GPJA #523 (11/11/14): WHAT’S ON IN AOTEAROA/NZ

WHAT’S ON IN AOTEAROA/NZ

Wednesday, November 12, 7pm, Western Springs Community Garden Hall, 956 Great North Rd, Western Springs
WOMEN AND CLIMATE JUSTICE FORUM – ALL WELCOME!
We are excited to be bringing you this forum in partnership with the FAB Generation Zero. All welcome!
Speakers:
• Marama Davidson – Te Wharepora Hou: a Maori women’s perspective
• Yvonne Underhill-Sem – AssocProf, University of Auckland: gender, development and climate justice
• Fala Haulangi – ‘Queen’ of Tuvalu: rising sea levels in Tuvalu
• Carmen Gravatt – National Campaign Manager, Greenpeace, getting to the structural causes of climate change

Wednesday, November 12, 5.30pm, Museum of Wellington City & Sea
Rebecca Lenihan will speak on ‘Jocks of all trades: an occupational profile of New Zealand’s Scots, 1840-1920’ The presentation examines the occupations of New Zealand’s Scottish migrants, with a focus on those who settled in Wellington. Rebecca examines whether there was significant occupational change in people’s own lives before and after migration, or between generations, and whether the occupational profile of New Zealand’s Scots changed over this period. Rebecca is from Upper Hutt. She completed her PhD on Scottish migration and New Zealand at Victoria University of Wellington in 2011 and has recently been working at the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada. A Labour History Project.

Thursday, November 13, 5.30-6.30pm, Level 3, Education House 178 – 178 Willis St, Wellington
You are invited to: A Community Forum on Pay Equity. “What does the Kristine Bartlett case mean for low-paid women workers?” Tuesday 28 October was a great day for equal pay as the Court of Appeal ruled in favour of Kristine Bartlett and the Service and Food Workers Union (SFWU) in the Equal Pay Case. Kristine, caregivers and the SFWU need all the support they can get and other unions who are also campaigning for equal pay for their members. Come along to hear two speakers at the heart of campaigns for pay equity.Speakers: Peter Cranney and Lisa Heap. Peter Cranney is the counsel for Kristine and the SFWU. Lisa Heap is an Australian union lawyer, has been involved in landmark Australian pay equality cases and is advising the PSA on a rights based approach to pay equity. This seminar is hosted by the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions and the Public Service Association. Queries and rsvps to Gabriel Brettkelly: Gabriel.Brettkelly Cell Phone 027 529 5809

Saturday, November 15, 3pm, Somervell Presbyterian Church, cnr Green Lane East and Remuera Road (street parking).
Auckland Welsh Choir and Devonport Chamber Orchestra Benefit Concert for Child Poverty Action Group. The programme includes Vaughan Williams Fantasia on Christmas Carols; Respighi Ancient Airs and Dances (orchestra) and Songs to Warm the Heart – choir and orchestra variously. Tickets $25 through iticket (booking fee applies) door sales, or through choir members. Any queries, please contact Judith McMorland, MET member, 528 0252 or judith

Sunday, November 16, 2.30pm (Tamil) & 4.30pm (English), The Auckland Performing Arts Centre, 100 Motions Rd, Western Springs.

Tuesday, November 18, 10.30am & 7.30pm, Mt Eden Friends Meeting House, 113 Mt Eden Rd, Auckland
The 2014 Quaker Lecture: Standing in this place: How do Pākehā support justice for Māori? David James, Jillian Wychel, Linda Wilson, Murray Short

Wednesday, November 19, noon-1.30pm, Raiway West Wing 315, VUW Pipitea Campus, Wellington

More about Prof Paul Senior: Paul Senior became Professor of Probation Studies in 1996 following a career in probation from 1977-94 which included 11 years as a joint appointment between South Yorkshire Probation and Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK. He was co-editor of the three volume, fifth edition, of Jarvis: Probation Service Manual from 1992. In 2002, having developed a robust criminology and community justice presence within Hallam, Paul started the Hallam Centre for Community Justice, a contract research centre specialising in offender management, resettlement and restorative justice where he is Director. Paul launched the Community Justice Portal (www.cjp.org.uk ) providing an online information exchange facility in 2002, which also saw the creation of the international journal, the British Journal of Community Justice in a partnership between Hallam and de Montfort Universities, which he continues to co-edit. Paul’s career has thus been linked to policy, practice and research in and around probation and restorative justice and with probation partners in criminal justice. He has written on many aspects of probation practice, third sector and community justice and three recent books include Understanding Modernisation in Criminal justice (2007) with Crowther-Dowey and Long, Moments in Probation (2008) and co-editor of Values in Criminology and Community Justice (2013). 40 years associated with probation has seen Paul engaged as a practitioner, manager, trainer, consultant, researcher, advisor and policy developer in the UK and in Europe, Hong Kong and Singapore. Most recently he headed a mapping exercise looking at the provision of restorative justice within criminal justice in England and Wales, the first such attempt to capture provison. This was done on behalf of the Restorative Justice Consortium (RJC).

Wednesday, November 19, 5pm, Faculty of Business and Law, 42 Wakefield St, Auckland
The NZ Work Research Institute invites you to this event hosted by its Employment Law Forum. Tea and meal breaks are important and removing legal entitlements to them was big news when the Employment Relations Act amendments were enacted recently. But there were other highly significant changes to the legislation that we also need to know about. Hear our expert panel analyse these changes. work.research

Saturday, , November 22, 2-3.30pm, Depot Artspace, Devonport
Antonio Guerrero: Cuban 5. Opening in the Vernacular Lounge. Exhibition from Nov 22 to December 4. These 15 watercolours capture the days in 1998 when the Cuban Five – five political prisoners unjustly imprisoned in U.S. jails – were locked up in the “hole.” Antonio Guerrero, serving a sentence of 21 years and 10 months, is currently in a medium security prison in Florida. He taught himself to draw and paint in prison. Gerardo Hernández, Ramón Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando González, and René González were arrested in 1998, convicted on frame-up charges, and sentenced to terms of imprisonment ranging from 15 years to double life. René González and Fernando González have served their time and returned to Cuba to a hero’s welcome. The Five were guilty of no crime at all. What they were doing was collecting information on the murderous counter-revolutionary Cuban American paramilitary organisations which operate with impunity from bases in the U.S. These groups have a history of organising bombings, assassinations, and other assaults on Cubans and their supporters within the U.S., in Cuba itself, and in other countries.

Sunday, November 23, 2pm, Kauaeranga Valley Hall, Coromadel
Mark your diaries: Coromandel Watchdog’s Annual General Meeting. It’s been a big year with lots to recap and celebrate and plenty more to plan for. We are also looking for new committee members, so if you are passionate about protecting the Coromandel from mining and able to put some energy into the campaign we would love to hear from you. Bring a plate for a potluck afternoon tea/ late lunch afterwards..

Tuesday, November 25, 7pm, The Peace Palace, 22 Emily Place, Auckland Central

Thursday, November 27, 6.30pm, Owen Glenn Building, Lecture Theatre 3 (level 0), University of Auckland
Professor John Morgan and Associate Professor Peter O’Connor on Whats left for Education? Neoliberalism’s core tenants of free market ideology, unfettered individualism, and choice translated into the education sector sees the development of global metadiscourses or what Stronach (2010) describes as “ hypernarratives which constitute the first global language of Education and allows politicians the world over to talk nonsense about educational outcomes, while singing from the same hymn sheet.” The common narrative is one of market force determinism, privatisation, deregulation, high stake testing, and a narrow focus on literacy and numeracy that collapses and destroys a broad and progressive curriculum. Reforms are called for on the back of government claims of a crisis in education that can only be repaired by market forces. Charter schools, heavy state investment in private schooling sits alongside an ever decreasing funding of core services in state schools, especially in special education provision. Teachers are held responsible for children not achieving in national and international testing, and outside factors including poverty and inequality impacting on student success are largely ignored or trivialised. The return of a National minority government in the election pressages a further dismantling of the state’s role in education. How the Left should or could respond is the topic of this forum. John Morgan and Peter O’Connor teach and research at the Faculty of Education, University of Auckland. Contacts …. p.oconnor j.morgan

November 27-29

Political journalism in the Asia-Pacific. A three-day human rights, social justice and media freedom conference is being hosted by the Pacific Media Centre at AUT University next month to mark 20 years of publishing the Pacific Journalism Review research journal. A special edition is being distributed at the conference and a book issue will be published early next year drawing from papers at the conference on November 27, 28 and 29. Papers include asylum seekers, state surveillance, climate change, murders of journalists with impunity in the Philippines and other countries, e-martial law, Fiji’s return to “democracy”, Māori and indigenous representation, West Papuan self-determination and a host of other issues. Two feature films are also being screened, Cap Bocage and Hot Air. Conference website: http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/articles/pjr-20th-anniversary-conference
Registration: https://www.eventspro.net/aut/getdemo.ei? id=7090112&s=_OQG0YBM4T
Inquiries: pjreview

January 23-25, 2015
WAIHOPAI SPYBASE PROTEST: 2014 has seen further explosive revelations about the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB). Not only does it systematically spy on New Zealanders – but, as the ongoing revelations from US whistleblower Edward Snowden show, it is routinely privy to American spying on other countries (e.g. on the President of Brazil) by the US National Security Agency (NSA). The NSA spies on everyone. It is essential that more pressure is put on the Government to put an end to the anti-democratic and destructive activities of this NZ spy agency.

New Zealand’s role as an American ally is being steadily reconstituted. But our most significant contribution to Washington’s global effort to manipulate world business and diplomacy is, and has been for more than 25 years, the Waihopai electronic intelligence gathering base, located in the Waihopai Valley, near Blenheim. It is controlled by the US, with NZ (including Parliament and the Prime Minister) having little or no idea what goes on there, nor any control.
First announced in 1987, Waihopai is operated by the GCSB in the interests of the foreign Powers grouped together in the super-secret Five Eyes 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, e-mail and computer data communications, including Twitter, Facebook and the like.
Five Eyes is the reason for the existence of both the GCSB and Waihopai; it is much more important than ANZUS ever was; it is, in reality, the secret ANZUS.This global spying network is accountable only to its own constituent agencies, not governments, and certainly not citizens. Getting out of Five Eyes is vital to NZ becoming a truly independent nation
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. 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. Waihopai must be closed!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRIDE OPENS IN NZ CINEMAS ON OCTOBER 16.

We are thrilled to announce PRIDE will open in NZ cinemas on October 16.

Pride is a feel-good movie about the 1984 miner’s strike. It is a tender portrait of the real people who stood up and fought for their place in society – full of witty humour, personal and universal stories of triumph and touching moments of humanism. Starring Bill Nighy (Love Actually) and Imelda Staunton (Maleficent) Pride is based on an incredible true story about two seemingly disparate communities who form a surprising and ultimately triumphant partnership.

We thought this film would be of interest to your group/union and we encourage you to spread the word! We would be happy to provide you with some in season passes to giveaway via social media channels/newsletter if you are interested. Or if you have a suitable event/meeting coming up we could provide a number of 2-4-1 passes. Just let me know – happy to hear your suggestions.

View the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsFY0wHpR5o

About the film: Based on an incredible true story, Pride is a film about two seemingly disparate communities who form a surprising and ultimately triumphant partnership.

Set during the Thatcher era, the Welsh mining community of Dulais face dark days as they struggle to make ends meet during the 1984 mineworkers strike. Recognising the sting of marginalisation and driven by a sense of solidarity, a group of gay and lesbian activists in London decide to raise funds for the striking miners and their families. The group call themselves ‘LGSM’ – Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners – and approaches the Mineworkers Union to pledge their support.

But there is a problem – the Union seems unwilling to accept their help. Undeterred, the LGSM members travel to a small village in Dulais to make their donation in person. Initially, they are met with scepticism. But championed by an open-minded few, including local leader Dai and the formidable village matriarch Hefina, the two communities soon overcome prejudice to forge an extraordinary bond.

A terrific ensemble cast portray an array of richly drawn characters in this tender portrait of the real people who stood up and fought for their place in society. A rousing British crowd-pleaser in the spirit of Billy Elliot and The Full Monty, starring Bill Nighy and Imelda Staunton, Pride is a funny, affecting and truly inspiring film about how the unlikeliest of unions can bring about the greatest change.

For more information contact Kylie Leggoe <kylie>

JOIN THIS YEAR’S AUSTRALIAN SOLIDARITY DELEGATION TO VENEZUELA DECEMBER 2 – 13, 2014

Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network. Registrations are now open for the Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network’s 2014 solidarity tour to revolutionary Venezuela.
http://links.org.au/node/3700