Posted on 28-10-2003

WHAT'S ON IN AUCKLAND

Wednesday, October 29, 7pm at The Classic Comedy Bar, 321 Queen Street,
City Auckland Indymedia presents The Antidote #4, an evening of
alternative political docos screening:
- 'The Yes Men' (a selection of video exploits) - The Yes Men are a
genderless, loose-knit association of some three hundred impostors
worldwide. Their feeling today can be summed up in one simple phrase:
Guerrilla Marketing Lifestyle acted out in the form of pranks against
the institutions that seek to vex and control us.
- 'The Wind' - Julian Temple's evocative short film about wind power
shows the bleak future we face without a switch to renewable forms of
energy. Why continue down an energy path to famine, flood, disease, and
climate chaos, when offshore wind power can provide a sustainable
alternative?
- 'SAFE' - compilation of clips put together by Save Animals From
Exploitation which documents recent animal rights protests in New
Zealand as well as the campaign to end circus animal slavery. It takes a
critical look at factory farming and ends with the story of a New Yorker
who goes through a crisis of conscience and devotes his life to
educating people about animal rights.
- 'Community workshops in Porto Alegre' - video about the work of a
Centro do Medios Independente (Indymedia Brasil), Porto Alegre, which
does media workshops with the MST (landless rural workers
movement) and poor people of local favelas (hillside shantytowns). It
explains their practice and how through working as one of the nodes of
indymedia it applies ideas shared over the internet;
- 'Companero Piquetero' - world pressures on the Argentine economy have
caused a tremendous collapse, leaving masses of workers and their
families without jobs or homes. The local Independent Media Centre leant
a camera to a young piquetero’ (protester, one who carries pickets) to
document how members of the Unemployed Workers Movement (MTD) occupy the
land in the municipality of Lanus on the outskirts of Buenos Aires.
Edited in-camera, his insights into the nature of life in the slums, the
divisions between the ruling powers and the poor people, the dangers and
simple pleasures of his life show a people who are desperate, defiant
and determined to carry on with their lives.
$3/$5 entry. For more info contact email auckland@indymedia.org

Wednesday, October 29, 6.30pm and Thursday, October 30, 7.30pm,
Centennial Theatre, Auckland Grammar School.
AMERICAN HOSTAGE TO VISIT NEW ZEALAND. Foreign correspondent Terry
Anderson shares his astounding story of survival. Anderson was Bureau
Chief for Associated Press in Beirut in 1985 when Shiite Muslims
captured him. He was the first American hostage taken and the last
released – after nearly seven years. At the mercy of his captors he
lived blind-folded and in chains in secret locations, wondering
fearfully if each day would be the one he was released – or killed. He
was tortured by grief, by fatigue, by hopelessness. But he never gave up
and nor did his sister, his fiancée, his daughter. “People call me a
victim of Lebanon, say I lost seven years of my life. I didn’t lose them
– I lived them.” says Anderson, who these days teaches journalism at
Ohio University, runs a Blues Bar and speaks internationally on American
international policy. A commentator on Middle East politics, Anderson
uses his experience in Beirut to debate the United States’ “war on
terror”. He is a champion of the free press. “America is telling other
countries to muzzle their press”. Anderson visits New Zealand as a guest
of The Museum Circle Foundation, an independent charitable trust set up
to assist the Auckland Museum. His talk, Slow Learners – American Middle
East Policy is this year’s Hillary Lecture. The Hillary Lecture is an
annual event organized by The Museum Circle and named after their patron
Sir Edmund Hillary. Actor and English MP Glenda Jackson wowed Auckland
audiences at last year’s Hillary Lecture. Entry fee $38. Book through
Ticketek. For more information contact Rozelle Edwards, ph 4139212,
0252729604,
rozelle@value.net.nz

Thursday, October 30, 9pm, Galatos
Outback Down Under' 100% Indigenous Hip Hop in the week of the signing
of the Declaration of Independence - "Aboriginal hip hop crews Local
Knowledge, Gudabah, and free.B, along with Maori hip hop
revolutionaries Upper Hutt Posse and assorted comrades take to the stage
to celebrate indigenous resistance to colonisation." Entry $15 on the
door. The organisation spearheading this cultural and
political exchange is Te Kawau Maro, for more info check out
http://www.obscure.co.nz/events/outback_down_under

Thursday, October 30, 7.30pm, Rm 3.407, School of Engineering, 20
Symonds Street
FILM ON LANDMINES: 'Bombies' is Jack Silberman's film about the cluster
bomb, and its impact upon the civilian population of Laos. The film
traces the history of the cluster bomb and describes its impact upon the
population of Laos from the time of the Vietnam War to the present day.
This
presentation forms part of the 'Clear Up!' campaign, organised by
Landmine Action in order to obtain an international moratorium on the
use. Organised by Engineers for Social Responsibility; for more info
contact Lawrence Carter tel (09) 373 7599 x88177 or email
lj.carter@auckland.ac.nz

Saturday, November 1, 2.00pm, Aotea Square, Queen St, City
PALESTINE / ISRAEL RALLY FOR PEACE. We call on people in Auckland to
support Justice and Peace for Palestinians and Israelis based on:
Removal of Israeli Occupation; Right of Return for Refugees; Sharing
Jerusalem; Cessation of Jewish only Settlements in occupied Palestine.

Monday, November 3, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn
GPJA FORUM: The foreshore and seabed debate – A discussion introduced by
John Minto

Monday, November 10, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn.
GPJA ORGANISING COMMITTEE. All helpers welcome.

Monday, November 17, 6.30pm, Maidment Theatre, Auckland University Bruce
Jesson Foundation Public Lecture by Prof. Jane Kelsey. Bar open 5:30 pm.
The Jesson Foundation exists to promote through various means, the
vigorous political, social and economic investigation, debate, analysis
and reporting which Bruce was so adept at. This activity is organised by
the Foundation's Trustees. The trustees are a somewhat eclectic
collection of persons but have two characteristics which in my
recollection of Bruce, he would applaud - they have genuinely open minds
which sincerely welcome and enjoy n ew ideas or debate none of which
would shift them from their fundamental viewpoint. Speaking this year is
Professor Jane Kelsey who will attack the question of “De-colonisation
or Re-colonisation - which is our future." Outside her academic duties
in the Law School, Jane has spent a good deal of time recently at events
and in places of immediate relevance to this issue. For more information
contact Dr. Joce Jesson, Director Research
Development, Auckland College of Education, Wk 623-8859, Mob. 0274-610
–796, Hm 64-9-6222-142

Wednesday, December 10, 11.30am – 2.30pm, Aotea Square
United Nations Human Rights Day. Laurie Ross has offered to co-ordinate
this working under umbrella of Pax Christi as part of the Human Rights
Network Trust and the Human Rights Commission. The Human Rights Day
Committee is seeking funding or donations and welcomes help to cover
costs for the event. This is an ideal opportunity for Schools or Human
Rights Community Groups to offer multicultural performances e.g.. music,
dance, artwork, banners, education stalls and speakers. We are eager to
have some ethnic food stalls if you wish to fund raise for a particular
cause. We also require assistance with promotion and distribution of
flyers and would welcome other offers of help. PLEASE CONTACT Laurie
Ross on 811 8696 email: laurie-ross@xtra.co.nz