The attack on the Turkish convoy caught the attention of the world, but there have been other supplies sent in by truck by groups in the UK and Europe.

If Palestinians can see that world support is better than rockets, and Israeli leaders can accept that outside aid to Palestinians does not imply an attack on them, it is a way to peace. After all, as I read the news, they have enough Jewish refugees from Russia and other places to look after themselves.

At a meeting in Auckland on Wednesday night, 7th July, we heard from Grant Morgan and a group of speakers representing Ngati Whatua, University students, Trade Unions, Pacific Islanders, Palestinians, Muslims, of a plan to raise a lot of money quickly and send volunteers, buy trucks and supplies, and make a Kiwi contribution. There is a lot to learn from Viva Palestina and other overseas groups and contacts need to be made with people in other parts of New Zealand.

A poster is available showing grantmorgan@paradise.net.nz as contact. I gather there is a website being set up but so far I have not been able to open it. Google shows “Viva Palestina” and what is going on overseas, and under “Kia Ora Gaza” one can see that university students and social activists are already spreading the news.

Sent in by Jim Hunt.

But what would it look like if we did the same for Maori and the Crown, I wonder?

It would be an interesting exercise to map oppression and marginalisation in this way, and help us all see far more clearly the plight of Maori in these islands.

It looks like much of that work has been done – check out http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/media/interactive/maori-land-1860-2000 – but it makes for an even more appalling example in my opinion.

]]> http://www.justice.net.nz/land/palestine-israel-land-but-what-would-it-look-like-for-maori/feed/ 1 http://www.justice.net.nz/land/mining-on-conservation-land-website/ http://www.justice.net.nz/land/mining-on-conservation-land-website/#comments Tue, 23 Mar 2010 01:29:59 +0000 Ant http://www.justice.net.nz/?p=2190

A comprehensive website has been put together by NZ environmental groups and NGOs on the mining issue.

www.2precious2mine.org.nz

It has information on actions you can take, links, background information and you can subscribe if you wish for automatic update.

Radio NZ says the promised government discussion may be released today after much delay.

This document will also be a link on the site once released.

Energy Efficient

The university of Missouri-Colombia in the US has put out an excellent design for an energy efficient greenhouse. It involves using raised beds to maximise heat received by plants and black drums filled with water that soak up the heat in the day and release it at night.

Foldable Plastic

Dutch designer Daniel Schipper has created a greenhouse design that could possibly be made out of recycled plastics and is also completely foldable.

Plastic Bottles

REAP, a sustainability group in the north of Scotland came up a design based on plastic fizzy drink bottles. They cut the bases out of each bottle and fitted them inside each other along a garden stake. These are then assembled onto a frame. They have put an instruction guide together, and you can get it here. There is also a good photo of it here.

Those words again; “…a time of Jubilee is coming…”

Jubilee was the time when all land was returned to its original owner. A system ensuring that power and wealth did not gradually pool upwards leaving people stuck in systemic poverty with little hope of climbing out. A lease hold economic market rather than a private ownership economic market. I realise a direct parallel is not applicable, yet there is surely cause for reflection – “Lord search us and know us.”

Back to the song; “…a mighty river through our nation.” A typical western symbol of justice is a blindfold lady holding balanced scales. Blindfolded, objective, dispassionate; when the balance is even, that is justice. A scriptural symbol is of a mighty flowing river, passionate, often in favour of the marginalised and dispossessed, seeking a return to relationship and wholeness whatever that might take.

A new grassroots initiative, the Israeli Coalition of Women for Peace, has set up a web site to help do just this in regards to the occupation of Gaza. The database and information center reflects an on-going two-year effort, rigorous research, and documentation of who profits from the Israeli occupation.

Visit the database here. http://www.whoprofits.org

Remember, remember the 5th of November – so the saying goes.

Well folks, before you light your crackers this year, come along and remember the amazing story of Parihaka and how the people of this Taranaki village used non violent tactics to protest the forceful capture of their village and land. That’s right, before Gandhi and Martin Luther King, peaceful civil disobedience was alive and well in 1881 Aotearoa.

Come to stand for peace, wherever conflict or injustice is found, and celebrate the inspiring story of Parihaka. May we renew the story in our world as we live lives that resist the proud and give grace to the humble.

Please come, and invite your friends to this unique service. We begin at 7pm, Wednesday 5 November at Island Bay Presbyterian Church. Supper will follow.

Arohanui,

David

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/organic-farming-could-feed-africa-968641.html

Sustainable Agriculture-not starting from ground zero

Agriculture remains a major employer in the world, providing jobs to about 40% of the total world labour force.

The Global Green New Deal should include a major international program. This should be led by the Food and Agriculture Organisation, to provide long-term support for investing in land restoration, soil and water conservation, integrated pest management, organic production, infrastructure development, extension services, and market support in the developing world.

Organic agriculture triggers very polarized views, seen by some as the saviour and others as a niche, even luxury product unable to meet the needs of billions of people.

Studies indicate that organic agriculture in both the North and the South employees more people. But what of the wider benefits?

A new survey by the UN Conference on Trade and the Environment and UNEP in East Africa found that over 90 per cent of studies show that organic or near organic agriculture had benefits for soil fertility; water control; improved water tables, carbon sequestration and biodiversity.

This allows farmers to extend the growing season in marginal areas. The research in East Africa was among 1.6 million organic or near organic farmers from seven countries working on 1.4 million hectares.

Other findings include an increase in crop yields of 128 per cent since switching.

Higher incomes too as a result of not having to buy fertilizers and pesticides; more food availability; higher prices paid through certification schemes for both export and domestic markets-addresses poverty in environmentally friendly way.

Close to 90 per cent of cases showed increase in farm and household incomes and because organic agriculture is more knowledge intensive it has lead to improvements in education; community bonds and cooperation on market access.

The report concludes:” Organic and near-organic agricultural methods and technologies are ideally suited for many poor, marginalized smallholder farmers in Africa, as they require minimal or no external inputs, use locally and naturally available materials to produce high-quality products, and encourage a whole systemic approach to farming that is more diverse and resistant to stress”.

http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=548&ArticleID=5957&l=en

Here’s the link:  http://www2.regent-college.edu/marketplace/audio.html

Lots of interesting stuff in there. Part of the discussion I found most interesting was about land ownership and accumulation and jubilee, especially in light of some debates I’ve had with a Christian friend who’s heavily into residential property investment.

Isaiah 5:8 “Woe to you who add house to house, and join field to field till there’s no space left and you live on your own in the land”

Micah 2.2 “Woe on those who covet fields and seize them, houses and take them, they defraud man of his home, a fellow human being of his inheritance”

-Paul Williams states that “These are the kinds of things that are given as reasons why the people of God are going to be exiled from the land and kicked out of it, because they have failed to live in a way that keeps relationships rightly in these respects.”

The Greens are calling on the Government to take action after a report that overseas buyers are swooping on the New Zealand property market, keeping out first time home buyers.

“We believe land should be owned by New Zealand citizens and residents only and our laws should be changed to say that. We welcome ex-pats coming home and people coming to this country to live. But why should we allow Singaporean, Australian or American speculators to buy investment properties in our country, shutting first time home buyers from the market?” Greens Co-Leader Russel Norman says.

The Herald on Sunday reported today that international buyers were “snatching up New Zealand property as the dollar drops, banks lower interest rates and the market reaches realistic prices”.

Alistair Helm of realestate.co.nz said that last year 22 per cent of realestate.co.nz’s browsers were from outside New Zealand. This figure crept up to 25 per cent around April and May this year and was now up to 27 per cent.

Meanwhile Auckland real estate agent Ross Brader was quoted as saying properties he listed online started to attract record numbers of international browsers on August 10, when the Kiwi dollar dropped to the lowest level in 11 months.

Dr Norman said he was worried recent price drops in some areas and especially Auckland could be countered by overseas speculation.

“For some years property has been out of reach of most young New Zealanders trying to buy their first home, farm or lifestyle block.

“The Government has a responsibility first and foremost to ensure New Zealand citizens and residents can afford to buy a stake in their own country.

“If people from overseas wish to become New Zealand citizens or permanent residents then they are very welcome to buy land here. By restricting ownership to New Zealand residents and citizens, that would greatly help stabilise the property market and make ownership more attainable for those who live here.”