Posted on 27-11-2002

Global Peace and Justice, Auckland News Dec02

Further protests are planned as the US/UK continues its war preparations.
We will be taking a Christmas message to George Bush saying ³Peace not War
forIraq² through a mass picket of the US Consulate on December 14. The
protest will assemble first at 11am in Queen Elizabeth Square before
crossing over to the Consulate in Customs St.

GPJA FORUMS

The next forum on Monday, December 2 is on The State of Democracy in
Auckland (See What¹s On in Auckland below for details). The forums are held
on the first Monday of the month. November¹s forum on the WTO,
privatisation and PPP¹s went well with 70 attending. The first 20-30
minutes of the forum are also an opportunity for groups to explain upcoming
activities and appeal for support. Representatives of the Steven Wallace
Trust Fund for Justice asked for support and $200 was contributed to the
cause. There will be no
forum in January.

NZ¹S DEEPENING INVOLVEMENT IN THE WAR

Signs that NZ is getting more deeply involved in the US war effort have
also emerged which make the protest more urgent. Through dispatching a
frigate and an Orion aircraft to the Gulf as part of the so-called ³War on
Terror² NZ is assisting the planned attack on Iraq at least indirectly by
releasing a US or British warship for the task. Among the frigates duties
will be ³escorting United States and coalition vessels through the Straits
of Hormuz.² In addition, the US aircraft carrier to which the NZ military
report is also directing bombing flights over Iraq.

Last week Prime Minister Helen Clark confirmed that if the UN Security
Council approved a US-led attack on Iraq, ³New Zealand, as a conscientious
member of the United Nations, would look to see if it could make a
contribution.² However it gets dressed up NZ would be participating in a
slaughter to advance the global ambitions of the US empire to dominate the
resource rich region.

Helen Clark also linked NZ¹s military support to the US to the negotiation
of a ³free trade² deal with the US. She said New Zealand has been ³a good
friend and strong supporter in the international campaign against
terrorism² in the past 14 months. ³Probably this has led to some revision
of the thinking about New Zealand.² This statement came in response to the
decision by the US Trade Representative, Robert Zoellick (3 days after the
frigate Te Kaha was sent to the Gulf) that he would consult Congress about
the inclusion of New Zealand in the Australia/US free trade talks. The
blood of the people of Afghanistan and Iraq (and NZ military personnel) is
part of the sacrifice to be made on the altar of free trade. Moreover, any
trade agreement that eventuated would only reinforce international
corporate control, undermine democratic decision-making and destroy jobs.

PEACE IN THE PARK FEBRUARY 16, 2003 ­ HELP ORGANISE

We are planning a major ³Peace in the Park² music festival Feb 16 next
year. If you can help in any way please email jbminto@xtra.co.nz

WHAT¹S ON IN AUCKLAND

Saturday, November 30, 8pm, Waipapa Marae, Wynyard Street, Auckland City.
Peace women¹s social evening. Come and meet with the speakers and other
women from around the world who will be in Auckland for the international
WILPF meeting. All women welcome. For more information contact Joan tel
(09) 360 8001 or Edna tel (09) 378 1732.

Monday, December 2, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn GPJA
FORUM: ³The State of Democracy in Auckland². Speakers include: Marney
Ainsworth (Wake Up Auckland) on Campaigning against the profit first
policies of the Auckland City Council; Keith Locke (Green MP) on the threat
to civil liberties in the Terrorism Act; Graeme Easte (Western Bays
Community Board) on the Auckland City Council and GATS; Lynne Serpe
(Electoral Reform Coalition) on the campaign for STV.

Tuesday, December 3, 8.00pm, Khuja Lounge, 536 Queen St (near K/Rd) ³Turn
Up the Volume². A fundraiser to help the people of Palestine in their
struggle for peace, justice and international support. Speakers, music,
food and performance. $10 Koha. Speakers include: Drs Alan and Hazel Kerr,
cardiac surgeons recently returned from working in refugee camps in
Palestine; Tuma Hazou and Jawed Yousef, Palestinian immigrants and members
of the Palestine Human Rights Campaign. John Pilger¹s documentary
³Palestine is Still the Issue² will be screened in the back bar following
the speeches. All proceeds are going to the Union of Palestine Medical
Relief Committee in conjunction with UNRWA (United Nations Relief and
Welfare Association).

Friday, December 5, 6.30pm, Rialto Cinema, 169 Broadway, Newmarket Film
showing top raise funds for the STV campaign. Tickets $15. See Samsara a
spiritual love-story set in the majestic landscape of Ladakh, Himalayas.

Continuing until Friday, December 6 at 30 Aintree Ave, Mangere Book
collection for distribution by the Reading Association of Nigeria. There is
a container for books for all levels and ages. If you can't drop the books
off yourself, please contact Fiona email starandgarter@xtra.co.nz For more
info check out www.theglobalbridge.com/bookswithoutborders

Saturday, December 7, 10.30am, The Roasted Addiction Café, Kingsland
International Women¹s Day 2003 Planning Committee Meeting. For more info
contact Janet email janetbogle@hotmail.com

Saturday, December 7, 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.

Saturday, December 14, 11am, Queen Elizabeth Square, Downtown Auckland Give
George Bush a Christmas message of ³Peace Not War². Mass picket of US
Consulate, Customs Street after assembling in QEII Square.

Sunday, February 16, 2003, 2-5pm, Potters Park, Balmoral ³Peace in the
Park². A festival of music to protest against war.


WHEN THE INVISIBLE HAND ROCKS THE CRADLE: NEW ZEALAND CHILDREN IN A TIME OF
CHANGE¹, by Alison Blaiklock, Cindy Kiro, Michael Belgrave, Will Low,
Eileen Davenport and Ian Hassall. "This paper investigates the impact of
economic and social reforms on the well-being of children. These reforms
were among the most sweeping in scope and scale in any industrialised
democracy. The reforms have not led to an overall improvement in the
well-being of children. There has been widening inequality between ethnic
and income groups which has left many Maori and Pacific children, and
children from one parent and poorer families, relatively worse off. The New
Zealand experience illustrates the vulnerability of children during periods
of social upheaval and change and the importance of having effective
mechanisms to monitor, protect and promote the interests of children." The
full report is available on-line
www.unicef.org.nz/newsline/livestories/story_3.htm A hardcopy of the full
report or the child-friendly version is available from UNICEF NZ, PO Box
10-978, Wellington; email 2helpkids@unicef.org.nz or tel (04) 473 0879.

PEACE RESEARCHER is the journal of the Anti-Bases Campaign. The latest
issue (Number 26, October 2002) is now online. Go to
www.converge.org.nz/abc and click onto "Go To Peace Researcher" then
"latest issue". Articles include:

The Terrorist ³War On Terror² by Murray Horton

Why A War Against Iraq Would Be Illegal Under International Law by Moana Cole

Intelligence And Terrorism Bills ­ What¹s Happening? By Bob Leonard

IRAQ PEACE DELEGATION. Dharmacharini Navachitta has asked to circulate a
proposal for a delegation of New Zealanders to join an international effort
to send ³human shields² to Iraq to deter a US/British attack. Although GPJA
hasn¹t endorsed the project we are happy to pass on her contact email for
people who may be interested. navachitta@compuserve.com

WAIHOPAI SPYBASE PROTEST JANUARY 24-26, 2003
www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0211/S00157.htm

OCEANIA SOCIAL FORUM - Bringing together the peoples of Oceania to renew
the dision of the world we share, Nelson, Aotearoa/New Zealand, 21st ­24th
April 2003. 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. For further information:

- Re the Oceania Social Forum: info@oceaniasocialforum.org.nz
bdyer@prout.org ph 03 548 7284.

- Re the World Social Forum: www.forumsocialmundial.org.br