GPJA#373: May Day March for Social Justice – Assemble Britomart, 2pm, Sunday, May 1

GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND NEWSLETTER No. 373, April 21, 2010

WHAT’S ON

Friday, April 22, 7pm, Socialist Centre, 86 Princes St, Onehunga, Auckland
“Terminal 5 – how Arab revolutions and unnatural disasters fit with the five terminal crises of global capitalism”. Feudalism, slavery and every previous civilisation in world history had seemed all-powerful to its citizens until it a cluster of fatal crises sent the system plunging into a death spiral – and the painful birth of another type of civilisation. So it will be with global capitalism. Today the world system we live under faces certain doom from the uncontrollable intensification and interaction of five terminal crises: • profitability • ecology • resources • imperialism • legitimacy. The future of humanity is at stake. People wishing to influence the future must be able to read the signs in order to design realistic strategies for human survival and social solidarity. GRANT MORGAN is a longtime ecosocialist in New Zealand and editor of Arab solidarity website kiaoragaza.net. He has been investigating how the five terminal crises of world capitalism link into the wonderful wave of Arab democratic revolutions and the terrible tsunami of unnatural disasters (such as earthquakes triggered by climate change). Grant will be speaking on these era-altering issues later this month in Auckland. After his talk there will be open floor discussion. You and your family and friends are invited to attend. Here are the meeting details:

Saturday, April 23, 11am-1pm, Brittomart, Downtown, Auckland
BDS action this Saturday – say NO to Israeli apartheid and occupation:

Saturday, April 23, 4pm, Socialist Centre, 86 Princes St, Onehunga, Auckland
Left unity in Aotearoa – it’s necessary, and it should be possible. And it’s the title of an open forum at Socialist Worker’s upcoming national conference. We’re inviting all leftists who would like to discuss prospects and strategies for achieving greater left unity in this country, both now and in the future. There’s lots of common ground between outward looking leftists in New Zealand. And there’s growing awareness that the goal of challenging the neo-liberal status quo requires the left to work more closely together. As the crisis points of global capitalism continue to impact on the material and political situation in New Zealand, then so will there be challenges and opportunities for the left. We need to be prepared with realistic strategies and an organisational capacity which will enable us to connect with masses of grassroots people. We hope you can make it to this meeting. Please bring your ideas on how we can achieve greater left unity in Aotearoa. Everyone will have an opportunity to speak. Please forward this email to your own networks and post on websites and Facebook. socialist-worker Ph/txt: 021 0415 082 www.unityblognz.com

Wednesday, April 27, 1pm, Auckland Uni Quad, Auckland University
TEU STUDENT FORUM RALLY: Free stuff, free BBQ and so on for all. Come along to support the lecturers in their fight to keep working conditions in their collective agreement, which are under attack from University Management.

Friday, April 29, 12.30pm, lawn behind Clocktower and outside Old Government House, Auckland University
TEU RALLY: Come along to support the lecturers in their fight to keep working conditions in their collective agreement, which are under attack from University Management. Five years from now, it’s possible that all the best lecturers at the University of Auckland will be GONE. The Vice Chancellor and University Management are attempting to remove important conditions from lecturer’s contracts which include study leave, research leave, and disciplinary procedures. They’re also trying to remove learning quality guarantees. Students will lose out THE DAY THESE CHANGES ARE ENACTED, not just five years down the track. The Tertiary Education Union, which represents many of our lecturers, is fighting for these conditions. They have even rejected a 4% pay rise offered by the University management if they can keep their existing conditions, yet the VC has consistently refused to negotiate.

APRIL 28: WORKERS MEMORIAL DAY COMMEMORATION BLACKBALL
Comrades, We have confirmed to-day that we will hold a Workers Memorial Day (Thursday April 28th) commemoration service this year in Blackball on the West Coast. Obviously it gives us the opportunity to honour the Pike River Miners on this International Workers Day. The service of approx 30/45 minutes will be held at the Blackball Working Class Museum at 1.45pm. In the Working Men’s Club if wet. Speakers will likely include representatives from the EPMU. NZCTU, NDU and the ICEM . Local dignitaries and Representatives of the families will be invited to attend and to speak if they wish. The local CTU may also pay tribute to the Pike River Miners in song. The purpose of this email is the get the service in your diaries and ensure that our members and the speakers etc have time time to organise attendance etc. Please distribute this to your contacts who may be interested in attending. Regards, Ged O’Connell, Assistant National Secretary, NZEPMU, 03-3530286, 0275328152

Saturday 30 April and Sunday 1 May, St Columba Centre, Vermont Street, Ponsonby
QPEC (Quality Public Education Coalition) National Conference – For everyone interested in fighting the National Party’s attacks on public education this will be an important event. It brings together the key players in education in election year. Everyone welcome. The agenda for the two days is:
Saturday 30 April
9 am – Morning tea is available on arrival.
10 am – Welcome and introduction. Liz Gordon, QPEC Chairperson
10.15-12.15 – Forum on education issues. A series of 5 speakers will provide a sectoral analysis of current education issues: David Do, NZUSA; Robin Duff, PPTA; Paul Goulter, NZEI; Sandra Grey, TEU; Peter Simpson, NZPF.
12.15-1.15 – Lunch, networking and media work
1.15-3.30 – Current issues in education: Privatisation – Chris Lubienski; Public tertiary education – Sharn Riggs; Early Childhood Education – Speaker tba; Pacific education – John and Judy McCaffery.
3.50 – 5.00 – National standards forum: Martin Thrupp (Chair) and activists
5.00-5.45 – QPEC AGM
Evening – We will be providing pizza for dinner and some entertainment
Sunday 1 May
9am – Forum on inequality. Speakers include Ivan Snook and John O’Neill on class and education, Mike O’Brien of the Alternative Welfare Working Group, Campbell Roberts of the Salvation Army, Catherine Delahunty and Sam Drumm of Edmund Rice.
12.30pm – Lunch and Networking/organising meeting (hosted by NZUSA)
2.00 -Political forum. Politicians from all political parties have been invited to participate, providing an overview of key issues in education, and how their 2011 policies will address these. This will be followed by an open floor discussion.
4.30 – Conference ends.

Saturday, April 30, 7.30pm, Regent on Broadway, Palmerston North.
Unions Manawatu presents: Aotearoa NZ’s May Day Concert 2011 Celebrating International Workers Day: A great night of fun and solidarity in the form of song, music, dance and performance art from unions, community groups and individuals from throughout New Zealand and internationally. A special performance of "Trouble on the Waterfront": Multimedia musical snapshots of the 1951 waterfront dispute, by Chris Prowse & 8 other musicians from Wgtn. And Michael Houston, New Zealand’s premiere pianist plays jazz. Also featuring Ahmed Zaoui (poems), the Michelle Robinson Dancers, the Brazen Hussies, Luc & Kate (music, dance, visuals), Julia & Cara (hip hop), the Burmese Community Singers, Double U’s (Union Ukelele’s & friends) and more. Cost: Entry by $5 donation (children free). A separate collection will be taken at the interval, proceeds to families of the 29 Pike River Miners. Judges for the May Day Cup: Peter Conway (Secretary, NZCTU), Iain Lees-Galloway (Labour Party MP, PNth), Keith Locke (Green Party MP), Matt McCarten (National Secretary, Unite Union), Dolly Larkins (PSA Organiser, Pnth). Contact: Organised by Dion Martin (coordinator) Manawatu MayDay Coalition, on behalf of Unions Manawatu. PO Box 1327, Palmerston North. (06) 356 9658, (021) 776 029, dion.martin Organise for: Proper funding for public health, education housing and all public services; The unrestricted right to strike for significant political, social and environmental issues; Free education (student debt $12 billion); Stop privatisation of ACC; No to racism – welcome refugees/asylum seekers; Peace – and a NZ foreign and trade policy independent of US and globalised corporate control; $15 per hour minimum wage; All NZ & US troops OUT of Afghanistan & Iraq NOW; Support the Free Burma campaign and the CTU Tamil Nadu project ; Fight the 90 day Fire at Will law and other recent employment law changes. Supported by the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions, the Palmerston North City Council and Creative Communities

Sunday, May 1, 2pm, QEII Square, Downtown, Queen St, Auckland
MARCH FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE. JOHN KEY IS NOT WORKING FOR NEW ZEALAND. A new Coalition of community groups, churches and unions has been formed. Our slogan is Social Justice (meeting occured on the 29th March 2011). Our aim is to challenge the policies of John Key and the National/Act/Maori party Government.We beleive they are bankrupt and are not serving the interests of the majority of New Zealanders. We are organising a MASS MOBILISATION of ordinary Kiwis on SUNDAY 1ST MAY. Also more action when National announces the BUDGET on 19th May 2011. From Cairo to London ordinary people are challenging the Free Market perscription from government cuts to privatisation/asset sales. New Zealanders are angry about GST, milk prices and secret Trade deals.. About cuts to Early Childhood education and privatisation of electiricty.

Meredydd Barrar, spokesperson says, "Enough is enough. Recent government announcements about cuts and a Budget that will certainly condemn the majority of New Zealanders to relative poverty is not acceptable. Children and struggling families as well as students looking to further their higher education will be penalised. There is a latent anger in New Zealnd at the moment. We aim to translate it into action. Nationals policies of cut backs and austerity measures will increase the gap between rich and poor which is already the 6th highest in the OECD. We beleive this is unacceptable and uncivilised. New Zealanders deserve better than this bankrput economic philosophy that only seems to make bankers, corporates and speculators richer”. For more info call CSJ on 098366389; 0212106720 or email capwaitakere

Sunday, May 8, 10am, Unite Union office, 6A Western Springs Road, Kingsland, Auckland
SPRINGBOK TOUR 30TH ANNIVERSARY MEETING: Hard to believe but this year marks the 30th anniversary of the 1981 Springbok tour. A meeting is being called to discuss how we mark this anniversary. Everyone is welcome to attend at 10am on Saturday 7th May at Unite Union office, 6A Western Springs Road, Kingsland, Auckland. Late July is likely to be the focal point of the anniversary. The Boks arrived on 19 July with the Waikato game stopped on 25 July and media interest will be likely around this time. Global Peace and Justice Auckland has invited South Africa’s Abahlali baseMjondolo (Shackdwellers) movement to send a representative here in July. ABM is the largest organisation of the poor in South Africa. They are sending their Public Relations Officer, Mnikelo Ndabankulu, and we are planning a national tour. It’s 17 years since the ANC was elected to power but for most of the poor the situation has worsened. Mark Fredericks from South Africa will also be here. Mark has prepared a video documentary on the proud history of non-racial sport and its place at the heart of the struggle against apartheid. The video also looks at the betrayal of non-racial sport by the ANC and by elite, corporate-organised sport. Screenings of his video will be arranged around this time also. Please pass this message on to anyone who might be interested to come on 7th May. John Minto johnminto

Friday, May 13, 6pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn, Auckland
Reception for Cuban visitor Ezequiel Morales from the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples: Ezequiel was born to a peasant family. In his early years, he walked the streets cleaning shoes and selling cakes in order to support his family and to pay a ‘teacher’ to tutor in reading and writing. He was eight years old when the revolution triumphed and from then on he was able to attend a School Centre. Ezequiel’s vocation as a teacher dates back to his childhood, when he joined the Literacy Campaign carried out in Cuba in 1961, despite being only ten years old, and taught two illiterate peasants how to read and write. As a union leader, he was the Secretary General of various branches of the Union of Educators until 1996 when he began to work at his current position with the Cuban Institute for Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP). Ezequiel has participated in the continuous improvement of the National System of Education as a member of the Team of Authors within his specialty. Ezequiel also worked as part of the team of authors at the Ministry of Education, and also served as National Supervisor for English Teaching. Ezequiel has held his current position with the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples since 1996 and has been selected to be part of the Cuban delegation to several brigades of solidarity with Cuba, such as The Venceremos Brigade from The United States and The Southern Cross Brigade from Australia and New Zealand. He also attended the First Conference of USA-Cuba Solidarity, celebrated in Havana, as a member of the Cuban delegation.

Saturday, May 14, 7pm, Trade Union Centre, 34 Harwood St, Hamilton
Reception for Cuban visitor Ezequiel Morales from the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples: Raglan/Hamilton Friendship Group, Helen Ritchie ph 64 7 8257470 helenr

Sunday, May 14, Wellington
Reception for Cuban visitor Ezequiel Morales from the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples

Friday, May 20, 7.30am, School of Population Health, Tamaki Campus, Auckland University
CPAG’s 11th Annual Post Budget Breakfast

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS

FABIAN SOCIETY: 2011 – A BIG YEAR FOR NEW ZEALAND.
The response to the 2010 Fabian seminars on the Resilient Economy indicates that there is a widespread desire for a critical assessment of the failed economic models of the last thirty years. The Fabians strongly reject the neo-liberal slogan ‘there is no alternative’ (TINA). Instead, we believe ‘there are real alternatives’ (TARA), and we have aimed to supply alternatives to assist the debate.

The New Zealand economy remains stalled. The Government talks about the need to promote the export sector but there is still no evidence of a detailed and determined plan to shift the focus and build a stronger future for the next generations. Our program this year will feature around the "Plan for the Productive Economy" series.
Fabians 2011 Seminar program
“The Plan for the Productive Economy”: Bernard Hickey, interest.co.nz, Ellen Melville Hall, High Street, Auckland, 6:30pm Thursday 21 April; Rick Boven, NZ Institute, St John’s Church Hall, Wellington, 6pm Wednesday 17 May
“Bank regulation, exchange rate policy, overseas debt, and asset sales: how to untangle them?”: Dr Geoff Bertram, Institute of Policy Studies, Connolly Hall, Wellington, 5:30pm Tuesday 31 March
“Reconstructing Christchurch”: Peter Harris & Hon Lianne Dalziel MP, St John’s Church Hall, Wellington, 5:30pm Wednesday 27 April
“Inequality in New Zealand”: Dr David Craig, St John’s Church Hall, Wellington, 5:30pm Wednesday 11 May
“Squandering the demographic bonus”: Profs Ian Pool and Natalie Jackson, Ellen Melville Hall, High Street, Auckland CBD, Thursday 9 June
“Taxing Capital gains in New Zealand”: Prof Craig Elliffe and Chye-ching Huang, Owen Glenn Building, Auckland Business School, 6:30pm Thursday 5 May
Further seminars and venues will be advised as soon as they are finalised. We intend to mix the standard lectures with more interactive debates, and continue to seek presenters who are expert and committed to New Zealand’s future. Your suggestions are welcome.
Annual General Meeting: The Society has now incorporated, and an Annual General Meeting will be held in June. Date and venue will be advised later.
Thanks: We would like to thank all of you who have made it along to the seminars or followed us on line. Thanks for being interested enough to join the debate and add to the growing chorus of those who believe urgent action is needed if NZ is to retain control over its own future. As always, we would be grateful if you could forward this message to others who may be interested. Please continue the conversation with family and friends, delve into our growing archive of papers and presentations. Mike Smith, Chair – for Paul Chalmers, Barbara Ward, Bryan Nunweek, Selwyn Pellett, Jordan Carter, and Phil Harington, Committee.

OPERATION 8
CutCutCut Films is pleased to announce the release of Operation 8, a feature length documentary about the 2007 ‘anti-terror’ raids. Operation 8 is screening in the 2011 World Cinema Showcase, in Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin – with the world premiere on Sunday 17 April, 2.45pm at the Paramount Cinema in Wellington. Screening times are as follows:
Wellington – Paramount Theatre
Sun 17 April, 2.45 pm; Mon 25 April, 2.45 pm; Wed 27 April, 3.15 pm
Auckland – Skycity Theatre
Mon 18 April, 3.00 pm; Mon 18 April, 8.15 pm
Dunedin – Rialto Cinemas
Mon 9 May, 8.30 pm; Tue 10 May, 11.15 am
Tickets for the film are available at the respective cinemas. You can read about the film and watch the trailer here:
http://www.cutcutcut.com/Operation8.html http://worldcinemashowcase.co.nz/titles11/operation8.html Please forward this email on to any interested groups or individuals. We hope to see you there! Errol Wright & Abi King-Jones, CutCutCut Films www.cutcutcut.com Facebook (for updates click the ‘LIKE’ button on the facebook page) Twitter

QUOTES OF THE WEEK
"If those in charge of our society – politicians, corporate executives, and owners of press and television – can dominate our ideas, they will be secure in their power. They will not need soldiers patrolling the streets. We will control ourselves". — Howard Zinn, historian and author
"The propaganda system allows the U.S. Leadership to commit crimes without limit and with no suggestion of misbehavior or criminality; in fact, major war criminals like Henry Kissinger appear regularly on TV to comment on the crimes of the derivative butchers." Edward S. Herman, political economist and author
"When a well-packaged web of lies has been sold gradually to the masses over generations, the truth will seem utterly preposterous and its speaker a raving lunatic." Dresden James.

BEST ON THE WEB

NEW ZEALAND
Gisborne school students organise 2000-strong demonstration for free busses http://tinyurl.com/3mf9e6d

John Minto: The Police Have Already Lost The Case http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1104/S00131/john-minto-the-police-have-already-lost-the-case.htm

John Minto: Dark Shadow Of The State Creeps On… http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1104/S00136/john-minto-dark-shadow-of-the-state-creeps-on.htm

Urewera 18 turn to Supreme Court in quest for jury trial

TVNZ: Student loan changes ‘pick on the elderly’

TV3: Student loan crackdown: More harm than good? (VIDEO)

Matt McCarten (NZH): Police protection is right of every citizen

Aotearoa as Hobbiton http://socialistaotearoa.blogspot.com/2011/04/aotearoa-as-hobbiton.html

Pagani dead wrong: Former senior Labour party strategist John Pagani has written an extraordinary blog post where he says Labour ought to cuddle up to National because its policies are so popular and then, somehow, convince people to vote Labour for some reason. If this has been Labour’s strategy for the past few years, it explains a lot. http://thestandard.org.nz/pagani-dead-wrong/

John Hartevelt (Stuff): Soaring cost of early childhood education http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/4902845/Soaring-cost-of-early-childhood-education

Tapu Misa: Govt foolish to sniff around school nursing for savings http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10719995

The Standard: I’m sorry, I’m out

Vaccination rate ‘dismal’ http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/4900007/Vaccination-rate-dismal

NZEI: Government ignoring own review on ECE for under-2s http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED1104/S00057/government-ignoring-own-review-on-ece-for-under-2s.htm

Government needs to be called to account for National Standards Sector Advisory Group http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED1104/S00048/government-needs-to-be-called-to-account-nzei.htm

EARTHQUAKE

Action for Christchurch East – http://actionforchristchurcheast.blogspot.com/

CTU Proposes Worker Assistance Package for Canterbury http://tinyurl.com/3z6pxm8
HONE HARAWIRA

The Maori Party investigates a death sentence http://mauistreet.blogspot.com/2011/04/maori-party-investigates-death-sentence.html

NZ WORK RIGHTS

EPMU: Inflation hike shows wages must rise http://www.epmu.org.nz/news/show/173270

Court rules polytechnic lecturers can have the agreement they want http://teu.ac.nz/2011/04/court-rules-polytechnic-lecturers-can-have-the-agreement-they-want/

Auckland vice-chancellor feeling the pressure http://tinyurl.com/3uu87u6

NZ ECONOMY

TPP will destroy NZ! Murray Horton Presentation in Auckland Video http://www.guerillamedia.co.nz/content/tpp-will-destroy-nz-industry-murray-horton-cafca-mr-news

Key: We can’t help your price pain http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10720247

Loan sharks leaving families unable to buy food, say experts http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10720285

CTU: High price increases another blow for workers http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1104/S00232/high-price-increases-another-blow-for-workers.htm

CTU: Necessities and the government push up cost of living http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1104/S00550/necessities-and-the-government-push-up-cost-of-living.htm

South Korean and New Zealand union centres oppose Korea-New Zealand free trade agreement and call for new model http://tinyurl.com/3fuo6r9

CULTURAL DISSENT

Yiddish Studies / Long live the revolution! They were defeated by Zionism and Judaism, their members murdered by Nazism and Stalinism, but the radical Jewish movements of the 20th century left behind a rich Yiddish literary legacy. http://www.haaretz.com/culture/books/yiddish-studies-long-live-the-revolution-1.344611

FEATURES

Pilger: The West brings gifts of war and racism http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/47351

Secret Memos Expose Link Between Oil firms And Invasion of Iraq By Paul Bignell – Plans to exploit Iraq’s oil reserves were discussed by government ministers and the world’s largest oil companies the year before Britain took a leading role in invading Iraq, government documents show. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article27922.htm

LAND, LABOUR AND THE ENVIROMENT

WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS

Robin Hood: a tax whose time has come http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/apr/18/robin-hood-tax-financial-transactions

Capitalism is failing the middle class – Global capitalism isn’t working for the American middle class. That isn’t a headline from the left-leaning Huffington Post, or a comment on Glenn Beck’s right-wing populist blackboard. It is, instead, the conclusion of a rigorous analysis bearing the imprimatur of the U.S. establishment: the paper’s lead author is Michael Spence, recipient of the Nobel Prize in economic sciences, and it was published by the Council on Foreign Relations. http://blogs.reuters.com/chrystia-freeland/2011/04/15/capitalism-is-failing-the-middle-class/

ALGERIA

Unrest In Algeria: The Window is Closing Fast http://www.cetri.be/spip.php?article2170&lang=en

AUSTRALIA
Challenging racism in Australia http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/47359

Voices in support of Israel boycott http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/47383

BAHRAIN

Bahrain escapes censure by West as crackdown on protesters intensifies – Saudi troops’ demolition of mosques stokes religious tensions

By Patrick Cockburn in Cairo http://tinyurl.com/3f9azo3

BOLIVIA

We should look to Bolivia for inspiration

BURKINA FASO

Burkina Faso students and soldiers mount violent challenge to president http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/18/burkina-faso-students-riot

COLOMBIA

Workers, Students Protest FTA, Privatization http://tinyurl.com/3nmhf6s

CUBA

Central Report to the Sixth Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba http://www.cubanews.ain.cu/2011/0416central-report-communist-party.htm

Cuba and the United States – Catch him if you can: A Texas court acquits an alleged right-wing Cuban terrorist http://www.economist.com/node/18560259

Massive march in support of revoltion – Cuban video: http://www.cubadebate.cu/noticias/2011/04/16/comenzo-el-desfiles-militar/

Bay of Pigs and the limits of superpower – the Bay of Pigs invasion 50 years ago offers lessons about American might that are still relevant today. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinionla/la-ed-pigs-20110419,0,5530399.story
EGYPT

Revolutionary spirit spreads to Egyptian industry – Workers at an Indonesian-owned mill win fight for better conditions after being inspired by Tahrir Square protests http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/12/egypt-industry-workers-protest-barthe

GREECE

Furious Greeks press for country to default on debt – Violence on the streets as backlash grows over Greece’s austerity package and €110bn bailout http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/17/greece-debt-default-bailout
HAITI

Electoral coup hits Haiti http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/47344

Joyous victory in a bitter time: Haiti before and after Aristide’s return by Robert Roth

http://sfbayview.com/2011/joyous-victory-in-a-bitter-time-haiti-before-and-after-aristide%E2%80%99s-return/

HONDURAS

Honduran Teachers Get Shock Treatment http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/2011/freeston190411.html by Jesse Freeston
IRAN

Iranian Labor and the Struggle for Independent Unions http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tehranbureau/2011/04/labors-struggle-for-independent-unions.html#ixzz1K6aU1GVS

LIBYA

Using Libya to abort the Arab Spring http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/4/0/10114/Opinion/-Using-Libya-to-abort-the-Arab-Spring.aspx

Libya: A different view of the rebels http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/47352

Libya’s opposition calls for a ceasefire – Despite potential draw-backs, the rebel call for a ceasefire is the best way to diffuse violence, writer says. http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/04/201142131720113248.html
MONGOLIA

Mongolian herders sweep into capital in protest http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/04/19/general-as-mongolia-protest_8423971.html

PALESTINE

Israel subjects Palestinians to apartheid policies http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/47353

Facing Up To Jewish Nationalism and Racist Violence http://maxblumenthal.com/2011/03/facing-up-to-jewish-nationalism-and-racist-violence/
PERU

Poll swings left in first round http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/47347

SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka war-crimes claims ‘credible’: Leaked UN report finds "credible allegations" of war crimes and killing of civilians during country’s civil conflict. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2011/04/201141817385841994.html

UK

Mark Steel: Much ado about the wedding – The endlessly hyped Royal Wedding isn’t generating that much enthusiasm after all. http://socialistworker.org/2011/04/19/much-ado-about-the-wedding

Garry Younge: The Innocence of the Liberal Hawk http://www.thenation.com/article/159449/innocence-liberal-hawk

Redundant Orange call centre workers offered jobs 7,000 miles away in Philippines plus ‘rice allowance’. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/04/19/redundant-call-centre-workers-offered-jobs-7-000-miles-away-in-philippines-plus-rice-allowance-115875-23070684/#ixzz1JwOaJFMc

A co-ordinated strike is the next step – Time to move on from marching – will Britain’s biggest unions abandon their masochistic ‘new realism’ and take action? http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/apr/18/coordinated-strike-unions

USA

The real tax cheats: It’s not so much that corporations and the wealthy are breaking the tax rules, it’s that the rules were written with their interests in mind. http://socialistworker.org/2011/04/18/the-real-tax-cheats
VENEZUELA

Cooperatives in Venezuela Promote Solidarity, Equality and Dignity

http://upsidedownworld.org/main/venezuela-archives-35/2988-cooperatives-in-venezuela-promote-solidarity-equality-and-dignity

YEMEN

Protesters reject dictator’s offer http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/47355

OLDER ANNOUNCEMENTS

AUSTRALIAN CONFERENCE TO DISCUSS SOCIAL CHANGE TO STOP CLIMATE CHANGE SEPTEMBER 30-OCTOBER 3

The event, which is sponsored by the Office of Environmental Programs at Melbourne University and organised by Green Left Weekly and the Socialist Alliance, will run from Friday, September 30 to Monday, October 3 at Melbourne University. The discussions at this conference will be enriched by the participation of one of the world’s foremost radical ecologists, John Bellamy Foster. A well-known economist from the United States, Foster is also an editor of Monthly Review and the author of The Ecological Rift (with Brett Clark and Richard York) The Ecological Revolution, The Great Financial Crisis (with Fred Magdoff) and Marx’s Ecology. Also leading the conference discussions will be Canadian ecosocialist writer and activist Ian Angus. Angus co-founded the Ecosocialist International Network and is the editor of Climateandcapitalism.com. He is the author of the forthcoming book Too Many People? Population, Immigration, and the Environmental Crisis (with Simon Butler) and has also authored Food Crisis: World Hunger, Agribusiness and the Food Sovereignty Alternative and edited The Global Fight for Climate Justice. http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/47144