WHAT’S ON: Quebec student leader speaks this week

THE NAKED TRUTH ABOUT QUEBEC’S STUDENT STRIKE: WEDNESDAY, 1 AUGUST, 7PM, B15 LECTURE THEATRE AUCK. UNI.

“This isn’t a student strike, it’s the awakening of society”. That’s what the lead banner of a recent march of 25,000 people read as it wound around the streets of Montreal. When the Quebec Provincial Government attacked education and tried rewriting the social contract of the 60’s guaranteeing free education, Students in Quebec fought back.

Guillaume Legault is a leading member of Quebec’s CLASSE — the Broad Coalition of the Association for Student Union Solidarity — a radical student organisation at the forefront of a months-long student strike against tuition fee hikes. Quebec’s student movement is still locked in struggle with the ruling Liberal government over the new fees. The government has responded with police repression and harassment of students. It also passed a new law that bans protests of more than 50 people unless police have given prior approval.

Come along to a public meeting where Guillaume will discuss the recent events in Montreal and strategies for the future. Also hear from members of WATU and Blockade the Budget about the past years events.

Special thanks to Blockade the Budget, Socialist Aoteaora, TEU, and GPJA.

https://www.facebook.com/events/298993536866525/

WELLINGTON: 6pm, Thursday, August 2, 19 Tory St.

CHRISTCHURCH: Saturday, August 4, 5pm, Canterbury WEA, 59 Gloucester St

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

WHAT’S ON

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.

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

Monday, August 20, 12-1pm, Rm G07, Commerce A, University of Auckland.
Department of Political Studies: Ghost Boats New Zealand’s Wrong Turn Toward Detention of Asylum Seekers. While Australia contemplates controversial ways to control the arrival of boat people, New Zealand is also wading into new waters. Detention of asylum seekers is now being considered by the New Zealand Parliament. A current bill mimics one element of Australia’s 20-year policy — locking up boat-arriving asylum seekers. What will this mean for New Zealand if it passes into law? Tracey Barnett is a journalist, opinion columnist and a Board Member of the Auckland Refugee Council. She will speak about the consequences of asylum seeker detention and relate personal stories gathered while reporting from a refugee camp on the Burmese-Thai border.

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.