GLOBALPEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND
NEWSLETTER No.323, March 31, 2010
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Website: https://gpjanz.wordpress.com/
Contact details:
Forums – John Minto, Work: (09) 845 2132, Home 09 846 3173 jbminto@xtra.co.nz
Newsletter Editor & Website – Mike Treen 0295254744 mike@unite.org.nz
Donations can be sent to GPJA, P O Box 7175, Wellesley St,Auckland.
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Monday, April 5, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, GreyLynn
GPJA FORUM: Waihopai Domebusters speak out. PeterMurnane – one of the Ploughshares activists who deflated the Waihopaidome in a dramatic anti-war protest will speak about the case and thesuccessful defence of action to "prevent a greater evil" which the groupsuccessfully argued. What implications for future protest might this have?Bob Leonard of the Anti-Bases Campaign will also be speaking.Bob was due to be called as an expert witness for the defence but his evidencewas disallowed. Here the full inside story of this extraordinary trial anddramatic defence. Not to be missed.
US Embassy Protest 20 March 2010 YouTube Videos
Part 1-2 US Embassy Shoe Throwing Protest Auckland New Zealand 20 mar2010 marking 7 Iraqi Invasion Anniversary
Part 2-2 US Embassy Shoe Throwing Protest Auckland New Zealand 20 mar 2010marking 7 Iraqi Invasion Anniversary
Going Home: Hela Rahman returns to Iraq for the first time in adecade Driving through the streets of Baghdad is a heartbreakingexperience. Rubbish lies uncollected, roads bear the scars of explodedmunitions and impoverished children play outside destroyed buildings, firesstill smouldering amongst the rubble. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1003/S00197.htm
WHAT’S ON IN AUCKLAND
Thursday, April 1, 7pm, 4/125 Grafton Rd, Auckland
Eyewitness report: Cuban Revolution extends solidarity across the Pacific Cubanschools train Pacific medical students. Health care in a number of Pacificcountries is being boosted by cooperation with the revolutionary Cubangovernment. Cuban health workers are working in Timor Leste and othercountries. At the same time hundreds of young people from the Pacific arestudying medicine at schools in Cuba’s eastern province of Pinar del Rio.This solidarity is consistent with the 50-year internationalist course of theCuban Revolution. At this forum Janet Roth will give an account of her visit toPacific medical students at two schools in Cuba as a member of a Militantreporting team. Roth was in Cuba in February to help staff the Pathfinder boothat Havana’s International Book Fair. The forum will be followed by asupper and social to celebrate the opening of the new forum hall, PathfinderBooks centre and Communist League election campaign office. Suggested donation:$5 waged, $2 unwaged. Right by the corner of Grafton Bridge and Grafton Rd. Busstops are handy, and there is street parking on Grafton Rd. Militant LabourForums are held each week. For more information phone 369-1223 or email milauck@xtra.co.nz
Saturday, April 3, 2pm, QEII Square, Outside Downtown ShoppingCentre, cnr Queen and Customs St
Rally for Justice and Peace in PALESTINE On the First Saturday of Every Month.Come support JUSTICE and PEACE based on: 1. Ending 42+ years of IsraeliOccupation of the West Bank & Gaza Strip (including East Jerusalem); 2.Ensuring the Right of Return for Palestinian refugees; 3. Sharing Jerusalem; 4.Vacating all settlement colonies in Israeli occupied Palestine; 5. DismantlingIsrael’s annexation / apartheid wall in occupied Palestine. http://www.palestine.org.nz
Monday, April 5, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, GreyLynn
GPJA FORUM: Waihopai Domebusters speak out. Peter Murnane -one of the Ploughshares activists who deflated the Waihopai dome in a dramaticanti-war protest will speak about the case and the successful defence of actionto "prevent a greater evil" which the group successfully argued. Whatimplications for future protest might this have? Bob Leonardof the Anti-Bases Campaign will also be speaking. Bob was due to be called asan expert witness for the defence but his evidence was disallowed. Here thefull inside story of this extraordinary trial and dramatic defence. Not to bemissed.
Saturday, April 10, from 10am, St Columba Centre, 30 Vermont Street,Ponsonby, Auckland
QPEC Public Forum and AGM – all welcome. "2010 – a year of challenge foreducation". Attacks on public education are coming thick and fast from theNational/ACT government. The QPEC public forum brings together key educationalleaders to discuss these serious threats to public education – especiallythe pernicious National Party policy of national standards. Everyone welcomefor a lively discussion with campaign planning to enhance education quality andopportunity for all New Zealanders. All welcome.
AGENDA: 10am Public Forum – "2010 – a year of challenge for education".Speakers: Dellis Hunt – Spokesperson for PAL (Parents Against Labelling);Frances Nelson – President NZEI (New Zealand Education Institute); BronwenCross – Deputy General Secretary PPTA (Post Primary Teachers Association); TomRyan – President TEU (Tertiary Education Union); David Do and Pene Delaney -Co-Presidents NZUSA (NZ Union of Student Associations). 12noon Scone/muffinBreak. 12.15pm Forum continues with speakers: Martin Thrupp, Professor ofEducation from Waikato University; Ivan Snook, Emeritus professor of EducationMassey University; Ruth Mansell, QPEC National Vice Chair; John Minto, QPECNational Vice Chair. 2.30pm – Lunch. 3pm QPEC AGM. 4.30pm Finish. AllWELCOME
Tuesday, April 12, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, GreyLynn, Auckland
"Doctors Not Guns – Cuba’s Medical Aid to Haita and the Pacific" – Hear OdalysLpez Sarmiento, from the Asia-Pacific Division of the Cuban Institute ofFriendship with the Peoples, speaking on Cuba’s role in the aftermath ofthe Haiti earthquake and its contribution to healthcare in the Pacific.
Sunday, April 18, 2-8pm, Telstra Stadium, 770 Great South Rd,Manukau
A benefit gig, to raise awareness and fundraise for victims of the devastatingearthquake in Chile. In New Zealand, we can do our part to help our brothersand sisters in our homeland. Concert, Art Auction, Markets, KidZone. TICKETS:Adults:$25; Children 5-12yrs: $10; Under 5yrs: Free; Family pass(2 adults 3children): $60. Booking fee applies. Details to follow. Tickets on sale soonvia http://www.ticketdirect.co.nz. Date to be announced. With MC Cori Gonzalez-Macuer,DJ Bobby Brazuka, Calle Latina, Emcee Silva, Jah RedLion, Chico y susonora….more of the lineup to be announced soon…
Saturday, May 1, 1.45pm, Britomart
UNIONS AUCKLAND MAY DAY MARCH. We will be marching from Britomart to theMaritime Club. Celebration: Maritime Club – 68 Anzac Ave from 2.30onwards. Food will be provided (Buy your own drinks).
ANNOUNCEMENTS
STOP THE SEARCH AND SURVEILLANCE BILL NOW!
Video footage of last month’s meeting in Auckland about the Search andSurveillance Bill has been loaded up to youtube. Here is the link
National Day of Action April 24th: Parliament will be discussing the Billagain at the start of May. On April 24th there will be a national day ofprotest action against the Search and Surveillance Bill. Updates will be postedon the Facebook group. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=204950191596
SPRING DELEGATION TO BOLIVIA- APRIL 20-22, 2010
Be part of history! Celebrate Earth Day and attend the Peoples’ WorldConference on Climate Change and Mother Earth’s Rights in Cochabamba,Bolivia. World scientists, academics, lawyers, and representatives ofgovernments that want to work with their citizens to save our planet will be inattendance. Before and after the conference, celebrate indigenous resistanceand explore food sovereignty issues in Bolivia, the first country in thehemisphere to be governed by an indigenous president. Learn about indigenousstruggles for sovereignty over food, land, and water. Meet with farmers,community leaders, government leaders, union leaders and others. Experience therich culture of the Andes and soak in the sights, sounds, people, and politicsin this historic moment in Bolivia. When: April 18-28, 2010 Where: StartCochabamba and end in La Paz; visits to El Chapare, Coroico (Yungas de La Paz),Oruro and Cost for Activities: $850. This will cover all lodging, all groundtransportation, at least 2 meals per day, and translation. Additional expensesduring the trip will be minimal.**Airfare not included. Possible group rateavailable for those traveling from NYC. Contact cbalbertolovera@gmail.com
STUDENTS ARE WORKERS- WORKERS ARE STUDENTS!
Unite on Campus spreads its wings. Poverty and debt force many students intoworking their way through college, mostly in low paid jobs on or just above theminimum wage. In response, Unite Clubs are being set up on campus in theUniversity of Auckland, AUT, MIT, UNITEC, Massey Albany and in Polys and Unisthroughout the country, to organize students who are pro worker and pro union.The biggest task over the next two months will be to gather tens of thousandsof names in the lecture halls and on campaign stalls for the Campaign for aLiving Wage referendum. We need students, campus workers and academic staff tohelp us build these clubs and harvest the support that is out there. Are you onone of the campuses above? Would you be free to help on the stalls during Oweek and after? Can you organize for a speaker to come to your class or lecturetheatre? Please contact Living Wage Campaign Organiser Joe Carolan at 029 44 55702, email joseph@unite.org.nzThefinal phase – The Campaign for a Living Wage is now entering its finalphase, and is stepping up a gear or three! There’s been a huge growth ofsupporters on the campuses http://www.unite-news.org.nz/palpatine.html
LIVING WAGE PETITION – Stalls in your area:
AUCKLAND: Contact Joseph – 029 4455702 joseph@unite.org.nz
WHANGAREI: Contact Vaughan- 021 041 5082, email: svpl@xtra.co.nz
HAMILTON: Contact Jared- 029 494 9863 email: jared@unite.org.nz
COROMANDEL and THAMES: Contact Levi- 027 7746 278, email: whukoro@yahoo.co.nz
ROTORUA: Contact Bernie- email: bernieh@clear.net.nz , 07 345 9853
PALMERSTON NORTH: Contact Gerard- email: gerard@unite.org.nz , 06 3297 737
WELLINGTON: Contact Omar on 029 455 5789, email: omar@unite.org.nz.
CHRISTCHURCH: Contact Matt – 029 201 3837 email: matthew@unite.org.nz
DUNEDIN: Contact Chris- 027 781 0371, email: mr_matahaere@hotmail.com
2010 NATIONAL PEACE WORKSHOPS: ‘EXPOSING AND OPPOSING MILITARISM ANDMILITARISATION’ – FRIDAY, 16 APRIL TO SUNDAY, 18 APRIL 2010
This is the initial notice to let you know that the 2010 National PeaceWorkshops (NPW) – the national gathering for people interested in peace, socialjustice, and human rights – will be at the Quaker Settlement in Whanganui fromFriday, 16 April to Sunday, 18 April. The theme of the 2010 NPW is ‘Exposingand opposing militarism and militarisation’ and the focus is on sharing storiesand experiences, workshops and participatory discussion with contributors whohave experience of community and individual non-violent resistance tomilitarism and militarisation in Aotearoa and overseas. The programme willinclude campaign updates from peace and related groups, follow up to theWaihopai Ploughshares trial, and the Peace Movement Aotearoa Annual GeneralMeeting.
Information about the programme, venue, accommodation, registration and traveloptions will be circulated in the last week of February and will be availableon the NPW web page at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/npw10.htmIf you, or your group, is interested in contributing a campaign update,leaflets or other resources, a donation, or being a co-sponsor of the 2010 NPW,please read the sections below. Campaign updates and resources from peacegroups: if you would like to update NPW participants on what your group iscurrently working on, space is set aside in the programme for campaign updates,but it is helpful if we can know as soon as possible what topic/s you wouldlike to cover. You are welcome to bring leaflets or other resources to the NPW,or if no-one from your group is able to attend, we can take them for you(details of when any material for the NPW needs to be in the Peace MovementAotearoa office will be included in the NPW update at the end of February).
Donations and co-sponsorship: whether or not you are planningon attending the NPW, if you are able to send a donation to assist with thecosts that would be gratefully received. Because these NPW are residential, weare providing substantially subsidised rates for low income participants toensure that anyone who wishes to attend is not prevented from doing so becauseof the cost. Donations will be used to help with the subsidised rates; and, aswith previous NPW, if there are any surplus funds they will be held in trust byPeace Movement Aotearoa for the next NPW. There is also the opportunity forpeace groups to co-sponsor the NPW: co-sponsorship comprises a minimum donationof $100, and in return co-sponsoring organisations are listed on publicitymaterial, on the 2010 NPW web page, and in any published report. If you areinterested in being a NPW co-sponsor, please let us know as soon as possible.Donation and / or co-sponsorship cheques should be made payable to ‘PeaceMovement Aotearoa: Special Projects’ and sent to the address below. Pleaseremember to include your name, address, and organisation (where applicable) ifyou would like a receipt.
Contact details: Peace Movement Aotearoa, PO Box 9314,Wellington 6141. Tel (04) 382 8129, email pma@xtra.co.nz The National Peace Workshops web page is at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/npw10.htm
BLACKBALL MAYDAY AND OPENING OF ’08 MEMORIAL AND RESOURCE CENTRE
May 1st. Registration form and further information, www.blackballmuseum.org.nz
JOIN THE 2010 NATIONAL ELECTIONS BRIGADE TO VENEZUELA SEPTEMBER 17 – 28, 2010
The Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network’s brigades to Venezuela are a once-in-a-lifetime experience – the opportunity to see first-hand an unfolding revolution that is not only radically transforming the lives of Venezuelans, but challenging the greed, exploitation and destructiveness of global capitalism by showing that a better world is possible. A special feature of the September 2010 brigade will be observing Venezuela’s vigorous democracy in action. The brigade will coincide with Venezuela’s next National Assembly elections, on September 26th, enabling brigadistas to observe the last week of campaigning – including the traditionally huge election rallies held on the weekend before – and polling day itself. As well as observing the national elections, brigade participants will experience Venezuela’s participatory democracy at work, with visits to communal councils and communes. They will also visit worker-run factories and cooperatives; free, high-quality public health and education services; Indigenous-run sustainable development programs; and community controlled media stations. During the 10 days, brigadistas will have the opportunity to speak to a wide range of grassroots organisations, community activists, trade unions and government representatives about the radical changes being implemented by the Venezuelan people. The 2010 national elections brigade is the 11th solidarity tour to Venezuela organised by the AVSN. Reports and photos from previous AVSN brigades are posted at http://www.venezuelasolidarity.org. We are also happy to put you in touch with people who have participated in AVSN brigades, if you would like to find out more.
Brigade registration and costs
The deadline for registering for the 2010 National Elections brigade is July 1, 2010. To express interest in participating and obtain a registration form, please contact brigades Participants will need to book their own international airfares, but the AVSN can help with advice. Accommodation, transport and English-Spanish translation within Venezuela will be organised for all brigade participants. You will need to budget for a total cost of approximately $4000. This will cover: international return airfares and taxes (approximately $2500 from Sydney); accommodation (twin-share basis); transport and basic food while you are in Venezuela; and the brigade registration fee ($500 for workers, $300 for students or pensioners). For more information, email brigades or phone Lisa Macdonald +61 413 031 108, Jim McIlroy +61 423 741 734 or Roberto Jorquera +61 425 182 994.
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
"By saying that our leaders are power-drunk chimpanzees, am I in danger of wrecking the morale of our soldiers fighting and dying in the Middle East? Their morale, like so many lifeless bodies, is already shot to pieces. They are being treated, as I never was, like toys a rich kid got for Christmas.": Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. Author
BEST ON THE WEB
NEW ZEALAND
Protest marks minimum wage increase http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/3535603/Protest-marks-minimum-wage-increase
Welfare reforms discriminatory, Attorney-General finds http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/3501044/Welfare-reforms-discriminate-Attorney-General-finds
Connolly Club of Aotearoa’s first action gets TV3 news and Irish newspaper coverage TV3 News in NZ http://www.facebook.com/l/8e87a;www.3news.co.nz/NZ-celebrates-another-St-Patricks-Day-at-the-pub/tabid/368/articleID/146875/Default.aspx
Article from Irish Independent with photo of NZ picket. http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4248595&id=541487600
We think our politicians are paid too much http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1003/S00314.htm
Congratulations To Auckland City Council For Roger Award Win http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1003/S00245.htm
ANZ tops worst transnational list http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/3476977/ANZ-tops-worst-transnational-list
Spy base verdict may prompt law change – PM http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10633589
Domebusters provide better security than the SAS http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1003/S00278.htm
Robert Lithgow QC on the Waihopai defence, "Nine To Noon", Radio NZ, 24/3/10 http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/national/ntn/2010/03/24/law
Brian Rudman: Juries stand faultless, despite verdict http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10633857
Why bother with a US FTA? http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10633801
NZ lawmakers slam court on Maguindanao ruling http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20100330-261568/NZ-l
Murray Horton’s Speech To Roger Award Event, Wellington, 11/3/10 http://canterbury.cyberplace.co.nz/community/CAFCA/publications/Roger/2009Horton.pdf
‘Glamorous’ pokies the scourge of Maori communities http://www.newswire.co.nz/2010/03/%E2%80%98glamorous%E2%80%99-pokies/
On the Government’s Greenlight to the Mining Industry http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2010/03/23/campbell-the-government%E2%80%99s-greenlight-to-mining/
REVIEWS
The Bases Of Empire By David Swanson – "The Bases of Empire: The Global Struggle Against U.S. Military Posts," a collection edited by Catherine Lutz, has the potential to open American eyes to both the empire they pay for and permit, and to the world’s responses to it. Included in this book is an overview of the empire of bases, and a detailed look at several parts of the world, starting with Latin America and the Caribbean, where the U.S. government’s driving mission is the maintenance and expansion of bases, and where communism has been replaced as an excuse by drugs as much as by terrorism http://www.countercurrents.org/swanson290310.htm
ZEITGEIST EXPOSED – In Agatha Christie’s classic crime novel the ABC Murders, the detective Hercule Poirot comes up with the following formulation: “When do you notice a pin least? When it is in a pin cushion. When do you notice a murder least? When it is one of a series of related murders.” I would like to extend Poirot’s thinking to “When do you notice an extremely pernicious and dangerous conspiracy theory least? When it is set in a two hour film amongst many other conspiracy theories.” http://www.socialistunity.com/?p=5431#more-5431
Cinema Libre on Oliver Stone’s ‘Border’ http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118016872.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&ref=bd_film
A Week in December by Sebastian Faulks – Sebastian Faulks’s hugely ambitious novel is a delightful and witty satire on contemporary London life, says Justin Cartwright http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/aug/23/week-in-december-faulks
FEATURES
Why ‘The Universe Is Perfectly Set Up For Life’ Is a Terrible Justificationfor God’s Existence http://www.alternet.org/story/146165/why_%27the_universe_is_perfectly_set_up_for_life%27_is_a_terrible_justification_for_god%27s_existence
Militarizing Latin America By Noam Chomsky http://www.countercurrents.org/chomsky230310.htm
Trivializing War By Cesar Chelala – "Drones are currently killing people inAfghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia. It should be noted that the UnitedStates is not at war with any of those countries, which should mean in a saneworld that the killing is illegal under both international law and the USConstitution," states Philip Girald, a former CIA officer and fellow of theAmerican Conservative Defense Alliance. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article25076.htm
FOOD, FARMING AND THE ENVIRONMENT
TAKE ACTION! Help Copenhagen climate change activists falsely accused ofterrorism http://links.org.au/node/1583
Bolivia creates a new opportunity for climate talks that failed atCopenhagen http://boliviarising.blogspot.com/2010/03/bolivia-creates-new-opportunity-for.html
Bluefin Tuna Loses Out By George Monbiot – Idiots. Morons. Blockheads.Numbskulls. Nothing quite captures the mind-withering stupidity of what hasjust happened in Doha. Swayed by Japan and a number of other countries, some ofthem doubtless bought off in traditional fashion, the members of the Conventionon International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) have decided not toprotect the Atlantic bluefin tuna http://www.countercurrents.org/monbiot200310.htm
WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS
Six Questions for Richard Posner on Capitalism and Crisis http://www.harpers.org/archive/2010/03/hbc-90006718
Why Fannie and Freddie Continue to Cost Taxpayers Billions – Together thetwo firms have already tapped $125 billion from government lifelines and theCongressional Budget Office predicts they ultimately will drain $380 billion.http://www.alternet.org/story/146154/why__fannie_and_freddie_continue_to_cost_taxpayers_billions
To Rob a Country, Own a Bank Must Watch – Real News Video Interview -William Black, author of "Best way to rob a bank is to own one" talks aboutdeliberate fraud on Wall St. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article25078.htm
AFGHANISTAN
NATO Killed School Children and Pregnant Women – Tries to Silence aTruth-Teller By Derrick Crowe – – Warning – This video contains disturbingimages. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article25087.htm
AUSTRALIA
Black deaths in custody a ‘national disgrace and a tragedy’ http://www.greenleft.org.au/2010/831/42743
BOLIVIA
Activists from across the globe to attend Peoples Conference on ClimateChange http://boliviarising.blogspot.com/2010/03/bolivia-activists-from-across-globe-to.html
CANADA
Tour builds Venezuela solidarity in Canada By John Riddell – March 15, 2010– Socialist Voice — Federico Fuentes and Kiraz Janicke concluded their 10-daytour of Canada on March 7, with a rally in Vancouver entitled “Change thesystem, not the climate”. Fuentes shared the platform with Pablo Solon,Bolivia’s UN ambassador and chief spokesperson on climate change. http://links.org.au/node/157
CUBA
A Moral Vest By Dr. June Terpstra – I wonder what it would be like to livein a country with values of social justice instead of values of profit andplunder. There are countless examples of those who wear a moral vest here inCuba. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article25035.htm
GREECE
Greek Crisis Impacts the Balkans By Apostolis Fotiadis http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=5073
HAITI
With cheap food imports, Haiti can’t feed itself – PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti –The earthquake not only smashed markets, collapsed warehouses and left morethan 2.5 million people without enough to eat, it may also have shaken up theway the developing world gets food. Decades of inexpensive imports – especiallyrice from the U.S. – punctuated with abundant aid in various crises havedestroyed local agriculture and left impoverished countries such as Haitiunable to feed themselves. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/20/AR2010032001329_pf.html
Heavy rains swamp camps holding Haiti’s homeless http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/19/AR2010031901531.html
Haiti Relief Effort Needs Immediate Ramp-Up to Avoid Another Disaster http://www.cepr.net/index.php/blogs/relief-and-reconstruction-watch/haiti-relief-effort-needs-immediate-ramp-up-to-avoid-another-disaster/
With cheap food imports, Haiti can’t feed itself – "It may have been goodfor some of my farmers in Arkansas, but it has not worked. It was a mistake,"Clinton told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on March 10. "I had to liveeveryday with the consequences of the loss of capacity to produce a rice cropin Haiti to feed those people because of what I did; nobody else." http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/20/AR2010032001329.html
PORT-AU-PRINCE AND WASHINGTON TUSSLE OVER RECONSTRUCTION LEADERSHIP http://canadahaitiaction.ca/?p=1630#more-1630
INDONESIA
Indonesia: Slum dwellers protest against eviction order http://links.org.au/node/1575
INDIA
Arundhati Roy: "We May Not Need Peace in This Unjust Society; You NeedPeople Who Are Prepared to Resist" – World-renowned author and global justiceactivist Arundhati Roy discusses U.S. wars, the occupation in Kashmir, and hertime spent with Maoist rebels in India. http://www.alternet.org/story/146138/arundhati_roy%3A_%22we_may_not_need_peace_in_this_unjust_society%3B_you_need_people_who_are_prepared_to_resist%22
IRAQ
Iraqi Holocaust, Iraqi Genocide And 7th Anniversary Of Invasion Of Iraq ByDr Gideon Polya – It is the 7th anniversary of the illegal and war criminalinvasion of Iraq by US, UK and Australian forces on 20 March 2003. What hasbeen the human cost? As of 20 March 2010 post-invasion violent deaths inOccupied Iraq total 1.4 million. Post-invasion under-5 infant deaths total 0.8million and post-invasion non-violent excess deaths total 1.1 million http://www.countercurrents.org/polya190310.htm
Tony-gate: Blair Strikes Oil in Iraq By Jayne Lyn Stahl – Mr. Blair isn’tthe only prominent politician on UI’s payroll. Others reportedly include formerAustralian prime minister Bob Hawke, as well as politicians like CongressmanStephen J. Solarz, former secretary of defense Frank Carlucci, formerambassador to Egypt, Nicholas A. Belites, and U.S. Commander for the MiddleEast General John P. Abizaid. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article25086.htm
IRAN
Iran – US tightens the noose – US tightens the nooseBlair’s appearance atthe Chilcot Inquiry, where he repeatedly raised the issue of Iran and US plansfor a further round of sanctions, have once again raised the prospect ofmilitary action. Blair’s appearance at the Chilcot Inquiry, where he repeatedlyraised the issue of Iran and US plans for a further round of sanctions haveonce again raised the prospect of military action. http://www.counterfire.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4198&Itemid=81
NEPAL
Greetings from the people’s revolution in Nepal http://links.org.au/node/1564
PACIFIC
Guam: New US military build-up opposed http://www.greenleft.org.au/2010/830/42719
PAKISTAN
The Terrifying World Of Pakistan’s "Disappeared" By Robert Fisk – The DHRPfiles show that there are 1,700 missing from Baluchistan alone. At least 4,000appear to be in the hands of the Pakistani interior ministry, while 2,000 havebeen handed over to what the DHRP describes as "foreign" agencies usually, theAmericans. Perhaps 750 of the missing Pakistanis are believed to have beentaken by the Americans – illegally, of course – to Bagram, the Policharkiprison outside Kabul, or to Herat in western Afghanistan. http://www.countercurrents.org/fisk200310.htm
PALESTINE
‘Day of Rage’ Engulfs Palestine http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=50695
Norman Finkelstein: Too Far This Time? http://www.commondreams.org/video/2010/03/18-0
Sealing in the Palestinians: The Story of the Most Controversial Border Wallin the World http://www.globalpolicy.org/security-council/index-of-countries-on-the-security-council-agenda/israel-palestine-and-the-occupied-territories/land-and-settlement-issues/48831.html
Israel’s apartheid: Making Palestinians pay for Hitler’s crimes- By Suzanne Weiss – This speech was given by Suzanne Weiss on March 2, 2010,to a meeting of students at the University of Waterloo in Canada, held as partof the Israeli Apartheid Week. Suzanne Weiss, a holocaust survivor, is a memberof Not in Our Name: Jewish Voices Against Zionism and of the Coalition AgainstIsraeli Apartheid in Toronto. http://links.org.au/node/1566
US concern about Israel’s illegal settlements is 42 years too late -That U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had the courage to tellAIPAC’s conference that Israel’s continued construction of Jewishhousing on occupied territory is undermining both the prospect for peace andAmerica’s credibility and own best interests was good news. The bad newsis that this and other Obama administration expressions of concern are http://www.alanhart.net/us-concern-about-israels-illegal-settlements-is-42-years-too-late/
PHILIPPINES
CHR lectures military over ‘Morong 43’ – MANILA,Philippines—The military and state prosecutors got a mouthful from theCommission on Human Rights (CHR) at a public hearing Thursday after they failedto produce the so-called “Morong 43. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100319-259545/CHR-lectures-military-over-Morong-43
Contradicting police and army claims show illegality of arrest of 43 healthworkers http://www.bayan.ph/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1269057305&archive=&start_from=&ucat=1&
A serious blow to RP’s health system http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/letterstotheeditor/view/20100325-260778/A-serious-blow-to-RPs-health-system
Vincent “Ka Bebot” Borja is a political prisoner in thePhilippines. Since 2007 he has been detained in the Provincial Jail of Leyte,on trumped-up murder charges. He is a victim of the US-Gloria Macapagal Arroyoregime’s war against militant trade unionism. This message was recordedin March 2010. Watch the video: http://freekabebot.wordpress.com/
A Primer on the Illegal Arrest, Detention and Torture of 43 Health Workershttp://www.bulatlat.com/main/2010/03/13/a-primer-on-the-illegal-arrest-detention-and-torture-of-43-health-workers/
SUDAN
Can the ‘Cuban-Jubans’ rebuild South Sudan? The Cuban Jubans gather mostnights to share a bottle of whisky and debate the challenges ahead for SouthSudan, writes Lucy Fleming. http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/africa/8589402.stm
USA
The Health Care Hindenburg Has Landed http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/the_health_care_hindenburg_has_landed_20100322/
Diary of a Wimpy Health Care Bill http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rose-ann-demoro/diary-of-a-wimpy-healthca_b_510706.html
How Cuban-Trained U.S. Doctors Treated Thousands of Haitians After the Quake- Dr. Melissa Barber joined six other Cuban-trained doctors from the U.S. for ajourney to Haiti in late January. "We’ve only put a dent in what is needed,"she says. http://www.alternet.org/story/146068/how_cuban-trained_u.s._doctors_treated_thousands_of_haitians_after_the_quake
The US Healthcare Reform By Fidel Castro http://www.countercurrents.org/castro290310.htm
VENEZUELA
The anti-Venezuela election campaign – Venezuela’s election is not untilSeptember, but the international campaign to delegitimise the government hasalready begun http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2010/mar/18/venezuela-election
`For Venezuela, there is no going back’: A discussion with FedericoFuentes and Kiraz Janicke http://links.org.au/node/1580
New moves to build workers’ power; Revolution in the electricity industry http://links.org.au/node/1582
WESTERN SAHARA
Western Sahara activist ‘beaten’ after talking to BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8575448.stm
YEMEN
Unhappy Yemen by Tariq Ali – I left for Yemen as Obama was insisting that‘large chunks’ of the country were ‘not fully undergovernment control’, after Senator Joseph Lieberman had cheerfullyannounced that it was a suitable target for war and occupation. http://www.lrb.co.uk/v32/n06/tariq-ali/unhappy-yemen
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