GPJA #420: Hikoi starts tomorrow – Sat in Auckland

GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND NEWSLETTER No. 420, April 23, 2012

AOTEAROA IS NOT FOR SALE HIKOI
Hikoi Starts Tomorrow Opposing National Asset And Resource Sales http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1204/S00260/hikoi-starts-tomorrow.htm
Hikoi against privatisation of public assets, mining and land sales to foreign owners, and the TPPA leaves Te Rerenga Wairua on 23 April and arrives in Wellington on 5 May. Protest Rally Auckland Saturday, 28 April 2012 – 3PM Britomart, Auckland.
Q&A regarding upcoming Aotearoa is not for sale Hikoi 2012 http://news.tangatawhenua.com/archives/16662
Where can I get more information? Go to: rangiwhero

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/

The Union Report – 8pm tonight on Triangle TV and live streamed scoop.co.nz
The Union Report – starts tonight 8pm: In a turbulent year of lock outs between Unions and employers, Triangle TV is proud to announce “The Union Report”, a new current affairs show that looks at the news week through the lens of industrial relations. Hosted by blogger and controversial broadcaster Martyn Bradbury, the show will bring together dispute insiders, Union leaders and political commentators and politicians to provide an alternative analysis to traditional mainstream media coverage. Council of Trade Union President Helen Kelly, commentators Chris Trotter and Mike Williams will be joined by a changing panel of guests from EPMU, PSA, NZNO, Unite, First Union, SFWU, MUNZ, PPTA and CTU affiliates to discuss the weeks industrial activity from the worker’s perspective. Martyn ‘Bomber’ Bradbury hosts the NZ on Air funded ‘Citizen A’ on Triangle TV that reviews the week with bloggers. He hosted the iPredict Election Show which predicted the election result closer than any other news agency and had the show described by Political Scientist Bryce Edwards as "intelligent and entertaining". The Union Report will play 8pm Monday on Triangle TV and simulcast on scoop.co.nz. It will also be loaded onto YouTube and available on Facebook and twitter. TONIGHT: CTU President Helen Kelly and MUNZ President Garry Parsloe. Facebook/TheUnionReport Twitter/CitizenBomber

WHAT’S ON

Monday, April 23, 6pm, Old Government House, University of Auckland, corner of Princes Street and Waterloo Quadrant.
AUCKLAND: New Zealand Workers – Then & Now Lectures by Helen Kelly and Cybèle Locke. Please come to these free lectures and the launch of Workers in the Margins: Union Radicals in Post-War New Zealand by Cybèle Locke. New Zealand is entering a new phase of industrial unrest. These lectures will connect today’s challenges with Cybèle Locke’s account of ‘marginal workers’ in the late twentieth century. As Erik Olssen says, Workers in the Margins “recaptures the mood and texture of a radical movement” and is “a substantial contribution to New Zealand scholarship that will be of great interest to all those concerned with social justice”.

Tuesday, April 24, Room 711 in the AUT Business School (WF), 42 Wakefield St, Auckland
Health and Safety in the mining industry: The health and safety of mining has been under scrutiny over the past 18 months – specifically following the 2010 Copiapo mining accident in Chile, and Pike River Mine tragedy in Greymouth, NZ. This month, the New Zealand Work and Labour Institute (NZWALI – part of AUT) will be hosting a free public lecture looking at Health and Safety Issues in Mining: An Australian and New Zealand perspective. Guest speakers will include: Associate Professor Georgina Murray, Griffith University; Professor David Peetz, Griffith University; Ross Wilson, Lawyer and former union leader; Nadine McDonnell, Senior Research Officer; Felipe Meyer Cohen, University of Concepcion, Chile. To hear from the experts around this issue, head along to room 711 in the AUT Business School (WF), 42 Wakefield St on Tuesday 24 April, 2-4pm. Refreshments to follow. Please register your attendance nzwalmi

Friday, April 27, 5.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Road, Grey Lynn
The Red Flag Social Club invites you to join us in commemorating Workers Memorial Day. Remember Pike River. Support safe work for the meat workers and the port workers. Live music from “Bad Muriel” and Paul Brown. Bring some cash – Fund raiser for Talley’s Affco workers. EVERYONE WELCOME. The Red Flag Social Club is brought to you by the Working Women’s Resource Centre. For further information contact Ros Hiini, Organiser, WWRC Phone wwrc

Saturday, April 28, 10am-4pm, St Columba Centre, 40 Vermont Street, Ponsonby, Auckland
QPEC Annual meeting and forum: After last year’s great AGM and forum, there was little evidence that educational issues were to the fore in the general election. Thus the abrupt resumption of neo liberal education policies, with the announcement that charter schools would be opened in Auckland and Christchurch as part of National’s coalition agreement with ACT, came out of the blue. The forum and AGM are free, but a $10 donation toward the cost of lunch would be most welcome.

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/

Saturday, April 28, 8.30am-5pm, St Aidan’s Church, cnr Remuera Road and Ascot Ave, Remuera, Auckland
Church, State & WAR – ECUMENICAL Study Day Paul Oestreicher • Richard Jackson • Stephen Tollestrup • Thomas Noakes-Duncan. This Study Day has been arranged by the Anglican Pacifist Fellowship NZ Branch in conjunction with the New Zealand Christian Network. Fee $20, to be paid on the day. Lunch, morning and afternoon tea provided.

Tuesday, May 1, 1pm, Aotera Square, Auckland
Welfare Rights are Under Attack! Stand Up Fight Back! Stop National’s Attacks upon Mothers and Babies, Older Women and Youth! No to the Social Security (Youth Support and Work Focus) Amendment Bill! May Day Pram Parade Celebrating the Work of Mothers Tuesday 1st May, 2012 , International Workers Day 1pm : Assemble Aotea Square, 1.30pm Pram and Push Chair Parade Hand out teddies to children at WINZ, 450 Upper Queen St. Social Welfare not Corporate Welfare! Don’t separate mothers from children! No Privatisation of Welfare! Living Benefits Now! http://waitemataunite.blogspot.com 8369104 0212800080

Tuesday, May 1, 7pm, Rm 3402, Engineering Building, Auckland University, 20 Symonds St, Auckland
Auckland Philippines Solidarity is pleased to invite you to join the film screening on "Ka Bel" a May Day Productions documentary on the life of Philippines and International Working Class Leader CRISPIN "Ka Bel" Beltran. Ticket costs $10. Proceeds will go to the Crispin Beltran Resource Center and APS solidarity campaigns. To order tickets, please email ph.solidarity or contact Helen Te Hira at 098348690 or Dennis Maga at 0226073918. Drinks from 6.30pm.

June 8 & 9, Aotea Square, Auckland
8/9TH JUNE AUCKLAND PEACE CITY PUBLIC LAUNCH & NUCLEAR FREE NZ EVENT AOTEA SQUARE. Calling 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.
8th June Friday 2:00-3:00pm – Mayor Len Brown’s official Auckland Peace City Declaration launch at Auckland Council Reception Lounge-Town Hall Queen St.
9th June Saturday 12:00 noon – Auckland Peace City Public Celebration. Assemble Britomart (bottom Queen St.) for Peace Parade up Queen St. with Peace Banners and Brass bands playing to celebrate the achievement of the New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone 25th anniversary and the Auckland Peace City Declaration. Aotea Square 1:00 –3:00pm– Community Cultural PEACE celebration event –speakers, music, dance, poetry. (Peace Exhibitions inside Concert Chamber). There will be materials available for children to make ‘Auckland Peace City’ flaglets. Features: The Parade will be led with the carved Maori wooden torch from the 2009 World Peace Run that will be returned to New Zealand by Peace and Disarmament NZ international leader Alyn Ware. This will be followed by runners with flags of the 192 nation states in the United Nations. Everyone else is encouraged to walk at their own pace together up Queen St. with their peace banners and flags, both historical or new banners celebrating Nuclear Free New Zealand for a Nuclear Free World. Wet weather Event plan: Concert Chamber Town Hall – Inside 1:00-3:00pm. The Peace City Public Launch Event Team welcomes volunteers and offers of help. If you want to be involved in any way please contact: laurie-ross Coordinator Laurie Ross on 818 0696

ANNOUNCEMENTS

THE FIGHT FOR WOMEN’S RIGHTS: FROM INDONESIA TO IRAN
Rena Herdiyani, Director, Kalyanamitra, Jakarta, Indonesia; Hegel Terome, Organisation Deputy, Kalyanamitra, Jakarta, Indonesia; Mary-Alice Waters, President, Pathfinder Press, New York. Speaking in Auckland 3rd – 5th May 2012. Kalyanamitra is a women’s rights organisation in Indonesia. It recently worked with Pathfinder Press to produce two classic books on the origins of women’s oppression in the Indonesian language.
Seminar, University of Auckland, Thursday May 3rd, 4-5:30pm: ‘Changes facing women today in Indonesia and Iran: Why previously banned books are now being published’ Speakers: Rena Herdiyani, Hegel Terome, Mary-Alice Waters, Sharyn Graham Davies (AUT) Room 325, Level 3, Owen G Glenn Building, 12 Grafton Rd, Auckland
Community Seminar, Friday May 4th, 5:30-7pm: ‘Changes facing women today in Indonesia and Iran: What can we learn’ Speakers: Rena Herdiyani, Hegel Terome, Mary-Alice Waters, Manukau Campus, Auckland University of Technology, 640 Great South Rd.
Meet the speakers for an informal lunch, Saturday May 5th, 12:30pm: Peace Place, 22 Emily Place, Central Auckland
For more information, or to make a donation to help with tour costs, please contact: Maire, Indonesia Human Rights Committee, Email: maire Janet, Pathfinder Books, Email: pathauck

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.

SUPPORTERS OF THE THE PEOPLE’S POWER OHARIU CAMPAIGN
There are two submissions from our network on the Mixed Ownership Model Bill to the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee of Parliament . The Ohariu Citizens’ Select Committee – a comprehensive submission built up from the more than 600 submissions received by the Ohariu Citizens’ Select Committee. We do not yet have a date or time for the presentation of this submission. People’s Power Ohariu – a 2 page submission concentrating on the implications of the investor/state disputes provision of the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement as it would impact on the partial privatisation of state assets. The People’s Power Ohariu submission will be heard by the Finance and Expenditure Parliamentary Select Committee at 2.10pm Tuesday 24 April. The venue is Room 2, Ground Floor Bowen State Building Lower Lambton Quay Wellington. It is possible that submitters are being given as little as five minutes. We will also advise you when the submission of the Ohariu Citizens’ Select Committee is to be heard. John Maynard, For People’s Power Ohariu, 027 220 7903

WEST COAST MAYDAY WEEK
when we celebrate the contribution of working people to a just society.
Sunday, April 29, 12noon, Runanga Club Workers Memorial Picnic: children focused poetry, demonstrations fun day, market stalls, sausage sizzle, treasure hunt. Katie Thompson + Fleur Jack live 4pm-7pm. Inquiries 762 7854 | runangaclub
Wednesday, May 2, 12-2pm, Runanga School Hall Workers and Champions: linking with elders. Paparoa Range + Runanga students interview elders, workers and champions over lunch.
Friday, May 4, 7.30pm, $15/$10, Runanga School – goodnight irene: Kiwi/Possum productions present live theatre with songs triggered by the Pike River disaster. Premiered at The Regent Theatre, Greymouth has since played Hokitika and the Dunedin Fringe Festival where Heather Fletcher was nominated for best performer award. This unique community project reveals the power of performance to engage both heart and mind. Sharon Mathews, Theatreview. Like a system of shafts and tunnels, the themes in goodnight, Irene connect and reconnect: grief and love, place and belonging, memory and song. Greg O’Connell, Theatreview.Bookings 732 4010, wkcultur
Saturday, May 5, 11am-3pm, Runanga School – Dreaming Our Future: Symposium sector leaders + citizens are invited to gather + ponder the future of the West Coast. Current dream/ a future dream: problems, solutions, concerns, data. A free flowing process which we hope will at least begin this necessary adventure. All welcome. Lunch/refreshments provided. Koha appreciated. Bookings: 732 4010 | 762 7352 wkculktur | pfknz
Saturday, May 5, 7.30pm, $15/$10, Runanga School Hall Worlds’ Workers Dinner: honouring the Milton Locked Out Workers 20th anniversary, the launch of Runanga Miners Hall Restoration Project. Speech Paul Watson (FirstUnion) Then/now ECA+current disputes, similarities+differences. Struggling through the 90s Kiwi/PossumProductions first staged in 1995, based on interviews with Milton Locked Out Workers. Workers songs from the WestCoast Wobblies.

XXX SOUTHERN CROSS BRIGADE TO CUBA – DEC 27 – JAN 18
Receive warm greetings from Cuban Institute for Friendship with Peoples (ICAP), that every year receives, with great satisfaction, all friends that spontaneously decide to join us in the Southern Cross Brigade of voluntary work and solidarity with Cuba. Main objectives of the brigade are to provide a great deal of knowledge about Cuban reality so that the visitors could understand it as well as to work voluntarily in the agricultural fields in order to help in the development and productivity of the country. The program of the brigade includes visits to historical, cultural and social places. Participants will receive lectures on national and international topics and will also interact with representatives of Cuban organizations and people in general.
Program of the Brigade starts on December 27th, 2012 and finishes on January 18th, 2013. It includes 15 nights at Julio Antonio Mella International Camp (CIJAM), which is located in Caimito municipality, 45 kilometres away from Havana City; 2 nights in The Friendship House in Villa Clara province and 5 nights in a hotel in the revolutionary Granma province, where many of the historical events lead by Fidel and other guerrilla fighters during the war to achieve our total independence from 1956 to 1958 took place.
Program costs 580.00 Cuban Convertible Pesos (CUC) per person. It includes accommodation in 5 or 6 persons´ rooms in CIJAM, three meals daily in CIJAM and also in province, accommodation in the hotel in Granma province and Villa Clara ICAP’s facility, transfer in-out as well as transportation to all activities included in the program. Each extra night in CIJAM, previous to the beginning or after the brigade will cost 10.00 CUC per person and should be paid directly in CIJAM, as well as optional activities during the extra period. It is compulsory to stay at least 7 days in the brigade. Agricultural work will be done in fields near the camp. CIJAM was founded in 1972; it provides the proper environment for living in groups and satisfies needs of visitors from all over the world.
The increasing number of brigadistas coming to Cuba as members of the International Brigades ICAP organizes is a clear evidence of how motivated our friends are about coming to our country and knowing our reality. They are also committed to condemn the genocide blockade of the United States against our island as well as to express their respect towards our independence, sovereignty and self determination rights. We also have their support on the cause and liberation of the Cuban Five Heroes unjustly imprisoned in the United States jails.
Each brigade member, at the moment of the arrival, is committed to follow the program and schedule, and also to have a proper behaviour, discipline and social interaction not only in CIJAM but also all over the country. For further communication: Phone numbers (53 7) 838-24 30 / 8335372 / 830-1220 / 834-4544 ext. 15 and Emails: asia.norte , director.dao and amiventas We would be pleased to have you in the XXX Southern Cross Brigade, a beautiful project that ICAP and Australia/New Zealand – Cuba Friendship Societies have proudly maintained since 1983, which has allow to show Cuban reality to more than one thousand people who have taken part in previous brigades as well as to receive their support and deep solidarity. This year program and brigade has a special aim and it is to commemorate 55 anniversary of the triumph of Cuban revolution on January 1st, 2013 and also to celebrate with every participant coming the 30 anniversary of the Southern Cross Brigade visit to Cuba. This is a formal invitation to join the brigade in order to strengthen brotherhood between our peoples. Sincerely yours, Asia and Pacific Division, Cuban Institute for Friendship with Peoples
NZ Participants: Email Ina Lawrence inashina for the full programme and any other questions.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

"Each act, each occasion, is worse than the last, but only a little worse. You wait for the next and the next. You wait for one great shocking occasion, thinking that others, when such a shock comes, will join with you in resisting somehow. You don’t want to act, or even talk, alone; you don’t want to ‘go out of your way to make trouble.’ Why not?-Well, you are not in the habit of doing it. And it is not just fear, fear of standing alone, that restrains you; it is also genuine uncertainty." – Milton Mayer – They Thought They Were Free – http://bit.ly/I2rlbC

"The two greatest obstacles to democracy in the United States are, first, the widespread delusion among the poor that we have a democracy, and second, the chronic terror among the rich, lest we get it." – Edward Dowling – [1941]

"One of the things they want is a passive quiescent population. So one of the things that you can do to make life uncomfortable for them is NOT to be passive and quiescent." – Noam Chomsky

"The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men." – Plato

BEST ON THE WEB

NEW ZEALAND

White Poppies for Peace Annual Appeal, 17 to 24 April 2012 http://scoop.co.nz/stories/PO201204/S00216.htm

Welfare Reform – Christchurch Methodists http://bais.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/DPB.pdf

Matt McCarten: Labour losing sight of its working class roots http://www.nzherald.co.nz/news/print.cfm?objectid=10797276&pnum=1

Poverty our biggest growth industry – academic http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6753740/Poverty-our-biggest-growth-industry-academic

Video: OECD: One in five Kiwi kids lives in poverty http://www.3news.co.nz/OECD-One-in-five-Kiwi-kids-lives-in-poverty/tabid/309/articleID/250874/Default.aspx

Politicians cuffed for filling jails http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/6632902/Politicians-cuffed-for-filling-jails

Tapu Misa: Teachers deserve our trust http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10799053

A withdrawal and an advance – Gaza convoyers reject Syria route in favour of Cairo start http://kiaoragaza.wordpress.com/2012/04/16/a-withdrawal-and-an-advance/

Frack protest rolls on river http://www.wanganuichronicle.co.nz/news/frack-protest-rolls-on-river/1348614/

Lawless, Greenpeace activists remanded http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6763950/Lawless-Greenpeace-activists-remanded

Harre move lays down Greens’ test for Labour http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/opinion/columnists/chris-trotter/6714645/Harre-move-lays-down-Greens-test-for-Labour

Cigarette plain packaging could come unstuck under secret trade deal http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1204/S00228/cigarette-plain-packaging-could-come-unstuck.htm

Jane Kelsey: Tobacco Industry Will Use Offshore Courts to Attack Plain Packaging Laws http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1204/S00134/jane-kelsey-tobacco-industry-will-use-offshore-courts.htm

Marketing the Mind: How the tertiary sector in New Zealand is being hi-jacked into the service of commerce by Gordon Campbell http://werewolf.co.nz/2012/03/marketing-the-mind/

Upcoming Cannabis Liberation Events http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1204/S00227/upcoming-cannabis-liberation-events.htm

How the Rich lock in their great wealth – From the Left CHRIS TROTTER http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/opinion/6777631/How-the-Rich-lock-in-their-great-wealth

Wellington bar boots lesbian couple for kissing http://scoop.co.nz/stories/PO201204/S00259.htm

HOUSING PROTEST

Glen Innes housing protest escalates http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/6770593/Glen-Innes-housing-protest-escalates

Rally in Auckland against ‘violent’ police treatment http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/regional/103695/rally-in-auckland-against-‘violent’-police-treatment

Mana Movement’s John Minto beaten and arrested by police at Glen Innes evictions http://news.tangatawhenua.com/archives/17284

Talks need to replace Ethnic Cleansing in Glen Innes http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1204/S00200/talks-need-to-replace-ethnic-cleansing-in-glen-innes.htm

Police ban protester from John Minto and Glen Innes http://news.tangatawhenua.com/archives/17310

Mana Party wants halt to state house removal http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/regional/103674/mana-party-wants-halt-to-state-house-removal

Glen Innes housing protest arrests http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6764683/Glen-Innes-housing-protest-arrests

Arrests follow Glen Innes housing protest http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/arrests-follow-glen-innes-housing-protest-4838742

SKY CASINO SCANDAL

Key stopped other bids once SkyCity interested http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10800127

Brian Rudman: Casino centre? We can find a better option http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10800213

Duncan Garner on John Key’s Sky City deal http://www.3news.co.nz/Duncan-Garner-on-John-Keys-Sky-City-deal/tabid/370/articleID/251003/Default.aspx

SkyCity boss reveals Cabinet access http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10799924

PM grilled on SkyCity connections http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10799803

PM’s adviser living it up in Sin City http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10650068

John Stansfield on Radio NZ panel last night about Sky City’s convention centre plans http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2515994/the-panel-with-john-dunne-and-tim-watkin-part-1.asx

Editorial: SkyCity pokie defence fails to ring true http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10799574

Brian Rudman: Lest we forget modern kamikazes http://www.nzherald.co.nz/economy/news/article.cfm?c_id=34&objectid=10796480

More pokies in SkyCity Key’s idea http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/auckland/news/nbpol/470115115-More-pokies-in-Sky-City-Key-s-idea

Experts trash ‘Lotto danger’ claim http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10799932

AFFCO LOCKOUT

Help Talley’s Affco Workers.com Newsletter #3 http://www.mwu.org.nz/2012/04/19/help-talleys-affco-workers-com-newsletter-3/

Locked out unionists seek official help with mediation talks http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10799938

ERA to help Port and union http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/6766427/ERA-to-help-Port-and-union

Union files for facilitation after Talley’s AFFCO cancels mediation http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1204/S00531/union-files-for-facilitation-after-affco-cancels-mediation.htm

Talley’s AFFCO Misleads Over Employment Settlement http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1204/S00209/talleys-affco-misleads-over-employment-settlement.htm

EPMU Says AFFCO Mischevious Over Collective Agreement http://scoop.co.nz/stories/PO201204/S00210.htm

Next move considered in Affco dispute http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/6764912/Next-move-considered-in-Affco-dispute

PORTS OF AUCKLAND DISPUTE

Lee lashes out at Ports of Auckland ‘incompetency’ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/ports-of-auckland-limited/news/article.cfm?o_id=158&objectid=10796780

On the Tauranga Waterfront – Unpacking the casualising of how and when you work by Alison McCulloch http://werewolf.co.nz/2012/04/on-the-tauranga-waterfront/

Meatworkers in lockout battle http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10797099

WORKRIGHTS NZ

Paid Parental Leave Bill http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Legislation/Bills/2/8/2/00DBHOH_BILL11276_1-Parental-Leave-and-Employment-Protection-Six-Months.htm

Death Rides A Quad Bike: The human costs of our “light-handed” approach to workplace health and safety by Gordon Campbell http://werewolf.co.nz/2012/04/death-rides-a-quad-bike/

Shearer: Kiwis working long hours for low wages http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10800017

Helen Kelly – Casualisation http://planetaudio.org.nz/helenkellycasualisation/archive

NZ ECONOMY

Why State Capitalism Is Beating The Free Market And why New Zealand is no good at either… by Gordon Campbell http://werewolf.co.nz/2012/02/why-state-capitalism-is-beating-the-free-market/

Bryan Gould: Free-market ideology wrong http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10799825

KiwiRail considers selling Dunedin workshop http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/6772473/KiwiRail-considers-selling-Dunedin-workshop

Government fails to address drivers of youth unemployment http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/13475999/government-fails-to-address-youth-unemployment-drivers/

It’s Time For Truth About NZ Land Is Foreign-Owned http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1204/S00231/time-for-truth-about-how-much-nz-land-is-foreign-owned.htm

KiwiRail, Solid Energy blow asset limit to bits http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1204/S00257/kiwirail-solid-energy-blow-asset-limit-to-bits.htm

FEATURES

The Rise of the Killer Drones: How America Goes to War in Secret – An inside look at how killing by remote control has changed the way we fight. http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-rise-of-the-killer-drone

America’s global war on drugs

The U.S. has appointed itself the world’s enforcer of global drug prohibition, even though its citizens are the biggest consumer of illicit drugs, writes Helen Redmond. http://socialistworker.org/2012/04/19/americas-global-war-on-drugs

From Libya to Syria: "War is a racket. It always has been." http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1204/S00110/from-libya-to-syria-war-is-a-racket-it-always-has-been.htm

LAND, LABOUR & THE ENVIRONMENT

Power in Agriculture: A Vital Report on the Future of Farming – Transnational agribusinesses are beginning to play an increasingly influential role in global agricultural markets and this report by the Oxford Farming Conference looks at the economic, political, and natural resource power distributions in the current global food system. The report argues that in order to sustain the current levels of productivity, there needs to be better resource use.

http://www.fcrn.org.uk/sites/default/files/fully-referenced-power-report.pdf

Combating Monsanto: This report examines grassroots resistance to the growing power of agribusinesses in the current food system. IThe report states that global resistance against transnational corporations is an urgent necessity and calls on policy makers to act against the existing food system, which focuses on profit generation rather than sustainable food production.

http://viacampesina.org/downloads/pdf/en/Monsanto-Publication-EN-Final-Version.pdf

Investigation: Two Years After the BP Spill, A Hidden Health Crisis Festers http://www.thenation.com/article/167461/investigation-two-years-after-bp-spill-hidden-health-crisis-festers

WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS

Work sharing: The way for states to reduce unemployment in the US http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2012/04/20124177562400456.html

Increasingly in Europe, Suicides ‘By Economic Crisis’ http://tinyurl.com/7rgtmto

Richard Wolff: ‘They like a little radicalism. They have been waiting.’ From Fox to Occupy, it seems everyone wants to hear what American Marxist Richard Wolff has to say about economics http://www.guardian.co.uk//world/2012/apr/19/richard-wolff-us-economics?mobile-redirect=false

Spain Is Doomed: Why Austerity Is Destroying Europe http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/04/spain-is-doomed-why-austerity-is-destroying-europe/256032/

CULTURAL DISSENT

Saving horror from itself: Adam Turl reviews the latest film from Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon–and looks at what it has to say about the genre of horror itself. http://socialistworker.org/2012/04/19/saving-horror-from-itself

Bruce Springsteen’s Political Voice http://www.thenation.com/article/167356/bruce-springsteens-political-voice

The beautifully-paced rage of Mourid Barghouti’s latest memoir http://electronicintifada.net/content/beautifully-paced-rage-mourid-barghoutis-latest-memoir/11187

Nina Simone – Revolution

Paul Robeson:Ballad for Americans

After the Cold War – Eric Hobsbawm remembers Tony Judt http://www.lrb.co.uk/v34/n08/eric-hobsbawm/after-the-cold-war

AFGHANISTAN

U.S. troops posed with body parts of Afghan bombers http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-afghan-photos-20120418,0,5032601.story

Ideology and Electricity: The Soviet Experience in Afghanistan http://www.thenation.com/article/167440/ideology-and-electricity-soviet-experience-afghanistan?rel=emailNation

Still killed and killing in the lost Afghanistan War By Lindsey German – Has anyone told the media that the NATO forces are losing the war in Afghanistan? http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article31139.htm

Afghan Screams Aren’t Heard By Kathy Kelly and Hakim – Last weekend, in Kabul, Afghan Peace Volunteer friends huddled in the back room of their simple home. With a digital camera, glimpses and sounds of their experiences were captured, as warfare erupted three blocks away.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article31138.htm

ARGENTINA

Argentina’s critics are wrong again about renationalising oil – In taking back oil and gas company YPF, Argentina’s state is reversing past mistakes. Europe is in no position to be outraged http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2012/apr/18/argentina-critics-oil-nationalise?commentpage=5#start-of-comments

AUSTRALIA

Malalai Joya: Australian troops must leave Afghanistan

Christine Assange: Defending Julian is defending democracy http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/50638

BAHRAIN

Human Rights in Bahrain, a Casualty of Obama’s Double-Standard http://tinyurl.com/7louy43

CANADA

The Student Movement: Radical Priorities by Matthew Brett http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/619.php

161 arrested in Gatineau student protest http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/arrested+Gatineau+student+protest/6481012/story.html

Ontario budget: Andrea Horwath’s tax-the-rich scheme ‘hugely popular,’ poll suggests http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1163869–ontario-budget-andrea-horwath-s-tax-the-rich-scheme-hugely-popular-poll-suggests

CUBA

Column: Guillen and Cubans exercise free speech http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/story/2012-04-17/ozzie-guillen-marlins-castro-cuba/54320132/1

To Sleep with Open Eyes By Fidel Castro Ruz – The Yankee transnationals will never give up their control over the land, the water, the mines and the natural resources of our countries. Their soldiers should vacate the military bases; their troops should be withdrawn from each and every one of our territories. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article31143.htm

INDONESIA

Indonesia & East Timor News Updates – April 17, 2012 http://www.asia-pacific-solidarity.net/ietnews/ietnews_170412.htm

IRELAND

Abortion debate: ‘I believe in a loving God and that I won’t be damned for what I did’ http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/features/2012/0417/1224314815319.html

LIBYA

Libya is a Lure for Migrants, where Exploitation Waits http://tinyurl.com/7cdpezy

Migrant Boat Tragedy: NATO Condemned Over 63 Migrants Left to Die at Sea http://tinyurl.com/6lne7zy

MALI

War threatened as Touareg leaders declare independence http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/roger-annis/2012/04/mali-war-threatened-touareg-leaders-declare-independence

PACIFIC

South Pacific investigative journalists face threats, victimisation, says PNG reporter http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2012/04/pacific-investigative-journalists-face-threats-victimisation-of-families-says-png-reporter/

PAKISTAN

Tariq Ali:‘Most Pakistanis Don’t Want The Army In Politics’ – This unrepentant Marxist, writer, journalist, filmmaker and political campaigner is still searching for socialism with a human face. http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?280564

PALESTINE

Barghouti to U.S. Jews: I know you don’t like the word apartheid, but what do you call a system that gives a settler 50 times more water than a Palestinian? http://tinyurl.com/7p48ymn

Palestine: prisoners to escalate hunger strike http://tinyurl.com/7lex4gs

Palestinian civil society and human rights organisations mark Palestinian Prisoners’ Day with call for action against Israeli prison contractor G4S http://www.bdsmovement.net/2012/prisoners-day-g4s-call-8887

Palestinian organisations call for action against G4S over role in Israeli jails http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/michael-deas/palestinian-organisations-call-action-against-g4s-over-role-israeli-jails

A Celebration of Freedom on Prisoners’ Day in Gaza http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/shahd-abusalama/celebration-freedom-prisoners-day-gaza

Video: Palestinians turned away from Dead Sea resort as Israelis, Europeans and dogs enter freely http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/video-palestinians-turned-away-dead-sea-resort-israelis-europeans-and-dogs-enter

SRI LANKA

Will the new Frontline Socialist Party revive the left? http://links.org.au/node/2829

SYRIA

Imperialism and the Syrian Revolution http://tinyurl.com/6n8qzpg

Western intervention in Syria will do more harm than good – After decades of selling arms to dictators in the Middle East, the west’s talk of humanitarian intervention rings hollow http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/feb/17/western-intervention-syria/print

TIMOR

How the poorest threaten the powerful by John Pilger http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/50627

USA

Big Trouble in Little Havana: The Perilous Politics of Ozzie Guillen http://www.thenation.com/blog/167303/big-trouble-little-havana-perilous-politics-ozzie-guillen?rel=emailNation

Income Inequality Worse Under Obama Than George W. Bush http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/11/income-inequality-obama-bush_n_1419008.html

Mitt Romney, American Parasite – His years at Bain represent everything you hate about capitalism http://www.villagevoice.com/2012-04-18/news/Mitt-Romney-american-parasite/

When Mormons were socialists – Joseph Smith would be horrified by the religion’s present-day materialism — and uber-capitalist candidate http://www.salon.com/2012/04/15/when_mormons_were_socialists/singleton/

Exclusive – Robert Reich Extended Interview Pt. 1 http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-april-18-2012/exclusive—robert-reich-extended-interview-pt–1

The War on Public Sector Workers By Dean Baker http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1204/S00120/truthout-16-april-2012.htm

Witness To A Murder – US Border Patrol Beat and Taser Man to Death http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article31152.htm