GPJA #462 (1 of 2): What’s On / News from Aotearoa

GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND NEWSLETTER No. 462, May 13, 2013

WHAT’S ON IN AOTEAROA/NEW ZEALAND

Thursday, May 16, 5.30pm, WG129, Sir Paul Reeves communications precinct, AUT University
International reporting – behind the Afghanistan story: Bilal Sarwary started working for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) after the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 and covered the US bombing campaign and invasion of Afghanistan. After the fall of Kabul to the Northern Alliance and the US, Sarwary worked briefly for the American Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) in 2002. Since 2002 he has worked for the BBC – initially as a producer and later as a reporter. More information on the Pacific Media Centre events page: http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/events/international-reporting-behind-afghanistan-story And on PMC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PacificMediaCentre/events

Friday, May 17, 7.15am – 8.45am, Auckland, Wellington & Christchurch
Save the Date: Nationwide Post-Budget Breakfasts. Please ‘save the date’ for CPAG’s national Post-Budget Breakfasts – Friday 17 May. Each year CPAG provides child-focused analyses and commentary of the year’s budget and how it affects children and young people, especially our most vulnerable. Event registration details along with venues and presenter information will be sent out in the next few weeks. We look forward to seeing you there! As always, thank you for supporting our work. Warm regards, Marianna Munting, CHiLD POVERTY ACTION GROUP Executive Officer, T: 09 302 5260 I E: admin I M: 021 150 2414

Monday, May 20, 7.30pm, Peace Palace, 22 Emily Place, Auckland.
Screening the second of our series of short films from the ‘Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream’ Symposium from the Pachamamma Alliance. ‘How did we get Here?’. For more information go to

Come even if you missed the first part! Free/ Koha. The third part will screen Monday, 17th June

Wednesday, May 22, 12.30pm-1.30pm, N614 Epsom Campus.
A Conversation with Visiting Professor Nancy Jackson – Critical Studies in Education, University of Auckland. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear an important Canadian critical theorist and activist. Nancy’s bio below:
“My own background is technically ‘critical sociology of education’ … but I have focussed my attention for 25 yrs on the adult sector. A lot of my work has focussed on questions around work/labour, especially questions about how work gets ‘framed’ by those who manage it and define it for education/training purposes, and whose interests prevail in all this. I have always promoted popular and participatory approaches to learning and indeed to research. For the past decade I have been doing critical work around the rise of adult literacy as the object of international policy making, and the resulting tensions with the world of practice, in both community and workplace contexts. I am a feminist, post-structuralist with marxist roots. I have been a labour, anti-racist, anti-colonial activist in community settings during all of my academic career. I am saddened by the ravages of neo-liberalism, both inside and outside of the academy. I started at the university in the heady days of the 1970’s activist movements; I have retired at the end of 2012, hoping to spend more time returning to activist pursuits.”

June 22-23, (Day 1 venue TBA), Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall.
National Conference on Palestine

December 4-13, 2013
JOIN THE 2013 SOLIDARITY BRIGADE TO VENEZUELA: Witness a people’s revolution in action. The Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network’s 14th international solidarity brigade to Venezuela this December is a very special opportunity to observe, learn about and be inspired by the Bolivarian revolution that is transforming Latin America and challenging the greed and exploitation of global capitalism by showing that a better world is possible. Since 1998, when the late Hugo Chavez was first elected president, the Bolivarian revolution has achieved remarkable things by putting control of Venezuela’s politics and economy back into the hands of the poor majority. Despite the challenges created by Chavez’s death last March and the right-wing’s campaign to undermine new President Nicolas Maduro, this people-power driven revolution continues to flourish and defy all attempts by the imperialism-backed opposition to destroy it.
The brigade itinerary is being planned in consultation with our partners in Venezuela, but during the 10-day visit, participants will:

visit social missions, communal councils and communes, as well as production cooperatives, public health and education services, sustainable development projects, community controlled media stations, and women’s and Indigenous organisations and projects; and

meet with a wide range of grassroots organisations, community activists, trade unions and government representatives to learn more about the “socialism of the 21st century” being created by the Venezuelan people; and

spend time in the capital, Caracas, and travel to a regional area of Venezuela.

Brigade registration and costs
The registration deadline for the 2013 brigade is September 1, 2013. Accommodation, transport within Venezuela and English-Spanish translation throughout the brigade will be organised for all participants by the AVSN. Participants will need to book their own international airfares. Please do not purchase your tickets before the registration deadline of September 1. In addition to your international airfare, you will need to budget for approximately $1200. This will cover your brigade registration fee ($500 for waged workers or $350 for students/pensioners), and your food, transport and (shared) accommodation in Venezuela.
To register or for more information: EMAIL: brigades www.venezuelasolidarity.org

ANNOUNCEMENTS

HIDDEN AGENDAS: WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE TPPA, THE TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT BY JANE KELSEY
In this short e-book, Professor Jane Kelsey says ‘despite the dearth of official documentation that has been released, we have pieced together information from diverse sources, to reveal a disturbing picture of what the TPPA could mean for our nations and communities. It remains enormously frustrating that our governments continue to hide behind a self-imposed veil of secrecy and refuse to conduct a comprehensive analysis that weighs their expected benefits against the predicted downsides, or even publicly debate the agreement’s implications. This e-book aims to help fill that void, as did No Ordinary Deal:Unmasking the Trans-Pacific Partnership Free Trade Agreement, also published by Bridget Williams Books, in 2010.’ Available direct from www.bwb.co.nz and from major retailers including Amazon, Kobo and eBooks.com

COROMANDEL: NO MINING REGATTA MAY 18TH
Kia ora koutou, My name is Ruby and I am emailing from Coromandel Watchdog. We are currently working on a campaign which is focused on preventing a prospecting permit granted in the Schedule Four conservation area of the Coromandel Harbour going ahead. At the center of our campaign is a No Mining Regatta to be held on May the 18th. Our aim is to send a clear message to this government and the mining companies that they are not welcome to mine the Coromandel. It will draw attention to the fact that Schedule Four conservation land is not safe from the threat of mining and support the right to protest peacefully at sea and on land. The event has two aspects, at sea and on land. A flotilla will navigate along the seaward border of the prospecting permit, coming to anchor in front of Wyuna Bay. On the beach at Wyuna Bay there will be a land based event which will include speeches from Catherine Delahunty and Bunny McDiarmid. As the boats move into the waters in front of Wyuna Bay, kayakers and surfers from the beach will join them. We don’t want this day to be all about saying NO. As a part of our setup we will have a display board where we will put up information about environmentally and economically sensible directions we can move in. Would you help us put this together by sending us any information and research you think may be relevant? It would be wonderful to have you with us on the day, with your boats, kayaks, surfboards or banners and if you could send through any contributions to our solutions board. If you are interested in supporting us by either coming along and having some fun, helping with preparations for the display/research board, or if you would like more details about the day please get in contact with me at ruby If you wish to discuss media for the day so that we are all on the same page and can maximise our effectiveness please talk to our coordinator and spokesperson Renee Annan whose contacts are below. I have attached two documents: a copy of our poster/invite that we would hugely appreciate being spread far and wide; and the invite for captains in case you have any friends with boats. All the best, Ruby, Campaign Coordinator, Coromandel Watchdog of Hauraki m: 0221027414 / e: ruby / Facebook Event

MARCH AGAINST MONSANTO – SATURDAY MAY 25
Together we will unite and march against the monster that is Monsanto. New Zealand is one of the last countries without GMOs but this isn’t going to last long if Monsanto have their way. We need to let our fellow Kiwis know the dangers of genetically modified foods before it is too late. We need to get as many people involved as possible for this to be a success. We need farmers, organisations that promote organic food or anyone who is for GMO labelling. We need banners, flyers, stickers, bullhorns, anything that can alert people to the cause. If you can help out with any of the above please post on the wall or message directly. If we all do our bit, this march will help raise awareness of the dangers we all face and start waking people up to the curse on this planet that is Monsanto. We will not stand for cronyism. We will not stand for poison. That’s why we March Against Monsanto.
CURRENT NZ MARCH LOCATIONS
Auckland https://www.facebook.com/events/168932459932934/
Christchurch https://www.facebook.com/events/257378607742003/
Wellington https://www.facebook.com/events/589013124456893/
New Plymouth https://www.facebook.com/events/364155907021803/?ref=3
Nelson https://www.facebook.com/events/128929110628000/?ref=22
Rotorua https://www.facebook.com/events/264719693671906/
Tauranga https://www.facebook.com/events/514056908629667/

NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PALESTINE
Kia Ora Koutou supporters of Palestine Aotearoa wide. This is an open call to be involved in organising the countries FIRST EVER national conference on the question of Palestine and building an organised, coordinated BDS (Boycott Divestment Sanctions) movement with long-term goals/ strategy to ensure our institutions and companies are not complicit in allowing Israel to profit off its brutal occupation. This call comes a result of interest in Wellington, and recent discussions at the most recent BDS Auckland meeting where many groups/parties in attendance expressed their support for the idea. The suggested conference date June the 22-23rd in Auckland as the planning of a large speaking event featuring Israeli writer Miko Peled and Gazaan Yousef AlJamal is underway. Some people may need to make travel arrangements so it would be good to confirm this asap. We want to see a democratic network with involvement from all NZ’s Palestine groups. If you are interested in making such an event happen and contributing to the korero, in a big, or small, way then please register your interest by sending an email to bdsaotearoa. We are looking for representatives from all groups to be a part of an organising committee and others to be involved in helping out. Some inspiration:

Further information on the call for BDS made by Palestinian civil society in 20:http://www.bdsmovement.net/call Please feel free to send this email on to other activists and advocates who may be interested in being a part of the organising committee. In Solidarity, Nadia (SJP Wellington) and Tali (Kia Ora Gaza)

INTRODUCTION TO ECONOMICS: A SHORT COURSE FOR JOBS AND WELFARE ACTIVISTS – April 10 – July 17
Auckland Action Against Poverty invites members and supporters to join us: Introduction to economics: a short course for jobs and welfare activists. This series of eight workshops will be held from 6.00pm – 8.00pm at our AAAP office, 86 Princes St, Onehunga. Snacks and drinks will be available from 5.40pm before each session begins. This course is not academic. It is aimed at people who are taking part in advocacy and action on jobs and welfare, and would like to understand a little more about economics, and about the kinds of solutions that AAAP supports, as opposed to those inflicted on us by neoliberal governments. You are welcome to come to one, some or all of the workshops – but we ask you to register with us at contact by Tuesday 2 April for the first four sessions. There is no charge for the workshops, but a small donation from those who feel in a position to contribute would be appreciated.

Part (a) Economics for beginners
1. The Economy and Me – looking at our own lives through the lens of ‘economics’. Starting to identify and understand some key concepts. Wednesday 10 April.
2. The Economy and Economics – introducing more key terms, with an update on recent critical developments in the global and local scene. Tuesday 23 April.
3. The Government’s Budget May 16 – what are budgets? – how do they work? What do we need to look out for on Budget Day from the point of view of beneficiaries, unemployed people and low wage workers? Wednesday 8 May.
4. Unemployment – an overview. Historical context, why it exists, how capitalism uses it to maximise profit at the expense of us all, paid workers, unemployed workers and beneficiaries alike. Wednesday 22 May.
(b) Economics – Current issues. This second part of the programme is aimed at those who attended the first sessions, as well as others who may already have a grasp of basic economics, but who would like to take part in learning and discussion around these particular issues.
5. Welfare policies, paid work and unemployment – how these interact with each other from an economic perspective. Wednesday 5 June.
6. Universal Basic Income – what is it? What might a progressive version of UBI look like in 2013? Introduction and discussion. Wednesday 19 June.
7. Decent Job Creation – in our current situation and beyond – key concepts, ideas, challenges. Wednesday 3 July.
8. Challenging capitalism – beyond reforms within the system, looking forward to an economics as if ordinary people and the environment mattered. Wednesday 17 July.
For more information, contact AAAP contact Ph 634 0591

BEST ON THE WEB

NEW ZEALAND

A jackboot intercept bill http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/jackbook-intercept-bill-ck-139977

Spy bill papering over cracked masonry http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10882677

The neoliberalisation of Universities http://thestandard.org.nz/the-neoliberalisation-of-universities/

Review: Fighting to Choose by Alison McCulloch http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2013/05/09/review-fighting-to-choose-by-alison-mcculloch/

Govt cuts hit refugees, budget help http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10880329

NZ groups join Filipino Mothers’ Appeal to Aquino http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1305/S00148/nz-groups-join-filipino-mothers-appeal-to-aquino.htm

Stand Up and Fight (Feed the Kids 2013 campaign video, New Zealand)

NZ electricity market a ‘failed experiment’ http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff-nation/assignments/share-your-news-and-views/8591922/NZ-electricity-market-a-failed-experiment

Asset sales protest takes to the river http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/134868/asset-sales-protest-takes-to-the-river

Harawira in flotilla share float protest http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/harawira-in-flotilla-share-float-protest-5435248

Crowds turn out for assets march http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/8604767/Crowds-turn-out-for-assets-march

Nationwide protests against asset sales http://www.3news.co.nz/Nationwide-protests-against-asset-sales/tabid/1607/articleID/295689/Default.aspx

NZ ‘racist’ but views divided over power of Kiwi gatekeepers http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2013/04/nz-racist-but-views-divided-over-power-of-kiwi-gatekeepers/

Marching against asset sales http://www.sunlive.co.nz/news/42694-marching-against-asset-sales.html

April 27 video Auckland https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=4025967547232

Sky City, pokies and corruption http://thestandard.org.nz/sky-city-pokies-and-corruption/

ANZACS/ANZUS/AFGHANISTAN

A look at what actually happened and the recasting of Anzac Day, see: http://rdln.wordpress.com/2012/04/24/gallipoli-invasion-a-dirty-and-bloody-business/

He Toki Huna New Zealand In Afghanistan – Annie Goldson’s latest documentary that explores the decade of New Zealand’s involvement in the war in Afghanistan. http://www.maoritelevision.com/tv/shows/anzac-2013/episode/he-toki-huna-new-zealand-afghanistan