#344: Stand Up for Your Rights at Work this Saturday, 1pm, QE2 Sq

GLOBALPEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND
NEWSLETTER No.344, August 19, 2010

Stand Up for Your Rights at Work this Saturday, 1pm, QE2 Square, Bottom of Queen St, Auckland
-Reject the 90-day right to sack for no reason law
-Support your right to have fair access to union advice and support
-Support your right to proper rest breaks
-Protect your sick and holiday leave

Before the Auckland Rally, join the UTU (Unite The Union) Squad, 12noon, JB Hi Fi, Queen St, Auckland
The UTU squad is for people wanting to take direct action against bademployers. We want to be able to picket a bad boss as soon as we get news aboutan unfair sacking.

Come to the Council of Trade Unions Fairness Rallies across NZ thisSaturday at 1pm
Auckland: 1pm, QE2 Square, (Bottom of Queen St, opposite Britomart)

Wellington: 1pm, Saturday 21st August, Civic Square,
Christchurch: 1pm, Saturday 21st August, Cathedral Square

Dunedin: 11am, Sunday 22nd August – Assemble at Dental School, GreatKingStreet, March to rally at the Octagon

Friday 12-2pm: "Utu Squad" Names And Shames Burger Fuel For 89th DaySacking – Unite takes up John Key’s challenge to name and shame bad employers.
Recently the Prime Minister requested unions to directly name and shame bad employers who act badly against their employees. Unite and the rest of the trade union movement is taking up the challenge. A special direct action group called the UTU Squad is picketing the Mission Bay Burger Fuel store onFriday from 12-2pm to protest the sacking of a worker on the 89th day of her employment. Joanne Bartlett’s dismissal came a few days after she had asked for more than a single 10 minute lunch break each day she had been receiving for an 8 hour shift. Ms Bartlett had consistently received the highest grades inBurger Fuel’s training programme and had culinary school qualifications. She had also worked extra shifts when requested. No reason was given for the dismissal. The UTU Squad has been formed by Unite because they believe justice for workers needs a group willing to take direct action against bad employers to uphold workers rights. "If the government takes away workers’ rights to use legal means to protect themselves from unjust actions like this then workers have to go back to the tradition of direct action as the only way left to support workers like Joanne", says Mike Treen Unite National Director.

DAVID ROVICK TOUR OF NZ: AUG 20 – SEPT 1
Friday, August 20th, 7.30pm, Canterbury University, 20 Kirkwood Ave,Christchurch
Saturday, August 21st, Sammy’s, Dunedin.
Sunday, August 22nd, 8 pm, Venue Dux de Lux, Three-man a cappella trio No Saxor Violins opening! Christchurch
Tuesday, August 24, Yaza Cafe, Nelson
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 bedoing 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

ALTERNATIVE WELFARE WORKING GROUP PUBLIC MEETINGS http://www.welfarejustice.org.nz/?sid=5
Please join us for public meetings – or please make a submission if we arenot able to come to your area:
WELLINGTON, 24 August: PORIRUA, Maraeroa Marae, Warspite Ave, Porirua 9.30-12.00noon (please assemble by 9.15); UPPERHUTT, Hapai Club, 879 Fergusson Ave, Upper Hutt 9.30-12.00noon;
AUCKLAND, 9 September: Tatai Hono Marae, 8 Burleigh St,Grafton, Auckland, 10am
NORTHLAND, 15 September: Ngararatunua Marae, Cnr Church andPipwai Rds, Kamo 10am
SOUTH AUCKLAND, 20 September Venue to be confirmed
INVERCARGILL, 23 September: disAbilities Resource Centre, 192Spey St, Invercargill: Two meetings 11.00-1.30 and 2.00-4.30
CHRISTCHURCH, 24 September: Christchurch Community Law Centre,281 Madras St, Christchurch: Two meetings 10.00-12.30 and 1.30-4.00
ROTORUA, 29 September: Venue to be confirmed

WHAT’S ON IN AUCKLAND

Saturday, August 21, QE2 Square, Downtown
Work Rights rally and march

Saturday, August 21, 7pm, Grey Lynn Community Centre, 510 RichmondRd
Green Party Quiz Night. $60 per Team of 6. Call Ron 09 3761243

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/

Monday 6 September, 6.30-9pm, Rm 039, Clocktower bldg, 22 PrincesSt
Reflections on the Holocaust , a seminar presented by Continuing Education atThe University of Auckland. This symposium will consider the Holocaust or Shoahfrom Christian, Jewish and Muslim perspectives. Speakers: Douglas Pratt, PaulMorris, Zain Ali. Full details: http://www.cce.auckland.ac.nz or ph: 0800864 266

Friday, September 10, 8.30AM – 5.15PM, The University of Auckland Business School, Room OGGB5, Level 0, Owen G Glenn Building, 12 Grafton Road,Auckland
Forum: Rethinking welfare for the 21st century: Beyond the terms of reference.Retirement Policy and Research Centre, the Department of Sociology, Universityof Auckland, and Child Poverty Action Group. The terms of reference for thegovernment-appointed Welfare Working Group were narrow. Researchers fromAustralia will join with their New Zealand colleagues in moving beyond theserestrictions in debating welfare in order to seek answers to the question:where to go from here? The aim is to explore workable social and economicsolutions to welfare issues, rather than to simply ‘make work pay’.Susan St John, CPAG’s Economics spokesperson will open and close the dayand Mike O’Brien, Claire Dale and Sue Bradford from our ManagementCommittee will also be participating.
BACKGROUND: the Government appointed a Welfare Working Group in April 2010 toconduct a wide-ranging and fundamental review of New Zealand’s welfare system,and make practical recommendations to improve the economic and social outcomesfor beneficiaries and New Zealand as a whole. The first report of the WelfareWorking Group is available here. The aim ofthis Welfare Forum is to move beyond the narrow terms of reference of theWelfare Working Group, and make recommendations that recognise the currenteconomic climate, and foreground the needs of children. In planning for thisday we have been particularly interested in learning from the Australianexperience. Three speakers from Australia will join with experts from NewZealand in what should be an informative and stimulating day. Please registeras soon as possible as places are limited. The forum programme is available here(29KB). RSVP:To register, please complete the registrationform before Tuesday 7 September 2010 and email it to Tressy Menezes t.menezes@auckland.ac.nz (withcheque or credit card payment). Standard registration $50; Student registration$30 (includes morning and afternoon teas, and lunch). Places are limited andregistration is essential.

Saturday, September 11, 7pm-1am, Pearce Street Hall, 3 PearceStreet, Onehunga, Auckland
PRIMERA FIESTA GUACHACA en NUEVA ZELANDA para Conmemorar el BI Centenario conReina y todo Ya Poh Wachitos No se la Pierdan!!!!! You are invited tothe”First Fonda Guachaca” in Auckland, New Zealand. We will havelive music with “Calle Latina”, and traditional Latin Americandance performances with Makehue Latin American Dance Group. We will have thebest of our Latin food, as well as games, dance competitions and more… Weare also looking for the first “Guachaca Queen”, if you would liketo participate please send us your name and contact details to our emailcallelatina.nz@gmail.com (there is going to be a surprise prize for thewinner). Entry tickets: $10. – Children under 12 free. So please do not waitany longer, buy your tickets now, this is a party that you do not want to miss!Come and have fun all night long! Tickets: callelatina.nz@gmail.com; makehuedancegroup@gmail.com

Saturday, September 18, 8pm, Basement Theatre,Lower Greys Ave, (backs onto the carpark at the bottom of Lower Greys Ave,opposite the Auckland City Council building)
Kia Ora Gaza and Nocturne Theatre invite you to the fundraisingperformance of MY NAME IS RACHEL CORRIE A one-woman play. On the same weekendthat six Kia Ora Gaza team members will join the mass land convoy departingLondon en route to Gaza, the one-woman play My Name is Rachel Corrie –taken from the writings of the 23 year-old US citizen who was killed in Rafahwhile protecting the home of a Palestinian family – will open at TheBasement Theatre in Auckland. Rachel Corrie was a uniquely perceptive, generousand brave individual. Growing up in Olympia, Washington, she developed a strongsocial conscience, along with a sharp sense of humour. In January 2003 shetravelled to Palestine-Israel as a member of the International SolidarityMovement. On 16 March 2003, Rachel was killed by an Israeli military bulldozerwhile protecting the home of Palestinian pharmacist Dr Samir and his family.Combining an activist’s passion with an artist’s sensibility,Rachel was a great writer. Even in the tragedy of her young death, there ishope in the legacy of her writing. ‘I think my soul is nomadic’,Rachel once wrote. And the words she left behind encourage readers andaudiences across the globe to meet her in a search for justice and truth.Edited by British actor and director Alan Rickman and Guardian journalistKatharine Viner, My Name is Rachel Corrie has been produced in over 13countries. It is a testament to the power of individual bravery and collectivehope. On Saturday 18 September, when Kia Ora Gaza’s six-person Kiwi Team departLondon with convoy members from around the globe, we invite you to come andhear the words of a fellow activist intent on seeing the people of Gaza enjoythe same freedoms we take for granted. We know Rachel would certainly be therewith the convoy were she here today. Her words live on.
‘I should at least mention that I am also discovering a degree ofstrength and of basic ability for humans to remain human in the direst ofcircumstances – which I also haven’t seen before. I think the wordis dignity. I wish you could meet these people. Maybe, hopefully, someday youwill.’ – Rachel Corrie, 2003. ‘Rachel Corriereveals that the principled courage of youth, idealism we used to call it, hasnot been extinguished, as the propaganda tells us. Indeed, it flourishes andRachel’s legacy is its beacon.’ – JohnPilger, 2008
Tickets: $40. Tea and coffee and light snacks will beavailable after the performance. You are invited to stay after the show andhave a chat with performer Kate Prior. HOW TO GET TICKETS. STEP ONE –BOOK YOUR SEATS: Email Kia Ora Gaza’s co-organiser Grant Morgan grantmorgan@paradise.net.nz withticket numbers and contact details. STEP TWO – PAY FOR YOUR SEATS: Make adirect payment to our bank account: Kia Ora Gaza, 03-0211-0447718-000, WestpacBank, Onehunga branch. In the "details" section put your name alongside thewords "Rachel Corrie". Or else write a cheque to "Kia Ora Gaza" and post to:Kia Ora Gaza, PO Box 59-007, Auckland. Enclose a note saying the money is forthe Rachel Corrie play.

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.

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 theAuckland Labour History Group and the Labour History Project In associationwith the Australian Society for the Study of Labour History and NZWALMI. Paperswill be presented on the 1890 strike, its broader political and historicalimpact, the nature of Pacific Rim connections in the labour market and betweenlabour organisations, lessons for contemporary labour relations in the maritimeindustry in the Pacific, and the impact of globalisation generally in PacificRim labour relations. Attendance: All welcome. Fee: $40 includes lunch andrefreshments. All registrations to Ann Williamson at nzwalmi@aut.ac.nz Information subject tochange

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS

December 13-21, 2010. 17th World Festival of Youth and Students, inSouth Africa. An invitation for youth and students in New Zealand and thePacific.
Join thousands of youth and students from around the world discussing anddebating the future of humanity under the banner, “Let’s defeatimperialism, for a world of peace, solidarity and social transformation.”The festivals began in 1947 as young people reacted to the brutalities of worldwar and have continued through the decades since, addressing the politicalchallenges for youth and students. A week of activities will includeconferences, seminars, workshops, sporting and cultural events. Each day isdedicated to a different region of the world and their particular struggles,and one day to South Africa as the host nation. Full details of the calldescribing the political focus for this year’s festival can be found atthe festival website, along with a programme of activities. http://www.wfdy.org/17wfys/ Yourorganisation may be interested in sending a representative to the festival orwould like to assist in building a delegation from New Zealand to South Africa,or you may be an individual keen to join a delegation. All participants willneed to cover their own travel costs and pay a one off registration fee for thefestival which will cover accommodation, transport and food while in SouthAfrica. For more information contact Annalucia Vermunt, Tel: 09-525-7407.Communist League & Young Socialists E-mail: ysnz@xtra.co.nz or P.O. Box3025, Auckland, New Zealand.

WELCOME TO THE MEDIA, INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM & TECHNOLOGYCONFERENCE 2010
Practitioners, journalists, academics, researchers and students who work in thecreative industries are invited to participate in a Fourth Estate“conversation” at the inaugural Media, Investigative Journalism& Technology Conference 2010. The conference will be held at AUT Universityin Auckland, Aotearoa/New Zealand, on December 4 & 5, 2010. Thisinternational conference is dedicated to exploring investigative journalism anddocumentary techniques, methodologies and technologies of critical value topublic interest issues and to identify and support journalists, photographersand film makers facing pressures and obstacles.

BEST ONTHE WEB

NEW ZEALAND

Funding Change Will Keep Refugees On Benefits – Changes to training coursesannounced last week by the Ministry of Social Development and the TEC willleave refugees permanently stuck on the dole, unable to work or develop newskills, according to TESOLANZ, the national association of ESOL Teachers. http://scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1008/S00196.htm

Photos: March Against Mining http://www.flickr.com/photos/greenpeace-nz/sets/72157623966199356/

The Palestine Human Rights Campaign Aotearoa/New Zealand (PHRC) has receiveda copy of a letter from the Israeli Ambassador to New Zealand, Shemi Tzur, thatwas sent to the Kia Ora Gaza group referring to the organisation’s 10 August2010 news media release. The letter sought to dissuade Kia Ora Gaza from bringing aid to Gaza independently of Israel’s military blockade of the territory. PHRC makes the following comments: http://palestine.org.nz/phrc/index.php

Parents Want Qualified Early Childhood Teachers http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED1008/S00059/parents-want-qualified-early-childhood-teachers.htm

Government Coats Ero Report With Political Gloss And Ignores Reality http://www.voxy.co.nz/politics/government-coats-ero-report-political-gloss-and-ignores-reality/5/59108

New Greenpeace NZ website http://www.greenpeace.org/new-zealand/

Invalids may have to defend benefit http://www.nzherald.co.nz/social-issues/news/article.cfm?c_id=87&objectid=10664811

Couples split to get extra on benefit http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10664267

NZ WORK RIGHTS

Auckland workers rally against changes http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/auckland-workers-rally-against-changes-3717620

FEATURES

The Latin American Left and Indigenous Autonomy: The two kinds of lefts – the parties that have achieved power in the various states and the indigenista movements in the various states – do not have identical objectives and use quite different ideological language by Immanuel Wallerstein http://climateandcapitalism.com/?p=2986

Sub-Saharan Africa: After fifty years of “independence” http://www.internationalviewpoint.org/spip.php?article1909

Noam Chomsky: The Real Reasons the U.S. Enables Israeli Crimes and Atrocities By Kathleen Wells, Race-Talk http://www.alternet.org/story/147865/

Why WikiLeaks Must Be Protected By John Pilger – The WikiLeaks revelations shame the dominant section of journalism devoted merely to taking down what cynical and malign power tells it. This is state stenography, not journalism. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article26192.htm

WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS

Photo-tour: Ireland’s Ghost Estates http://www.planbeconomics.com/2010/08/11/photo-tour-irelands-ghost-estates/

US Unemployment: Don’t Let the Elite Pass the Buck By Paul Krugman – Growth is slowing and the odds are that unemployment will rise, not fall, in the months ahead. That’s bad. But what’s worse is the growing evidence that our governing elite just doesn’t care – that a once-unthinkable level of economic distress is becoming the norm. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article26168.htm

CULTURAL DISSENT

Why "Eat, Pray, Love" Makes Me Want to Gag – Do we need another movie about a self-centered Westerner squeezing one-dimensional natives for exotic food, wisdom, and spirituality? http://www.alternet.org/story/147846/why_%22eat%2C_pray%2C_love%22_makes_me_want_to_gag

AFGHANISTAN

U.S. Leading the Terror in Afghanistan By Ghali Hassan http://axisoflogic.com/artman/publish/Article_60894.shtml

BOLIVIA

Social tensions erupt http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/45140

CHINA

Will Chinese Workers Challenge Global Capitalism? by Minqi Li Interviewed by Paul Jay http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/2010/li180810.html

INDIA

Not Crushed, Merely Ignored – Tariq Ali on the recent killings in Kashmir http://www.lrb.co.uk/v32/n14/tariq-ali/not-crushed-merely-ignored

MEXICO

Supreme Court Upholds Non-Discrimination Against Gays http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=52509

PAKISTAN

Pakistan flood catastrophe: West gives `billions for killing, little for life’ http://links.org.au/node/1846

Pakistan Flood: From Natural Disaster To Social Catastrophe By Snehal Shingavi http://www.countercurrents.org/shingavi170810.htm

PALESTINE

Fidel Castro Blasts Naming of Colombia’s Uribe to UN Panel http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=363330&CategoryId=14510

150 Irish artists pledge to boycott Israel http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0813/1224276715164.html

Activists charged with blockading Israeli-owned beauty shop acquitted in court http://palestinecampaign.org/index7b.asp?m_id=1&l1_id=4&l2_id=25&Content_ID=1440

The shrinking map of Palestine http://sabbah.biz/mt/archives/2006/05/10/the-shrinking-map-of-palestine/

There already is one state: " Within the current borders controlled by Israel (including pre-1967 Israel, the West Bank, Gaza and the Golan Heights) there is in fact a single state. It has one electrical grid, one water system, one currency, one major highway system, one postal service, and one external border." http://dissidentvoice.org/2010/08/there-already-is-one-state/

Formalizing Israel’s Land Grab By Chris Hedges – Time is running out for Israel. And the Israeli government knows it. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article26169.htm

Second-class citizens: Should Israel be encouraged to enact legislation guaranteeing equal rights for all of its citizens as part of any peace agreement with the Palestinians? http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/08/15/1776256/second-class-citizens.html

What Hamas is really afraid of – Hamas suppression of any Gaza protest that it sees fit shows that the Islamic movement ruling Gaza is in dire need for some public support. By Amira Hass Haaretz http://www.haaretz.com/misc/article-print-page/what-hamas-is-really-afraid-of-1.308264?trailingPath=2.169%2C2.225%2C2.239%2C

USA

In Mott’s Strike, More Than Pay at Stake – Outside the Mott’s apple juice plant in Williamson, N.Y., Mike LeBerth, president of the union local, is picketing against demands for wage and benefit givebacks. WILLIAMSON, N.Y. — After nearly 90 days of picketing in the broiling sun outside the sprawling Mott’s apple juice plant here in upstate New York, Michelle Muoio recognizes that the lengthy strike is about far more than whether the 305 hourly workers at the plant get a fatter or slimmer paycheck. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/18/business/18motts.html

VENEZUELA

Opposition pollster predicts Chvez crushing victory in September 26 National Assembly Elections http://axisoflogic.com/artman/publish/Article_60926.shtml

OLDER ANNOUNCEMENTS

OCTOBER15THSOLIDARITY.INFO NEWSLETTER NO. FIFTEEN – 2ND AUGUST 2010
we send out irregular updates on the campaign to support the people arrested in the state terror raids in Aotearoa (New Zealand) on 15th October 2007. Although charges under the Terrorism Suppression Act were never laid, 18 people are still facing charges under the Arms Act and 5 are charged with being members of an organised criminal group. At the moment, the starting date for the trial is 8th August 2011. DROP THE CHARGES!
UPCOMING EVENTS
1. 7th August – Documentary on Maori Television about October 15 2. 23rd August- a week-long hearing in the Auckland High Court 3. 15th October – three yearssince the raids
2. 23rd August – a week-long hearing in the Auckland High Court A week-longhearing in the Auckland High Court should determine where and when the trialwill take place. The defendants do not have to attend, but the hearing is opento the public.
3. 15th October – three years since the raids Events are planned for the thirdanniversary of the raids. We will keep you up to date with what’s happeningcloser to the time.
RECENT OCTOBER 15th SOLIDARITY MEDIA RELEASES

CAMP FOR CLIMATE ACTION AOTEAROA NATIONAL GATHERING – WELLPARKCOLLEGE OF NATURAL THERAPIES, 6 FRANCIS STREET, AUCKLAND, SEPTEMBER 4 &5
Camp for Climate Action Aotearoa is having a national Gathering in Auckland.The aim of the Gathering is to map out a coherent and collectively formulateddirection for CCAA, and YOU are invited. Get together with your local climatecamp group now as we are creating a bunch of proposals for Climate Camp whichwill be brought to the gathering and collectively addressed. Dont be shy! Allare welcome to attend!

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! EVERY SATURDAY, 1PM, JBHIFI, QUEEN ST,AUCKLAND
Blockade and Boycott- Queen Street JB Hifi- please pass on to your networks.Saturday 1 till 4pm. Support low paid workers fighting for a Living Wage. Week8 of the Queen Street protest, and 5,000 customers have now signed the petitionto boycoptt JB Hifi, until they pay the workers a 50c increase. Big Day ofAction on JB Hifi this Friday and Saturday- invite your friends- appealing foreveryone who can to come down. Bring drums, horns, vuvzelas, pots, pans,klaxons. its gonna be NOISY. Workers at JB Hi-Fi h Jack Lucas.

JUSTICE AND LIBERATION: THE ROAD TO PEACE – FILIPINO PROGRESSIVE LEADERS 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. We are appealing for funds. PSNAwill underwrite the tour, but we definitely need financial help because we arehosting two people. The amount needed is $10,000. The two international faresfrom Europe is the biggest cost, at $6,000. We will keep their domestic traveland accommodation costs as cheap as possible.
Luis Jalandoni and Coni Ledesma’s tour presents a unique opportunity tohear firsthand about a four decades long war, and accompanying peace process,in our own backyard that is almost totally unknown to New Zealanders. Pleasehelp make this exciting tour possible. Please make cheques to PSNA, Box 2450,Christchurch, with a note saying that it is for the Jalandoni tour. Or, we willsupply our bank account details upon request.
ITINERARY
Tuesday October 26 – Christchurch: Public Meeting – 7.30p.m. Knox Presbyterian Church Lounge, 28 Bealey Avenue. Contact: Murray Horton,0274 307742 cafca@chch.planet.org.nz
Wednesday October 27 – Blenheim: Public Meeting, 7.30pm,Nativity Centre Lounge, cnr Alfred and Henry Sts. Contact: Steffan Browning,021 725655 greeny25
Thursday October 28 & Friday 29 – Wellington: PublicMeeting – 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, 42Queen Street. Contact: Fiona Clark (06) 7547014; fionaclark@clear.net.nz
Thursday November 4 – Hamilton: Public Meeting –7.30 p.m., Waikato Trade Union Centre, 34 Harwood Street. Contact: BobAnderson, (07) 8297882, 021 776023; ban@xtra.co.nz
Friday November 5 to Friday November 12: Auckland &Whangarei. Auckland Contact: Dennis Maga (09) 8276059, 022 6073918 dennis.maga@xtra.co.nz. Whangarei:Public Meeting – Friday November 5, 7 p.m., Manaia PHO Rooms, Rust Ave,central Whangarei. Contact: Tim Howard 027 3089216 the-farm@ihug.co.nz

WAIHOPAI SPYBASE PROTEST JANUARY 21-23, 2011
The Waihopai spybase was subjected to unprecedented public attention by theMarch 2010 trial and acquittal of the three Ploughshares peace activists whopenetrated its high security in 2008 and deflated one of the two domesconcealing its satellite dishes from the NZ public. The Anti-Bases Campaign washappy to support this non-violent direct action anti-war activity, from startto finish. The public face of New Zealand’s role as an American ally isthe NZ military presence in Afghanistan. But New Zealand’s mostsignificant contribution to that, and other American wars, including the one inIraq, is the Waihopai electronic intelligence gathering base, located in theWaihopai Valley, near Blenheim. It is controlled by the US, with New Zealand(including Parliament and the Prime Minister) having little or no idea whatgoes on there, let alone any control. Join us for the weekend of anti-warprotest at this spybase. Come prepared for roughing it and camping out. Weprovide the food (we cater for vegetarians but vegans will have to bring theirown). Bring sleeping bag, groundsheet, a tent, torch, water bottle, eatingutensils, clothing for all weather, and $40 (or $20 unwaged) to cover costs. Noopen fires. How to find our camp at Whites Bay: turn off SH1 at Tuamarina (9kmnorth 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 theWhites Bay turnoff. There is a DoC public camp at the bay with basicfacilities. ABC has to pay a fixed charge per head. This will be the firstWaihopai spybase protest since the Domebusters’ acquittal on all chargesarising from their courageous citizens’ deflation action. Waihopai doesnot operate in the interests of New Zealanders or our neighbours. Basically itis a foreign spybase on NZ soil and directly involves us in America’swars.
CLOSE THE WAIHOPAI SPYBASE NOW! Organised by the Anti-Bases Campaign, P.O. Box2258, Christchurch. E-mail cafca@chch.planet.org.nz http://www.converge.org.nz/abc Make allcheques to ABC..

KIA ORA GAZA – KIWI AID TO GAZA
Gaza’s 1.5 million people are imprisoned by the state of Israel in agiant concentration camp. The Israeli military enforces a blockade of essentialsupplies. There is terrible suffering, especially among the children. Thecitizens of Gaza face collective punishment, which is illegal underinternational law. On 31 May 2010, a Gaza aid flotilla was hijacked on the opensea 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 offfrom London by sea and land. We want to see Kiwi volunteers and aid go withthem. Kia Ora Gaza is raising funds to make this possible. Please give yoursupport. Write a cheque for ‘Kia Ora Gaza’ and post to:• KiaOra Gaza, PO Box 59-007, Auckland. Or make a payment directly into our bankaccount:• Kia Ora Gaza, 03-0211-0447718-000, Westpac Bank, Onehungabranch. Encourage your family and friends to make a personal donation. Appealto • organisations you are involved with to make an institutionaldonation. All funds raised by Kia Ora Gaza will be audited by a professionalwho is independent of our bank trustees. Email: grantmorgan@paradise.net.nzWebsite: http://kiaoragaza.net/

BE MORE THAN JUST A TOURIST! JOIN THE SOUTHERN CROSS BRIGADE TOCUBA: DEC 27, 2010 TO JAN 20, 2011
Join the 28th Southern Cross Brigade and support Cuba in the mostdirect manner by working alongside Cubans, visiting unions, schools, hospitals,cultural sites, performances & urban agriculture projects, learning thesalsa, meeting Cubans, fraternising with other international guests and havingfree time in Havana. You will experience at first hand the cultural, politicaland social conditions in socialist Cuba. This year’s program will giveparticipants an opportunity to join in the celebration of ICAPs (Cuba Institutefor Friendship With The Peoples Of The World) 50th anniversary & theongoing success of the Cuban Revolution. Find out more at http://www.cubasolidarity.org.nz;register at wkcultur(03 7324010) or Ina at inashina@clearnet.net.nz ((093031755). Cost: $1100 (after July 31st, $1200) – excluding airfare, taxes andhealth insurance.

THE ROGER AWARD – NOMINATIONS OPEN
Nominations for the 2010 Roger Award are now open. The nomination form withdetails of the criteria and how to make a nomination is available in in Word(54 KB) or PDFformat (164KB). Nominations close on 31 October 2010. Send your nominationsto: The Roger Award, Box 2258, Christchurch, or CAFCA [cafca@chch.planet.org.nz] Fulldetails of the Roger Award, including all the past winners and theJudges’ Reports on them can be read at http://canterbury.cyberplace.co.nz/community/CAFCA/publications/Roger/index.htmlThe judges for 2010 are: Paul Corliss, from Christchurch, anorganiser with the Tertiary Education Union and a life member of the Rail andMaritime Transport Union; Christine Dann, from BanksPeninsula, a writer and researcher; Sue Bradford, fromAuckland, a community activist and former Green MP; JoceJesson, a Senior Lecturer in Critical Studies in Education, Universityof Auckland, and a community activist; and Wayne Hope,Associate Professor, Communications Studies, Auckland University of Technology.They will be given a shortlist of finalists. The winner(s) will be announced atan Auckland event in April 2011.

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.