Police fail to incite riot
The police have a number of different strategies for dealing with protest marches. Each has its own known likely result and the police […]
Politics
activism
Lessons from Greece
Update 6.45pm: One of lawyers acting for those arrested has just been told by police that everyone arrested will be released without charge in the next couple of hours. That excludes 4 people who have refused to cooperate, presumably by refusing to give their details to police.
Update 9:09pm: John Darroch’s photos from today.
The beam in your eye
A tattered few on the Right are attempting to stir up an issue over the Greens using a bit of their leaders’ office budget on the citizens’-initiated referendum petition. The use of the $78,000 is completely within the rules and approved by the Speaker. The Greens, and the coalition, are helping us to keep our assets. Meanwhile, the Nats have budgeted $120 million to sell them. Who’s in the wrong?
English taunts students
Taunting the young people who are getting the shitty end of the economic stick – does it get any more arrogant than that?
McCarten: Waging war on working class
Matt McCarten’s latest column is a must read. There is something nasty going on…
Why we should save TVNZ7
TVNZ7, in its current form, will stop broadcasting on the 30th of June and will be changed to a plus one channel along the same lines as TV3 Plus One. Now I don’t know about you, but I could live without seeing another repeat of Come Dine with Me.
10,000+ at Auckland anti-MOM protest
Lots of people… get down to Britomart.. Mind you Britomart is filling up rapidly. They need a few more megaphones by the look […]
Intro for International Organisation for a Participatory Society
Revolution in Springfield 😉
Woka Woka Wharfie Fundraiser – Akl tonight
Something to do in Auckland tonight: What: Special screening of The Muppets Where: Hoyts Sylvia Park, Mt Wellington When: Tonight, April 3rd, 6.10pm […]
Earth Hour
OK – so we’re a bit late with this – but it’s Earth Hour, 8:30 – 9:30pm NZ time.
The courage of their convictions
While most of us talk about “saving the world” some people act.
Support MUNZ workers in port dispute
Show your support for the MUNZ workers in the Ports of Auckland dispute, including a picket today from 10am.
A call to arms for all coders
The Global Square “aims to be the first massive decentralized social network in the history of the Internet”. Can you help?
Key runs from Waitangi
National’s honeymoon with Maori is well and truly over, as Key beats a hasty retreat from Waitangi.
The year of the protest
If that was the year of “The Protestor”, what did it accomplish? Is effective protest no longer possible in today’s world?
Epsom voters: Please kill Act – you know you want to…
For the sake of your neighbors in Auckland and your extended family throughout New Zealand, could the voters of Epsom please terminate the twitching corpse of the Act party. Once they may have had a purpose. Now they just have John Banks and that other failed politician. Let us look forward into the sunset without this zombie party being maintained by the misplaced charity of the voters of Epsom.
Solidarity with Egypt
The Arab Spring hangs in balance, as protesters in Cairo’s Tahrir Square and in other cities in Egypt battle the riot police of the ruling Egyptian military junta.
Wall St Occupation evicted
As has been widely reported, the Wall Street occupation at Zuccotti Park was evicted in an overnight raid yesterday. By refocusing media attention on the Occupation, will this eviction only make them stronger?
Evicting Occupy Dunedin
Yesterday was a dramatic day for Occupy Dunedin. A trespass eviction deadline of 8pm came and went, but after a big show of public support, the Occupation is still there. Dunedin North Labour candidate David Clark lends his support to the movement.
One citizen. One dollar. One vote.
A second message is emerging from the Occupation movement: “One citizen. One dollar. One vote.”
An Occupation Occupied. What’s Next?
Last week, several occupations ‘popped up’ around New Zealand. Well, they didn’t exactly pop up, did they? They weren’t more or less spontaneous, as in numerous countries in the Middle East, N. Africa, Europe and more recently, in Wall Street.
In New Zealand, there was, and is, no general out-pouring of anger or frustration from across large sectors of society. In New Zealand, the Occupations are contrived…pre-planned and organised.
Wasting Police time
Anyone noticed the sudden overbearing presence of Police at peaceful protests? Bugging Greenpeace and intimidating lawful activists. 25 Police at a 150-strong anti-deepsea drilling protest in Tauranga. 12 officers at a 60 worker picket at CMP Rangitikei. Are they just hyper because of the Cup or is it about shielding businesses from people exercising their democratic right to protest?
A global test of non-violent protest
The Occupation movement has bankers worried. So far, however, the protests have been peaceful. In fact, the Occupation is quickly shaping up as the biggest ever, world wide test of the efficacy of non-violent protest.
Angry marine
Marine Corps. Sgt. Shamar Thomas speaks his mind to some New York police. A bit repetitive, but he gets his point across!
Over or Into The Wall?
Will the protests around the world hit the brick wall of ingrained habits? Or will we manage to get over, around or beneath that particular barrier to progress?
Occupation showdown
By the time this post appears a showdown will have taken place in New York. Check out the morning media, there should be plenty of coverage of events as they unfold.
Petard, meet hoist
Attentive readers may recall some time back, when talk about illegal police video surveillance was to the fore, that there was also mention […]
Election flyers: Wage drop
Can we afford 3 more years of falling real wages under Key?
Occupation 2 – 700 arrested
The Occupation, now into its third week, seems to be growing. As is the Police response. In the latest development police have arrested more than 700 protesters on the Brooklyn Bridge.
Occupy Wall Street!
Have you heard of Occupy Wall Street? If you are one of the 99%, you should have…
The last student protest?
One of the big stories last night was the anti-VSM protest at Auckland Uni. Was it the last one we will see in NZ? That would suit the Nats very nicely – sheep will be so much easier to fleece…
Why’s Boscawen really quitting?
Out of the blue, John Boscawen has announced he is withdrawing from ACT’s list. It’s an odd departure from an odd man. ‘Family reasons’ is the line. Not exactly creative. Is the real reason National’s ‘fixit’ Bill? Boscawen is a true believer in ACT’s libertarian principles and doesn’t do compromise. Was being asked to sign a retrospective blank cheque the final straw?
Moving planet
Moving Planet is a worldwide rally to demand solutions to the climate crisis. It is being held on 24th September 2011 – a day to move beyond fossil fuels. Check out an event near you…
Disengaged
Why are the young so disengaged from the political process? 2011 is shaping up to be even worse than last election.
March to Save Factory Farming
On Saturday the 10th of September, 12pm, the Campaign to Save Factory Farming will be marching from the Civic Square to parliament. We will arrive at parliament at 1pm. With the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee about to release their new welfare code for layer hens it is important that we prevent the introduction of colony cages.
Nats say: if you don’t like it, riot
National has brought out some of the biggest protests in decades. Petitions of tens of thousands have called on the government to raise the minimum wage, support Kiwi manufacturing through Kiwirail, and protect early childhood education. It’s core policy – asset sales – is opposed 2 to 1. The message from National: if you don’t like it, riot.