1 February Newsletter
STUFF HAPPENING AT JUST FOCUS
2007 is going to be a busy year! It’s taken quite a bit of fair trade coffee and chocolate to get us going again after our long summer break, but now we’re into it, planning loads of cool projects and events for the year. Media that Matters is our first big event, taking place in Wellington on 15 March and we’re planning one in Christchurch in May too. For more info keep checking the events page. The Just Focus Otautahi Christchurch group has been meeting up regularly. 2 weeks ago there was a screen-printing workshop and last week they watched a bunch of films from the Media that Matters film festival, deciding what to screen for their event.
RECENT NEWS AND EVENTS
The Radical Youth hui brought together young people from all over Aotearoa for a weekend of education, skill sharing and empowerment. Workshops were on a range of subjects including, direct action, intro to capitalism, unions, West Papua, animal rights and anarchism. While learning about international struggles there was discussion on social justice issues related to Aotearoa, like colonisation and youth rates. The end result of the weekend was a plan of action, not only abolish to youth rates, but to empower other young people to make change and take action collectively. Go to the Radical Youth website to find out about future events.
In the last newsletter we talked about the international row about racism after a Big Brother contestant was bullied on the show. The contestant went on to win, but was this a triumph over racism?
This week racism is still headlining the news in Britain. Check out this podcast, where the Guardian talks to young Muslims about Islamophobia and to the Islamic Human Rights Commission, who say the media is “exclusionary” and biased.
As the situation in Fiji continues, the Minister of Foreign Affairs delivered a speech about the role NZ, and the international community, have to play in the Pacific and why he is optimistic about what can be achieved. If you want to start at the beginning here is a good article that gives a clear summary of what’s been happening in Fiji.
UPCOMING EVENTS FOR YOU TO BE PART OF
LIGHTS OUT
Today (1 Feb) environmental groups around the world are asking people to give the earth a five-minute break: everybody turns off all lights from 7:55pm to 8:00pm at their local time. They hope that that this not only saves 5 minutes of electricity, but will also grab the attention of others, drawing attention to issues around energy and the environment. Why February 1st? Because today in Paris the United Nation’s environmental experts’ newest report concerning global warming will be released.
WAITANGI DAY 2007
Waitangi Day in Paihia is preceded by a 3-day festival celebrating the unique nature of Kiwi life. Highlights included live music and afternoon sports fun. The ceremonies then begin on Waitangi day with the dawn karakia at 5am. For more information on this event or to see if there is anything happening in your area try this event finder.
If you live in Wellington you might want to get along to the Treaty Debate Series February 1 & 8. If you don’t live there don’t despair, both debates will be webcast live or you download them the following week.
Also keep an eye on the Events page on the Just Focus website.
NEW STUFF ON THE JUST FOCUS WEBSITE
We have some really interesting articles coming soon, but we always need more! We need some JFers who enjoy writing and fancy provoking a bit of debate. If you would like to write but don’t know what to write about, then it’s your lucky day! Let us introduce you to the wonderful world of Lucky Dips. We know there is so much going on in the world it can be an overwhelming task to decide on one thing to focus on. So, we can provide you with a topic, a fresh angle to look at it, some background reading and places to go for further information, then you just need to start writing! Contact jennie@globaled.org.nz if you’re interested.
LINKS TO OTHER INTERESTING STUFF
Listen to the testimonies of failed asylum seekers in the UK in this great animation. What’s so wrong with treating people right?
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS?
The debate about racism in the UK has uncovered what some commentators are calling the last socially acceptable prejudice- classism. Do you think classism exists in NZ? What do you think about the new book that divides New Zealanders into 8 tribes? Check out this review and then comment on the forum.
There has also been some discussion around the Māori party’s work for the dole proposition, have a look at this critique and add your own thoughts.
NEW STUFF FOR YOU
They are not new, but we think they are worth highlighting. The No-Nonsense Guides are a collection of pocket sized books, published by New Internationalist, on a range of issues from the arms trade to world history.
This series and heaps of other books, guides and great films are available to borrow FREE from the Global Education Centre. Email eva@globaled.org.nz for info on how to borrow them.
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