[Aidwatch] AID/WATCH wins back its charity status!

Wed Aug 20 21:00:07 PDT 2008

Hello Aidwatchers,

There is much to celebrate this month with AID/WATCH winning back its
charity status! This will assist us greatly in our work to expose the real
aid priorities behind the glossy talk of Partnerships in our aid program.

If you are in Sydney I hope you can join us on Wednesday the 17th of
September for drinks in celebration of our recent victory.

Flint 

AID/WATCH E-Bulletin Thursday August 21st  2008 

1.	AID/WATCH wins back its charity status!
2.	 <http://newmatilda.com/2008/08/20/pacific-development-burger-lot>
ARTICLE: A Pacific Development Burger with the Lot

3.     <http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=41274> NEWS: Pacific
NGO claims Australian officials are trying to bully island countries into
trade deals

4.    ISSUES PAPER: People's Perspectives on Land in PNG

5.    EVENT: Film Screening - The Carbon Connection

6.    EVENT: Film Screening - The Battle in Seattle 

7.    Donate to AID/WATCH

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1.	AID/WATCH wins back its charity status!

After a year and a half in the courts, I'm very pleased to share the news
that AID/WATCH has been successful in its appeal of the ATO's decision to
remove our charity status in late 2006. This is great news not just for
AID/WATCH, but for charities across Australia as it vindicates the right of
charities not just to provide services to those in need, but also to monitor
government action on issues of social and environmental concern, to ensure
they act in the interests of the poor in our region.

In celebration of this important victory, and to thank you all for the
wonderful support AID/WATCH we would like to invite all our members, friends
and supports to join us for some very informal drinks on Wednesday the 17th
of September at the Macquarie Hotel, Wentworth street, Sydney. Drinks will
start at 6:00 and we will go for dinner at 7:30 at a delicious restaurant
nearby which accommodates all budgets and diets. Feel free just to show up
for drinks, but if you would like to come to dinner, please RSVP to
info at aidwatch.org.au by the 15th of September so that we know how many
people to book for.

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2.     <http://newmatilda.com/2008/08/20/pacific-development-burger-lot>
ARTICLE: A Pacific Development Burger with the Lot

Australia is using its attractive labour mobility scheme to lure Pacific
island countries into a free trade agreement, writes Flint Duxfield, and the
consequences could be dire.

Follow this link to read the article:

http://www.aidwatch.org.au/index.php?current=1
<http://www.aidwatch.org.au/index.php?current=1&display=aw01229&display_item
=2> &display=aw01229&display_item=2

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3.     <http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=41274> NEWS: Pacific
NGO claims Australian officials are trying to bully island countries into
trade deals

A Pacific NGO has accused Australia of bullying Island countries as it tries
to fast track the revamped Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations or
PACER PLUS.

Click here for the full news item: 

http://www.aidwatch.org.au/index.php?current=1
<http://www.aidwatch.org.au/index.php?current=1&display=aw01225&display_item
=2> &display=aw01225&display_item=2

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4.    ISSUES PAPER: People's Perspectives on Land in PNG

This year AusAID announced a new Pacific Land Program ostensibly for the
purpose of both protecting customary land rights and increasing foreign
direct investment in PNG, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands and East Timor. Land
is a contentious issue in the pacific, particularly PNG. This paper written
by Steven Sukot of the Bismark Ramu Group was presented on behalf of Papua
New Guinean NGOs at the AusAID Making Land Work Conference in June 2008.

Follow this link to the paper:
http://www.aidwatch.org.au/index.php?current=1
<http://www.aidwatch.org.au/index.php?current=1&display=aw01221&display_item
=2> &display=aw01221&display_item=2

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5.    EVENT: Film Screening - The Carbon Connection

Friends of the Earth Sydney presents, The CARBON CONNECTION - A new
documentary examining the impact of international carbon trading.

Two communities affected by one new global market -- the trade in carbon
dioxide. In Scotland a town has been polluted by oil and chemical companies
since the 1940s. In Brazil local people's water and land is being swallowed
up by destructive monoculture eucalyptus tree plantations. Both communities
now share a new threat.

The Carbon Connection follows the story of two groups of people from each
community who learned to use video cameras and made their own films about
living with the impacts of the carbon market. From mental health issues in
Scotland to the loss of medicinal plants in Brazil, the communities discover
the connections they have with each other and the film follows them on this
journey.

SCREENING - 6.30 PM TUESDAY SEPT 2, 2008

Brown St Community Hall, 8-10 Brown Street, Newtown. Entry by Donation

For more info on screening: damien.lawson at foe.org.au
<https://auk.riseup.net/sm/src/compose.php?send_to=damien.lawson%40foe.org.a
u>  or 0419 253 342

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6.    EVENT: Film Screening - The Battle in Seattle 

The Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network presents The Battle in
Seattle. Based on one of the most incendiary political uprisings in a
generation, Battle in Seattle takes an in-depth look at the five days that
rocked the world in 1999 as tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the
streets in protest on the World Trade Organization. What began as a peaceful
protest intended to stop the WTO talks quickly escalated into a full-scale
riot and eventual State of Emergency that squared off the protesters against
the Seattle Police Department and the National Guard.

SCREENING - 6.30 PM TUESDAY SEPT 23rd, 2008

Tom Mann Theatre, 136 Chalmers st, Surry hills 

Cost: $20 waged, $10 Unwaged

To reserve your seat: campaign at aftinet.org.au or 92127242 

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7.     Donate to AID/WATCH

AID/WATCH is a community-based organization and does not accept government
or

corporate funding. We need your help to continue our work as the independent
monitor of Australia's aid and trade and to improve the effects of
development on the planet and its people. Only through being financially
self-sufficient can we have the freedom to criticize or applaud with
objectivity. Together with you we can achieve change without compromise.

Click this link to give to AID/WATCH today:

 <http://www.aidwatch.org.au/index.php?current=6>
http://www.aidwatch.org.au/index.php?current=6

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Administrivia: 

To plug your grassroots event, please email aidwatch at aidwatch.org.au 

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   <mailto:aidwatch-unsubscribe at lists.aidwatch.org.au>
aidwatch-unsubscribe at lists.aidwatch.org.au

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address, and re-subscribe your new address at www.aidwatch.org.au
<http://www.aidwatch.org.au/> 

Flint Duxfield

Co-Director

AID/WATCH

19 Eve St., Erskineville, 

NSW, 2043, Australia

p:   +61 2 95578944

f:    +61 2 95579822

m:  +61 448646559

Skype id: Flintsta

www.aidwatch.org.au <http://www.aidwatch.org.au/> 

flint at aidwatch.org.au <mailto:aidwatch at aidwatch.org.au> 

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