GPJA #456 (Part1/2): Special GPJA Forum 7pm Thurs, Unite Office: Hugo Chavez Presente! – Celebrating revolutionary hope

GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND NEWSLETTER No. 456, March , 2013

Special GPJA Forum 7pm Thurs, Unite Office: Hugo Chavez Presente! – Celebrating revolutionary hope
GPJA would like to celebrate the life of Hugo Chavez and his contribution to to the liberation struggles of all oppressed peoples in the world. There will be a showing of the remarkable film “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” which showed behind the scenes footage of the government of Chavez, the coup against him and the mass responbse that put an end to that coup. This film will be introduced by Mike Treen, Unite Union National Director who was part of an Australasian solidarity delegation to Venezuela in 2006 and attended a mass May Day rally addressed by the new President Nicolas Maduro.
7pm, Thursday, March 14, Unite Union Office, 6a Western Springs Rd, Morningside, Auckland.

ALSO TONIGHT!

Wednesday, March 13, 7.30pm, the Metro Theatre (Mangere East Hall) 362 Massey Rd, Mangere
Roger Fowler’s report-back presentation on his recent trip to Gaza and Egypt….

ANNOUNCEMENTS

SPECIAL APPEAL FOR REFUGEE FAMILY
We wish to support an application for travel costs for the following case – but we have insufficient funds – we need an extra $5,000-$6,000 urgently! We also have another case in the pipeline with similar travel costs.
URGENT URGENT – WE HAVE AN URGENT NEED FOR MORE DONATIONS SO THAT WE CAN APPROVE THE FOLLOWING APPLICATION:
The applicant arrived in NZ a few years ago as a refugee with her husband. She has been successful in completing a Certificate of Home Care, but the difficult (violent) relationship with her husband has ended in separation, so that she is now the sole caregiver of two young children, one of whom has special needs. She is anxious about the safety of her parents and siblings, who are threatened with return to their home country from their country of asylum because of hostilities between the two neighbouring countries, and to return home is unsafe for them. These two situations – her own family and the situation of her parents- are affecting her emotional well being.
She has been successful in obtaining a visa for her parents and siblings under Tier 1 of the Refugee Family Support Category. Only the most vulnerable refugee refugees are able to apply under this category. She has no money to pay for their airfares. With her parents supporting her and possibly, as caregivers for her two young children (as would be her cultural custom), she would be able to return to work and go off the benefit. She would also be relieved of bearing the daily stress of parenting alone, worrying about her family and negotiating a new cultural environment.
CAN YOU MAKE AN URGENT CONTRIBUTION, OR SUGGEST TO US THE NAMES OF TRUSTS OR OTHER INDIVIDUALS YOU THINK MIGHT BE INTERESTIED IN HELPING, WHOM TRUSTEES COULD APPROACH INDIVIDUALLY? WE NEED TO RAISE $11,000. ANY SMALL DONATION TO THE TRUST WOULD HELP.
Auckland Refugee Family Trust, 38-9010-0704176-00 (Kiwibank)., PO Box 47008 Ponsonby

WHAT’S ON IN AOTEAROA/NEW ZEALAND

Wednesday, March 13, 7.30pm, the Metro Theatre (Mangere East Hall) 362 Massey Rd, Mangere
Roger Fowler’s report-back presentation on his recent trip to Gaza and Egypt….

Friday, March 15, 1-3pm, Fiji Embassy, 31 Pipitea Street, Wellington
Many of you will have seen or heard of a recent video of a brutal beating. We also know of previous beatings of unionists including Felix Anthony of the Fijian Trade Union Congress. If you can support this protest please turn up. It is being organised by local Fijian people.

Friday, March 15, 12.30pm, 360 Queen Street (grass verge opposite Aotea Square),
Auckland
Protest repression in Fiji: We will march down Queen Street and end at Queen Elizabeth Square, Downtown. We will remain at Queen Elizabeth Square for 1 to 2 hours for speakers etc.

Saturday, March 16, 4pm, Westlake Boys’ High School, 30 Forrest Hill Road, Auckland, New Zealand
MIGRANTE: The Filipino Diaspora ( A Joel C. Lamangan Film). A touching movie about the trials, hopes and dreams of migrants working in foreign countries. Bring along your family and friends to this inspiring film about migrants helping one another in times of great need. Ticket sales will be donated to support purchase of lifeboats for communities vulnerable to massive flooding and for rebuilding of schools for indigenous people devastated by typhoon Pablo in Mindanao.

Tuesday, March 19, 6.30pm, Lambretta’s Café, Nelson
NZ SOVEREIGNTY UNDER ATTACK!! Professor Jane Kelsey. International authority on the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) will speak about the very high risks for New Zealand. NELSON WINS!! TPPA cartoon competition. Professor Kelsey will present the winner with the 1st place award. Cartoons can be viewed at Lambretta’s before the 19th of March. www.itsourfuture.org.nz Information is power. Get informed & organised before it is too late!!

Monday, March 25, 6pm, AAAP space, 86 Princes St, Onehunga
Auckland Action Against Poverty will be holding a wider meeting for all friends and supporters, 6pm Monday the 25th of March at the AAAP space, 86 Princes St, Onehunga (3 mins walk from the train station). It would be fantastic to see many of you then.

Monday, April 15 – Global Day of Action
2013 Global Day of Action on Military Spending: 15 April 2013 – if you would like to be involved in the 2013 Global Day of Action in Aotearoa New Zealand, or would like your organisation listed as a pma Links to more information: The GDAMS 2013 Aotearoa New Zealand event page is at http://www.facebook.com/events/382710081820597 ; Peace Movement Aotearoa’s latest comment on the NZ government’s prioritising of military spending over social spending is at http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=454139961300045&l=166560be6f; Information on the Global Day of Action in Aotearoa New Zealand since the first in 2011 is available at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/gdams.htm

Saturday, April 27 – National day of Action
Power to the People- a National Day of Action against Asset Sales. Its time for the Government to listen to the majority of New Zealand. a proposed National Day of Action organised by Aotearoa Not For Sale Coalition to stop Asset Sales. More details coming soon, but add people to this event page now. Want to organise a protest in a smaller town? Contact Joe at 029 4455702.

BEST ON THE WEB

NEW ZEALAND

Pasifika, Polyfest and our racially-biased immigration policy By John Minto http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2013/03/10/pasifika-polyfest-and-our-racially-biased-immigration-policy/

Political events banned from red zone http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/8396220/Political-events-banned-from-red-zone

Group denied entry to Cathedral Square http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/canterbury-earthquake/129894/group-denied-entry-to-cathedral-square

Racism claims split Grey Power http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10870436%20

Trading New Zealand’s credibility in Colombia http://blog.greens.org.nz/2013/03/12/trading-new-zealands-credibility-in-colombia

Dangerous times: a challenge to the left By Sue Bradford http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2013/03/13/dangerous-times-a-challenge-to-the-left/

John Minto: Key ‘deliberately dishonest’ on SkyCity

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10867702

New Zealand MP’s Anti-Muslim rant goes unpunished

http://alray.ps/en//index.php?act=post&id=54

Matt McCarten: Some more equal than others http://unitenews.wordpress.com/2013/03/12/matt-mccarten-some-more-equal-than-others/

Why the Christian Right has already lost the marriage equality debate http://duncansblogofeternalstench.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/why-christian-right-has-already-lost.html

Bolivia’s Red October: What Mana can learn http://fightback.org.nz/2013/03/07/bolivias-red-october-what-mana-can-learn/

Asset sales petition arrives at Parliament http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10870777

Gordon Campbell on the Audit Office report on the SkyCity deal http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2013/02/20/gordon-campbell-on-the-audit-office-report-on-the-skycity-deal/

Transgender Marriages An Encouraging Step http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1302/S00291/transgender-marriages-an-encouraging-step.htm

Soldier’s mum wants answers http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8404954/Soldiers-mum-wants-answers

Number-swap cops keep jobs http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8405056/Number-swap-cops-keep-jobs

Palm oil petition launched http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1302/S00293/palm-oil-petition-launched.htm

Every child deserves the Best Start – campaign launch http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1303/S00007/every-child-deserves-the-best-start-campaign-launch.htm

Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific Day: Time for action on nuclear weapons: iCAN Aotearoa New Zealand has written to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully today, Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific Day – the 59th anniversary of the largest nuclear weapon detonation, the ‘Bravo’ nuclear bomb test conducted by the United States close to the surface of Bikini Atoll, in the Marshall Islands – to remind the New Zealand government once more of the crucial importance of the elimination of nuclear weapons for our region, the Pacific, and indeed for the world. http://www.facebook.com/notes/peace-movement-aotearoa/nuclear-free-and-independent-pacific-day-time-for-action-on-nuclear-weapons/490123117701729

UN urges New Zealand to reduce Racism in criminal justice http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1303/S00032/un-urges-new-zealand-to-reduce-racism-in-criminal-justice.htm

Racial Discrimination: UN Committee recommendations on NZ http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1303/S00028/racial-discrimination-un-committee-recommendations-on-nz.htm

Debbie Hager: Celebration? It’s a national day of shame http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10869824

Too fast, too furious: New Zealand youth, moral panics and the police chase

By Phoebe Fletcher http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2013/03/09/too-fast-too-furious-new-zealand-youth-moral-panics-and-the-police-chase/

NZ ECONOMY

Low pay, longer hours and less social mobility – welcome to 21st century NZ capitalism http://rdln.wordpress.com/2012/02/08/low-pay-longer-hours-and-less-social-mobility/

Greens: Manufactured exports plunge, jobs go as Nats fail to act http://www.greens.org.nz/press-releases/manufactured-exports-plunge-jobs-go-nats-fail-act

Matt McCarten: Poor foot bill for asset gluttons http://unitenews.wordpress.com/2013/03/09/matt-mccarten-poor-foot-bill-for-asset-gluttons/

Miners’ woes make asset sales harder http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/columnists/tracy-watkins/8342607/Miners-woes-make-asset-sales-harder

Crony capitalism costs http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/8342861/Crony-capitalism-costs

How to get rid of smart and honest employers by Gareth Morgan and Susan Guthrie http://garethsworld.com/blog/economics/how-to-get-rid-of-smart-and-honest-employers/

Latest unemployment statistics directly contradict government claims http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1303/S00042/latest-unemployment-statistics-directly-contradict-claims.htm

Academic slams report PM used to claim $3.5 billion gains to NZ from TPPA http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1303/S00033/tppa-academic-slams-report-pm-used-to-claim-35bn-gains.htm

We Are Being Ripped Off | 500 Words Column: Alastair Thompson http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1303/S00003/we-are-being-ripped-off-500-words.htm

Doctors and Nurses warn Prime Minister over trade talks http://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/un-doctored/2013/march-2013/04/doctors-and-nurses-warn-prime-minister-over-trade-talks.aspx

Bryan Gould: Lack of competition our downfall http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10869629

Wayne Cartwright: Asset sale is ‘strategic blunder’ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10869145

Editorial: Disregard for the rules is alarming http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/editorials/8329573/Editorial-Disregard-for-the-rules-is-alarming

Bernard Hickey: Wise warning from the past http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10870242

Two Fingered Salutes By Chris Trotter http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2013/03/08/two-fingered-salutes/

The might and power of those in control http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/opinion/8405361/The-might-and-power-of-those-in-control

Oram: A naked power grab http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/opinion-analysis/8400307/Oram-A-naked-power-grab

POVERTY & WELFARE DEBATE

Allan Freeth: The sad business of child poverty http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10869398

Future of NZ depends on the well being of every child http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1303/S00029/future-of-nz-depends-on-the-well-being-of-every-child.htm

Poverty Watch 21 http://thestandard.org.nz/poverty-watch-21/

Benefit fraud legislation ‘may increase domestic violence’ http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/benefit-fraud-legislation-may-increase-domestic-violence-5347186/video

MINIMUM WAGE

Small rise in Minimum Wage doesn’t address needs of low paid http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1302/S00266/small-rise-in-minimum-wage-doesnt-address-needs-of-low-paid.htm

Bill to cut youth wages slammed by campaigners http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/bill-cut-youth-wages-slammed-campaigners-5353915

98% Of Submissions Against Youth Rates Ignored http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1302/S00257/98-of-submissions-against-youth-rates-ignored.htm

Government doing the minimum on minimum wage http://www.greens.org.nz/press-releases/government-doing-minimum-minimum-wage

WORKRIGHTS NZ

‘Every man for himself’ as ship sank http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8399987/Every-man-for-himself-as-ship-sank

Matt McCarten: Living wage a moral entitlement http://unitenews.wordpress.com/2013/03/09/matt-mccarten-living-wage-a-moral-entitlement/

New Zealand seems long way from fair day’s pay http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/8379891/New-Zealand-seems-long-way-from-fair-days-pay

The last piece of the Hobbit story http://thestandard.org.nz/the-last-piece-of-the-hobbit-story/

Solidarity needed: Stop increases to migrant seasonal workers health insurance http://fightback.org.nz/2013/02/16/solidarity-needed-stop-increases-to-migrant-seasonal-workers-health-insurance/

NZ Actors Equity welcomes latest document release http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1302/S00275/nz-actors-equity-welcomes-latest-document-release.htm

Hobbit sunshine welcome http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1302/S00272/hobbit-sunshine-welcome.htm

School staff tell MPs: No more Novopain http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1303/S00004/school-staff-tell-mps-no-more-novopain.htm

The Silence is Killing Them by CTU President Helen Kelly: The NZ Forestry Sector is completely unmonitored – It is one of our most dangerous industries and no one seems to know what is going on. From my perspective it appears within officialdom and the Forest Owners themselves, no one really cares. http://thestandard.org.nz/the-silence-is-killing-them/

Message to NZ Post must get through http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1303/S00141/message-to-nz-post-must-get-through.htm