2-3pm: Socialist Feminism 101
Kassie Hartendorp, Fightback.

3:15-4:15pm: Ecofeminism and the Gendered Politics of Consumption
Sionainn Byrnes, UC Femsoc.

4:30-5:30pm: Intersecting Oppressions and the road to liberation
Wei Sun, Fightback.

5:30pm: Dinner

Saturday April 26th
WEA (56 Gloucester St) Christchurch
[Facebook event]

By Joe McClure, Fightback (Wellington).

On the afternoon of Saturday March 29, protests took place around New Zealand, against the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) currently going through Parliament.

In Wellington, this consisted of a march from Cuba St, to the steps of Parliament. Around 200 people gathered at the Bucket Fountain in Cuba St from 1:00pm, listening to representatives from CTU, Victoria University economics department, and the Mana party, who discussed what the agreement’s about and who it favours.

Protestors marched from Cuba St to Parliament, chanting slogans including ‘TPPA?  No way!  We’re gonna fight it all the way!’ and ‘Whose streets? Our streets!’

Outside parliament, security staff were blocking access to the designated assembly area, where the Council of Trade Unions (CTU) had arranged for a PA system to be set up, so marchers gathered in the grassy area next to that section instead.

Mana leader Hone Harawira addressed those present, emphasizing the unequal advantage the TPPA provides to member states, and punitive effects on non-members, and reminding voters to take a stand for fair treatment of all trading partners, rather than supporting the secret negotiations that have characterised TPPA planning stages.

Protestors from Parihaka in Taranaki also attended, encouraging marchers to reject the intended agreement, before switching to Maori protest songs as the crowd gradually dissipated.

Why do we oppose the TPPA?
The TPPA effects both trade between countries, and the operations of multinational companies within countries. It overrides internal legislation if a signatory introduces legislation that hurts the economic interests of another country. For example, plain packaging of cigarettes could be overturned as it undermines the profits of tobacco companies, or environmental legislation annulled if it adversely affects an oil corporation (thus making it harder to stop projects like deep sea oil drilling).  The agreement involves reducing trade tariffs by 90% by 2009, and completely removing tariffs by 2015.  It would entitle US drugs corporations to override Pharmac regulating the sale of pharmaceuticals in New Zealand, and enable parties to the agreement to protect intellectual property violations in other countries party to the agreement.

Such measure will benefit multinational corporations (such as Fonterra in NZ), but will hurt working class people in signatory states. It will make it harder for people to fight and win legislative changes that protect working class communities, and instead strengthen the hands of corporations in their drive for greater profit.

A conference on struggle, solidarity and socialism.

Queens Birthday Weekend (30th May-1st June)
19 Tory St, Wellington
Koha entry
[Facebook event]

Schedule:
Friday 30th of May
7:30-9pm – Elections and community struggle (featuring Hone Harawira)
2014 is a General Election year for Aotearoa/NZ. The last General Election saw the lowest turnout since women won the right to vote. This year, Fightback will be supporting the MANA Movement, whose stated mission is to bring rangatiratanga to the poor, the powerless and the dispossessed. Are elections relevant? Do they change anything? Why do we participate in electoral work?
A discussion featuring:
Annette Sykes (MANA Movement).
Sue Bolton, socialist councillor for Moreland (Australia).
Heleyni Pratley, Fightback (Aotearoa/NZ).

Saturday 31st of May
10-11am – What is Capitalism? What is Socialism?

11-12pm – Marxist economics: Crisis theory
Mike Treen, UNITE Union General Secretary

12-1pm – Lunch

1-2:30pm – Tino rangatiratanga
Annette Sykes, MANA Movement.
Grant Brookes, Fightback.

2:30-3pm – Break

3-4:30pm – Ecology and social justice

4:30-5pm – Break

5-6:30pm – International situation: Crisis, imperialism, fightback
The speakers on this discussion panel will speak about various events and trends in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis and the 2011 outbreak of global resistance.
What are the prospects and challenges for socialists internationally and in the region?
A discussion featuring:
Sue Bolton, Socialist Alliance (Australia).
Gayaal Iddamalgoda, International Socialist Organisation (Aotearoa/NZ).
Jared Phillips, Fightback (Aotearoa/NZ).

6:30 – Dinner

Sunday 1st of June
10-11 – Accessibility and social transformation
Disability is often understood as a medical problem. Although medical impairments can be a factor, social organisation also works to disable and exclude people. Buildings with no wheelchair access are a well-known example; there are a range of ways social organisation cuts off access. A facilitated discussion on working to reorganise society to support a wide range of capabilities.

11-12 – Education and capitalism

12-1 – Lunch

1:-2:30pm – Key issues in the contemporary workers’ movement
A panel of speakers will discuss a range of workers’ issues. Heleyni Pratley, fresh from participating in a recent fast food workers conference in the US, will discuss the fight there and what lessons can be drawn. The situation of migrant workers and the union defence of public services in Aotearoa will also be discussed. The session will also be open to discussion on other key issues facing workers and the movement today.

A discussion featuring:
Heleyni Pratley (Fightback), report on U.S. fast food struggles.
Grant Brookes (Fightback), unions in defence of public services.
Wei Sun (Fightback) migration and open borders for workers.

2:30-3pm – Break

3-4:30pm – Gender and women’s liberation
Kassie Hartendorp (Fightback), socialist-feminism 101.
Daphne Lawless (Fightback), gender diversity and capitalism
Teresia Teaiwa (poet and lecturer), gender and decolonisation.

4:30-5pm – Break

5-6:30pm– Anti-capitalist organising in Australia & Aotearoa/NZ
Sue Bolton, Socialist Alliance (Australia).
Gayaal Iddamalgoda, International Socialist Organisation (Aotearoa/NZ).
Joel Cosgrove, Fightback (Aotearoa/NZ).

6:30-7pm – Closing and thanks