GPJA #348: CPAG & Alternative Welfare Working Group

September 19, 2010 Leave a comment

GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND NEWSLETTER No. 348, September 19, 2010

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS

CPAG MESSAGE
The Welfare Working Group was set up by the Government to look at our Welfare System with a particular emphasis on “long term dependency”.  The Group has published a paper titled “Long-term Benefit Dependency: The Issues”.  This document and a summary of the document can be accessed here: WWG Paper.
Submissions on the paper are due this Friday 17 September.  The submission takes the form of a survey with questions which is available at this link: Online Submission.
While we appreciate that the timing is tight, we strongly encourage you to make a submission on this extremely important matter.    We draw your attention to the following resources which you may find helpful in preparing your submission:

  • The Child Poverty Action Group submission available here: CPAG Submission.
  • A background paper has also been prepared  by CPAG on the issues and this can be accessed here : Backgrounder.

A big thank you to everyone who attended the Welfare Forum last Friday 10th September!   The day was extremely informative while also highlighting what a complex task Welfare reform is : clearly not  something that can be achieved in a short timeframe with limited terms of reference as seems to be the presumption behind the Welfare Working Group . The presentations from the Welfare Forum are now available here: Welfare Forum.  This material will also be of assistance for any submissions on the Welfare Working Group and we encourage you to review the information. Check us out on Facebook!

ALTERNATIVE WELFARE WORKING GROUP PUBLIC MEETINGShttp://www.welfarejustice.org.nz/?sid=5
Welfare justice: the alternative welfare working group was set up in July in response to the Government’s welfare working group which is pushing an agenda of manufacturing an artificial crisis to justify potential reforms to our social security system, changes which many of us view as potentially highly damaging. Please join us for public meetings – or please make a submission if we are not able to come to your area: The meetings will be an opportunity for people with an interest in welfare reform to * learn a little more about the work of the alternative welfare working group; * workshop ideas about what you think are the most important principles for our welfare system;* share examples of what is and isn’t working; and to give your thoughts on recommendations for positive change.
SOUTH AUCKLAND, 20 September 10.00am – 1.00pm – ManurewaMarae, 81 Finlayson Ave, Manurewa.
DUNEDIN, 21 September. Alexander Macmillan Room, Community House, Lower Moray Place, Dundedin. Two meetings:  2.00-4.00pm & 5.30-7.30pm
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
HAMILTON 27 September 1.30pm at Anglican Action Conference Room, Te Ara Hou Village, 100 Morrinsville Road, Hamilton.
ROTORUA, 29 September: Bainbridge Centre, Old Taupo Road, Rotorua, 10.00am-1.00pm
Submissions: Information about making a submission to Welfare Justice is at http://alternativewelfareworkinggroup.org.nz/?sid=7 – the deadline is 30 September.

PEACE RESEARCHER ONLINE ISSUE #40, JULY 2010

Reviews by Jeremy Agar

JUSTICE AND LIBERATION: THE ROAD TO PEACE – FILIPINO PROGRESSIVELEADERS TO TOUR NZ OCTOBER/NOVEMBER
Luis Jalandoni is the International Representative of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDF, http://www.ndfp.net), a post that he has held since 1977, and since 1994 he has been the Chairperson of the NDF’s Negotiating Panel for peace talks with the Government of the Philippines. The NDF is the coalition of several underground groups, including the Communist Party of the Philippines and its New People’s Army, which has been waging a war of liberation throughout the Philippines for more than 40 years, making it one of the longest running armed struggles in the world. The country desperately needs peace with justice and security, so resolving this people’s war is central to that. 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. Luis and Coni are both veteran leading figures in the Philippine revolutionary Left. He was a Catholic priest in 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 martial law 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 for and 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 definitely need 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 costs as cheap as possible. Please make cheques to PSNA, Box 2450, Christchurch, with a note saying that it is for the Jalandoni tour. Or, we will supply 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@xtra.co.nz
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., Catholic Diocesan Centre (Te Rau Aroha), 33 Amesbury Street Contact: Dion Martin(06) 3569658 (w), 021 776029 Dion.Martin@ndu.org.nz
Tuesday November 2 & Wednesday 3 – New Plymouth:Public Meeting – 6p.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 – Whangarei: Public Meeting Manaia PHO Rooms, Rust Ave,central Whangarei. Contact: Tim Howard 027 3089216 the-farm@ihug.co.nz
Tuesday 9 November – Auckland: Public Meeting, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn, 7pm
Wednesday 10 November – Auckland: Women’s Forum with Connie Ledesma, Auckland University, Maori Studies 9am – 12pm (RSVP to Maori Studies)
Friday 12 November – Auckland: 7 p.m. Solidarity Dinner for Justice and Peace in the Philippines, Civic Building, Strata 17, Civic Building, Mayoral Drive: Tickets $30 (Dinner, entertainment cash bar) Contact: Luke Coxon (09) 8276059, 028 25803203 luke_coxon@yahoo.com

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

Phil Ochs, “The War is Over”

Silent Soldiers on a silver screen
Framed in fantasies and dragged in dream
Unpaid actors of the mystery
The mad director knows that freedom will not make you free
And what’s this got to do with me

I declare the war is over
It’s over, it’s over

Drums are drizzling on a grain of sand
Fading rhythms of a fading land
Prove your courage in the proud parade
Trust your leaders where mistakes are almost never made
And they’re afraid that I’m afraid

I’m afraid the war is over
It’s over, it’s over

Angry artists painting angry signs
Use their vision just to blind the blind
Poisoned players of a grizzly game
One is guilty and the other gets the point to blame
Pardon me if I refrain

I declare the war is over
It’s over, it’s over

“True compassion, is more than flinging a coin to a beggar; it comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

WHAT’S ON IN AUCKLAND

Sunday, September 19, 7-9pm, BigUps, 30 Frost Rd, Mt Roskill
CITY VISIOIN: COME AND HAVE A BALL WITH THE FAMILY AT BIG UPS, MT ROSKILL – This is our last fundraiser and it will be a great family occasion!  Great safe fun for adults and kids.  BigUps is a wonderful fun place for adults and kids (over 5 years).  So bring your kids and grandkids and join in the fun with them. Check out the website : http://www.bigups.co.nz/2010/05/31/bigups-auckland-now-open/ This is the new business of Mike Treen’s partner Heidi and she wants to promote it and City Vision wants your money. It is being opened especially for us!  Big Ups will get $5 for every body through the door and City Vision gets the rest. If you are bringing your family, we are happy if you make a donation. Please please please let me know by return that you would like to come! This is the first time our entire family has wanted to come to a City Vision fundraiser!  So that will be two adults and three kids (and I think the kids are each bringing someone!) It would be great if we could get 50 for our last fundraising hoorah! If you  join us and I promise never to hassle you for money (again until the next election …).xxx Cathy Casey cmcasey@xtra.co.nz

Monday, September 20, 12 noon, Quad, Student Union, Auckland University
“Students Issues in Politics”: Hosted by Wallace Chapman with MPs Jacinda Ardern (Labour), Gareth Hughes (Greens), and Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga (National).Issues that matter to you as students and as young people in New Zealand. Come along and see what they’re doing and what more can be done. There will be time for questions from the floor.

Monday, September 20, 7pm, Library Basement B15, University of Auckland, Alfred Street
I AM TAMIL – Presentation and Panel Discussion. Speakers: Hon. Keith Locke – Green Party MP; Dr. Martin Hirst – Expert on Media Freedom and Terrorism; Dr.Nagalingam Rasalingam, Inaugural and President of the Refugee Council of New Zealand.

Tuesday, September 21, 5pm, Cap and Gown Lounge, Princes St, Auckland University Princes St Auckland
Kia Ora Gaza presents: Information Evening – This is an opportunity for students and the wider public to come and learn about NZ’s only volunteer group taking part in the largest aid convoy since World War 2. The evening will give people the chance to gain unique and thoughtful insights into the Palestinian-Israel conflict from several guest speakers (TBA).
IMPORTANT: Kia ora Gaza will be holding an open forum for the public to come and pose questions to the volunteers via Live feed as they make their way across Europe to the Gaza strip. This is a once in a-life-time chance to get a personal insight into one of the largest humanitarian aid acts of the modern age as it happens. If you have any questions please email Martin Grahamoskhvi at mgwildswan@gmail.com Please tell your friends and family to come along too. All welcome. We want spread the word about Kia Ora Gaza and their mission to as much of the public as possible.

Friday, September 24, 5.30pm, Engineering 1439 Lecture Theatre, Auckland University
Politics Week Debate – Overseas Aid: As part of Politics Week at Auckland Uni, the World Vision club is hosting a debate on the moot ‘New Zealand should provide more overseas aid to alleviate poverty’. This is a highly topical and sometimes emotional issue, and we’re sure that there’ll be plenty of clash about the big ideas of aid and development. We have a great lineup of speakers confirmed so far including Phil Twyford (Labour MP) and Mohsen al Attar from our very own Law School. It should be a highly interesting and entertaining debate, so we look forward to seeing you there! Doors open 5.15, debate starts at 5.30. There will be a question and answer session at the conclusion of the debate.

Friday, September 24, 3pm, AUT Business School Building WF711, 42 Wakefield St
The Employment Relations Act: A decade in review. A decade ago on 2 October 2000 the Employment Relations Act came in to force. The Act rejected labour market efficiency as the sole criteria for regulating workplace relations and looked to good faith, collective bargaining and mediation to redress power imbalances in the workplace and to foster productive employment relationships. To mark ten years of the Act’s operation, the Employment Law Forum has asked a range of speakers to comment on their experiences of the statute. Speakers: • Charles Chauvel, MP; •Robin Arthur, Member, Employment Relations Authority; •Peter Cranney, Partner, Oakley Moran; Commentary by Simon Mitchell, Barrister. Please join us for drinks and refreshments after the presentations. There is no charge for this event but please RSVP to nzwalmi@aut.ac.nz by 20 Sept for catering purposes. Sponsored by the New Zealand Work and Labour Market Institute and with the support of the Auckland Labour History group.


Friday, September 24,  7pm, Room LibB15 (Library Basement), Auckland University
SJP Mini Film-Festival – Students for Justice in Palestine hope to create solidarity amongst all struggles against imperialism. A Mini Film-Festival will take place in order to expose some untold and forgotten stories as well as to uncover the similarities between Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan, countries who are all suffering imperial wars and occupations. Come along and join us for a fun three nights of film screenings, and then followed by some enlightening and interesting discussion and debate.
Friday 24th September at 7pm – 9pm in LibB15 – The Iron Wall (Palestine)
Friday 01st October at 6.30pm – 8.30pm in LibB15 – Control Room (Iraq)
Friday 08th October at 6.30pm – 8.30pm in LibB15 – Taxi to the dark side (Afghanistan)
Koha/Gold coin donation at the door. Everybody Welcome. We hope to see you all there!

September 29-30, Telstra Clear Pacific Events Centre, Manukau City
JUST ACTION CONFERENCE: Just Action is for all those with a heart for The Salvation Army’s mission to fight suffering in all its forms, to speak out and act against injustice, and to be a force for justice, faith and mercy in the world. Here’s some information to bring you up-to-date on plans for next year’s Just Action Conference, ‘The Power to Change’, which is being held as part of Mission 2010, a combined congress of The Salvation Army New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory. Full Conference details and registration information will be available next year. For more information, contact Major Ian Kilgour, The Salvation Army Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit. p: (09) 261 0883 or e: ian_kilgour@nzf.salvationarmy.org Plan to join us and explore how the Gospel can bring international, national, community and neighbourhood change. Plan to join us and explore how the Gospel can 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 of Sojourners, where he is editor-in-chief of Sojourners magazine. Dave Andrews, Coordinator for training with the Community Initiatives Resource Association, and educator-atlarge for TEAR Australia. Dave, his wife Ange, and their family, have lived and worked in intentional communities with marginalised groups of people in Australia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Nepal for more than 30 years.

Friday, October 1, 6.30pm, Room LibB15 (Library Basement), Auckland University
SJP Mini Film-Festival – Students for Justice in Palestine hope to create solidarity amongst all struggles against imperialism. A Mini Film-Festival will take place in order to expose some untold and forgotten stories as well as to uncover the similarities between Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan, countries who are all suffering imperial wars and occupations. Come along and join us for a fun three nights of film screenings, and then followed by some enlightening and interesting discussion and debate.
Friday 01st October at 6.30pm – 8.30pm in LibB15 – Control Room (Iraq)
Friday 08th October at 6.30pm – 8.30pm in LibB15 – Taxi to the dark side (Afghanistan)
Koha/Gold coin donation at the door. Everybody Welcome. We hope to see you all there!

Friday, October 8, 6.30pm, Room LibB15 (Library Basement), Auckland University
SJP Mini Film-Festival – Students for Justice in Palestine hope to create solidarity amongst all struggles against imperialism. A Mini Film-Festival will take place in order to expose some untold and forgotten stories as well as to uncover the similarities between Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan, countries who are all suffering imperial wars and occupations. Come along and join us for a fun three nights of film screenings, and then followed by some enlightening and interesting discussion and debate.
Friday 08th October at 6.30pm – 8.30pm in LibB15 – Taxi to the dark side (Afghanistan)
Koha/Gold coin donation at the door. Everybody Welcome. We hope to see you all there!

Wednesday, October 27, 6.30pm, Maidment Theatre, University of Auckland
2010 Bruce Jesson Lecture Annette Sykes Ngäti Pikiao Lawyer and Activist. “The Politics of the Brown Table”. A self-annointed Iwi Leaders Group, a Maori Party that supports a National/ACT government, and a group of Crown mandated intermediaries drawn from retired politicians and bureaucrats, are today’s agents for the manufacturing of consent and the management of discontent amongst Maori. The commercial deals on Treelords, the Emissions Trading Scheme, geothermal resources, national parks, private prisons, mining, whanau ora are all harnessing Moari to a global capitalism that impoverishes the mass of working class Maori and making them dependent on its survival. Most whanau and hapu are excluded from decision-making and denied the rights over their resources just as they always have been. Bruce Jesson foresaw these trends back in the 1980s. This lecture challenges this agenda and identifies the basic principles for a politics that genuinely empowers the people. Professor Margaret Mutu, chairperson of Te Runanga-a-Iwi o Ngäti Kahu, will be the discussant on the lecture.

Saturday, October 30, QEII Square 10.30am. March to Albert Park by 12.00 Noon
NZEI Auckland Area Council invites members of all Auckland unions to our Rally and March Saturday 30th October. This is to celebrating the successes of our world class education system. A family fun day with a strong message.

Thursday, November 4, 9am-5pm, Conference Room 1 – Copthorne Hotel Auckland City 196 – 200 Quay Street
Globalisation and Labour in the Pacific: Re-evaluating the 1890 Maritime Strike. 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 historical impact, 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

November 9, 7pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn
NZ Speaking Tour By Filipino Progressive Leaders. WHY SHOULD NEW ZEALANDERS BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROSPECTS OF PEACE TALKS AND WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE PHILIPPINES? Two senior international representatives of the NDFP (National Democratic Front of the Philippines)  Mr Luis Jalandoni and Ms Coni Ledesma will be in Aotearoa this November hosted by local Solidarity organisations to speak under the theme “Justice and Liberation: The Road to Peace in the Philippines.” Auckland Philippines Solidarity (APS) will hold public meetings to draw the attention of New Zealanders to one of Asia’s most vibrant people’s movements. The speaking tour will be an opportunity for New Zealanders to critically view the ties that bind the Philippines and NZ.

Wednesday, November 10, 9am-12pm, Maori Strudies, Auckland University
Women’s Forum with Connie Ledesma (RSVP to Maori Studies)

Friday, November 12, 7pm, Civic Building, Strata 17, Civic Building, Mayoral Drive
Solidarity Dinner for Justice and Peace in the Philippines: Tickets $30 (Dinner, entertainment cash bar). Contact: Luke Coxon (09) 8276059, 028 25803203 luke_coxon@yahoo.com

Sunday, November 21, 9.30am – 4pm, AUT Wellesley Street Conference Centre
Refugee Stories Symposium: This Symposium will consist of a day of testimonies about various aspects of the refugee experience, presented by former refugees who are now resident in New Zealand. REGISTRATION: Early bird Registration (by 1 October 2010) $75.00. Standard registration (after 1 October) $90.00. How to register and further information at www.aut.ac.nz/cre The day will also include a keynote speaker and cultural items. For all enquiries contact AUT Centre for Refugee Education Ph administration 921 9367 | refugeecentre@aut.ac.nz

BEST ON THE WEB

NEW ZEALAND
What Gives? As a farewell present, the Citizens & Ratepayers bloc on a city committee gave Balmoral budget advisors: $0.00. Then they gave a hand-up to the well-heeled chaps at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Westhaven marina:$16,100.00 http://www.theaucklander.co.nz/local/news/what-gives/3922559/#print
When it doesn’t pay to care http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10674264
TV coverage of our Kiwi Team’s departure on Tuesday from TVNZ’s Te Karare Maori news programme.
http://www.turkcemp4.com/qW1qVg9KtIw/Kia-Ora-Gaza-group-to-deliver-aid-to-the-needy-of-Gaza.izle
Afghanistan – alarm bells should be ringing by David Beatson – If the Afghanistan alarm bells were not ringing in Wellington over the last weekend – they should have been http://pundit.co.nz/content/afghanistan-%E2%80%93-alarm-bells-should-be-ringing
The law of necessity by Andrew Geddis – To fix up the aftermath of Canterbury’s earthquake, Parliament is going to give the Government almost complete control over our laws. That’s maybe not such a good idea. http://pundit.co.nz/content/the-law-of-necessity
On the draconian Christchurch Earthquake legislation http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2010/09/15/gordon-campbell-the-christchurch-earthquake-law/
Welfare report aftermath – we won’t be fooled again by Sue Bradford http://pundit.co.nz/content/welfare-report-aftermath-%E2%80%93-we-wont-be-fooled-again
No Interest in Clayton’s Consultation on Standards http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED1009/S00075/no-interest-in-claytons-consultation-on-standards.htm
Tariana Turia: New bill reopens door to possibility of justice http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10673660
Minto: Three hapless hypocrites http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/blogs/frontline/4134687/Three-hapless-hypocrites
Minto: Key teaches class-quake lessons http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/blogs/frontline/4107284/Key-teaches-class-quake-lessons
McCarten: Labour should be in for the kill as Act strikes out http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10674428
Harawira on life, love & racism http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/4143742/Harawira-on-life-love-racism

NZ WORK RIGHTS
Union “names and shames” over staff quake treatment http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/7959062/union-names-and-shames-over-staff-quake-treatment/
Junior doctors threaten to strike over pay http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4143120/Junior-doctors-threaten-to-strike-over-pay
Fairness at work – a sick joke? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAPhI__xb2U
Thousands of teachers demand better pay http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10673638
NZ teachers paid less than Aussies http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10672246
Teachers: More strikes unless Govt talks to us http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10673781
PPTA response to Ministry’s ‘accuracy’ claims – New Zealanders are getting inaccurate, misleading messages about this year’s secondary teachers bargaining, the Ministry of Education said today. http://scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1009/S00178.htm
Opinion: In tough times, priming knowledge pump reaps returns http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10673937
Opposition to Government’s “Sick Joke” http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1009/S00220/opposition-to-governments-sick-joke.htm
Suffrage Day: Kate Sheppard would not be impressed – The Government is pushing through changes to employment law that will set back women’s equality in the workforce, says the Women’s Council of the CTU.
http://scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1009/S00218.htm
Video Report of the 90 day Rally in Auckland http://indymedia.org.nz/article/78943/video-report-90-day-rally-auckland

NZ ECONOMY
Don’t expect surge in home prices http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10673669
Bernard Hickey: Good can hurt http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10674409
The average land price per hectare for all types of farm sales has tumbled by two thirds in just a year, and the number of farms sold in August was the second lowest since Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) records began in 2003. http://www.interest.co.nz/news/just-48-farms-sold-august-making-it-second-weakest-month-reinz-records-began

CULTURAL DISSENT
Dame Helen Mirren changes gender of Prospero in The Tempest http://axisoflogic.com/artman/publish/Article_61131.shtml
The machine that killed Hendrix http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/45351
Science, Justice, Science Fiction: An Interview with Kim Stanley Robinson, author of the masterwork Mars Trilogy and the recent Science in the Capital trilogy dealing with climate change. http://tinyurl.com/27jxwa8
World Books Review: A Masterpiece From Israel http://www.theworld.org/2010/09/16/world-books-review-a-masterpiece-from-israel/

LAND, LABOUR AND THE ENVIRONMENT
“Globalisation – Use It or Lose It?” – An exchange between Helena Norberg-Hodge & George Monbiot http://www.countercurrents.org/hodge150910.htm
Video: Hugo Blanco urges Greens: End capitalism before it ends us http://links.org.au/node/1897
Burger King to stop buying oil from Indonesian company http://tinyurl.com/24h5rfo

FEATURES
Naomi Klein: How We Can Build a Movement So Radical, So Militant, So Powerful That It Becomes Irresistible http://tinyurl.com/25wya39
Asbestos – New Zealander workers get far less compensation for workplace exposure to asbestos than our brothers and sisters in Australia. Such an unfair result… Here is a link to an excellent International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) article on asbestos: DYING INDUSTRY Asbestos kills at least 300 people every day. It’s time the industry was killed off, say unions and campaigners. http://www.hazards.org/greenjobs/blog/2010/09/14/ilo-sounds-the-%e2%80%98death-knoll-for-asbestos%e2%80%99/
“A long-drawn-out disaster” Bombshell from London By Eric S. Margolis – The report, presided over by the former deputy director of Britain’s foreign intelligence agency, MI-6, says the threat from al-Qaeda and Taliban has been “exaggerated” by the western powers. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article26362.htm
Noam Chomsky: “President Obama is Involved in War Crimes Right Now”
The New Statesman Interviews: Noam Chomsky – It’s imperial doctrine. Stability is when the UK and US invade a country and impose the regime of their choice. But if Iran tries to interfere, that’s destabilising.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article26371.htm
Indigenous resistance, from Colombia to Palestine   http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article11522.shtml
“Net Neutrality” Is Vital to Free Speech in the Internet Age http://tinyurl.com/3ysmj9c
John Pilger: C’mon, time to rebrand your life! – Sport today seems obsessed with image, repackaging, pursuing profit. What ever happened to the sportsmanly spirit of Bobby Moore and the England 1966 World Cup squad? http://www.newstatesman.com/sport/2010/09/bobby-moore-pilger-world

WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS
Our Economy Can’t Be Fixed Until We Confront the Ideology of Greed Infecting Both Major Parties http://tinyurl.com/27acuyw
How Does the World Bank Function? by Éric Toussaint and Damien Millet http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/2010/tm130910.html
Banks’ Monopoly Capital and Basel 3 by Joseph Halevi http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/2010/halevi180910.html
WHEN JAPAN COLLAPSES http://theburningplatform.com/blog/2010/09/15/when-japan-collapses/

AFGHANISTAN
Elections are a fraud http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/45378

AUSTRALIA
S11 10 years on — World Economic Forum blockade http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/45383
Western Sahara: BHP urged to dump phosphate trade http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/45380
Good news from East Timor http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/45334
Defence fights to keep 1975 secrets http://www.smh.com.au/national/defence-fights-to-keep-1975-secrets-20100912-156zw.html
Deaths in custody: the shameful statistics http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/45348
Sydney Muslim lawyer victim of police brutality http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/muslim-lawyer-alleges-police-brutality-20100917-15gc2.html?autostart=1

CAMBODIA
Cambodian garment workers injured in police clash: unions http://chiatkh.blogspot.com/2010/09/cambodian-garment-workers-injured-in.html

CHILE
Chile’s Ghosts: The Tyranny of Forgetting http://www.towardfreedom.com/home/americas/2102-chiles-ghosts-the-tyranny-of-forgetting
The Black Pimpernel Movie Trailer http://www.azmovies.net/the-black-pimpernel.html

CHINA
The strike that ignited China’s summer of worker protests http://www.clb.org.hk/en/node/100875

CUBA
Fidel Castro on Roma deportations: The Infinite Hypocrisy of the West http://www.periodico26.cu/english/reflections/jul-dec2010/hypocrisy091310.html
Cuba: Exporting revolution, revolutionary models and historical facts http://links.org.au/node/1892
Julia Sweig Shares Her Conversation With Castro http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129858475
THE CUBAN ECONOMY: A Current Evaluation and Proposals for Necessary Policy Changes by Prof. Omar Everleny Pérez Villanueva http://www.ide.go.jp/English/Publish/Download/Dp/pdf/217.pdf

FRANCE
France Flouts EU Law with Mass Deportations of Roma Gypsies http://tinyurl.com/29o5tm3

HAITI
Rising Haiti hospital a symbol of future http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/09/12/1818533/rising-haiti-hospital-a-symbol.html
Haiti’s Disaster Capitalists Swoop In: Refugee evictions, private land grabs, disaster capitalism-you can’t tell the story of Haiti without all this. Eight months after the earthquake, many of the 1.7 million Haitians living under tattered tarps in squalid squatter camps around Port-au-Prince are being forced to abandon the tent cities they’ve set up on privately owned land. http://motherjones.com/politics/2010/09/haiti-refugee-work-camps

INDIA
What Are Kashmir’s Stone Pelters Saying To Us? By Sanjay Kak http://www.countercurrents.org/Kashmir’s_stone_pelters.pdf

IRAQ
Iraqi-U.S. Raid Near Falluja Leaves 7 Dead http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/16/world/middleeast/16iraq.html?src=mv

MEXICO
Mexico’s Crisis in Context http://www.europe-solidaire.org/spip.php?article18523
Mexican Women — Then and Now http://www.europe-solidaire.org/spip.php?article18522
Mexican Revolution: Genealogies of the Uprisings — an interview http://www.europe-solidaire.org/spip.php?article18521
Migrants’ massacre result of bad policy http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/45367

PAKISTAN
Another Disaster for Pakistan as More Loans Announced http://www.jubileeusa.org/press/press-item/article/another-disaster-for-pakistan-as-more-loans-announced.html

PALESTINE
New report focuses on Settler harassment of Palestinians in Jerusalem http://tinyurl.com/327kto9
BBC Pro Israeli Bias?  Panorama Programme Exposed – Video: A very important documentry put together by Pete Charles http://www.gilad.co.uk/writings/bbc-bias-panorama-programme-exposed.html
Against the Stream – For decades Gideon Levy has used the platform provided by the liberal Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz to shine a light on the brutal realities of Israel’s occupation. His journalism, along with that of his colleague Amira Hass, has been an invaluable resource not only for Israeli readers but, through the Ha’aretz website, for international audiences seeking an informed and humane Israeli perspective on the conflict. http://tinyurl.com/3ad6aos
Homes For 27,000 Constructed During Israeli Settlements Freeze By Nasouh Nazzal – Gulf News
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article26374.htm
The war against Gaza continues http://www.maxajl.com/?p=4149#more-4149
Remembering Sabra And Shatila By Sonja Karkar – It happened twenty-eight years ago – 16 September 1982. A massacre so awful that people who know about it cannot forget it http://www.countercurrents.org/karkar160910.htm

RUSSIA
A Burning Wake-Up Call By Boris Kagarlitsky http://www.zcommunications.org/a-burning-wake-up-call-by-boris-kagarlitsky
A Call for International Days of Action in Support of Alexei Gaskarov and Maxim Solopov http://khimkibattle.org/?page_id=318&lang=en

THAILAND
Thailand: September 19 coup, four years on… bloodbath at Ratchaprasong, four months later http://links.org.au/node/1899
Thousands demand release of political prisoners (+ photo essay) http://links.org.au/node/1898

UK
TUC supports push for 1m green jobs http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/95325
TUC: Seven Million Back Biggest British Boycott of Israeli goods from occupied territories http://www.uruknet.de/?s1=1&p=69837&s2=17
Anti-fascist Martin Smith speaks outside his court case http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5JUrs9-f8Q

USA
How Corporations Own Congress By Shamus Cooke http://www.countercurrents.org/cooke150910.htm
US Soldier Committed Suicide Rather Than Take Part in Torture By Greg Mitchell – Alyssa Peterson was one of the first female soldiers who died in Iraq.   Her death under these circumstances should have drawn wide attention.   It’s not exactly the Tillman case, but a cover-up, naturally, followed.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article26360.htm
Divestment: From The Campus To The Streets By Mohammad Talaat http://www.countercurrents.org/talaat140910.htm
Poll: Vast majority opposes attack on Iran; Two-thirds want US to be neutral in Israeli-Palestinian conflict; Americans increasingly accept torture, survey finds http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/09/poll-vast-majority-opposes-attack-iran/
Poverty Is Through the Roof, and Billionaires Are Getting Pissy About Not Enough Profits http://tinyurl.com/253led4
Victory for the Carwasheros — Their Bosses Weren’t Just Greedy, They Were Criminals http://tinyurl.com/24xvuut

VENEZUELA
Venezuelan Private Gas Company Workers Demand Nationalization http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/5622

OLDER ANNOUNCEMENTS

DECEMBER 13-21, 2010. 17TH WORLD FESTIVAL OF YOUTH AND STUDENTS, IN SOUTH AFRICA. AN INVITATION FOR YOUTH AND STUDENTS IN NEW ZEALAND AND THE PACIFIC
Join thousands of youth and students from around the world discussing and debating the future of humanity under the banner, “Let’s defeat imperialism, for a world of peace, solidarity and social transformation.” The festivals began in 1947 as young people reacted to the brutalities of world war and have continued through the decades since, addressing the political challenges for youth and students. A week of activities will include conferences, seminars, workshops, sporting and cultural events. Each day is dedicated 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 call describing the political focus for this year’s festival can be found at the festival website, along with a programme of activities. http://www.wfdy.org/17wfys/ Your organisation may be interested in sending a representative to the festival or would 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 will need to cover their own travel costs and pay a one off registration fee for the festival which will cover accommodation, transport and food while in South Africa. For more information contact Annalucia Vermunt, Tel: 09-525-7407. Communist League & Young Socialists E-mail: ysnz@xtra.co.nz or P.O. Box 3025, Auckland, New Zealand.WELCOME TO THE MEDIA, INVESTIGATIVE

JOURNALISM & TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE 2010
Practitioners, journalists, academics, researchers and students who work in the creative 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 University in Auckland, Aotearoa/New Zealand, on December 4 & 5, 2010. This international conference is dedicated to exploring investigative journalism and documentary techniques, methodologies and technologies of critical value to public interest issues and to identify and support journalists, photographers and film makers facing pressures and obstacles.

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