22/7/12: What’s on in Aotearoa – Picket fast food pokies Sat July 28

PICKET FAST FOOD POKIES 10AM SAT JULY 28
Following the public meeting last week Mana is organising a picket of the fast-food pokies outlet in Otara. These pokies are continuing to steal from the community despite having their venue licence cancelled by the Department of Internal Affairs. Mana wants to CLOSE THE FAST-FOOD POKIES. Saturday 28th July 10am. 120 East Tamaki Road, Otara (just along from McDonald’s). Bring banners, flags, placards and music. (We are inviting Mayor Len Brown to join the picket as well – will keep you posted).

THE ROGER AWARD
The Roger Award For The Worst Transnational Corporation operating in New Zealand has run annually since 1997. There are no prizes for guessing whom it is named after. It is organised by CAFCA and GATT Watchdog, both Christchurch-based groups. The judges have awarded prizes for runners up, continuity and collaborators. The Award has attracted considerable interest since its inception (even from the corporate media), and has had a succession of distinguished and completely voluntary judges. The events to announce the winners have become highly memorable in their own right. Winners of previous awards and judges’ reports can be seen below.
New Nominations are open for the 2012 Award. The nomination form with details of the criteria and how to make a nomination is available in Word or PDF format. Criteria are also below. Nominations close on 31 October 2012.
The judges for 2012 are: Christina Stringer, a Senior Lecturer in International Business at the University of Auckland; John Maynard , from Wellington, President of the Postal Workers Union of Aotearoa, spokesperson for People’s Power Ohariu and founding member of the Brass Razoo Solidarity Band; Paul Maunder, cultural worker, curator of Blackball Museum of Working Class History and a founding member of Unite!; Sam Mahon, an artist, author and activist from North Canterbury; and Wayne Hope, Associate Professor, Communications Studies, Auckland University of Technology. They will be given a shortlist of finalists. The winner(s) will be announced at a Wellington event in early 2013. For more information http://canterbury.cyberplace.co.nz/community/CAFCA/publications/Roger/index.html

26 FOR BABIES: EXTEND PAID PARENTAL LEAVE COALITION : JOIN THE COALITION
26 for Babies is a new coalition, set up to support Sue Moroney’s private members Bill that has been draw from the ballot which would extend Paid Parental Leave to 26 weeks over the course of three years. A coalition has been established comprising a wide range of child-focussed organisations including UNICEF, Plunket and Every Child Counts as well as community groups and unions. The 26 for Babies Coalition will be launched this Thursday 26 July at 10 am in Wellington. The CTU has established policy on extending the current paid parental leave entitlement of 14 weeks paid leave. If your union hasn’t joined the Coalition, (a good number already have) we would like to request that you formally join and notify Rebecca Matthews (rebecca.matthews) who is co-ordinating the campaign so all the organisations including unions can be listed in the media advisory and on the new web site: http://26forbabies.org/
There is a strong support for this Bill and with voting support from Labour, Greens, Maori Party, United Future, and Mana this Bill would have the required number of votes to pass it if National are stopped from using a financial veto to prevent the passage of the Bill. Any further queries please contact the CTU contacts in this Coalition: Georgie McLeod or Eileen Brown, or Rebecca Matthews, 26 for Babies Coalition Coordinator.

SUPPORT QUEBEC STUDENT LEADER COMING TO AOTEAROA IN AUGUST
To all social and trade movements of Aotearoa. The student movement Blockade the Budget is putting out an appeal for funds to help bring over a student leader Guillaume Legault from the CLASSE student movement from Montreal. He will do a nationwide speaking tour of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. It is exciting to have a member of the CLASSE movement coming to New Zealand in August. CLASSE is the largest student union in Quebec and has been on strike for over 100 days with daily rallies ranging from 5,000-500,000. The strikes in Montreal have spread to include all sectors of society and has recently caused the resignation of the education minister Line Beauchamp. This is an important opportunity to hear from a student representative who is fighting against similar cutbacks in education as we are. With the recent back down by Hekia Parata over class sizes, it shows that this government’s cuts to education can be fought and defeated. We need to learn from groups who are fighting the same fight and take the lessons they have to offer. We are aiming to raise $2,000 to help pay for international and internal flights within New Zealand. A bank account has been set up for donations. We encourage students to donate $10 each, workers $20, academics $50-$100, and unions $100. Student Movement 38-9012-0788748-00

WHAT’S ON

Wednesday, July 25, 7.30pm, The Crypt, St Benedict’s Church, Cnr St Benedict’s St & Alex Evans St, Newton, Auckland
Catholic Religious Against Human Trafficking invites you to ‘Out of Sight Out of Mind: Human Trafficking in New Zealand’s Waters?’ Presentation by leading researchers Dr Christina Stringer and Mr Glenn Simmons University of Auckland Business School. “In this presentation, we apply the International Labour Organization and European Commission’s indicators of trafficking in human beings to labour conditions for Indonesian crew working on foreign charter vessels fishing in New Zealand waters. We find that New Zealand is not immune from forced labour trafficking.” Gold Coin donation – to defray expenses

Thursday, July 26, 5.30pm, Level 6 PSA House, 11 Aurora Terrace, Wellington
New Zealand’s no-fault compensation system: are we better off than the Brits? Rich and risky v simple and safe. Join us at for drinks and nibbles. RSVP: 04 473 6767 or legal

Friday, July 27, 8.30-10am, BNZ Small Business Centre, Level 7, 125 Queen Street, Auckland
Strategies to Inspire Sustainability – with Niki Harré. Author of ‘Psychology for a Better World: Strategies to Inspire Sustainability’, Niki Harré, will share her insights on how to engage people from a psychological point of view in moving towards a more sustainable society. Niki is Associate Professor of Psychology at Auckland University, and specialises in the psychology of sustainability, community and citizenship. There will be plenty of time for discussion with fellow attendees. RSVP to: northern

Sunday, August 5, 4.30pm, Kerr Street Artspace, Mt Victoria Summit Rd
Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) Tamaki Makaurau Branch: Invitation to Hiroshima Day Commemoration Sunday 5 August 2012 being held in conjunction with The Depot, Devonport at their Kerr Street Artspace, on the Mt Victoria summit road. The commemoration for Hiroshima and Nagasaki is being held in conjunction with the launch of the Peace Map and Cultural Mapping Exhibition, and the opening of the Hiroshima/Nagasaki A Bomb Photo Poster Exhibition, with speakers representing the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, Shigeko Sasamori and Michimasa Hirata. The programme will start at 4.30pm and will include crane-making a candle floating ceremony, stories, speakers and music. Please join The Depot and WILPF for this important event in the peace calendar. Contacts for more information or transport: WILPF Ruth Coombes ph 445 1254 ruth.calliope Joan Macdonald ph 360 8001 joanmac The Depot email erin.forsyth

Saturday & Sunday, August 18-19, Rutherford House, Bunny Street, Wellington.
Supported by the Stout Research Centre, Victoria University. ANC CENTENARY: How N.Z helped to abolish apartheid. The ANC Centenary Conference Committee invite you to a conference on the 18th-19th August, 2012.A full programme of New Zealand and South African speakers will talk on these topics: 100 years of the ANC; Maori to the fore; Winds of change-the NZ movement gets organized; 1973 and Norman Kirk; International Aspects of the campaign; 1981 and Beyond; Impact on NZ society; The ANC today. There will be a reception and drinks on Saturday night. $60 Registration. RSVP Conference Coordinator by 10th of August, catts2011

Saturday, July 28, 7.30pm, Polish Society Hall, corner of Ethel and McDonald Streets, Morningside off Sandringham Road.
City Vision Fundraising Debate: You are invited to an evening of entertainment, celebration and debate to mark the halfway point of the first “Super City”. Join us on Saturday 28th July when the boys take on the girls to debate the proposition “Auckland Council is the new Parliament”. City Vision is delighted to have secured seasoned political raconteurs Richard Northey, Matt McCarten and Phil Twyford to square up against the charming prowess of Cathy Casey, Julie Fairey and Denise Roche with MC Laila Harre. The evening will include the launch of City Vision’s mid term report by Mike Lee and a special musical cameo from Chris Trotter. Tickets $25 (concession $10) includes nibbles. Cash Bar. Invite your friends and whanau for what promises to be a fun, social evening. Payment: Preferred option is by internet banking to the City Vision account 38 9007 0461177 00, coded with your name and number of tickets.

Monday, July 30, 1-3pm, Western Springs Community Garden Hall, 956 Great North Road, Auckland
Come to the “Save Disability Law” public meeting. RSVP by 23 July 2012 phone: 09 257 5140 or email info Venue is wheelchair accessible and NZ Sign Language interpreters have been booked.

Monday, July 30, 6.30pm, St Columba Centre, 40 Vermont St Ponsonby, Auckland
CPAG AGM: CHILDREN, CITIZENSHIP & ENVIRONMENT. Our guest speaker this year is Dr Bronwyn Hayward, convener of CPAG’s newly formed Christchurch branch and author of Children, Citizenship and Environment. RSVP: Email or telephone (09) 303 9260 for catering purposes. Parking: Ample free parking is available behind the centre. About the Book: ‘Bronwyn Hayward’s creative masterpiece describes how we can escape the last 20 years of neo-liberal thinking and its toxic impact on our precious children today and in the future.’ Associate Professor Susan St John, nationally renowned economist and CPAG founding member. ‘In this inspiring book Bronwyn Hayward explains how children have been left out of the political process or included in only token ways, and the potential cost of this to society. Dr Russell Wills, Children’s Commissioner.

September 27 to October 8, NZ-Venezuela
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.

November 9-11. Waihi
REMEMBER WAIHI 9-11 NOV 2012. It will be the 1912 Waihi Gold Miners’ Strike Centenary and Commemoration of the death of Fred Evans. The phrase “Remember Waihi” was used for many years by the union movement to refer to the 1912 Waihi strike. It expressed anger at the death of striker Fred Evans, who was beaten by death by strikebreakers while the police stood by. It also expressed caution at confronting the combined might of the government, big employers and the police. The Labour History Project is remembering Waihi with a weekend-long historical seminar and memorial service in Waihi this November. It’s one of the ways we research, record and celebrate New Zealanders’ working lives, and draw on the past for inspiration and guidance for the future. A program and registration form for the “Remember Waihi” weekend is in this brochure: markderby37 Phone 04 973 8900

December 27 to January 18, NZ-Cuba
XXX SOUTHERN CROSS BRIGADE TO CUBA: 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. 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.