#361: FORUM ON BDS CAMPAIGN JAN 10

GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND NEWSLETTER No. 361, JANUARY 7, 2010

GPJA PUBLIC MEETING ON THE BDS CAMPAIGN IN SOLIDARITY WITH PEOPLE OF PALESTINE
Monday January 10th, 7.30pm at Trades Hall, 147 Great North Road, Grey Lynn
Michael Deas is visiting from Europe where he has a key role in the BDS (Boycott Divestment and Sanctions) campaign against Israel. He will speak about the campaign and how New Zealand can link with other countries to make the campaign more successful.
Meanwhile GPJA and the Palestine Human Rights Committee in New Zealand can take credit for the failure of Israeli Tennis Player Shahar Peer to attend this years’ ASB Womens’ Tennis Classic tournament. After saying she intended to come back to NZ (in response to protests the past two years) she failed to appear. See (See media release below)

PEER’S NON-APPEARANCE A WIN FOR BDS CAMPAIGN
The failure of Israeli tennis player Shahar Peer to appear at the ASB tennis classic in Auckland this week is a significant victory for the BDS (Boycott Divestment and Sanctions) campaign against apartheid Israel.
Despite being the subject of protest in 2009 and 2010 Peer was adamant she would to return to Auckland. She told media last year she was keen to come back. We expected her to enter the tournament at the last minute to avoid early publicity and controversy.
However it seems she was unwilling to face further protests in New Zealand which could have led to greater pressure for her expulsion from other tournaments. Following protests in Auckland in 2009 Peer was banned from a Dubai tournament a short time later. Further high-profile protests here would have increased this pressure.
Peer is the highest profile Israeli sportsperson and we take her non-appearance as a good sign for the strengthening of the BDS campaign. She wants to keep her career one step ahead of the boycott but it’s a race she will lose. The international campaign is tightening on Israeli representatives and companies which do business with apartheid Israel.
Global Peace and Justice Auckland is holding a seminar next week with a key organiser of the BDS campaign in Europe. We will be looking at what further action New Zealanders can take to isolate Israel and support the Palestinian struggle.
Background
Arab Israeli’s are discriminated against in all areas of life while the Palestinian population of the Gaza strip and West Bank suffer all the effects of a brutal military occupation.
Israel follows policies towards Palestinians which are remarkably similar to the apartheid policies of the white South African regime. As far back as 1989 South Africa’s Bishop Desmond Tutu said “if you change the names, the description of what is happening in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank would be a description of what is happening in South Africa.”
Shahar Peer supports her government policies and is the poster girl for the Israeli military. The photo below shows her posing for the media on her first day of induction into the army. Military training is compulsory but Peer has been exempted because of her profile as an international tennis player.
She is more valuable to Israel as an international sporting ambassador than manning a checkpoint on the occupied West Bank.
Speaking about her first day in uniform Peer said serving in the army was “better than playing Maria Sharapova” despite the Israeli army being regarded around the world as a force for state-sponsored terrorism against Palestinians. Peer could have joined the ranks of young Israelis who refuse to do military service (the “refuseniks”) and suffer for their courage. Instead she went out of her way to encourage and promote recruitment to the Israeli military.
John Minto
GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS

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).

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.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK
“A successful autocracy rests on the universal failure of individual courage.” — Marilynne Robinson
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” –Margaret Mead

BEST ON THE WEB

NEW ZEALAND
Urewera raids: Lone judge to decide cases http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10698257
Peer’s non-appearance a win for BDS campaign (photo of Shahar beside tank) http://socialistaotearoa.blogspot.com/2011/01/peers-non-appearance-win-for-bds.html
Donna Wynd: Make villains of sole mothers at children’s peril http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10698212
Annette Sykes Bruce Jesson Lecture concerning ‘The Politics of the Brown Table
http://img.scoop.co.nz/media/pdfs/1011/Annette_Sykes_Lecture_2010.pdf
Protest planned for Brisbane bound Peer http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/protests-planned-asb-classic-3979732?ref=rss
NZ: Journalists clash on Media7 over war reporting
http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pacific-media-watch/2010-12-15/nz-journalists-clash-media7-over-war-reporting
Use of Tasers on people with mental illness – A New Zealand database study http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/taijlp10.pdf

NZ WORK RIGHTS
Let the Games Begin- The World’s First Strike of 2011! http://socialistaotearoa.blogspot.com/2010/12/let-games-begin-worlds-first-strike-of.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aj9Xl5IcoPE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0_bsJpHWPI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aj9Xl5IcoPE

NZ ECONOMY

Bernard Hickey: NZ’s Economic Model – Time for a Complete Rethink http://dl.dropbox.com/u/11111592/Hickey%20Wellington%20Nov22.pdf

CULTURAL DISSENT
Books: A Strange Stirring: The Feminine Mystique and American Women at the Dawn of the 1960s by Stephanie Coontz http://www.bookforum.com/review/6950
Films: The war you don’t see – J. Sadie Clifford on John Pilger’s latest documentary. http://www.redpepper.org.uk/review-the-war-you-dont-see/
Immortal Technique- Poverty of Philosophy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5dTE00trRY&feature=player_embedded
Obama Nation by Lowkey http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4OI0GUCI_A&feature=player_embedded#!
An inside look with nothing to say: Helen Redmond reviews a film that has plenty of opportunities to shed some light on the state of health care and the drug industry today–but misses them. http://socialistworker.org/2011/01/06/inside-look-and-nothing-to-say

LAND, LABOUR AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Indigenous insight: Victor Figueroa Clark talks to Hugo Blanco, an ecosocialist and indigenous activist from Peru http://www.redpepper.org.uk/indigenous-insight/
Nuclear power? It’s still no thanks – Nuclear is no green alternative, writes Oscar Reyes http://www.redpepper.org.uk/nuclear-power-it-s-still-no-thanks/
Fred Magdoff: Creating an ecological civilisation http://links.org.au/node/2076

FEATURES
Michael Lebowitz and Marta Harnecker: 21st century socialism — the strategy of the left and the Latin American experience http://links.org.au/node/2072
The not so great Islamist menace http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Gardner+great+Islamist+menace/4058778/story.html
What if the state of the world were measured by its majority? http://links.org.au/node/2078

WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS
Take back our Banks – Taming of the Vampire Squid http://democracyandclassstruggle.blogspot.com/2010/12/take-back-our-banks-taming-of-vampire.html
The next financial crisis is not far off: We were told the world economy was back on track, but festering problems threaten to hit developing countries hard http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2010/dec/29/financial-crisis-developing-economies

BOLIVIA
Morales Repeals Decree Raising Fuel Prices http://boliviarising.blogspot.com/2011/01/morales-repeals-decree-raising-fuel.html

CHINA
Auto Worker Strikes in China: What Did They Win? http://www.europe-solidaire.org/spip.php?article19629
China, Mao and the global neoliberal offensive http://links.org.au/node/2079
CUBA
Reflections of Fidel: The battle against cholera http://www.granma.cu/ingles/reflections-i/29dic-reflections.html
Cuba´s economy must adapt to world dynamics http://lchirino.wordpress.com/2011/01/04/cuba%C2%B4s-economy-must-adapt-to-world-dynamics/
Why does health care in Cuba cost 96% less than in the US? http://links.org.au/node/2082

HAITI
OAS Diplomat’s Words Rattle Haiti’s Occupation Regime http://upsidedownworld.org/main/haiti-archives-51/2836-oas-diploma

KOREA
Martin Hart-Landsberg: What’s happening on the Korean Peninsula? http://links.org.au/node/2080
PACIFIC
MIJT: Pacific journalists face tough struggle tackling corruption http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/articles/mijt-pacific-journalists-face-tough-struggle-tackling-corruption

PALESTINE
Two years after Gaza massacre, a demand for justice – Open letter, various undersigned, 27 December 2010: “We the Palestinians of the besieged Gaza Strip, on this day, two years on from Israel’s genocidal attack on our families, our houses, our roads, our factories and our schools, are saying enough inaction, enough discussion, enough waiting — the time is now to hold Israel to account for its ongoing crimes against us.” http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article11698.shtml
Israel leaves us no choice but to boycott http://tinyurl.com/37w6bxw

TUNISIA
The rebirth of Arab activism: How one young Tunisian is emerging as a symbol of disenfranchised and impoverished Arab youth. http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2010/12/20101231161958792947.html
Another Tunisian protester dies http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2010/12/201012317536678834.html

USA
Geraldine Hoff Doyle Dead: ‘Rosie The Riveter’ Inspiration Dies At 86 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/30/rosie-riveter-dead-geraldine-hoff-doyle_n_802772.html
Rosie the Riveter Has Died http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/30/rosie-the-riveter-has-died/
A widely overlooked provision in last month’s tax cut deal is going to speed even more wealth to America’s Paris Hilton set. Read more . . . http://toomuchonline.org/
The largest slave revolt in U.S. history is commemorated http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/01/the_largest_slave_revolt_in_us.html
The End of New Deal Liberalism by William Greider http://www.thenation.com/article/157511/end-new-deal-liberalism
How Does the Biggest Prison Strike in American History Go Unnoticed? http://theloop21.com/society/how-does-the-biggest-prison-strike-american-history-go-unnoticed

OLDER ANNOUNCEMENTS

STATEMENT OF SOVEREIGNTY

We the undersigned citizens and permanent residents of New Zealand call upon the Government of New Zealand

• to cease negotiations on the Transpacific Partnership agreement; and

• to not sign this agreement; and

• to cease work on any other in-progress or proposed international trade and investment treaties containing clauses which limit or abrogate New Zealand’s sovereign and democratic right to make and enforce laws and regulations and provide services which differ from those of other states or transnational organisations.

The closing date for signatures is 4 July 2011.

To sign the Statement of Sovereignty online, click on http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/new-zealand-not-for-sale.html

For more information about the Trans Pacific Partnership and the New Zealand Not For Sale Campaign, visit our Website (address below).

Murray Horton, Convenor, New Zealand Not For Sale Campaign

Box 2258, Christchurch, New Zealand

nznot4sale@gmail.com

www.nznotforsale.org

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.