#359: EYEWITNESS IN GAZA: 6.30PM, THURSDAY, DEC 16, MANGERE EAST

GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND NEWSLETTER No. 359, DECEMBER 13, 2010

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS

EYEWITNESS IN GAZA: 6.30PM, THURSDAY, DEC 16, MANGERE EAST COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTRE, 372 MASSEY RD, MANGERE EAST (BEHIND LIBRARY)
Gaza, often called ‘the world’s largest prison’, contains 1.5 million Palestinians. They are besieged by Israel on all sides except for one land entrance through Egypt, a longtime enforcer of Tel Aviv’s blockade. In October 2010, after a tense 10-day standoff with Cairo, an international aid convoy gained entry to Egypt’s back door into Gaza. Among that siege-busting convoy were volunteers from Kia Ora Gaza. Our Kiwi humanitarians spent three days in Gaza as eyewitnesses to Palestinian bravery in the face of Israel’s inhumane siege. Hear their unique tale of a forbidden land, and discuss future convoys to Gaza.
Meet three Kia Ora Gaza convoyers: Roger Fowler, Hone Fowler, and Pat O’Dea.
Contact Roger Fowler: 021 2999 491 or mangere.east.access@paradise.net.nz
Kia Ora Gaza website: http://kiaoragaza.net/

WAIHOPAI PROTEST PROGRAMME JANUARY 21-23 2011 – THEME: WAIHOPAI IS NZ’S BIGGEST CONTRIBUTION TO US WARS
The war in Afghanistan is now America’s longest since WW2, and there is no end in sight. Hundreds of thousands of troops from the US, NATO and other countries, in-cluding New Zealand, are fighting in, and occupying, that country. Not only does NZ have the Special Air Service and other troops in action there but also operatives of NZ’s intelligence agencies, including the GCSB (which operates Waihopai) have been revealed to have been working with the Americans there. Also, let’s not forget the American war in Iraq. Despite having officially ended its combat role, the US military is still entrenched in that country, one which it invaded eight years ago.
So our theme is once again anti-war. Wikileaks revealed that full intelligence ties between NZ and the US were secretly fully reactivated in August 2009. We will be emphasising the critical role that Waihopai plays in this global killing machine by using our usual props such as coffins, crosses and masks. Waihopai is NZ’s key contribution to all of America’s wars, whether in Afghanistan, Iraq or anywhere else. It is basically a US spybase operating on NZ soil, a vital outpost of the American Empire. ABC will bring a limited number of placards and banners. Please bring your own, relevant to the anti-war theme, linking Waihopai to the US wars on Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.
TRANSPORT
If you want transport from or to the Picton ferry terminal or Blenheim Airport, contact Steffan Browning, in Blenheim. 021 725655; greeny25@xtra.co.nz Give him plenty of notice.
FRIDAY 21
Afternoon. Arrive at campsite; set up camp; general housekeeping and settling in. A light dinner will be provided. 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. Continue on the steep Port Underwood Road which climbs over the hilltop before descending to the Whites Bay turnoff. There is a Department of Conservation public camp at the bay with basic facilities (toilets, cold water showers, but no elec-tricity). ABC has to pay a fixed charge per person.
Be prepared for a weekend of roughing it. We’ve hired a barbecue and will provide the food. We are bringing one reasonable sized tent for people without their own. Please note – we cater for vegetarians, but vegans will have to bring their own food. Bring sleeping bag, groundsheet, air mattress, a tent, torch, water bottle, eating utensils, clothing for all weather, placards and banners. Absolutely no open fires or smoking at the campsite.
Please register in advance. You can pay in advance or once you arrive, but in ad-vance is better so that we know numbers for catering purposes and have the money to pay DOC’s per person per night campsite fee. The registration cost is $40 waged or $20 unwaged. If you haven’t registered, please bring your own food.
There is a 9 p.m. summer curfew at White’s Bay camp (the gate is locked at that time, until 7 a.m. the next morning). After that time, vehicles can’t get into the camp – access on foot only, and you’ll have to carry your gear. There is no organised activity on the Friday night.
SATURDAY 22
Morning. Breakfast; introductions; discussion of the weekend’s programme, etc. 10 a.m. – travel to Blenheim. 11 am – assemble at Seymour Square, Blenheim. We will then march through central Blenheim to The Forum where our speakers will speak from the band rotunda.
The speakers are: Murray Horton (ABC); Keith Locke (Green MP); and John Minto (Global Peace and Justice Auckland). After the speeches we will carry on marching through Blenheim back to Seymour Square. Distribute leaflets en route. Our props – coffins, crosses, masks, etc – will be used on the march and carried by marchers.
12 noon – Lunch is a public sausage sizzle in Seymour Square (we will charge members of the public $1). 1.30 pm – depart Blenheim for Waihopai. 2 pm – peaceful protest at the base. We are not expecting to be allowed onto the base land and up to the inner gate. Ever since the Waihopai Ploughshares activists deflated one dome in 2008, the base has refused access to everyone, including media. So our activities will be at the main road gate. We are not planning to force the issue of access to the base land, nor do we plan any arrestable actions. Our props (see above) will be used at the base rally. 3 pm – Back to camp, dinner. Saturday night is free time.
SUNDAY 23
Morning – breakfast, feedback on weekend, strategise future actions. Break camp, and head for home no later than noon.
ABC can be contacted on ph/fax (03) 3663988 (Murray Horton) until 9 a.m on Friday 21. After that it’s mobiles: 0274 307742 (Murray Horton) and/or 021 02284787 (Bob Leonard) and/or 021 0367548 (Robyn Dann) and/or 0274 797789 (Lynda Boyd).

APPLICATIONS FOR 2011 PEACE SCHOLARSHIPS OPEN ON HUMAN RIGHTS DAY
Applications for White Poppy Peace Scholarships for research during the 2011 academic year opened today, Human Rights Day, on the sixty-second anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). For further information go to: http://www.peacescholar.org.nz

MURRAY HORTON SPEAKING TOUR APRIL 2011
CAFCA is sending Murray Horton on an election year national speaking tour (something he last did in the 2002 election year). The title is New Zealand Not For Sale, providing an overview of foreign control (a hot topic at present, specifically the perennial issue of land sales); free trade deals, specifically the one with the US being negotiated now via the Trans Pacific Partnership; and what people can do about it. The aim is to raise grassroots awareness of these issues and CAFCA’s work in election year. The plan is for it to take place over two to three weeks in April, starting at the Roger Award event in Auckland at the beginning of that month, then heading south, getting home to Christchurch in Easter week.
Thus far, he has confirmed invitations for: Auckland, Whangarei, Hamilton, Thames, Whakatane, Napier, Whanganui, Palmerston North, Wellington, Blenheim, Nelson, Golden Bay and Dunedin. There are one or two other possibilities still being explored. Some venues may have to be done as separate one-off trips; just because they can’t be fitted into that time frame and they involve a long journey to get there (this is what Murray did during his 02 tour). It looks like a busy itinerary, so it may need to be done in more than one bite. If you would like to organise a meeting for Murray in your city or town or be otherwise involved with the tour, please contact CAFCA ASAP, by e-mail to cafca@chch.planet.org.nz The itinerary will be worked out early in 2011 and publicity started shortly thereafter.

WHAT’S ON IN AUCKLAND

Thursday, December 16, 7.30pm, Cityside, 8a Mt Eden Rd, Auckland
Indymedia Auckland Presents an Amnesty International Film Prize Winner; ‘Paradise Now’ – a film by Hany Abu-Assad. “Paradise Now is a shocking, eye-opening attempt at understanding the minds and hearts of suicide bombers.” “ Though Abu-Assad is clearly critical of the suicide bombers, “Paradise Now” is bound to upset some viewers, while pleasing others. At the very least, the film should lead to an open, meaningful, and stimulating dialogue about issues of real politics. “ entry $5 or koha

Saturday, December 18, 12 noon, 533 Mt Eden Rd, Auckland
Don’t Buy Kwila campaign continues. Auckland stores are continuing to sell kwila furniture, despite sustained lobbying about the destructive impact deforestation has in West Papua, where most of the Kwila originates. The NZ Government is also stalling on moves to ban the entry of illegally logged wood, and although Government acknowledges that Kwila is a threatened species it is not taking effective steps to protect Kwila. Therefore we need to take action. Please join us to give a peaceful reminder to “Country Road” furniture store 12 noon Saturday 18 December, 2010. Christmas is definitely not the time to trade in plundered rainforest kwila! For further information: maire@clear.net.nz

QUOTES OF THE WEEK
“Information is the currency of democracy.” – Thomas Jefferson.
“The job of the media is not to protect the powerful from embarrassment”: Simon Jenkins
“Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.” – Benjamin Franklin
“In the long run a harmful truth is better than a useful lie”.- Thomas Mann
“Information has never been so free. Even in authoritarian countries information networks are helping people discover new facts and making governments more accountable.” – Hillary Clinton

BEST ON THE WEB

NEW ZEALAND
Terror raids defendants denied jury trial http://www.indymedia.org.nz/article/79218/terror-raids-defendants-denied-jury-tria
Matt McCarten on Unite and the prospects for a new left party http://links.org.au/node/2028
NZ-based Burmese human rights activist honoured http://scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1012/S00111.htm
Racism in Aotearoa today- Unite on Campus forum video http://socialistaotearoa.blogspot.com/2010/12/racism-in-aotearoa-today-unite-on.html
How to Fight Islamophobia in New Zealand by Mohsen al Attar: The following is the transcript of a speech I gave on 21 october 2010 at a Unite public rally: ‘After Paul Henry- How do we fight racism in New Zealand?’ http://movingthecentre.org/2010/10/25/how-to-fight-islamophobia-in-new-zealand/
Majority don’t want govt telling students what to do http://tinyurl.com/286vos8
New Zealand-based groups to Aquino: Free Morong 43 now http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=636710&publicationSubCategoryId=200
If the reasons are so good, tell us what they are – Banning the public and the media from hearings on a new law increasing the powers and reach of the Security Intelligence Service is a giant leap backwards. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10692598
High Levels of Student Success without National Standards http://tinyurl.com/22jsq5p
Local Body Action on National Standards http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED1012/S00048/local-body-action-on-national-standards.htm
Brian Rudman: Death too high a price to pay for fleeing http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10692751
Agony after crash but ACC says ‘no’ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10692827
At last, a focus on children in the welfare debate http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1012/S00045/at-last-a-focus-on-children-in-the-welfare-debate.htm
Government needs to listen to alternative welfare views http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1012/S00083/government-needs-to-listen-to-alternative-welfare-views.htm
On the fourth day of Christmas, let’s put children at the centre of welfare reform http://www.greens.org.nz/press-releases/fourth-day-christmas-lets-put-children-centre-welfare-reform
Call for 50 per cent rise in benefits http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10693066
Disability rights in Aotearoa New Zealand http://www.hrc.co.nz/hrc_new/hrc/cms/files/documents/08-Dec-2010_13-17-27_DisabilityRightsinNZ2010.pdf
ACC’s ‘flimsy refusals’ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10693080
40-year-old with ankle tear fights against degeneration claim http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10693081
Proposed ACC changes privatisation by ‘stealth’ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10686045
MPs urged to probe ACC’s ‘no’ doctors http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10693279
Concerning trends in NZ Children’s Social Health Monitor Report 2010Concerning trends in NZ Children’s Social Health Monitor Report 2010 http://infonews.co.nz/news.cfm?id=61987
Warning: Income disparities impact on child wellbeing http://infonews.co.nz/news.cfm?id=61986
Recession hitting children’s health http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10694017
Tapu Misa: Answers start with the children http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10693927
Cameras of doubtful use in fighting crime http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10693972

NZ WORK RIGHTS
CTU has major concerns regarding Transpacific Partnership Agreement negotiations http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1012/S00139/ctu-major-concerns-regarding-transpacific-partnership.htm
PSA marks International Day of Persons with Disabilities http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1012/S00039/psa-marks-international-day-of-persons-with-disabilities.htm
Finsec backs unemployed workers’ message to banks http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1012/S00158/finsec-backs-unemployed-workers-message-to-banks.htm
Super shake-up poses many risks http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1012/S00073/super-shake-up-poses-many-risks.htm
Government’s Shameful Record on Pay Inequity http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1012/S00066/governments-shameful-record-on-pay-inequity.htm

PIKE RIVER
Matt McCarten: Eventually someone will be held culpable http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10692080
EPMU Pike River Miners Families Support Trust http://www.epmu.org.nz/news/show/173213
Andrew Little speaks about mining safety – Campbell Live http://www.3news.co.nz/Andrew-Little-speaks-about-mining-safety/tabid/367/articleID/189095/Default.aspx
The Panel discusses Pike River mine disaster with Andrew Little, RNZ http://static.radionz.net.nz/assets/audio_item/0011/2444393/aft-20101206-1610-The_Panel_with_Stephen_Franks_and_Dita_de_Boni_part_1-m048.asx
Pike River: Inspector warned of explosion http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10693563

WIKILEAKS ON NZ
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4449699/WikiLeaks-Kiwi-leaks
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4449695/US-cables-spill-beans-on-NZ-ties
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4449698/US-tried-to-change-nukes-stand-in-2005
http://multimedia.stuff.co.nz/sstimes/cables.pdf
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/news/4449639/Local-media-identities-tracked
NZ govt silent on Wikileaks cables: Among the cables was one which said Key was personally pro-American. http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/greens-slam-wikileaks-revelation-3963509

NZ ECONOMY
Matt McCarten: Foreign corporates set to mine us for profit http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10693673
TV3: Protest in Auckland over Pacific trade deal http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/national/44273.html
Crowd protests at free trade talks http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10692436
TPP protest: See some great photos and links to media coverage www.tppwatch.org
Leaked Paper – NZ U.S. Rift On Intellectual Property In TPPA http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1012/S00046/leaked-paper-nz-us-rift-on-intellectual-property-in-tppa.htm
Bryan Gould: NZ’s faith in free trade is blind http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objec
Maritime Union says TPPA free trade deal should be dropped http://tinyurl.com/2g8f92v
CTU has major concerns regarding Transpacific Partnership Agreement negotiations http://union.org.nz/news/2010/ctu-has-major-concerns-regarding-transpacific-partnership-agreement-negotiations
Cutting budgets won’t necessarily save money http://tinyurl.com/2fk5d6e
New Zealand expected to provide an ‘important profit driver’ for the Aussie banks in 2011 http://www.interest.co.nz/news/new-zealand-expected-provide-important-profit-driver-aussie-banks-2011-first-time-decade
Many lose in high stakes game http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10691920
No guarantees for NZ policies in trade talks http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/no-guarantees-nz-policies-trade-talks-134355
Debate urged on TPP text http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/world/4429297/Debate-urged-on-TPP-text
Deal ‘may plunder Kiwi economy’ http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/4425259/Deal-may-plunder-Kiwi-economy
Victims at mercy of financier http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10693698
Bank gets best Albany City salvage deal http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/4449661/Bank-gets-best-Albany-City-salvage-deal
The push to make welfare work By Simon Collins http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10693596

CULTURAL DISSENT
Films: Made in Dagenham: Lessons for Today from the Golden Age of Factory Unrest?
by Steve Early http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/2010/early091210.html
Music: Wanderings of a Zen Marxist: 30th anniversary of John Lennon’s murder — The US vs John Lennon: On December 8, 1980, John Lennon was murdered in New York. To mark the 30th anniversary of Lennon’s murder Links International Journal of Socialist Renewal makes available the fascinating documentary The US vs John Lennon (above). Below, we reproduce a review by Green Left Weekly’s Phil Shannon about the political and cultural significance of John Lennon and his evolution. http://links.org.au/node/2032
Documentaries: Blood in the Mobile is a documentary recently released in Europe that examines the link between mineral mines in eastern Congo and mobile phone manufacturing.http://tinyurl.com/26ct7k7
Joining the previously reviewed Restrepo and Last Train Home, three documentaries were sent to me by various studios to be considered for a 2010 NYFCO award: “Disturbing the Universe”, a highly ambivalent biography of Bill Kunstler made by his two daughters, “A Film Unfinished”, based on raw footage filmed by the Nazis in the Warsaw Ghetto, and “Waste Land”, a film about how Brazilian artist Vik Muniz’s made portraits of waste pickers at the world’s biggest garbage dump in Rio using the detritus that surrounded them. http://louisproyect.wordpress.com/2010/12/06/three-2010-documentaries/
Stieg Larsson homepage http://www.stieglarsson.com/
Books: Putting humans back into socialism By Federico Fuentes – Review of The Socialist Alternative Michael Lebowitz, Monthly Review Press, 2010 pp 192; US$15.95 http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/46305
Books: Essential guide for green left activists – The Rise of the Green Left: Inside the Worldwide Ecosocialist Movement By Derek Wall Pluto Press, 190 pages, paperback http://links.org.au/node/2035

LAND, LABOUR AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Bolivia: Cancun deal is hollow and false; Its cost will be measured in human lives http://climateandcapitalism.com/?p=3612
As the world’s politicians gather, protesters march against the Cancún climate change summit’s ‘false solutions’ http://withoutyourwalls.wordpress.com/2010/12/09/2381/
Food Security, Farming and Climate Change to 2050 – Scenarios, Results, Policy Options http://www.globalpolicy.org/social-and-economic-policy/world-hunger/general-analysis-on-hunger/49606.html?ItemId=49606
ALBA: Fate of Cancun Climate Summit is At Stake http://boliviarising.blogspot.com/2010/12/alba-fate-of-cancun-climate-summit-is.html
Bolivia Responds to U.S. Manipulation of Climate Talks Revealed by WikiLeaks http://climateandcapitalism.com/?p=3590
Climate inaction will kill 5 million people, mostly children, by 2020 – Report released in Cancun today details a large-scale crisis with some impacts increasing by over 300% globally by 2030. http://climateandcapitalism.com/?p=3568

FEATURES
Strike wave signals a global shift: In September the biggest strike in world history – involving about 100 million workers – was passed over for a Gainesville preacher who had threatened to burn a Koran. http://newunionism.wordpress.com/2010/10/21/strikes/
Wikileaks: A call to struggle against empire http://links.org.au/node/2025
The moral standards of WikiLeaks critics http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/12/01/wikileaks
Car workers worldwide take strike action http://aawl.org.au/content/car-workers-worldwide-take-strike-action
When it comes to Assange rape case, the Swedes are making it up as they go along by Melbourne barrister James D. Catlin, who acted for Julian Assange in London in October. http://tinyurl.com/32lpvan
Robert Fisk: Oceans of blood and profits for the mongers of war http://tinyurl.com/2f34ta4
John Pilger: Why are wars not being reported honestly? http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/dec/10/war-media-propaganda-iraq-lies

WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS
Tax the Rich (Financing for Development) – The wealthiest one per cent today has more than twenty per cent of the global income. One way to balance this inequality is to tax the rich.http://tinyurl.com/248rpgy

AFGHANISTAN
$52bn of American aid and still Afghans are dying of starvation http://tinyurl.com/2uco7a6
Poll paints a bleak picture for the West in Afghanistan http://tinyurl.com/25k7vxa

ARGENTINA
Worker-run Companies Quietly Surviving
http://upsidedownworld.org/main/news-briefs-archives-68/2774-argentina-worker-run-companies-quietly-surviving

AUSTRALIA
Wikileaks: Australians mobilise to defend free speech http://links.org.au/node/2040
VIDEOS OF TALKS GIVEN AT SYDNEY LATIN AMERICA SOLIDARITY CONFERENCE
Panel: Imperialism, war and resistance:
Alina Canaviri Sullcani (Bolivia) http://latinamericasocialforum.blogspot.com/2010/11/bolivia-hoy-1.html
Reinaldo Garcia (Cuba) http://latinamericasocialforum.blogspot.com/2010/11/cuba-hoy-1.html
Santiago Reyes (Honduras) http://latinamericasocialforum.blogspot.com/2010/11/honduras-hoy-1.html
Panel: Workers’ rights and worker control
John Cleary (Australia/Venezuela) http://latinamericasocialforum.blogspot.com/2010/11/blog-post_17.html
Jorge González (Chile) http://latinamericasocialforum.blogspot.com/2010/11/speech-by-secretary-of-forestry-workers.html
Elizabeth Rivera (Australia/Colombia) http://latinamericasocialforum.blogspot.com/2010/11/blog-post_2757.html
Edgar Jimenez (Guatemala) http://latinamericasocialforum.blogspot.com/2010/11/blog-post_18.html
Panel: Popular power and people’s governments
Nelson Davila (Venezuela) http://latinamericasocialforum.blogspot.com/2010/11/blog-post_8860.html
Dr Guillermo Mata Bennett (El Salvador) http://latinamericasocialforum.blogspot.com/2010/11/blog-post_3937.html
Washington Belletti (Uruguay) http://latinamericasocialforum.blogspot.com/2010/11/blog-post_7844.html

BOLIVIA
Bolivia Bets on State-Run Lithium Industry https://nacla.org/node/6799
The Bolivian Road to Socialism: Mike Geddes argues we can learn from the Bolivian experiences of working in and against the state http://boliviarising.blogspot.com/2010/12/bolivian-road-to-socialism.html
Speech by Ambassador Pablo Solon of the Plurinational State of Bolivia in COP16 Plenary http://boliviarising.blogspot.com/2010/12/speech-by-ambassador-pablo-solon-of.html
People & Power – Bolivia’s thirst for change (AlJazeeraEnglish )http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyKVqCSjiNM&feature=player_embedded#!
Evo Morales Promulgates Law That Lowers Retirement Age http://boliviarising.blogspot.com/2010/12/evo-morales-promulgates-law-that-lowers.html

BURMA
Anger for those denied the luxury of sentiment By Tracey Barnett http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10693206

CANADA
Choc v. HudBay – Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Canadian Mining Company: “I believe my husband was killed because he spoke out about the rights violations caused by Canadian mining in Guatemala. I believe he was killed because he was encouraging communities to stay united against the harmful practices of the mining company.” (Angelica Choc). “The bullet that killed Adolfo was shot in Guatemala, but the decisions that ultimately led to Adolfo’s death were made in Canada.” (Murray Klippenstein). http://rightsaction.org/articles/Guate_Choc_vs_HudBay_120310.html

CHINA
Value of a Chinese College Degree: $44? http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2010/11/22/value-of-a-chinese-college-degree-44/#
Strike waves signal workers’ new confidence http://www.permanentrevolution.net/entry/3223

CUBA
A translation of “Economic and Social Policy Guidelines for the Party and the Revolution.” can be downloaded here (PDF)

FRANCE
Workers: Not victorious, but not defeated http://links.org.au/node/2034

HAITI
Cuban medics a big force on Haiti cholera: PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) – They don’t send out press releases, don’t have public information officers and their contacts are not widely publicized by the huge international humanitarian operation helping cholera-hit Haiti. Haiti’s sham election shames US – Washington cannot confer legitimacy on this flawed election that does nothing for Haitians living under tarps, menaced by cholera. http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE6B24G620101203
Haiti’s sham election shames US: Washington cannot confer legitimacy on this flawed election that does nothing for Haitians living under tarps, menaced by cholera. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2010/dec/01/haiti-usa

INDIA
Justice Links Our Struggles Together By Arundhati Roy http://www.zcommunications.org/justice-links-our-struggles-together-by-arundhati-roy

IRAN
span style=”font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;”>New attacks on Iranian sugar union – president, activists sentenced to prison http://cms.iuf.org/?q=node/636

IRAQ
Torture Orders Were Part of U.S. Sectarian War Strategy http://tinyurl.com/293pcbl
The Secret Iraq Files By Al-Jazeera – Al Jazeera has obtained access to almost 400,000 classified American documents. Torture, claims of murder at the checkpoint – revelations that make a mockery of the rules of combat. This special programme reveals the truth about the war in Iraq. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article27047.htm

IRELAND
Shane Ross: Bankers who peddled the poison http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/bankers-who-peddled-the-poison-2448780.html
Totally Feckin frank video on the Irish situation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koY6kXhQDQo&feature=player_embedded#!

KOREA
Yeonpyeong-do: TheTragic Result of Aggressive Military Exercises and Escalating Antagonism North and South http://www.europe-solidaire.org/spip.php?article19350
Hyundai Irregular Workers Factory Occupation Ends after 25 Days http://www.europe-solidaire.org/spip.php?article19410
The Korean War, Part 2 By Mike Whitney – The Obama administration is moving closer to a war with North Korea. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article27029.htm

MEXICO
Calderon’s Drug War Wreaks Havoc on Mexican Workers, Unions http://www.ueinternational.org/MLNA/mlna_articles.php?id=180#1211
US Leaks Hit Mexican Military, “Drug War” http://weeklynewsupdate.blogspot.com/2010/12/wnu-1059-us-leaks-hit-mexican-military.html

PAKISTAN
The War Against Pakistan By Fatima Bhutto http://www.countercurrents.org/bhutto091210.htm

PALESTINE
Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay Recognize Palestinian State in Occupied Territories http://tinyurl.com/2alxtb2

PERU
Mining Firms Alarmed at Election of Leftist Governor in Peru
http://upsidedownworld.org/main/news-briefs-archives-68/2779-mining-firms-alarmed-at-election-of-leftist-governor-in-peru

PHILIPPINES
Aquino orders DOJ to withdraw case vs Morong 43 http://www.gmanews.tv/story/207994/aquino-orders-doj-to-withdraw-case-vs-morong-43

UK
Tariq Ali at SOAS occupation http://liammacuaid.wordpress.com/2010/12/03/tariq-ali-at-soas-occupation/
Twenty-one Oxbridge colleges took no black students last year: Bleak portrait of racial and social exclusion at Oxbridge institutions revealed by Labour MP David Lammy’s FoI request http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/dec/06/oxford-colleges-no-black-students
Cuts will reduce women’s income and widen the gender pay gap, says TUC http://www.tuc.org.uk/equality/tuc-18888-f0.cfm
Why aren’t we supporting the students? Maybe we’ve been psychically kettled http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/dec/04/students-supporting-psychically-kettled

USA
Freezing Out Hope By PAUL KRUGMAN: After the Democratic “shellacking” in the midterm elections, everyone wondered how President Obama would respond. Would he show what he was made of? Would he stand firm for the values he believes in, even in the face of political adversity? http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/03/opinion/03krugman.html
‘Many of the nation’s billionaires are on the warpath’ – Vermont’s leftie senator Bernie Sanders tees off in Congress about income inequality in America. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tq1zpHF0J04
Don Blankenship: The Dark Lord of Coal Country – Blankenship grew up poor in the hollows of West Virginia. But as the richest and most powerful coal baron in Appalachia, he has destroyed the region’s mountains, polluted its waters and overseen the worst mining disaster in 40 years http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/17390/236336#

VENEZUELA
Venezuelan Government Nationalizes Transport and Textile Firms
http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/5771
Venezuelan Workers March for More Participation and More Rights
http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/5777
Tens of Thousands of Venezuelan Students March for New University Law
http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/5807
Chavez Supporters March in Caracas for “Radicalization” of the Revolution and Against “Imperialism and Bureaucratism” http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/5820

VIETNAM
Vietnam: The Last Battle By John Pilger – Vietnam was allowed to join the World Trade Organization and qualify for World Bank loans provided it embraced the “free market,” destroyed its free public services and paid off the bad debts of the defunct Saigon regime: money which had helped bankroll the American war. The reparations agreed by President Richard Nixon in the 1973 Paris Peace Accords were ignored.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article26990.htm

OLDER ANNOUNCEMENTS

JOIN THE MAY DAY 2011 SOLIDARITY BRIGADE TO VENEZUELA! APRIL 25TH – MAY 4TH, 2011
The Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network invites you to observe first-hand the inspiring Bolivarian revolution in Venezuela. The sweeping social changes being carried out by Venezuela’s “people’s power” movements are radically transforming life for the majority in that country – workers, women, Indigenous people, young people and all those who have suffered the injustices of poverty, exploitation and exclusion that accompany corporate globalisation. Along the way, this remarkable revolution is showing the rest of the world that a more rational, socially just and sustainable future is possible.
A special feature of the 2011 May Day brigade will be the opportunity it offers to observe the developing workers’ participation and workers’ control that is a vital part of the Venezuelan revolution, with visits to worker-run factories and cooperatives, and meetings with trade union and community management representatives in a variety of sectors and regions. The brigadistas will also observe Venezuela’s grassroots democracy in action, with visits to the social missions, communal councils and communes. They will meet and speak with grassroots activists in the free, high-quality public health and education services; sustainable development projects; community controlled media; and women’s and Indigenous organisations. Joining the huge May Day rally in Caracas on May 1st will be a another highlight.
This brigade is the 12th solidarity and study tour organised by the AVSN. Participants’ reports and photos from previous brigades are available at http://www.venezuelasolidarity.org
Registration and costs: The deadline for registering for the 2011 May Day solidarity brigade is February 28, 2011. Participants will need to book their own international airfares, but the AVSN can help with advice (please do not book without contacting us to confirm the dates). The AVSN will organise all accommodation, transport and English-Spanish translation for the brigade. People joining from Australia will need to budget for a total cost of $3500-4000, which will cover international return airfares (between $2200-2600 from Australia); all food, transport and accommodation (on a shared basis) during the brigade; and the brigade registration fee ($500 for workers or $300 for full-time students, unemployed and pensioners).
For more information about this or future brigades, please email brigades@venezuelasolidarity.org or phone Lisa Macdonald +61 413 031 108, Roberto Jorquera +61 425 182 994 or John Cleary +61 407 500 839.