Posted on 16-1-2003

GPJA What's On #17, January 15, 2003

Website http://www.gpja.pl.net/ Contact details: Forums – John Minto,
(09)8463173 jbminto@xtra.co.nz; Newsletter Editor – Mike Treen 0212547440
miket@pl.net Web page – Geraldine Peters (09) 3570655 bern@ihug.co.nz
Donations can be sent to GPJA, 84 Paice Ave, Sandringham, Auckland.

WHAT’S ON IN AUCKLAND

Thursday, January 16, 4-30pm outside the US Consulate, Custom Street Vigil
for Peace on the 12th Anniversary of the start of the Gulf War. Organised
by Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF). For more
info contact Joan Macdonald tel (09) 360 8001 or email joanmac@pl.net

Friday, January 17, from 8am, 10 Warnock St, Grey Lynn Ike's taking his
family camping - but he's not taking his signs down. While Ike and Teri and
their kids, Joshua and Yasmine are out there enjoying the freedom they're
entitled to as New Zealanders, fellow citizens who support human rights and
democracy, will gather at the Finau residence to defend his signs and our
right to freedom of expression. Corflute and paint will be available for
people who want to make their own signs to put up, and a contact list will
be available for supporters to leave their details on. Contact Penny Bright
(Water Pressure Group) pennybright@xtra.co.nz

Sunday, January 19, 10am, 84 Paice Ave, Sandringham GPJA Committee meeting.
Help plan further antiwar action including the Peace Concert/Festival.

Thursday, January 23, 7-30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Road, Grey Lynn.
'The rising revolutionary tide' an public meeting, with screenings of
'March on Imperialism - Anti-Capitalists in NZ' and 'Nepal: it's only a
matter of time', Organised by the Anti-Capitalist Alliance, for more info
contact email WPNZ@clear.net.nz

Saturday, February 1, 2pm to 3pm, Aotea Square, Queen Street.
Palestine/Israel Rally for Peace, supporting peace and justice based on
Removal of Israeli Occupation, Right of Return for Refugees, Sharing
Jerusalem and Cessation of Jewish only Settlements in occupied Palestine,
Contact David Wakim tel (09) 520 0201.

Sunday, February 2, 2pm, outside the Synagogue, Greys Ave (Pitt street end)
City A March for Justice and Peace (Synagogue to Church to Mosque) -
assemble at 2pm outside the Synagogue at Kadimah College Greys Ave (Pitt
street end) City; then march via Hopetoun St, to Ponsonby Rd, to Vermont St
to the grounds of the Church then to the grounds of the Mosque opposite -
at each place there will be time for prayer, comments and song. The march
is to support the international 'Open Jerusalem - end occupation' peace
march supported by Jews, Christians and Muslims walking between Bethlehem
and Jerusalem on 31 December 2001. For more info contact Kevin McBride, Pax
Christi, email paxnz@xtra.co.nz tel (09) 377 5541 or David Wakim tel (09)
520 0201.


Monday, February 3, 7.30pm, Trades hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn 1st
GPJA Forum for 2003. We return to the themes of globalisation and war with
Mike Treen updating the situation regarding Gulf War II and Dr David
Bedgood reporting on a recent trip to Argentina to see working class
resistance to the crisis there.

Sunday, February 16, 2003, 2pm, Potters Park, Balmoral “Peace in the Park”.
A festival of music to protest against war

Wednesday, February 19, 7pm, Auckland Community Learning Centre, Poronui
St, Mt Eden. 1st of 7 weekly classes on “Human Rights” led by Anthony
Ravlich. The political nature of human rights and globalisation has
resulted in an increasing gap between the rich and the poor both in NZ and
internationally. There is a need to have economic, social and cultural
rights in law so all interests are represented and causes of crime,
suicide, terrorism and refugees addressed. Course fee $40. Registration
required. Phone 6388780.

NATIONAL EVENTS

Saturday, January 18 and Sunday, January 19 - Pakeha Support Ngawha - Stop
the Prison weekend, come to Ngawha to help stop prison construction work
due to begin in February, includes an interdenominational commemoration of
Ngawha on Sunday at 11am. Support Ngati Rangi in their peaceful, principled
stand for the whenua. Pakeha responsibility to protest state cultural
atrocity against land and people: not in our name. Bring tents, food to
share, koha, goodwill and creativity. Together we can stop the prison. For
more info contact M Armstrong tel (09) 436 1679 or 021 042 9598 or
reotahi@igrin.co.nz

Saturday January 18 to Monday, January 20 - Keep NZ GE Free Strategy Hui,
with reports on where we've been and where we're at; strategising and
planning for the future. Strategy input ideas are most welcome. Camping at
the Levin Organic River Festival, food available from Festival stalls. Cost
- all weekend $20 / $10, per day $10 / $5; plus $20 (reduced from $30) per
person to camp at the Festival site all weekend, otherwise $2 per person
per day entry to the Festival. Please register for the Hui as soon as is
practicably possible, make your payment, advise us of your numbers, camp
site requirements and we will organise all this for you. Cheques to ‘Keep
NZ GE Free’, Levin Organic River Festival, c/o PO Box 84, Levin or contact
gaye@flat.net.nz Check out the Festival web site at http://www.ecofest.co.nz

January 24-26 Waihopai spybase protest. Key times & events - Saturday 25.
11 a.m., Seymour square, Blenheim & 2.30 p.m. at the base (Waihopai Valley
road) Theme: anti-war: The world has changed since the last Waihopai
protest (2001). Reflecting that, this year’s one will have an explicitly
anti-war theme. It will be serious, not lighthearted like some of the more
recent ones. The timing is coincidental, but this protest is taking place
just before key decisions are made in the US-led drive to invade Iraq.
Waihopai is NZ’s key contribution to all American wars, whether in
Afghanistan, Iraq or anywhere else. It is basically a US spybase operating
on NZ soil, a vital outpost of the American Empire. ABC will bring a
limited number of placards and banners. Please bring your own, relevant to
the anti-war theme, linking Waihopai to the US war on Iraq, and elsewhere.
Organised by Anti-Bases Campaign, Box 2258, Christchurch, New Zealand. Contact
cafca@chch.planet.org.nz Web site: www.converge.org.nz/abc

Monday, January 27 - Flowers of peace to Islam - on the day of the report
on the weapons inspection in Iraq, give a flower to Islam as a symbol of
peace and to demonstrate that you do not support the intention of mass
violence on Iraq. Either lay flowers at the gate of a mosque in your area
or give a flower to a Muslim. But please respect Muslim tradition. Men only
give flowers of peace to Muslim men, and women only give flowers of peace
to Muslim women. Through this act, our government will witness our desire
for peaceful, non-violent resolutions; and that we do not want our country
to be party to war. Our cry for non-violence encourages peace. Our silence
will only add to the violence. Organised by Families for NonViolence, check
out http://www.geocities.com/families4nonviolence/peaceflowers.html or
contact tel (09) 810 9066 email F4NV@yahoo.co.nz

Saturday, March 22 - Families for NonViolence March and Picnic, make a
stand for safer homes, communities and a safer world for everyone. For
details of a march near you, check out
http://www.geocities.com/families4nonviolence/frontmarch.html or contact
tel (09) 810 9066 email F4NV@yahoo.co.nz

OCEANIA SOCIAL FORUM - a forum inspired by the 2001 and 2002 World Social
Forums that have been held in Porto Alegre, Brazil. (The 3rd WSF will be
held from 23rd - 28th January 2003) The World Social Forums and the
regional forums they have spawned including the Oceania Social Forum, seek
to bring together individuals and groups "that are opposed to
neo-liberalism and to domination of the world by capital and any form of
imperialism". With their overarching theme "Another World is Possible," the
Forums offer an opportunity to build "a planetary society directed towards
fruitful relationships among Mankind and between it and the Earth," and
represent a positive movement for change. The WSF’s Charter states that
"The meetings of the World Social Forum do not deliberate on behalf of the
World Social Forum as a body. No-one therefore will be authorised, on
behalf of any editions the Forum, to express positions claiming to be those
of its participants."

Initially the Oceania Social Forum was to be held in Nelson in April. A
decision to reconsider both its timing and location has been made to enable
wider participation and support. We would like to invite you to a meeting
about the Oceania Social Forum chaired by Sukhi Turner Mayor of Dunedin at
1pm on Tuesday 4th February 2003, at the Porirua City Council offices
Cobham Court, Porirua City. The agenda will include report on progress to
date, finances, formation of a national core group, location and timing of
the Forum. RSVP by Friday 31st January 2003 to
info@oceaniasocialforum.org.nz. Website - for further information and to
pre-register for the Forum www.oceaniasocialforum.org.nz. Co-convenors
Bruce Dyer and Pat Hanley.