GPJA NEWSLETTER No.340

GLOBALPEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND
NEWSLETTER No.340, July 27, 2010

Planning the fightback against National’s attacks on workers rights to fairness at work.

At the National Party conference 10 days ago Prime Minister John Key announced plans to introduce a wide range of policies attacking workers rights in New Zealand such as:

• · Extending the 90 day provision so that any worker could be fired without reason in the first 90 days of starting a job
• · Preventing workers getting independent employment advice at their worksite
• · Giving employers the right to ask for a medical certificate after just one day sickness

This is the biggest attack on workers rights for 20 years. Unlike in 1991 Employment Contracts Act, unions and workers are organizing to fight back. Everyone welcome to attend meeting to help plan the fight back.

Wednesday 28th July, 7pm
Lecture Theatre B28, Library Basement, University of Auckland

Speakers include:

Matt McCarten – General Secretary of Unite
Sue Bradford – fighter for the rights of the unemployed
Karl Andersen – Assistant General Secretary of the NDU
Bill Newson Assistant National Secretary EPMU
Chris Trotter – Political Commentator and author of No Left Turn.
The evening is hosted by Unite on Campus.

WHAT’S ON IN AUCKLAND

Tuesday, July 27, 5:30pm – 7:30pm, F&PAA, Business School,University of Auckland
“Empowering Students on Global Humanitarian Issues” – Institute for the IndianMother & Child (IIMC). MSGA is a nation-wide, non-profit, student-runorganization, with the aim to empower medical students as future doctors tobecome more involved with local and global humanitarian issues. The IIMC is anon-profit NGO which carries out developmental projects in the rural districtssouth of Kolkata, India. Its activities, all managed by local volunteers,include 22 schools which serve over 2000 children, most of whom are sponsored through an IIMC child sponsorship programme; 5 rural health clinics which serve over 50,000 patients each year; a microcredit lending programme to give poorpeople a start in business; a disabled children’s respite centre; and a women’s empowerment and peace project. Dr. Sujit Brahmochary is the director of the IIMC. He specialized in paediatrics in Belgium with a scholarship from the Belgian Red Cross before returning to Kolkata to work with Mother Teresa as Medical In-charge for two years before starting the IIMC in1989. Dr. Sujit’s aim is to reach out to as many Kiwis as he can in theshort period that he is here.

Wednesday, July 28, 6pm, Eng 4.501, Engineering Building, AucklandUniversity
DIY Independent Journalism Workshop. Interested in doing alternative media?Indymedia presents a professional workshop series on journalism for the masses.Spaces limited. Please RSVP to chris.zack@gmail.com for moreinformation. http://www.indymedia.org.nz/ & Theend of journalism Every Tuesday, 20 July – 24 August 2010, 1pm – 2pm. MaidmentTheatre. A workshop to dealing with the media, where experts with a wealth ofexperience from Professors to journalists within the industry, give a hands onapproach to students, complementing the Winter Lecture Series run By theUniversity, discussing the issues of “The beginning and ends ofjournalism”, “Watching the watchdogs”, “A question ofbalance”, “Citizens as gatekeepers”, “Politics ascomedy” “Paying the piper”.

Thursday, July 29, 6pm, Gus Fisher Gallery, Kenneth Myers Centre, 74Shortland Street Auckland.
The University of Auckland Dance Studies Programme proudly presents a public lecture and video screening on: “Dance and Political Identity in Palestine” By Dr. Nicholas Rowe. Nicholas Rowe will be presenting his illustrated book” Raising Dust: a cultural history of dance in Palestine” (2010, IB Tauris- see attached file). Join us for drinks and meze. Places limited, please register through- Frances Fernandez, f.fernandez@auckland.ac.nz Ph: 3737599 ext.88705

Monday, August 2, 7pm – 9pm, 260-098, Business School,University of Auckland
Freedom Week Amnesty on Campus (email amnesty.communications@gmail.comto get involved). “Is God the Source of Morality?” Dr Raymond Bradley v Dr Matthew Flannagan. For those who don’t follow the atheist/apologetic stroll or otherwise troll the NZ blogosphere, Dr Bradley is an Emeritus Professor of Philosophy with areas of specialty in Philosophical Logic,Metaphysics, Logical Atomism; he has previously debated Dr William Lane Craig.Dr Flannagan is an Auckland based Philosopher and Theologian with areas of specialty in Philosophy of Religion, Ethics and Theology; he has previously debated Dr Bill Cooke. Both are considered leading experts in their respectivefields.

Tuesday, August 3, 6pm – 9pm, 260-098, Business School,University of Auckland
Nuclear disarmament debate: The pretty self explanatory moot being “The total abolition of nuclear weapons is a pipe-dream”. Speakers for the Affirmative: Akif Malik, Treasa Dunworth, Curwen Rolinson Speakers for the Negative: Max Harris, Jacinda Ardern, Lyndon Burford. Yet again, get in touchwith us if you want to know of upcoming events or if you would like us to help publicising/putting on events. Email: iao@ausa.org.nz

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

Tuesday, August 17, 6pm, Auckland Medical School, Park Road, Grafton (In the students study room behind Cafe 85 on the ground floor)
CHILD POVERTY IN NEW ZEALAND • Are you 18 – 35 years old? • Do you want to learn more about child poverty in New Zealand? Child Poverty Action Group Aotearoa NZ is holding an evening to share information and for younger people to meet up and discuss issues. What: 6pm– Pizzas and drinks; 6.30-7.30– Presentations; 7.30-9pm– Drinks and discussion. Enquiries: Julie Timmins admin 093039260. Kind Regards, Julie Timmins, www.cpag.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 his family 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/

Friday, September 10 at the University of Auckland
Forum: Rethinking welfare for the 21st century: Beyond the terms of reference. Retirement Policy and Research Centre, the Department of Sociology, University of Auckland, and Child Poverty Action Group. The terms of reference for the government-appointed Welfare Working Group were narrow. Researchers from Australia will join with their New Zealand colleagues in moving beyond these restrictions in debating welfare in order to seek answers to the question: where to go from here? The aim is to explore workable social and economic solutions to welfare issues, rather than to simply ‘make workpay’.

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 more information, 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, public theologian, speaker, preacher and international commentator on religion and public 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 Initiatives Resource Association, and educator-at-large 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.

Thursday, November 4, 9am-5pm, Conference Room 1 – Copthorne HotelAuckland City 196 – 200 Quay Street
Globalisation and Labour in the Pacific: Re-evaluating the 1890 Maritime Strike9.00-5.30pm, Thursday 4 November 2010 SYMPOSIUM INVITATION Organised by the Auckland Labour History Group and the Labour History Project In association with the Australian Society for the Study of Labour History and NZWALMI. Papers will be presented on the 1890 strike, its broader political and historicalimpact, the nature of Pacific Rim connections in the labour market and between labour organisations, lessons for contemporary labour relations in the maritime industry in the Pacific, and the impact of globalisation generally in Pacific Rim labour relations. Attendance: All welcome. Fee: $40 includes lunch and refreshments. All registrations to Ann Williamson at nzwalmi@aut.ac.nz Information subject to change

ANNOUNCEMENTS

MAKING THE DECLARATION WORK: THE UNITED NATIONS DECLARATION ON THERIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
Kia ora, we are pleased to let you know that we now have a limitednumber of copies of the second print run of Making the Declaration Work: TheUnited Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples at a reducedrate for indigenous and non-governmental organisations (see details below). Thepublication is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the developmentand the potential of the UN Declaration. This message is available on-line infull at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/iwgia09.htm

JUSTICE AND LIBERATION: THE ROAD TO PEACE – FILIPINO PROGRESSIVELEADERS TO TOUR NZ OCTOBER/NOVEMBER
Luis Jalandoni is the International Representative of the National DemocraticFront of the Philippines (NDF), a post that he has held since 1977, and since1994 he has been the Chairperson of the NDF’s Negotiating Panel for peacetalks with the Government of the Philippines. The NDF is the coalition ofseveral underground groups, including the Communist Party of the Philippinesand its New People’s Army, which has been waging a war of liberationthroughout the Philippines for more than 40 years, making it one of the longestrunning armed struggles in the world. The country desperately needs peace withjustice and security, so resolving this people’s war is central to that. Luis (who previously toured New Zealand in 1987) will undertake a nationalspeaking tour between October 24 and November 14. His tour is being collectively organised and hosted by PSNA, Auckland Philippines Solidarity and Wellington Kiwi Pinoy. His topic will be: Justice And Liberation: The Road ToPeace In The Philippines. He will visit: Christchurch, Blenheim, Wellington,Palmerston North, New Plymouth, Hamilton, Auckland and Whangarei. See below foritinerary.
Luis will be accompanied by his wife Coni Ledesma, who will also be speaking. She is a member of the NDF Negotiating Panel for peace talks; and is the International Spokesperson of MAKIBAKA, a revolutionary women’s group which belongs to the NDF. This is the first time we’ve had two speakers together, let alone such high powered ones. Luis and Coni are both veteran leading figures in the Philippine revolutionary Left. He was a Catholic priestin the 1960s and she was a nun. Both were founders of Christians for National Liberation, a member group of the NDF. When Ferdinand Marcos declared martiallaw in 1972, both went underground. They were both arrested and spent time as political prisoners. They left the clergy, and got married in 1974. They have lived in The Netherlands since 1976; they were the first Filipinos to apply forand receive political asylum there. They hold Dutch passports and travel extensively as NDF representatives.
We are appealing for funds. PSNA will underwrite the tour, but we definitelyneed financial help because we are hosting two people. The amount needed is$10,000. The two international fares from Europe is the biggest cost, at$6,000. We will keep their domestic travel and accommodation costs as cheap as possible.
Luis Jalandoni and Coni Ledesma’s tour presents a unique opportunity to hear firsthand about a four decades long war, and accompanying peace process, in our own backyard that is almost totally unknown to New Zealanders. Please help make this exciting tour possible.
Please make cheques to PSNA, Box 2450, Christchurch, with a note saying that itis for the Jalandoni tour. Or, we will supply our bank account details uponrequest.
ITINERARY
Tuesday October 26 – Christchurch: Public Meeting – 7.30 p.m. Knox Presbyterian Church Lounge, 28 Bealey Avenue. Contact: Murray Horton, 0274307742 cafca@chch.planet.org.nz
Wednesday October 27 – Blenheim: Contact: Steffan Browning, 021 725655 greeny25@xtra.co.nz
Thursday October 28 & Friday 29 – Wellington: Public Meeting –7.30 p.m. Thursday 28, St John’s Hall, corner Willis & Dixon Streets.Contact: Rod Prosser 021 0744992 communitymedia@paradise.net.nz
Monday November 1 – Palmerston North: Public Meeting – 7.30 p.m.,1st Floor, PSA House, 49 King Street. Contact: Dion Martin (06) 3569658 (w),021 776029 Dion.Martin@ndu.org.nz
Tuesday November 2 & Wednesday 3 – New Plymouth: Public Meeting– 6.30 p.m. Wednesday 3rd, Govett Brewster Art Gallery, 42 Queen Street.Contact: Fiona Clark (06) 7547014; fionaclark@clear.net.nz
Thursday November 4 – Hamilton: Public Meeting – 7.30 p.m., WaikatoTrade Union Centre, 34 Harwood Street. Contact: Bob Anderson, (07) 8297882, 021776023; ban
Friday November 5 to Friday November 12: Auckland & Whangarei. AucklandContact: Dennis Maga (09) 8276059, 022 6073918 dennis.maga@xtra.co.nz. WhangareiContact: Tim Howard 027 3089216 the-farm@ihug.co.nz
We thank the many organisations and individuals whose generosity has made thistour possible. Our budget is $10,000 and money is still needed. Please makecheques to PSNA, Box 2450, Christchurch, with a note saying that it is for theJalandoni Tour. PSNA bank account details available upon request. This tour iscollectively organised by Philippines Solidarity Network of Aotearoa (PSNA),Auckland Philippines Solidarity and Wellington Kiwi Pinoy

WAIHOPAI SPYBASE PROTEST JANUARY 21-23, 2011
The Waihopai spybase was subjected to unprecedented public attention by the March 2010 trial and acquittal of the three Ploughshares peace activists who penetrated its high security in 2008 and deflated one of the two domes concealing its satellite dishes from the NZ public. The Anti-Bases Campaign was happy to support this non-violent direct action anti-war activity, from start to finish. The public face of New Zealand’s role as an American ally is the NZ military presence in Afghanistan. But New Zealand’s most significant contribution to that, and other American wars, including the one in Iraq, is the Waihopai electronic intelligence gathering base, located in the Waihopai Valley, near Blenheim. It is controlled by the US, with New Zealand (including Parliament and the Prime Minister) having little or no idea what goes on there, let alone any control. Join us for the weekend of anti-war protest at this spybase. Come prepared for roughing it and camping out. We provide the food (we cater for vegetarians but vegans will have to bring their own). Bring sleeping bag, groundsheet, a tent, torch, water bottle, eating utensils, clothing for all weather, and $40 (or $20 unwaged) to cover costs. No open fires. How to find our camp at Whites Bay: turn off SH1 at Tuamarina (9km north of Blenheim or 20 km south of Picton) and drive to Rarangi on the coast. Follow the steep Port Underwood Road over the hilltop before descending to the Whites Bay turnoff. There is a DoC public camp at the bay with basic facilities. ABC has to pay a fixed charge per head. This will be the first Waihopai spybase protest since the Domebusters’ acquittal on all charges arising from their courageous citizens’ deflation action. Waihopai does not operate in the interests of New Zealanders or our neighbours. Basically it is a foreign spybase on NZ soil and directly involves us in America’s wars.
CLOSE THE WAIHOPAI SPYBASE NOW! Organised by the Anti-Bases Campaign, P.O. Box 2258, Christchurch. E-mail cafca www.converge.org.nz/abc Make all cheques to ABC..

KIA ORA GAZA – KIWI AID TO GAZA
Gaza’s 1.5 million people are imprisoned by the state of Israel in a giant concentration camp. The Israeli military enforces a blockade of essential supplies. There is terrible suffering, especially among the children. The citizens of Gaza face collective punishment, which is illegal under international law. On 31 May 2010, a Gaza aid flotilla was hijacked on the open sea by Israel’s military. Nine civilian aid workers were shot to death. To break the siege of Gaza, on 12th September mass aid convoys will set off from London by sea and land. We want to see Kiwi volunteers and aid go with them. Kia Ora Gaza is raising funds to make this possible. Please give your support. Write a cheque for ‘Kia Ora Gaza’ and post to:• Kia Ora Gaza, PO Box 59-007, Auckland. Or make a payment directly into our bank account:• Kia Ora Gaza, 03-0211-0447718-000, Westpac Bank, Onehunga branch. Encourage your family and friends to make a personal donation. Appeal to • organisations you are involved with to make an institutional donation. All funds raised by Kia Ora Gaza will be audited by a professional who is independent of our bank trustees. Email: grantmorgan

BE MORE THAN JUST A TOURIST! JOIN THE SOUTHERN CROSS BRIGADE TO CUBA: DEC 27, 2010 TO JAN 20, 2011
Join the 28th Southern Cross Brigade and support Cuba in the most direct manner by working alongside Cubans, visiting unions, schools, hospitals, cultural sites, performances & urban agriculture projects, learning the salsa, meeting Cubans, fraternising with other international guests and having free time in Havana. You will experience at first hand the cultural, political and social conditions in socialist Cuba. This year’s program will give participants an opportunity to join in the celebration of ICAPs (Cuba Institute for Friendship With The Peoples Of The World) 50th anniversary & the ongoing success of the Cuban Revolution. Find out more at wkcultur (03 7324010) or Ina at inashina ((09 3031755). Cost: $1100 (after July 31st, $1200) – excluding airfare, taxes and health insurance.

THE ROGER AWARD – NOMINATIONS OPEN
Nominations for the 2010 Roger Award are now open. The nomination form with details of the criteria and how to make a nomination is available in in Word (54 KB) or PDF format (164KB). Nominations close on 31 October 2010. Send your nominations to: The Roger Award, Box 2258, Christchurch, or CAFCA [cafca@chch.planet.org.nz] Full details of the Roger Award, including all the past winners and the Judges’ Reports on them can be read at 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
Wednesday, August 25th, The Brigand, Takaka
Thursday, August 26th, Riverside Community and Cultural Centre, Motueka
Saturday, August 28th, Newtown Community Centre, Wellington. Don Franks will be doing an opening set
Sunday, August 29th, Poverty Bay Club, Gisborne
Tuesday, August 31st, Biddy Mulligans Irish Bar, Victoria Street, Hamilton
Wednesday, September 1st, The Wine Cellar, Auckland

JOIN THE 2010 NATIONAL ELECTIONS BRIGADE TO VENEZUELA SEPTEMBER 17 – 28, 2010
The Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network’s brigades to Venezuela are a once-in-a-lifetime experience – the opportunity to see first-hand an unfolding revolution that is not only radically transforming the lives of Venezuelans, but challenging the greed, exploitation and destructiveness of global capitalism by showing that a better world is possible. A special feature of the September 2010 brigade will be observing Venezuela’s vigorous democracy in action. The brigade will coincide with Venezuela’s next National Assembly elections, on September 26th, enabling brigadistas to observe the last week of campaigning – including the traditionally huge election rallies held on the weekend before – and polling day itself. As well as observing the national elections, brigade participants will experience Venezuela’s participatory democracy at work, with visits to communal councils and communes. They will also visit worker-run factories and cooperatives; free, high-quality public health and education services; Indigenous-run sustainable development programs; and community controlled media stations. During the 10 days, brigadistas will have the opportunity to speak to a wide range of grassroots organisations, community activists, trade unions and government representatives about the radical changes being implemented by the Venezuelan people. The 2010 national elections brigade is the 11th solidarity tour to Venezuela organised by the AVSN. Reports and photos from previous AVSN brigades are posted at http://www.venezuelasolidarity.org. We are also happy to put you in touch with people who have participated in AVSN brigades, if you would like to find out more.
Brigade registration and costs
The deadline for registering for the 2010 National Elections brigade is July 1, 2010. To express interest in participating and obtain a registration form, please contact brigades Participants will need to book their own international airfares, but the AVSN can help with advice. Accommodation, transport and English-Spanish translation within Venezuela will be organised for all brigade participants. You will need to 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 in Venezuela; and the brigade registration fee ($500 for workers, $300 for students or pensioners). For more information, email brigades or phone Lisa Macdonald +61 413 031 108, Jim McIlroy +61 423 741 734 or Roberto Jorquera +61 425 182 994.