Passing of waatara black
We also acknowledge the death on Monday 11 April of local Ngaati Te Ata woman, Waatara Black, after a short illness.
Waatara was widely known as an activist for Maori sovereignty, and for many years fought injustices locally and nationally. She was a leading figure in the occupation of a wrongfully alienated farm on the Awhitu Peninsula, until it was returned by the Government; and was also prominent in the occupation at Maioro after human remains were dug up by New Zealand Steel.
Although at times her anger alienated local people, she could also be educative and kind. She was a colourful and challenging character in our community.
Hone Harawira pays a special tribute to waatara
Corso has given support to the Mapuche
Corso has given support to the Mapuche and had several speaking tours. We continue our support.
The critical situation of the Mapuche Political prisoners in Chile, 32 of them, have now been on a hunger strike since July 12, so as you can imagine their situation is getting desperate. All are in prision under terrorisum laws for acts taken in defense of their indigenous lands. The Chilean media has kept a strict silence on the hunger strike so solidarity organisations are trying to raise international awareness and pressure in support of their cause. The demands of the hunger strike are for the right to fair trails, freedom of all Mapuche political prisioners and the repeal of the Anti-Terrorist law.
Read the letter of support here: International campaign of support for
Mapuche political prisoners on hunger strike in Chile ttp://mapuche.info/?kat=8 <http://mapuche.info/?kat=8&sida=788>&sida=788Sign the letter and add your message here: http://mapuche.info/?lp_1=2
3 minute video about Mapuche land struggle - report from 2007 in Al
Jazeera, explains the historical background of the Mapuche struggle in the south of Chile
International website about the Mapuche nation http://www.mapuche-nation.org
IN MEMORY- Agnes (Eti) Mary Laufiso
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Michael and Marie farewelled their Mum Eti, Dunedin Corso took time to reflect, grieve and support each other. Pacific Island Affairs Director of Communications and Relationships Magila Annandale paid tribute to Agnes (Eti) Mary Laufiso, 69, a teacher and pioneer who passed away in Dunedin on the weekend - 05 August 2009. |
Photo: Rowena Sutton (left) with Eti Laufiso at a PACIFICA South Island Conference. |
Mrs Laufiso became known nationally through her involvement with PACIFICA, a national Pacific women’s organisation set up in 1977. PACIFICA became the platform for self determination of many of New Zealand’s first wave of migrant Pacific women.
“The Pasifika community has lost a champion of grassroots communities,” Ms Annandale said.
“Eti was passionate about the importance of education for Pasifika peoples, and she demonstrated that commitment when she worked at the Ministry of Education.”
Mrs Laufiso’s vision was to push for greater educational outcomes for Pasifika communities, through targeted Pacific educational strategies.
She was also an early advocate for the need of early childhood Pasifika centres (ECE) and education for Pacific youth.
Through her involvement with PACIFICA she was part of Anau Ako Pasifika, an innovative home based early childhood programme designed for Pacific parents.
She was instrumental in establishing a number of organisations including the Pacific Aids Trust and was involved in many initiatives to further the development of Pacific women and families.
“She will be missed immensely by the Pasifika communities and her husband Filipo and children Pip, Michael, Maria, Tilly and Mafutaga,” said Ms Annandale.
Te Miringa “Milton” Hohaia
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Te Miringa “Milton” Hohaia - 17 August 2010 passed away. He was well known in Taranaki and beyond for his activism in the tino rangatiratanga movement and as an advocate for peace in the traditions of Te Whiti and Tohu. He will be sadly missed by his whanau, the whole papakainga, by his iwi, friends and colleagues, and by the motu. |
Te Miringa was the festival director of the annual Parihaka International Peace Festival. Many of you would have seen him bike around the festival site organising the whole event over the years. He worked for CORSO over a 5 year period as the Maori co-ordinator in the 1980’s.
The Road to Peace in the Philippines...
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Filipino Progressive Leaders Touring NZ 24 October/14 November 2010
“Justice and Liberation: The Road to Peace in the Philippines”. |
JUSTICE AND LIBERATION: THE ROAD TO PEACE
FILIPINO PROGRESSIVE LEADERS TOURING NZ OCTOBER/NOVEMBERLuis Jalandoni is the International Representative of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDF, www.ndfp.net), a post that he has held since 1977, and since 1994 he has been the Chairperson of the NDF’s Negotiating Panel for peace talks with the Government of the Philippines. The NDF is the coalition of several underground groups, including the Communist Party of the Philippines and its New People’s Army, which has been waging a war of liberation throughout the Philippines for more than 40 years, making it one of the longest running armed struggles in the world. The country desperately needs peace with justice and security, so resolving this people’s war is central to that.
Luis (who previously toured New Zealand in 1987) will undertake a national speaking tour between October 24 and November 14. His tour is being collectively organised and hosted by Philippines Solidarity Network of Aotearoa, Auckland Philippines Solidarity and Wellington Kiwi Pinoy. His topic will be: Justice And Liberation: The Road To Peace In The Philippines.
Luis will be accompanied by his wife Coni Ledesma, who will also be speaking. She is a member of the NDF Negotiating Panel for peace talks; and is the International Spokesperson of MAKIBAKA, a revolutionary women’s group which belongs to the NDF. This is the first time we’ve had two speakers together, let alone such high powered ones.
Luis and Coni are both veteran leading figures in the Philippine revolutionary Left. He was a Catholic priest in the 1960s and she was a nun. Both were founders of Christians for National Liberation, a member group of the NDF. When Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law in 1972, both went underground. They were both arrested and spent time as political prisoners. They left the clergy, and got married in 1974. They have lived in The Netherlands since 1976; they were the first Filipinos to apply for and receive political asylum there. They hold Dutch passports and travel extensively as NDF representatives.
Luis Jalandoni and Coni Ledesma’s tour presents a unique opportunity to hear firsthand about a four decades long war, and accompanying peace process, in our own backyard that is almost totally unknown to New Zealanders.
HEAR LUIS & CONI SPEAK AT:
For details and tour check out -
http://www.converge.org.nz/psna