OUTRAGEOUS!!!
Western Sahara
OUTRAGEOUS!!!
and now http://saharafilmfestival.ning.com/
Do some digging before you try and offer George any support. He's not worth it. I suggest his time at War on Want as a starting point.
Do some digging before you try and offer George any support. He's not worth it. I suggest his time at War on Want as a starting point.
The Western Sahara singer Mariem Hassan will be coming to NZ to participate in Womad 12-14 March 2010
http://www.womad.co.nz/artists.htm
Mariem Hassan ( Western Sahara )
After more than 30 years of performing, Mariem Hassan is hailed as the true voice of the Western Sahara . Her people are Saharawis, living in exile within Algeria since Spain abandoned the Western Sahara in 1975 and their desert lands were claimed by Morocco . Within the Algerian refugee camps, women singers are recognised as pillars of strength, humanising the harsh living conditions through their powerful songs of hope. Mariem sings in hassania, the language of her dessert homeland and deemed closest to classical Arabic. During the 1970s, Mariem joined forces with Matir el Uali Mustafa Sayed (more popularly known as El Uali), touring internationally with his band until she recorded her first solo album, Deseos, during 2005. In concert, her intense voice sits atop two electric guitars (substituting for the rustic tidinit) and two tebals (ground-drums played by women), melding ancient spiritual sounds with whispers of blues, reggae and other current music, driving her music into the 21st century. Different dances, performed by the percussionists, enrich a repertoire based on traditional and spiritual songs. Her solo fame has been further enhanced by a documentary film, Mariem Hassan, The Voice of the Sahara , released in 2008 at the Fisahara Festival.
Website: www.myspace.com/saharafree
and second at the documentary festival in March, is this
http://www.documentaryedge.org.nz/2010/wgtn/film/stolen#screeningTimes
which is a a little inaccurate - See here for a rebuttal.
If anyone should want a FULL copy of the reasons why the film is not to be trusted I have paper here that could email to you,.
dairyflat2010-02-21 00:29:29
Should you want to listen to some bollocks about Western Sahara start here... http://podcast.radionz.co.nz/sat/sat-20100306-0945-Daniel_Fallshaw_stolen_children-048.mp3
see post above for screening times of this travesty...
On W. Sahara, Council Word Games Trigger 15-0 Vote
Matthew Russell Lee, Inner City Press
UNITED NATIONS, April 30 -- After hours of wrangling over Western Sahara, the UN Security Council past five o'clock on Friday passed a resolution for the annual extension of the mandate of the MINURSO mission there, without the contentious phrase "human rights" being included.
As Inner City Press reported throughout the day, in the Council's consultations room France and its former colony Gabon drew a line in the sand on Western Sahara . Hovering outside the consultations was Morocco 's ambassador, as well as a representative of the Polisario Front. After twists and turns, posturing and the calling of bluffs, a compromise was reached and voted on.
There were only three changes to the draft resolution issued by the so-called Group of Friends, made up of France, the US, Russia, UK and Spain. The euphemism "human dimension" wasn't changed, but a reference to the roles of the UN system was added, which some argued meant human rights.
The word "reaffirms" was added to the first paragraph -- very tough -- and the word "existing" was added near the end. That was it, but it was enough for Uganda and Nigeria , and also Mexico , to remove their threats to abstain.
Inside the consultations, Inner City Press is told, Austria 's Ambassador wondered out loud how France , so important in forming the concept of human rights, could be so vehemently opposing the inclusion of the term in the Western Sahara resolution. French Ambassador Araud responded angrily that no one can teach human rights lessons to France . Whereupon the Chinese representative slyly said he was glad that Chinese was no longer alone in its position on -- and against - human rights being considered in the Council.
European Commission out of Step
"Since Morocco does not exercise internationally recognised sovereignty over Western Sahara, Western Sahara is not seen as a part of Morocco �s territory in relation to this agreement. The Free Trade Agreement is thus not applicable to goods from Western Sahara ", stated Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Jonas Gahr Store, 11 May 2010.
"It is Norwegian policy that one when interpreting the territory application of Free Trade Agreements, take the relevant states� internationally recognised borders as a point of departure. The Free Trade Agreement between EFTA and Israel is thus not applicable to produce with origin in the Israeli settlements on the West Bank . Similarly, the Free Trade Agreement between EFTA and Morocco is not applicable for Western Sahara ."
The clarification from the Minister follows an import scandal that has been unrolled in Norwegian media over the last weeks, involving the president of the Norwegian business association, millions of euros in tax evasions, ministers and refugees. As a result of the affair, it has become clear that the practice of EFTA is in stark contrast to the policy fronted by the European Commission on trade with goods from occupied Western Sahara .
http://www.vest-sahara.no/index.php?parse_news=single&cat=49&art=1506
dairyflat2010-05-22 12:31:27FYI: NZ fishes the waters in question.
Mmmm... agreed.
http://www.afrik-news.com/article17809.html
http://www.euronews.net/2010/10/26/boy-s-murder-heightens-western-sahara-tension/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rc4DG39dv8w
dairyflat2010-10-27 18:04:52
I admire your passion for this subject, but to directly imply NZ, as a country, is complicit in/to this process is bollocks. Its a dog eat dog world and i'm a firm believer in "by whatever means neccesary" so in this case i DO condone theft.
we have different points of view, which is ok.
The italics are the Minister's.
Well now since the Saharawis have been in refugee camps for thirty years and never been consulted on this, just how can this be "a consistent manner"? I guess, maybe, it is in the sense that their "needs, interests and wishes" have been ignored for thirty years.
Regardless of the facts, people like us can't do anything. Life is not meant to be fair, and we can thank God that by chance of birth it was not us.
Forum says you have exceeded your quota and cannot recieve any mail.
The Sahrawis have always rejected terrorism. This is more than lilkely some effort by the Moroccan state, wouldn't be the first time, or by people with their own agenda. Either way it could give the Western Sahara cause some NEGATIVE coverage.
All I can really say is wow.
loyalgunner2010-11-02 17:03:35
Gee mate, you should get a life. I have gone over what I said 10 times, but cannot see anything that is pushing a religious agenda.
Hope you know more about football-- but I doubt it.
While you are berating me, suggest you check your spelling.
What a ridiculous reaction bwtcf.� You realize that for many 'thank God' is an expression and those who say it may or may not be religious.� I have no idea if Leggy is religious or not but even if he is then saying those few words is hardly shoving his beliefs down your throat.� Not saying I agree or disagree with Leggy, I'm answering purely over your reaction.All I can really say is wow.
Quite right. Almost fell off my chair laughing.
Do you reckon he'd go ballistic if we wished him a Merry Christmas?
Anyway, here is the UN take on the situation Sounds like it's about to boil over. Exactly who is proposing an "autonomy plan" and how far does it go?
edward l2010-11-05 23:02:04
Do you reckon he'd go ballistic if we wished him a Merry Christmas?
Anyway, here is the UN take on the situation� Sounds like it's about to boil over.� Exactly who is proposing an "autonomy plan" and how far does it go?
�
�
Does not like this is going to end any time soon.
Anyway, here is the UN take on the situation Sounds like it's about to boil over. Exactly who is proposing an "autonomy plan" and how far does it go?
[/QUOTE]Which is where NZ the big buyer comes in...
[QUOTE=Leggy]
Does not like this is going to end any time soon.
Sadly true...
dairyflat2010-11-10 16:15:15
and -ALGERIAN LEADERSHIP TOWS WESTERN SAHARA LINE dairyflat2010-12-09 21:18:39
The Western Sahara is an occupied territory. In 1976, when Spanish colonialists left, its neighbor Morocco invaded, and has held it ever since. Most observers believe the vast phosphate deposits were the major reason that Morocco took an interest. Whatever the truth, the Polisario Front, a rebel movement the UN recognizes as the rightful representatives of the territory, would like it back.
Not many people would call phosphate a critical issue or one with serious environmental consequences. But even leaving aside the resource politics of the Sahara, it is an absolutely vital resource for feeding the world. It is also a resource that could start running low within a couple of decades � and one we grossly misuse, pouring it across the planet and recycling virtually none of it.
The Waiwhetu-Lower Hutt Peace Group is having a public meeting on the issue of self-determination for the last colony in Africa, Western Sahara. Highlighting the links of this relatively obscure issue to New Zealand. Tuesday the 10th of March at 7.30pm. At the Waiwhetu Uniting Church, 6 Trafalgar Street, Waiwhetu (corner of Trafalgar St. and Grenville St.)
Western Sahara Resource Watch (WSRW) invites you to
the international launch of a new report on global purchases of
phosphate rock from occupied Western Sahara.
The report places
New Zealand as the third largest recipient last year in a highly
controversial trade. The imports from Western Sahara contributes to the
financing of the occupation of Western Sahara. The territory is under
Moroccan occupation, and is defined by the UN as the last colony on the
African continent.
Half the people have fled the territory
following the Moroccan invasion. The amount these refugees receive in
international humanitarian aid equals the value of the phosphates
plundered from the territory and sold by the Moroccan government to
companies in New Zealand, the report reveals.
Erik Hagen from Norway, Chair of Western Sahara Resource Watch, will present the findings of the report.
WSRW is a Brussels based association, working from over 40 countries in solidarity with the people of Western Sahara. http://www.wsrw.org/
The meeting will be in the Common Room at Saint Andrews on the Terrace at 10.00am Monday March the 16th. We look forward to seeing you there.
Finally we got the issue on television... on a night when the Cricket World Cup Final was on.
Human rights violation: NZ companies under fire for fertiliser imports
Will sign when I get home.
"Oil companies such as Total which have explored for off and on-shore oil fields are facing growing local and international criticism, as are companies that import Western Sahara’s minerals, including its massive phosphate deposits. United States, Canadian and Australian miners have all been blacklisted by Scandinavian pension firms" Source:
Yet here in NZ we get no response at all. We invited all sorts of media to an event in Wellington last year. Not a single one turned up.
Though this did happen, after being rescheduled, but got shown the night that the Cricket World Cup final was on... no contest!
MFAT, Ballance, Ravensdown and Fertliser NZ just ignore us. We have met face to face with them all. They all claim to have a legal opinion that justifies that supports their position on NZ imports of phosphate. In MFAT's case even the OIA hasn't helped.
At the UN, where NZ has a UNSC seat, NZ would not support the inclusion of a HUMAN RIGHTS monitoring mandate in the UN's mission in Western Sahara.
As long as NZ can keep its pastures green....