A weekend of ideas, discussion and debate. Communism, Revolution, Socialism, Capitalism and anything in between…
FRIDAY: 4th of June – Thistle Hall (293 Cuba Street)
7:30pm: International panel: Mike Ely on Nepal, Daphna Whitmore on India, John Edmundson on Afghanistan
Continue reading “Marxism 2010: provisional schedule”
Wgtn conference: Marxism 2010
In solidarity with the Greek people's resistance against austerity
Joint statement from Asia-Pacific
May 13, 2010
[If your organisation would like to sign on, please email international@socialist-alliance.org.]
We, left and progressive organisations from the Asia-Pacific region, express our solidarity with the resistance of the Greek people against the harsh austerity being imposed upon them by the governments of the European Union (EU) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The proposed “rescue package” for the Greek economy by the IMF-EU has triggered a huge struggle that will have worldwide ramifications for working people. Continue reading “In solidarity with the Greek people's resistance against austerity”
Don't get caught in a bad hotel
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Support the struggle for democracy and social justice in Nepal
The following joint statement of solidarity has been signed by a number of left and progressive organisations in the Asia-Pacific region. If your organisation would like to sign on, please email international@socialist-alliance.org
On May Day, international workers’ day, a huge demonstration of between 500,000-1 million people took place in Kathmandu. Called by the Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (UCPN-M), people came from all over Nepal to make their voices heard. It was the largest demonstration since the fall of the centuries-old monarchy and was the culmination of a growing series of mass demonstrations and strikes aimed at restoring civilian supremacy and democracy. Continue reading “Support the struggle for democracy and social justice in Nepal”
May 1st International Workers Day
Thousands of people marched in Auckland on May Day against mining national parks.
There were also strikes and pickets outside JB Hi Fi stores in Auckland and Wellington as part of Unite union’s $15 minimum wage campaign.
The tradition May Day march in Auckland took place later in the day. The march has been held in Auckland every year since the 1970s.
"Free, free Kobad Ghandy"
Demonstrators gathered at the Indian High Commission in Wellington to protest against Operation Green Hunt and the detention of Kobad Ghandy.
Kobad is a Maoist political leader, imprisoned since October 2009. His arrest is part of the Indian state’s attempt to crush all opposition.
Operation Green Hunt is a counter-insurgency strategy where tens of thousands of armed forces are trying to wipe out the Maoist movement that has support though a third of India. Read more here.
The protesters rallied outside the Indian embassy then marched to parliament. Chanting “free, free Kobad Ghandy”, and “stop the war on the poor” they handed out leaflets to the public and marched on into the city centre speaking about the lack of genuine democracy in India and the growing state repression.
No Peace for Zionist Embassy
PFLP Solidarity Campaign Press Release:
For immediate release, Wednesday 28th April 2010
The Campaign of Solidarity with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine stands in solidarity with the struggling masses in Palestine, and wishes to make its intentions known that we will actively oppose the newly established Zionist embassy in Wellington. As long as Zionism is politically active and furthering its colonialist ambitions in Palestine any Israeli state institution or embassy here will be targeted for protest action. Continue reading “No Peace for Zionist Embassy”
Israeli embassy protest Wellington
Today people protested outside the newly opened Israeli embassy in Wellington. The demonstration was organised by NIEW (No Israeli Embassy in Wellington)
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Members of the Workers Party carried a PFLP banner, and called for the release of Ah’mad Sa’adat the Palestinian resistance leader who has a jail sentence of 30 years.
Whanau Ora and Maori today
Phil Ferguson
The Spark May 2010
On April 21, the report of the government-commissioned Whanau Ora taskforce was made public. The key idea of Whanau Ora (“Well-being”) is the establishment of a one-stop- shop approach to the problems of 
individuals and families in relation to problems of health, education and the justice system. Funds are to be diverted from existing stage agencies into a new Whanau Ora Trust which would contract out work to service providers to deal with the problems on a whanau basis. In other words, where an individual family member had health, education or justice system problems, the individual would be viewed as part of their whanau and the whole whanau would be engaged in finding solutions. This is seen as “empowering” both whanau and individual Maori.
Although Whanau Ora was originally conceived by its Maori Party architects as a programme for Maori, there is now agreement that all “families in need” will have access to the services provided through the programme. Continue reading “Whanau Ora and Maori today”