GPJA #416: Join striking Talley’s AFFCO Wiri workers at 7:30 tommorow, Thursday 15 March at Dalgety Drive, Wiri

GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND NEWSLETTER No. 416, March 14, 2012

Apologies for multiple sending – we had multiple formatting problems!!

Join striking Talley’s AFFCO Wiri workers at 7:30 tommorow, Thursday 15 March at Dalgety Drive, Wiri
Forty Meat Workers Union (MWU) members from Talley’s AFFCO Wiri. The site is 100% union and will be closed during the strike. Strike in solidarity with 1,000 locked out meat workers across the North Island. Dalgesty Drive, Wiri. (You can’t miss the picket!) From 07:30am unil 09:00am on Thursday 15 March. Please remember to bring your banners, placards and megaphones. For more information contact Simon Oosterman on 021 885 410. Event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/316597768404880/

GPJA April Forum: Monday 9th April, 7.30pm at Trades Hall, 147 Great North Road, Grey Lynn
Supporting the Palestinian struggle: Vivienne Porzsolt and Roger Fowler speaking. Vivienne Porzsolt, is a spokesperson for Jews Against the Occupation Sydney. Over the years, Vivienne has been engaged in a range of social justice work: the trade union movement, feminism, anti-racism including anti-apartheid and over the last 20 years, in working for a just peace in Israel-Palestine where Jews and Palestinians can live side by side in mutual respect and equality. Vivienne says: “I cannot abide what Israel is doing in my name and in that of all Jews. As a Jew I feel a special obligation to oppose it in the traditions of Jewish ethics abandoned by Israel and its Zionist supporters". She was with a group of protesters who tried to travel on a flotilla hoping to break the naval blockade in Gaza in July 2011. When the Freedom Flotilla, which included New Zealand activist Harmeet Sooden on the MV Tahrir, was turned back by the Greek coast guard, Porzsolt and NSW Green MP Sylvia Hale flew to Israel instead where they were detained by Israeli authorities for daring to say their intention in coming to Israel was to ‘visit Palestine.’ They were due for deportation but appealed this successfully in an Israeli court. Vivienne took part in the march in Jerusalem for an independent Palestine and the first march of the huge tent protests in Tel Aviv. Roger Fowler is spokesperson for Kia Ora Gaza which is a New Zealand based campaign to support the upcoming Viva Palestina Arabia International aid convoy aiming to break the Israeli siege of Gaza. The convoy, bearing construction aid, departs London on 22 April, and is due to arrive in Gaza on 15 May. Roger is one of four kiwis going with $40,000 raised for aid materials so far. For more information and for people wishing to donate to their Gaza Appeal visit http://kiaoragaza.net/ Israeli war planes and troops have frequently attacked Gaza since their brutal 22-day invasion three years ago, which left 1,400 Palestinians dead. In the last few weeks these attacks have intensified with dozens of Palestinians killed. Most victims are civilians, including women and children. Gaza has also been subjected to a crippling siege since 2007 when democratic elections resulted in a Hamas government.

PORTS OF AUCKLAND DISPUTE

PORT DISPUTE MEDIA

Next step in attempt to protect secure jobs for Ports workers http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1203/S00151/next-step-to-protect-secure-jobs-for-ports-workers.htm

Ports management disregard for privacy deeply disturbing http://union.org.nz/news/2012/ports-management-disregard-privacy-deeply-disturbing

International union solidarity with Auckland port workers results in Maersk Announcement http://union.org.nz/news/2012/international-union-solidarity-auckland-port-workers-results-maersk-announcement

Auckland Save our port rally: ITF speech http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1203/S00118/auckland-save-our-port-rally-itf-speech.htm

Matt McCarten: Mayor’s leadership feeling the strain http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10791168

Head to head: Who’s to blame for port crisis? http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/6545765/Head-to-head-Whos-to-blame-for-port-crisis

Australian and US unions lend weight to port strike By Mathew Dearnaley http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10789833

Port dispute all about greed http://dl.dropbox.com/u/18076151/Port%20dispute%20all%20about%20greed.pdf

Ports of Auckland Action is Unacceptable http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1203/S00141/ports-of-auckland-action-is-unacceptable.htm

Brown gets his just desserts http://socialistaotearoa.blogspot.co.nz/2012/03/brown-gets-his-just-desserts.html

Mass blockade needed at Ports of Auckland http://socialistaotearoa.blogspot.co.nz/2012/03/mass-blockade-needed-at-ports-of.html

Greens: Leak to blogger must be investigated http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1203/S00187/leak-to-blogger-must-be-investigated.htm

Jackson incites wharfies to violence http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/wharfies-should-get-violent-former-mp-ck-112575

Jackson pulls back from port comments http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/6559219/Port-protesters-block-entrance

Ports dispute could mean higher prices for consumers http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/100734/ports-dispute-could-mean-higher-prices-for-consumers

Why I think that Auckland is getting scammed http://thestandard.org.nz/why-i-think-that-auckland-is-getting-scammed/

Mayor, Church mediation offers in Ports dispute warmly welcomed http://www.munz.org.nz/2012/03/11/mayor-church-mediation-offers-in-ports-dispute-warmly-welcomed/

New Zealand’s firefighters to join mass protest http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1203/S00106/new-zealands-firefighters-to-join-mass-protest.htm

WHAT’S ON

Thursday, March 15, 6pm, Pacific Media Centre, WT1004, AUT Tower, Auckland
Pacific Media Centre Film/Seminar: There Once Was An Island – Climate change in the Pacific. A FEATURE DOCUMENTARY: Three people in a unique Pacific Island community face the first devastating effects of climate change, including a terrifying flood. Will they decide to stay with their island home or move to a new and unfamiliar land, leaving their culture and language behind forever? This is the reality for the culturally unique Polynesian community of Takuu, a tiny low-lying atoll north-east of Bougainville in Papua New Guinea. As a terrifying tidal flood rips through their already damaged home, the Takuu community experiences the devastating effects of climate change first hand. In this verité-style film, There Once was an Island, three intrepid characters Teloo, Endar and Satty, allow us into their lives and their culture and show us firsthand the human impact of an environmental crisis. Two scientists, oceanographer John Hunter and geomorphologist Scott Smithers, investigate the situation with our characters and consider the impact of climate change on communities without access to resources or support. Intimate observational scenes allow Teloo, Endar and Satty to take us on their personal journeys as they consider whether to move to an uncertain future in Bougainville or to stay on Takuu and fight for a different, but equally uncertain, outcome. This film gives a human face to the direct impacts of climate change in the Pacific, challenging audiences everywhere to consider their own relationship to the earth and the other people on it. This public screening and workshop is ideal for student journalists and industry media people working on environmental and climate change assignments. Film producer Lyn Collie will introduce the documentary and take part in discussion on the many issues raised. Papua New Guinean journalist Henry Yamo and Kiribati climate change and media researcher Taberannang Korauaba will also be part of the presentation. All welcome.

Thursday, March 15, 7pm, 18 Sunnyside Rd, Sunnyvale Community Hall, Sunnyvale
Film: Someone Else’s Country. This film by Alistair Barry is his best known. It can be purchased online at [NZ Onscreen]. which also features his other full-length documentaries on New Zealand’s political history: In a Land of Plenty (2002), A Civilised Society (2006), Close Up – Big Dealers, a 1987 TV episode featuring John Key’s political views at that time. It is about the Lange-Douglas years of politics in New Zealand: when a New Right element emerged within the Labour government after its re-election in 1984, Someone Else’s Country looks critically at the radical economic changes implemented by the Labour Government – where privatisation of state assets was part of a wider agenda that sought to remake New Zealand as a model free market state.

Monday, March 17, 7pm, Owen Glen Builidng, Grafton Rd, University of Auckland
Screening of END:CIV with director Franklin López and live video link to Derrick Jensen. Event website: http://standupak.weebly.com/index.html At last, a film that faces up to the root causes of environmental destruction being wreaked by industrial capitalism. This hard-hitting film argues that we cannot halt the forces destroying the earth by changing our lifestyle or turning to ‘green consumerism’ and must instead dismantle the system itself. END:CIV rejects the tactics of the mainstream environmental movement and issues a call to arms before it is too late. Based in part on Endgame, the best-selling book by Derrick Jensen, END:CIV asks: "If your homeland was invaded by aliens who cut down the forests, poisoned the water and air, and contaminated the food supply, would you resist?" Schedule: Start: 7:00 pm; 7:05 – Welcome; 7:10 – 8:25 – Film screening of END:CIV; 8:25 – Franklin López (director); And by video link: 8:45 – Derrick Jensen (author of Endgame and Deep Green Resistance); 9:15 – Lierre Keith (co-author of Deep Green Resistance). Tickets Early Bird (available online): $8.00. Standard: $10.00. Unemployed/Low Income: $5.00. Profits (if any) will be donated to Occupy Auckland and Deep Green Resistance

Wednesday, 12.30pm-1.30pm, Government Building Lecture Theatre One, March 21, Wellington
A Bolt from the Blue: examining the National Government changes to the NZ aid programme in 2009 and what they mean now – a seminar presentation by Jo Spratt, New Zealand Aid and Development Dialogues. All welcome – no RSVP required. Jo Spratt is the Coordinator for NZADDs. She currently works as a consultant in the Pacific. She has a background as a nurse, followed by Director roles with Family Planning’s international unit – Family Planning International, and in Fiji with the Sub-Regional Office of the Pacific for International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF). Jo has qualifications in nursing, political science, development, public health and NGO management. Her areas of interest include public policy, aid, development, health, women’s rights, and organisational change and management.

Saturday, April 28, 3pm, britomart, Downtown, Auckland
Aotearoa Is Not For Sale demonstration: Let’s get out in our thousands to march up Queen Street next month and show we’re serious that AOTEAROA IS NOT FOR SALE. For: retaining and developing public assets and services – keeping our schools, prisons, universities, hospitals and ports publicly owned; affordable electricity, education and housing; workers’ right to a good job and a liveable wage. Against: privatisation of public services, sale of public assets to private investors (local AND overseas), casualisation of labour, privatisation and pillage of our country’s resources. Most New Zealanders don’t want our public assets sold to private investors; whether they are American, Chinese, German or Kiwi, it is not in our interests to put our future into the hands of a few billionaires whose primary incentive is to make a profit for themselves. Our public assets, our schools, our jobs and our homes are all under attack. New Zealand is for sale. Come to the demonstration on Saturday April 28th to defend Aotearoa and force the government to put a stop to this madness. Invite everyone you know. 3pm Saturday April 28th, From Britomart, downtown Auckland. http://www.facebook.com/events/334873306563769/

ANNOUNCEMENTS

"IT’S TIME TO RETURN TO PALESTINE" – MESSAGE FROM KIA ORA GAZA
This weekend of escalating violence in Gaza, the worst since Israel’s deadly ‘Cast Lead’ attacks 3 years ago, has resulted in 16 Gazan deaths and at least 30 injured. Many of those killed by Israeli fighter jets or drones, had their heads blasted off. Some groups of Gazan militants retaliated with a barrage of largely ineffective mortars over the border fences. Israel claims their victims were ‘planning to attack Israel’. Three were killed near the Palestinian Legislative Council buildings, which suffered severe damage during the Cast Lead bombardments. The Kia Ora Gaza team saw that destruction during the Viva Palestina convoy visit in 2010. "Many world leaders who talk about ‘defending democracy’, failed to condemn Israel’s attacks on the parliament buildings of the democratically elected government in Gaza" observed Kia Ora Gaza team leader, Roger Fowler. Responding to the latest attacks, Kevin Ovenden, who will lead the next Viva Palestina 6 aid convoy from London next month, declared "It’s time to return to Palestine – physically and in our actions". People wishing to support the Kiwi team on this siege-busting convoy, can visit office

ROGER AWARD FINALIST TRANSGRESSES ON A GLOBAL SCALE
The Campaign Against Foreign Control of Aotearoa (CAFCA) declares its solidarity with the Canadian members of the United Steelworkers Union who are currently visiting New Zealand (Invercargill today; Wellington tomorrow) to gain support for their struggle against contracting out by their employer, Rio Tinto Alcan. Their struggle bears an uncanny resemblance to that being waged by the Maritime Union against Ports of Auckland Ltd contracting out their jobs. And Rio Tinto Alcan has used the same tactic – namely, the indefinite lockout –as Affco has against its’ meat workers in the North Island. Our Canadian visitors need to know that Rio Tinto Alcan is also a recidivist corporate offender in this country, being one of the eight finalists in the annual Roger Award for the Worst Transnational Corporation Operating in Aotearoa/New Zealand in 2011. New Zealand Aluminium Smelters Ltd/Rio Tinto Alcan NZ Ltd (notorious for decades under its previous name of Comalco) has been a regular finalist and was runner up in both the 2009 and 08 Roger Awards (you will find the Judges’ Reports for those years at http://canterbury.cyberplace.co.nz/community/CAFCA/publications/Roger/index.html . In 2011 the nominator put in a detailed (even footnoted) nomination of the owners of the Bluff aluminium smelter for a new reason – for lobbying two Governments “over several years to secure to secure excessive allocations of free emissions units under the NZ Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS)… NZAS/Rio Tinto has interfered in a democratic process via political lobbying through its industry advocate the Greenhouse Policy Coalition in order to dodge a tax (greenhouse gas pricing under the NZETS), and to profit from the ETS through excessive free allocation of emissions units….there is very little doubt that the NZETS unit allocation rules are so distorted that the smelter would face a higher carbon price if it were exempted from obligations under the NZETS and just paid its electricity bills”. This is the same transnational which, only a few years ago, threatened to quit NZ if the ETS went ahead. If you can’t beat them, you might as well make money out of them, eh. A whole book could be written about this company’s misdeeds in New Zealand and a good place to refresh your memory about its outrageous early history here is our 30 year old classic comic booklet “The Amazing Adventures Of NZ’s No.1 Power Junky: The True Story Of Comalco In NZ” (online at http://www.historicalwatchdog.blogspot.co.nz/2009/01/comalco-comic.html . It’s an oldie but a goody. The winner/s of the 2011 Roger Award will be announced at an event in Christchurch on the night of Friday April 20th. The full list of finalists and other details are at http://canterbury.cyberplace.co.nz/community/CAFCA/publications/Roger/2011finalists.html

NZ NOT FOR SALE CAMPAIGN CHANGING EMPHASIS
Dear NZ Not For Sale Campaign affiliates and supporters, Thank you for your support and action in 2011 as we jointly and separately campaigned to raise awareness of the dangers in the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement, and to build public opposition to it. Unfortunately a National-led government which is committed to pushing ahead with this appalling agreement was re-elected at the end of 2011, and so the need to campaign against it continues. However, since then there have been two developments which mean that we believe it is time for the NZNFS Campaign to shift focus a little, and play a somewhat different role in resourcing and supporting action around de-regulated trade and investment agreements. Firstly, there has been the positive development of a TPP Action group in Wellington, which is now producing a regular fortnightly news bulletin, TPPWatch Action Bulletin, which you can read and subscribe to via the TPPWatch website, cafca and let us know. Once again – thank you for your support and action over the past year of campaigning, and we hope to continue working with you all in the future. Murray Horton, Convenor, NZ Not For Sale Campaign. Christine Dann, Secretary/Spokesperson, NZ Not For Sale Campaign

JOIN THE BDS GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION ON 30 MARCH 2012!
Palestinian BDS National Committee info http://www.bdsmovement.net/2012/bds-global-day-action-201-8667 Commemorating Land Day, the Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC) invites people of conscience around the world to unite for a BDS Global Day of Action on 30 March 2012 in solidarity with the Palestinian people’s struggle for freedom, justice and equality and for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel until it fully complies with its obligations under international law. Let’s showcase our BDS successes through creative actions and media efforts and mobilize for the World Social Forum Free Palestine in November 2012. First launched at the World Social Forum in 2009, the BDS Global Day of Action on 30 March coincides with Palestinian Land Day, initiated in 1976, when Israeli security forces shot and killed six Palestinian citizens of Israel and injured many in an attempt to crush popular protest against ongoing theft of Palestinian-owned land. Thirty-six years on, Israel continues to entrench its regime of occupation, colonization and apartheid and intensify its grave violations of the basic rights of Palestinians everywhere, whether those living under occupation, citizens of Israel, or the majority of the Palestinians, the refugees. In the past year we have continued to witness a historic outburst of people power motivated by the desire for justice and freedom from tyranny and corporate greed. There is renewed belief in popular struggles as a means to achieve human emancipation and empowerment. Ordinary people have bravely stood up to the decades-old regimes of the Arab region, overcoming their fears and challenging their longstanding subjugation. Largely inspired by the Arab popular upheavals and earlier, similar uprisings across Latin America, people across the world have vocally “occupied” the centers of corporate exploitation or otherwise mobilized to demand social justice and an end to devastating wars. The ‘Arab Spring’ has given new impetus to the ongoing struggle against imperial hegemony in the global south and a new reach for the alternatives to neoliberalism. The global 99% are further uniting and connecting their struggles for justice, rights and dignity. In this spirit of shared struggle, we invite Palestine solidarity activists and all those active in social justice and human rights causes worldwide to use this day of action to launch a far reaching mobilization effort towards the upcoming World Social Forum Free Palestine to be held in Porto Alegre, Brazil, in November 2012 and to take action to highlight and develop the key campaigns of our global movement. Read the action call in full and ideas for action: http://www.bdsmovement.net/2012/bds-global-day-action-201-8667

GLOBAL MARCH TO JERUSALEM MARCH 30, 2012
Join the world to demand real change! In two short weeks the world will join in solidarity with Palestinians to demand real change in their struggle for human rights. Land convoys will arrive from India and South Africa. Marches will commence from several locations toward Jerusalem in the West Bank and historical Palestine (Israel). Creative actions and large rallies will occur in Gaza. Palestinian refugees and their supporters will march towards Jerusalem and then hold mass rallies near the borders in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt. While solidarity demonstrations will take place around the world on Land Day March 30, 2012. In the United States the Occupy movements in Washington DC and San Francisco are planning to participate. And other actions in the US and Canada are sure to happen.

http://www.gmj-na.org/home.html

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

“If you believe in leveling the playing field, there’s something troubling about the fact that what makes a candidate be taken seriously is their ability to raise money from the wealthy.” Richard Hasen, University of California at Irvine School of Law, The Day, March 6, 2012

“Until Finance Ministers recast the debt crisis for bankers as an unemployment crisis for workers, their actions will be out of step with the needs of everyday people” – Sharan Burrow, ITUC General Secretary

STATS OF THE WEEK

America’s richest 1 percent, notes DePaul University’s Paul Buchheit, now take in three more dollars for every one they took home in 1980. The nation’s poorest 90 percent have added one cent for every dollar earned in 1980.

BEST ON THE WEB

NEW ZEALAND

Susan St John: Achilles heel of National’s welfare reform http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10789075

Petition stalks Banks, Brash http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/latest-edition/6555733/Petition-stalks-Banks-Brash

CAB says Fuel Poverty an increasing problem http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1203/S00147/cab-says-fuel-poverty-an-increasing-problem.htm

The great betrayal of our poorer folk http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10789607

Call over vulnerable children http://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/200066/call-over-vulnerable-children

Wikileaks’ Latest On What US Thinks Of NZ http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/6519429/WikiLeaks-proves-brutal-US-diplomacy

GE-Free Status a Benefit For NZ, Chinese Decision Shows http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1203/S00145/ge-free-status-a-benefit-for-nz-chinese-decision-shows.htm

EDS calls for urgent action to halt the catastrophic decline in Maui’s dolphin http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1203/S00157/calls-for-urgent-action-on-mauis-dolphin.htm

ABC: Windflow & General Dynamics: Old Proverbial Hits the Turbine http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1203/S00154/windflow-general-dynamics-old-proverbial-hits-the-turbine.htm

After deadly Israeli attacks, Kia Ora Gaza heads to besieged Gaza http://www.kiaoragaza.net/

Media freedom and independence under threat http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/media-freedom-and-independence-under-threat-ck-112394

Silencing the sources http://www.odt.co.nz/opinion/editorial/201274/silencing-sources

Learning from Britain’s mistakes – Dr Mike Beard warns those advocating private financing for public hospitals to take heed of Britain’s experience. http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/opinion/perspective/6563725/Learning-from-Britains-mistakes

Waiting For The Man: An interview with new Labour leader, David Shearer by Gordon Campbell http://werewolf.co.nz/2012/03/waiting-for-the-man/

Govt ready to rein in student loans ‘in big way’: Key http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10791831

Chris Trotter: When the Government is no longer afraid of its people http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/opinion/columnists/6548470/When-the-Government-is-no-longer-afraid-of-its-people

Women’s Day should highlight shameful pay equity http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1203/S00104/womens-day-should-highlight-shameful-pay-equity.htm

MANA Opposes Northland Mining http://mana.net.nz/2012/03/mana-opposes-northland-mining-hone-harawira/

Is this Government trying to kill itself? CHRIS TROTTER http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/columnists/chris-trotter/6508330/Is-this-Government-trying-to-kill-itself

WORKRIGHTS NZ

Matt McCarten: Corporate sadists free to drive workers into dirt http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10789575

Time for AFFCO to end Lockout http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1203/S00430/time-for-affco-to-end-lockout.htm

One Thousand New Zealand Meat Workers Locked-Out at Talleys/AFFCO: Talley’s/AFFCO has locked out 1,000 meat workers in an attempt to force them and their union, the New Zealand Meat Workers’ Union, to accept changes to their collective agreement – changes which will make it easy for the company to impose individual contracts on workers and thereby to set wages unilaterally. Changes which will eventually destroy the Core Collective Agreement now applicable to AFFCO’s 8 plants in New Zealand’s Northern Island. http://cms.iuf.org/?q=node/1501

Locked out meat workers launch ‘0900 LOCK OUT’ http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1203/S00131/locked-out-meat-workers-launch-0900-lock-out.htm

Roger Award Finalists Just Keep on Digging Themselves a Deeper Hole http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1203/S00030/roger-award-finalists-just-keep-on-digging.htm

Foreign charter vessel mess needs fix http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/opinion/6569120/Foreign-charter-vessel-mess-needs-fix

Foreing fishing Recommendations seen as not sufficient http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/99870/recommendations-seen-as-not-sufficient

Action on fishing abuse escalates http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6519414/Action-on-fishing-abuse-escalates

2500 jobs gone but state service saves only $20m http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/6516437/2500-jobs-gone-but-state-service-saves-only-20m

Public service cuts: The big stretch http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10789478

NZH: Editorial: Time to halt exploitation on high seas http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10789195

NZ ECONOMY

Bryan Gould: Our workers being squeezed by the bottom line http://www.nzherald.co.nz/employment/news/article.cfm?c_id=11&objectid=10791794

New Zealand: Billionaires’ playground http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10791406

TPPA Negotiations Slowed By Resistance To US Demands (Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network)

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1203/S00206/tppa-negotiations-slowed-by-resistance-to-us-demands.htm

FEATURES

A Conversation on Occupy By Noam Chomsky http://www.zcommunications.org/a-conversation-by-noam-chomsky

Who Cares About Revolutionary Socialism?by Ed Lewis, Paul LeBlanc – Paul LeBlanc is Professor of History and Political Science at La Roche College, Pittsburgh. He is the author of a number of books on revolutionary and radical politics, most recently Marx, Lenin and the Revolutionary Experience and Work and Struggle: Voices from U.S. Labor Radicalism. He spoke to Ed Lewis about the Get Political campaign, which aims to bring radical activists of today into critical engagement with the ideas of Lenin, Trotsky and Rosa Luxemburg. http://www.newleftproject.org/index.php/site/article_comments/who_cares_about_revolutionary_socialism

The War On WikiLeaks Is Now Trial By Media In Sweden By John Pilger – Like the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, attacks on Iran and Syria require a steady drip-effect on readers’ and viewers’ consciousness. This is the essence of a propaganda that rarely speaks its name. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article30770.htm

Stratfor: Blood On Their Hands – And it gets worse By Khadija Sharife – With their emails, Stratfor appears to advocate for a world where polluters and murderers, circumvent accountability by obtaining information to pre-empt – and in the process destroy – their opposition. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article30777.htm

LAND, LABOUR & THE ENVIRONMENT

Upgraded and completely redesigned Climate & Capitalism website is now on line. http://climateandcapitalism.com/

After the Durban climate talks: State and Market Climate Failures Amplified by Civil Society Failure by Patrick Bond http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/604.php

Latin America’s indigenous: How to Pay a Debt Past Due http://www.cipamericas.org/archives/6450

Serious About Climate? Throw Out The Free-Market Playbook: Naomi Klein http://www.countercurrents.org/klein130312.htm

WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS

Michael Yates, The Great Inequality, Monthly Review, March 2012. Incomes and wealth have become so unequal, this review essay explains, “because the power of those at the top has risen at the expense of those at the bottom.” http://monthlyreview.org/2012/03/01/the-great-inequality

Trans-Pacific Trade Negotiations Heading in the Wrong Direction http://www.ituc-csi.org/trans-pacific-trade-negotiations.html

Mass unemployment the “spectre at the G20 finance ministers feast” http://www.ituc-csi.org/mass-unemployment-the-spectre-at.html

Welcome To The 1% Recovery By Mike Konczal – As the 1% reap 93 percent of the income gains from the recovery, we’re rapidly returning to pre-New Deal levels of inequality. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article30783.htm

CULTURAL DISSENT

REBEL MUSIC #2 GEORGE CLINTON http://www.newleftproject.org/index.php/site/blog_comments/rebel_music_2_george_clinton

AFGHANISTAN

Burning Babies – Afghanistan’s Haditha: An Atrocity to End the War By Robert Dreyfuss – Although only one soldier, a staff sergeant, is in custody, Afghan eyewitnesses say that several troops were involved in the massacre, and that they were "drunk and laughing."

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article30793.htm

AUSTRALIA

Wayne Swan no threat to mining tycoons http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/50309

BAHRAIN

Don’t Look Away from Bahrain’s Revolution By Ala’a Shehabi – Over the past year, as cameras turned away, the Bahraini regime carried out some of the worst atrocities in its history. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article30773.htm

CANADA

Massive protest in Quebec against huge hike in tuition fees http://lifeonleft.blogspot.co.nz/2011_11_01_archive.html

Teachers job action marks the first strike of the next election http://tinyurl.com/6mzcfbu

CUBA

Comment: Cuba’s alternative to privatisation http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/50319

HAITI

America’s subversion of Haiti’s democracy continues – Even though former President Aristide has eschewed politics since his return from exile, the US is still threatening him http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2012/mar/13/america-subversion-haiti-democracy

INDIA

India: Dynasty, Corruption And Plunder By Arun G. Mukhopadhyay http://www.countercurrents.org/mukhopadhyay120312.htm

IRAN

10 Myths About Iran — And Why They’re Dead Wrong – Here’s the truth about Iran http://tinyurl.com/78j8dfc

Dyer: Reasons To Attack Iran By Gwynne Dyer – What’s actually at stake here is not the survival of Israel, just the preservation of the huge strategic advantage Israel enjoys as the sole nuclear weapons state in the Middle East. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article30760.htm

LIBYA

East Libya ‘Semi-Autonomy’ is Irreversible – Leader: The semi-autonomy declared by Eastern Libya Tuesday is irreversible, said Friday Ahmed Al-Zubair al-Senussi, a local clan leader appointed to manage the affairs of the region. http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=137391

Libya rallies denounce Cyrenaica autonomy calls: Thousands of Libyans have rallied in the country’s two main cities to denounce moves by leaders in the east to create a semi-autonomous territory. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17322429

PALESTINE

"Mowing The Lawn": On Israel’s Latest Massacre In Gaza And The Lies Behind It By Ali Abunimah

http://www.countercurrents.org/abunimah120312.htm

SYRIA

Separating Myth From Reality – Syria: a Way Out? http://www.counterpunch.org/2012/03/07/syria-a-way-out/

Syria’s Bashar al-Assad firmly in control, U.S. intelligence officials say http://tinyurl.com/7rhyhve

UK

What the British government is doing to welfare by Mark Serwotka http://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/mark-serwotka/what-british-government-is-doing-to-welfare
USA

Why Is President Obama Keeping a Journalist in Prison in Yemen? http://www.thenation.com/article/166757/why-president-obama-keeping-journalist-prison-yemen?rel=emailNation

Should States Continue to Place the Lowest Tax Rates on Those With the Highest Incomes? http://www.truth-out.org/raising-revenue-high-income-households-should-states-continue-place-lowest-tax-rates-those-highest-i

Krugman on the Right-Wing Assault on Education: "Ignorance is Strength" http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/09/opinion/krugman-ignorance-is-strength.html?_r=2

YEMEN

Yemen says U.S. attack kiled 64 people By UPI – "The United States did not inform us on the attacks." http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article30788.htm

VENEZUELA

Venezuela’s Opec stand is a win for climate change campaigners http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2012/mar/02/venezuela-opec-stand-win-climate-change

OLDER ANNOUNCEMENTS

NICKY HAGER’S OTHER PEOPLE’S WARS HITS THE STAGE WELLINGTON APRIL 17-28
Other People’s Wars The stage play. Bats Theatre, Wellington, April 17-28. How do we get into Afghanistan? Why are we there? What happened the night Willie Apiata won his VC? Are NZ intelligence officers there on humanitarian purpose? And did we really keep out of Iraq? And can you believe ANYTHING Foreign Affairs and the Defence Forces say? In fact— are Foreign Affairs and the Defence Forces riddled with traitors working for a foreign power? Aided by Wikileaks and local Deep Throats, and some extraordinarily indiscreet material posted on Facebook, Nicky Hager’s Other People’s Wars drew alarming conclusions about the general nature of New Zealand defence policy—how it’s decided, and by whom. And now it’s on stage. As it should be. Besides the documenting of shifty departmental manoeuvres and cover-ups, there’s love, death, courage, pathos, raillery, bombast and—of course—farce; all the Shakespearean elements. The play ends with an Anzac Day ceremony and its premiere season in Wellington (April 17-28) is nicely timed to coincide with Anzac Day, April 25, the day we remember those who have given their lives for their government’s foreign policy. “Anyone familiar with Other People’s Wars will know more about New Zealand military and what it did in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Gulf than any politician in parliament.” – Nicky Hager.

VII "MAY DAY" INTERNATIONAL BRIGADE FROM APRIL 22ND, TO MAY 6TH, 2012
Dear friend: Receive a cordial and warm greeting on behalf of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples that affectionately summons you to participate in the sixth edition of the International Brigade of Volunteer Work and Solidarity with Cuba on the occasion of the International May Day. As in previous editions, it will be integrated by friends from all continents. Brigade’s aim is to provide a wider understanding of Cuban reality as well as carrying out some voluntary work sessions, as a support to agricultural development and productive sphere in our country. Program includes visits to historical, economical, cultural and social places, not only in Havana but also in other provinces, lectures about national issues as well as meetings with representatives of Cuban organizations. Staying includes 10 nights in the International Camp Julio Antonio Mella (CIJAM) located in the municipality of Caimito, 45 km from Havana City and 4 nights in tourist facilities in Pinar del Rio province. It will cost 295.00 CUC which includes accommodation in shared rooms for up to 6 people in CIJAM, three meals daily, transfer in-out and transportation to all program activities. Agricultural work sessions will be carried out in areas near CIJAM. The camp, founded in 1972, has appropriate conditions for community life and for satisfying needs of friends who visit us from around the world. Registrations are open for those interested until March 30th, 2012. Confirmations of participation as well as information about date, flight number and airline to which you are scheduled to arrive and departure from Cuba, should be sent to asia.norte and director.dao Looking forward your enthusiastic participation with our people in this proletarian celebration of the May Day. See you then! Asia and Pacific Division, Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples.

KMU INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY FAIR, PHILIPPINES, APRIL 24-MAY 5, 2012
We are inviting you and your organization to participate in the 28thInternational Solidarity Affair (ISA) hosted by the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) from April 24 to May 5, 2012 in Manila, Philippines. http://www.labournetaustria.at/aktion223.htm

CALL FOR THE WORLD SOCIAL FORUM FREE PALESTINE, NOV. 2012 IN BRAZIL
http://www.bdsmovement.net/2012/call-for-the-world-social-forum-free-palestine-nov-2012-in-brazil-8603
Occupied Palestine is part of every free heartbeat in this world and her cause continues to inspire solidarity across the globe. The World Social Forum Free Palestine is an expression of the human instinct to unite for justice and freedom and an echo of the World Social Forum’s opposition to neo-liberal hegemony, colonialism, and racism through struggles for social, political and economic alternatives to promote justice, equality, and the sovereignty of peoples. The WSF Free Palestine will be a global encounter of broad-based popular and civil society mobilizations from around the world. It aims to: 1. Show the strength of solidarity with the calls of the Palestinian people and the diversity of initiatives and actions aimed at promoting justice and peace in the region. 2. Create effective actions to ensure Palestinian self-determination, the creation of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital, and the fulfillment of human rights and international law, by: a) Ending Israeli occupation and colonization of all Arab lands and dismantling the Wall; b) Ensuring the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality; and c) Implementing, protecting, and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN resolution 194. 3. Be a space for discussion, exchange of ideas, strategizing, and planning in order to improve the structure of solidarity. Exactly sixty-five years after Brazil presided over the UN General Assembly session that agreed upon the partition of Palestine, Brazil will host a different type of global forum: an historic opportunity for people from all over the world to stand up where governments have failed. The world’s people will come together to discuss new visions and effective actions to contribute to justice and peace in the region. We call on all organizations, movements, networks, and unions across the globe to join the WSF Free Palestine in November 2012 in Porto Alegre. We ask you to join the International Committee for the WSF Free Palestine, we will establish as soon as possible. Participation in this forum will structurally strengthen solidarity with Palestine, promote action to implement Palestinian’s legitimate rights, and hold Israel and its allies accountable to international law. Together we can raise global solidarity with Palestine to a new level. Palestinian Preparatory Committee for the WSF Free Palestine 2012. Secretariat members: • PNGO – Palestinian NGO Network; • Stop the Wall – Palestinian grassroots Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign; • OPGAI – Occupied Palestinian Golan Heights Advocacy Initiative; • Alternatives represented by: Alternative Information Center, Teacher Creativity Center; • Ittijah; • General Union of Palestinian women. Coordination office: PNGO – Palestinian NGO Network, Tel: +970 2 2975320/1, Fax: +970 2 2950704, E mail: samahd

FREE SOMYOT CAMPAIGN
Dear friends, Please find an update from the international campaign to free labour and political activist Somyot Pruksakasemsuk from detention in Thailand. Somyot has been charged with the crime of “Lese Majeste” which means criticising the King. This “crime” has a maximum sentence of 30 years! I have known Somyot as a labour activist for over 20 years and he is a personal friend. I have stayed with him and his family on many of my visits to Thailand. I was able to visit Somyot in pre trial detention earlier this year and it was heart wrenching to see him in custody. As you can see below, Somyot’s son Tai has begun a hunger strike this week to bring attention to the plight of his father. I ask you to take a few minutes to go to the website below and sign up to the letter that you see printed below seeking at least the right of Somyot to be released on bail while he faces the charges. There is more information on this website and also on the other sites listed below. http://www.cleanclothes.org/urgent-actions/somyot-trial Thanks, Robert Reid, General Secretary, First Union.

PARIHAKA DOCUMENTARY – FUNDING NEEDED
A documentary has been made about Parihaka by film makers Paora Joseph, Gaylene Preston, Janine Martin, Tracey Egerton, and people of Parihaka called ‘Tatarakihi. Children of the Prophets’. There is a need for support to complete the project. For more info go to www.pozible.com and search under ‘Parihaka’ to find the trailer and story behind it. Please circulate among your networks.

8/9TH JUNE AUCKLAND PEACE CITY PUBLIC LAUNCH & NUCLEAR FREE NZ EVENT AOTEA SQUARECalling all people who support the ideals of peace, justice and a nuclear free world. ADVANCE NOTIFICATION –put into your diaries NOW, circulate among group networks to include in your calendar of major events, newsletters etc. Auckland Peace City Public Launch ~ Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone and Disarmament Legislation of 1987. Auckland Aotea Square & Centre – Friday 8th June 12:00-1:00pm. Mayor’s official Peace City launch and Opening of Peace Exhibitions celebrating New Zealand’s Nuclear Free Zone. (on show inside Aotea Centre for 3 weeks). Aotea Square – Saturday 9th June 1:00-6:00pm – multicultural PEACE celebration and performance event –music, dance, poetry, art, food stalls, children’s activities. ‘Pohutukawa for Peace Tree Planting Ceremony’ with plaque.