GPJA #444: What’s On and Announcements (23/10/12)

GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND NEWSLETTER No. 444, October 23, 2012

WHAT’S ON

Tuesday, October 23, 7pm, Fickling Centre, 546 Mt Albert Road, Three Kings, Auckland
Public Meeting in support of Sue Moroney’s bill to extend paid parental leave from 14 to 26 weeks. Labour, Green, United Future, Maori and Mana have confirmed their support for the bill and NZ First has supported it to the stage of the first reading. However, National has announced that they are likely to use the power of veto on financial grounds to prevent the bill being passed into law. We have formed a coalition- 26 for Babies- Extend Paid Parental Leave to show that the bill has strong public support. It is important to have a good, strong attendance at this public meeting. Featuring: Michele A’Court- Female Comedian of the Decade, Chair; Jaquie Brown – Actress, Radio, TV Presenter, Star of the Popular TV Show- Keep Calm and Carry on; Sue Moroney – Labour MP and Sponsor of the Bill to Extend Parental Leave; Jan Logie- Green MP; Marama Davidson – Te Wharepora Hou; Professor Tim Hazledine – Economist. Sue Moroney’s Bill to extend paid parental leave to 26 weeks has passed its first reading and looks like it will have enough votes to become law. National says we can’t afford it, but we need to show them that 26 weeks is not only popular, but is affordable and a good investment. A coalition of groups has formed to show that there is strong public support for paid parental leave – for more info check out – http://26forbabies.org/ If you are on Facebook – please join our page – https://www.facebook.com/events/478578028841329/ – and invite your friends to join.

Sunday, October 28, 2pm, Western Springs Garden Community Hall, Western Springs, Auckland.
Unite Union and the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Charitable Trust have called a meeting to discuss the formation of an Indian Workers Association in New Zealand. Often the voice that has been missing in the discussions is that of the migrant workers themselves. That is why we think it is time for Indian workers in New Zealand to form a group that can speak for themselves. This is an organisation that can understand the different problems that migrant workers face, whether they have PR or not, whether they have a work visa or not, whether they are on a student visa or job search visa. Unite Union already has many Indian workers as members and delegates in the fast food industry and has offered to assist in organising and assisting other Indian migrant workers in dealing with their problems. this will include education and training in employment rights and advocacy. All Indian workers and supporters of migrant workers rights are welcome to come along.

Monday, October 29, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland
Monday 29th October 2012. Special GPJA Forum. Hidden Apartheid – A documentary on caste discrimination in India and Indian communities worldwide. The 2011 film examines the human rights issues relating to caste discrimination. It will be screened and followed by discussion with film producer Mandrika Rupa as special guest at the forum. Trailers for the film can be seen here http://www.hiddenapartheid-themovie.com

Wednesday, October 31, 6.30pm, Maidment Theatre, University of Auckland. Bar open from 5.30pm
2012 Jesson Lecture. This year’s Bruce Jesson Lecture will focus on New Zealand’s need for investigative journalism – by someone once described as “New Zealand’s leading investigative journalist”. Nicky Hager, who will present the lecture at Auckland University on 31 October, has been a fulltime writer for more than 20 years and is the sole New Zealand member of the Washington-based International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.

Saturday, November 3, 2pm, Harangahape Rd, Auckland
Street Party against Privatisation. Organised by Aotearoa is Not For Sale.

Saturday, November 3, 9am-4.30pm, Dorothy Winstone Centre, Auckland Girls Grammar School
The Kirk Legacy: Three Years of Courage and Achievement. In recognition of the 40th Anniversary of the Kirk-Rowling Labour Government of 1972 – 1975, the Fabian Society, with the support of the New Zealand Labour Party, is running a one day seminar to commemorate its remarkable achievements.
Programme
9.30AM | Introduction to the Kirk Legacy Event Gerry Hill Historian
9.45AM | A Remarkable Opportunity Colin James Media Commentator
10.30AM – MORNING TEA
10.45AM | The Early Years David Grant Historian
11.15AM | Mururoa and Nuclear Power, Hon Maryan Street Labour Member of Pariliament
11.45AM | The Campaigns Hamish Keith Media Commentator Bob Harvey Politician
12.30PM – LUNCH
1.15PM | ACC: World Class Accident Insurance Andrew Little Labour Member of Parliament
2.00PM | Springbok Tour Rev Bob Scott Retired Mike Law
2.30PM | The Treaty: Waitangi Tribunal & Mana Motuhake Hon Nania Mahuta Labour Member of Parliament
2.45PM – AFTERNOON TEA
3.00PM | The Women’s Movement Dr Margaret Hayward Historian
3.45PM | The Challenge of the Kirk Legacy Panel comprising tba
4.15PM | The Future: Labour Takes Up the Challenge Jacinda Ardern Labour Member of Parliament
The seminar will be held at Dorothy Winstone Centre, Auckland Girls Grammar School on November 3rd.
Cost (to cover speakers airfares etc) $25 and $15 for unwaged, gold card and students. Prebooking for this event is essential – a large number missed out on The Voyage, so get in early. Tickets will be issued and you can register here. Download a pdf copy of the full flyer here. Further information can be obtained from Paul.
Recent Presentations: See our Papers & Presentations page for copies of these recent presentations

Wednesday, November 7, 12noon at Civic Square, Wellington
Housing Crisis Action Day: March to Parliament. Groups from across the country are to coming to demand an end to evictions and sale of state houses, for Housing New Zealand to let all vacant state houses to families in crisis, a withdrawal of the draconian requirements to get a state house, a reopening of all HNZ offices and the construction of 20,000 new state homes. There will be bus/minivan transport from Auckland, Maraenui (Napier) and Pomare in Porirua and other centres – if you can help co-ordinate in your local area plea let us know asap. This is a big, important kaupapa and we need donations to print posters and leaflets. You can donate on-line to: Tamaki Housing Action Group. Kiwibank Glen Innes Account No: 38-9014-0147012-00 For more details see the facebook page “Housing Crisis Action Day: March to Parliament” or call Marion on 021 123 9252

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

Tuesday, November 13, 7.30pm, GalatosLive, 17 Galatos Street, Auckland.
Sea Shepherd NZ Fundraiser 2012. Come and enjoy a night of fun, food and live music! We’ll be having silent and live auctions, prizes and speakers including Gareth Hughes and Captain Peter Hammarstedt from the M/Y Bob Barker who is on his eighth campaign to defend whales in Southern Ocean. Items for auction include a painting by Dean Buchannan. Doors open at 7.30pm, with the main event starting at 8:00 pm until 10:30 pm. Canapes provided free throughout evening. Bar at venue. Tickets are limited and now available online at www.seashepherd.org.nz *Note: ticket prices are $50 NZ approx. (charged at $40 AU). For more information about our donors and auction items go to www.seashepherdnzfundraiser.org.nz. If you or your business would like to participate as a sponsor or contribute item(s) for the fundraiser you can find out more information at the above link. If you are unable to attend, you are welcome to contribute at: www.seashepherd.org/donate/auckland

Friday, November 30, 7.30pm, TAPAC-the Auckland Performing Arts Centre, 100 Motions Road, Western Springs, Auckland
Auckland Refugee Family Trust presents: ‘An evening of Hope & Light with Francois and Friends’. A fundraising event. General Admission $25 and Cabaret Table Seating $30. For bookings contact ARFT: email: jcarswel or phone 09 921 9367

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 gael.d for the full programme and any other questions.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

IT’S OUR FUTURE
Take action on the TPPA. Leading up to the December negotiating round in Auckland and beyond, explaining what the TPPA is and what it will mean for New Zealand — spread it far and wide!

MAKING FUN OF TPP: NATIONAL CARTOON COMPETITION LAUNCHED
The 16th round of the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations will be held in Auckland from 3-12 December, presumably at Sky City as that was the venue of the December 2010round. A Trans-Pacific Partnership Cartoon Competition has been launched to encourage the country’s satirists and graphic artists to engage creatively with the many issues. “The TPP is a cartoonist’s dream: secret negotiations, big Phrma vs. PHARMAC, tobacco wars, te Tiriti vs. corporate treaties, US-China power struggles, Fonterra = NZ Inc., more backroom deal-making at Sky City, criminalised librarians, and internet users… ”, according to Jane Kelsey, who has organised the competition. The co-sponsors are Scoop Independent News (publishers of Scoop.co.nz), the Society of Authors, the Bruce Jesson Foundation and BizDojo, who will also host an exhibition of the cartoons in Auckland during the negotiation. The competition offers three prizes of $500. 1. A Best Cartoon award will be judged by prominent journalist Finlay Macdonald. 2. The People’s Choice award will be voted for online using Facebook; and 3. The Biz Dojo Co.Space is sponsoring a special student’s award, which will give the winner a scholarship to use their facilities. Overseas artists are welcome to contribute, but will not be eligible for the prizes. All the entries will be exhibited online at the newly launched It’s Our Future (http://www.itsourfuture.org.nz/ ) website, and in the exhibition space at BizDojo in Karangahape Rd, Auckland from 1 to 7 December. Artists will be asked to release their cartoons for use under Creative Commons license and once entered may be used on Scoop.co.nz as part of its coverage of the TPPA negotiations ( see also: http://community.scoop.co.nz/category/tppa/ ) Artists entering the competition can elect whether to allow their cartoons to be auctioned on-line. Proceeds from this will support the competition and It’s Our Future campaign. Entries should be sent via It’s Our Future website, which also hosts information and links on the TPPA and its implications for New Zealand. Media Contacts: Professor Jane Kelsey 021 765 055 or Alastair Thompson from Scoop on 021 707044

QPEC CALL FOR PAPERS AND PRESENTATIONS
QPEC International Education Conference, Palmerston North, February 1-3, 2013. Choice, Diversity and Accountability in Education. QPEC is organising an international conference to address current and emerging issues within education New Zealand and in an international context. The keynote speaker at the conference will be Professor Diane Ravitch, former US Assistant Secretary for Education, who worked on President George Bush’s “No child left behind” policy but who later rejected the scheme’s punitive uses of accountability to fire teachers and close schools and replace public schools with charter schools. She is author of the best-selling The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice Undermine Education (2010) and is a strong advocate for high quality public education.
QPEC is calling for people interesting in presenting papers at the conference to register interest with the QPEC conference co-ordinator Liz Gordon at lizgordon We are seeking a range of contributions from academics, scholars, teachers, parents, advocates and others with an interest in the topics of the conference. Contributions may include formal papers, group sessions, seminars, poster sessions or other options – we are keen to support an array of presentations. The aim will be to give a broad reach to the conference themes and a balance between the different sectors of education. Please have expression of interest in by 26 October 2012. Expressions of interest should include a title, a description of the paper/session (100 words maximum), names of authors and institutional affiliation(s), if any. Please contact Liz at the above email address if you have any questions. Her phone number is 03 980 5422 or 0274545008.

REMINDER: LOCAL PEACE GRANTS AND THE LOXLEY AWARD
Local Peace Grants
Applications are invited for grants up to $500 to assist with non-violent local peace work anywhere within Aotearoa New Zealand. Applicants need not be Quakers. Preference is given to work which is new and / or innovative in content – a one-off occasion (for example: constructing a mobile peace stall, printing / advertising, an inter-faith peace conference, a peace / green fair, or a non-violence training day) or for a longer project (for example: restorative justice, or a new organisation). The deadline for applications for Local Peace Grants is 31 October – with the allocation of grants decided in November. The Local Peace Grants application form is available at qpsanz or write to: Local Peace Grants, QPSANZ, 215 Harewood Road, Christchurch 8053.
Loxley Award
QPS invites applications for the Loxley Award – a grant of up to $10,000 established to assist New Zealand Quakers or non-Quakers to undertake a study programme or project of their choosing, in New Zealand or abroad, which promotes understanding of peace, justice and environmental issues. The deadline for applications is 31 October each year. Information about the Loxley Award is available at qpsanz or write to: Local Peace Grants, QPSANZ, 215 Harewood Road, Christchurch 8053.

NICKY HAGER TO GIVE THIS YEAR’S BRUCE JESSON LECTURE
Maidment Theatre, University of Auckland. Wed 31 October, 6.30pm. Bar open from 5.30pm

This year’s Bruce Jesson Lecture will focus on New Zealand’s need for investigative journalism – by someone once described as “New Zealand’s leading investigative journalist”. Nicky Hager, who will present the lecture at Auckland University on 31 October, has been a fulltime writer for more than 20 years and is the sole New Zealand member of the Washington-based International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.
His first book, Secret Power (1996), exposed New Zealand’s role in the international surveillance network Echelon.
Seeds of Distrust, on how Helen Clark’s Government covered up the contamination of corn crops by genetically modified seeds, created a political storm when it came out just before the 2002 election.
The Hollow Men (2006), detailing thousands of internal emails and meetings in the National Party before the 2005 election, precipitated Don Brash’s resignation as National leader.
His latest book, Other People’s Wars (2011), uses leaked military and intelligence documents and interviews with key players to reveal the true extent of New Zealand’s involvement in the US-led “War on Terror”.
Hager’s Jesson lecture, “Investigative journalism in the age of media meltdown: from National Party Headquarters to Afghanistan”, will look at “why New Zealand needs investigative journalism, how it is done, and what it will take to have more of it”.
“I am keen to use the opportunity of this lecture to talk widely about the state of politics in New Zealand today, bringing together ideas that have been underlying and running through what I’ve been writing about New Zealand and politics for years,” he says.
“My belief is that we don’t talk enough about why things are like they are and a Bruce Jesson lecture is an ideal opportunity for this.”
“I will then look at the role and potential of investigative journalism, in the context of considering what is needed to improve politics in this country.”
The annual Bruce Jesson Lecture is organised by the Bruce Jesson Foundation in memory of Bruce Jesson (1944-99), another great investigative journalist who, like Hager, worked mainly as an independent writer without any regular wage or salary for most of his life.
The lecture will be at Auckland University’s Maidment Theatre at 6.30pm on Wednesday 31 October. Admission by donation, bar open from 5.30pm. More details: www.brucejesson.com

COME TO WAIHOPAI SPY BASE PROTEST: JANUARY 18-20
2012 has seen the Government get New Zealand back into ANZUS in all but name. For the first time since the 1980s, American troops have trained here; NZ troops have trained in the US; and NZ warships have taken part in US-led naval exercises. How ironic that all this was happening at the same time as the country was celebrating the 25th anniversary of our nuclear free law.
The public face of New Zealand’s role as an American ally is the NZ military presence in Afghanistan. But New Zealand’s most significant contribution to the global American warfighting machine is, and has been for more than 20 years, the Waihopai electronic intelligence gathering base, located in the Waihopai Valley, near Blenheim. It is controlled by the US, with New Zealand (including Parliament and the Prime Minister) having little or no idea what goes on there, let alone any control.
First announced in 1987, Waihopai is operated by New Zealand’s Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) in the interests of the foreign Powers grouped together in the super-secret UKUSA Agreement (which shares global electronic and signals intelligence among the intelligence agencies of the US, UK, Canada, Australia and NZ). Its satellite interception dishes intercept a huge volume of civilian telephone calls, telexes, faxes, e-mail and computer data communications.
It spies on our Asia/Pacific neighbours, and forwards the material on to the major partners in the UKUSA Agreement, specifically the US National Security Agency (NSA). Its targets are international civilian communications involving New Zealanders, including the interception of international phone calls.
Post- 9/11 the GCSB and Waihopai now spy further afield, to those regions where the US is waging wars. The codename for this – Echelon – has become notorious worldwide as the vast scope of its spying has become public. New Zealand is an integral, albeit junior, part of a global spying network, a network that is ultimately accountable only to its own constituent agencies, not governments, and certainly not citizens.
Join us for the weekend of anti-war protest at this spy base. Come prepared for roughing it and camping out. We provide the food (we cater for vegetarians but vegans will have to bring their own). Bring sleeping bag, groundsheet, a tent, torch, water bottle, eating utensils, clothing for all weather, and $40 (or $20 unwaged) to cover costs. No open fires.
How to find our camp at Whites Bay: turn off SH1 at Tuamarina (9km north of Blenheim or 20 km south of Picton) and drive to Rarangi on the coast. Follow the steep Port Underwood Road over the hilltop before descending to the Whites Bay turnoff. There is a DoC public camp at the bay with basic facilities. ABC has to pay a fixed charge per head.
Waihopai does not operate in the interests of New Zealanders or our neighbours. Basically it is a foreign spy base on NZ soil and directly involves us in America’s wars. Waihopai must be closed.
Email abc for further registration information.

PETITION: DIVEST NZ SUPERFUND FROM ISRAEL ARMED CATERPILLAR
Caterpillar makes an armored bulldozer for the Israeli military to use for demolishing Palestinians homes. In 2003 an Israeli soldier driving a Caterpillar D9 killed 23-year-old Rachel Corrie, who was acting as a “human shield” in front of a Gaza house with children still inside. An Israeli judge recently ruled that Rachel’s killing was her own fault. Church funds and pension funds around the world are divesting from Caterpillar for ethical reasons. We think NZ Superfund should also divest. Lois and Martin Griffiths in Christchurch have started an online petition which asks Parliament to request Superfund guardians to divest from Caterpillar. To sign the petition, click here

THE TIGERS OF WRATH (are wiser than the horses of instruction).
PEKING, 1974. Trish is ex-St Cuth’s, Pauline is ex-Onehunga High; they’re dykes and Maoists and members of the Auckland PYM. Oliver is from Wellington, writes for Salient and is a member of MiLO. All three are on an NZUSA trip to Red China. HERNE BAY, 1994. Trish is now Labour MP for New Lynn and Opposition spokesperson on education. Oliver has given up writing to become an immigration lawyer. MANGERE BRIDGE, 2009. Oliver’s being investigated by the Serious Fraud Office. Pauline’s cleaning the South Auckland toilets of the BNZ. Trish is a TV current affairs host and the mother of the nation. THE TIGERS OF WRATH. A story of NZ from the recession of the mid-1970s to the crash of 2008-09. This is us. Circa Theatre, Wellington, Nov 3 – Dec 1. Cheap preview night Nov 2. Written by: Dean Parker, Directed by: Jane Waddell

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