WHAT’S ON IN AOTEAROA 6/8/12

REMEMBERING HIROSHIMA AND NAGASAKI IN AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND

Below are the details of remaining commemorative events and public meetings to mark the 67th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima (6 August 1945) and Nagasaki (9 August 1945). These listings are available online at http://www.icanw.org.nz

NATIONAL

• Ongoing until Saturday, 11 August – Hibakusha national speaking tour: Ms Shigeko Sasamori and Mr Michimasa (Michi) Hirata, hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors) from Hiroshima, will be speaking in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin – details of public meetings, events and contacts are included in the local listings below.
• Ongoing – From nuclear weapons-free Aotearoa New Zealand to a nuclear weapons-free world: Time for action on a global ban on nuclear weapons, find out more at http://www.icanw.org.nzWELLINGTON

• Tuesday, 7 August – The message from Hiroshima: with hibakusha Ms Shigeko Sasamori and Mr Michi Hirata: you are invited to a public meeting with Ms Shigeko Sasamori and Mr Michi Hirata, hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors) from Hiroshima. On the 67th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Shigeko Sasamori and Michi Hirata are on a national speaking tour sharing their experiences – join us to hear their story and to learn about the Hiroshima / Nagasaki Peace Project. From 6pm to 7.30pm, light refreshments at 5.50pm, in the first floor conference room, St Andrews on The Terrace, 30 The Terrace (entry via the pathway on the north side of the church). Organised by iCAN (international Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons) Aotearoa New Zealand, Peace Movement Aotearoa and St Andrews on The Terrace, for more information please contact email icanz The A4 poster for this event is available at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/hiroshima,7Aug12.pdf and you can RSVP for this event at http://www.facebook.com/events/138971072909908

CHRISTCHURCH

• Thursday, 9 August, Nagasaki Day – Ceremony at the Peace Bell with Ms Shigeko Sasamori and Mr Michi Hirata from Hiroshima: starts 5pm at the Peace Bell in the Botanical Gardens (the Peace Bell is across the river from the band rotunda, between the woodland bridge and the rose garden). Organised by local peace people, for more information please contact email cathy.harrison

DUNEDIN

• Friday, 10 August – Hiroshima A-Bomb Survivors Speak: Never Again! A public lecture with Ms Shigeko Sasamori and Mr Michi Hirata, survivors of the Hiroshima atomic bomb, who will share their memories of the war and the devastating consequences of nuclear warfare. From 4pm to 6pm, in Room 2.03, Commerce Building, corner of Union Street East and Clyde Street (the room is on street level if you enter by the side door straight off Union Street, approx 10 metres from the corner), University of Otago. Organised by the National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, for more information please contact email peaceandconflict The A4 poster for this event is available at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/hiroshima10-11Aug12.pdf
• Saturday, 11 August, Nagasaki Day – Peace vigil ‘Never Again’, with Ms Shigeko Sasamori and Mr Michi Hirata from Hiroshima: a ceremony to commemorate the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki 67 years ago. From 12 noon to 1pm, at the Peace Pole, in front of Otago Museum. Organised by the National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies with others, for more information please contact email peaceandconflict The A4 poster for this event is available at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/hiroshima10-11Aug12.pdf

MAKING THE MOST OF GE FREE NZ – TOUR

By Steffan Browning. I am bringing over two Australian farmers with first-hand experience of Genetically Engineered (GE) crops in their communities to tour New Zealand, share their stories and warn New Zealand farmers about the risks of GE crops. The last Green Party GE tour was in 1999, during the time of the Royal Commission into Genetic Engineering.

There is increasing pressure to begin growing GE crops in New Zealand and that we need to hear the warnings of Australian farmers who are experiencing damage to their brands and businesses because of GE. The farmers will share their personal stories of moving from being open to GE crops, to experiencing the negative impact introduction has on their businesses and communities. They will discuss the issues of liability and co-existence and the contamination problems already occurring in Victoria and Western Australia.

We’ve organised this tour in the context of intended applications for releases of GE pasture plants such as GE rye grass and clover, AgResearch’s investment in GE research, and this year’s upcoming agriculture biotechnology conference which is being touted as “the World Cup of Biotech”. With the pressure on to release the first GE crops in New Zealand, it’s time to examine what impact they could have on our clean, green economy and marketing advantage.

What can we learn from the experience of our Australian neighbours about how the introduction of GE crops will affect our agricultural industry and New Zealand’s economy? What are the better options available to New Zealand farmers?

Bios of speakers:

Julie Newman: Julie was a conventional farmer on a 10,000ha mixed farming property, and owned one of the largest seed grading factories in West Australia. She has a strong agricultural background including being Vice President of Western Australian Farmers Grain Council for many years, and representing Western Australia on the Grains Council of Australia policy council and seeds subcommittee. Julie has come to the conclusion that GE crops are harming farmers. She is the National Spokesperson for the Australian Network of Concerned Farmers, an alliance of Australian farmers lobbying to prevent non-GE farmers being adversely impacted by GE crops.

Bob Mackley: Bob Mackley is a canola farmer in Victoria. He is a strong community figure; a past District Council Chairman and a member of the Victorian Farmers Federation. He has experience as a convener of a grain marketing group formed to empower local small farmers to get their crops to market, and is past president of the Wimmera Conservation Farming Association. His crops have been contaminated by his neighbour’s GE canola and he is very concerned about the impact of this on his business. He is also concerned about the divisive effect the introduction of GE crops has had on community relationships.

Steffan Browning: Steffan Browning is the Green Party spokesperson on GE, organics, and agriculture. A former horticulturalist, he has been advocating on GE issues since 2003 in a number of roles including with Soil and Health, GE Free NZ, and Bio Gro. He has worked to expose the lack of compliance in GE field trials in New Zealand, and highlight the risks posed by introducing GE into the New Zealand environment.

Details of the Tour: Clink on your nearest town below to get details of the events

DATE	PLACE
2 August	Dunedin
3 August	Ashburton, Lincoln
4 August	Kaikoura
5 August	Blenheim, Nelson
6 August	Wellington
7 August	Palmerston North, Hawke’s Bay
8 August	Tauranga
9 August	Hamilton
10 August	West Auckland, North Shore Auckland, Central Auckland
11 August	Whangarei

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

Wednesday, August 8, 5pm to 7:30pm, AUT University City Campus, WA Building 55, Wellesley St East, Auckland
Big Boys Gone Bananas! Film Screening with Director introduction and discussion. Internationally-acclaimed Swedish film director Fredrik Gertten will visit New Zealand for the local premier screening of his latest film BIG BOYS GONE BANANAS! on Wednesday August 8. BIG BOYS GONE BANANAS!* is the true story about a Swedish filmmaker, a banana corporation, media manipulation, lawsuits and the price of free speech. The film was in the official selection at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and Fredrik arrives in New Zealand fresh from screenings in New York and Los Angeles on his way to the Melbourne International Film Festival. The free open screening is at the AUT University City Campus, WA Building 55 Wellesley Street East, WA220 on Wednesday August 8. Light refreshments will be served from 5pm and the 5.30pm screening will be followed by an open discussion with Fredrik about ethics in business, freedom of speech in the media and corporate PR and power.

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

Sunday, August 19, 1.30-3pm, Aotea Centre, Auckland.
In Search of Decent Work: Speakers – Robert reid, First Union General Secretary; Rajan Prasad, Labour MP and spokesman on ethnic affairs; Agnes Granada, Trust Manager of Migrant Axction Trust. Speakers will discuss the way some migrants are being treated in the workplace including exposing cases of harassment, underpayment, and bullying by employers that have been brought to their attention, Employment rights and assistance to deal with breaches of these rights will also be explained. Sponsored by Migrante Aptearoa and First Union Network of Migrants. Email migrant

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.