SA Newsletter 19/02: The Arab Spring enters its third year

Kia ora to all members and supporters of Socialist Aotearoa,

It's been a great week for the left in Aotearoa. First, we saw an awesome Pride march on the Ponsonby Road on Saturday with thousands marching against homophobia and in support of gay marriage. Second, Tuhoe freedom fighters Tame Iti and Rangi Kemara have both got paroled this week from prison. Third, hundreds of teachers, parents and children marched today in Christchurch against National's school closures, a welcome sign that resistance to the Nats in 2013 has started up again.

Thanks to everyone who came along last week to our film screening about the Stonewall uprising. On Saturday Socialist Aotearoa members joined thousands of other Aucklanders marching in the first Gay Pride march in the city in twelve years. We marched carrying placards calling for the release of Bradley Manning, Wikileaks whistleblower who is today on the 996th day of incarceration. [ Read More ]

Socialist Aotearoa Forum this Thursday

As the Arab Spring enters its third year the revolution continues in Egypt, Tunisia, Syria, Bahrain, Palestine and more.

This forum will discuss the latest developments in the Middle East and the current upsurge in anti-capitalist and anti-state struggles across the region.

In Tunisia a leftist leader Chokri Belaid was murdered and the country paralysed by a general strike in February.

In Bahrain a 16 year old boy was killed this week as protesters marked the second anniversary of their uprising against the US backed monarchy.

In Egypt police have shot dead dozens in the latest protests and Morsi, the President wants to cut a deal with the IMF that would see taxes raised on the poor and workers. In Syria the popular struggle against the murderous regime of Bashar Al-Assad is entering its 22nd month bloodied but unbowed.

The Arab Spring is not over yet... This forum is in honour of our comrade Ahmad Sami, a seventeen year old revolutionary socialist and school student shot dead by police in the Egyptian city of Port Said. A collection will be taken for and sent to his family through the Egyptian Revolutionary Socialists. http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=30467

Socialist Aotearoa Forum @ Unite Union, 6a Western Springs Road, Kingsland
7PM Thursday 21 February - FB: http://www.facebook.com/events/188699697920316/

See you on the streets,
Socialist Aotearoa
www.socialistaotearoa.org

ENDS

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The timing for Smith’s move avoids Bathurst having to resubmit applications for access agreements under the revised Crown Minerals Act, which comes into force tomorrow and would have required public consultation.

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