GPJA #405: Solidarity with locked out workers this Saturday Dec 3

GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND NEWSLETTER No. 405, November 30, 2011

SOLIDARITY WITH LOCKED OUT MARTON WORKERS DAY OF ACTION SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3
Dear supporters, We need your help at McDonalds around New Zealand this coming Saturday, from 11am on Saturday 3 December. McDonalds is a major customer of ANZCO Foods. ANZCO stopped 100 of their employees from working and earning an income at their CMP Rangitikei meat procesing plant on October 19 because they wouldn’t accept pay cuts of up to 20%, shift changes and cuts to allowances. The workers, who earn on average $45,000 and as low as $23,000 have agreed to sacrifice 10% of their pay but ANZCO, a multinational company with revenue of $1.2 billion, and and CEO Sir Graeme Harrison want bigger cuts. McDonalds has refused to help us resolve the situation. (For more info visit www.nzctu.org.nz/ANZCOlockout) These workers and their families need your financial and moral help. We will be fundraising and running informational pickets/protests at McDonalds through the country to help. We’ll start at a target store at 11am and then run smaller actions at other McDonalds in each area at 12 noon.
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
If you would just like to join us at a store, please write which store you would like to target below. If you would like to help us co-ordinate actions in your area, let us know below and contact me directly with your contact details and where you live so we can get you in touch with others. I will update a lits of regional contact people as they come in. We have five days to pull this off – start spreading the word!
In solidarity, Simon Oosterman
NZCTU Community Organiser cmplockout 021 885 410http://www.facebook.com/groups/211101752294033/

Locked out workers reject new offer, lockout continues http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1111/S00748/locked-out-workers-reject-new-offer-lockout-continues.htm

HENDERSON SQUARE (CATHRINE ST) IS NOT FOR SALE. KEEP IT AS PUBLIC SPACE.
Dear community groups and concerned individuals, Citizens against Privatisation intend to address the Henderson/Massey Local Board at 6pm Thur Dec 1st at the Council Chamber Henderson. We will demand that the Board abandon any plans to lease/privatise Henderson square (Catherine street). Please attend and support this event. Bring your issues and have your say! See below and SPREAD THE WORD by email, Facebook, Twitter and Text. Many thanks
Meredydd Barrar CAP.
CITIZENS AGAINST PRIVATISATION PRESS STATEMENT – HENDERSON SQUARE (Cathrine St) is not FOR SALE. Keep it as PUBLIC SPACE. Super City, Hendeson/ Massey Board intend to lease/privatise the Square to corporate Mall owners Westfeild and other private interests. CAP says. "The Super City Board is doing exactly what it was set up to do,putting corporate profit before us the community. We are calling on young and old, community groups annd residents to rally at the council chambers (Henderson} Thur 1st Dec at 6pm. "They ( the Board) are using the behaviour of a small number of young people to deprive us all of a public space". "We fear private security guards will be used to clear the Square. Will it be a case of being Maori/Pacifc Islander means your guilty? CAP believe the council already has the power to trespass or ban anyone for anti social behaviour. What are Maori Wardens for?" "Henderson Square is mostly a colourful place, with Buskers and a safe place for young and old to meet.God knows Kids have little money and few choices these days. Community groups use it to distribute literature hold meetings/rallies and much more.500 plus people gathered there to succesfully demand a Full Public Hospital for Waitakere. Just try and do any of these things on Westfeild property, you will last about 5mins,before being threatend off. If Westfeild and other interests get control of the Square we believe all these activities will be Trespassed off. Despite any assurances they or the Board make, we predict our rights will be denied "
Meredydd Barrar CAP

WEST PAPUA SOLIDARITY EVENTS ON 1 DECEMBER
Kia ora, there are two sections in this message: 1) information about West Papua Independence Day and the solidarity events in Wellington and Auckland on Thursday, 1 December; and 2) information about the Messages of solidarity for the people of West Papua initiative, something you can do wherever you are.
1) West Papua Independence Day, 1 December
West Papua has been occupied by the Indonesian military since it was handed over, against the will of the indigenous population, to Indonesia in 1963. For the past forty-eight years, the people of West Papua have been subjected to gross human rights violations including rape, torture, cultural genocide, murder and massacre – more than 100,000 West Papuans have been killed. Many live in exile because it is not safe for them to go home.

Multi-national corporations in cahoots with the Indonesian authorities have exploited West Papua’s natural resources to an extraordinary degree. This has caused massive social dislocation, devastation of rain forests, pollution of streams and rivers on which the local people depend for their survival, and serious human rights violations in areas where multinationals operate. 1 December is West Papua Independence Day, the anniversary of the 1961 West Papuan Declaration of Independence from Dutch colonial rule. In West Papua, people mark Independence Day in a variety of ways, including raising the Morning Star (the West Papuan flag) – despite the threat of arrest and murder. In previous years, the Indonesian military and police have responded with increased violent oppression around this day, arresting and killing those they perceive as pro-independence activists. West Papua Independence Day is marked by solidarity events around the world, including in Wellington and Auckland (see details below).
Wellington: Thursday, 1 December, at 1pm – Gathering in solidarity with the people of West Papua: join us to fly the Morning Star flag, with the opportunity to write a personal message in support of justice, peace and self-determination for West Papua if you wish. At 1pm, Parliament grounds, Wellington. You can RSVP to this event at pma
Auckland: Thursday, 1 December, at 12 noon – join the annual flag-raising of the Morning Star at midday at Aotea Square in front of the Town Hall, Auckland. Organised by the Indonesia Human Rights Committee, for more information contact email maire Thursday, 1 December, at 7pm – the Indonesia Human Rights Committee Annual General Meeting, including a power point power point presentation about West Papua, will be held at 7pm at the Peace Place, 22 Emily Place, Auckland City; for more information contact email maire
2) Messages of solidarity for the people of West Papua
You are invited to add your voice to those of people around the world who are calling for justice, peace and self-determination for the people of West Papua by writing a message of solidarity to go on the web page at pma [* only the town / city part of your address will be put on the web page, not your full address]. If you can help distribute ‘Messages of solidarity’ forms from stalls, or in newsletters or other mailouts, the printable copy of the form is at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/wpsol.pdf Thank you.
West Papua is in crisis
On October 19, heavily armed police opened live fire on a peaceful Congress in West Papuas capital. Participants were beaten and kicked in a brutal assault that killed at least 3 people the number may be as high as 17. Hundreds were detained. The crime? The banned Morning Star flag was displayed at the gathering, and the people symbolically elected their President, Forkorus Yaboisembut. But he is now in jail with five other leaders facing serious charges including treason. They will be in the company of many other political prisoners, including Filep Karma jailed for 15 years for his role in a 2004 December 1 flag-raising ceremony. A menacing security force presence is also ongoing near the remote Freeport McMoran mine, where an American multinational makes vast profits from the largest recoverable reserves of gold and copper in the world. Some 8,000 workers have been on strike since September seeking to lift their wages from the current hourly rate of around NZ $1-80 to $3.60 to parity with the wages paid to Freeports workers in other parts of the world.

Petrus Ayamiseba, one of the striking workers, was shot dead by the Indonesian police on October 10, provoking Papuan outrage and an unprecedented level of international union solidarity for the Freeport workers. Shootings and other violent deaths have taken place subsequently. Freeport is also under challenge for making cash payments to the police. www.indonesiahumanrights.org.nz

KIA ORA GAZA – URGENT APPEAL
In the first quarter of 2012 Kia Ora Gaza will join an international aid convoy to Gaza led by UK charity Viva Palestina. The convoy intends to break Israel’s illegal blockade of Gaza by linking up with Cairo’s democracy movement and entering through Egypt’s land gate. This strategy could well lead towards the permanent opening of Egypt’s gateway to Gaza, thus fatally wounding Israel’s cruel siege. That would be a truly world historic event. How can you reach out to the 1.5 million Palestinians imprisoned in Gaza? By donating towards our $50,000 Gaza Appeal to fund a four-person Kiwi Team and their humanitarian aid. Kia Ora Gaza has a proven track record. Our team was on last year’s Viva Palestina convoy which broke the Gaza blockade and delivered NZ$7 million in medical supplies. Can we do it again? That’s where you come in. Please donate generously to our $50,000 Gaza Appeal – and spread the word! To see how to donate, go to the sidebar of our website: http://kiaoragaza.net/ Or send a cheque to Kia Ora Gaza, PO Box 59007, Auckland.

Email: office

DOROTHY BROWN DIED PEACEFULLY AT HOME ON MONDAY, 28 NOVEMBER 2011.
This is a time of deep sadness for us here at Peace Movement Aotearoa, for the Anglican Pacifist Fellowship, the Aotearoa New Zealand Peace and Conflict Studies Centre Trust, and the National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, as well as the many other organisations and networks Dorothy was involved with, and everyone who knew her. Dorothy was a keenly committed and passionate advocate for peace and justice – as a life-long educator and, as those who know her know so well, working tirelessly for the establishment of a Peace and Conflict Studies centre here in Aotearoa New Zealand. An energetic, articulate, thoughtful, and caring woman with a great sense of humour, Dorothy was, and is, an inspiration to everyone whose life she touched. We will miss her very much. Our thoughts are with Dorothy’s family and friends at this time. Dorothy’s funeral will be held at All Saints Church, 284 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland, on Friday, 2 December at 1.30pm. No flowers please. Donations to the Aotearoa New Zealand Peace And Conflict Studies Centre, PO Box 56719, Dominion Road, Mt Eden, Auckland 1446 or left at the service. All communications to the Brown Family, PO Box 90088, Auckland.

The NZ Herald online guest book for Dorothy is at http://www.legacy.com/guestbook/nzherald-nz/guestbook.aspx?n=dorothy-brown&pid=154815388&cid=full

KEEP THE COAL IN THE HOLE SUMMER FESTIVAL – MATAURA, SOUTHLAND, NZ. 20-23 JANUARY 2012
You are warmly invitedto gather for a Summer Festival and camp. We will share ideas, skills, knowledge, enthusiasm and take action now to oppose lignite mining in the Mataura Valley. This event will be fun, friendly and 100% coal-free! Weve got the Festival Kaupapa, detailed Festival Information and our Programme. For more information or to get involved in Festival organising please Email Us.

PLAY: THE PITMEN PAINTERS
Lee Halls play is ablaze with intellectual vigour, political passion and incendiary emotional energy. A beautiful work of art that everybody should see. The Times. The Pitmen Painters is the true story of a group of English miners whose after-work art class reveals a wealth of hidden artistic talent. They are propelled overnight from the humble mines of the North East to a rich, intellectual art world. The pitmens raw, unpretentious paintings of mining life are an unexpected sensation. With a wealthy patron keen to take them under her wing, the miners are forced to choose between their working class roots and the lure of fame and success. (potent pause) PRODUCTIONS present the Auckland premiere of this internationally acclaimed play by Lee Hall, the Tony award-winning writer of Billy Elliot. Projections of the original paintings bring this story to life for art lovers and theatre fans alike. The Pitmen Painters is a humorous and arresting testament to the power of individual expression and collective spirit. Would you leave behind the world you know for a chance at fame? Proudly supported by: Auckland Council Arts Alive http://www.qtheatre.co.nz/the-pitmen-painters

EXPERIENCE THE REAL CUBA! JOIN THE 29TH ANNUAL SOUTHERN CROSS WORK-STUDY TOUR TO CUBA
Organised by the New Zealand – Australia Cuba Friendship Society 28 Dec 2011 to 20 Jan 2012. Be more than just a tourist join the 29th Southern Cross Work-Study Tour and support Cuba in the most direct manner by working alongside Cubans for a few days picking fruit, pruning or planting fruit trees or slashing grass and then visiting schools, hospitals, cultural sites & urban agriculture projects, etc. Youll experience at first hand the cultural, political and social conditions in socialist Cuba. This years program will give participants an opportunity to celebrate the 51st anniversary of ICAP & gain an insight into how the Cuban people have triumphed over adversity to keep the revolution strong. For more information about the 29th Contingent of the Southern Cross Brigade visit the Brigade Webpage , email us or call 027 226 9950.

WHAT’S ON

Friday, December 2, 5:30pm, Central Library Mezzanines Room, Wellington
Embassy of the Republic of Cuba would like to invite you to the first evening of a series of film screenings. There will be shared snacks and refreshments.

Feel free to bring your friends, everyone is welcome. Movie Trailer: secretaria

Friday, December 2, Victoria University, Wellington.
New Zealand Labour Law Society Inc (In conjunction with Victoria University of Wellington Law School). Invites you to attend its Inaugural Conference. The New Zealand Labour Law Society Inc will hold its inaugural conference at Victoria University of Wellington on Friday 2nd December 2011. This conference which occurs shortly after the election will focus on two main themes: Labour law across the Tasman and future directions in labour law. Labour Law Across the Tasman: Professor Andrew Stewart (University of Adelaide) will give an address on the current state of labour law in Australia and on the impact of the Australian government’s Fair Work reforms. Professor Richard Johnstone (Griffith University) will speak on Australia’s proposed model OHS law. Future Directions for Labour Law?: The conference date is one week after the 2011 General Election – the ideal opportunity for crystal ball gazing. In addition to keynote speakers and commentators the conference will also feature special sessions looking at future directions in selected areas of the law. These (depending on interest and papers received) are likely to include: Legal Challenges in Advancing Pay Equity, Good Faith Bargaining, Workplace Health and Safety, Employment Security, whether New Zealand should adopt a comprehensive National Employment Standards on the Australian Model. Enrol online now at the Early Bird rate of $200 -Places will be limited. Online enrolment is now open at www.victoria.ac.nz/law/about/events/2011/labour-law-conf.aspx

Saturday, December 3, 5.30pm 9pm, Grey Lynn Community Centre, 474 Great North Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland.
Join Kia Ora Gaza and friends for an evening of music, art and culture at the Grey Lynn Community Library Hall, THIS SATURDAY. Be entertained, and support a cause fundraising to send Kiwi’s to Gaza in early 2012, break Israel’s illegal siege on Gaza, and deliver much needed medical aid. Our team was on last year’s Viva Palestina convoy which broke the Gaza blockade and helped deliver NZ$7million in medical supplies. Kia Ora Gaza plan to do it again. Come down this Saturday, 3rd Dec, and show your support! "In our thousands, in our millions, we are all Palestinians"

Monday, December 5, 7.30pm, St Marks Catholic Church, 334 Pakuranga Rd, Pakuranga, Auckland
Remembering Fr. Fausto Tentorio: Pontifical Mission Society priest Fr. Fausto Tentorio was recently assassinated in Mindanao, the Philippines. Fr. Fausto was prominent in opposing exploitative practices of mining companies in Mindanao. Thirteen priests have been killed in Mindanao since 1970. The St Marks Catholic Justice & Peace Group will celebrate Fr Tentorios courageous work with the poor and indigenous people. We will pray the Office of the Dead and Amie Dural-Maga of Auckland Philippines Solidarity will speak on Fr Tentorio’s work for social justice.

Sunday, December 11, from 2.30pm to 4.30pm, Ponsonby Community Centre, 20 Ponsonby Terrace, Ponsonby, Auckland
You are invited to attend the Peace Movement Aotearoa Annual General Meeting With special guest Carol Archie, and a screening of ‘Family Land’. This invitation is available online at pma AGM Agenda: Apologies and remembrances, Minutes of the last AGM, Overview of Peace Movement Aotearoa’s work since the 2010 AGM, Presentation of the 2010/11 Financial Statements, Election of Working Group, General business, and Date and place of the next Annual General Meeting. Call for nominations to the Peace Movement Aotearoa Working Group (management committee): Working Group members should have a keen interest in peace and social justice issues, enthusiasm, a professional approach, a commitment to good employment practices, and be a Peace Movement Aotearoa member. If you wish to add items to the AGM agenda, send apologies, or nominate yourself or someone else to go on the Working Group, please contact email pma Peace Movement Aotearoa member group representatives: If you will be representing a Peace Movement Aotearoa member group at the AGM, please email pma in advance and let us know which group you are representing. Thank you.

Wednesday, December 14, 4.30-6pm, CTU, Level 7 Education House, 178 Willis Street, Wellington
PLEASE JOIN US TO FAREWELL OUR BURMESE STUDENTS: We hope you can join us for the graduation of and farewell to the students from the 2011 intake of the Burma Young Community Leaders programme. Please RSVP by December 9th to Karin Currie on 385-1334 or email: karinc

Saturday, December 17, 7pm, Thistle Hall (upstairs), Upper Cuba Street, Wellington
BOOK LAUNCH: Some Justice: a book of political poems and lyrics Hosted by Rebel Press. Rebel Press would like to warmly invite you to celebrate the launch of Some Justice: a book of political poems and lyrics by Ken Vicious, and to celebrate the end of 2011 and the birth of a new year. The party is on Saturday 17 December at 7pm at Thistle Hall (upstairs), Upper Cuba Street, Wellington and features readings from the book, along with music from Dead Vicious followed by dancing with DJs Frittermix and Snowpony. Some food and refreshments provided, but feel free to BYO, and pass this invite to other friends, comrades and family. Some Justice is a fundraiser for October 15th Solidarity and a proportion of the sale price of each book will go towards the fund. Cheers, the Rebel Press Collective

QUOTES OF THE WEEK
When pay for senior executives is set behind closed doors, does not reflect company success, and is fueling massive inequality, it represents a deep malaise at the very top of our society. http://highpaycommission.co.uk/uncategorized/final-report-of-the-high-pay-commission-published/ Deborah Hargreaves, chair, UK High Pay Commission, November 22, 2011, upon the release of the executive pay panel’s final report
"Capitalism is the astounding belief that the most wickedest of men will do the most wickedest of things for the greatest good of everyone." – John Maynard Keynes
"All tyrannies rule through fraud and force, but that once the fraud is exposed they must rely exclusively on force." – George Orwell
"When injustice becomes law resistance becomes duty." – Anonymous

BEST ON THE WEB

NEW ZEALAND
Peer Protesters Convictions Quashed http://www.jwire.com.au/news/peer-protesters-convictions-quashed/20381
1 million didn’t bother to vote http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10769246
On the election outcomes http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2011/11/28/gordon-campbell-on-the-election-outcomes/
Rout & Ruin http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/2011/11/rout-ruin.html
The Mori Party and tino rangatiratanga http://starspangledrodeo.blogspot.com/2011/02/maori-party-and-tino-rangatiratanga.html?utm_source=BP_recent&mid=53
Mixed feelings about score of 20,000 votes http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10769530
Moerewa at sharp end of punitive approach to National Standards http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1111/S00722/moerewa-at-sharp-end-of-punitive-approach.htm
New evidence shows stagnating incomes and greater rent burden http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1111/S00715/new-evidence-shows-stagnating-incomes-greater-rent-burden.htm
Gillard pledge offers catch up challenge to NZ http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1111/S00766/gillard-pledge-offers-catch-up-challenge-to-nz.htm
Immortal Technique comes to Auckland http://socialistaotearoa.blogspot.com/2011/11/immortal-technique-comes-to-auckland.html?mid=53
But will they vote? A Marxist analysis of Election ’11 http://socialistaotearoa.blogspot.com/2011/11/but-will-they-vote-marxist-analysis-of.html
Kindergarten teachers to vote on whether to accept or reject final pay offer http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED1111/S00206/kindergarten-teachers-to-vote-on-final-pay-offer.htm
18 per cent of Maori now live overseas http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10769488&mid=53
Auckland’s ethnic make-up will get shake-up by 2051 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10769489&mid=53
Rena: A deadly combination of tar and feathers http://www.nzherald.co.nz/environment/news/article.cfm?c_id=39&objectid=10769558&mid=53
POLICY WATCH, the fortnightly e-newsletter from the NZ Council of Christian Social Services. http://christiansocialservices.blogspot.com/

OCCUPY AOTEAROA
Auckland: Occupy Auckland http://www.occupyauckland.org/ Facebook http://www.facebook.com/OccupyAuck
Wellington: Occupy Wellington http://www.facebook.com/OccupyWellingtonNZ
Christchurch: Occupy tautahi Christchurch http://occupychristchurch.org/ Facebook http://www.facebook.com/occupychristchurch
Dunedin: Occupy Dunedin Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Occupy-Dunedin/141220149310691

OCCUPY WALL STREET
Paul Le Blanc addresses #Occupy Boston: History, power, demands and the Occupy movement http://links.org.au/node/2612
Time to Retake Politics From the One Percent in Both Political Parties http://www.truth-out.org/time-retake-politics-one-percent-both-political-parties/1322491435
The Democratic Promise of Occupy Wall Street by: William Greider, The Nation http://www.truth-out.org/democratic-promise-occupy-wall-street/1322509172
The Occupy movements are the realists, not Europe’s ruling elites – The protesters realise our post-cold-war settlement is at stake unlike a political class in thrall to a defunct market utopia by John Gray http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/nov/15/occupy-realists-europe-ruling-elites
We Are the 99.9% By PAUL KRUGMAN http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/25/opinion/we-are-the-99-9.html?_r=2&ref=opinion
The Rich Get Richer Off the Backs of the Poor http://www.asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3986&Itemid=224
Pepper-Spray Creator Decries Use of Chemical Agent on Peaceful Occupy Wall Street Protesters
Reports from Occupy: 11/30 http://socialistworker.org/2011/11/30/reports-from-occupy-11-30
OWS and the Power of Creative Protest http://www.alternet.org/story/153215/ows_and_the_power_of_creative_protest?akid=7907.145638.yR4u1Q&rd=1&t=12

LAND, LABOUR & THE ENVIRONMENT
Ecosocialist Resources, 31 http://climateandcapitalism.com/?p=6009
Indigenous statement condemns REDD http://climateandcapitalism.com/?p=6020
The peoples democratic struggle and the struggle for the environment. An interview with Fred Magdoff http://climateandcapitalism.com/?p=6016
Patrick Bond: Welcome to Durban (excerpt from new book, Durbans Climate Gamble) http://links.org.au/node/2620
The Scandal Of Global Hunger By War On Want http://www.countercurrents.org/fsr261111.pdf
Saving And Sharing Food: World produces enough food for the year 2050. The problem is access and distribution By Devinder Sharma

http://www.countercurrents.org/dsharma261111.htm
Arctic Sea Ice Shrinking At ‘Unprecedented’ Levels By Emily Chung http://www.countercurrents.org/chung241111.htm
Trends And Tipping Point In The Climate System: Portents For The 21st Century By Andrew Glikson – This paper examines deep-time perspectives of 20th to early 21st centuries trends in the atmosphere-ocean system with reference to future climate change projections http://www.countercurrents.org/glikson241111.pdf

WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS
Tax avoidance by multinationals: this shameful game must stop http://www.ei-ie.org/en/news/news_details/2022
Why Iceland Should Be in the News, But Is Not http://www.truth-out.org/why-iceland-should-be-news-not/1322327303?mid=53
The next banking crisis http://socialistworker.org/2011/11/30/the-next-banking-crisis
The End of Poverty? Documentary – Filmmaker Philippe Diaz examines the history and impact of economic inequality in the third world, and makes the compelling argument that it’s not an accident or simple bad luck that has created a growing underclass around the world.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article29844.htm

FEATURES
West is ‘slouching towards Tehran via Damascus’ http://www.ufppc.org/us-a-world-news-mainmenu-35/10706/
Disruption, yet community reconstitution: subverting the privatization of Latin American plazas http://www.springerlink.com/content/x7715g2006rj1743/
ALBA giving hope and solidarity to Latin America http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/49622
Portugal and the drug war – The decriminalisation of drugs in Portugal has been a success, but austerity measures may threaten drug treatment. http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2011/11/201111211444824612.html
U.S. Intervention in the Middle East – This partial chronology of U.S. intervention in the Middle East illustrates the lengths to which the U.S. power structure has gone to gain and maintain U.S. domination of the Middle East–a region considered key to the U.S.’s standing as an imperialist world power.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article6308.htm
The US Game Plan For Egypt and The Arab World By Noam Chomsky Click to view http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article29825.htm

AFGHANISTAN
Dead Afghan Kids Still Not Newsworthy By Peter Hart – Back in March, we wondered when U.S. corporate news outlets would find U.S./NATO killing of Afghan kids newsworthy. Back then, it was nine children killed in a March 1 airstrike. This resulted in two network news stories on the evening or morning newscasts, and two brief references on the PBS NewsHour. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article29847.htm

CUBA
Cuba seeks socialist renewal http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/49620

EGYPT
The people fight for real freedom http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/49616
The Revolution Continues http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/revolution-continues

IRAN
Target Iran: Washington’s Countdown to War By Tom Burghardt – The Iranian people know what it means to earn the enmity of the global godfather.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article29838.htm

LIBYA

Libya leaders acknowledge abuse of prisoners: The acknowledgment comes a day after the U.N. released report a detailing alleged torture and ill treatment in lockups controlled by the forces that overthrew dictator Moammar Gadhafi. http://news.yahoo.com/libya-leaders-acknowledge-abuse-prisoners-124133411.html
Libya says ex-deputy PM suspect in general’s killing: – Libya’s National Transitional Council (NTC) said on Monday a former NTC deputy prime minister was suspected of involvement in the killing of one of the rebel movement’s most senior military commanders. http://www.asharq-e.com/news.asp?section=1&id=27480
Libya Leaders Supported by "Money, Arms, PR"- Ex-premier By Reuters – One of the most senior figures in Libya’s outgoing government has denounced its leaders as an unelected elite, supported by "money, arms and PR," and warned that 90 percent of Libya is politically voiceless. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article29807.htm
This Was Always a Civil War, and the Victors are not Merciful By Patrick Cockburn – The National Transitional Council, whose control is largely theoretical, is not in a position to stop this purge because many of its members are themselves frightened of being accused of links with the old regime. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article29808.htm
More questions than answers about NATO’s Libya role: The reasons and the consequences behind NATO’s bombing on the Libyan town of Majer still remain unclear three months on. Deutsche Welle visited the scene of one of the darkest episodes in Libya’s war. http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15548186,00.html

MEXICO
International banks have aided Mexican drug gangs: Banking powerhouse Wachovia Corp. last year agreed to pay $160 million in forfeitures and fines after U.S. federal prosecutors accused it of "willfully" overlooking the suspicious character of more than $420 billion in transactions between the bank and Mexican currency-exchange houses – much of it probably drug money, investigators say. http://lat.ms/sxNKlt

NICARAGUA
Nicaragua: Improvements in Social and Economic Well-Being and the Nov. 6 Elections http://www.cepr.net/index.php/blogs/cepr-blog/nicaragua-improvements-in-social-and-economic-well-being-and-the-nov-6-elections

PACIFIC
Exodus in Papua amid fears of crackdown http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/exodus-in-papua-amid-fears-of-crackdown-20111127-1o10t.html

PAKISTAN
‘Bugsplat’: The ugly US drone war in Pakistan: It’s time for the US to re-examine the consequences of its dehumanising, deadly attacks in Pakistan.

http://bit.ly/sI9Non
Pakistan Has Had Enough By Simon Tisdall – The belief that weak, impoverished, divided Pakistan has no alternative but to slavishly obey its master’s voice could turn out to be one of the seminal strategic miscalculations of the 21st century. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article29826.htm

PALESTINE
Europeans call on supermarkets and governments to take Israeli apartheid off the menu http://www.bdsmovement.net/2011/europeans-call-apartheid-8493#.TtLa_laDi9I
Rage in Israel as BNP Paribas pressured to pull out http://english.themarker.com/rage-in-israel-as-bnp-paribas-pressured-to-pull-out-1.397408
America: The Silence of a Nation

PHILIPPINES
Groups ask govt swift justice for Ampatuan massacre victims http://www.cbcpnews.com/?q=node%2F17711&mid=539

SYRIA
It’s Not About Freedom, It’s All About Iran By Marwan Al Kabalan – Syria’s foes have seized the opportunity provided by the crisis to try to change regional balance of power in their favour. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article29810.htm

USA
‘The Precariat’ on rise in America http://www.masslive.com/business-news/index.ssf/2011/10/the_precariat_on_rise_in_america.html
NBA Lockout Ends and Players Get Played http://www.thenation.com/blog/164822/nba-lockout-ends-and-players-get-played?rel=emailNation
Secret Fed Loans Gave Banks $13 Billion http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-28/secret-fed-loans-undisclosed-to-congress-gave-banks-13-billion-in-income.html
Labor war in Longview – The small city of Longview in southwestern Washington state is currently ground zero for one of the most militant U.S. labor struggles in decades. http://socialistworker.org/2011/11/30/labor-war-in-longview

OLDER ANNOUNCEMENTS

WAIHOPAI SPYBASE PROTEST JANUARY 20-22, 2012
The Waihopai spybase was subjected to unprecedented public attention by the March 2010 trial and acquittal of the three Ploughshares peace activists who penetrated its high security in 2008 and deflated one of the two domes concealing its satellite dishes from the NZ public. This legal saga has continued into 2011 with the Government changing the law to prevent their grounds of defence being used again and then suing the three activists personally for the $1.2 million damage to the dome. The Anti-Bases Campaign was happy to support this non-violent direct action anti-war activity, from start to finish. The public face of New Zealands role as an American ally is the NZ military presence in Afghanistan. But New Zealands most significant contribution to that, and other American wars, including the one in Iraq, is the Waihopai electronic intelligence gathering base, located in the Waihopai Valley, near Blenheim. It is controlled by the US, with New Zealand (including Parliament and the Prime Minister) having little or no idea what goes on there, let alone any control. First announced in 1987, Waihopai is operated by New Zealands Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) in the interests of the foreign Powers grouped together in the super-secret UKUSA Agreement (which shares global electronic and signals intelligence among the intelligence agencies of the US, UK, Canada, Australia and NZ). Its two satellite interception dishes intercept a huge volume of civilian telephone calls, telexes, faxes, e-mail and computer data communications. It spies on our Asia/Pacific neighbours, and forwards the material on to the major partners in the UKUSA Agreement, specifically the US National Security Agency (NSA). Its targets are international civilian communications involving New Zealanders, including the interception of international phone calls. Post- 9/11 the GCSB and Waihopai now spy further afield, to those regions where the US is waging wars. The codename for this Echelon has become notorious worldwide as the vast scope of its spying has become public. New Zealand is an integral, albeit junior part of a global spying network, a network that is ultimately accountable only to its own constituent agencies, not governments, not citizens. Join us for the weekend of anti-war protest at this spybase. Come prepared for roughing it and camping out. We provide the food (we cater for vegetarians but vegans will have to bring their own). Bring sleeping bag, groundsheet, a tent, torch, water bottle, eating utensils, clothing for all weather, and $40 (or $20 unwaged) to cover costs. No open fires. 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. Follow the steep Port Underwood Road over the hilltop before descending to the Whites Bay turnoff. There is a DoC public camp at the bay with basic facilities. ABC has to pay a fixed charge per head. Waihopai does not operate in the interests of New Zealanders or our neighbours. Basically it is a foreign spybase on NZ soil and directly involves us in Americas wars. Waihopai must be closed. Organised by the Anti-Bases Campaign, P.O. Box 2258, Christchurch. E-mail cafca www.converge.org.nz/abc $40 Registration ($20 unwaged). Make all cheques to ABC