GPJA #446: Part 1/3 – What’s On – TPPA activities around NZ

GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND NEWSLETTER No. 446, November 25, 2012

ANNOUNCEMENTS

TPPA ACTION: UPCOMING EVENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY, MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED

• 26 Nov Christchurch 12.30-2 pm. Lori Wallach (US Public Citizen) and Jane Kelsey, ‘Why all the fuss about investors’ rights to sue under the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement?’, School of Law, Canterbury University, Christchurch.
• 26 Nov Christchurch 5.30 – 7.45 pm. Lori Wallach and Jane Kelsey, Knox Hall, Christchurch
• 27 Nov Wellington, 10am – 12 noon. The Council For International Development are hosting a talk by Lori Wallach, Sanya Reid Smith (Third World Network), Jane Kelsey. Wellington Central Baptist Church, 46 Boulcott St.
• 27 Nov Wellington, 6.00-8.00pm. Lori Wallach, Sanya Reid Smith (Third World Network), Jane Kelsey. Loaves and Fishes, Wellington. http://www.facebook.com/events/335439409888625/
• 28 Nov Wellington 9am – 1pm. TPPA symposium at Law School, VUW
• 29 Nov Auckland 6.00-7.30 pm. Stone Lecture Theatre, University of Auckland Law School (drinks and nibbles from 5.30). The Human Rights Lawyers Association presents "The TPPA and Human Rights: A symposium" Lori Wallach; Sanya Reid-Smith, Jane Kelsey, Ass Prof Stephen Hoadley; Daniel Kalderimis (Partner, Chapman Tripp); Stephen Jacobi (Executive Director, NZ-US Council).
• 1-8 Dec Auckland. ‘Having fun with TPP’ Cartoon exhibition, BizDojo.Co.Space, Karangahape Road, Auckland.
• 3 Dec Auckland. Fabian Society will host a public meeting on TPP, Old Government House Lecture Theatre, University of Auckland. Two of the world’s foremost critical voices on international free trade and investment agreements — Lori Wallach and Jane Kelsey — will deliver presentations and take questions on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), a treaty being negotiated between the United States, New Zealand, and 9 other countries on the Asia-Pacific rim.
• 4 Dec, Wellington midday. Aotearoa Is Not For Sale Wellington are running a rally in opposition to the TPPA: Tuesday, December 4th, 12noon, Midland Park, Lambton Quay http://www.facebook.com/events/510342432318020/
• 7 December Auckland. Aotearoa Is Not For Sale: The Big Push. March against Asset Sales, meeting 6pm at Britomart. http://www.facebook.com/events/304092823039121/

DEC 8 – NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION – WHAT IS YOUR COMMUNITY GOING TO DO?

• Auckland: Aotearoa Is Not For Sale: Shut Down the TPPA. Direct Action: http://www.facebook.com/events/421123814617113/
• It’s Our Future: Rally and presentation of Avaaz petition, 2pm (details to come)
• It’s Our Future: Awareness raising concert at St Kevin’s aracde from 5pm
• Nelson. March up the main street on 8 December, followed by speeches and maybe even a picnic! Contact Mary Ellen O’Connor at oconstance
• 12 Dec Wellington. Aotearoa Is Not For Sale demonstration at Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Details to be announced (AINFS meet at Trades Hall each Wednesday at 5.30).

Reminder: $1500 Prizes in TPPA Cartoon Competition. Three prizes of $500. Closes THIS FRIDAY 23 November. http://www.itsourfuture.org.nz/cartooncompetition/

Please share TPPA activities or good articles: Contact Stephen Parry stephenparry1985; Facebook page ItsOurFutureNZ; and website www.itsourfuture.org.nz

WED NOV 28: FLASHMOB TO DEMAND THE GOVERNMENT FUND HELP’S TELEPHONE CRISIS LINE 24/7

The Coalition for the Safety of Women and Children is organising a flashmob on Wed 28 Nov at 5.30pm demanding the Government funds HELP’s telephone Sexual Assault Services 24/7.

Come to our flashmob – Wed 28 Nov at 5.30pm – wear a white tee-shirt and something purple (the colour of HELP’s brand) – meet at the Mobil petrol station near the footpath on the Cnr Karangahape & Ponsonby Rds. No white tee shirt – still come! – the more the better – make our voices heard. This erosion of rights must stop.

If you are on Facebook – please join our event and ask your friends to join – https://www.facebook.com/events/461575667221503/?fref=ts

Auckland Sexual Abuse HELP provides specialist sexual assault services – this is important as the wrong / inexperienced support and help can traumatise and damage victims of sexual violence.

After stating in December 2011 that they were committed to ensuring sustainable funding to the HELP crisis and 24 hour phone service, the government has come up with a package that under funds the service by $116,000 – a lot of money for HELP – a tiny amount for the government.

Phone services for Auckland victims of sexual assault and rape will be drastically cut because of this decision. HELP will be forced to lay off specialist staff and cut services before Christmas.

Government has said that:

• It wants to enhance services for victims
• Has a focus on front line services
• Cares about the wellbeing of abused children
• professes to care about crime and the victims of crime

Cutting the funding for specialist sexual violence crisis and phone services negates all of those stated aims.

Specialist services help not just victims and their families, but the police, doctors and justice services as they prepare and support the women and children as they go through the various procedures associated with rape/sexual abuse such as the gathering of evidence and the prosecution of a crime.

For victims of sexual assault and rape, the potential to suffer devastating mental health consequences is very high and early intervention must be seen as a survivor’s right. HELP provides this essential support. One in five women in their lifetime are sexually assaulted or raped. HELP takes 12,000 calls a year from victims of sexual assault and rape; 230 calls a week. Now many of these people will miss out on services over night – the time when rape happens and those who are survivors are most in need of comfort and support.

Sexual violence doesn’t happen 9 – 5. The need for this service often occurs in the middle of the night when the terror seems most unbearable.

This is another example of this government hurting women and children – so many of the services that have been forced to close or drastically reduce are those that support women and children.

HELP aims to hold the integrity of a specialist service that is client driven. Services are available when survivors need them.

25% of all calls are youth related.

The sexual violence sector does not currently sit under any specific ministry so there is no accountability or responsibility for funding. This means that HELP and the other sexual violence services will be forced to close or restrict the services they offer – the government, through this process of not giving this finding a home in a government ministry, is abdicating responsibility for funding the sector and therefore for the support and healing of raped and asexually abused children and women.

Demand that the Government provides sustainable funding to HELP immediately.

Come to our flashmob – Wed 28 Nov at 5.30pm – wear your purple accessories! and meet at the Mobil petrol station near the footpath on the Cnr Karangahape & Ponsonby Rds.

Nga mihi nui

Leonie Morris, Coordinator, Coalition for the Safety of Women and Children

WSF FREE PALESTINE UPDATES: LET’S STAND TOGETHER IN SOLIDARITY WITH GAZA! LET’S BUILD SOLIDARITY FOR A FREE PALESTINE!

Probably never before have the last weeks of preparation for a WSF event been marked by such a strong sense of urgency and importance: Now more than ever we need to stand together, organize and show the strength of global solidarity with Palestine!

With shock and indignation and a deep sense of urgency, we have followed the criminal Israeli attacks on Gaza. By repeatedly breaking the truce with Gaza, Israel has willfully escalated the situation and then launched a military attack that has once again turned the tiny Gaza Strip – which is since over five years under an illegal and inhumane siege – into a living hell.

After a week of brutal military attacks, over 150 people have been killed in Gaza, 1000 people injured and some 10 thousand Palestinians have been temporarily displaced from their homes seeking refuge in UN shelters, bombings and missile attacks have been continuous.

In these times, it is the innumerable emergency protests organized around the globe and as well in South American cities such as Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires, Santiago and many other places that have sparked of hope and an impressive show of solidarity.

At a time when the United Nations have been unable to prevent the repeated attack on Gaza, the global media corporations have broadcasted once again the propaganda of the powerful – the WSF Free Palestine as a global citizens assembly is more needed than ever!

We are proud to be able to offer such vibrant, determined and urgent global solidarity movement the space to show that people all over the world are ready to stand up against Israeli wars, occupation, apartheid, blockades and walls. We are looking forward to a powerful mass mobilization here on the ground and forward leading discussions. We trust this WSF Free Palestine can amplify the expressions of this global mobilization and reinforce its power and effectiveness.

Latest WSF Free Palestine info:

Porto Alegre WSF Free Palestine Map: To see the preliminary map of the WSF Free Palestine, click here: http://wsfpalestine.net/sites/default/files/mapa.pdf (please check back on the site for any last minute changes in the coming days!)

Program of the self-organized activities: To see the program of the self-organized activities, please click here: http://wsfpalestine.net/sites/default/files/PROGRAMA-autogestionadas-FINAL.xls (please check back on the site for any last minute changes in the coming days!)

WSF Free Palestine Extended: The World Social Forum Free Palestine WSF-FP calls on all those that are today mobilizing in solidarity in their own countries to unite and reinforce the global solidarity by participating in the WSF Free Palestine Extended. By using the logo of the WSF Free Palestine in your actions and adopting the Reference Document of the WSF Free Palestine you can contribute to showing global unity for Gaza and a Free Palestine and draw attention to the goals and strategies that will be discussed and promoted during this Forum.

In order to know how to participate at the WSF Free Palestine Extended, please click here: http://www.wsfpalestine.net/en/call-simultaneous-solidarity-action-28-november-1-december-2012

Be a part of the WSF Free Palestine wherever you stand up for Palestine: 28 November to 1 December 2012!

Leaders of social movements reinforce the call for the World Social Forum Free Palestine

“Leaders of the Coordination of Social Movements (CMS) gathered on the afternoon of Thursday (25), in the Banking Federation of São Paulo (Fetec) to finalize the preparations for the event, which will be held in Porto Alegre-RS, 28 November to 1 December. Constituted by the major mass organizations of the country, such as the Central Workers Union (CUT), the Movement of Landless Rural Workers (MST) and the National Student Union (UNE), the CMS is committed to organize caravans across the country towards the state capital, enabling transportation and accommodation in solidarity to ensure "full and massive expression of solidarity." (http://www.wsfpalestine.net/en/leaders-social-movements-reinforce-call-world-social-forum-free-palestine)

Pay your registration fee: The payment of registration is a political call to self-sustainability of the World Social Forum Free Palestine, and is a contribution of all organizations and individuals participating in its construction. Aware of the different payment capacities of its participants in a scenario of economic crisis and dwindling resources internationally, the Organizing Committee of the WSF Free Palestine has stipulated different fees. For the amount you or your organization is required to pay and the guidelines for the payments, please check: http://wsfpalestine.net/en/registration#pay

Bank account: Banco do Brasil, Branch number: 3344-8, Account number: 23447-8

CUT FSM PALESTINA LIVRE
Organization responsible: CUT – Central Única dos Trabalhadores
Address: Rua Caetano Pinto nº 575 – Brás – São Paulo SP – Brasil – cep: 03041-000
IBAN: International Bank Account Number: 001334480000234478
Código Swift: BRASBRRJOCO
Keep proof of payment: it will be required at the time of accreditation in Porto Alegre!
Attention: We ask international participants to pay their registration fees from now only on arrival in Porto Alegre.

Online entry closed! New registrations will be received directly in Porto Alegre, from November 28. More information on accreditation (location, opening hours etc.) will be available soon via email and in the next newsletter.

AOTEAROA INDYMEDIA: ACTIVIST MEDIA SITE RELAUNCHED BETTER THAN EVER!

We are writing to you about the relaunched and refreshed Aotearoa Indymedia news website that has just gone live. Aotearoa Indymedia (www.indymedia.org.nz) is an activist news website where you publish information to a wide audience about the issues you are concerned with. Indymedia is a non-commercial, not-for-profit website that encourages the participation of our users to create and use content.

You can directly publish stories, photographs, press releases, details of upcoming events, action reports, newsletters, research reports, interviews, OIA responses, and share worthwhile content from other sites. The process is very simple and quick: just go to indymedia.org.nz and click on the ‘publish’ button. Follow the link to the form you need for a story, event or reposting content from other sites. All you do is fill in

the online publishing form, add your photos or upload other useful documents for readers and click ‘publish’. There is no waiting – all items are immediately published.

Indymedia exists to provide a platform for positive radical social change. We do this by providing a media platform for spreading ideas and information about social, economic and environmental issues. Indymedia is run by a volunteer collective and is part of the global Indymedia network.

Indymedia provides an important role in making the connections between issues by allowing people to get and share information from a wide variety of social movements. If you would like more information about Indymedia or would like to get involved in the collective, please contact us! And please check out and make use of www.indymedia.org.nz

Cheers, The Indymedia collective

PARIHAKA ANNIVERSARY, NEW BOOK RELEASE

Monday, 5 November, is the 131st anniversary of the invasion and plundering of Parihaka. To mark this year’s anniversary, Huia Publishers is releasing a new illustrated children’s book by Jennifer Beck, and illustrated by Lindy Fisher, titled ‘Remember that November’ / ‘Maumahara ki tera Noema’. It’s almost Guy Fawkes Night, and at the school speech competition Andy talks about Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot. The children cheer excitedly, thinking Andy will win the contest. But then, Aroha gets up, wearing a white feather in her hair, and tells the story of another fifth of November – the invasion of Parihaka in 1881. ‘Remember that November’ / ‘Maumahara ki tera Noema’ is a beautifully illustrated, poignant story that recounts a key event in Aotearoa New Zealand’s history. The book is available in both Maori and English editions – ordering information for the Maori edition is available at http://www.huia.co.nz/shop&item_id=3726 and for the English edition at http://www.huia.co.nz/shop&item_id=3727 Information about the invasion of Parihaka is available at http://parihaka.com/

FUNDRAISNG FOR SUSTAINABLE BOLIVIA AND GIVING VOICE

Dear friends I hope you can assist Giving Voice with fund raising to attend an event in Bolivia.Previously we have receaved funding from CID for travel however due to funding cuts this fund is no longer available.Below is some information about project as it relates to Giving Voice and Sustainable Bolivia. Every year, Bolivia’s fastest growing and third largest city, Cochabamba, hosts Sustainable Bolivia http://www.sustainablebolivia.org/documentaries.html. Sustainable Bolivia selects international filmmakers to make short documentaries that focus on community development. These films are then widely distributed. In return for the film makers’voluntary efforts, the organisation that is being documented provides food and accommodation for three months.

New Zealand documentary maker Peter Marra has been selected to be one of these guest film makers for 2013. There is a proviso that he is able to speak Spanish intermediate level of fluency. This is a challenge to most of the international film makers, so to prepare them for this, Sustainable Bolivia finds each guest documentary maker a host family where they can stay for three months prior to the Sustainable Bolivia event, as well as organising the guest’s enrolment in a specialised language school to improve their Spanish competency. As well as encouraging participant to be involved one of thier partner organisations by volunteering and experience managing funds for a project that is in alignment with the partner organisation goals http://www.sustainablebolivia.org/.

What this means is that Sustainable Bolivia is investing in Peter Marra by accommodating him for 3 months during the event while he will be fim making, but he needs to fund raise for the 3 months of Spanish language preparation in Bolivia, as well as for the return airfares.Some of the fees that go to accomadation and language tuition are passed on to Sustianable Bolivia partner organisations.

Giving Voice Trust, phone 06 7581857 email marrap

Giving Voice is a Charitable Trust committed to raising awareness of sustainable development, children’s rights to an education reflective of their cultural identity, the environment, peace, citizenship, human rights, social justice and health. We give voice to individuals, communities and societies through documentary and other media. Giving Voice Trust was granted a Certificate of Recognition by UNICEF for upholding the Principles for the Rights of the Child as a finalist for the for Childs Rights award for the Asia- Pacific Region TV 2009 for our documentary movie Children of a Nation based in Timor Leste.

Giving Voice Trust has an impeccable record of managing funds from a wide range of funding bodies Including the Asia NZ foundation, Council for International Development, NZ Aid via the Global ,Peace and Disarmamament Fund for projects such as Children of a Nation (See UNICEF Certificate). And we have received funding for trustee Dave Owens’ innovative educational resources to encourage New Zealand fathers to bond with their young infants which has been well received and received funding for the Lyon Foundation and the Todd Foundation. These grants led him to develop the Great Fathers initiative which has benefited a wide variety of sectors in New Zealand including secondary schools (including teachers and students), civil society organisations, Community Development agencies and volunteers, fathers and parents in general, inspiring people that they can make a difference in their daily lifes.

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

COME TO WAIHOPAI SPY BASE PROTEST: JANUARY 18-20

The Kim Dotcom saga has certainly put the NZ Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) and its Waihopai spy base smack bang into the glare of the spotlight. Not coincidentally this is happening in the same year that the Government has got New Zealand back into ANZUS in all but name. NZ has hosted its first visit from a US Defense Secretary for 30 years and he offered to base US marines here. 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.

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

WHAT’S ON IN AOTEAROA/NEW ZEALAND

Wednesday, November 28, 3-4.30pm, Conference Room 1, St Andrews on the Terrace, Wellington

Wellington Living wage Campaign network

Wednesday, November 28, 9.00am – 1.30pm, Lecture Theatre 3, Rutherford House, 23 Lambton Quay, Wellington.
Trans – Pacific Partnership Symposium. The New Zealand Centre of International Economic Law (NZCIEL) and the Faculty of Law at the University of Auckland (UoA) are committed to generating as much informed debate as possible on the proposed agreement and what it might mean for New Zealand. Leading up to the 15th round of negotiations in Auckland in December, we will be co-hosting this half-day public symposium to unpack what is at stake for New Zealand.
Session A: NZ Foreign Policy & Strategic Interests 9.00- 9.50am
Chair: Roderic Alley (Centre for Strategic Studies, VUW); US strategy Lori Wallach (US Public Citizen); Foreign policy implications for NZ Terence O’Brien (former NZ Diplomat); APEC Gary Hawke (Emertius Prof, VUW); Militarisation Issues Paul Buchanan (Asia Pacific Strategic analyst).
Session B: TPP as Economic Strategy 9.50- 10.40am
Chair: Bill Rosenberg (CTU Economist and Director of Policy); Benefits to NZ John Yeabsley (NZIER); Is TPPA NZ’s C21? Geoff Bertram (Institute Governance and Policy Studies, VUW); Relevance to Maori Development speaker tbc; Implications for NZ business and jobs Robert Reid (FIRST Union).
Session C: Implications for Domestic Regulation 11.00-12.00
Chair: Prof. Margaret Wilson (School of Law, University of Waikato); IT & Innovation Don Christie (CatalystIT); Environmental Sustainability Simon Terry (Sustainability Council of NZ); Domestic Regulation Sanya Reid Smith (Third World Network);
Closing Remarks: 12.00-12.30pm
Prof. Susy Frankel (Director NZCIEL, VUW) and Prof. Jane Kelsey (Faculty of Law, UoA)

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

Monday, December 10, 6.30pm-9pm, Freeman’s Bay Community Hall, 52 Hepburn St, Auckland
My ‘Voice’ Counts – Join us to celebrate Human Rights Day! All Welcome! The Human Rights Commission and EventX are hosting a free concert to celebrate our ‘voices’! Featuring Sam RB, Phillip Patston, Jodi Pringle, Panther and the Zoo, Johnny Matteson & Friends, Tommy Hamilton and Paul Gibson (Disability Rights Commisioner)

Tuesday, December 11, 12noon to 2pm, across the street from the Onehunga Work and Income.
Auckland Action Against Poverty Recession Buster Rally. More info at www.aaap.org.nz

Thursday, December 13, 2pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Road Grey Lynn, Auckland
An open meeting will be held for all organisations involved in the Living Wage Aotearoa New Zealand.

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.