Posted on 24-12-2002
2002
With GPJA
Dear friends,
Thanks to everyone who joined the protest on December 15 against
the war on
Iraq. (For news report see below). Unfortunately the war preparations
continue their relentless course. Iraq hands in its 12000-page
report; it
gets hijacked by the US which immediately concludes Iraq is
in “material
breach” of the UN resolution. Iraq responds that the US can
send its own
CIA agents to join the inspectors to visit any site and the
US dismisses
the offer as a “gimmick”. Hans Blix asks the US/UK for the information
they
claim to have to allow them to do their job and is brushed off.
It is clear
that for the US/UK there is only one outcome they will allow
– a war. The
next deadline is the inspectors report due January 17. It has
become
obvious that the tight timetable imposed on Iraq and the inspectors
by the
UN resolution was designed to fit the war planning of the US.
Military
action will probably begin during February – March with a bombing
campaign
the clear winter nights followed by a ground invasion. The UN
Security
Council, which remains unaccountable to the General Assembly,
has been
continuously bullied or bribed by the US with impunity. Meanwhile
the NZ
Prime Minister pledges that “should the Security Council decide
on the use
of force, New Zealand as a committed member of the UN would
endeavour to
make a contribution.”
When the war begins there will be an emergency picket outside
the US
consulate from 5pm the same day. Plans are also underway for
a big “Peace
in the Park” concert/festival on February 16 from 2pm in Potters
Park,
Balmoral. If you can help see below. The Council of Trade Unions
have also
come out in opposition to any involvement in the Iraq war which
can provide
opportunities for antiwar groups get more support from the unions
GPJA
members have been active in alerting local councils of the danger
that the
WTO Gats negotiations pose for the provision of council controlled
services.
PEACE IN THE PARK CONCERT/FESTIVAL - SUNDAY FEB 16TH - FROM
2PM AT POTTERS
PARK (Cnr Balmoral and Dominion Roads) This festival - a family
type fun
daywith a strong political message against the American war
plans for Iraq
is being planned and we need help from GPJA supporters!
(1) We have several acts lined up including Shona Laing but
we need to hear
from you if you would like to be part of the entertainment -
anything from
30seconds to 20 minutes! e.g. music, sing, band, dance, poetry,
cultural
items, street theatre, comedy etc etc Contact Chris Holland
re
entertainment Ph 3370332 or email
chrisholland@paradise.net.nz
(2) Sound and Stage - We need a good stage and a very good sound
system but
we hope we can keep the cost down as this is not a commercial
venture.
Can you help? Please contact Chris Holland - details above.
(3) Stalls for organisations - Would your group like to have
a stall for
information, sales etc. Please contact John Minto at Ph 8463173
or email
jbminto@xtra.co.nz
(4) Speakers -we plan to have interspersed between the entertainment
several 3-minute slots for people to talk about the war against
Iraq and/or
about their organisation. Would you like a spot? Contact John
Minto -
details above
(5) Food stalls - know any group that would like to run a food
stall? -
contact us
(6) Any other creative ideas - banners, bouncy castle for kids,
face
painting, stilt walking. Please get in touch if you can help
with any of
these.
WHAT’S ON IN AUCKLAND
Saturday, January 4, 2pm, Aotea Square, Queen St 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.
Other News
Judge Joyce has ruled that IKE FINAU will be jailed for 21 days
for
contempt of court if he hasn't removed his signs by 17 January
2003. Ike
Finau's signs will stay up until Attorney-General Margaret Wilson
confirms
that this Auckland City Council Bylaw and ruling that totally
prohibits any
signage on private property complies with the Bill of Rights
Act and
Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Whether or not Ike Finau
becomes a
political prisoner from 17 January 2003 is in the hands of Attorney-General
Margaret Wilson. Judge Joyce's has extended his February 1 2002
ruling to
cover signage on Ike's vehicle as well as signage on Ike's property.
This
is manifestly unfair because signage on vehicles was never part
of the
original complaint or Judge Joyce's ruling Feb 1 2002. What
now constitutes
'signage on vehicles'? "Does this latest ruling of Judge Joyce
now mean
that no-one in Auckland City is allowed to have a bumper sticker
on their
vehicle either?" asks Ike Finau. Ike eagerly awaits the response
from Mayor
John Banks to Dilip Rupa's letter asking whether his 'LOYAL'
sign
supporting Team New Zealand is also illegal under this by law
and this
bylaw and Judge’s ruling. Penny Bright, Media Spokesperson,
Water Pressure
Group. Ph (09) 846 9825
Dear Friends, 10 days ago the President of the PALESTINE PEN
Centre in
Palestine and Chair, Womens International League for Peace and
Freedom,
Palestine, Dr Hanan Awwad visited in New Zealand to speak at
the
international conference of WILPF held at Waipapa Marae, Auckland.
She
arrived very late because the Israelis denied her a visa to
exit on time,
but a few of us had an opportunity to meet with her before she
left for
Australia. As a poet and author you can imagine how eloquent
she was
describing some of her most recent experiences and views on
progressing
justice for the Palestinian people, thereby securing peace for
both
Israelis and Palestinians. She said that things have never been
worse for
Palestinians and PEN which has a key role working with many
NGO's is having
a particularly tough time. Currently, the Israelis are trying
to shut down
the PEN Centre and as the economic situation for so many Palestinians
is so
bleak, the group is having real difficulty paying the rent on
their office
and they are facing imminent eviction.
With others in Auckland, we are trying to raise some funds to
help with
this immediate problem and would welcome any assistance might
be able to
offer. The plan is to collect the funds and have them taken
to Jerusalem
with Dr Alan Kerr and his wife Hazel who are travelling to Gaza
on January
9th to do a spell of medical and social work there. (Alan, formerly
of
Greenlane Heart unit has committed to staying 2 months and work
there with
injured and sick children mainly but also to train medical staff
who are
unable to leave Gaza to get the training elsewhere. Hazel will
meet up
with Hanan and give her whatever $ are gathered here in NZ and
can
subsequently report back to donors.
It is a frantic time of the year to make and respond to such
a request but
this is a very immediate need with such a direct link to Hanan
Awwad and
PEN/WILPF through the Kerrs that it seems possible to accomplish
and it is
something which Kiwis concerned with events in Palestine could
contribute
to. If you have any questions or concerns please contact me.
If you could
forward any donation to me asap I will receipt it. PHRC does
not have
charitable status the gift would not be tax deductible. Please
forward
this message on to anyone who may be able help. Thankyou for
whatever you
are able to do - donate, pass on the message etc and sincere
apologies for
any duplication of this message that you may receive. Send donations
to:
Janfrie Wakim, 95 Market Road, Epsom, Auckland. Ph 5200201.
Palestine Human
Rights Campaign.
The HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION is inviting nominations for membership
of the
National Advisory Council to the National Plan of Action for
Human Rights
project. Nominations are due by 28 February 2003 npa@hrc.co.nz
MESSAGES FROM IRAQ: John Gleisner (Religious Society of Friends,
Aotearoa/NZ) left Wellington this week on his way to Baghdad
where he will
join the Voices in the Wilderness Iraq Peace Team. Messages
received from
John during his time in Iraq will be available on-line at
http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/jgiraq.htm
His reports will be uploaded to
that web page as they come in throughout the next three weeks
when we will
be otherwise off-line.
MEDICAL SUPPLIES FOR IRAQ - Quaker Peace and Service Aotearoa/NZ
are once
more raising money to buy medical supplies for Iraq. These will
be used to
support the US-based NGO, LIFE for Relief and Development, mainly
in their
cancer relief projects, and the Rome-based NGO, Bridge to Baghdad's
Sindibad Primary Health Care Clinic in Basra. Cheques can be
made out to
Quaker Peace and Service and sent to QPS, 7 Moncrieff St., Wellington;
credit card donations can be made by email - for more info about
that, or
about 'Medical supplies for Iraq', please contact Tony Maturin
or Sandra
Jones email hoggard@top.net.nz
PETITION UPDATE: 'No NZ support for the 'war on terrorism''
A further 2,314
signatures on the national 'No NZ support for the 'war on terrorism''
petition were presented to parliament on 10 December 2002 (International
Human Rights Day). Together with the previous presentation on
11 September
2002, the total now handed in is 3,376. There will be a further
presentation of signatures on this petition when parliament
resumes sitting
in February. If you haven't yet collected all your friends and
family
signatures on this petition, why not use the holiday period
to do just
that! It is available on-line at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/pet003.htm
Hello! I am a REFUGEE and Migrant Service volunteer supporter.
At the
moment I am helping a Palestinian family, they came out of Mangere
17 days
ago. They are a lovely family, mum, dad, 4 kids and have taken
19 months
to get here from Iraq. I am approaching your organisation as
they are
desperate for many things and their $1200 establishment grant
and donations
has still left them 'wanting'. Anyhow, on a practical level...if
anyone has
the following spare could they call me to arrange how to get
it to Ahmed
and Firyaal. Dining table and chairs, Washing Machine, Tools,
Desk,
Drawers, Vacuum, Lawnmower, Landscape paintings, Telephone,
TV. If you can
help contact Steph Askeur ph: 620 0824 wk: 360 0745 stephaskeur@hotmail.com
Foreign Control Watchdog #101 now online
http://www.converge.org.nz/watchdog/01/index01.htm
Coinciding with International Human Rights Day, the World Council
of
Churches (WCC) has today opened a new interactive version of
its "Decade to
Overcome Violence (2001-2010): Churches seeking Reconciliation
and Peace"
website. Its address is: http://www.wcc-coe.org/dov.
January 24-26 - WAIHOPAI Spybase protest! NZ is one of George
Bush's most
enthusiastic allies in his apparently endless and borderless
'war on
terror' - the public face of that is the involvement of the
SAS in the war
in Afghanistan; but New Zealand's most significant contribution
to that
war, and any other wars waged by our Western allies, is the
Waihopai
spybase. Even though the Government is not so keen on following
the US in
its plans to wage war on Iraq, Waihopai will play a key role
in that too,
because it is controlled by the US, with NZ (including Parliament)
having
little or no idea what goes on there (let alone any control).
Waihopai does
not operate in the national interests of New Zealand or our
neighbours.
Basically it is a foreign spybase on NZ soil and directly involves
us in
America's wars. Waihopai must be closed! We invite people from
around the
country to join us for the weekend of anti-war protest at this
spybase.
Come prepared for roughing it and camping out. For more info
contact the
Anti-Bases Campaign, Box 2258, Christchurch; email cafca@chch.planet.org.nz
or check out http://www.converge.org.nz/abc
April 21-24: OCEANIA SOCIAL FORUM - Bringing together the peoples
of
Oceania to renew the vision of the world we share, Nelson, Aotearoa/New
Zealand. A social forum inspired by the 2001 and 2002 World
Social Forums
that have been held in Porto Alegre, Brazil, is to be held in
Nelson, from
Monday 21st to Thursday 24th April 2003. Speakers include Edward
Goldsmith,
Maude Barlow, Susan Hawthorne, Pauline Tangiora, Sohail Inayatullah,
Annette Sykes, Nafeez Mosaddeq Ahmed, Pauline Tangiora, Sohail
Inayatullah,
and Susan Andrews - Future Vision Eco-village (Brazil) among
others, with
Tony Clarke to be confirmed. For further information: Re the
Oceania Social
Forum: www.oceaniasocialforum.org.nz
P. O. Box 984, Nelson. Ph 03 544
2449. Re the World Social Forum: www.forumsocialmundial.org.br
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