the human rights implications of climate change are given little attentionby world leaders. What are the human rights implications of Climate Change?What role should New Zealand play in this ongoing issue? Does New Zealand havean obligation to accommodate environmentally displaced peoples? These questionsand many more will be discussed by the panel. Come along for an evening ofinteresting discussion from a range of speakers, including: Dr Graham Sem -Nobel Peace Prize Laureate as a member of the IPCC; Vernon Tava –Research Fellow at the New Zealand Centre for Environmental Law; Barry Coates– Executive Director of Oxfam New Zealand; Gary Cranston –Environmental Activist; Dr Anita Lacey – Senior Lecturer in InternationalRelations in the Political Studies Department; Chaired by Kathy Errington– Masters Student in Political Studies. Entry by $2 koha – allproceeds to Amnesty Aotearoa

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, May 24, 5.30pm-6.30pm, Clock Tower, Princes Street,University of Auckland
Lecture: A new way to stop whaling through international law? ProfessorRothwell, expert on international law and Gareth Hughes, Green MP will speak."The International Law Options to halt Japanese Whaling in the Southern Ocean".Since 1987 Japan has conducted whaling in the Southern Ocean notwithstandingthe global moratorium on commercial whaling. Japan asserts that its whalingoperations are consistent with the 1948 International Convention for theRegulation of Whaling and that it has an unlimited right to take whales underthe Article VIII of the Convention which permits so-called ‘special permit’whaling. But are Japan’s Southern Ocean whaling activities really consistentwith the Convention or in violation of international law, and what can NewZealand do to challenge Japan’s whaling before the International courts?Professor Rothwell will explore these issues with particular reference to theproposed reforms to the International Whaling Commission and the legal optionsavailable to New Zealand to challenge Japan’s Southern Ocean whaling.

Monday, May 24, 4.30-9pm, AUT UNIVERSITY, CITY CAMPUS,WA 224, 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

Thursday, June 24, 4pm, Case Room 2, 260-057, University of AucklandBusiness School
Beware the “Insurance” Model for Unemployment Benefits: CautionaryEvidence from the Canadian Experience. Dr Jim Stanford will review thestructure and recent experience of Canada’s Employment Insurance program,considering the advantages and weaknesses of its conception as an“insurance” scheme. This experience is relevant in light ofproposals to restructure New Zealand’s unemployment benefit system.Stanford will also answer questions regarding recent developments in Canadianpension and social policy. Dr Stanford is economist for Canada’s largestprivate-sector union (sister union to the EPMU here), the Canadian Auto Workersunion in Toronto, Canada. He received his PhD in economics in 1995 from the NewSchool for Social Research in New York, specializing in international trade,macroeconomics, and the economic impact of labour and social institutions.Stanford’s research on a wide range of economic topics has been published innumerous academic and popular outlets. He is the author of Paper Boom, 1999,published by Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives & James Lorimer &Company. Stanford also writes regular columns for CBC News Magazine, and is aregular economics columnist for the Globe and Mail newspaper. See: Bottomline: Canadian banks should pay their fair share , April 2010; Areason to celebrate, March 2010: thelowest paid in Ontario just got a raise, March 2010; CorporateCanada’s enemy lurks within, October 2009. More recently, he authoredEconomics for Everyone, a primer in critical economics for trade union membersand other activists. (See: http://www.economicsforeveryone.com)Followed by: 5.30-6.30pm (pay for your own) Drinks at Spicers (level 3 OGGB).RSVP: Space is limited. Please book your seat with Tressy Menezes t.menezes@auckland.ac.nz

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

NCW AUCKLAND BRANCH LAUNCHES SUFFRAGE MEMORIAL PETITION
The National Council of Women Auckland Branch is launching its petition toretain the Auckland Suffrage Memorial at Lower Khartoum Place. We invite allconcerned organisations, individuals, community board members, councillors,Members of Parliament, and media to join us at the petition launch on Mondaythe 17th of May, 5.30pm at the Auckland Suffrage Memorial at at Lower KhartoumPlace. This site was given by the Auckland City Council for the AucklandSuffrage Memorial in 1993 when all of New Zealand was celebrating thecentennial of the Votes for Women Legislation passed by the New ZealandParliament in 1893. The memorial is of national significance to New Zealandwomen. NCW Auckland branch is seeking a total commitment from our electedofficials that the memorial will be retained. Like Kate Sheppard, who foundedthe New Zealand National Council of Women, our will to do the right thing byNew Zealand Women is strong. With local body elections in sight, the NCWAuckland branch will be raising this issue with candidates. Elected officialsmay come and go, but the Memorial will remain forever! If you would like toassist us in this campaign or obtain more information please contact – MargaretWilson, ph. 09-521-1229, E: maggies.mill@xtra.co.nz representingthe National Council of Women of New Zealand, Auckland Branch Social IssuesSecretary.

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.nzTena 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

"Quite an experience to live in fear, isn’t it. That’s what it is to be a slave." – Blade Runner (1982) – Director: Ridley Scott

"There will be no Homeland Security until we realize that the entire planet is our homeland. Every sentient being in the world must feel secure." – John Perkins

"Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little": Edmund Burke

"The welfare of the people in particular has always been the alibi of tyrants, and it provides the further advantage of giving the servants of tyranny a good conscience": Albert Camus

BEST ON THE WEB

NEW ZEALAND

Crown’s tactics cost Tuhoe their Urewera heartland http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10644976

Matt McCarten on politics: Brown’s hope as Hide bulldozes public opinion http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10645164

Submission by the Human Rights Commission on the Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill. http://www.hrc.co.nz/hrc_new/hrc/cms/files/documents/19-Mar-2010_15-38-41_Sentencing_and_Parole_Reform_Submission_2__Final.pdf

Church Urges Resumption Of Tuhoe Settlement and encourages all parties to the negotiations to keep before them the goals of justice and reconciliation. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1005/S00115.htm

Govt needs to open doors for students http://www.teu.ac.nz/?p=214

Antony Loewenstein a real hit at the AKL Writers and Readers Festival today … see Listener interview http://antonyloewenstein.com/2010/05/12/interview-with-the-new-zealand-listener

Free rider – THERE should be free buses in inner Wellington. http://www.capitaltimes.co.nz/article/3029/Freerider.html

Gordon Campbell: On Sir Peter Gluckman, And The Govt Science Package For Business This week, Sir Peter Gluckman was hard at it justifying the government’s $321 million science r&d package over the next four years, $225 million of which is new funding. http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2010/05/13/campbell-peter-gluckman-and-the-science-package/

Where is John Key Taking NZ http://socialistaotearoa.blogspot.com/2010/05/where-is-john-key-taking-new-zealand.html

The ‘First White Marxists’ reach Tuhoe Country http://readingthemaps.blogspot.com/2010/05/first-white-marxists-reach-tuhoe_11.html

FEATURES

Pedophiles And Popes: Doing The Vatican Shuffle By Michael Parenti – While church pedophiles may still enjoy a safe haven in Poland and other countries where the clergy are above challenge, things are breaking wide open elsewhere. Today we are awash in a sludge of revelations spanning whole countries and continents, going back decades—or as some historians say—going back centuries. Only in the last few weeks has the church shown signs of cooperating with civil authorities. Here is the story http://www.countercurrents.org/parenti120510.htm

Turmoil in the Catholic church Feature by Kevin Devine http://www.socialistreview.org.uk/article.php?articlenumber=11257

Andy Worthington: The Torture of Omar Khadr, a Child in Bagram and Guantnamo: Are we so inured to the implementation of torture by the Bush administration that we no longer recognize what torture is? http://snipurl.com/w7nq1

Robert Fisk: Silenced for speaking the truth about Guantanamo http://tinyurl.com/347bwad

Southern Africa: The liberation struggle continues http://links.org.au/node/1682

WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS

The E.U.’s Dangerous Game By MARK WEISBROT http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/13/opinion/13iht-edweisbrot.html

FOOD, FARMING AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Gulf Oil Spill At Least 10 Times Larger Than Previous Estimate By Tom Eley http://www.countercurrents.org/eley150510.htm

Pest Explosion In China From Bt Cotton By Devinder Sharma http://www.countercurrents.org/dsharma150510.htm

US Farmers Are Bailed Out, Indian Farmers Are Left To Die By Devinder Sharma – In India, nearly 200,000 farmers have taken the fatal route to escape the humiliation that comes along with growing indebtedness (in the absence of direct income support) between 1997 and 2008. The US has paid a quarter of a trillion as farm subsidies in almost the same period, between 1995 and 2009 http://www.countercurrents.org/dsharma130510.htm

Third of plants and animals ‘at risk of extinction’: The latest report – the third edition of the UN’s Global Biodiversity Outlook – is based on data obtained from studies in more than 120 countries across the world. http://snipurl.com/w6ftj

REVIEWS

Bill’s next move: For the past decade or so, Kiwi music legend and writing machine Bill Direen has divided his time between Paris and Dunedin. In Dunedin, Bill has taught English at Otago University, played in various incarnations of his pet band The Builders, and listened to Philip Glass beside the fireplace; in Paris he has focused on his writing, which has embraced genres as differently demanding as the novel, the short story, the theatre review, and the academic paper, but also found time to keep a baleful eye on the right-wing, xenophobic administration of Nicolas Sarkozy. http://readingthemaps.blogspot.com/2010/04/bills-next-move.html

Young Sid: “I did it for my city” – South Auckland rapper Young Sid has just released his second album What Doesn’t Kill Me. The songs provide a gritty sequel to Smashproof’s The Weekend and provide the listener with new maps of the south Auckland underworld. In this review Omar Hamed argues that Young Sid’s songs should serve as a wakeup call to a New Zealand gradually growing used to poverty, racism, crime and abuse. http://socialistaotearoa.blogspot.com/2010/05/young-sid-i-did-it-for-my-city.html

Silvio Rodrguez on his upcoming Puerto Rican and U.S. tour http://machetera.wordpress.com/2010/05/07/silvio-rodriguez-on-his-upcoming-puerto-rican-and-u-s-tour/

AFGHANISTAN

US Troops Executing Prisoners In Afghanistan: Seymour Hersh By David Edwards – The journalist who helped break the story that detainees at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq were being tortured by their US jailers told an audience at a journalism conference last month that American soldiers are now executing prisoners in Afghanistan http://www.countercurrents.org/edwards130510.htm

CHINA

Six suicides this year by Chinese iPhone factory workers http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/six-suicides-this-year-by-chinese-iphone-factory-workers-20100513-v1w1.html

CUBA

Cuba pushes its ‘medical diplomacy’ -By Michael Voss BBC News, Havana http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8059287.stm

Cuba’s medical diplomacy http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/debaad0c-5d6e-11df-8373-00144feab49a.html

Sustainable Agriculture Moves to the Suburbs http://tinyurl.com/258xnaw

Cubans march against homophobia http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/15/AR2010051502522.html

ICELAND

Bankers jailed, sued as Iceland seeks culprits for crisis: More than a yearand a half after Iceland’s major banks failed, all but sinking the country’seconomy, police have begun rounding up a number of top bankers while otherformer executives and owners face a two-billion-dollar lawsuit. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hkg5VhwETJHWaiIqxwwj_PsHQ2Dg

INDIA

Police Atrocity Against Villagers In Orissa By Nachiketa Desai http://www.countercurrents.org/desai150510.htm

IRELAND

Right to Work Protest in Dublin Ireland: Thousands took to the streets toprotest at the bailout of the banks and at the jobs crisis in Ireland. Watchsome of the speeches, listen to the views of some of the protestors.

NEPAL

Nepal’s First Days of May: General Strike and Provocation http://jedbrandt.net/2010/05/12/nepal%E2%80%99s-first-days-of-may-general-strike-and-provocation/

Pamphlet on events in Nepal produced by the Workers Party of New Zealand: http://mikeely.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/revolution-in-nepal.pdf

PALESTINE

The Ongoing Erasure of Palestine http://www.zcommunications.org/the-ongoing-erasure-of-palestine-by-naseer-aruri

Why Talk of "Realism" is Unrealistic The Nakba and the Two-State Solution http://www.counterpunch.org/jadallah05122010.html

Israel’s Tightening Grip On The Jordan Valley http://www.palestinemonitor.org/spip/spip.php?article1396

New weapons experimented in Gaza: population risks genetic mutations http://www.newweapons.org/?q=node/113

US Funds Israel’S Apartheid Roads Plan By Jonathan Cook http://www.countercurrents.org/cook150510.htm

More Settlements As Talks Begin By Khaled Amayreh http://www.countercurrents.org/amayreh150510.htm

Israel Imposing Occupation Tactics On Its Palestinian Citizens By Ben White-

Several examples, including the arrests of Ameer Makhoul and Omar Said, nowpoint to an uncomfortable reality for the self-proclaimed "only democracy inthe Middle East": practices that have long been routine in the militaryoccupation of the West Bank and Gaza are being used in Israel to suppressdissent and limit civil liberties. The green line is increasingly blurry. BenWhite comments http://www.countercurrents.org/white120510.htm

SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa: Will the World Cup party be worth the hangover? http://links.org.au/node/1684

THAILAND

Ten Dead As Thai Military Lays Siege To Protesters By John Roberts http://www.countercurrents.org/roberts150510.htm

Tyrants cling to power over the dead bodies of the people http://links.org.au/node/1685

UK

Welcome to Britain in 2010 where money + class = power – The establishmentis back at the heart of government. It’s as if the last 100 years had neverhappened http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/may/16/nick-cohen-coalition-privilege

USA

Diary David Bromwich – Once again, Obama is choosing to leave behind thepopular base of the Democratic Party and build an ecumenical consensus whichstarts in his head. http://www.lrb.co.uk/v32/n09/david-bromwich/diary

Out of Iraq? Don’t Hold Your Breath – President Obama will not get theUnited States out of Iraq in his first term. If he wins a second term, it ishighly unlikely he will get us out of Iraq before he finally leaves office. http://www.truthout.org/out-iraq-dont-hold-your-breath59458

Guantanamo and Habeas Corpus: Consigning Soldiers to Oblivion – The ObamaAdministration’s Interagency Task Force, which reviewed the cases of allprisoners still held at Guantanamo, advised that only 35 of the 779 prisonersshould face trial. This conclusion is in direct contradiction to the BushAdministration’s consistent claims that Guantanamo prison held the "worst ofthe worst." Further, in the habeas corpus petitions, district court judges haveruled in 34 out of 47 cases that the US government "failed to demonstrate thatthe men in question had any meaningful connection to either Al-Qaeda or theTaliban." http://tinyurl.com/2f5ja5o

Union Victory in California Desert — Workers Beat Back Most of Rio Tinto’sDemands – Workers agree to a tentative deal to end a 15-week lockout againstthe world’s 4th-largest mining company. http://tinyurl.com/282a5b2

Memories of a participant: Kent & Jackson State, 1970 — A firestormthey could not contain http://links.org.au/node/1668

VENEZUELA

Venezuela Takes Steps to “Smash” Currency Speculation http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/5356

Venezuela Creates Public Import-Export Company to Combat Capitalism http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/5352

YEMEN

Yemen’s Sorrowful Options: ‘Revolt, Migrate or Die’ ByRamzy Baroud http://www.countercurrents.org/baroud130510.htm

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