Posted on 14-10-2002

Pilger On Palestine & What's On AK

This film caused quite a stir when it screened in the UK recently. For
daring to put the spotlight on this issue, John Pilger has incurred some
particularly unpleasant criticism. Since John has done an untold amount of
good for numerous causes which have concerned the peace movement over
decades now, we'd be happy to offer some counterbalance to this. So, if
when you have seen the programme, you'd like to send him a message, we'll
undertake to pass it on.

PLEASE FAX THEM to The Peace Foundation! Here are the details:

'Palestine is Still the Issue' - latest documentary from John Pilger -
screening on Monday October 21 at 8:30pm on TV One - DNZ programme. Brief
messages of response to the programme can be faxed to The Peace Foundation
(09) 379 2668 for forwarding to John Pilger.

WHAT¹S ON IN AUCKLAND

Please Note: The Hiroshima exhibition is open until October 17. The
networkers workshop has been postponed from Nov 8-10 to Nov 23-25.

Wednesday, October 16, 7.30pm, Trades Hall 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn.
Christine Clarke Trade Union and Workers Forum: The situation with the
Longshoremen and Warehouse workers on the West Coast of America.

Thursday October 17, 1.30pm, Auckland City Council Civic Centre, Greys Ave
(Aotea Square). Penny Bright from the Water Pressure Group will be
presenting submissions and seeks some support at this meeting of the ACC
Finance Sub-Committee

Open until October 17, Aotea Centre, BNZ Foyer, 9am-5pm daily.
Hiroshima-Nagasaki A-Bomb Exhibition - a collection of photographs and
artifacts that depict the consequences of the bombings from 1945 through to
the international peace initiatives of today. The exhibition aims to
promote the total abolition of nuclear weapons through increased knowledge
and understanding. The Auckland exhibition is being organised by The Peace
Foundation. It is co-sponsored by The Community Arts Programme at The Edge
and by the Japanese Consulate in Auckland. Entry free. For further
information contact: Marion Hancock (Peace Foundation Director) 373 2379

Friday, 18 October, 7.30 pm, Somervell Church and Community Centre, 497
Remuera Road. Pacific Women's Watch (NZ) will hold a Discussion Forum
"Poverty - What is the Reality for Women in New Zealand?" Speakers will
focus on "Poverty - No Money and Why; Domestic violence: Refugees and
Migrants - Barriers to Integration. Coffee and Dessert to follow. $20 or
unwaged Koha. Ph. contacts 5283727 or 4456431 or 4280700

Monday, October 21, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn.
SPECIAL GPJA FORUM: ³Why I refused to serve in the Israeli army². Rotem Dan
Mor a 21-year-old Israeli conscientious objector who was jailed for
refusing to continue to serve in the Israeli Defence Forces, will be
speaking at this special forum. Rotem Dan Mor was released from the army in
February this year after 18 months on active service and a further 6 months
refusing to wear his uniform or carry out any duties "for an army whose
ways I don't believe in". One month of that time was spent in jail. Rotem
Dan Mor says that he hopes that "by speaking out about my experience I can
offer some insights into how a peaceful life can be achieved for the people
of Israel/Palestine." See his site at: geocities.com/rotemmor/

Monday, October 21, 7pm Grey Lynn Community Centre, 510 Richmond Road.
Public meeting in support of a campaign to change the system for electing
Councillors in Auckland to STV. Guest speakers include Rod Donald, Green
Party Co-leader. A petition is being organised to support a referendum on
the issue in Auckland City. If you can help contact Kim 361 5927 or email
lynneserpe@xtra.co.nz

Thursday, October 24, 7:30 pm, St Columba Centre, 40 Vermont St, Ponsonby.
United Nations Day: Human Rights Network Auckland Forum on ³HOUSING in NZ -
a right or a commodity?" with knowledgeable speakers, plenty of time for
general discussion. Wanted: Input re housing issues for NGO / Alternate
report to UN ICESCR. For more information re Forum or Report, contact:
Kevin McBride, phone: 377 5541, email: paxnz@xtra.co.nz

Friday, October 25, 6pm, Supper Room, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey
Lynn. ³Think and Drink Evening² with Terry Bell, a Cape Town-based
freelance writer, columnist and editor who was banned and in exile from
South Africa for 27 years. A trade unionist, socialist and former political
detainee, he was the keynote speaker at the inaugural conference of the New
Zealand Anti-Apartheid Movement. An editor of Anti-Apartheid News in
Britain, co-ordinator of the international 'Friends of Moses Mayekiso'
campaign, he was the founding head of the primary division of the Solomon
Mahlangu Freedom College for ANC exiles in Tanzania. He also co-authored
the original ANC primary education curriculum. Together with Dumisa
Ntsebeza, former head of the South African Truth and Reconciliation
Commission investigations unit, Terry published a book last year entitled
"Unfinished Business - South Africa, Apartheid and Truth". Describing the
book award winning journalist John Pilger said: "This is a brilliant,
important book that should be read by everybody interested in the truth
behind the 'truth and reconciliation' hype of the new South Africa in the
finest traditions of fearless, independent journalism. Terry Bell reveals
the cover-ups an d charades that allowed the shock troops of apartheid to
get away with a crime against humanity." Sponsored by the Working Women¹s
Resource Centre and GPJA.

Saturday, October 26, 12 noon, Queen Elizabeth Square, Downtown, Auckland
City. ³No More Blood for Oil² ­ Mobilise to stop the war on Iraq.

Until 31 October - Roger Award for the Worst Transnational
CorporationOperating in Aotearoa/New Zealand in 2002 - nominations for the
2002 Award close on 31 October. Roger Award nomination form and criteria
are available on-line at www.converge.org.nz/pma/rog2002n.htm

Monday, November 4, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn.
GPJA Forum: ³The WTO, GATT¹s and Privatisation². Hear Jane Kelsey (ARENA),
Penny Bright (Water Pressure Group) and others. A WTO ministerial meeting
is planned for November in Australia and pressure is building for extending
privatisation (in the form of so-called public-private partnerships) into
roading, water, health and education services. What¹s wrong with these
plans and what can be done to stop it? See ³The Last Frontier: Explaining
GATT¹s² by Claude Barlow
www.theecologist.co.uk/archive_article.html?article=151

Thursday, November 14, 7.30pm, Maidment Theatre, University of Auckland.
2002 MEDIA PEACE AWARDS. Nga Tohu Rongomau Papaho. In association with the
'Like Minds' Awards Special Guest Speaker: Tom Scott - Journalist,
Cartoonist. Tickets: $25.00 waged, $15.00 unwaged Tickets at Maidment
Theatre, Phone: 09 308 2383. www.peace.net.nz/

Saturday, November 16, 12 noon, Aotea Sq, Queen St, City. GE-FREE MARCH
Demand a GE-Free Aotearoa, in food and environment. The government is
ignoring majority public opinion. Show them that the GE-Free movement is
more powerful than ever. This march has been endorsed by GE-Free coalitions
and groups nation-wide, there will be people converging on Auckland from
all over NZ. Contact the Auckland GE-Free Coalition (Karyn 09 3584105) or
MAdGE (mothers against GE) ph 09 3093838 if you can help with distributing
leaflets, posters, stalls, marshalling, fundraising, and the multitude of
other tasks vital before and on the day. www.madge.net.nz
<http://www.madge.net.nz/>

Monday, November 18, 8am-11am, Sheraton Hotel, Symonds St, Auckland.
Protest at 3rd International Pacific Rim Biotechnology Conference. Take the
morning off work to boost numbers at this important protest. Demand our
food and environment remain free of GE, and free from the corporate agenda
of the biotech industry to own the food supply, and our bodies. The last
frontier of colonisation!

Friday, November 22, 6pm - Sunday November 24, 3pm, Kotare Education Centre
- 510 Wayby Station Rd, Wellsford. Coalition Building Skills for Social
Change Activists: A workshop for key networkers in different activist
groups such as peace and justice, Te Tiriti, women's liberation, anti
corporate globalisation or GE FREE Aotearoa. We invite groups to send a
person who is a good networker, plays a facilitator role and understands
both coalitions and the central values of your group. A fundamentalist view
of struggle or methods is not relevant. Enrol early, as numbers are limited
to 15. Facilitators Catherine Delahunty and Tim Howard will lead the
process. Email cdelahunty@clear.net.nz

Sunday, November 24, 1pm, University Marae. Symposium on the Palestinian
struggle. Organised by Students for Justice in Palestine. Contact Zaeem
Baksh for details zeebee001@hotmail.com