Posted on 14-5-2003

Picket British Warship - What's On

SUNDAY, 9.30 AM, PRINCES WHARF.

The HMS Marlborough is a British warship that took part in the invasion of
Iraq. According to a press statement by the NZ Defence Force the
Marlborough led a force of four ships, including HMAS ANZAC' that
'provided Naval Gunfire support to UK Commandos securing oil installations
on the Al Faw peninsula.' The NZ Defence Force press statement repeats the
lying propaganda that this action was 'to liberate Iraq and secure Weapons
of mass destruction.' It further quotes the lies of Commanding Officer,
Mark Anderson, who claims that the naval operation was 'clearing the way
for vital humanitarian aid to enter the country bringing much needed relief
to the people of Iraq'! The frigate is on its way to join ships from the
NZ, Australian, Singaporean and Malaysian navies in a Five Power Defence
Agreement exercise in Malaysia. The Marlborough is being opened to the
public from 10am to 3pm.

The true nature of the disaster inflicted on the Iraqi people continues to
be revealed. Opposition to the occupation has led to massive protests and
rallies across the country. Attempts to put Ba'athist officials and corrupt
businessmen in charge of Iraq have also led to protests. The US has done
irtually nothing to restore basic services and disease is spreading due to
the lack of clean water. Relief supplies have been disrupted. Starvation
threatens. The hunt for the mythical weapons of mass destruction’ is being
abandoned. We also learn that stockpiles of nuclear material under UN
safeguards before the war was left without protection for weeks and the
premises have been looted. This endangers local people as well a putting
deadly material into the open market.

The US/UK are seeking some form of UN cover for their occupation so they
can get their hands on the money in the oil-for-food programme run by the
UN. This has produced another Cabinet resignation in the UK and resistance
from France, Germany and Russia who fear being frozen out of the lucrative
oil and reconstruction contracts. The NZ government has offered
minesweepers and possibly other forces if there 'is some kind of
international cover.' The cynical willingness to provide post facto support
to an illegal and immoral occupation must be opposed. A statement is being
circulated by Focus on the Global South (an NGO based in the Philippines)
in response to these events and is copied below. The government has also
sent an Orion aircraft to support US-led operations in the Gulf but is
keeping its base of operations secret. See:
www.greens.org.nz/searchdocs/PR6283.html

WHAT'S ON IN AUCKLAND

Until May 17, North Art Community Arts Centre, Northcote Shopping Centre,
Northcote 'A Portrait of East Timor' - photographic exhibition by Gerald
Lopez. It portrays, first hand, stories of the lifestyle of the East
Timorese and the ways in which the people are rebuilding their lives
following the devastation of the Indonesian occupation of their country.

May 3 to 19, The Academy Theatre, "11"09"01 - 11 SHORT FILMS BY 11
DIRECTORS ON THE IMPACT OF SEPTEMBER 11 The Academy - Thurs 15 May at
8:15pm, Fri 16 May at 1:30pm, Sun 18 May at 8:15pm, Mon 19 May at 11:15am
IN SHIFTING SANDS - DOCUMENTARY BY SCOTT RITTER ON IRAQ The Academy,
Thursday May 15 10am, Saturday May 17 4.15pm, Sunday May 18 12.15pm, Monday
May 19 8.15pm

Thursday, May 15, 7.30pm, Supper Room, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd,
Grey Lynn. John Minto speaking on the General Agreement on Trade and
Services (the latest attempt at a MAI-type agreement) followed by questions
and discussion. Accompanied by tea, coffee and biscuits. Donations to
cover costs accepted. Organised by Epsom-Tamaki Alliance branch, contact
Julie for more info spannergrrl@hotmail.com phone 09 620 9256

Thursday, May 15, 1pm, Auckland University Clubspace A and 7.30pm,
Auditorium, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn Journey through
Nepal's Red Zone. Jared Phillips has just returned from a month in Nepal's
liberated Red Zone. Only a handful of Westerners have entered the liberated
areas. Much of the countryside is in the hands of a revolutionary movement
that has transformed the old feudal society. Hear about the remarkable
communist-led women's movement, the new agriculture, the literacy campaigns
and much more. Don't miss this fascinating first-hand account

Friday, May 16, 7-30am to 8-45am, Old Government House, Waterloo Quadrant.
'Crumbs or Commitment: what's on the menu for children?' a post-budget
breakfast - carve up your breakfast while sharp-witted speakers dissect the
2003 government budget; incisive commentary with Maori perspectives on
child health, education, family support and housing. Presented by the Child
Poverty Action Group, in association with the University of Auckland
Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care and the Institute of
Public Policy. Tickets $20, please RSVP to email jwakim@xtra.co.nz. Send
cheques to CPAG, PO Box 56-150, Mt Eden, Auckland - tickets and receipts
will be available at the breakfast.

Saturday, May 17, 11am-12pm, Regatta Room A, Hyatt Regency Agitating or
Reporting: Presenting Dilemma. Controversial journalist and writer Nicky
Hager has tackled subjects such as genetic engineering, most famously with
the release of his book Seeds of Distrust just before the last election.
Novelist and political activist Mike Johnson's Lethal Dose portrays the
disastrous effects of a popular herbicide. Australian David Leser (Somebody
Save Me) has explored his country's treatment of boat people, the politics
of heroin, and hot spots Bali and Tibet. In a pervasively right-wing media
environment, Hager, Johnson and Leser talk about the difficulties of
telling it how it is. Chaired by Denis Welch. TICKETEK: $12 / DOOR: $15
www.writersfestival.co.nz/programme/2003even/

Sunday May 18, 12.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn GPJA
Committee meeting

Sunday, May 18, 1.30pm, St Mathew-in-the-City Anglican Church A team of
top-billing Kiwi and international performing artists are joining forces
with AINZ to stage the first Artists for Amnesty International human rights
benefit concert. The concert will promote the message that 'no peace is
possible without human rights' and raise urgently needed funds for Amnesty
International's worldwide human rights campaigning. Featuring Jackie
Clarke, Miranda Adams, Jonathan Besser With Ensemble Philharmonia, Vivo,
Bravura, Tango Tiempo Dancers & more! Tickets: $30 adult; $20
student/concessions; Children under 12 FREE. Available at Ticketek (from 20
April) or at the church door from 12.30pm. All proceeds to Amnesty
International. An Artists for Amnesty International event. For more
information contact: john.shaw@amnesty.org.nz

Monday May 19, 5-45pm to 7pm, Staff room, Centre for Language and
Languages, 2nd floor, A block,
Auckland College of Education, Epsom Human Rights Network (Auckland)
meeting. For more info or to add items to the agenda, contact email
manager@nsa.org.nz (entrance via Gate 3 at 74 Epsom Avenue - car parks are
readily available as staff leave around 5-30pm).

Monday, May 19, 7:30 pm, Lounge Room, St Austells Church, corner Seabrook
Road and Margan Avenue, New Lynn. 'IRAQ. What next?' with speakers
including Keith Locke MP; Dr Umara, Iraqi member of the Mandaean Religion;
and Susie Blowers, Chair of Amnesty New Zealand. Organised by Amnesty
International West Auckland.

Thursday, May 22, 7.30pm, St Columbus Church, 40 Vermont St, Ponsonby
Public meeting with Fatima Mahfoud, a representative of the Polisario
Front, which leads the struggle for independence of the people of the
Western Sahara from Moroccan occupation. She is also a representative of
the National Union of Sahrawi Women, and has recently been working
representing the Sahrawi independence struggle and National Union of
Sahrawi Women in Europe. Before that she worked in the refugee camps where
many Sahrawi people live in western Algeria. She in fluent in English.
Contact Felicity Coggan, Ph 5795707, email fcoggan@xtra.co.nz

Thursday, May 22nd, 6.30pm, Romford's, Tamaki Drive The Peace Foundation's
Bid for Peace Celebrity dinner and auction. MCs Craig Parker and Elizabeth
McRae. Tickets $58 includes pre-dinner drinks and nibbles, dinner, wine,
door prizes etc.

Tuesday, May 27, 7.30pm, St Columbus Church, 44 Vermont St, Ponsonby Human
Rights Network Public Forum: World Trade Organisation and General Agreement
on Trade in Services (WTO and GATS). Who needs them? And why? A chance to
explore GATS' ramifications for all NZers. Contacts for HRN: Nola Harvey
n.harvey@ace.ac.nz Ph: 623 8899 Xt: 8455 or Joan Hardiman
dominicans3@xtra.co.nz Ph: 377 5541 A koha would be welcome to defray
expenses.

Monday, June 2, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn GPJA
FORUM: The war, social justice and the media with David Robie, senior
lecturer in journalism, AUT, and others

Every Saturday - picket at 12 noon, outside the US Consulate, Citibank
Building, Customs St East. Because the US is still occupying Iraq and
killing Iraqis. Organised by Direct Anti War Action, for more info contact
email euphemiak@yahoo.com