STUFF HAPPENING AT JUST FOCUS
We’re meant to be heading into Spring but with the weather we’ve been having lately you’ve got to wonder! So, if you feel like rugging up with a video or DVD, why not join the GEC library (it’s free! — just mail info@justfocus.org.nz and we’ll fix you up) and borrow a movie on a global theme. We’ve got docos and dramas for your interest and entertainment — and we’d love YOU to write a review so others can choose more easily. Get in touch with us and we’ll send you the list of movies and the reviewing guidelines which will help you with writing it up. There’s a few already on the site — check out the reviews for An Incovenient Truth , Syriana and The Fourth World War …
And Kim’s still hoping for your help with the JET mag page on Rubbish and Christmas — read more about what’s needed here.
RECENT NEWS AND EVENTS
The headlines in the last fortnight have ranged from the testing of a nuclear bomb in North Korea, the sanctions which followed and the terrible food crisis faced by the ordinary people there , to the estimate that the war in Iraq may have killed 655, 000 Iraqis , to the controversy surrounding Madonna’s adoption of a boy from Malawi. And on White Band Day (October 17), more than 23 million people around the world ’stood up’ against poverty through a 24-hour protest period. Read more here.
Meanwhile, a little nearer to home, the Pacific Islands Leader’s Forum in Nadi, Fiji, has discussed many regional issues. Our PM Helen Clark has been at the forefront of diplomacy, particularly around issues concerning Melanesian nations and Australia. Listen to the report on Scoop and follow the current stories on the Scoop homepage.
And in our own fair capital, Peace Action Wellington caused a major disruption to the annual forum of the New Zealand Defence Industry Association (NZDIA) held at Te Papa last week. Read more about it on Indymedia. JF member Omar Hamed was there — see his forum post and add your thoughts.
UPCOMING EVENTS FOR YOU TO BE PART OF
Keep an eye on the Events page on this site.
NEW STUFF ON THE JUST FOCUS WEBSITE
You should all remember the Pacific Youth Festival which was held in July in Tahiti. Eight JF members attended (you can read about their experiences there on this site) the 27 junior delegates (one from each country / territory) worked really hard to produce the first Pacific Youth Charter. Read the Charter here to find out what the youth in your neighbourhood see as important. Do you agree with the issues raised? Is anything missing? This will be presented at the World Youth Festival in Mexico next year and claims to represent the voice of Pacific Youth — this includes YOU! So have your say in the forum discussion.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS?
Climate change is a huge issue — join the Virtual March — see the forum thread on the movie An Inconvenient Truth (and go see the movie if you haven’t already, and then add your thoughts to the discussion)
WANNA GET MORE INVOLVED?
Want to add stuff to the next newsletter, the Events Page or to write an Article / review, or take a photo/create an image for the Just Focus website? Write to info@justfocus.org.nz , it’s always great to hear from you.