GPJA #424: Thurs Forum – “Aotearoa is Not for Sale – The road ahead” with Phil, Hone and others

GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND NEWSLETTER No. 424, May 14, 2012

WHAT’S ON

Thursday, May 17, 7pm, B15 Theatre, Basement, Library, Auckland University.
AOTEAROA IS NOT FOR SALE – THE STRUGGLE AHEAD! Speakers: Hone Harawira, Mana Movement leader; Phil Twyford, Labour MP, Julie Anne Genter Green MP; Marion Peka, GI residenmt group; Joe carolan, Socialist Aotearoa. After the great turnout for the Auckland demonstration on April 28th, in the midst of the powerful Hikoi against Asset Sales, Aotearoa is Not for Sale activists invite you to a Hui to plan the next step in the campaign to defend our assets, jobs and environment from neoliberal attack.

Friday, May 18, 6pm, The Kitchen, Top Floor, 14 – 16 Maidstone St, Ponsonby, Auckland
‘Just Do It’ Film Screening with Jeanette Fitzsimmons: Auckland Coal Action presents the first of our ongoing screenings of films with topics covering environmental/protest/anti-coal/climate-change themes. ‘Just Do It’ lifts the lid on climate activism and the daring troublemakers who have crossed the line to become modern-day outlaws. Documented over a year, Emily James’ film follows these activists as they blockade factories, attack coal power stations and glue themselves to the trading floors of international banks despite a very real threat of arrest. Watch the trailer here: aucklandcoalaction. Tickets cost $12 and the proceeds will go to the campaign to stop the mining of the Denniston Plateau. Light refreshments will be provided.

Saturday, May 19, Donovan Park, Te Puke
PICNIC IN THE PARK TO SUPPORT AFFCO WORKERS (BAY OF PLENTY): Affco Rangiuru locked out meatworkers would like to take this opportunity to invite you andyour family to a picnic in the park. State Highway 2 thru Te Puke will be closed from 9am to 11am saturday 19th may 2012 to road traffic. We will be marching and stopping in town where spacial guest speakers will address the public. These speakers include Hone Harawira (Mana Party); Helen Kelly (Council Trade Unions); Te Ururoa Flavell (Maori Party) and other special guests. There are 8 AFFCO plants afeected by this dispute and those plants are sending their representatives along. 9am start in town and 11am start of picnic at donovan park (opposite the old dairy factory) please come along, we will be having a free sausage sizzle, drinks and entertainment throughout the day. Other food stalls will be available at a cost. Nau mai , Haere Mai, WELCOME.

Saturday, May 19, 6pm, Mt. Roskill Intermediate School Hall, Auckland
SEMINAR: IS NEW ZEALAND ABETTING GENOCIDE OF TAMILS IN SRI LANKA? Sri Lanka War Crimes and Genocide – Third Year Commemoration. The Sri Lankan Tamil community resident in Auckland, is observing the barbarous massacre of thousands of Tamils in Sri Lanka, the like of which has no parallel in the whole world. You will recall that at the last Geneva Session of the UN Human Rights Council that ended in March 2012, a resolution was adopted calling on Sri Lanka to implement the recommendations of its own Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission within a time frame. Notwithstanding all the pressures from all sides, the Government of Sri Lanka is continuing unabated all repressive measures against all infrastructures of democracy including media, NGOs and civil activists – kidnapping and going missing is still rampant. We are also dismayed at the amendment brought to the (NZ)Immigration Act of 2009, which seeks to imprison asylum seekers in environs similar to the barbed wire detention camps in Sri Lanka for Tamils displaced by war. We shall be thankful if you will please make your presence or arrange for another MP of your Party to represent you. Yours Sincerely, A.Theva Rajan, Co-ordinator Seminar.

Monday, May 21, 7pm, Otahuhu Town Hall Community Centre, High St, Otahuhu, Auckland
CHARTER SCHOOLS FORUM: The establishment of charter schools has implications for all people involved in education in New Zealand. This is an opportunity to learn about and discuss this important issue. With: Prof John O’Neill and Prof Ivan Snook , Massey University; Dr. Airini, Auckland University; Ian Leckie, NZEI Te Riu Roa; Liz Horgan, Principal St Joseph’s Otahuhu; Brigid Raymond, PPTA

Thursday, May 24, 1pm, General Library, Auckland University
BLOCKADE THE BUDGET: New Zealand Student led Protest Action against the Black Budget of 2012. This Budget will hurt the most disadvantaged people in our country, and students have a duty to resist. The National Government’s Budget will be nothing short of an attack on Students. We have had enough of the short sighted, mindless politics of austerity that see us paying rent to a generation that had everything they are taking from us. We are calling for students in Aotearoa to fight back against education cuts, just as students all over the world have. We will be protesting at the University of Auckland on the 24th and we invite students from everywhere to join us in resisting the scapegoat politics of a terminally ideological government. This is an issue for all New Zealanders, investment in education is paramount to the growth of a healthy society and this budget is penalising already-struggling students. We, students, teachers, researchers, workers, parents…, call for a transformation to the current fees and loans system in tertiary education. We do not need small reforms, we need structural change. When the government and the elite insist that the only way to fund education is indebtedness, we say that education is a human right and a social necessity. We say that targeting citizen-students who cannot pay and landing them with crippling debt, is a violation of the principles of equality and freedom that our country is supposedly built on. We say that democracy demands educated and creative people, and that these changes, and the fees and loans system as it already stands, impoverish nearly every citizen who decides to pursue tertiary education. We say that the government and the elite are destabilizing our country and mindlessly trading our future for their own privileged present.

Friday, May 25, 7am, Waipuna Hotel & Convention Centre, 58 Waipuna Rd, Mt Wellington & 11.30am – Langham Hotel, 83 Symonds St
POST BUDGET ACTION AGAINST POVERTY: Kia ora koutou, Since we contacted you a few days ago about our picket of John Key and the National Party planned for 7.00am Friday 25 May, we learned that the PM will also be speaking about the Budget at a business lunch the same day. We’ve decided the best thing would be to organise two pickets, turning 25 May into a full scale Post-Budget Day of Action. We hope you will be able to come along to at least one of the pickets, and that you’ll also be willing to help us get this info out to people in your networks. Core details are: Post Budget Day of Action Friday 25 May – Auckland Action Against Poverty. Picket: 7.00am – John Key speaks to the National Party Waipuna Hotel & Conference Centre, 58 Waipuna Rd, Mt Wellington. Picket: 11.30am – John Key speaks to Business Forum Langham Hotel, 83 Symonds St. Decent jobs for the unemployed – not vindictive harassment of beneficiaries! Free quality education for all – no state interference in women’s reproductive lives! Please get back to us if you have any queries or would like to offer any particular help. Look forward to seeing you soon – best wishes, Sue Bradford & Chris Zack (for AAAP). AACP Picket leaflet http://dl.dropbox.com/u/18076151/AAAP_Picketv02%20%281%29.pdf AAAP Leaflet http://dl.dropbox.com/u/18076151/AAAP_Leafletv02%20%281%29.pdf

Friday, May 25, 7.15-8.45am, School of Population Health, Tamaki Campus, University of Auckland.
Child Poverty Action Group 12th Post-budget Breakfast Series: Bldg 730, Function Room 220 entry via Gate 1, 261 Morrin Road, Glen Innes, Auckland. Free parking in visitors’ section. Speakers: Prof Jonathan Boston, Institute of Policy Studies, Victoria University. Co-Chair,Children’s Commissioner’s expert group on Poverty; Dr Fiona Cram, (Ngati Kahungunu), Member of the Children’s Commissioner’s expert group on Poverty; Chair: Assoc Prof Susan St John, Economics Dept, University of Auckland. CPAG Economics spokesperson and founding member.

Saturday, May 26, 2pm, Gerry Brownlee’s Ilam Office 283 Greers Rd, Christchurch
In response to the inaction from the Council, the Christchurch Earthquake Recovery Authority and the Government a protest outside of Gerry Brownlee’s electorate office has been called. You would be forgiven if you had forgotten he is a local MP – after all, we don’t see him unless there’s a camera crew around.

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 12:00-3:00pm Aotea Square, Auckland

AUCKLAND CITY for PEACE & NUCLEAR FREE New Zealand Celebration. Auckland City for Peace Declaration Public Launch Event ~ Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone and Disarmament Legislation of 1987. Music, dance, poetry, info/education stalls. Children can make their own ‘Auckland Peace City’ flaglets. Peace Exhibitions inside Concert Chamber. The Peace Parade bearing the carved Maori wooden torch from the 2009 World Peace Run will be returned to New Zealand by NZ Peace and Disarmament International NGO Representative Alyn Ware. This will be followed by runners with flags of the 192 nation states in the United Nations. Release of Peace Doves and ringing of the Peace Bell. Everyone is encouraged to bring their own peace banners and flags, both historical or new celebrating Nuclear Free New Zealand to make a display together for a Nuclear Free World.
Wet weather Event plan: Concert Chamber Town Hall – Inside 12:00-3:00pm. 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
Friday & Saturday, July 6-8, Wellington.
Environment and Conservation Organisations of New Zealand Inc. Annual Conference 6-8 July 2012. Environmental Responsibility: Leadership, Inclusion and Good Governance. Friday 6 July – Saturday 7 July | Salvation Army Citadel, 8 Jessie Street, Wellington. Sunday 8 July | Turnbull House, 11 Bowen St, Wellington. Full draft programme and online registration can be found here: eco

ANNOUNCEMENTS

BLOOMSDAY! JUNE 16! THIRSTY DOG!
Missed May Day? Make up for it in June. June 16 is “Bloomsday”, a sort of literary St Patrick’s Day. It’s a commemoration of the fictional day in 1904 in which James Joyce’s comic masterpiece Ulysses unfolds. All around the world there are Bloomsday celebrations. In Auckland for the past decade a Bloomsday cabaret has unleashed itself in the red-light district of Karangahape Rd. This year it will be at the Thirsty Dog Tavern and feature Outrageous Fortune’s Robyn Malcolm reading from the notoriously explicit 50-page soliloquy of Molly Bloom, and George Henare playing pale young poet Stephen Dedalus, girlishly winsome Gerty McDowell and fierce transvestite dominatrix Bella Cohen. With the addition of klezmer music by The Jews Brothers Band, it’s the only Hiberno-Hebrew Bloomsday in the known world! Cast of thousands: Dublin actor Brian Keegan, mezzo soprano Yuko Takahashi, international busker and former Auckland Equity secretary Farrell Cleary, political tenor Chris “Crubeen” Trotter, Unite union organiser Joe Carolan (and dog) plus a barbershop quartet singing “Danny Boy”. Can’t beat it. Saturday night, June 16, 7.30-10.30pm Thirsty Dog Tavern, Corner Howe St & Karangahape Rd, Auckland

NZ WEBSITE DEVOTED TO GAZA AND PALESTINIAN ISSUES
Julie Webb jwebbp May 4 (3 days ago). Hi all, please take the time to read the read the daily news from Gaza on SCOOP’s new website dedicated to Gaza, and Palestinian issues. www.gaza.scoop.ps If you read this, you will quickly find out what the important issues and priorities of the day are, as reported by Palestinians. Enjoy, and thanks for your support! Julie Webb-Pullman

SOLIDARITY BRIGADE TO VENEZUELA: HALF-PRICE FLIGHTS AVAILABLE FROM AUCKLAND
Join the 2012 Presidential elections brigade to Venezuela. Register now to witness the final election campaign for President Hugo Chavez and observe first-hand a living people’s power revolution. Brigade dates: September 27th – October 8th, 2012. Half-price flights Sydney-Auckland-Venezuela return are currently available through Aerolineas Argentina. Brigade registration and costs: The deadline for registering for the 2012 presidential elections brigade is May 31, 2012 (including payment of registration fee, unless otherwise arranged). Participants will need to book their own international airfares, but accommodation, transport and English-Spanish translation within Venezuela will be organised by the AVSN. In addition to your international airfare, you will need to budget for approximately $1200-$1350. This will cover your brigade registration fee ($500 for waged workers or $350 for students/pensioners), and your food, transport and accommodation (on a shared basis) for 12 days in Venezuela. To register for the brigade visit: brigades or phone Jim McIlroy 0423 741 734, Roberto Jorquera 0425 182 994 or Lisa Macdonald 0413 031 108.

AUSA PRESENTS – ACTIVIST WEEK MAY 14TH -18TH
Monday 14th: Workshop 1 – Esperanto Society and UNANZ Presentation, 5pm AUSA Clubspace. Workshop 2: Medical Students for Global Awareness Present: DR Sujit speaks. B10 Library Basement 6pm.
Tuesday 15th: Workshop 3: Generation Zero presents: “Auckland Transport that’s not S#$T!!!” 6pm AUSA Exec chambers. UN Youth & The Global Poverty Project present: Oxfam Coffee Break + Trade Zealand Justice Expert Panel 6pm Engineering Building Rm 3.404. Students for Justice in Palestine: Peaceful Vigil in remembrance on Nakba 6pm AUSA Quad.
Wednesday 16th: Workshop 4 Nga Tauira Maori Presents: A History of Maori Actvism 4pm Waipapa Marae, Wynyard St. Workshop 5 Free the Cuban Five Presentation: 5pm AUSA Clubspace. Action Againist White-Collar Crime Penny Bright speaks, 6pm B10 library basement. Workshop 6 UNITE Union Presents: “Students are workers, workers are students”. 7pm AUSA Clubspace.
Thursday 17th: Workshop 7 – SAFE: What is SAFE and how you can get involved 4pm AUSA house meeting room 1 Fair-trade on Campus “Is free-trade really fair-trade?” 6:30pm Library Basement B10. Aaron Chang Presents: "Intersexuality and activism" 6pm AUSA Exec Chambers. Aotearoa Not For Sale Strategy Meeting, 7pm Library Basement B15.
Friday 18th: Workshop 8 Introduction to Greenpeace 5pm AUSA Clubspace. BlackHeart InfoShop Presents: “Rock Activist Week”. Penny Dreadful, Bio-Robots, Melting Pot Massacre.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

"The trouble is that when American dollars earn only six percent over here, they get restless and go overseas to get 100 percent. The flag follows the dollar and the soldiers follow the flag.

"I wouldn’t go to war again as I have done to defend some lousy investment of the bankers. We should fight only for the defense of our home and the Bill of Rights. War for any other reason is simply a racket.

"There isn’t a trick in the racketeering bag that the military gang is blind to. It had its ‘finger men’ to point out enemies, its ‘muscle men’ to destroy enemies, its ‘brain men’ to plan war preparations and a ‘Big Boss’ – supernationalistic capitalism.

"I spent 33 years in the Marines. Most of my time being a high-class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer for capitalism.

"I helped purify Nicaragua for the international banking house of Brown Brothers in 1909-1912. I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenue in. I helped in the rape of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street.

"War is a racket." – General Smedley D. Butler – http://bit.ly/eszLL

BEST ON THE WEB

NEW ZEALAND

Housing protest like ‘pitched battle’ http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6905484/Housing-protest-like-pitched-battle

Minto in court over police obstruction http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6916973/Minto-in-court-over-police-obstruction

MANA Vice-President in Court http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1205/S00201/mana-vice-president-in-court.htm

The Battle of Lyndhurst – Police clash with protestors as another state house in Glen Innes is removed. http://socialistaotearoa.blogspot.co.nz/2012/05/battle-of-lyndhurst-state-using.html

State Housing protest http://tvnz.co.nz/breakfast-news/state-housing-protest-video-4731105

Prison errors cited in death of inmate http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/208689/prison-errors-cited-death-inmate

The War on Women, NZ edition: Beneficiaries and Contraception by Anne Russell http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1205/S00089/the-war-on-women-nz-edition-beneficiaries-contraception.htm

Beneficiary birth control ‘slippery rope to eugenics’ http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/beneficiary-birth-control-slippery-rope-eugenics-4869033

Hungry kids scavenge pig slops http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/6901003/Hungry-kids-scavenge-pig-slops

Suicide and abuse of power at Otago Correctional Facility http://brookingblog.com/2012/05/09/suicide-and-abuse-of-power-at-otago-correctional-facility/

“Happy birthday MANA” states MANA President Annette Sykes http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1204/S00347/happy-birthday-mana-states-mana-president-annette-sykes.htm

NZ sends soldiers to train in United States http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/105573/nz-sends-soldiers-to-train-in-united-states

Housing NZ tenants given a week to leave http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/regional/105574/housing-nz-tenants-given-a-week-to-leave

Editorial: Housing NZ is failing harassed tenants http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/editorials/6899247/Editorial-Housing-NZ-is-failing-harassed-tenants

Housing Crises – protests, lobbyists and where the power really rests http://actionforchristchurcheast.blogspot.co.nz/2012/05/poor-turn-out-when-1000s-were-expected.html

Students activists mobilise against Government http://www.newswire.co.nz/2012/05/students-embark-on-more-anti-government-actions/

Augusto Alcalde interviews Marama Davidson http://news.tangatawhenua.com/archives/16691

Sex offender orders ‘might breach rights’ http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/6911334/Sex-offender-orders-might-breach-rights

Queer The Night 2012 speech http://workersparty.org.nz/2012/05/12/queer-the-night-speech-2012/

AOTEAROA IS NOT FOR SALE

Thousands say: “John Key, you’ve got mail, Aotearoa is not for sale” http://workersparty.org.nz/2012/05/08/thousands-say-john-key-youve-got-mail-aotearoa-is-not-for-sale/

Invercargill’s Keep Our Assets March http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3955616169671.266969.1258227513&type=1

Hikoi reaches its destination

Waitangi Tribunal grants asset sales hearing http://www.3news.co.nz/Waitangi-Tribunal-grants-asset-sales-hearing/tabid/1607/articleID/253747/Default.aspx

Zombie protest suggests asset sales dead wrong http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/6900734/Zombie-protest-suggests-asset-sales-dead-wrong

Rap @ the Hikoi

The most important NZ Political news story you will read this year http://tumeke.blogspot.co.nz/2012/05/most-important-nz-political-news-story.html

Hikoi arrives at Parliament

Key unfazed as protesters descend on Parliament http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/key-unfazed-protesters-descend-parliament-4864851

Asset sale hikoi marches on Parliament http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/6859194/Asset-sale-hikoi-set-to-march-on-Parliament

Photo: Front line on government grounds http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=308669825877062&set=a.295502347193810.68595.100002021411550&type=1&

WORKRIGHTS NZ

Talley’s tactics concern Ngapuhi leader http://www.mwu.org.nz/2012/05/04/talleys-tactics-concern-ngapuhi-leader/

Campbell live http://www.3news.co.nz/Affco-workers-move-protest-to-Talley-family-mansion/tabid/367/articleID/253333/Default.aspx

Close up – http://tvnz.co.nz/close-up/talleys-head-shuts-gate-workers-video-4868636

Talleys immovable in dispute http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/6907827/Talleys-immovable-in-dispute

MUNZ delegate: “Class war on the waterfront” http://workersparty.org.nz/2012/05/03/munz-delegate-class-war-on-the-waterfront/#more-6136

CTU: Government Undermines Bargaining to Reduce Pay and Conditions http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1205/S00209/government-undermines-bargaining-to-reduce-pay-conditions.htm

Secret changes to labour rules http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/6913814/Secret-changes-to-labour-rules

Mothers : worth more than a bunch of flowers http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1205/S00185/mothers-worth-more-than-a-bunch-of-flowers.htm

NZ ECONOMY

Gordon Campbell on the politics of austerity http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2012/05/10/gordon-campbell-on-the-politics-of-austerity/

The price is wrong – A shake-up of the building industry is long overdue. http://www.listener.co.nz/commentary/editorial/the-price-is-wrong-2/

Retail sales collapse an ominous sign http://www.labour.org.nz/news/retail-sales-collapse-an-ominous-sign

TPPWatch Action Bulletin #10 – 13 May 2012 http://tppwatch.org/2012/05/13/tppwatch-action-bulletin-10-13-may-2012/

Gordon Campbell on banks passing on their own costs of reform http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2012/05/11/gordon-campbell-on-banks-passing-on-their-own-costs-of-reform/

The Court Report discusses TPP http://tvnz.co.nz/content/3602661.xhtml

FEATURES

Noam Chomsky: Latin-America, Social Movements, Neo-Liberalism, Free Trade Agreements http://www.zcommunications.org/latin-america-social-movements-neo-liberalism-free-trade-agreements-by-noam-chomsky

Mother’s Day for Peace http://www.zcommunications.org/mothers-day-for-peace-by-ruth-rosen

European elections: if the left doesn’t lead revolt against austerity, others will – The French and Greek elections have already shifted Europe’s politics. But it needs real change to hold the right at bay by Seumas Milne http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/may/08/left-revolt-austerity-far-right

The Crisis and the Left: Where Does Occupy Lead Now? Launch of the 2012 Socialist Register. Moderated by Leo Panitch. Frances Fox Piven, author of Who’s Afraid of Frances Fox Piven? David McNally, York University, author of Global Slump. Greg Albo, York University, co-author of In and Out of Crisis. These presentations were made at the “Left Words” Festival of Books and Ideas, Toronto, 6 May 2012.

Click here to view presentation

Colin Powell’s Tangled Web http://warisacrime.org/content/colin-powells-tangled-web

LAND, LABOUR & THE ENVIRONMENT

Mother Earth Should Not Be "Owned, Privatised and Exploited" http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=107733

Illegal fish dumping may be common practice http://www.3news.co.nz/Illegal-fish-dumping-may-be-common-practice/tabid/1160/arti

WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS

Spanish banking crisis threatens deeper recession across Europe http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/51010

Global Capitalism – May 2012 Monthly Update by Professor Richard D Wolff http://rdwolff.com/content/global-capitalism-may-2012-monthly-update

Can the Euro Avert Collapse? http://www.thenation.com/article/167816/can-euro-avert-collapse

The euro on a knife edge: Are the Greeks to blame? What is the left position on the euro crisis? http://links.org.au/node/2549

Party ends badly for U.S. trade reps, federal agents http://www.yeslab.org/tpp

Reich: The 1 percent earn too much http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2012/05/09/n-robert-reich-inequality.cnnmoney/

AUSTRALIA

Class warfare in Australia? We should be so lucky http://theconversation.edu.au/class-warfare-in-australia-we-should-be-so-lucky-6970

Aboriginal Passports Issued To Indefinitely Detained Tamils, Denied Australian Residency On ‘SECURITY’ Grounds http://refugeeaction.org.au/2012/05/13/aboriginal-passports-issued-to-indefinitely-detained-tamils-denied-australian-residency-on-security-grounds/

COLOMBIA

Threats Intensify against Colombia’s Largest Peasant Union–FTA Set to Begin as Obama Gives “Thumbs Up” on Colombian Labor Rights http://tinyurl.com/7ej982b

CUBA

Cuba, The Drug War, And The Isolation Of The U.S. By Noam Chomsky http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article31302.htm

Cuba May Be the Most Feminist Country in Latin America http://rendezvous.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/01/cuba-may-be-the-most-feminist-country-in-latin-america/

The Cuban man who outwitted CIA tells his story http://news.cubasi.cu/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=1313:the-cuban-man-who-outwitted-cia-tells-his-story

GREECE

A Triumph of the Radical Left in Greece: A Message to Europe http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/632.php

Why Europe needs Greece – Syriza’s electoral success marks the start of the first major battle against austerity. The whole continent should will them to win http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/may/11/europe-needs-greece-syriza-austerity

IRAQ

The Children of Iraq: Was the price worth it? http://www.countercurrents.org/kentane100512.pdf

PACIFIC

Why development or peace journalism? The real issue is independent Pacific journalism http://cafepacific.blogspot.co.nz/2012/05/why-development-or-peace-journalism.html

PAKISTAN

Protest torture of Baba Jan, ‘prisoner of climate change’ http://links.org.au/node/2847

Tariq Ali: Obama’s Expansion of Af-Pak War "Has Blown Up in His Face" http://www.zcommunications.org/obamas-expansion-of-af-pak-war-has-blown-up-in-his-face-by-tariq-ali-1

PALESTINE

Israel facing major West Bank uprising over Palestinian hunger strike http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/9258264/Israel-facing-major-West-Bank-uprising-over-Palestinian-hunger-strike.html

Palestinian prisoner hunger strike http://tinyurl.com/18r

Thaer Halahleh told he "could die any moment," as hunger strikers’ condition increasingly urgent http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/thaer-halahleh-told-he-could-die-any-moment-hunger-strikers-condition

Gaza Is A New Genocide: An Israeli, and granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, explains how she fought the lies http://www.thecommentfactory.com/gaza-is-a-new-genocide-an-israeli-and-granddaughter-of-holocaust-survivors-explains-how-she-fought-the-lies-1198/

Hundreds of Gaza women march to join Hunger Strikers rally http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1205/S00055/hundreds-of-gaza-women-march-to-join-hunger-strikers-rally.

PHILIPPINES

Aquino’s wrong mathematics equals wrong economics http://opinion.inquirer.net/28449/aquino%E2%80%99s-wrong-mathematics-equals-wrong-economics

USA

America’s new working poor – In this economy, having a job is no longer a guarantee against poverty http://www.salon.com/2012/05/01/working_in_poverty/

Paying the Price – The Sexual Politics of Poverty http://www.counterpunch.org/2012/05/11/the-sexual-politics-of-poverty/

VENEZUELA

Venezuela leads the world in supporting workers with its new Labor Law http://axisoflogic.com/artman/publish/Article_64508.shtml

Venezuelan Government Creates National Pharmacy Network, Invests in Construction Industry http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/6967

OLDER ANNOUNCEMENTS

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.