Global Peace And Justice Auckland Newsletter #21, February 10, 2003

Website http://www.gpja.pl.net/ Contact details: Forums John Minto, (09) 8463173 mailto: mailto:jbminto@xtra.co.nz; Newsletter Editor Mike Treen 0212547440 /3763780 mailto: mailto:miket@pl.net Web page Geraldine Peters (09) 3570655 mailto: mailto:bern@ihug.co.nz Donations can be sent to GPJA, 84 Paice Ave, Sandringham, Auckland. All communication regarding the GPJA mailing list (email or snail) should be addressed to mailto: mailto:gpjamailinglist@xtra.co.nz

MARCH ON SATURDAY, FEB 15 (12 NOON, QEII SQUARE)
PEACE CONCERT SUNDAY, FEB 16 (1PM, POTTERS PARK)

Dear friends,

Preparations for the mobilisation against war this weekend February 15-16 have been going well but we need some help before the march and on the weekend itself. Millions of people will be marching around the globe and we want the first demonstration on the day to be as large and impressive as
possible.

LEAFLETS: 10,000 more leaflets for both the march and concert have been printed and can be picked up from the front porch at John Minto¹s, 84 Paice Ave, Sandringham. Contact mailto: mailto:jbminto@xtra.co.nz Ph 8463173

BANNER TEAMS: Every morning this week we will have teams of people with banners advertising the march and peace concert at major intersections from 7-9am. If you can help email Bill Mockridge mailto: mailto:billmock@ihug.co.nz

PICKUP TRUCK needed for sound system on Saturday from 11am-2pm. Contact Mike Treen mailto: mailto:miket@pl.net or ph 0212547440 / 3763780

HELPERS ON THE DAYS: be ready to volunteer to collect money, distribute publicity and help as marshals. If you can come early to both venues and there will be a job you can help with.

MONEY: As always we spend before we collect so if you can make a donation send it to GPJA, 84 Paice Ave, Sandringham. Even better if you can make a regular small AP email Brian Vandam mailto: mailto:vandam@math.auckland.ac.nz or phone 3737599 x5745.

GAZEBO: For use by GPJA on Sunday at the concert. Contact mailto: mailto:jbminto@xtra.co.nz

WEEKLY PEACE VIGIL: Sunday (weekly) 9.15-9.45am. Silent 'Peace Vigil' outside the Quaker Meeting House, 115 Mt Eden Rd. All welcome.

SPECIAL APPEAL FOR NEWSPAPER ADD CALLING ON HELEN CLARK TO WITHDRAW NZ
MILITARY FORCES FROM THE MIDDDLE EAST
Richard Jakob-Hoff has personally initiated a campaign to collect $8000 for a paid add. He has $1700 pledged so far and if you can pledge an amount toward the add email mailto: mailto:zoovet@xtra.co.nz Arrangements are being made for the funds to be collected through the Peace Foundation. The wording of the add is as follows:

³We New Zealanders can make a difference!

³There is no evidence that Iraq is a threat to world peace. There is no moral justification for a war to control their oil.

In America hundreds of thousands of people are taking to the streets in an effort to stop their government from waging war for oil.

They need our help. We must pull our troops out of the Middle East now. This will save the lives of New Zealanders and those they might have killed.

Pulling our troops also sends a strong symbolic message to the world that, above all else, New Zealand stands for peace and justice. A stand for
peace takes courage. Our politicians need to know the people of New Zealand are beside them in this action for peace.

We have done this before we supported South Africa against apartheid. We stood for peace when we banned nuclear weapons from our land and waters. Our stand for peace in the Middle East enables others to follow. One person can make a difference. Here¹s how:

* Telephone, e-mail or write to Helen Clark and your constituent MP. Tell them you want New Zealand to stand up for peace by pulling our troops out of the Middle East. (address details to be added) Join the peace rallies in your area. Make a donation to the New Zealand Peace Foundation. PO Box ?? ???, Auckland

³NO NZ SUPPORT FOR THE OWAR ON TERRORISM¹²
The final deadline for signatures on the 'No NZ support for the 'war on terrorism'' national petition is 18 February. They will then be presented to parliament during a rally on Wednesday 19 February.
So far 3,376 signatures have been presented, some on 11 September 2002, the others on 10 December 2002 (International Human Rights Day). There are currently more than 1,300 additional signatures collected in the PMA office.

It would be great to get a high number of signatures for this final presentation.
The rallies, picnics and marches taking place around the country on 15 February would be an excellent opportunity to collect more signatures before the closing date. But please remember to fast post any you collect at your International Day of Action event to PMA, PO Box 9314, Wellington to reach us by 18 February at the latest for counting.
The updated version of the petition with the final deadline date is available on-line at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/pet003.htm or as a Word 6 document on request from mailto: mailto:pma@xtra.co.nz

RESPONSES TO COLIN POWELL

Rahul Mahajan (zmag.org):

http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=40&ItemID=2980

Phyllis Bennis (Institute for Policy Studies):

http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=40&ItemID=2976

Robert Fisk (The Independent):

http://argument.independent.co.uk/commentators/story.jsp?story=375941

Ali Abunimah, The Electronic Intifada,

http://electronicIntifada.net/v2/article1140.shtml

Stephen Zunes, CommonDreams.org

http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0206-07.htm

US claim dismissed by Blix

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,889135,00.html

Powell doesn¹t wow

http://www.spiked-online.com/Articles/00000006DC43.htm

UK document quoted by Powell was plagiarised from student paper

http://www.channel4.com/news/home/z/stories/20030206/dossier.html

ANTIWAR

A million to say no to Blair on Iraq

http://www.sundayherald.com/31342

Unions and the war on Iraq

http://www.labourstart.org/iraq/

Blair¹s lies

http://www.fromthewilderness.com/free/ww3/020603_plagiarized.html

IRAQ LATEST

Iraq¹s neighbours thick with US arms

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A26335-2003Feb4?language=printer

France, Russia warned support US war or no Iraqi oil

http://www.oilandgasinternational.com/departments/world_industry_news/jan03_france.html

US plans for use of gas in Iraq

http://www.sunshine-project.org/publications/pr070203.html

SOUTH AFRICA

Social movements: Oultra-left¹ or Oglobal citizens¹?

http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=10750

VENEZUELA

How Venezuelan outlasted his foes

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/07/international/americas/07VENE.html?ex=1045626996&ei=1&en=620742932eb7c98e

QUOTES OF THE MONTH

³Throughout the 20th century, small groups of men seized control of nations, built armies and arsenals, and set out to dominate the weak and intimidate the world.² George W Bush, State of the Union, January, 2003.

³All Bush wants is Iraqi oil. We must expose this as much as possible. Tony Blair is the foreign minister of the US. He is no longer prime minister of Britain. Why does the US behave so arrogantly? Their friend Israel has weapons of mass destruction. But because it's their ally they won't ask the
UN to get rid of them." Nelson Mandela.

"OUR government has not made a case for a pre-emptive military strike against Iraq, either at home or in Europe. It is sobering to realise how much doubt and consternation has been raised about our motives for war in the absence of convincing proof of a genuine threat from Iraq." – Jimmy Carter, former US president.

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