GPJA #425: Post-budget protests next week

GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND NEWSLETTER No. 425, May 18, 2012

WHAT’S ON

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
EMINAR: 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

Tuesday, May 22, 5.30pm, Room 108 of the University of Auckland’s Clocktower
‘Poverty and Inequality in New Zealand’ at the ‘Poverty and the Living Wage’ Teach In. Speakers: Paul Taillon, Department of History, University of Auckland, ‘The Living Wage: Historical Context and Current Relevance’; Sarah Thompson, Auckland Action Against Poverty

‘Poverty and Inequality in New Zealand’; Annie Newman, Service and Food Workers’ Union, Nga Ringa Tota, ‘The Living Wage Campaign Aotearoa New Zealand’

Wednesday, May 23, 7pm, B10, Basement, Library Building, Auckland University
The case of the Urewera 4 & the Search and Surveillance Act. Followed by a Potakato, a night of solidarity at the high Court.

Thursday, May 24, 10am, High Court, Auckland

Operation 8 defendants will be sentenced for Arms Act convictions in the Auckland High Court at 10am. More information: http://www.october15thsolidarity.info/

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.

Thursday, May 31, 5.30-8pm, Auckland District Law Society, Level 5, Chancery Chambers, 2 Chancery St, Auckland CBD.
Contracting – good for businesses and/or employees? New Zealand Employment Relations Society and the New Zealand Work and Labour Market Institute invite you to hear Professor Erling Rasmussen (AUT University), Helen White (Barrister) and James Ritchie (New Zealand Dairy Workers’ Union) discuss current employment and legal trends of contracting in employment, and the ramifications of those for employees and businesses. Light refreshments will be provided Please RSVP to nzwalmi for catering purposes

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

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. The 2012 brigade is the 13th study tour organised by the AVSN. Reports from previous brigades are posted at: brigades or phone Jim McIlroy 0423 741 734, Roberto Jorquera 0425 182 994 or Lisa Macdonald 0413 031 108.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

“Concentration of wealth yields concentration of political power. And concentration of political power gives rise to legislation that increases and accelerates the cycle.” Noam Chomsky, Plutonomy and the Precariat, The Nation, May 8, 2012

"Few of us can easily surrender our belief that society must somehow make sense. The thought that The State has lost its mind and is punishing so many innocent people is intolerable. And so the evidence has to be internally denied." – Arthur Miller – Playwright

"As soon as we abandon our own reason, and are content to rely upon authority, there is no end to our troubles". – Bertrand Russell

BEST ON THE WEB

NEW ZEALAND

ABC: Manouevred Back Into ANZUS: Subversion of NZ’s Independence http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1205/S00121/manouevred-back-into-anzus-subversion-of-nzs-independence.htm

Opinion divided on NZ-US military exercises http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10805685

A scary lack of transparency under PPPs by Catherine Delahunty http://blog.greens.org.nz/2012/04/11/a-scary-lack-of-transparency-under-ppps/

WAR ON POOR

New board the next step in Nationals’ war on the poor Press Release: Auckland Action Against Poverty http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1205/S00240/new-board-the-next-step-in-nationals-war-on-the-poor.htm

Gordon Campbell on Paula Rebstock and her new welfare reform platform http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2012/05/16/gordon-campbell-on-paula-rebstock-and-her-new-welfare-reform-platform/

Bradford slams new reforms board http://www.3news.co.nz/Bradford-slams-new-reforms-board/tabid/1607/articleID/254388/Default.aspx

HOUSING

Glen Innes calls for Solidarity from Aotearoa is Not For Sale. http://socialistaotearoa.blogspot.co.nz/2012/05/glen-innes-calls-for-solidarity-from.html

State home removal like ‘ethnic cleansing’ http://www.3news.co.nz/State-home-removal-like-ethnic-cleansing/tabid/1038/articleID/254602/Default.aspx

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

Elderly protester knocked out during confrontation with police http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10805244

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

Family of 13 face threat of homelessness http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6936331/Family-of-13-face-threat-of-homelessness

Government cancels low cost housing scheme http://tvnz.co.nz/close-up/thursday-may-17-4892662/video?vid=4892858

Key backs cut-off for cheap homes plan http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10806703

HEALTH

Public health expert questions prescription charge move http://www.otago.ac.nz/news/news/otago032785.html

Gordon Campbell on the rise in prescription charges http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2012/05/15/gordon-campbell-on-the-rise-in-prescription-charges/

Disabled care Govt cost uncertain http://www.3news.co.nz/Disabled-care-Govt-cost-uncertain/tabid/1607/articleID/254229/Default.aspx

Crying poor no defence to discrimination of our needy http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10806100

Paul Henry blasted for ‘sick’ refugee comments http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10806301

Meds price hike: ‘Children will die’ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10805965

Giving with one hand and taking with the other not the way to create a healthy New Zealand http://www.nzno.org.nz/activities/media_releases/articletype/articleview/articleid/1246/giving-with-one-hand-and-taking-with-the-other-not-the-way-to-create-a-healthy-new-zealand

EDUCATION

The Tertiary Education Union has just set up an online petition to go to the Minister of Tertiary Education, Steven Joyce, opposing proposed changes to university councils: http://teu.ac.nz/democratic-councils/

Peter Lyons: Merit pay? Bring it on and show me the money http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10806602

Auckland Students set to Strike in Opposition to Budget http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1205/S00276/auckland-students-set-to-strike-in-opposition-to-budget.htm

Low decile schools to suffer from reforms – teachers http://www.3news.co.nz/Low-decile-schools-to-suffer-from-reforms—teachers/tabid/1607/articleID/254659/Default.aspx#ixzz1vBomCN4S

Nats to cut 500 teachers http://thestandard.org.nz/nats-to-cut-500-teachers/

MAORI

New Zealand: The Maori – an Al Jazeera doco http://news.tangatawhenua.com/archives/17689

Native Affairs 1 hour special on Urewera raids http://www.maoritelevision.com/ajaxservicepage.aspx?templatename=richvideo&progid=1604&EPID=28540

Gordon Godfey on Native Affairs on the Urewera "terrorists" http://mauistreet.blogspot.co.nz/2012/05/native-affairs-on-urewera-terrorists.html

IMMIGRATION

Migrants’ signs have breathed new life into depressed areas http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10806815

Gordon Campbell on the government’s use of Breakfast TV to announce immigration policy http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2012/05/18/gordon-campbell-on-the-governments-use-of-breakfast-tv-to-announce-immigration-policy/

WORKRIGHTS NZ

International support for Talley’s AFFCO workers http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1205/S00284/international-support-for-talleys-affco-workers.htm

Union: Affco’s attitude extremely aggressive http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/union-affco-s-attitude-extremely-aggressive-4891295

Talleys head shuts gate on workers http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/union-affco-s-attitude-extremely-aggressive-4891295/video?vid=4868636

Affco-union dispute goes to Employment Court http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/6935784/Affco-union-dispute-goes-to-Employment-Court

Affco upset by Shearer’s picket visit http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10806445

Union challenges lockout legality – Press Release: Meat Workers Union http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1205/S00241/union-challenges-lockout-legality.htm

Locked-out workers get benefits back http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/6920162/Locked-out-workers-get-benefits-back

Meat workers are doing their share for New Zealand by Denise Roche http://blog.greens.org.nz/?p=23712

Affco suppliers frustrated – http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/6918531/Affco-suppliers-frustrated

Talley’s Affco lockout: Day 76 http://www.mwu.org.nz/2012/05/14/talleys-affco-lockout-day-76/

Nelson man who fell from boat deck named http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10805773

Cronyism blamed for ERA backlog http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/6921754/Cronyism-blamed-for-ERA-backlog

Consultancy’s part in review questioned http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/6928535/Consultancys-part-in-review-questioned

National’s Class War on the Labour Movement http://robertwinter.blogspot.co.nz/2012/05/nationals-class-war-on-labour-movement.html

Event Cinema Workers on Strike The Embassy Wellington

Cinema workers power

The Tertiary Education Union has just set up an online petition to go to the Minister of Tertiary Education, Steven Joyce, opposing proposed changes to university councils: http://teu.ac.nz/democratic-councils/

Korean fishing sex allegations http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/6932058/Korean-fishing-sex-allegations

Doubt cast on Govt’s ‘Mondayising’ costings http://www.odt.co.nz/news/politics/209520/doubt-cast-govts-mondayising-costings

NZ ECONOMY

Revised GDP stats prompt economic growth questions http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10806053

NZIER REPORT: Seven years lost http://nzier.org.nz/sites/nzier.org.nz/files/NZIER%20Insight%2033%20-%20Seven%20years%20lost.pdf

Calls to drop the "investor-state" provisions in the TPP deal – Retired Court of Appeal judge Sir Ted Thomas is one of more than 60 New Zealand jurists to sign an open letter to the negotiators of the Trans Pacific Partnership trade talks calling for them to drop "investor-state" provisions which allow companies to sue governments directly over alleged breaches. (17′17″ http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2519191/calls-to-drop-the-investor-state-provisions-in-the-tpp-deal.asx

FEATURES

The Pirate Party knows where the money is – The anti-copyright party is showing that intellectual property rights are ever more irrelevant in the internet age. http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2012/05/2012514204029381972.html

A Women’s Human Rights Agenda for the G8 http://www.madre.org/index/press-room-4/press-releases-34/news/a-womens-human-rights-agenda-for-the-g8-787.html

Stop the Neoliberal Crisis Politics – Dispossess the Beneficiaries! by Attac Germany and Attac Europe Network http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/634.php

Never Forget That Bradley Manning, Not Gay Marriage, Is The Issue By John Pilger http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article31355.htm

CULTURAL DISSENT

Beastie Boys Adam Yauch — maker of music that broke the rules http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/51027

The celebrity money-spinning machine detailed http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/51023

When grumpy white men go native http://www.readingthemaps.blogspot.co.nz/2012/05/when-grumpy-white-men-go-native.html

Watch: The Great Book Robbery, Israel’s 1948 looting of Palestine’s cultural heritage http://tinyurl.com/6oprnlo

‘Escalation by Default: The Future of NATO Nuclear Weapons in Europe’ is available at http://www.europeanleadershipnetwork.org/medialibrary/2012/05/10/e074ba2d/ELN%20NATO%20Policy%20Brief%202%20-%20Escalation%20by%20Default.pdf

In the “Loop” with Morello Standing Against ‘Grotesque Income Inequality’ http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/mike-friends-blog/loop-morello-standing-against-grotesque-income-inequality

Evolving Russia Finds a Recorder of Its Moment ‘Elena’ and Its Director, Andrei Zvyagintsev http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/movies/elena-and-its-director-andrei-zvyagintsev.html

LAND, LABOUR & THE ENVIRONMENT

Company wants to tap Mojave’s public lands for Southland water http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-water-cadiz-20120516,0,391990.story

WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS

Accidentally Released – and Incredibly Embarrassing – Documents Show How Goldman et al Engaged in ‘Naked Short Selling’ – By Matt Taibbi – It doesn’t happen often, but sometimes God smiles on us. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article31345.htm

‘Financial Transactions Tax: a human rights imperative’ at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/ftt.htm

Global Financial Crisis: A World In DebtWorld governments have borrowed massive amounts of money to live beyond their means. Here are the world’s largest economies, and how much they borrowed. http://demonocracy.info/infographics/usa/world_debt/world_debt.html

The odd couple: Both China and the US have profited and lost out in a bizarre yet unbreakable economic partnership. And though Beijing may effectively be embarking on an arms race, it does not yet have Washington’s strategic capability. This is the moment to rebalance relations http://mondediplo.com/2012/05/10chinaus

Impoverishing Europe by Thomas Sablowski http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/635.php

Deficit Reduction: The Great Distraction http://truth-out.org/news/item/9109-deficit-reduction-the-great-distraction

AFGHANISTAN

‘Let’s run, let’s get out of here,’ boy cried during Afghan massacre http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/05/17/2147790/lets-run-lets-get-out-of-here.html#storylink=cpy

AUSTRALIA

Australian police to evict Aboriginal protesters http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10806244

Cease the attacks on Brisbane’s Aboriginal Sovereign Embassy http://www.socialist-alliance.org/page.php?page=1196

Casualisation and Insecure Work: A report of the Independent Inquiry into Insecure Work, Lives on Hold: Unlocking the potential of Australia’s workforce, which analyses the extent of the problem now affecting 40% of their workforce and sets out possible solutions. The report handed down to the ACTU Congress is the result of the most thorough analysis of the issue of insecure work, its causes, its effects on individuals, communities, workplaces and the economy, ever undertaken in Australia. It highlights without doubt that people in casual, labour hire and contracting jobs are literally putting their lives on hold because they have no job or income security to plan for the future. Insecure work makes it difficult to meet the living costs of the present or to plan for the future. The Howe Inquiry report sums up the challenge: the new divide among Australian workers is the gap between secure and insecure employment. http://dl.dropbox.com/u/18076151/Lives%20on%20Hold%20-%20Unlocking%20the%20potential%20of%20Australia%27s%20workforce.pdf

CHILE

PHOTOS FROM MARCH in SANTIAGO 16/5/2012 http://www.flickr.com//photos/reporteos/sets/72157629765176270/show/

CHINA

China’s workers’ movement continues to develop away from the international headlines http://www.clb.org.hk/en/node/110060

CUBA

Cuba declared ‘best place to be a mother’ – Afghanistan is last on list; United States is number 28 http://www.pslweb.org/liberationnews/news/10-05-09-cuba-declared-best-place-to-be.html

Ambassador Jorge A Bolaños´ Letter to CNN Anchor Wolf Blitzer Regarding Alan Gross Sr. http://www.pslweb.org/liberationnews/news/ambassador-jorge-a-bolaos.html

The Horrible Things That The Empire Offer Us By Fidel Castro – In our homeland, the problems described here do not exist: would this be the reason why the empire is trying to make it surrender by starvation and hostility? http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article31331.htm

GREECE

Paul Mason: Greece: Trying to understand SYRIZA http://paulmasonnews.tumblr.com/post/22914870033/greece-trying-to-understand-syriza

R2P, Famine and Secret Documents: Remembering East Timor http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/51028

Syriza leader Tsipras gambles that EU cannot afford Greek exit http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/greece-looks-to-coalition-to-avert-crisis/story-fnb64oi6-1226356079474

SYRIZA, the Communist Party and the desperate need for a united front http://links.org.au/node/2863

IRELAND

Smashing H Block and republicanism today: an interview with F. Stuart Ross http://theirishrevolution.wordpress.com/2012/05/17/smashing-h-block-and-republicanism-today-an-interview-with-f-stuart-ross/

Ireland’s Referendum- an Opportunity for Change By John Perkins – If voters agree to sign this treaty for fiscal discipline, the country will be forced to implement even stricter austerity measures on its already beleaguered citizens. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article31348.htm

PACIFIC

PNG gas project fuels discontent http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/51021

PNG state recovers K52m in corruption probe – more to come http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2012/05/png-state-recovers-k52m-in-corruption-probe-more-to-come/

PALESTINE

Palestinian Prisoners Score Heroic Victory http://popularstruggle.org/content/palestinian-prisoners-score-heroic-victory

May 15th 1948: The Black Day In Humanity’s Contemporary History – When Zionists Wiped Out Palestine By Dr Salim Nazzal http://www.countercurrents.org/nazzal150512.htm

Never ending Nakba – As Ilan Pappe has said, most Israeli Jews have no idea of what they did to the Palestinians in 1948. (He also said that those who do know don’t think that what was done was wrong). But that’s only the tip of an iceberg of ignorance. http://tinyurl.com/caon6ml

PHILIPPINES

A heroic generation still cries: ‘Never again’ http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/48105/a-heroic-generation-still-cries-%E2%80%98never-again%E2%80%99

TIMOR

R2P, Famine and Secret Documents: Remembering East Timor http://rightnow.org.au/writing-cat/article/r2p-famine-and-secret-documents-remembering-east-timor/

TUNISIA

Tunisia’s Revolution is Just Beginning http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=107730

USA

Federal Court Enjoins NDAA – An Obama-appointed judge rules its indefinite detention provisions likely violate the 1st and 5th Amendments http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article31349.htm

The Human Disaster of Unemployment http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/opinion/sunday/the-human-disaster-of-unemployment.html?_r=2&ref=opinion

A Generation Hobbled by the Soaring Cost of College http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/business/student-loans-weighing-down-a-generation-with-heavy-debt.html?_r=1

Chicago braces for major protests as NATO summit looms http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/17/11743626-chicago-braces-for-major-protests-as-nato-summit-looms#.T7VYvzLvfG0.facebook

US DEA Kills Innocent Civilians in Honduras — US Media Silent http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article31351.htm

VENEZUELA

The World at Night: Workers’ Control in Venezuela By RADIO NATIONAL NEW ZEALAND, EWAN ROBERTSON – VENEZUELANALYSIS,COM, May 8th 2012 http://venezuelanalysis.com/audio/6975

Chávez Returns to Venezuela after “Successful” Treatment, Riding High in Polls http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/6985

Chávez’s Economics Lesson for Europe By Richard Gott – Hugo Chávez’s rejection of the neoliberal policies dragging Europe down sets a hopeful example to Greece and beyond. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article31344.htm

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.