GPJA #525 (27/11/14): What’s On in Aotearoa/NZ

22 Nov – 4 Dec: Depot Artspace, 28 Clarence St, Devonport

Cuban 5 Art Exhibition: Antonio Guerrero’s 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. For further information on all exhibitions please visit www.depotartspace.co.nz

Thursday, November 27, 5.30pm, Sir Paul Reeves Building, AUT, Auckland

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@auckland.ac.nz) (j.morgan@auckland.ac.nz)

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@aut.ac.nz)

Full conference programme: www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/articles/pacific-journalism-review-2014-conference-draft-programme

Friday, November 28, 7.30pm, Mt Albert War Memorial Hall, 773 New north Road, Mt. Albert
ETHIOPIAN BANQUET: Auckland Refugee Family Trust and the Ethiopian Community are hosting an Ethiopian Banquet and an evening of entertainment to raise money and awareness for the Auckland Refugee Family Trust. The Trust raises money to reunite refugee families and all the money from the evening will be going to the airfares of the family members they support to join their loved ones in New Zealand. It should be a fantastic evening and please do share widely. Event details are below and flyer attached. What: Ethiopian Banquet and evening of music and dance. When: 7.30pm, Friday 28 November 2014. Tickets: $50 per person (All proceeds to Akld Refugee Family Trust) To book:ummatrust or phone Gwyn: 09 815 0153

Monday, December 1, 5pm, Mission Bay – In front of the playground, Auckland
Changing Tides – Free West Papua: Be part of the audience that supports the raise the flag on December the 1st, in honour of the quest for West Papuan Independence. Please some kai/finger food to share and a raincoat as the performance will go ahead rain, hail or shine. Our limited edition Freedom Is… T-shirts will be for sale for a special price of $25. Badges will be for sale for $2. For more info: https://www.facebook.com/OceaniaInterrupted and http://oceaniainterrupted.com/

Monday, December 1, 1pm, Parliament, Wellington
Solidarity with West Papua. Fly the Morning Star flag in solidarity with the people of West Papua. RSVP at pma

Monday, December 1, 6-8pm, Mayoral Drive, AUT

Wednesday, December 3, Columba Centre, 40 Vermont Street, Ponsonby
Kotare Trust: Research and Education for Social Change Invites you to a public evening. Workshop, the first of a series on opposing the impact of free market theory:
Turning the Tide Countering the neoliberal agenda in Aotearoa.

Thursday, December 4, 11am – 2pm, AUT City Campus, WG404, Auckland

You are invited to attend a public lecture by Professor Sue Yeandle, Director of CIRCLE, the Centre for International Research on Care, Labour and Equalities, at the University of Leeds in the UK. On “ Support for working carers : the UK experience of employer based approaches”

Friday, December 5 12-2pm, 111 Karangahape Rd, Auckland
This powerful book documents the human tragedy unfolding in Papua New Guinea. A country which experiences some of the highest rates of violence against women in the world. Crying Meri gives voice to its victims and the activists who are working for change. Photographer Vlad Sokhin will talk about the book and share some of his latest photography from the Pacific. Join us for this lunchtime event, meet the photographer and buy your own copy of Crying Meri.
Tea, coffee and lunchtime refreshments will be provided, (optional koha appreciated on the day). Vlad will speak from 12.30 – 1.15pm. RSVP toevents.manager by 1 December.

Sunday, December 7, Beaches around NZ
This Government has its head in the sand about mining and climate change. So let’s make sure they know how we feel. Coal Action Network invites you to join us as we collectively stick our heads in the sand to salute our Government’s attitude to our future.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1542095289341789/
Events around the country:
Auckland Central: https://www.facebook.com/events/951136411578302/
Bethells Beach, Auckland West Coast: https://www.facebook.com/events/586065868206050/
Wellington: https://www.facebook.com/events/397345560415900/
Christchurch: https://www.facebook.com/events/720577418034958/
Dunedin: https://www.facebook.com/events/829771567086865/
Nelson: https://www.facebook.com/events/581452771998539/
Invercargill: https://www.facebook.com/events/315018318685253/

Friday, December 12, 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM, Mangere East Community Learning Centre372 Massey Rd (behind the library), Mangere East, Manukau City, AucklandSAVE THE DATE! for our next CPAG Launch – The complexities of ‘relationship’ in the welfare system and the consequences for children Kia ora! We are excited to announce the upcoming launch of a very significant background paper, The complexities of ‘relationship’ in the welfare system and the consequences for children. Current policies on welfare and relationship fraud have had a major impact on children, in some cases contributing to their poverty and financial insecurity. CPAG asks whether New Zealand’s current system adequately reflects the changed nature of relationships in the 21st century. We look at whether using marital status as the defining characteristic for benefit entitlement best serves the well-being of families and argue the focus needs to shift from what a sole parent is not entitled to, to what she and her children need to thrive. Invitations and registration info will be sent out in another email soon. So make sure to look out for it! We look forward to seeing you there and make sure to invite your friends.

Tuesday, December 16, 1.30-2.30pm, WG404, level 4, Sir Paul Reeves Building, Cnr Governor Fitzroy Place & Mayoral Drive, AUT University
The NZ Work Research Institute invites you to an open public seminar by Professor Raymond Markey, Centre for Workforce Futures, Macquarie University. Climate Change and the Australian Workplace: Opportunities for Employee Voice Climate change and public policy measures to mitigate its impact are likely to lead to significant shifts in the composition of the labour market through the decline and expansion of certain jobs and industries. It is also likely to have an impact on employment relations and job quality. Read more. Professor Raymond Markey, Director, Centre for Workforce Futures, Macquarie University. Tuesday, 16 December 2014. Free seminar. Open to all at no charge. RSVP not required.

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

December 2-11, SEAKING TOUR BY SUE BRADFORD
A Major Left Wing Think Tank? Is it time for atransformational left project? Sue Bradford presents key conclusions from her recent PhD research, ‘A major left wing think tank in Aotearoa — an impossible dream or a call to action’, and provides an update on what’s been happening with the resulting emergent project since July. There will be plenty of time for feedback, questions and discussion. Anyone with an activist and/or academic interest in building a stronger, more effective radical left is welcome to attend.

Wellington: 6.00 pm, Tuesday December 2nd , St Johns in the City 170 WillisSt. Facebook Event Page Email

Christchurch: 7.00 pm Wednesday December 3rd WEA 59 Gloucester St.
Facebook Event Page Email
Dunedin: 5.30 pm, Thursday December 4th, Quad 1, Otago University. Email

Palmerston North: 6.00 pm, Thursday 11 December. 26 Margaret St, Email

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

SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015, Come To CAFCA’s 40th Anniversary Celebration, Saturday May 2, Christchurch

See the flyer below for details such as venue, speakers, topics. The flyer is also online at cafca/ www.cafca.org.nz / Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/cafcafb / Watchblog: http://tinyurl.com/watchblog / twitter:@NZN4S

029 5254744