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GPJA #488 (1 of 2): WAIHOPAI PROTESTS JAN 24-26

January 10, 2014 Leave a comment

GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND NEWSLETTER No. 488, JANUARY 9 , 2014

January 24-26, 2014

CLOSE THE WAIHOPAI SPYBASE NOW! WEEKEND OF PROTEST

Waihopai does not operate in the interests of New Zealanders or our neighbours. It has no proper oversight or control from our Government. Basically it is a foreign spy base on NZ soil and directly involves us in America’s wars and America’s cynical manipulation of business and diplomatic affairs.

Organised by the Anti-Bases Campaign, P.O. Box 2258, Christchurch. E-mail abc www.converge.org.nz/abc

Saturday, January 25, 10am, Nativity Church Hall, 76 Alfred St, Blenheim

Blenheim public meeting on the morning of Saturday January 25th, on the wider issues of spying, to put Waihopai into context. We see this as a continuation of the 2013 protests and meetings about the infamous GCSB Bill (and its companion TICS Bill). SPIES AND LIES

WAIHOPAI AND GLOBAL SPYING. Speakers at that public meeting will be Steffan Browning MP, John Minto and Warren Thomson.

ABC. Anti-Bases Campaign, Box 2258, Christchurch, New Zealand. abc / www.converge.org.nz/abc / https://www.facebook.com/AotearoaABC

ANNOUNCEMENTS

GUY STANDING VISIT TO NEW ZEALAND FEBRUARY 2014

Guy Standing, author of The Precariat: The New Dangerous Class in 2011 who spoke at several events in New Zealand early this year, is coming back to NZ in February 2014. His new book A Precariat Charter: From Denizens to Citizens is due to be published in April 2014. See here. This will focus more on ‘what can be done’. As you know the CTU also published a document on insecure work in October and that included recommendations for action. A number of events are being organised (details still being finalised) including:

· Monday 24th February, 2014 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. hosted by University of Auckland and Auckland University of Technology.

· A seminar in Wellington on Wednesday 26th February (time to be confirmed)

· Discussion and brief presentation in afternoon of CTU National Affiliates Council at our 27th February meeting in Wellington

· Social event Friday late afternoon/evening in Wellington.

WINNERS OF THE 2013 LHP ESSAY COMPETITION ANNOUNCED

Two Wellingtonians and a Christchurch resident have won the first annual “Another World is Possible” essay competition. The competition was organized by the Labour History Project, to emulate a similar event held a hundred years earlier by Walter Nash, then a labour organizer and later a popular prime minister. Mark Derby, organiser of the “Another World is Possible” competition, says it aimed “to inspire debate on alternative futures”. A total of more than 40 entries from throughout the country were received, remarkably similar to the number who entered the original competition a century ago. The oldest entrant was aged over 90, the youngest 17. A panel of three judges – Victoria University historian Cybele Locke, political commentator and trade unionist Matt McCarten, and journalist Jeremy Rose – assessed the entries anonymously, and independently of each other. Derby says, “The judges’ decisions were fairly unanimous, but they tempered their admiration with criticisms. Entrants had very different ideas about what was expected of them, and this uncertainty was reflected in the varying nature and standard of the entries.”

The overall winner, receiving the first prize of $500 cash, was Ciaran Doolin of Christchurch. One judge said this entry “hinged on a vision of how powerful participatory democracy of ordinary people could be”. Second prize winner, receiving $250, was Jane Blaikie of Wellington. A judge commented that Jane’s was “a deeply moving, personal story that gave real clout to the vision of freeing the poor.”

The youth (under 18) winner was 17-year-old Wellington schoolgirl Daisy Cadigan. Reading Daisy’s entry, said one judge, meant having “eyes opened to a brave new world where diversity and equality were not exclusive terms.”

The three winning essays appear below. The Labour History Project hopes to repeat this competition annually.

Ciaran Doolin’s essay can be downloaded here.

Jane Blaikie’s essay can be downloaded here.

Daisy Cadigan’s essay can be downloaded here.

For more information, contact: anotherworld Labour History Project, PO Box 27425, Marion Square, Wellington

Bert Roth Award for labour history: The family of the late Bert Roth, the doyen of New Zealand labour historians and a witty, wise and generous archivist-activist, has given the Labour History Project approval to use his name for a new annual award. For details go to http://www.lhp.org.nz/?p=907

BEST ON THE WEB

NZ & MANDELA

Hone Harawira: I cried, I danced, I said goodbye – how about you, John? http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11174681

Springbok tour memories still vivid http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/opinion/columnists/michele-a-court/9501682/Springbok-tour-memories-still-vivid

Brain-fades, batons, and ‘Boks http://fmacskasy.wordpress.com/2014/01/10/brain-fades-batons-and-boks/

NEW ZEALAND

How does the progressive political movement in NZ win 2014 election? – See more at: http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2014/01/09/how-does-the-progressive-political-movement-in-nz-win-2014-election/#sthash.otIepG5p.dpuf

Less crime but more prisoners http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11180329

Urewera raids traumatised people http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/9536679/Urewera-raids-traumatised-people

Hole in the Rock protest well received http://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503450&objectid=11180444

Maori place opposition on record http://www.waateanews.com/Waatea+News.html?story_id=NjEzNg%3D%3D

Matt McCarten: Only selflessness can save Brown http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11176511

Basic rights ‘trampled’ on during Urewera raids – report http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/basic-rights-trampled-during-urewera-raids-report-5782932

A taste of racism… http://fmacskasy.wordpress.com/2014/01/09/a-taste-of-racism/

Urs Signer to stay in Aotearoa http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1312/S00266/urs-signer-to-stay-in-aotearoa.htm

More migrants, less support – equation doesn’t add up http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1312/S00263/more-migrants-less-support-equation-doesnt-add-up.htm

Chris Trotter http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/columnists/chris-trotter/9571774/2014-A-year-for-Glorious-Revolution

Welcome to the Policy Watch for 18 December 2013: Policy Watch is a current awareness "e-letter" compiled regularly by NZCCSS. It provides a tool for keeping track of emerging issues, policy developments and other relevant news snippets and links. To view Policy Watch click here

Gordon Campbell on the new level of film industry incentives http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2013/12/18/gordon-campbell-on-the-new-level-of-film-industry-incentives/

Support for ACC hunger striker http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/9540201/Support-for-ACC-hunger-striker

Scant help for refugees http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/9540016/Scant-help-for-refugees

Pensioners fear for future under Housing NZ plan http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11176839

Fury over US release of Dotcom ‘evidence’ http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/9544491/Fury-over-US-release-of-Dotcom-evidence

Racism blamed for bar ban http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11180656

Maori in danger of losing te reo http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/9533241/Maori-in-danger-of-losing-te-reo

IPCA: Response to woman’s domestic violence claims ‘grossly inadequate’ Read more: http://www.3news.co.nz/IPCA-Response-to-womans-domestic-violence-claims-grossly-inadequate/tabid/423/articleID/325778/Default.aspx#ixzz2nzHUjWyd

The Tale Of The Anti-Semitic Santa http://convincingreasons.wordpress.com/2013/12/23/the-tale-of-the-anti-semitic-santa/

Prison deaths linked to Corrections refusal to employ sufficient doctors http://brookingblog.com/2013/12/28/prison-deaths-linked-to-corrections-refusal-to-employ-sufficient-doctors/

Brian Fallow: A year on, climate policy still a disgrace http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11174771

NZ – POVERTY AN INEQUALITY

Dr Russell Wills: Child poverty is everybody’s business http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11175344

Garth George: Only one way to banish poverty http://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503343&objectid=11181367

Diane Robertson: Desperate times at city mission http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11174071

Bennett dismisses Harawira’s ‘hypocrite’ jibe http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/bennett-dismisses-harawira-s-hypocrite-jibe-4744621

Don’t Let the Bastards Get You Down! http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1312/S00278/dont-let-the-bastards-get-you-down.htm

Family link death crash to poverty http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/9537689/Family-link-death-crash-to-poverty

Call to focus election on child poverty http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11175391

Read the recent Child Poverty Monitor report here.

Santa’s heart-breaking Christmas wishes http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/9544508/Santas-heart-breaking-Christmas-wishes

Unprecedented demand for food parcels http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/unprecedented-demand-food-parcels-5785669

Children fall sick in damp housing http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/9545931/Children-fall-sick-in-damp-housing

Inequality keeps rising, says UC social research expert http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1312/S00299/inequality-keeps-rising-says-uc-social-research-expert.htm

Poverty, inequality and ‘bludgers’ http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff-nation/assignments/share-your-news-and-views/9526665/Poverty-inequality-and-bludgers

Loan sharks circle as law change stalls http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/business/9577543/Loan-sharks-circle-as-law-change-stalls

Is the rebuild worsening poverty in Christchurch? http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/business/the-rebuild/9517254/Is-the-rebuild-worsening-poverty-in-Christchurch

Migrants ‘exploited’ in NZ quake city http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/latest-news/migrants-exploited-in-nz-quake-city/story-fn3dxix6-1226795543848

NZ – ECONOMY

NZ/Australia GDP – so much for the free market & neoliberal policy – See more at: http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2014/01/09/nzaustralia-gdp-so-much-for-the-free-market-neoliberal-policy/#.dpuf

Bernard Hickey: Our economic party is heading for a hangover http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11176479

NZ third-most over-valued housing market in world – Deutsche Bank http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/nz-third-most-over-valued-housing-market-world-deutsche-bank-149973

It’s Our Future Nz TPPA News Bulletin #44 19 December 2013 http://us4.campaign-archive2.com/?u=2af728ed394d2e3c92f383cd5&id=69a93e8d60&e=400b29f860

Most people still waiting to see benefits of GDP growth http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2013/12/19/most-people-still-waiting-to-see-benefits-of-gdp-growth/

Forum on Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement currently being negotiated by 12 Pacific rim countries including New Zealand. Speakers; Dr Bill Rosenberg, economist NZCTU, Dr Thomas Owen, Victoria University (both speaking in person) and Dr Jane Kelsey, professor of law, University of Auckland (speaking via video, recorded for the session on 16 December 2013) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CozQN3-pybs#t=2

Brian Gaynor: Why everyone likes trading in our money http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11176031

NZ – WORKRIGHTS