GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND NEWSLETTER No. 406, December 7, 2011
OCCUPY AUCKLAND VS AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL – WE WALK FROM AOTEA SQUARE TO THE DISTRICT COURT AT 9:30AM THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, JOIN US!!! We need your help, support and aroha. On Thursday morning we are once again in Court to defend our right to protest, and the right of future protests. Auckland Council is trying to tell us that protest actions should be limited in time, scope, impact and place. If Council wins this court case can you imagine what could happen in the future when other Authorities say to protestors, sorry youve already had your say, you cant protest here or now. Let’s not focus on the Occupy Movement, but on the possible ramifications of what happens if Occupy Auckland loses… As I said before we need your help. We NEED to show the Courts, and especially the Media that there is wider opposition to this Council action than just from the people residing in Aotea. Now is the time to show your support, more so than ever, more so than nearly 8 weeks ago when 3000 of us came together at the start of the Occupation. PLEASE PLEASE take a couple hours out of your day to support the people heading to Court. I personally am going to do my little bit to defend our rights, and I feel nervous and heavily burdend right now. Let us all share the load by turning up in numbers and showing our families, communities, country and the world that the rights of the people are the most important rights in our society.
PROTEST MARCH, SATURDAY, 12 NOON, DEC. 10, FROM BRITOMART: STOP THE EVICTIONS DEFEND GLEN INNES
10am meet GI Library, Line RD Carpark to train into the city together. Contact Marion Peka on 09 521 9539 or 021 123 9525
INSIDE CHILD POVERTY
‘Inside New Zealand: Inside Child Poverty’, it will only be online for a limited time period at http://ondemand.tv3.co.nz/Inside-New-Zealand-Inside-Child-Poverty/tabid/59/articleID/4761/MCat/342/Default.aspx
ASK JOHN KEY TO KEEP HIS GOVERNMENTS PROMISE ABOUT MINING OUR CONSERVATION LAND
From: Forest & Bird [mailto:enews] December 2011. Forest & Bird E-Alert. Helping you take action for your environment. Ask John Key to keep his government’s promise about mining our conservation land. This week the new government signalled that mining on public conservation
land is again on its agenda. It has broken the promise made last year to give all New Zealanders a say about significant mining projects on conservation land. On Monday, Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson sent a letter to Forest & Bird saying the government will not publicly notify the access arrangement
for a planned 160-hectare open-cast coal mine on the Denniston Plateau. This would allow all New Zealanders to have a say on whether the mine should go
ahead. The Denniston Plateau is an extraordinary and wild part of New Zealand, with a unique ecosystem that is home to great spotted kiwi, kaka, West Coast geckos, giant land snails, bonsai rata and many other special plants and animals. For more information, see here. http://royalforestandbirdprotectionsocietyofnewzealandinc.cmail3.com/t/r/l/ijtjird/aatumdj/d/ You can help. Please send this e-card
http://royalforestandbirdprotectionsocietyofnewzealandinc.cmail3.com/t/r/l/ijtjird/aatumdj/h/ to Prime Minister John Key today to ask him to keep his
governments promise. Thank you very much from Forest & Bird. Forest & Bird NZ – Level One, 90 Ghuznee Street, PO Box 631, Wellington, New Zealand, Phone + 64 4 385 7374
KIA ORA GAZA – URGENT APPEAL
In the first quarter of 2012 Kia Ora Gaza will join an international aid convoy to Gaza led by UK charity Viva Palestina. The convoy intends to break Israel’s illegal blockade of Gaza by linking up with Cairo’s democracy movement and entering through Egypt’s land gate. This strategy could well lead towards the permanent opening of Egypt’s gateway to Gaza, thus fatally wounding Israel’s cruel siege. That would be a truly world historic event. How can you reach out to the 1.5 million Palestinians imprisoned in Gaza? By donating towards our $50,000 Gaza Appeal to fund a four-person Kiwi Team and their humanitarian aid. Kia Ora Gaza has a proven track record. Our team was on last year’s Viva Palestina convoy which broke the Gaza blockade and delivered NZ$7 million in medical supplies. Can we do it again? That’s where you come in. Please donate generously to our $50,000 Gaza Appeal – and spread the word! To see how to donate, go to the sidebar of our website: office
PLAY: THE PITMEN PAINTERS
Lee Halls play is ablaze with intellectual vigour, political passion and incendiary emotional energy. A beautiful work of art that everybody should see. The Times. The Pitmen Painters is the true story of a group of English miners whose after-work art class reveals a wealth of hidden artistic talent. They are propelled overnight from the humble mines of the North East to a rich, intellectual art world. The pitmens raw, unpretentious paintings of mining life are an unexpected sensation. With a wealthy patron keen to take them under her wing, the miners are forced to choose between their working class roots and the lure of fame and success. (potent pause) PRODUCTIONS present the Auckland premiere of this internationally acclaimed play by Lee Hall, the Tony award-winning writer of Billy Elliot. Projections of the original paintings bring this story to life for art lovers and theatre fans alike. The Pitmen Painters is a humorous and arresting testament to the power of individual expression and collective spirit. Would you leave behind the world you know for a chance at fame? Proudly supported by: Auckland Council Arts Alive http://www.qtheatre.co.nz/the-pitmen-painters
EXPERIENCE THE REAL CUBA! JOIN THE 29TH ANNUAL SOUTHERN CROSS WORK-STUDY TOUR TO CUBA
Organised by the New Zealand – Australia Cuba Friendship Society 28 Dec 2011 to 20 Jan 2012. Be more than just a tourist join the 29th Southern Cross Work-Study Tour and support Cuba in the most direct manner by working alongside Cubans for a few days picking fruit, pruning or planting fruit trees or slashing grass and then visiting schools, hospitals, cultural sites & urban agriculture projects, etc. Youll experience at first hand the cultural, political and social conditions in socialist Cuba. This years program will give participants an opportunity to celebrate the 51st anniversary of ICAP & gain an insight into how the Cuban people have triumphed over adversity to keep the revolution strong. For more information about the 29th Contingent of the Southern Cross Brigade visit the Brigade Webpage , email us or call 027 226 9950.
WHAT’S ON
Friday, December 9, 2.30pm -5.30pm, Ellerslie Events Centre, Auckland Racing Club, 80 Ascot Avenue, Remuera, Auckland
For Human Rights Day, the Human Rights Commission and the Netherlands Embassy invite you to a screening of There Once Was An Island;Te Henua o Nnoho, followed by a panel discussion with the filmmakers.
Friday, December 9, 7pm, 4/125 Grafton Rd, Auckland
Militant Labour Forum: Documentary ‘The Green Chain’ How sawmill workers fought to expose company use of dangerous chemicals. The Green Chain documents the fight by sawmill workers in the Bay of Plenty to bring to light the disastrous impact on their health of exposure to pentachlorophenol (PCP) – a chemical used in timber processing. Long-term effects have included high levels of cancer, respiratory problems, and heart and liver disease. The workers have continued their fight for more than two decades, winning some recognition of the harmful effects of the chemical and concessions from the government. This recent documentary features interviews with the workers who are leading the fight. Suggested donation $5 waged, $2 unwaged. By the corner of Grafton Bridge/Grafton Rd. Militant Labour Forums are held each week. Phone 369-1223 or email milauck To browse and buy Pathfinder Press books and the Militant newspaper, the hall is open one hour before the forum. For viewing at other times, call to make an appointment. On the web: Pathfinder Press books and pamphlets: www.pathfinderpress.com; The Militant: www.themilitant.com
Sunday, December 11, from 2.30pm to 4.30pm, Ponsonby Community Centre, 20 Ponsonby Terrace, Ponsonby, Auckland
You are invited to attend the Peace Movement Aotearoa Annual General Meeting With special guest Carol Archie, and a screening of ‘Family Land’. This invitation is available online at pma AGM Agenda: Apologies and remembrances, Minutes of the last AGM, Overview of Peace Movement Aotearoa’s work since the 2010 AGM, Presentation of the 2010/11 Financial Statements, Election of Working Group, General business, and Date and place of the next Annual General Meeting. Call for nominations to the Peace Movement Aotearoa Working Group (management committee): Working Group members should have a keen interest in peace and social justice issues, enthusiasm, a professional approach, a commitment to good employment practices, and be a Peace Movement Aotearoa member. If you wish to add items to the AGM agenda, send apologies, or nominate yourself or someone else to go on the Working Group, please contact email pma Peace Movement Aotearoa member group representatives: If you will be representing a Peace Movement Aotearoa member group at the AGM, please email pma in advance and let us know which group you are representing. Thank you.
Wednesday, December 14, 4.30-6pm, CTU, Level 7 Education House, 178 Willis Street, Wellington
PLEASE JOIN US TO FAREWELL OUR BURMESE STUDENTS: We hope you can join us for the graduation of and farewell to the students from the 2011 intake of the Burma Young Community Leaders programme. Please RSVP by December 9th to Karin Currie on 385-1334 or email: karinc
Saturday, December 17, 7pm, Thistle Hall (upstairs), Upper Cuba Street, Wellington
BOOK LAUNCH: Some Justice: a book of political poems and lyrics Hosted by Rebel Press. Rebel Press would like to warmly invite you to celebrate the launch of Some Justice: a book of political poems and lyrics by Ken Vicious, and to celebrate the end of 2011 and the birth of a new year. The party is on Saturday 17 December at 7pm at Thistle Hall (upstairs), Upper Cuba Street, Wellington and features readings from the book, along with music from Dead Vicious followed by dancing with DJs Frittermix and Snowpony. Some food and refreshments provided, but feel free to BYO, and pass this invite to other friends, comrades and family. Some Justice is a fundraiser for October 15th Solidarity and a proportion of the sale price of each book will go towards the fund. Cheers, the Rebel Press Collective
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
"When buying and selling are controlled by legislation, the first things to be bought and sold are legislators.": P. J. O’Rourke – (1947- ) US humorist, journalist, & political commentator
"To love. To be loved. To never forget your own insignificance. To never get used to the unspeakable violence and the vulgar disparity of life around you. To seek joy in the saddest places. To pursue beauty to its lair. To never simplify what is complicated or complicate what is simple. To respect strength, never power. Above all, to watch. To try and understand. To never look away. And never, never, to forget. " – Arundhati Roy
STAT OF THE WEEK
If average American families today were still receiving the same share of Americas national income that average households earned in 1980, veteran venture capitalist Nick Hanauer noted last week, each average family today would have an astounding $13,000 more in income. Hanuaer, an original investor in Amazon, wants to see the nation tax the rich like we once did and use that money to spur growth by putting purchasing power back in the hands of the middle class.
BEST ON THE WEB
NEW ZEALAND
Meatworkers urge ANZCO/CMP to enter facilitation http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1112/S00200/meatworkers-urge-anzcocmp-to-enter-facilitation.htm
Helen Kelly on the ANZCO/CMP Lockout
Charter schools: using the poor to advance the rich http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1112/S00075/charter-schools-using-the-poor-to-advance-the-rich.htm
"We will help the Poor to fight the Rich": At the Mana Movement’s Post Electoral Hui in Otara on Sunday October 4th, newly elected President Annette Sykes declares war on poverty in Aotearoa, promising that Mana "will move this country decidedly to the Left" and that "We will help the Poor to fight the Rich". http://socialistaotearoa.blogspot.com/2011/12/we-will-help-poor-to-fight-rich.html?mid=5472
Matt McCarten: Shearer the one to lead Labour resurgence http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10770709
Roger award finalists named http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/6088759/Roger-award-finalists-named
2011 Roger Award Finalists Named http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1112/S00038/2011-roger-award-finalists-named.htm
Huntly mine’s response to gas level a ‘cover up’ miner http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/huntly-mine-s-response-gas-level-cover-up-miner-4583823?ref=facebook&mid=5406
Huntly ‘timebomb’ disturbing: Little http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10770123&mid=540
Editorial – Miners blew the whistle http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/opinion/editorials/6074752/Editorial-Miners-blew-the-whistle
John Minto: Otahuhu Debate 22 Nov 2011
Tigilau Ness & Roger Fowler at KiaOraGaza fund raising 26 Nov 2011 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=SXZv7ZY04Fc&mid=5439483
Petition to Stop Asset Sales by the National Government http://www.averagekiwi.com/?page_id=651
To Hell with this- Voices of Struggle from the Unite Conference http://socialistaotearoa.blogspot.com/2011/12/to-hell-with-this-voices-of-struggle.html?mid=5434113
Gillard pledge offers catch up challenge to NZ http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1111/S00766/gillard-pledge-offers-catch-up-challenge-to-nz.htm
Privatising welfare not the answer http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1112/S00039/privatising-welfare-not-the-answer.htm
Charter schools should be subject to full parliamentary scrutiny http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED1112/S00026/charter-schools-should-be-subject-to-full-scrutiny.htm
ACT used as a Trojan horse to push through unmandated education policy http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1112/S00047/act-used-as-a-trojan-horse.htm
Hone will be sole Mana member http://www.northernadvocate.co.nz/news/hone-will-be-sole-mana-member/1188384/
Matt McCarten: Labour’s love lost to Green http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10769093
Tapu Misa: Key could do with element of doubt http://www.nzherald.co.nz/election-2011/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503012&objectid=10769199
NZ ECONOMY
NZ rich-poor gap widens faster than rest of world http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10771388
Revamp won’t pull rich down http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/opinion/perspective/6032321/Revamp-won-t-pull-rich-down
Government looking after the 1% http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1112/S00043/government-looking-after-the-1.htm
CTU: OECD report suggests steeper income taxes on high incomes to reduce inequality http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1112/S00066/oecd-report-suggests-steeper-income-taxes-for-inequality.htm
More job losses in wood how many more before Govt notices? http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1112/S00079/more-job-losses-in-wood-how-many-more-before-govt-notices.htm
OCCUPY AOTEAROA
Marama Davidson on Occupy Auckland
Auckland
Occupy Auckland http://www.occupyauckland.org/ Facebook http://www.facebook.com/OccupyAuck
Wellington
Occupy Wellington http://www.facebook.com/OccupyWellingtonNZ
Christchurch
Occupy tautahi Christchurch http://occupychristchurch.org/ Facebook http://www.facebook.com/occupychristchurch
Dunedin
Occupy Dunedin Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Occupy-Dunedin/141220149310691
OCCUPY WALL STREET
Global revolt in 2011 a historic turning point By Roger Burbach http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/49671
The growing tension between capitalism and democracy http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-growing-tension-between-capitalism-and-democracy/2011/11/22/gIQAuYOitN_print.html
Protesters Reflect Vast Majority on 99 Percent of Most Major Issues http://www.cepr.net/index.php/op-eds-&-columns/op-eds-&-columns/protesters-reflect-vast-majority-on-99-percent-of-most-major-issues
Bill Maher on Occupy Wall Street [New Rules]
African Americans and Occupy: A convergence of interests http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/49690
Theory and Event. (journal): Slavoj Zizek, Wendy Brown and the usual suspects on Occupy. Franco Berandi on Economics and the European Union. http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/theory_and_event/toc/tae.14.4S.html
Police arrest hundreds of Occupy LA activists: Officers enter encampment after protesters ignore mayor’s midnight deadline to leave park near City Hall. http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2011/11/20111130135229385287.html
FEATURES
Julian Assange: ‘People want the truth’ http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/49627
Tony Benn – Don’t Attack Iran – Stop the War Coalition 06.12.11.mpg
Audacity, More Audacity by Samir Amin – The historical circumstances created by the implosion of contemporary capitalism requires the radical left, in the North as well as the South, to be bold in formulating its political alternative to the existing system. The purpose of this paper is to show why audacity is required and what it means. http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/577.php#continue
How private prisons game the system – Corporate jails are corrupt, violent and costly. And they’re lobbying hard to get more people behind bars www.salon.com/2011/12/01/how_private_prisons_game_the_system/
Earth’s wild ride: Our voyage through the Milky Way http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21228411.500-earths-wild-ride-our-voyage-through-the-milky-way.html?full=true
Just Legalize It: Ending the War on Drugs Conference in Washington https://nacla.org/news/2011/11/28/just-legalize-it-%E2%80%98ending-war-drugs%E2%80%99-conference-washington
Decisions without democracy: Eamonn McCann examines the way that democracy is being overridden in Europe in order to force through austerity measures on the working class. http://socialistworker.org/2011/12/01/decisions-without-democracy
In Search of the Voice of the South by VIJAY PRASHAD http://www.counterpunch.org/2011/12/05/in-search-of-the-voice-of-the-south/
Arundhati Roy: ‘The people who created the crisis will not be the ones that come up with a solution’ By Arun Gupta – Democracy no longer means what it was meant to. It has been taken back into the workshop. Each of its institutions has been hollowed out, and it has been returned to us as a vehicle for the free market, of the corporations. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article29884.htm
LAND, LABOUR & THE ENVIRONMENT
Carbon credits pricing crashes and burns http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/6081834/Carbon-credits-pricing-crashes-and-burns
TOO MANY PEOPLE? A book review from New Zealand http://climateandcapitalism.com/?p=5824
System, not consumers, the big green problem http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/49654
Pablo Solon: Climate negotiators are committing ecocide http://climateandcapitalism.com/?p=6136
WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS
The Left’s Responses to the Crisis in Europe and North America http://www.socialistproject.ca/leftstreamed/ls119.php
Raise Taxes on Rich to Reward True Job Creators: Nick Hanauer http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-01/raise-taxes-on-the-rich-to-reward-job-creators-commentary-by-nick-hanauer.html
Economics and Inequality by Kenneth Arrow http://www.bostonreview.net/BR36.6/kenneth_arrow_occupy_movement_future.php
Secret Fed Loans Gave Banks $13 Billion Undisclosed to Congress http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-28/secret-fed-loans-undisclosed-to-congress-gave-banks-13-billion-in-income.html
How Rich Are the Superrich? A huge share of the nation’s economic growth over the past 30 years has gone to the top one-hundredth of one percent, who now make an average of $27 million per household. The average income for the bottom 90 percent of us? $31,244. http://m.motherjones.com/politics/2011/02/income-inequality-in-america-chart-graph
Castles made of sand – Our interactive overview of global house prices and rents http://www.economist.com/blogs/dailychart/2011/11/global-house-prices
Reports from the Economic Front by Martin Hart-Landsberg: Occupy Wall Street: Changing Minds http://media.lclark.edu/content/hart-landsberg/2011/12/01/occupy-wall-street-changing-minds/
A Very Good Reason to Tax the Very Rich by Paul Buchheit – A hedge fund manager who makes $5 billion in a year is making enough money to pay the starting salaries of 100,000 firefighters. http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/12/01-0
Secret diary of an investment banker: in the beginning http://tinyurl.com/7wvrg6p
An Overview of Growing Income Inequalities in OECD Countries: Main Findings http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/40/12/49170449.pdf
CULTURAL DISSENT
Streets of the imagination: At the front of the crowd in the Gordon riots of 1780, William Blake would have seen much that he recognised in the events of this summer, writes Mike Marqusee http://www.redpepper.org.uk/streets-of-the-imagination/
David Rovics – Here’s my "Song for Bradley Manning": www.youtube.com/drovics#p/f/5/ljh5RRrPHsQ
Uniting Struggles: Critical Social Research In Critical Times, Alternate Routes 2012 http://vimeo.com/33161863
Malefactors of great wealth in three new films: 1. "The Big Fix": a documentary on the cover-up of BP’s continuing crimes in the Gulf of Mexico. AN ABSOLUTE MUST-SEE. 2. "Khodorkovsky": a documentary about the imprisoned Russian oligarch. 3. "Margin Call": a fictional film on the 2008 financial crisis that is head and shoulders over everything else. full: http://louisproyect.wordpress.com/2011/12/04/malefactors-of-great-wealth-in-three-new-films/
AFGHANISTAN
Afghan women: the story behind the propaganda http://tinyurl.com/d65xgx8
In Bed With Lola and Gulnara By Craig Murray – The Afghanistan conference in Bonn is a farce. There are no representatives of the Afghan resistance to the occupation, so it is not negotiating peace. Karzai’s corrupt and effete presidency, obtained by massive electoral fraud, expires in 2014.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article29900.htm
ARGENTINA
The Assassins of the Landowners http://upsidedownworld.org/main/news-briefs-archives-68/3337-the-assassins-of-the-landowners
Mapuche occupy US-owned gas plant http://ww4report.com/node/10613
AUSTRALIA
We are all Keensians now http://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2011/12/we-are-all-keensians-now/
CAMBODIA
Women hotel workers in Cambodia fight illegal mass firings http://www.europe-solidaire.org/spip.php?article23677
CANADA
Dealing with comments about Attawapiskat – A Mtis blogger answers the ignorant (and racist) charges made by Harper and others against the Indigenous community of Attawapiskat: http://apihtawikosisan.wordpress.com/2011/11/30/dealing-with-comments-about-attawapiskat/
Social Democracy and the Economic Crisis: The Saskatchewan Case http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/576.php
One analyst’s take on how the economic-equality gap got so large http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/analyst+take+economic+equality+large/5790279/story.html#ixzz1fiMuxFIs
CHILE
Homage to a Criminal in Chile https://nacla.org/news/2011/12/1/homage-criminal-chile
Chilean Student Protesters Vow to Continue Marches http://latindispatch.com/2011/11/30/chilean-student-protesters-vow-to-continue-marches/
CHINA
Police officer ganged up by Chengguan in Henan http://www.chinahush.com/2011/11/20/police-officer-ganged-up-by-chengguan-in-henan/
COLOMBIA
Tony Lloyd MP Letter on Colombia Human Rights Published in The Observer http://www.justiceforcolombia.org/news/article/1151/Tony-Lloyd-MP-Letter-on-Colombia-Human-Rights-Published-in-The-Observer
Peasants in Meta Denounce Army Abuses http://www.justiceforcolombia.org/news/article/1148/Peasants-in-Meta-Denounce-Army-Abuses
CUBA
Translation (Cuba): Raul’s unpublished Congress remarks http://www.cubanews.ain.cu/2011/0416central-report-communist-party.htm
EGYPT
Egypt: military rulers repress strike wave http://tinyurl.com/7wh4dat
GUATEMALA
"This Land Is Ours!" Land Theft as Legacy of Genocide in Guatemala http://ww4report.com/node/10577
HAITI
"Haiti–Open for Business" http://haitigrassrootswatch.squarespace.com/haiti-grassroots-watch-engli/2011/11/29/haiti-open-for-business.html
Controversy over Haitis development http://stream.aljazeera.com/story/controversy-over-haiti%E2%80%99s-development-0021890
World Bank Allocates $255 million for Haiti Reconstruction http://latindispatch.com/2011/12/02/world-bank-allocates-255-million-for-haiti-reconstruction/
Blacklisted Contractor Continues Receiving Government Money Through Haiti Contracts http://www.cepr.net/index.php/blogs/relief-and-reconstruction-watch/blacklisted-contractor-continues-receiving-government-money-through-haiti-contracts
Interview: Cuba’s Health Care Miracle in Haiti http://upsidedownworld.org/main/news-briefs-archives-68/3330-interview-cubas-health-care-miracle-in-haiti
IRAN
Sanctions are only a Small Part of the History that Makes Iranians Hate the UK By Robert Fisk – Woodhouse brought weapons into Iran for a still non-existent "resistance" movement and he eagerly supported the CIA’s project to fund the "bazaaris" of Tehran to stage demonstrations (in which, of course, hundreds, perhaps thousands, died) to overthrow Mossadegh. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article29860.htm
LIBYA
Rival militias wage turf war near Libyan capital http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2011/12/03/180667.html
JORDAN
Jordan Starts to Shake by Nicolas Pelham http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2011/dec/08/jordan-starts-shake/?pagination=false
PACIFIC
West Papuan defiance tips political scale against Indonesian control http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/
Freeport strike continues http://aawl.org.au/content/freeport-strike-continues
Build a sovereign economy for the Papuan people http://kprm-prd-english.blogspot.com/2011/11/build-sovereign-economy-for-papuan.html
PAKISTAN
Challenging Precarious_Work@Nestl.Kabirwala.com http://cms.iuf.org/?q=node/1265
US evacuating Pakistan air base: Pakistan’s top command ordered the US out of Shamsi air base in the wake of the November 26 bombing. US Ambassador to Islamabad Cameron Munter told a Pakistan television channel on Monday: "We are complying with the request." http://www.asianage.com/international/us-evacuating-pakistan-air-base-538
PALESTINE
Unequal under the law http://socialistworker.org/2011/12/01/unequal-under-the-law
Kadimas Black Flags and Israels Image Problem http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/575.php
Highlight: Interview with Norman Finkelstein
Home demolitions in Beit Hanina executed with Volvo and Hyundai equipment http://electronicintifada.net/blog/adri-nieuwhof/home-demolitions-beit-hanina-executed-volvo-and-hyundai-equipment?mid=5471354#.Tt1xklYqm9I
The Real Enemy of the Palestinians http://www.intifada-palestine.com/2011/10/the-real-enemy-of-the-palestinians/?mid=5463
SPAIN
Resistance Takes Root in Barcelona, Hilary Wainwright http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/573.php
UK
Inequality, poverty and riots http://thenextrecession.wordpress.com/2011/12/06/inequality-poverty-and-riots/
Britons face new era of austerity: AS UP to 2 million public-sector workers took to streets across Britain to protest against pension changes, a leading think tank warned that families will be worse off in 2016 than they were 14 years earlier as they cope with more than a decade of austerity. http://bit.ly/vM7CrW
USA
Foreclosure battle: A new hope – As Occupy gears up for a foreclosure campaign, state attorneys general show backbone in tussle over bank fraud http://www.salon.com/2011/12/03/foreclosure_battle_a_new_hope/singleton/
Alpha Natural Resources To Pay $209M in 2010 deaths of WV Coal Miners; Owner of Subsidiary Massey Energy http://tinyurl.com/7hgx8xw
VENEZUELA
Summit in Venezuela opens ‘new phase in history’ http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/49664
OLDER ANNOUNCEMENTS
KEEP THE COAL IN THE HOLE SUMMER FESTIVAL – MATAURA, SOUTHLAND, NZ. 20-23 JANUARY 2012
You are warmly invitedto gather for a Summer Festival and camp. We will share ideas, skills, knowledge, enthusiasm and take action now to oppose lignite mining in the Mataura Valley. This event will be fun, friendly and 100% coal-free! Weve got the Festival Kaupapa, detailed Festival Information and our Programme. For more information or to get involved in Festival organising please Email Us.
WAIHOPAI SPYBASE PROTEST JANUARY 20-22, 2012
The Waihopai spybase was subjected to unprecedented public attention by the March 2010 trial and acquittal of the three Ploughshares peace activists who penetrated its high security in 2008 and deflated one of the two domes concealing its satellite dishes from the NZ public. This legal saga has continued into 2011 with the Government changing the law to prevent their grounds of defence being used again and then suing the three activists personally for the $1.2 million damage to the dome. The Anti-Bases Campaign was happy to support this non-violent direct action anti-war activity, from start to finish. The public face of New Zealands role as an American ally is the NZ military presence in Afghanistan. But New Zealands most significant contribution to that, and other American wars, including the one in Iraq, is the Waihopai electronic intelligence gathering base, located in the Waihopai Valley, near Blenheim. It is controlled by the US, with New Zealand (including Parliament and the Prime Minister) having little or no idea what goes on there, let alone any control. First announced in 1987, Waihopai is operated by New Zealands Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) in the interests of the foreign Powers grouped together in the super-secret UKUSA Agreement (which shares global electronic and signals intelligence among the intelligence agencies of the US, UK, Canada, Australia and NZ). Its two satellite interception dishes intercept a huge volume of civilian telephone calls, telexes, faxes, e-mail and computer data communications. It spies on our Asia/Pacific neighbours, and forwards the material on to the major partners in the UKUSA Agreement, specifically the US National Security Agency (NSA). Its targets are international civilian communications involving New Zealanders, including the interception of international phone calls. Post- 9/11 the GCSB and Waihopai now spy further afield, to those regions where the US is waging wars. The codename for this Echelon has become notorious worldwide as the vast scope of its spying has become public. New Zealand is an integral, albeit junior part of a global spying network, a network that is ultimately accountable only to its own constituent agencies, not governments, not citizens. Join us for the weekend of anti-war protest at this spybase. 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. Basically it is a foreign spybase on NZ soil and directly involves us in Americas wars. Waihopai must be closed. Organised by the Anti-Bases Campaign, P.O. Box 2258, Christchurch. E-mail cafca www.converge.org.nz/abc $40 Registration ($20 unwaged). Make all cheques to ABC
GPJA 