GPJA #381: Fri – Election book launch / Sun – Syria Solidarity meeting

GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND NEWSLETTER No. 381, June 30, 2011

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS

SEND A MESSAGE TO THE EMPLOYERS
Does the EMA Northern Support Pay Equity? Let the EMA know that pay equity is important to you – send them this email postcard asking if they are serious about pay equity and what they’re going to do about it… http://union.org.nz/ema-vs-pay-equity

JOIN THE FIGHT AGAINST COAL!
You are invited to join a new action-focused group being formed to work against coal extraction – the main contributor to climate change. The first meeting will be held: Saturday 2 July, 2-4pm, Cityside, 8 Mt Eden Road, Newton. (We’ll meet in the hall space at the back of the building. The entrance is up a ramp, and is the first door you’ll come to if you’re heading down Mt Eden Rd away from the city.) At this meeting we’ll discuss how, from Auckland, we can best support the Coal Action Network Aotearoa campaigns to stop coal and lignite extraction in Aotearoa. The group will be independent of CAN Aotearoa but working in broad support of its campaigns and principles. The following is the CAN Aotearoa vision statement, objectives and principles: Coal Action Network Aotearoa recognises coal as the primary threat to Earth’s climate system and promotes climate justice by advocating for a just transition to an Aotearoa free of coal mining and use. Campaign objectives: 1. Phase out coal mining and coal usage within 20 years, initially by opposing new and expanded coal mines. 2. Promote a cultural change so that mining and using coal is unacceptable. 3. Work towards a society where people and the environment are not exploited for profit. 4. Be part of a just transition to a coal-free Aotearoa New Zealand. Principles: 1/ Coal Action Network Aotearoa has a primary focus on the impacts of coal mining on climate change. 2/ Coal Action Network Aotearoa is opposed to any system which puts profit before people and planet. 3/ Coal Action Network Aotearoa is opposed to an unsustainable system which is based on expansion and on the exploitation of natural resources and people’s work in order to concentrate wealth for the few. If you want to be part of the group and feel aligned with the CAN Aotearoa vision and principles then come to the meeting! If you are unable to attend but still want to be involved, please email us on kickcoal

FOREIGN CONTROL WATCHDOG 126 – MAY 2011
http://www.converge.org.nz/watchdog/26/index26.htm
– Garage Sale John’s Place, Saturday November 26th, Everything Must Go by Murray Horton
– The Multiple Privatisations Of Education by Liz Gordon
– New Zealand Is Not For Sale Why Building A Campaign Is Important by Murray Horton
– Building Trains In NZ A Winner For Everyone Except National Government by Mike Regan
– Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement Negotiations A View From New Zealand by Jane Kelsey
– Abolish The Dole For Real Jobs Rebuilding Christchurch by John Minto
– International Capital And Investment by Bill Rosenberg
– The Roger Award Finalist That Never Was! by Alastair Duncan
– The Chinese Challenge by Bryan Gould
– Reviews by Jeremy Agar
– Palmer The Parliamentary Years by Raymond Richards
– Truth: The Rise And Fall Of The People’s Paper by Redmer Yska
– Obituaries by John Minto, Kate Dewes and Murray Horton, Tom Newnham, Norman Roberts. Death In The Family: Alec Miller
– Warner Brothers Wins 2010 Roger Award by Murray Horton
– We’re A Bit Late, Due To Events Beyond Our Control Life In The “New Normal” by Murray Horton

PLEA FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF NZ’ER ABOARD HARMEET SOODEN
Dear friends, kia ora, the Palestine Human Rights Campaign is supporting HARMEET SOODEN on Flotilla II. WE NEED YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT DESPERATELY. TO DATE 20% OF THE $10,000 REQUIRED HAS BEEN RAISED! PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY AND PLEASE SEND THIS MESSAGE ON TO FRIENDS, RELATIONS, COLLEAGUES WHO ARE LIKLEY SUPPORT HARMEET, FLOTILLA II AND THE BESEIGED PALESTINIANS . Please make donations by direct deposit to PHRC 06 0145 0045138 00 or by sending a cheque to PHRC, Box 56150, Mt Eden, Auckland. All donations will be receipted (advice on internet deposits must be emailed to jwakim@xtra.co.nz  so that a receipt can be provided).

PLEASE SIGN ONLINE PETITION AGAINST TRANSPACIFIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
This closes on July 4th, so please sign it now (if you haven’t already done so). And if you’ve got a hard copy of it, please post it to New Zealand Not For Sale Campaign, Box 2258, Christchurch 8140. We urge you to circulate and publicise the petition, online and hard copy, through your organisations and networks. Murray Horton, Convenor, New Zealand Not For Sale Campaign. nznot4sale www.nznotforsale.org
Petition: 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.
Sign the petition
For full details, visit our Website nznot4sale Please Join CAFCA’s Facebook Group & Follow Our Blog http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=117427631610589&ref=ts http://www.watchblogaotearoa.blogspot.com/

NO OIL DRILLING IN AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND PETITION
Aotearoa New Zealand is still a beautiful country. I disagree with those who use & abuse the environment, meaning pollution, oil drilling and mining. Think about it, think about the consequences. What will happen if there was too much pollution in our foreshore and seabed? What will happen if there was an oil spill in our harbour, killing all our seafood, our last resource? What will happen if there was another mining disaster in our beautiful country? Seeing this happen to our earth mother is not worth it. But our people will never sit and watch this happen to our environment, because we are the true protectors of the land, we are the indigenous people of New Zealand. Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/4/no-oil-drilling-in-new-zealand/

ME RONGO 2011 PEACE CONGRESS INFORMATION, REGISTRATION AND INVITATION 7 TO 21 NOVEMBER 2011, REKOHU (CHATHAM ISLANDS)
This message is to let you know that information about the Me Rongo 2011 Peace Congress – ‘Peace, Sustainability and Respect for the Sacred’ – the registration form and draft programme are now available. Below is the welcome message from the Congress hosts, an outline of the purpose and vision of the Congress, and an invitation for peace to groups to present workshops at it. The document with more information, the registration details, draft programme and contact details for the organisers, is available as a pdf file at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/merongo01.pdf and as a Word document at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/merongo01.doc This message is available online at http://www.facebook.com/notes/peace-movement-aotearoa/me-rongo-2011-peace-congress-information-registration-and-invitation/195449993835711

WHAT’S ON

Friday, July 1, 7pm, Grey Lynn Community Centre, 510 Richmond Road, Auckland
Book Launch: The 2011 Election: a critical guide. The book features interviews with academics and activists from across the country: Dr Bryce Edwards (Otago University) The Main Political Parties & MMP; Dr Sean Phelan (Massey University) The Media; Professor Klaus Bosselmann (Auckland University) The Environment; David Do (New Zealand University Students’ Association) Student Loans; Professor Jim Flynn (Otago University) Privatisation; Professor Paul Roth (Otago University) Employment Law; Mike Treen (UNITE union) Unionism; Dr Brian Roper (Otago University) Taxation; Ali Nissenbaum (Wellington Activists) Anarchism; Andrew Tait (Dunedin Activist) Marxism; Sue Bradford (Auckland Activist & former Green MP) Feminism & Unemployment. Visit our website www.aptitute.co.nz to read a sample chapter

Sunday, July 3, 3.30pm, Mt. Albert Memorial Hall, 751 New North Road, Mt. Albert, Auckland
Kindly be informed that the Syrian community in Auckland is holding a meeting to explain the situation in Syria. The Syrian regime is persecuting, oppressing and opening live fire on peaceful protesters who are seeking their basic human rights of freedom, democracy, dignity and justice . I would like to invite you to this function which intends to support freedom protesters in Syria and their fair demands. I would also like to request that you endorse the letter below to the New Zealand Government. Abdul Elah RSVP: syrian.solidarity

Wednesday, July 6, 6pm, Wellington Public Library – mezzanine meeting room, Wellington
“Release the Text” – public meeting. The Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) is being negotiated in secret by the United States with several Asian countries including New Zealand. Based on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the USA will seek to extract long term binding agreement to limit the New Zealand government’s sovereign right to make laws and adopt policies. Pharmac’s ability to provide medicines, or our government’s ability to limit promotion of tobacco products are already under threat. All for the benefit of global corporations. The text of the agreement must be released so its provisions can be openly debated. Speakers: Jane Kelsey – Univ of Auckland. Convenor of the ‘Release the Text’ campaign. Author of No Ordinary Deal- Unmasking the Trans-Pacific Partnership Free Trade Agreement; Des O’Day – Univ. of Otago Wellington Medical School; Thomas Beagle -Tech Liberty. Student of intellectual property issues. For further information contact Mary Ellen O’Connor 04 9707147 0274810770

Friday, July 8, 8pm, Academy Theatre, Lorne St, Auckland City Library
HOPE …….is coming to Auckland…. In 2001, the boat SIEV X sank on its way to Australia. Of the 400 asylum seekers on board, Amal was one of only 7 who survived. Amal’s courageous life as a survivor in Australia is sensitively and sincerely told by acclaimed documentary maker Steve Thomas, in collaboration with Amal, in the documentary ‘HOPE’. www.hopedocumentary.com.au Steve Thomas, the Director, will attend the NZ premiere to speak and answer questions. It has been screened at the 2007 Melbourne International Film Festival, at cinemas throughout Australia, and at festivals such as the UNHCR Refugee Film Festival in Tokyo. PROCEEDS TO AUCKLAND REFUGEE FAMILY TRUST. To purchase tickets or make a donation, please: Direct credit ARFT 38 9010 070 4176 00 with your surname as  reference & number of tickets required & email jwakim@xtra.co.nz Or  Post cheques with surname, number of tickets required & contact  details to: The Treasurer ~ ARFT ~ PO Box 47008 ~ Ponsonby Tickets will be available for pick up at the door

Monday, July 11, 8.15pm, Paramount Cinema, Wellington
UNIONAID FUNDRAISER – “What happens in the world’s largest trash city will transform you”. UnionAID has been successful in obtaining another excellent Oscar nominated film as a UnionAID fundraiser. Winner of nine audience awards at festivals the world over, including the 2010 Sundance film festival, “Waste Land” is a truly inspiring and moving film about celebrated New York artist Vik Muniz’s work with Rio garbage pickers on an ambitious art project in his native Brazil. Tickets $20 available from insidejob5 All proceeds to UnionAID projects – see www.unionaid.org.nz and join us on Facebook

Tuesday, July 12, “Sandwiches” Bar, Wellington
LABOUR HISTORY PROJECT A G M & ILLUSTRATED TALK – Wellington Artist Bob Kerr. Cash bar – refreshments also provided. Bob will illustrate his talk “Putting Visuals to History” with examples from his book “After the War” and from exhibitions on Archibald Baxter, Rua Kanana and others, and relate anecdotes on ‘historians I have known.” Further info from LHP chairperson, Mark Derby [04-973-8900] chair

Wednesday, July 20. 7.30pm, St Columba Centre, 40 Vermont Street, Ponsonby, Auckland
Warm greetings reminding you of the upcoming Pacific Women’s Watch (NZ) Annual General Meeting. There is plenty of parking space behind the Centre. Our speaker at the AGM is PWW(NZ) Patron, Dr Marilyn Waring, Professor of Public Policy at Auckland University of Technology (AUT), speaking on Being RAMSI Gender and Governance Coordinator – challenges and celebrations. PWW(NZ) also calls for nominations to the Board for the coming year. The programme is stimulating and action focused. We look forward to your attendance on 20 July. Please make the AGM very widely known. Pacific Women’s Watch (NZ) www.pacificwomenswatch.org.nz Working for Gender Justice

Thursday, July 28, 7pm, WT1004 (AUT Tower Building, 2 Rutland St, 10th floor seminar room, next door to the new Pacific Media Centre office)
Papua New Guinea’s Tok Pisin language newspaper Wantok, founded in 1969, is one of the publishing icons of the South Pacific. Drawing on interviews with Fr Francis Mihalic and Bishop Leo Arkfeld made in the early 1990s, a manuscript history of the early days of the Wantok, written by Mihalic, and material drawn from the archives in the Society of the Divine Word’s mother house in Mt Hagen, Dr Philip Cass seeks to present a picture of a man who was at once a priest, a publisher, a propagandist, a linguist, a lecturer and often a cause of bewilderment to the very bishops whose work he was supposed to be doing. Dr Cass is head of postgraduate studies in the School of Communication Studies at Unitec. He is also a research associate of the Pacific Media Centre.

Friday, August 26, 9am to 5pm, in Decima Glenn, Level 3, The University of Auckland Business School, 12 Grafton Rd, Auckland
ACC Forum: Co-hosted by The University of Auckland Retirement Policy and Research Centre and the ACC Group, the ACC Futures Coalition, and AUT’s Centre for Occupational Health and Safety Research . “The future of ACC – Is New Zealand in danger of losing both what is best about the ACC scheme, and our place as a world leader in accident compensation? What can be done.” Auckland University is presenting a one-day symposium on the National Government’s proposed changes to ACC. Speakers include representatives from the NZCTU, employers, ACC claimant advocates, political parties, economists, academics, unions and Government consultants. Registration required $30 (includes lunch). Contact Tressy Menezes: t.menezes Closing date for registration and payment: Wednesday 24 August 2011.
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
“The death of democracy is not likely to be an assassination from ambush. It will be a slow extinction from apathy, indifference, and undernourishment.” – Robert M. Hutchins
“The American Dream has run out of gas. The car has stopped. It no longer supplies the world with its images, its dreams, its fantasies. No more. It’s over. It supplies the world with its nightmares now” – J. G. Ballard
“None but ourselves can free our minds.” —Bob Marley
“Another world is posible. On a quiet day I can hear her breathing.” – Arundhati Roy

BEST ON THE WEB

NEW ZEALAND

Links to media coverage, releases, interviews and updates on the Canadian Boat to Gaza, which has two New Zealanders on board, are at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/cb2g.htm

Matt McCarten: We’ve failed our kids and they’re off to Oz

Earthquakes, Bullying, Periods, Media Bias, Sluts, Youth Rates and the Re-emergence of Social Democracy – it must be a week in New Zealand Politics! https://beyondresistance.wordpress.com/2011/06/27/earthquakes-bullying-periods-media-bias-sluts-youth-rates-and-the-re-emergence-of-social-democracy-it-must-be-a-week-in-new-zealand-politics/

Thousands to come off housing list By Simon Collins http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10734409

Sue Bradford (Pundit): Phil Heatley wields his magic wand http://www.pundit.co.nz/content/phil-heatley-wields-his-magic-wand

Susan St John: Punitive policies hurting families http://www.cpag.org.nz/resources/current-articles/

MMP Or SM? A Big Decision Looms For New Zealand Voters

Political Action To Decriminalise Abortion Now More Urgent

Leave vulnerable elderly State Housing tenants alone!

Dental policy, free care to all

Day of Action against early childhood cuts http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1106/S00354/day-of-action-against-early-childhood-cuts.htm

Education Minister challenged to listen to her own advice and review National Standards http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1106/S00360/education-minister-challenged-to-listen-to-her-own-advice.htm

EARTHQUAKE

Uninsured Cantabs ‘falling between the cracks’ http://www.3news.co.nz/Uninsured-Cantabs-falling-between-the-cracks/tabid/423/articleID/216273/Default.aspx

Unions to work with CERA to ensure workers get support http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1106/S00287/unions-to-work-with-cera-to-ensure-workers-get-support.htm

Chch contractors frustrated at lack of pay http://www.3news.co.nz/Chch-contractors-frustrated-at-lack-of-pay/tabid/423/articleID/216646/Default.aspx

Questions mount over Nats’ red zone plan http://thestandard.org.nz/questions-mount-over-nats-red-zone-plan/

Christchurch earthquake legal advice sought http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/christchurch-earthquake/5195255/Christchurch-earthquake-legal-advice-sought

MANA PARTY

John Minto (Scoop): What The Mana Victory Means http://auckland.scoop.co.nz/2011/06/to-the-front-what-the-mana-victory-means/

Chris Trotter (Press): The Fish Of Maui Lashes Its Tail http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/2011/06/fish-of-maui-lashes-its-tail.html

Q+A interview with Hone Harawira

Aotearoa/New Zealand: ‘The Mana revolution has begun’ http://links.org.au/node/2382

Poor vote gives Harawira victory http://bit.ly/l1j8fc

Mana Party to take policy plans on the road http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10734723

Hone Harawira’s battle cry: ‘I’m up for this sh*t’ http://www.3news.co.nz/Hone-Harawiras-battle-cry-Im-up-for-this-sht/tabid/419/articleID/216062/Default.aspx

Graeme Edgeler (Legal Beagle): Good news, everybody (for everybody) http://publicaddress.net/legalbeagle/good-news-everybody-for-everybody/

Morgan Godfery (Maui St): Initial thoughts on the byelection result http://mauistreet.blogspot.com/2011/06/initial-thoughts-on-byelection-result.html

Audrey Young (NZ): Truce appeals to mutual self interest http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10734724

Gordon Campbell (Scoop): On the Te Tai Tokerau result http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2011/06/27/gordon-campbell-on-the-te-tai-tokerau-result/

Mana a victory for the Left http://thestandard.org.nz/mana-a-victory-for-the-left/

John Tamihere: All-in hunt for Hone’s head http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-news/opinion/5193774/All-in-hunt-for-Hones-head

TVNZ: Harawira likely to be a lone voice http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/harawira-likely-lone-voice-4266576

NZ WORK RIGHTS

Dunedin – Possible reintroduction of youth rates protested http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/166504/possible-reintroduction-youth-rates-protested

Miners doomed by fatal flaws http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/features/miners-doomed-by-fatal-flaws/story-e6frg6z6-1226082325549

Hillside workers call for supporters to rally http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/166391/hillside-workers-call-supporters-rally

Unite challenges Employers spokesperson (first item on Prime news) http://www.primetv.co.nz/Default.aspx?alias=www.primetv.co.nz%2Fnews

Call for employers’ chief to resign after ‘insult to women’ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10734015

Union: youth rate will create discrimination http://www.newswire.co.nz/2011/06/union-youth-rate-will-create-discrimination/

Women’s sick day comments outrage http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/5182270/Womens-sick-day-comments-outrage

Alasdair Thompson – full interview with Campbell Live – Video http://www.3news.co.nz/Alasdair-Thompson—full-interview-with-Campbell-Live/tabid/367/articleID/216251/Default.aspx

PSA says sick leave stats show little difference between men and women http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1106/S00840/sick-leave-stats-show-little-difference-between-men-women.htm

James Murray and Emma Mackie (TV3): The pay gap is a deeper problem than periods… full stop http://www.3news.co.nz/The-pay-gap-is-a-deeper-problem-than-periods-full-stop/tabid/1038/articleID/216503/Default.aspx

Jennifer Curtin (Dom Post): Stop blaming women for the continuing inequality in pay http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/5195686/Stop-blaming-women-for-the-continuing-inequality-in-pay

John Minto (Scoop): ‘Brain Explosion’ Reveals Petrified Grey Matter http://auckland.scoop.co.nz/2011/06/to-the-front-brain-explosion-reveals-petrified-grey-matter/

Mine safety improvements needed NOW by Kevin Hague http://blog.greens.org.nz/2011/06/23/mine-safety-improvements-needed-now/

Government’s crude budget cuts squeeze DOC further http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1106/S00297/governments-crude-budget-cuts-squeeze-doc-further.htm

Tapu Misa: Time-of-month cliche cramps pay equity http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10734660

Save Dunedin’s Hillside Workshops – Keep Rail Rolling Stock Production In New Zealand! http://www.voxy.co.nz/politics/save-dunedins-hillside-workshops-keep-rail-rolling-stock-production-new-zealand/1273/93193

Hillside glimmer of hope http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/166889/hillside-glimmer-hope

Union- KiwiRail Talks Back On Track, Public Rally Still On http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1106/S00941/union-kiwirail-talks-back-on-track-public-rally-still-on.htm

Jobs part of ‘economy’ http://www.odt.co.nz/opinion/opinion/167009/jobs-part-economy

Defence ‘rebalancing’ is unfair dismissal http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1106/S00347/defence-rebalancing-is-unfair-dismissal.htm

NZ ECONOMY

Gordon Campbell on our alleged Woody Allen syndrome http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1106/S00135/gordon-campbell-on-our-alleged-woody-allen-syndrome.htm

Brian Fallow: Why door is closing on ownership dream http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10735314

Growing Apart or Coming Together? Australia and New Zealand since the Crisis by Ben Spies-Butcher, Macquarie University http://www.cpag.org.nz/assets/Events/Budget%202011/Ben%20Growing%20Apart%20or%20Coming%20Together2%20%283%29%20%281%29.pdf

Free trade deals questioned http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/farming/5181029/Free-trade-deals-questioned

Tobacco Firm Sues Australia over Plain Packaging – Professor Jane Kelsey http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1106/S00334/tobacco-firm-sues-australia-over-plain-packaging.htm

Richard Long (Dom Post): Leaky-homes calamity on a par with Christchurch http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/columnists/richard-long/5201184/Leaky-homes-calamity-on-a-par-with-Christchurch

Waipukurau meat works to shut, jobs loss http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/5206864/Waipukurau-meat-works-to-shut-jobs-lost

Opening the floodgates to tax fraud – Is the most significant change in property law in decades slipping through Parliament virtually unnoticed by Alastair Thompson http://werewolf.co.nz/2011/06/opening-the-floodgates-to-tax-fraud/

The case for corporate reform – An interview with business analyst Rod Oram by Gordon Campbell http://werewolf.co.nz/2011/06/the-case-for-corporate-reform/

CULTURAL DISSENT

Review: `The Muslim revolt: A journey through political Islam’ http://links.org.au/node/2379

Review: Mexico’s Revolution Then and Now http://tinyurl.com/3t8mwzh

FEATURES

‘One on One’ with Tariq Ali http://links.org.au/node/2381

Julian Assange’s New Legal Strategy http://www.thenation.com/article/161598/julian-assanges-new-legal-strategy

Study Estimates Costs of U.S. Wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan at $3.7 Trillion, 225,000 Killed http://www.accuracy.org/release/study-estimates-costs-of-u-s-wars-in-iraq-afghanistan-and-pakistan-at-3-7-trillion-225000-killed/

”The West Is Terrified of Arabic Democracies” By Noam Chomsky – As long as the US controls the hemisphere, or Europe before it, there is no democracy, because it gets crushed. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article28398.htm

Jimmy Carter: Call off the global drug war: There are 743 people in prison for every 100,000 Americans, a higher portion than in any other country and seven times as great as in Europe. Some 7.2 million people are either in prison or on probation or parole – more than 3 percent of all American adults! http://www.startribune.com/opinion/124061414.html

LAND, LABOUR AND THE ENVIROMENT

Stop signs: Cars and capitalism on the road to economic, social and ecological decay http://links.org.au/node/2372

From Copenhagen and Cancun to Bonn and Durban, climate meetings are conferences of polluters http://links.org.au/node/2366

Al Gore: Climate of Denial – Can science and the truth withstand the merchants of poison? http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/climate-of-denial-20110622

WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS

Global debt? Send the bill to the rich! If the world’s ultra-rich wanted to, they could totally pay off the Greek and U.S. debts, and they would still be rich. Instead, they want us to pay. http://tinyurl.com/3wt2w3s

Review: The Emperor Has No Clothes But Still He Rules http://monthlyreview.org/2011/06/01/the-emperor-has-no-clothes%E2%80%94but-still-he-rules

AFGHANISTAN

Disappeared into Bagram: The author of a new report explains how Afghan men disappear into the U.S. prisons at Bagram–and don’t come out for years http://socialistworker.org/2011/06/29/disappeared-into-bagram

The Kill Team: How U.S. Soldiers in Afghanistan Murdered Innocent Civilians – Plus: An exclusive look at the war crime images the Pentagon http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-kill-team-20110327

AUSTRALIA

Cruelty to refugees in the spotlight http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/48026

‘End the intervention, restore community control’ http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/48025

BOLIVIA

Bolivia’s Indigenous social movements at climate talks Bonn: Stop climate change or privatise Mother Earth? http://boliviarising.blogspot.com/2011/06/bolivias-indigenous-social-movements-at.html

Women Fight Superstition, Machismo to Join Mining Cooperatives http://boliviarising.blogspot.com/2011/06/bolivia-women-fight-superstition.html

Review: Dispersing Power in Bolivia: Tending the ‘Sacred Fire’ of Social Movements http://boliviarising.blogspot.com/2011/06/dispersing-power-in-bolivia-tending.html

CHINA

China’s main union is yet to earn its job – Strikes and riots are now pushing China’s official trade union into properly defending workers’ rights http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jun/26/china-trade-union-global-movement

Mistakenly-released report reveals embarrassing extent of Chinese corruption http://tinyurl.com/3rosnk4

A rebellion against second-class status – David Whitehouse explains the backdrop to rioting in China’s Guangdong province. http://socialistworker.org/2011/06/28/against-second-class-status

COLOMBIA

A Visit Inside Colombia’s Most Notorious Prison, La Tramacúa http://afgj.org/?p=1207

Join Noam Chomsky, Medea Benjamin, others in Colombia Prisoner Solidarity Sign-on-Letter http://afgj.org/?p=1232

EGYPT

Cairo street clashes leave more than 1,000 injured http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/29/cairo-street-clashes-demonstrators-police-egypt

GREECE

‘Revolution is the only solution – in Greece nobody has a future’ http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2011/0629/1224299730610.html

Greece Barricades: ‘We don’t owe! We don’t sell! We don’t pay!’

America’s role in this Greek tragedy – Greece faces unacceptable conditions for a new bailout. If it defaults, the US had better be ready for the economic shock http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/jun/25/greece-debt-default-crisis

Strike protests in Athens turn violent – Demonstrators clash with riot police as Greek parliament debates austerity steps to help country secure bailout funds. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2011/06/20116285656386285.html

The people of Greece are preparing for the 2-day general strike. The text below is tonight’s Call of the People’s Assembly of Syntagma Square. http://tinyurl.com/3k2v6hz

Greek Crisis: The Four Horsemen of the Acropolis http://tinyurl.com/3fla5vc

HAITI

WikiLeaks reveals contractor ‘gold rush’ after quake http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/47952

IRAQ

Thousands Rally in Baghdad Against US Presence: Thousands of followers of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr staged a mass rally in Baghdad on Thursday against US forces, as Iraqi leaders consider asking for an extended American troop presence. http://bit.ly/krgQOc

LIBYA

A Beggar’s Banquet – The Undoing of Libya http://www.counterpunch.org/prashad06272011.html

Patrick Cockburn: Don’t believe everything you see and read about Gaddafi http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/patrick-cockburn-dont-believe-everything-you-see-and-read-about-gaddafi-2302830.html

Rape, Mercenaries, And Bloodbaths On The Scale Of Yemen? The Media Blank Amnesty’s Failure To Find Evidence In Libya http://tinyurl.com/42j8vkd

MALAYSIA

Government arrests socialists ahead of Bersih 2.0 pro-democracy rally http://links.org.au/node/2377

PALESTINE

The blockade is illegal no matter what Israel claims: An expert legal opinion on International Maritime Law and the Gaza blockade http://www.profi-reporte.de/index.php?section=news&cmd=details&newsid=563

Israel escalates pressure, threats against flotilla http://ht.ly/5phmr

Gaza Can’t Count On Israel – And Israel Just Can’t Count http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1106/S00141/gaza-cant-count-on-israel-and-israel-just-cant-count.htm

Gaza flotilla ship ‘sabotaged by divers’ – Activists say Swedish ship due to join attempt to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza has been damaged in Greek port. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/06/2011628101331334709.html

Ireland FM warns Israel against violent interception of Gaza flotilla http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/ireland-fm-warns-israel-against-violent-

SPAIN

Six days that shook Spain http://links.org.au/node/2373

SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka ‘war crimes’ video evidence: The distressing execution video footage, screened by Channel 4 News last week and originating in Sri Lanka, shows a number of incidents of soldiers in uniform shooting in the head people who appear to be unarmed – described as “cold-blooded killing” by an international expert. http://www.channel4.com/news/sri-lanka-war-crimes-video-womans-body-identified

SWAZILAND

The Coca-colonisation of Swaziland http://links.org.au/node/2374

SYRIA

Middle East independent newspaper editor Robert Fisk says the continued killing of Syria’s Sunni civilians will lead to a civil war. http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2011/s3252173.htm

Syria: One hundred days of struggle http://tinyurl.com/3epddr2

Syria: Internal Popular Demands, External Political Agendas – The Syrian people demand democratic change, but are western powers intervening to promote such a change? The context of Syrian policies supporting Arab resistance must be understood as the framework and motivation of current western intervention, and not a true desire to promote Syrian democracy. Nassar Ibrahim explains. http://www.alternativenews.org/english/index.php/topics/news/3674-syria-internal-popular-demands-external-political-agendas

USA

US government moves to criminalize Palestine solidarity http://electronicintifada.net/blog/maureen/us-government-moves-criminalize-palestine-solidarity

Private Prisons Spend Millions On Lobbying To Put More People In Jail http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2011/06/23/251363/cca-geogroup-prison-industry/

Matt Taibbi: Michele Bachmann’s Holy War – The Tea Party contender may seem like a goofball, but be warned: Her presidential campaign is no laughing matter http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/michele-bachmanns-holy-war-20110622

Psycho Talk: The 32 Craziest Things GOP Presidential Contender Michele Bachmann Has Said

US Housing Crisis Is Now Worse Than Great Depression: It’s official: The housing crisis that began in 2006 and has recently entered a double dip is now worse than the Great Depression. http://www.cnbc.com/id/43395857

VENEZUELA

Venezuelan Opposition “Going Crazy” over Rumours about Chavez’s Health http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/6305

OLDER ANNOUNCEMENTS

THE 2011 ELECTION: A CRITICAL GUIDE
The 2011 Election: a critical guide is currently being printed. If you click on the link below, you will see the book on our publisher’s website. Also, there is a link to a sample interview, with Professor Jim Flynn on privatisation. We tried to cover a wide range of topics, and here is a summary of who was interviewed: Dr Bryce Edwards (Otago University) The Main Political Parties & MMP; Dr Sean Phelan (Massey University) The Media; Professor Klaus Bosselmann (Auckland University) The Environment; David Do (New Zealand University Students’ Association) Student Loans; Professor Jim Flynn (Otago University) Privatisation; Professor Paul Roth (Otago University) Employment Law; Mike Treen (UNITE union) Unionism; Dr Brian Roper (Otago University) Taxation; Ali Nissenbaum (Wellington Activists) Anarchism; Andrew Tait (Dunedin Activist) Marxism; Sue Bradford (Auckland Activist & former Green MP) Feminism & Unemployment. While it is important to keep in mind that the interviewees have different opinions from each other, three themes emerged: 1) A critique of neo-liberalism; 2) De-politicisation (nearly a quarter of the population did not vote in the 2008 Election); 3) Internationalism (nearly half of the interviewees are originally from overseas: Germany, Ireland, Israel, South Africa and the United States). Please also keep in mind that we are not endorsing any political party. The interviewees disagree with each other on many points. We believe that the interviewees voted in at least five different ways in 2008. We are planning to send all interviewees a free copy of the book, to show our appreciation. Thank you for your help, R Wright http://aptitute.co.nz/site/products http://aptitute.co.nz/The_2011_Election-a_critical_guide_sample_chapter.pdf

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