Global Peace And Justice Auckland Newsletter No. 306, November 5, 2009

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GPJA volunteers wanted to staff a stall at Courage Day- see details below - If you'd like to come and help out please call John Minto 8463173 or email john@unite.org.nz
Sunday 15th November – Courage Day. From noon, Mt Albert Community Hall, 773 New North Road, Mount Albert. Door sales $20, advance bookings $18, $15 students. The Auckland Branch of the NZ Society of Authors (PEN NZ) Inc welcomes you to an afternoon of Poetry, Prose, Music and Politics. On November 15th, all around the world, PEN Groups remember writers who have been murdered or imprisoned for telling their stories. In NZ this day is called Courage Day, after James and Sarah Courage, who had their books banned and burned. We encourage you to take up your pen and write a letter to help bring about the release of an imprisoned writer. Be creative – write a Poem and bring it along. We’ll put it on the walls. It may even win you a lucky draw prize, or be read out by a professional actor. 1pm – Poetry Open Mike with Sabrina Muck. 2pm –Main programme – Poetry, Prose, Music and Politics. MC – Te Radar. Emerging writers alongside established names. Amnesty Poetry Competition winner will be announced. Tickets in advance $18 from The Women’s Bookshop in Ponsonby, telephone 376 4399. Door sales at the venue $20, Students $15. http://www.authors.org.nz/wawcs0138552/1n-nz-pen-and-freedom-page.html

WHAT'S ON IN AUCKLAND

Sunday, November 8, 11.30am, St Matthew-in-the-City
Commemorating the Fallen and Praying for Peace - St Matthew-in-the-City hosts 91st Remembrance Day. Sunday, November 8 is the 91st commemoration of the end of WWI. Lest the cost of war fade from our collective memories, we will remember those who have served our country on war-torn battlefields and will celebrate those who are fighting for peace today. The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month is Armistice Day, or Remembrance Day as it is known in New Zealand. We celebrate it on the nearest Sunday. Diplomatic and government dignitaries, military units, members of the Royal NZ Returned Services Association and all who wish to honour and give thanks for past and present New Zealand service personnel will gather on Sunday, 8 November at St Matthew-in-the-City for a service of remembrance. Preceded by a military parade at 11am down Hobson Street, the service, led by the Vicar, Archdeacon Glynn Cardy, will begin at 11:30am. Auckland City Councillor Greg Moyle, representing the City of Auckland, will give the welcome and Professor Kevin P. Clements, Director of the NZ Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Otago, will be the keynote speaker. Special music will be provided by the Auckland Youth Choir conducted by Rostislava Pankova–Karadjovand the Royal NZ Artillery Band conducted by WO1 Dennis Schofield. A light luncheon will follow the service, kindly donated by Sandra Fahey of Sandra’s Catering. On the first anniversary of the Armistice between the Allies and Germany, 11 November 1919, a two minute silence was introduced as part of the main commemorative ceremony in London. King George V had personally requested all the people of the British Empire to suspend normal activities for two minutes on the hour of the Armistice. Two minutes’ silence was popularly adopted and it became a central feature of commemorations on Armistice Day. After the Second World War, Britain and her Dominions, including New Zealand, agreed to change the name and date of Armistice Day to Remembrance Day, now to be observed on the second Sunday in November. For more information please contact the St Matthew’s church office on 09 379 0625. Released by Network PR on behalf of St Matthew-in-the-City.

Sunday, November 15, 10.30am, Waikaraka cemetery, Auckland
The commemoration of the murder of Fredrick George Evans will be held on Sunday November 15th @ 10.30am @ Waikaraka cemetery.

Sunday, November 15, 12 noon-4.30pm, Mt Albert War Memorial Hall
COURAGE - DAY OF THE IMPRISONED WRITER: The Auckland Branch of the NZ Society of Authors (PEN NZ) Inc welcomes you to an afternoon of Poetry, Prose, Music and Politics. On November 15th, all around the world, PEN Groups remember writers who have been murdered or imprisoned for telling their stories. In NZ this day is called Courage Day, after James and Sarah Courage, who had their books banned and burned. You're invited to join members of the NZSA (PEN NZ) Inc, at the Mt Albert War Memorial Hall at 12 Noon to talk with Human Rights Groups and to enjoy live music, food, drinks and books. We encourage you to take up your pen and write a letter to help bring about the release of an imprisoned writer. Be creative - write a Poem and bring it along. We'll put it on the walls. It may even win you a lucky draw prize, or be read out by a professional actor. Poets are invited to take the stage at 1pm for the Open Mike session with Sabrina Muck. At 2pm the main programme of Poetry, Prose, Music and Politics will begin with Te Radar as Master of Ceremonies. Be ready for excitement and diversity showcasing young new talent alongside the 'seasoned pros;' be first to hear about a new Media Network from Amnesty International and be there for the announcement of the Amnesty Poetry Competiton. Tickets are limited, so get yours in advance for $18 from The Women's Bookshop in Ponsonby, telephone 376 4399. Door sales at the venue, 773 New North Road, Mount Albert will be $20. Students $15. Check out this link to the NZSA (PEN NZ) Inc Freedom Page http://www.authors.org.nz/wawcs0138552/1n-nz-pen-and-freedom-page.html Looking forward to seeing you at the Courage Day Event.

Monday, November 16, 7.30pm, The Peace Palace, 22 Emily place, Auckland City
Films At the Peace Place..."The Narrow Path - Walking towards peace and nonviolence with John Dear SJ. John Dear argues convincingly that the Gospel calls us to nonviolence: “Love your enemies” “...all who draw the sword will die by the sword”. He lives this conviction, having been arrested more than 75 times in protests against war and nuclear weapons. In one gaol he served nine months without any outdoor exercise. This film will particularly challenge Christians, but doesn't let others off the hook either! - 108 minutes. Koha / donation please.

Friday, December 4, 9.30am -5.00pm,Te Noho Kotahitanga Marae, UNITEC, Entry 3, Carrington Road, Auckland
MAORI AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT–BEYOND THE SUPERCITY Koteheate huarahitika? The Auckland Supercity is Governments proposed model for Local Governmentin Aotearoa. What is our desired future for Maori and Local Government? This huiwill discuss the issues, develop strategic responses to the rollback of Maoriinterests and launch a Declaration of intent towards advancing TinoRangatiratanga in Local Government. Programme highlights: •Situationaloverview from mana whenua; •Keynote address from MoanaJackson;•Political commentary by Matt McCarten; •National Maori Leadersdiscussion; •Declaration launch. Koha.The Auckland Supercity isGovernments proposed model for Local Governmentin Aotearoa. What is our desiredfuture for Maori and Local Government? This hui will discuss the issues,develop strategic responses to the rollback of Maori interests and launch aDeclaration of intent towards advancing Tino Rangatiratanga in LocalGovernment. This hui is coordinated by IHI (Iwi Have Influence) Action Groupwww.ihi.org.nzand is made possible through sponsorship of NgaPaeo teMaramatanga: New Zealand’s Maori Centre of Research Excellence and thesupport of UNITEC.

Saturday & Sunday, December 5-6, Mt Eden Summit Hall,Auckland
We are pleased to inform you that Migrante Aotearoa New Zealand (MANZ) willhold its Founding National Assembly on 5-6 December 2009 (Saturday, Sunday) atthe Mt Eden Summit Hall, Auckland. Working on the theme “Advancing theRights and Welfare of Filipinos and other Migrants in Aotearoa,” around200 participants coming from the various regions in New Zealand will convergein Auckland for this momentous occasion. Sessions on advocacy and education formigrants, drafting of general program of action and election of the first setof national officers will be held in this assembly. Dennis Maga, MigrantWorkers Support Coordinator, National Distribution Union (NDU), 120 Church St.Onehunga, Auckland 1643.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

C'MON JOHN SIGN ON!
When John Key broke his arm earlier this year, many local and worldleaders signed his blue plaster cast. We need that kind of collaboration now onclimate change, because it’s happening faster and harder than anyoneexpected. In December world leaders will gather in Copenhagen to agree on aplan of action. For NZ to do its bit John Key needs to Sign On to a 40 per centby 2020 emission reduction target. Join the cast of thousands and Sign On! http://www.signon.org.nz/

WHITE POPPY PEACE SCHOLARSHIPS LAUNCHED
Kia ora, this message is to let you know that the White Poppy PeaceScholarships were launched by Professor Cynthia Enloe at her public lecture inWellington on 30 October 2009, see http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/pslaunch.htmBelow is information about the Peace Scholarships. This message in full isavailable online at http://www.peacescholar.org.nzAbout the Peace Scholarships: The Peace Scholarships comprisetwo grants which are awarded each year to assist with research into: •theimpacts of militarism, militarisation and warfare; •alternatives tomilitarism, militarisation and warfare; or •collective non-violentresponses to state violence. The Peace Scholarships are for students at anytertiary education institution in Aotearoa New Zealand. Each grant is a minimumof $1,000 - one is for a Maori or Moriori student, and the other is open to anystudent with NZ citizenship or permanent residency. Applications for PeaceScholarships to assist with research during the 2010 academic year will open onMonday, 16 November 2009 - guidelines for applicants and the application formwill be available at http://www.peacescholar.org.nz atthat time.

WAIHOPAI SPYBASE PROTEST JANUARY 22-24, 2010
The Waihopai spybase was dragged into the public spotlight in April 2008 whenthree Ploughshares peace activists penetrated its high security and deflatedone of the two domes concealing its satellite dishes from the NZ public. TheAnti-Bases Campaign was happy to support this non-violent direct actionanti-war activity (which is yet to come to trial). The public face of NewZealand’s role as an American ally is the NZ military presence inAfghanistan. But New Zealand’s most significant contribution to that, andother American wars, including the one in Iraq, is the Waihopai electronicintelligence gathering base, located in the Waihopai Valley, near Blenheim. Itis controlled by the US, with New Zealand (including Parliament and the PrimeMinister) having little or no idea what goes on there, let alone any control.Join us for the weekend of anti-war protest at this spybase. Come prepared forroughing it and camping out. We provide the food (we cater for vegetarians butvegans will have to bring their own). Bring sleeping bag, groundsheet, a tent,torch, water bottle, eating utensils, clothing for all weather, and $40 (or $20unwaged) to cover costs. No open fires. How to find our camp at Whites Bay:turn off SH1 at Tuamarina (9km north of Blenheim or 20 km south of Picton) anddrive to Rarangi on the coast. Follow the steep Port Underwood Road over thehilltop before descending to the Whites Bay turnoff. There is a DoC public campat the bay with basic facilities. ABC has to pay a fixed charge per head.
This will be the first Waihopai spybase protest since the Domebusters’courageous 2008 citizens’ deflation action. Waihopai does not operate inthe interests of New Zealanders or our neighbours. Basically it is a foreignspybase on NZ soil and directly involves us in America’s wars. Waihopaimust be closed. Register to take part in the protest ($40 waged / $20 unwaged).Writre to: CLOSE THE WAIHOPAI SPYBASE NOW! Organised by the Anti-BasesCampaign, P.O. Box 2258, Christchurch. E-mail cafca@chch.planet.org.nz www.converge.org.nz/abcMake all cheques to ABC

HAMMER THE POKIES: MORE HAMMERS NEEDED!
Thanks for the positive responses to the appeal for people to join thecampaign. We won't be calling for action in the short term as we need to buildnumbers much higher. This campaign aims to enlist a minimum of 200 hammers(with people attached!) and take civil disobedience action to drive pokiemachines out of our neighbourhood communities. 80% of the cases of gamblingaddiction relate to pokie machines in the community (aside from casinos) Theseare parasites on poverty and predominate in low-income areas of the country.They have to go. If you are prepared to join a crowd (min 200) and take civildisobedience action against pokie machines then please email John Minto.

INVITATION TO JOIN MARCH ON GAZA, JAN/1/2010. GAZA SHALL NOTDIE
Imagine hundreds of thousands of peaceful international and Palestinianmarchers, led by Noam Chomsky, Ralph Nader, Diana Buttu, Norman Finkelstein,Noami Klein, Arun Gandhi, George Galloway, and other prominent opponents of thesiege. Imagine them, approaching the Erez crossing under the eyes of theinternational media, breaking the siege for once and for all. This is the GazaFreedom March! The Gaza Freedom March Campaign plans to take thousands ofinternational marchers to Gaza on Jan. 1, 2010, and challenge once and for allthe Israeli blockade at the Erez crossing. Go with them, or support someoneelse who's willing to go Events to raise money to help enable people to go onthe March in Gaza are planned throughout the Fall. This group has many sistergroups, to enable each group to have a local focus for organizing, and to avoidexceeding Facebook's limit of 5000 for messaging group members. Please join theappropriate campaign group which is best targeted to your locale. All FB groupswill be updated with the latest information. Please invite all your friends tothis or the appropriate other FaceBook group. This Campaign needs the supportof hundreds of thousands around the world! http://gazafreedommarch.org/article.php?id=5063International Movement to Open Rafah Border intmorb@googlemail.com

CALLING ALL NEW ZEALANDERS: JOIN THE NEXT SOLIDARITY BRIGADE TOVENEZUELA! DECEMBER 1-9, 2009
Organised by the Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network.Venezuela’s Bolivarian revolution led by President Hugo Chavez is shakingup global politics and inspiring millions of ordinary people with the evidencethat a better – a peaceful, democratic and socially just – world ispossible. The Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network-organised brigades toVenezuela are a unique opportunity to see an unfolding revolution first-hand.The AVSN warmly welcomes the participation of New Zealanders on the brigades.Participants in the December 1-9, 2009, brigade will visit worker-controlledfactories and cooperatives, free public education and health programs, andcommunity media outlets. They will observe “popular power” at workin communal councils, and speak to a range of grassroots organisations, unionsand government representatives about the radical changes being implemented bythe Venezuelan people. Brigade organisation and costs: The deadline forregistering for the December 2009 brigade to Venezuela is October 31, 2009.Participants will need to book their own international airfares, but thebrigade organisers can help with advice. Accommodation, transport and Englishtranslation within Venezuela will be organised for brigade participants. Youwill need to budget for a total cost of approximately $4000. This includes:international return airfare and taxes; accommodation (twin-share basis);transport and food in Venezuela; and the brigade registration fee ($500 forworkers, $300 for full-time students or pensioners). Reports and photos fromprevious AVSN brigades are posted at http://www.venezuelasolidarity.org.For more information, please email brigades@venezuelasolidarity.org

27TH SOUTHERN CROSS BRIGADE TO CUBA
"A better world is possible": The Cuban people have proven that thereis another way. ICAP (the Cuban Institute for Friendship between Peoples)provides, through its Brigades, the opportunity for people from all over theworld to experience and participate in the Cuban revolution.
What does the Brigade entail? Join the Southern Crosswork/study tour and support Cuba in the most direct manner by working (pickingfruit or pruning fruit trees, etc) and then visiting schools, hospitals, urbanagriculture projects, etc You will experience at first hand the cultural,political and social conditions in revolutionary Cuba. This year we will behaving a closer look at Cuba’s innovative approaches to the environmentand climate change. Children are welcome on this tour as are olderparticipants. Our Cuban hosts take great care of visitors of all ages. The mainfeatures of the Brigade include: * Talks on various aspects of conditions inCuba given by prominent Cuban speakers; * Working with Cubans; * Visits toplaces of interest (eg schools, hospitals, factories); * Opportunities toexplore Havana independently; * Visits to provincial centres;* Homestays andvisit to Las Tunas Province. Unbeatable value – $1000. (Includes: Allmeals, accommodation, excursions and transportation in Cuba during program)Not included: - Air travel to Cuba - get in early to book your flights! (Checkout Aerolineas for cheap flights. There are now also weekly flights withContinental from Los Angeles to Havana.) - Compulsory travel insurance. - Anyadditional nights stay in Cuba prior to commencement of the Brigade orfollowing the conclusion of the program (prior to the flight home). Inexpensiveaccommodation is available – opportunity for independent tourism.

JOIN ANTI-BASES CAMPAIGN IN SOLIDARITY WITH WAIHOPAI DOMEBUSTERSTRIAL STARTS MONDAY MARCH 8, WELLINGTON DISTRICT COURT
Monday March 8, 2010 has been set as the opening day for theWellington District Court jury trial of the Waihopai Domebusters – SamLand, Adrian Leason and Peter Murnane, the Ploughshares activists who deflatedone of the domes at the Waihopai spybase in April 2008. The trial has been setdown for a week (and may last several days longer). Anti-Bases Campaign urgesall our members and supporters, and everyone who believes that the Waihopaispybase should be closed, to come to Wellington to show active solidarity withthe Domebusters. It was a Ploughshares action, not an ABC one and we were assurprised by it as the rest of the country, but it was an action that we fullyendorse, the perfect example of non-violent direct action. At this stage wehaven’t worked out the details of what we are going to do in Wellington,but we want to get the word out now, and we will release details as they cometo hand. Activities will, hopefully, include:
•Being spectators at the actual trial, being there in court to support thethree of them
•Holding a picket outside the Wellington District Court for at least partof the trial
•Holding a protest action at the nearby HQ of the NZ GovernmentCommunications Security Bureau (GCSB), the top secret agency which runsWaihopai
•Holding a public meeting in central Wellington one night of the trial todiscuss Waihopai and related issues
These are just some of the ideas that we already have. There are others –we would like to have our excellent Waihopai spybase display in Wellingtonduring the trial, if a venue can be arranged. And there are other worthytargets for pickets, such as the US Embassy. We need help from Wellingtonians.ABC is a Christchurch group and it is difficult to organise a range ofactivities like this from long distance. There are a number of things that canbest be done by locals. And we urge people from all around the country to joinus in Wellington from Monday March 8 to show active solidarity with theDomebusters. What these brave guys did had not only national, butinternational, significance. This trial could, quite literally, be a once in alifetime event. You will have to arrange and finance your own travel andaccommodation. Bring appropriate placards and banners. The trial is, of course,on weekdays and during work hours. And it’s worth noting that courthearings can be subject to delays at short notice. But we are proceeding on thebasis that the trial has been set to start on Monday March 8.
SEE YOU IN WELLINGTON MARCH 8, Murray Horton, Anti-Bases Campaign, Box 2258,Christchurch, New Zealand. cafca@chch.planet.org.nz www.converge.org.nz/abc

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

"A map of the world that does not include Utopia is not worth even glancingat, for it leaves out the one country at which Humanity is always landing. Andwhen Humanity lands there, it looks out, and, seeing a better country,setssail Progress is the realisation of Utopias." — OscarWilde, Soul of Man Under Socialism

We don't know how to mind our own business
'Cause the whole worlds got to be just like us
Now we are fighting a war over there
No matter who's the winner
We can't pay the cost
'Cause there's a monster on the loose
Steppenwolf 1969

"We have no honorable intentions in Vietnam. Our minimal expectation is tooccupy it as an American colony and maintain social stability for ourinvestments. This tells why American helicopters are being used againstguerrillas in Colombia and Peru. Increasingly the role our nation has taken isthe role of those who refuse to give up the privileges and pleasures that comefrom the immense profits of overseas investment." - Martin Luther King,Jr. ["A Time to Break the Silence" speech given at Riverside Church New YorkCity April 4, 1967]

BEST ONTHE WEB

NEW ZEALAND

Brian Rudman: That's it? Sorry Dr Brash, it's not enough http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10607079

Pay it back, Rodney http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/blogs/frontline/3021811/Pay-it-back-Rodney

Matt McCarten: What happened to the true meaning of Labour Day? http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10606545

Discussion: Uncivil Rights - The police will be able to take DNA samplesfrom people they "intend" to arrest, even though the Attorney General himselfthinks it's incompatible with the Bill of Rights. A range of agencies have newsearch and surveillance powers. And a new asset seizure measure reverses theburden of proof. Did something just happen there? http://publicaddress.net/system/topic,2179,discussion-uncivil-rights.sm

The Erosion Of Justice http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2009/07/06/campbell-eroding-justice-creepign-complacency/

FEATURES

Indian political awakening stirs Latin America http://boliviarising.blogspot.com/2009/11/indian-political-awakening-stirs-latin.html

The Trial of Thomas Hardy: A Forgotten Chapter in the Working Class Fightfor Democratic Rights - By Ian Angus. November 5, 2009, is the 215thanniversary of the acquittal of Thomas Hardy on charges of High Treason. Hardyis nearly forgotten today, but for decades workers and democrats in Englandcelebrated November 5 every year as the anniversary of a major victory, atriumph over a powerful state that had deployed immense resources to crushworking class organizations and suppress popular demands for democraticrights.http://www.socialistvoice.ca/?p=725

John Pilger: Peace awards and Obama’s wars http://www.greenleft.org.au/2009/816/41975

When Is It Legitimate For The Oppressed To Take Up Arms? By Arundhati Roy -Roy is against the development of nuclear weapons without regard to the livesof the poor, and the refusal to grant Kashmir independence. She has called theUS-led war in Afghanistan "another act of terror against the people of theworld" and considers US-style capitalism to be the cause of much of the world'sinstability. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article23887.htm

FOOD, FARMING AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Local authors take on climate change deniers http://www.straight.com/article-265275/taking-goliath

Climate change: The carbon trading debacle http://links.org.au/node/1330

WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS

Latin America's economic rebels - Ecuador and Bolivia are achievingremarkable growth because they reject conventional economic wisdom http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/oct/27/bolivia-ecuador-economy

Pensions: The Next Casualty of Wall Street http://labornotes.org/node/2466

New York Fed’s Secret Choice to Pay for Swaps Hits Taxpayers http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=a7T5HaOgYHpE

Home Videos Channels - Autoworkers "challenge logic of capitalism" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0ur0mhSEV0&feature=player_embedded#

Nuclear debate: A dangerous option that won't solve climate change (JimGreen) http://www.greenleft.org.au/2009/815/41929

REVIEWS

Che’s revolutionary example http://www.greenleft.org.au/2009/815/41913

Why We Need to Give This Rotten System the Heave-ho by Chris Townsend - FredMagdoff and Michael D. Yates. The ABCs of the Economic Crisis: What WorkingPeople Need to Know. Monthly Review Press, 2009. http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/townsend231009.html

Artists for the revolution By Corinna Lotz - The revolutionary decades thatswept Mexico in the first half of the 20th century spring to life at theBritish Museum and reveal a new aesthetic and social order entering the scene.http://www.aworldtowin.net/reviews/RevolutionOnPaper.html

The life and death of Trotsky - Tariq Ali on Trotsky by Robert Service andStalin's Nemesis by Bertrand M Patenaude http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/oct/31/trotsky-stalin-service-patenaude

AFGHANISTAN

No nation can liberate another - Malalai Joya is known around the world as acourageous opponent of the U.S. occupation of Afghanistan, the corrupt regimepresided over by President Hamid Karzai--and the Taliban and other conservativeIslamist forces battling U.S. and Afghan government troops. http://socialistworker.org/2009/11/03/no-nation-can-liberate-another

America is Performing its Familiar Role of Propping Up a Dictator By RobertFisk - After Disneyworld elections, they are on the Karzai-government sideagainst the Pashtun villagers of southern Afghanistan among whom the Talibanlive. Where is the next My Lai? Journalists should avoid predictions. In thiscase I will not. Our Western mission in Afghanistan is going to end in utterdisaster. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article23897.htm

AUSTRALIA

Rudd’s policy is racist — refugees are not illegal http://www.greenleft.org.au/2009/815/41907

Time to revive the refugee rights movement http://www.greenleft.org.au/2009/816/41957

CAMBODIA
The Holocaust In Cambodia And Its Aftermath Is Remembered By John Pilger - JohnPilger recalls the stricken society he found in Cambodia in 1979 which hedescribed in his epic dispatches and documentary, Year Zero: the Silent Deathof Cambodia He reminds us that the Pol Pot horror emerged from the bombingordered by Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger, and that Cambodia was again"punished" when its liberators came from the wrong side of the cold war and theThatcher government send special forces to train the Khmer Rouge in exile. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article23843.htm

CHINA

Youth and the Cultural Revolution http://links.org.au/node/1326

COLOMBIA

Plan Colombia: Cashing in on the Drug War Failure - Video DocumentaryDirected by Gerard Ungerman - Narrated By Ed Asner http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article23892.htm

CUBA

UN Agencies - US Cuba Blockade Undermines Work http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0910/S00230.htm

Cuba tops the class in UN development report http://www.greenleft.org.au/2009/816/41981

HONDURAS

Deal signed for Zelaya’s return, but struggle continues http://links.org.au/node/1328

INDIA

Arundhati Roy on the Poor, the Armed Struggle & the Failure ofIndia’s System - This is a 5-part series where writer/activist ArundhatiRoy speaks on “Indian Democracy In A State Of Emergency” http://mikeely.wordpress.com/2009/10/26/arundhati-roy-on-the-poor-the-maoists-and-the-failure-of-the-indian-system-indian-democracy-in-a-state-of-emergency/

PACIFIC

Pacific.Scoop: Fiji Expulsion Of Australian, NZ Envoys Blamed On TapedConversation The Fiji government’s expulsion order against AustralianHigh Commissioner James Batley and acting New Zealand High Commissioner ToddCleaver has been blamed on taped information given by the Chief Justice AnthonyGates to Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, Radio Fiji reports. http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2009/11/fiji-expulsion-of-aust-nz-envoys-blamed-on-taped-conversation/

PAKISTAN

What to do about religious fundamentalism? http://links.orgau/node/1325

Carnage accompanies Clinton’s visit http://www.greenleft.org.au/2009/816/41984

PALESTINE

A new group of Shministim (high school students who refuse to acceptconscription into the Israeli armed forces while the occupation continues) hasformed and there is a Haaretz article about them 'Dozens of 12th graders tellNetanyahu: We refuse to serve in IDF' at http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1120421.htmlIf you would like to support the Shministim, there is an online petition at http://december18th.org

Israel's Right To Exist? By Alan Hart http://wwwcountercurrents.org/hart041109.htm

Zionism's Jewish Enemy - Alan Hart Interviews Professor Ilan Pappe - Likeall Israelis, Ilan Pappe was brought up, conditioned, to believe Zionism'sversion of the history of the making and sustaining of the Arab-Israeliconflict. It wasn't until he went to England to continue his academic studiesthat he had access to documentation which enabled him to understand thatZionism's version is a propaganda lie http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article23893.htm

PERU

Government launches attack on Indigenous peoples' organisation http://links.org.au/node/1335

PHILIPPINES

Neoliberalism as hegemonic ideology in the Philippines: rise, apogee, andcrisis http://www.tni.org/en/article/neoliberalism-hegemonic-ideology-philippines-rise-apogee-and-crisis

SRI LANKA

Tamil refugees — escaping from hell http://www.greenleft.org.au/2009/816/41982

UK

Landmark demonstration against the war in Afghanistan http://links.org.au/node/1320

Faced with such an attack, it would be folly not to strike - Postal workershave been left with little option. The real madness lies with those itching topick a fight before an election http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/oct/21/postal-strike-attack-on-workers

Mark Steel: Royal Mail is to blame for our broken society (obviously) http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/mark-steel/mark-steel-royal-mail-is-to-blame-for-our-broken-society-obviously-1806199.html

Mark Steel: United action need to confront BNP http://www.greenleft.org.au/2009/816/41977

USA

U.S. official resigns over Afghan war http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/26/AR2009102603394.html

VENEZUELA

Electricity workers throw out bureaucratic managers in struggle for http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news/4892

ends

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