#335: Tues: What Went Wrong? The Failure of Neoliberalism, and the Alternatives

GLOBALPEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND
NEWSLETTER No.335, June 20, 2010

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Website: https://gpjanz.wordpress.com/
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
Donations can be sent to GPJA, P O Box 7175, Wellesley St,Auckland.

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This week we have Part 2 of Jim Stamford’s seminar. This part is called"What Went Wrong? The Failure of Neoliberalism, and the Alternatives". Part 1was great and even if you missed it part 2 will be worthwhile getting to. Jimalso has a talk on Thursday called "Beware the “Insurance” Modelfor Unemployment Benefits: Cautionary Evidence from the Canadian Experience"(See What’s On in Auckland below for details).

In place of the GPJA forum in July we are encouraging people to attend thepublic meeting on water privatisation.
Monday, July 5, 7.30pm, Freemans Bay Community Centre,52 Hepburn St Ponsonby
PUBLIC MEETING: Stop Privatisation! No corporate control over ourwater. Investigate United Water’s 7 NZ contracts. (Refreshments / networking9.30 – 10pm) All welcome – bring friends. http://www.stopprivatisation.org.nz

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 CorporateGreed! Every 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! YouTube video Link

WHAT’SON IN AUCKLAND

Tuesday, June 22, 5.30-7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Road,Grey Lynn
Economics for Everyone: An Introduction To How The Economy Really Works (AndDoesn’t Work) by Jim Stanford, Economist and Author. Jim Stanford iseconomist for the Canadian Auto Workers union, and an economics columnist forthe Globe and Mail newspaper. He is also the author of Economics for Everyone(Pluto Books, 2008), a critical-thinking primer on economics for union members,social activists, and others concerned with challenging the phony mystique andunderlying biases of conventional economics. Join Jim for a special two-nightintroduction to the economics of everyday life. You’ll equip yourselfwith the knowledge and the confidence to reject the belt-tighteningprescriptions of our current government. After all, as Jim says,“economics is too important to be left to the economists!” Allwelcome. Part II: What Went Wrong? The Failure of Neoliberalism, and theAlternatives

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

Thursday, June 24, 7.30pm, Socialist Centre, 86 princes St,Onehunga, Auckland
THE GLOBAL IMPERIAL CRISIS: How the world is going to change forever as theAmerican empire crumbles. Eco-Socialist Discussion Group. For more info,contact Vaughan (Socialist Worker national chair) at svpl@xtra.co.nz or ph/txt021-0415 082.

Saturday, June 26, 7pm, Polish Club, 1 McDonald Street , Morningside(corner of Ethel St )
An invitation to: The Great City Vision Celebrity Debate – a City VisionFundraiser. Moot : "The more things change, the more they remain the same". MC:Mike Lee. Meet the City Vision candidates for the upcoming election and enjoy afun evening with our celebrity speakers. If you can’t make it, buy some ticketsanyway and give them away to friends or just make a donation (you can do itstraight into the City Vision bank account – see below). 7pm for drinks andnibbles. The debate will start at 7.30pm. Affirmative team: • Cr RichardNorthey, • Bob Tizard, CNZM, • Dr Joce Jesson. Negative team: •Metiria Turei, MP, • Jacinda Ardern, MP, • Darren Hughes, MP. Cost is$25 per person which includes delicious nibbles throughout the evening ($10unwaged). There will be a fundraising cash bar selling wine, beer and softdrinks. You can pay on the night or you can purchase your tickets online: NAME: City Vision ACCOUNT NUMBER: 38 9007 0461177 00 (Kiwibank). Please include areference to "celebrity debate" tickets. Any questions? Please feel free tocontact: Cathy Casey cmcasey0274 744 231 09 845 1952 or Bruce Kilmister bruce@bodypositive.org.nz 021 633373, 09 376 8656

Monday, June 28, 7.30pm, The Peace Place, 22 Emily Place, AucklandCity.
Films at The Peace Place: POWER AND TERROR. Noam Chomsky in our times (2002).As one of the most committed and straight talking dissidents of our timeChomsky offers his interpretation of the meaning and impact of 9-11. Thedocumentary includes footage from various talks given by Chomsky as hetravelled the globe in the aftermath of events at the World Trade Centre in NewYork. Chomsky upholds the principle that the exercise of violence againstcivilian populations is terror. In light of the recent declaration by theInternational Red Cross that Israel’s blockade of Gaza contravenesinternational law and the Geneva Convention, this film provides timely analysisof the structures of state-sanctioned terror, and healthy reflection for thosecommitted to speak truth to power. Running Time: 74 minutes. Admission: by Koha/ donation

Monday, July 5, 7.30pm, Freemans Bay CommunityCentre, 52 Hepburn St Ponsonby
PUBLIC MEETING: Stop Privatisation! No corporate control over ourwater. Investigate United Water’s 7 NZ contracts. (Refreshments / networking9.30 – 10pm) All welcome – bring friends. http://www.stopprivatisation.org.nz

Tuesday, August 10, 5.30pm, University of Auckland BusinessSchool
Reshaping the NZ economy – What will fix NZ’s econpomy? Seminar with Dr RickBoven, Director of the NZ Institurte; Selwyn Pellet, CEO. Sponsor NZ FabianSociety http://www.fabians.org.nz

Wednesday, September 1, 8pm, St Kevins Arcade, K road
David Rovics returns to Auckland on Sept 1st 2010. Come check him out, alongwith special guests, at the Wine Cellar. Tickets on the door for $20. DavidRovics grew up in a family of classical musicians in Wilton, Connecticut, andbecame a fan of populist regimes early on. By the early 90’s he was a full-timebusker in the Boston subways and by the mid-90’s he was traveling the world asa professional flat-picking rabble-rouser. These days David lives with hisfamily in Portland, Oregon and tours regularly on four continents, playing foraudiences large and small at cafes, pubs, universities, churches, union hallsand protest rallies. He has shared the stage with a veritable of who’s who ofthe left in two dozen countries, and has had his music featured on DemocracyNow!, BBC, Al-Jazeera and other networks. His essays are published regularly onCounterPunch, and the 200+ songs he makes available for free on the web havebeen downloaded more than a million times. Most importantly, he’s really good.He will make you laugh, he will make you cry, he will make the revolutionirresistible. http://www.davidrovics.com/

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

THE ROGER AWARD – NOMINATIONS OPEN
The Roger Award For The Worst Transnational Corporation operating in NewZealand has run annually since 1997. There are no prizes for guessing whom itis named after. It is organised by CAFCA and GATT Watchdog, bothChristchurch-based groups. New The winner(s) of the 2009 Roger Award wereannounced at a Wellington event on Thursday 11 March 2010. The winner of theRoger Award was the bank ANZ. "ANZ has succeeded in winning the 2009 RogerAward because the ING funds fiasco is simply and plainly ‘pure greedcapitalism’ at its worst" said the Judges’ Statement. Auckland CityCouncil and its officials won the Accomplice Award for “helping tocontract out Auckland’s waste management to Transpacific and thereforeacting as a template for future transference of public assets into privatehands”. A background to the Roger Award was given at the event by MurrayHorton, CAFCA secretary/organiser. The judges for 2009 were: Paul Corliss, fromChristchurch, a life member of the Rail and Maritime Transport Union; ChristineDann, from Banks Peninsula, a writer and researcher; Bryan Gould, from Bay ofPlenty, a former Waikato University Vice-Chancellor; Joce Jesson, a SeniorLecturer in Critical Studies in Education, University of Auckland and anactivist in various community organisations; and Wayne Hope, AssociateProfessor, Communications Studies, Auckland University of Technology. They weregiven a shortlist of finalists. For the record, the nomination form, whichincludes criteria and details of how to make a nomination, is available here inWord(54 KB) or PDFformat (164KB). Criteria are also below. The judges have awarded prizes forrunners up, continuity and collaborators over the years. The Award hasattracted considerable interest since its inception (even from the corporatemedia), and has had a succession of distinguished and completely voluntaryjudges. The events to announce the winners have become highly memorable intheir own right.
http://canterbury.cyberplace.co.nz/community/CAFCA/publications/Roger/index.html

DAVID ROVICK TOUR OF NZ: AUG 20 – SEPT 1
Friday, August 20th, Canterbury University, Christchurch
Saturday, August 21st, Sammy’s, Dunedin.
Sunday, August 22nd, 8 pm, Venue Dux de Lux, Christchurch
Thursday, August 26th, Riverside Community and Cultural Centre, Motueka
Saturday, August 28th, Newtown Community Centre, Wellington. Don Franks will bedoing an opening set
Tuesday, August 31st, Biddy Mulligans Irish Bar, Victoria Street, Hamilton
Wednesday, September 1st, The Wine Cellar, Auckland

JOIN THE GREEN TEAM!
Keith Locke MP requires an efficient, organised person to work in a one-on-onerelationship; providing personal and administrative support, and support withresearch and/or communications in portfolio areas including Foreign Affairs,Human Rights, and Industrial Relations. Ideal candidates will be self-starterswith plenty of initiative and excellent communication skills. Activities willbe directed by the member, and you will be required to act with integrity andgood judgment on their behalf. This is a full-time position of 40 hours perweek, based in the Parliamentary complex in Wellington. An application pack canbe obtained by calling (04) 471 9600 or by emailing member.and.staff.services@parliament.govt.nz.Applications close 12 pm, 25 June 2010. The Parliamentary Service appoints onmerit and is committed to EEO and good employer principles. Lucy Hawcroft,Assistant on Auckland Issues, Green MPs Auckland Office. Ph: 09 302 0167. Fax:09 303 0173. Physical address: Unit 8, 1 Porters Avenue, Eden Tce, Auckland.Postal address: PO Box 1553, Shortland Street, Auckland.

BRUCE JESSON JOURNALISM AWARDS 2010: CALL FORNOMINATIONS
The Bruce Jesson Foundation was established in 1999 to commemorate one of NewZealand’s greatest political journalists, the late Bruce Jesson, bypromoting vigorous political, social and economic investigation, debate,analysis and reporting in New Zealand. To this end, the Foundation holds anannual lecture and sponsors two annual Bruce Jesson Journalism Prizes for‘Senior’ and ‘Emerging’ journalists respectively. TheSenior Journalism Prize offers an emolument of up to NZ$3,000 to assist writersaiming to produce the kind of critical and analytical journalism exemplified byJesson’s work as a columnist in Metro magazine, as editor of TheRepublican and as the author of several influential pieces of book journalism.The prize is a self-nominated award dedicated to in-depth journalism projectson public issues that might not be undertaken, completed, or published withoutnon-commercial subsidy. The Emerging Journalism Prize recognises“outstanding recent work by New Zealand print journalism students.”It shares the senior award’s broad aim of seeking "critical, informed,analytical and creative journalism or writing which will contribute to publicdebate in New Zealand on an important issue or issues," but it differs in threeimportant respects: •It is focused more narrowly on the already publishedwork of print journalism students (though, exceptional unpublished work mayoccasionally be considered). •It seeks nominations from heads of NewZealand Journalism Schools or journalism programme leaders rather than from thestudent journalists themselves. •It offers a fixed emolument of NZ$500,together with certificates of commendation for one or more runners-up.Nominations for the 2010 Bruce Jesson Journalism Prizes are hereby sought fromeither the writers themselves in the case of the senior journalism award, orfrom heads of New Zealand journalism schools or journalism programme leaders inthe case of the emerging journalism award. Nominees’ work will beassessed by members of the Jesson Foundation’s Journalism Subcommittee:Jon Stephenson (convener), Joe Atkinson, Simon Collins and David Robie.Nominations together with appropriate supporting documentation including, forthe emerging journalism award, copies of the nominated articles, should beforwarded by Monday, June 30, 2010 to Dr Joe Atkinson, Secretary of the BruceJesson Foundation by email j.atkinson@auckland.ac.nz, or inhard copy c/- Political Studies Department, University of Auckland, PB 92019,AUCKLAND. Further inquiries to Dr Atkinson by mail or email as above or byphone (09) 373 7599 ext. 88094, or to Associate Professor David Robie by emaildavid.robie, or phone (09)921 9999 extn 7834

PETITION AGAINST DANGEROUS DEEP WATER OIL DRILLING IN NZWATERS
New Zealand’s striking coastline is too valuable to risk a catastrophe like theBP oil spill currently devastating the Gulf of Mexico. Yet the Ne w ZealandGovernment has just permitted dangerous deep sea oil exploration directly offthe East Coast of the North Island, and tagged many other areas in NewZealand’s waters for further oil exploration. Like the proposal to open ourbest conservation land for mining, this too is a move in the wrong directionfor New Zealand. Expansion of oil and coal extraction threatens our uniqueenvironment and the clean and green reputation that underpins New Zealand’seconomy. Our Government is struggling to understand the urgent need for a neweconomic vision. Instead it is unveiling a new era of coal mining and oildrilling that does not take account of the climate crisis. Can you sign thepetition asking for no new oil and gas expansion in New Zealand? http://action.greenpeace.org.nz/no-new-offshore-drilling-in-nz

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

"Those who take the most from the table
Teach contentment.

Those for whom the taxes are destined
Demand sacrifice.

Those who eat their fill speak to the hungry
of wonderful times to come.

Those who lead the country into the abyss
Call ruling too difficult
For ordinary folk." ?

Bertolt Brecht.

BEST ONTHE WEB

NEW ZEALAND

CEO pay lifts off as profits stagnate http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10652903

Trend is clear – the freeze is over http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10652901

Blatant Political Advocacy & None Too Subtle Implied Threat From OIOSince When Did NZ’s “Image Overseas” Become Any Of ItsBusiness? http://business.scoop.co.nz/2010/06/15/blatant-political-advocacy-from-oio/

John Minto: Backing the All Blacks and the workers http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/blogs/frontline/3813040/Backing-the-All-Blacks-and-the-workers

Matt McCarten on politics: Politicians’ hubris a self-imposed roadblock http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10653071

Cup thrives at poor’s expense By JOHN MINTO http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/opinion/columnists/john-minto/3811829/Cup-thrives-at-poors-expense

Soccer World Cup is not sport as we know it http://johnminto.wordpress.com/2010/06/

TPP – 21st century agreement or 19th century? By Bill Rosenberg,Policy Director/Economist at the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te KauaeKaimahi. http://www.nznotforsale.org/2010/06/15/tpp-%E2%80%93-21st-century-agreement-or-19th-century/

CTU: Minister of Health cannot have his cake and eat it http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1006/S00163.htm

Defence Review credibility questioned – This update on the Defence Reviewfollows the release of the ‘Defence Review Consultation: Summary ofSubmissions’ document last week. Initial concerns about the credibility of theDefence Review process, raised when the public consultation document wasreleased in June 2009, have been heightened by the way the contents of at leastone submission have been completely misrepresented in the summary document.There are three sections below, with information on: the Defence Review; the’Defence Review Consultation: Summary of Submissions’ document; and whathappens next. This update is available at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/defrev0610.pdf

Matt McCarten: Former ministers failed to draw the line, Jones fatallycrossed it http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10651475

Govts Water Privatisation agenda to be strongly resisted by kiwis http://www.guerillamedia.co.nz/content/govts-water-privatisation-agenda-be-strongly-resisted-kiwis

Gordon Campbell on the foreshore and seabed deal, and Gaza blockade http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2010/06/15/gordon-campbell-on-the-foreshore-seabed-gaza/

On a solution for the Ministerial spending scandal, and for child poverty http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2010/06/11/g-campbell-ministerial-spending-child-poverty/

Group urges NZ Govt to act against ‘humanitarian crisis’ in WestPapua http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2010/06/group-urges-nz-govt-to-act-against-humanitarian-crisis-in-west-papua/

Timana Tahu: Standing up for my beliefs http://socialistaotearoa.blogspot.com/2010/06/timana-tahu-standing-up-for-my-beliefs.html

Reading Alone: the landscape and the language of alienation – Described as"NZ’s most polished novel," Man Alone holds within it themes of depression,alienation and struggle. This essay examines Man Alone through the lens of theMarxist theory of alienation and continues a discussion on suicide andanti-capitalist politics which has engaged left Kiwi blogs. http://socialistaotearoa.blogspot.com/2010/06/reading-alone-landscape-and-language-of.html

Water access at core of dispute http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10652878

Top brains only – varsities cut class sizes http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10652668

Bradford blasts insurance welfare http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10651093

Taxman on the hunt http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/3806619/Taxman-on-the-hunt

Banks ‘pressuring customers’ with scare tactics http://www.nzherald.co.nz/personal-finance/news/article.cfm?c_id=12&objectid=10651563

Eugene Hyman: Locking up crims and throwing away the key no answer http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10651656

Tapu Misa: Stability in doubt if the middle wobbles http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10650183

Manufacturing at 10-year low http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10650548

Non-residential building work hits six-year low http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10650547

Sky getting all presents at NZ TV’s 50th By Brian Rudman http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10650500

Let’s build strategy to make housing affordable http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10650502

Brian Gaynor: Rate rise puts spotlight on kiwi dollar http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10651253

Intolerant social club stuck in racist past By Brian Rudman http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10652113

David Williams: Be bold and talk about benefits of settlements http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10652324

Sikh Council plans legal action over turban ban http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10652410

FEATURES

Obama, Afghanistan & the ‘just war’ argument: This is an interview withwriter and former GI resister to the Vietnam war, David Cortright. He is theauthor of many books and is now the Director of Policy Studies at the KrocInstitute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame inIndiana. The interview was done in Sydney on Decenber 12, 2009, and conductedjointly by Helen Patterson, Max Watts, Pip Hinman and Vivienne Porzolt.

Dual Crises of Globalization: Arizona and the Gulf of Mexico – From the plumes of corporate crude in the Gulf of Mexico, to the assault on migrants in Arizona, the U.S. appears locked in a continual state of emergency http://www.tni.org/article/dual-crises-globalization-arizona-and-gulf-mexico

Private Contractors and Covert Wars in Latin America http://www.globalpolicy.org/nations-a-states/state-sovereignty-and-private-security-companies/49219.html?ItemID=724

No Nukes/No Empire: The Abolition Of Nuclear Weapons Requires The End Of The U.S. Empire By Robert Jensen http://www.countercurrents.org/jensen150610.htm

WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS

The Bankers’ Coup – If they had done it with tanks, we would call it a ‘military coup’. But they didn’t need to. The global political elite, echo-chambers of the bankers for a generation, did if for them. No tanks, no drama, no fanfare. Just the small print of an official communiqu http://tinyurl.com/2bv2gd9

Germany and the Euro-Crisis by Jrgen Habermas http://www.thenation.com/article/germany-and-euro-crisis?page=0%2C0

On Your Marx – Neoliberalism on the rocks http://nplusonemag.com/intellectual-situation-your-marx

Full Employment – The golden age is in us http://nplusonemag.com/full-employment

Recovery takes political courage – It’s a shame the world’s largest economies are reluctant to adopt the practical policies that can restore growth and employment http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2010/jun/11/economic-recovery-unemployment

The return of austerity: Lee Sustar explains why governments in Europe and the U.S. are replacing stimulus spending with cutbacks–and increasing the threat of a double-dip recession http://socialistworker.org/2010/06/17/the-return-of-austerity

That ’30s Feeling By PAUL KRUGMAN http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/18/opinion/18krugman.html?ref=paulkrugman

FOOD, FARMING AND THE ENVIRONMENT

The Spill, The Scandal and the President – The inside story of how Obama failed to crack down on the corruption of the Bush years – and let the world’s most dangerous oil company get away with murder http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/17390/111965?RS_show_page=0

Review: Climate policy after the crash of 2009 – The Hartwell Group: Last month, a group of climate scientists released a paper arguing that pretty much everything we’ve been doing to get action on climate change is wrong. It didn’t get much media attention, but the Hartwell Paper is an important contribution to the debate about where next after Copenhagen. http://tinyurl.com/2a2dahu

B.P, Halliburton and Transocean have unleashed Armageddon and now there is no stopping it. http://www.opednews.com/articles/B-P-Halliburton-and-Trans-by-Chris-Landau-100611-452.html

No Rain in the Amazon by Bryan Walker – U.S. writer Nikolas Kozloff aims to give a voice to the peoples of the Global South in his new book No Rain in the Amazon. At the same time, as indicated by the sub-title How South America’s Climate Change Affects the Entire Planet, he warns that what happens in the Amazon affects us all, wherever we live. http://tinyurl.com/3y8yuub

Gulf Oil Spill: A Hole In The World By Naomi Klein – The Deepwater Horizon disaster is not just an industrial accident , it is a violent wound inflicted on the Earth itself http://www.countercurrents.org/klein190610.htm

Cochabamba Summit of the Peoples: Some critical comments on the Final Declaration http://www.internationalviewpoint.org/spip.php?article1884

REVIEWS

Psyched Out: Appraising the radical legacy of two French intellectuals by Scott McLemee – Bringing together Marx and Freud in a united theoretical front was an urgent task for radicals throughout much of the twentieth century, with benefits that would flow to historical materialism and psychoanalysis alike. http://www.bookforum.com/inprint/017_02/5775

Review of "Splice", "Daybreakers" and "District 9": http://louisproyect.wordpress.com/2010/06/15/monster-movie-bash/

Jos Saramago, Nobel Prize-Winning Writer, Dies http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/19/books/19saramago.html?src=mv

Toccata to the Public – Poems by Esteban Espinoza http://www.ebookonline.co.nz/trial/toccata_to_the_public__poems_by_esteban_espinoza/

AFGHANISTAN

Obama’s War by Tariq Ali – The esteemed historian and novelist on how there is only one path for the United States in Afghanistan: withdrawal. http://www.guernicamag.com/features/1809/ali_6_15_10/

Assessing the Afghan surge: The U.S. surge of soldiers to Afghanistan is only making the situation worse–and there’s no end in sight, according to Iraq war veteran Phil Aliff. http://socialistworker.org/2010/06/17/assessing-the-afghan-surge

Pentagon Seeks Contractor to Move Weapons Through Pakistan/Afghanistan http://www.thenation.com/blog/pentagon-seeks-private-contractor-move-weapons-through-pakistanafghanistan

AUSTRALIA

Thousands rally in solidarity with Ark Tribe http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/44433

Abbott revives ‘Pacific solution’: Stop scapegoating refugees http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/44396

Unions act to isolate Israel http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/44346

CHINA

In China, Labor Movement Enabled by Technology http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/17/business/global/17strike.html?src=busln

Position Statement of Old Revolutionaries on the Present Upsurge of Worker Action in China http://chinastudygroup.net/2010/06/old-revolutionaries-on-the-present-upsurge/

Some thoughts on Foxconn and the Honda strike http://chinastudygroup.net/2010/06/some-thoughts-on-foxconn-and-the-honda-strike/

As automotive strikes spread, Honda components plant “experiments” with workplace democracy http://www.china-labour.org.hk/en/node/100798

More news reports on Chinese strike wave http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/show_news.pl?country=China&alllanguages=1&languagename=English&langcode=en&lang=English

As China’s Wages Rise, Export Prices Could Follow http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/08/business/global/08wages.html?hp

Toyota Closes China Car Plant as Honda Workers Return http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aWMKLcMf6W.c&pos=2

China attempts to soothe worker unrest http://edition.cnn.com/2010/BUSINESS/06/15/china.worker.government.reaction.ft/index.html

KFC latest company to increase salaries http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-06/18/content_9986446.htm

CUBA

Interview with Leonard Weinglass, attorney for Gerardo Hernndez http://www.cubaheadlines.com/2010/06/18/22155/interview_with_leonard_weinglass_attorney_gerardo_hernandez.html#ixzz0rG4UfpAt

Traditional Farmer Knowledge Leads Cuba to Organic Revolution http://www.worldwatch.org/node/6435

Democracy Promotion Programs under Fire as Fallout from Spy Arrest Continueshttp://upsidedownworld.org/main/cuba-archives-43/2488-cuba-democracy-promotion-programs-under-fire-as-fallout-from-spy-arrest-continues

The Elected Delegate and the Dissident in Cuba’s Municipal Electionsby Arnold August http://dissidentvoice.org/2010/05/the-elected-delegate-and-the-dissident-in-cuba%E2%80%99s-municipal-elections/

ECUADOR

Ecuador: The Debate in the Streets http://upsidedownworld.org/main/ecuador-archives-49/2483-ecuador-the-debate-in-the-streets-

EGYPT

Egypt’s role in Gaza blockade http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/44352

GERMANY

Deal With It! The FAU Berlin Can Call Itself a Union http://www.fau.org/verbot/en/art_100613-005351

GREECE

From Athens with love: Clare Solomon reports from Greece – "Demonstrating islike a sport here in Athens" said a member of one Greek socialist group. And hedidn’t mean in the Saturday-passtime type of way. http://www.counterfire.org/index.php/news/143-greek-crisis/5604-from-athens-with-love-clare-solomon-reports-from-greece

HAITI

Gangs and Violence in Jamaica and Haiti http://www.socialistvoice.ca/?p=1250

Haitian Farmers Commit to Burning Monsanto Hybrid Seeds http://www.huffingtonpost.com/beverly-bell/haitian-farmers-commit-to_b_578807.html

Disaster Aid or Aid Disaster? — Haitian’s Thoughts on ForeignAssistance http://www.huffingtonpost.com/beverly-bell/disaster-aid-or-aid-disas_b_616536.html

Keeping aid from going renegade http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/haiti/project-jacmel/keeping-aid-from-going-renegade/article1608584/

INDIA

Killing Of Trade Unions: Strangulation Of Freedom By Prabhat Sharan http://www.countercurrents.org/sharan150610.htm

IRAN

Gwynne Dyer: Sanctions a farce as nuclear threat unproven http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10651871

Ahmadinejad Says No One Has Any Right to Bother Women about Hijab or Couplesabout Their Relationship http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/2010/esfandiari170610.html

IRAQ

‘Disgraced Soldier’ Fights Trauma With Documentary By Zack Baddorf http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=50392

False Advertising About the Iraq Surge http://www.globalpolicy.org/iraq/political-issues-in-iraq/media-coverage-of-iraq/49215.html?itemID=849

KYRGYZSTAN

Kyrgyz Tensions Rooted in Class, Not Ethnicity, Experts Say http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/15/world/asia/15ethnic.html

Kyrgyzstan: Eurasian Geopolitics 101 http://dissidentvoice.org/2010/06/kyrgyzstan-eurasian-geopolitics-101/#more-18517

MEXICO

San Juan Copala – Mexico’s Gaza http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1006/S00050.htm

PAKISTAN

Unrest In Pakistan: Moving Beyond U.S. National Interest By Josh Brollier& Kathy Kelly http://www.countercurrents.org/kelly190610.htm

PALESTINE

Norwegian Port Union Boycotts Israeli Ships http://www.imemc.org/article/58917

About the two foreign observers on the Israeli flotilla attack probe. http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/6081458-about-the-two-foreign-observers-on-the-israeli-flotilla-attack-probe

Zionism’s colonial project: Lance Selfa, editor of the The Struggle forPalestine, describes the roots of the Zionist movement and the drive to createa Jewish state. This is an excerpt from the book. http://socialistworker.org/2010/06/10/zionisms-colonial-project

Abuse of Palestinians ‘widespread’: Report: The report noted that 95 percent of Gaza’s factories have closed, that 98 per cent of residents suffer fromblackouts, and that 93 per cent of Gaza’s water is polluted http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/06/201061432151656148.html

Why, Really, Was The USS Liberty Attacked By Israel? By Alan Hart http://www.countercurrents.org/hart190610.htm

Zionism’s Colonial Enterprise Is Doomed, But….By Alan Hart – After theobscenity of the Nazi holocaust, and because of it, the giant of anti-Semitismwould have gone back to sleep and, very probably, would have died in its sleepif the major powers had not allowed Zionism right or wrong to have its way http://www.countercurrents.org/hart190610A.htm

Kevin Neish: Eyewitness To The Israeli Assault On The Mavi Marmara By DaveLindorff http://www.countercurrents.org/lindorff190610.htm

Easing Gaza’s Siege: Bogus And Unacceptable By Stephen Lendman http://www.countercurrents.org/lendman190610A.htm

PHILIPPINES

Oz, NZ groups condemn death of labor leader http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20100613-275389/Oz-NZ-groups-condemn-death-of-labor-leader

Rights groups: End extra-judicial killings, forced disappearances http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=585135&publicationSubCategoryId=200

The meaning of the `Noynoy’ Aquino presidency http://links.org.au/node/1743

RUSSIA

Russia: Creating a Nation of Poor, Sick and Ignorant by Boris KAGARLITSKYhttp://www.europe-solidaire.org/spip.php?article17781SOUTHAFRICA

Riot police break up World Cup wages demonstration http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/fifa-world-cup/3809484/Riot-police-break-up-World-Cup-wages-demonstration

World Cup strike spreads to half of venues http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100615/ap_on_sp_so_ne/soc_wcup_security_protest

USA

Labor and N.A.A.C.P. Plan October Rally By STEVEN GREENHOUSE – Several laborunions and the N.A.A.C.P. are planning a rally in Washington this October topush for stepped-up job creation efforts and to counter what they say is amisguided perception that the Tea Party represents the views of America’sworking people. http://tinyurl.com/25ojhls

US Jews gather for anti-Zionist assembly http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=292515

Greed Behind BP, Mine Disasters – United Steelworkers (USW) President Leo W.Gerard and Mine Workers (UMWA) Cecil Roberts take on the root of all evilbehind the nation’s disasters in this crosspost from the Campaign forAmerica. http://blog.aflcio.org/2010/06/15/greed-behind-bp-mine-disasters/

Students Gain After Strike in Puerto Rico http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/18/us/18students.html?scp=1&sq=student%20strike&st=cse

The Justice Department and the Torture of Maher Arar By Scott Horton -Yesterday the Supreme Court declined to review the Maher Arar case, leaving inplace a reprehensible Second Circuit decision that proclaims the immunity ofAmerican government officials even in the face of meticulously documentedcharges that they consciously took steps resulting in the torture of aninnocent human being. http://www.harpers.org/archive/2010/06/hbc-90007242

NUHW and the fight for union democracy: The interim president of theNational Union of Healthcare Workers talks about reviving militant unionism inCalifornia’s hospitals and beyond. http://socialistworker.org/2010/05/27/nuhw-and-fight-union-democracy

Putting the squeeze on Hyatt: Hotel workers around the country organizedactions last week to demand that Hyatt agree to fair wages and benefits. http://socialistworker.org/2010/06/14/putting-the-squeeze-on-hyatt

Utter Failure; It’s Time to Rethink the Prison System – With 2.3 millionpeople in America’s prison system, we’ve literally become our own jailers. It’stime to call for a compassionate — and more effective — judicial system. http://www.alternet.org/story/147199/utter_failure%3B_it%27s_time_to_rethink_the_prison_system?page=entire

VENEZUELA

On June 15, 2010, the BBC’s /Hardtalk/ program broadcast an wide-ranginginterview with Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez from the MirafloresPresidential Palace in Caracas. The interviewer, Stephen Sackur, clearlyintended to provoke Chavez with a series of ill-informed and outright dishonestclaims and questions. He did not succeed. Watch the three-part interview at http://links.org.au/node/1746

President Chavez’s socialist world vision http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/hardtalk/8732857.stm

Hugo Chavez interviewed as Oliver Stone film opens http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/10325098.stm

Building Socialism from Below: The Role of the Communes in Venezuela http://www.europe-solidaire.org/spip.php?article17767

How The Media Misreports on Venezuela, Even When Given Full Information http://southoftheborderdoc.com/how-the-media-misreports-on-venezuela-even-when-given-full-information/

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