Posted on 17-3-2003

GPJA News - March03

MASS MOBILISATION PLANNED FOR SATURDAY, MARCH 22
Next weekend may be the last opportunity for the world to say NO to war. In
Auckland we will be marching from downtown (corner of Queen and Customs St)
besides QE2 Square from 12 noon to go to Myers Park off upper Queen St for
a rally with speakers and music.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
Pick up posters and leaflets to deliver to workmates, neighbours, schools,
universities. Ph John 8463173 or email jbminto@xtra.co.nz

Volunteer to help on the march as a marshal, money collector etc. Contact
Brian Ph 3737599 x85745, vandam@math.auckland.ac.nz

Buy some "Stop the War" badges $2 each, phone Mike Treen 3763780 or email
miket@pl.net

Poster available from GPJA website
http://gpja.pl.net/sub/Education/Iraq%20Publicity/war%20poster%20gpja%2022-03%20dont.pdf

GPJA WEBSITE - HELP NEEDED
Urgent Request. People needed to help with the updating of the GPJA
website. Please contact Geraldine Peters. Tel 357 0655. bern@ihug.co.nz

EMERGENCY ANTIWAR RALLY ON THE DAY WAR BREAKS OUT FROM 5PM OUTSIDE THE US
CONSULATE, CITIBANK BLDG, 23 CUSTOMS ST
If war breaks out before March 22 there will be an emergency protest the
same day in addition to the March 22 action.

TRADE UNIONS OPPOSE WAR
The Council of Trade Unions, representing 300,000 union members, has
resolved to actively oppose war on Iraq. The CTU has called on unions to
support and participate in any rallies and community activities against the
war. We need our union members to actively oppose this immoral war. If you
would like to be kept informed about union antiwar activities contact Luke
on 027 2487005 / (09) 3585566 xtn 1 or email luke.coxon@finsec.org.nz
Special leaflets produced by the Auckland CTU available from your union.

NZ GOVERNMENT POSITION

A Labour Party member recently wrote to John Minto to say that GPJA was
wrong to make any criticism of the NZ government's position on the US war
plans. John responded as follows:

We accept the government does not support the war and that its attitude is
materially different to that of Bush, Blair and Howard. However if the New
Zealand government is to play a significant role in turning back the war
then surely it behoves the Prime Minister to speak out against the war and
express these views directly to our "very, very, very, very good friends".
But Helen Clark has specifically ruled out any government criticism of the
US, UK or Australia even if they go to war unilaterally. She has said
she will simply express disappointment that the diplomatic process has failed.

When one looks at the looming catastrophe in Iraq (e.g. 500,000 Iraqi
people predicted to be killed or injured according to the UN) this is
simply not good enough. Does this amount to any real pressure from our
government against this war? The great mass of humanity is strongly opposed
to this war and yet our Prime Minister refuses to criticise the warmongers.
I hope you would agree that this is not giving "maximised support" for the
people of Iraq" as you put it?

At the same time we have a New Zealand frigate escorting American warships
and military supply vessels through the straits of Hormuz and thus helping
keep the path to war clear for the US. Not only this of course but the
presence of this warship frees up another American warship to take a direct
role in the US war plans. Is this the action of a government that is
opposed to this war? How can this be seen as other than direct strategic
support for US invasion plans? It seems the Orion aircraft shortly to be
deployed to the war zone is in the same category.

In an allied vein we have just written to Helen Clark concerning the
torture and murder of 2 prisoners of war at Bagram airforce base in
Afghanistan where New Zealand defence force personnel are stationed. I'll
append a copy of the letter for your information and hope you may be able
to follow up this issue through Labour Party channels. (See "NZ Antiwar" below)

If people will not join a peace movement against the war in Iraq because
they are happy for New Zealand warships to be escorting US warships and
munitions into the war zone then that is their view and they are entitled
to it. It would be a morally weak movement which turned a blind eye to
that. For our part Global Peace and Justice Auckland will continue to speak
out for specific government actions such as withdrawing NZ military support
for US war plans.

I don't think it's good enough to say that because the US is big and
powerful we can't afford to get offside with them. An earlier Labour
government passed anti-nuclear legislation, which was anathema to the US,
and yet NZ survived and the issue developed into a consensus through the
community. In heaven's name why must we now walk on eggshells re the US at
a time when the vast majority of people and governments around the world
are strongly opposed to war?

I hope you can join the mobilisation on the 22nd March and that Labour
Party members will consider more carefully what the government can do to
give "maximised support" to the Iraqi people.

Regards, John Minto, for the GPJA Committee

Greenpeace who have called on the NZ government to support a "Uniting for
Peace" initiative through the United Nations general assembly outlines one
step the NZ government could take in the following statement. "If the
permanent members of the Security Council cannot agree on measures for the
maintenance of international peace and security, the "Uniting for Peace"'
resolution enables the General Assembly to consider the matter immediately.
The General Assembly can be convened within 24 hours to consider and
recommend, measures to UN members. The resolution has been invoked ten
times in the past 50 years."

NZ Statement on Iraq to the Security Council
"We do not support military action against Iraq without a mandate from the
Security Council, and we do not believe that the Council would be justified
in giving that mandate at this time. As Dr Blix has stated, the inspection
process needs months rather than days."

WHAT'S ON IN AUCKLAND

Every Sunday - Silent Peace Vigil, from 9-15am to 9-45am, outside the
Quaker Meeting House, 115 Mt Eden Rd. All welcome, for more information
telephone the Friends Centre (09) 630 6834.

Saturday, March 15, 7.30pm, Ponsonby Community Centre, 20 Ponsonby Tce.
PACIFIC FILM NIGHT - POLLYWOOD SHORTS FUNDRAISER Pacific art and politics
will come together in a showcase of Pacific Island film talent and the
determined fight for freedom for Pacific journalists. Some of New Zealand's
finest young Pacific filmmakers will screen their work at a fundraising
venture between the Pacific Island Media Association (PIMA) and the Moving
Image Centre. Called POLLYWOOD SHORTS, the night will also provide an
opportunity for debate on freedom of the press, an issue which has been
brought to the public attention again with the Tongan government's
banning of the Tongan newspaper Taimi 'o Tonga.

Kalafi Moala, the South Auckland editor and publisher of the New
Zealand-based Taimi 'o Tonga newspaper, will also talk about his
experiences over the past 20 years producing an independent newspaper in
the Kingdom of Tonga. Moala now produces the weekly paper from his Penrose
base and is seeking a judicial review of the recent banning of his
newspaper in Tonga by the Tongan government through the Tongan Supreme Court.

Moala, the chairman of the Pacific Island Media Association (PIMA), was
last year awarded a Freedom of the Press Award. Stories alleging corruption
by Tongan officials and the monarchy led to him being jailed for 26 days in
1996, alongside two other journalists. The jailing forms the basis of his
recent book ISLAND KINGDOM STRIKES BACK, which will be available for sale
on the night.

The entry fee is $5 and money made from the night will help fund projects
for PIMA. For information about POLLYWOOD SHORTS contact: Lito Vilisoni on
373 6570 ext 8937 lito_vilisoni@wilsonandhorton.co.nz or 025 753 087. Craig
Fasi on 360 2502 or 021 217 0878 craig@MIC.org.nz For information about
PIMA contact: Iulia Leilua, PIMA Vice Chairman on (09) 578 1366 or 021 378
639 Angelina Weir, PIMA Secretary on (09) 579 2397

Monday, March 17, 10 am. Meet outside the Mobil on Sandringham Rd,
Kingsland. Urgent! Action to support the noho at Ngawha.
The picket is to support the ongoing occupation at Ngawha. The occupiers
are taking non-violent direct action to stop a prison being built on
wahi-tapu, sacred, Nga Puhi land. The prison development is
environmentally, spiritually, economically, and socially unsound! Help to
stop the prison at Ngawha and come to the picket.

Friday, March 14, 7pm, St Patrick's Cathedral, Wyndham St, City "Peace for
Iraq", organised by people in Auckland

Tuesday & Wednesday, March 18/19, Crown Plaza, Auckland GE Free Coalition
to picket a "Commercialising Biotechnology" conference.
Contact Karyn 3584105 or 025417209 or Steve Abel at Greenpeace 6306317 ext 308

Wednesday, March 19, 9am to 4-30pm, OMAC Centre, Bairds Rd, Otara Shopping
Centre, Manukau City. 'Gambling Away Our Future?' The Community Gambling
Issues Conference - a one-day conference on gambling issues, targeting
people and groups active in communities around NZ on gambling issues. Free
entry, includes lunch, organised by Gambling Watch (NZ Coalition for
Gambling Reform, Inc) with support from the Problem Gambling Foundation and
the JR McKenzie Trust. For more info contact Dave Macpherson tel 021 477
388 or email gamblingwatch@xtra.co.nz

Saturday, March 22, 12 noon, QE2 Square, downtown Auckland Mass
mobilisation against the war

Sunday, March 23, 7pm, St Columba's Centre, 40 Vermont Street, Ponsonby
'Celebrating the life of Oscar Romero', the Archbishop of El Salvador
assassinated on 24 March 1980 because of his work against military
repression and for the oppressed poor, with Father Bernard Dennehy speaking
on 'The Liberation Church of Latin America' at 7pm, and screening of
'Romero' (101 minutes) at 7-30pm, followed by supper. All welcome.
Organised by Pax Christi Aotearoa-NZ, for more info contact tel (09) 360
3035 or email paxnz@xtra.co.nz

Monday, March 24, 7.00pm, Friends Meeting House, 113 Mt Eden Rd, Mt Eden
Forum with Sue Rhodes who has spent the last six months in Hebron,
Palestine, as part of the Christian Peacemakers Team.

Saturday, March 29, 9.30am-4.30pm, Auckland Women's Centre, 4 Warnock St,
Grey Lynn. Women Organising to Action. Got an issue? Wondering how to get
others active in your community group or on your worksite? This course will
share some trade union strategies for analysing issues, developing your
networks, keeping people involved in your group and building towards group
action. If you are currently active in a community group, wanting to start
one, or want to know how to identify people who will join your struggle and
keep them involved, this course is for you! Suitable for community
activists and union members and delegates. Bookings essential. Contact
Leonie Morris, Community Projects Coordinator, Auckland Women's Centre, ph
(09) 376 3227, fax (09) 376 1817, direct line (09) 378 6183,
projects@womenz.org.nz website: http://www.womenz.org.nz

Sunday, April 6, 7pm, St Benedicts Church, Newton. "40 minutes for Peace",
organised by Women's Resource Centre

Monday, April 7, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn GPJA
forum with special guest Sue Rhodes who has spent the last six months in
Hebron, Palestine, as part of the Christian Peacemakers Team.

Friday, May 2, Freyberg Square, High St, Central City 2002 ROGER AWARD
PRESENTATION
Two Christchurch-based groups (CAFCA and GATT Watchdog), which organise the
annual Roger Award, say that TNCs are the real "government" of New Zealand;
the public were invited to nominate the worst of 2002. The six finalists
are: Tranz Rail; Novartis; Carter Holt Harvey; Shell; Telecom and Sky City.
The criteria for judging are by assessing the transnational that has the
most negative impact in New Zealand in each or all of the following fields:
unemployment, monopoly, profiteering, abuse of workers/conditions,
political interference/running an ideological crusade, environmental
damage, cultural imperialism, impact on tangata whenua, impact on women,
health and safety of workers and the public. The judges: Sukhi Turner,
Mayor of Dunedin; Dr Ranginui Walker, Emeritus Professor at Auckland
University, Prue Hyman, academic and feminist, of Victoria University; and
John Minto, National Chairperson of QPEC (Quality Public Education
Coalition) and community activist.

For more information on the awards ceremony contact the Roger Award
organisers: g.baxter@auckland.ac.nz Campaign Against Foreign Control of
Aotearoa Box 2258, Christchurch, New Zealand cafca@chch.planet.org.nz
www.cafca.org.nz

Friday May 16, Venue to be announced.
"I'm currently organising in conjunction with Performing Artists For Peace
Association a Full Moon Dance For Peace event celebrating life, unity and
peace on the 16th of May at a venue yet to be confirmed. It will be a
chance for people to make a stand for peace while experiencing other forms
of dance and acknowledging our creator and Mother Earth." Helpers, leaders,
performers or supporters inspired by a stand for peace please contact
Clancy at clancycroft@hotmail.com or 021 452177.

NZ ANTIWAR
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 Sinbad
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
tel (04) 389-4715 or email hoggard@top.net.nz