"Walk of Peace"
Members of the Wellington Catholic Peacemakers Group are in the process of creating a pilgrimage for peace. This will take the form of a guided walk with “station stops” at significant memorials to peace and peacemakers in Wellington.
The walk will commence at the Soup Kitchen, 132 Tory Street on Sunday 7 March at 1 30pm. Station places include the Parihaka Memorial in Buckle Street, the Sonia Davies Memorial kowhai in Parliament grounds, the Ghandi Sculpture at the entrance to the Wellington Railway Station.
Though there are significant Memorials to Peace and Peacemakers in the Wellington Botanic Gardens, we will not include that area in this Sunday walk. We hope to have material available for a separate walk in the Botanic Gardens at another time.
The walk will end in the vicinity of Sacred Heart Cathedral. Participants are asked to bring their own water bottles. The walk will go ahead regardless of weather!
This walk is being planned as a non violent gesture of solidarity with the Ploughshares members whose trial on alleged criminal damage and burglary at the Waihopai Spy Base begins at the High Court, Wellington on Monday 8 March.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: cafca@chch.planet.org.nz
To: cafca@chch.planet.org.nz
Subject: Support For Waihopai Ploughshares Trial
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:58:46 +1300
Please forward on through your networks, apologies for cross posting
Support for the Waihopai Ploughshares trial
Update: January 2010
Adi Leason will be speaking at the next planning meeting for anyone interested in organising around the Ploughshares trial, this coming Thursday, see details below.
Kia ora,
the trial of the Waihopai Ploughshares team has been set to begin in Wellington on 8 March, 2010. The Wellington Ploughshares Support group has begun planning some of the events that will take place before and during the trial, and this message is to invite you and your organisation to become involved wherever you are based, you do not need to be in Wellington to support Waihopai Ploughshares before or during the trial.
There are four sections below: some background information; details of the next planning meeting in Wellington on Thursday, 28 January; support for the Waihopai Ploughshares trial; and a copy of the Waihopai Ploughshares statement. This message is available online at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/pldec09.htm
* Background information
At 6am on the morning of 30 April 2008, three members of a Christian Ploughshares team entered the Waihopai spy base and used sickles to deflate one of the two 30 metre domes covering satellite interception dishes. They then built a shrine and prayed for the victims of the war with no end - the so-called 'War on Terror' led by the United States government which also controls the NZ taxpayer funded Waihopai base.
More information about Waihopai Ploughshares is available at http://ploughshares.org.nz and http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/plshares.htm and information about the Waihopai spy base is at http://www.converge.org.nz/abc/waihopai.html
* Wellington planning meeting, Thursday, 28 January
Adi Leason will be speaking at the next planning meeting for anyone interested in organising around the Ploughshares trial, starts 5.30pm in the mezzanine floor meeting room, Wellington Central library, Victoria Street, on Thursday, 28 January - if you are unable to attend this meeting, but are interested in becoming involved, please contact the Wellington Ploughshares Support group c/o email pma@xtra.co.nz
* Support for the Waihopai Ploughshares trial
As mentioned above, the Wellington Ploughshares Support Group has begun planning events around the trial in Wellington, as has the Anti-Bases Campaign. There will be a range of activities and events in the run-up to, and during the trial - currently being discussed are some Fundraising for Iraq events in February (see http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/pl200808.htm for details of the previous event), workshops and other activities during the weekend of 6 - 7 March, a support gathering on the Monday morning as the trial opens, with a 'Women say no to spy bases' action in the early evening to mark both the opening of the trial and International Women's Day, Stations of the Cross around relevant Wellington institutions on the Tuesday early evening, and a public meeting organised by the Anti-Bases Campaign on the Wednesday evening. In addition there will be vigils, including prayer vigils, at various times of the day during the trial.
As well as the events in Wellington, it would be great if you or your organisation can begin planning what you might do in your community, your place of worship, or your town / city in the run up to and / or during the trial - keeping in mind and respecting the non-violent philosophy of Ploughshares. There are any amount of things you could do - writing letters to the editor of your local or national print media; organising a public vigil or picnic or other public demonstration of support for the trial; arranging for prayers to be said in the run up to, and during the trial, in your place of worship; organising a public meeting to spread the word about the Waihopai spy base and Ploughshares; supporting the sign-on support statements which will be circulated early next year ... and we're sure you can think of more.
Please feel free to contact the Wellington Ploughshares Support Group c/o email pma@xtra.co.nz to discuss your ideas, or to let us know what resources might be useful for you, or other ways we can help.
If you do not wish to become involved in organising a support event or activity, there are still ways you can help:
Prayer: karakia for peace, revelation and discernment are all essential prayers that people of faith can join us in;
Advocacy: people to learn and share more about the business and politics of war - to expose the powers that support the domination system and perpetuate military and economic violence against innocent people around the world;
Join the mailing list: send an email to ploughshares08@gmail.com to be added to the Ploughshares mailing list for occasional updates;
Finances: if you would like to make a donation to Waihopai Ploughshares, please send your cheque payable to 'Peace Movement Aotearoa - Special Projects', with a note saying it is for Ploughshares, and your name and address (if you'd like a receipt) to Peace Movement Aotearoa, PO Box 9314, Wellington 6141. If you would like to make a direct credit to the account, please contact email pma@xtra.co.nz for the details.
* Statement of the Waihopai ANZAC Ploughshares, 30 April 2008
They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift sword against nation; and there shall be no more training for war. Isaiah 2/4
This morning, 30 April 2008, we entered the Waihopai Spy Base near Blenheim.
Our group, including a Dominican Priest, temporarily closed the base by padlocking the gates and proceeded to deflate one of the large domes covering two satellite dishes.
At 6am we cut through three security fences surrounding the domes - these are armed with razor wire, infrared motion sensors and a high voltage electrified fence.
Once inside we used sickles to cut one of the two 30-metre white domes, built a shrine and knelt in prayer to remember the people killed by United States military activity.
We have financed our activities through personal savings, additional part-time employment and a small interest-free loan from one of our supporters.
We are responding to the Bush administration s admission that intelligence gathering is the most important tool in the so-called War on Terror. This war will have no end until citizens of the world refuse to let it continue. The ECHELON spy network including Waihopai, is an important part of the US government s global spy network and we have come in the name of the Prince of Peace to close it down.
The base is funded by New Zealand tax payers and located on New Zealand soil which makes New Zealand a target through our association with the UKUSA intelligence cooperation agreement.
Five years ago the Clark government opposed the US-led invasion of Iraq. Yet at the same time the Bush administration was using the National Security Agency s ECHELON system, of which Waihopai is an integral component, to spy on UN Security Council members so it could more easily swing them in favour of an invasion.
There have been over 100 Ploughshares actions over the last twenty years around the world. Ploughshares direct actions are linked through the common factors of: entry to locations connected to military activity, Christian prayers and most involve some form of property destruction.
Support for Waihopai Ploughshares trial,Thurs meeting Wellington
Please forward on through your networks, apologies for cross posting
Support for the Waihopai Ploughshares trial
Update: January 2010
Adi Leason will be speaking at the next planning meeting for anyone interested in organising around the Ploughshares trial, this coming Thursday, see details below.
Kia ora,
the trial of the Waihopai Ploughshares team has been set to begin in Wellington on 8 March, 2010. The Wellington Ploughshares Support group has begun planning some of the events that will take place before and during the trial, and this message is to invite you and your organisation to become involved wherever you are based, you do not need to be in Wellington to support Waihopai Ploughshares before or during the trial.
There are four sections below: some background information; details of the next planning meeting in Wellington on Thursday, 28 January; support for the Waihopai Ploughshares trial; and a copy of the Waihopai Ploughshares statement. This message is available online at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/pldec09.htm
* Background information
At 6am on the morning of 30 April 2008, three members of a Christian Ploughshares team entered the Waihopai spy base and used sickles to deflate one of the two 30 metre domes covering satellite interception dishes. They then built a shrine and prayed for the victims of the war with no end - the so-called 'War on Terror' led by the United States government which also controls the NZ taxpayer funded Waihopai base.
More information about Waihopai Ploughshares is available at http://ploughshares.org.nz and http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/plshares.htm and information about the Waihopai spy base is at http://www.converge.org.nz/abc/waihopai.html
* Wellington planning meeting, Thursday, 28 January
Adi Leason will be speaking at the next planning meeting for anyone interested in organising around the Ploughshares trial, starts 5.30pm in the mezzanine floor meeting room, Wellington Central library, Victoria Street, on Thursday, 28 January - if you are unable to attend this meeting, but are interested in becoming involved, please contact the Wellington Ploughshares Support group c/o email pma@xtra.co.nz
* Support for the Waihopai Ploughshares trial
As mentioned above, the Wellington Ploughshares Support Group has begun planning events around the trial in Wellington, as has the Anti-Bases Campaign. There will be a range of activities and events in the run-up to, and during the trial - currently being discussed are some Fundraising for Iraq events in February (see http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/pl200808.htm for details of the previous event), workshops and other activities during the weekend of 6 - 7 March, a support gathering on the Monday morning as the trial opens, with a 'Women say no to spy bases' action in the early evening to mark both the opening of the trial and International Women's Day, Stations of the Cross around relevant Wellington institutions on the Tuesday early evening, and a public meeting organised by the Anti-Bases Campaign on the Wednesday evening. In addition there will be vigils, including prayer vigils, at various times of the day during the trial.
As well as the events in Wellington, it would be great if you or your organisation can begin planning what you might do in your community, your place of worship, or your town / city in the run up to and / or during the trial - keeping in mind and respecting the non-violent philosophy of Ploughshares. There are any amount of things you could do - writing letters to the editor of your local or national print media; organising a public vigil or picnic or other public demonstration of support for the trial; arranging for prayers to be said in the run up to, and during the trial, in your place of worship; organising a public meeting to spread the word about the Waihopai spy base and Ploughshares; supporting the sign-on support statements which will be circulated early next year ... and we're sure you can think of more.
Please feel free to contact the Wellington Ploughshares Support Group c/o email pma@xtra.co.nz to discuss your ideas, or to let us know what resources might be useful for you, or other ways we can help.
If you do not wish to become involved in organising a support event or activity, there are still ways you can help:
Prayer: karakia for peace, revelation and discernment are all essential prayers that people of faith can join us in;
Advocacy: people to learn and share more about the business and politics of war - to expose the powers that support the domination system and perpetuate military and economic violence against innocent people around the world;
Join the mailing list: send an email to ploughshares08@gmail.com to be added to the Ploughshares mailing list for occasional updates;
Finances: if you would like to make a donation to Waihopai Ploughshares, please send your cheque payable to 'Peace Movement Aotearoa - Special Projects', with a note saying it is for Ploughshares, and your name and address (if you'd like a receipt) to Peace Movement Aotearoa, PO Box 9314, Wellington 6141. If you would like to make a direct credit to the account, please contact email pma@xtra.co.nz for the details.
* Statement of the Waihopai ANZAC Ploughshares, 30 April 2008
They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift sword against nation; and there shall be no more training for war. Isaiah 2/4
This morning, 30 April 2008, we entered the Waihopai Spy Base near Blenheim.
Our group, including a Dominican Priest, temporarily closed the base by padlocking the gates and proceeded to deflate one of the large domes covering two satellite dishes.
At 6am we cut through three security fences surrounding the domes - these are armed with razor wire, infrared motion sensors and a high voltage electrified fence.
Once inside we used sickles to cut one of the two 30-metre white domes, built a shrine and knelt in prayer to remember the people killed by United States military activity.
We have financed our activities through personal savings, additional part-time employment and a small interest-free loan from one of our supporters.
We are responding to the Bush administration s admission that intelligence gathering is the most important tool in the so-called War on Terror. This war will have no end until citizens of the world refuse to let it continue. The ECHELON spy network including Waihopai, is an important part of the US government s global spy network and we have come in the name of the Prince of Peace to close it down.
The base is funded by New Zealand tax payers and located on New Zealand soil which makes New Zealand a target through our association with the UKUSA intelligence cooperation agreement.
Five years ago the Clark government opposed the US-led invasion of Iraq. Yet at the same time the Bush administration was using the National Security Agency s ECHELON system, of which Waihopai is an integral component, to spy on UN Security Council members so it could more easily swing them in favour of an invasion.
There have been over 100 Ploughshares actions over the last twenty years around the world. Ploughshares direct actions are linked through the common factors of: entry to locations connected to military activity, Christian prayers and most involve some form of property destruction.
<> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <>
Peace Movement Aotearoa (PMA)
the national networking peace organisation
PO Box 9314, Wellington 6141, Aotearoa New Zealand
Tel +64 4 382 8129, fax 382 8173 email pma@xtra.co.nz
PMA website - http://www.converge.org.nz/pma
Not in Our Name - http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/nionnz.htm
<> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <>
>> war on terrorism? war is terrorism <<
<> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <>
Support for the Waihopai Ploughshares trial
Update: January 2010
Adi Leason will be speaking at the next planning meeting for anyone interested in organising around the Ploughshares trial, this coming Thursday, see details below.
Kia ora,
the trial of the Waihopai Ploughshares team has been set to begin in Wellington on 8 March, 2010. The Wellington Ploughshares Support group has begun planning some of the events that will take place before and during the trial, and this message is to invite you and your organisation to become involved wherever you are based, you do not need to be in Wellington to support Waihopai Ploughshares before or during the trial.
There are four sections below: some background information; details of the next planning meeting in Wellington on Thursday, 28 January; support for the Waihopai Ploughshares trial; and a copy of the Waihopai Ploughshares statement. This message is available online at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/pldec09.htm
* Background information
At 6am on the morning of 30 April 2008, three members of a Christian Ploughshares team entered the Waihopai spy base and used sickles to deflate one of the two 30 metre domes covering satellite interception dishes. They then built a shrine and prayed for the victims of the war with no end - the so-called 'War on Terror' led by the United States government which also controls the NZ taxpayer funded Waihopai base.
More information about Waihopai Ploughshares is available at http://ploughshares.org.nz and http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/plshares.htm and information about the Waihopai spy base is at http://www.converge.org.nz/abc/waihopai.html
* Wellington planning meeting, Thursday, 28 January
Adi Leason will be speaking at the next planning meeting for anyone interested in organising around the Ploughshares trial, starts 5.30pm in the mezzanine floor meeting room, Wellington Central library, Victoria Street, on Thursday, 28 January - if you are unable to attend this meeting, but are interested in becoming involved, please contact the Wellington Ploughshares Support group c/o email pma@xtra.co.nz
* Support for the Waihopai Ploughshares trial
As mentioned above, the Wellington Ploughshares Support Group has begun planning events around the trial in Wellington, as has the Anti-Bases Campaign. There will be a range of activities and events in the run-up to, and during the trial - currently being discussed are some Fundraising for Iraq events in February (see http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/pl200808.htm for details of the previous event), workshops and other activities during the weekend of 6 - 7 March, a support gathering on the Monday morning as the trial opens, with a 'Women say no to spy bases' action in the early evening to mark both the opening of the trial and International Women's Day, Stations of the Cross around relevant Wellington institutions on the Tuesday early evening, and a public meeting organised by the Anti-Bases Campaign on the Wednesday evening. In addition there will be vigils, including prayer vigils, at various times of the day during the trial.
As well as the events in Wellington, it would be great if you or your organisation can begin planning what you might do in your community, your place of worship, or your town / city in the run up to and / or during the trial - keeping in mind and respecting the non-violent philosophy of Ploughshares. There are any amount of things you could do - writing letters to the editor of your local or national print media; organising a public vigil or picnic or other public demonstration of support for the trial; arranging for prayers to be said in the run up to, and during the trial, in your place of worship; organising a public meeting to spread the word about the Waihopai spy base and Ploughshares; supporting the sign-on support statements which will be circulated early next year ... and we're sure you can think of more.
Please feel free to contact the Wellington Ploughshares Support Group c/o email pma@xtra.co.nz to discuss your ideas, or to let us know what resources might be useful for you, or other ways we can help.
If you do not wish to become involved in organising a support event or activity, there are still ways you can help:
Prayer: karakia for peace, revelation and discernment are all essential prayers that people of faith can join us in;
Advocacy: people to learn and share more about the business and politics of war - to expose the powers that support the domination system and perpetuate military and economic violence against innocent people around the world;
Join the mailing list: send an email to ploughshares08@gmail.com to be added to the Ploughshares mailing list for occasional updates;
Finances: if you would like to make a donation to Waihopai Ploughshares, please send your cheque payable to 'Peace Movement Aotearoa - Special Projects', with a note saying it is for Ploughshares, and your name and address (if you'd like a receipt) to Peace Movement Aotearoa, PO Box 9314, Wellington 6141. If you would like to make a direct credit to the account, please contact email pma@xtra.co.nz for the details.
* Statement of the Waihopai ANZAC Ploughshares, 30 April 2008
They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift sword against nation; and there shall be no more training for war. Isaiah 2/4
This morning, 30 April 2008, we entered the Waihopai Spy Base near Blenheim.
Our group, including a Dominican Priest, temporarily closed the base by padlocking the gates and proceeded to deflate one of the large domes covering two satellite dishes.
At 6am we cut through three security fences surrounding the domes - these are armed with razor wire, infrared motion sensors and a high voltage electrified fence.
Once inside we used sickles to cut one of the two 30-metre white domes, built a shrine and knelt in prayer to remember the people killed by United States military activity.
We have financed our activities through personal savings, additional part-time employment and a small interest-free loan from one of our supporters.
We are responding to the Bush administration s admission that intelligence gathering is the most important tool in the so-called War on Terror. This war will have no end until citizens of the world refuse to let it continue. The ECHELON spy network including Waihopai, is an important part of the US government s global spy network and we have come in the name of the Prince of Peace to close it down.
The base is funded by New Zealand tax payers and located on New Zealand soil which makes New Zealand a target through our association with the UKUSA intelligence cooperation agreement.
Five years ago the Clark government opposed the US-led invasion of Iraq. Yet at the same time the Bush administration was using the National Security Agency s ECHELON system, of which Waihopai is an integral component, to spy on UN Security Council members so it could more easily swing them in favour of an invasion.
There have been over 100 Ploughshares actions over the last twenty years around the world. Ploughshares direct actions are linked through the common factors of: entry to locations connected to military activity, Christian prayers and most involve some form of property destruction.
<> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <>
Peace Movement Aotearoa (PMA)
the national networking peace organisation
PO Box 9314, Wellington 6141, Aotearoa New Zealand
Tel +64 4 382 8129, fax 382 8173 email pma@xtra.co.nz
PMA website - http://www.converge.org.nz/pma
Not in Our Name - http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/nionnz.htm
<> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <>
>> war on terrorism? war is terrorism <<
<> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <>
Roger Award Winner To Be Announced In Wellington On March 11
Thursday March 11 2010 – The Roger Award Ceremony
Drinking Liberally presents the annual CAFCA/Gatt Watchdog Roger Award ceremony.
The Roger Award is presented each year to the worst transnational corporation operating in New Zealand, and the winner of the 2009 Roger Award will be announced at a ceremony in Wellington on Thursday March 11 2010, at the Southern Cross Bar, 39 Abel Smith Street.
Speakers include Christine Dann (for the judges) and Murray Horton (CAFCA). Doors open 5.30pm, with some food provided, and presentations will get underway from 6pm.
This year's Roger Award finalists are: ANZ, BNZ, Infratil, Newmont, Rio Tinto Aluminium NZ, Rymans, Telecom, Transpacific and Westpac.
For more info: www.cafca.org.nz or contact Kane on 021-186-3430 or kane.oconnell@gmail.com
Drinking Liberally presents the annual CAFCA/Gatt Watchdog Roger Award ceremony.
The Roger Award is presented each year to the worst transnational corporation operating in New Zealand, and the winner of the 2009 Roger Award will be announced at a ceremony in Wellington on Thursday March 11 2010, at the Southern Cross Bar, 39 Abel Smith Street.
Speakers include Christine Dann (for the judges) and Murray Horton (CAFCA). Doors open 5.30pm, with some food provided, and presentations will get underway from 6pm.
This year's Roger Award finalists are: ANZ, BNZ, Infratil, Newmont, Rio Tinto Aluminium NZ, Rymans, Telecom, Transpacific and Westpac.
For more info: www.cafca.org.nz or contact Kane on 021-186-3430 or kane.oconnell@gmail.com
CAFCA's Historic Comalco Comic Now Online
“Power Junky”, CAFCA’s famous historic Comalco comic (1977; updated 1982; text by Pete Lusk, drawing by Ron Currie) is now available online. Obviously some of the facts and details have changed in the ensuing 30+ years but, sadly the great bulk of it is just as relevant today, because NZ is still saddled with Rio Tinto Aluminium NZ’s Bluff smelter. It remains the single biggest user of electricity in the country and the beneficiary of a top secret mates’ rates power price.
The 40 page classic comic can be read at:
http://historicalwatchdog.blogspot.com/2009/01/comalco-comic.html
It has been uploaded, along with two other historic CAFCA publications – a 1975 booklet on the proposed Mt Davy coal scheme on the West Coast (still very relevant today) and issue 2 of Foreign Control Watchdog (issue 1 seems to be lost in the mists of time. Perhaps we should ask the SIS if they can give us a copy from their archive).
All up, 103 separate publications are now online at http://www.historicalwatchdog.blogspot.com/ covering the period 1974-99 inclusive (Watchdogs from 1999 onwards are already online at www.converge.org.nz/watchdog).
Many thanks to Lynda Boyd for all her hard work on this mammoth task.
The 40 page classic comic can be read at:
http://historicalwatchdog.blogspot.com/2009/01/comalco-comic.html
It has been uploaded, along with two other historic CAFCA publications – a 1975 booklet on the proposed Mt Davy coal scheme on the West Coast (still very relevant today) and issue 2 of Foreign Control Watchdog (issue 1 seems to be lost in the mists of time. Perhaps we should ask the SIS if they can give us a copy from their archive).
All up, 103 separate publications are now online at http://www.historicalwatchdog.blogspot.com/ covering the period 1974-99 inclusive (Watchdogs from 1999 onwards are already online at www.converge.org.nz/watchdog).
Many thanks to Lynda Boyd for all her hard work on this mammoth task.
Please Write To MPs Opposing A Free Trade Deal With The US. CAFCA
Hillary Clinton’s NZ visit has been postponed at the last minute, due to the Haiti earthquake but, regardless of that, negotiations will commence on March 15th for the US to join the existing trade and investment agreement, the grandly named Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership – often known as the P4. The US wishes to use this as a platform for a broad Asia/Pacific free trade bloc, and several other regional countries have indicated that they want to join the current P4 members – New Zealand, Singapore, Chile and Brunei . There are already moves afoot to extend the P4 into investment and financial services. The aim is to have the deal done in 2011 (meaning that it will be too late to raise it as an election issue).
This becomes the means to open negotiations for a US/NZ Free Trade Agreement, which will (among other things):
Remove any remaining “restrictions” on foreign investment, as the US regards NZ’s (purely token) oversight regime as “discriminating” against US transnational corporations
push up the price of medicines by potentially hundreds of millions of dollars a year by attacking Pharmac;
make access to digital recordings more expensive, and copying more restricted;
attack our GE controls and food labelling,
weaken our controls on food imports where they might carry diseases.
Prime Minister John Key has already confirmed that NZ “must be prepared to make concessions”, saying that the US will have its own “shopping list... You can’t rule out Pharmac – it’s been on the list before. You can’t rule out issues of intellectual property and investment. All of those things will inevitably be part of the negotiations” (Press, 17/11/09; “Concessions needed for US deal, Key”).
Both National and Labour myopically see a US FTA as being the Holy Grail of their adherence to the cargo cult of “free trade”. New Zealanders who kid themselves that “we” stand to gain from a Free Trade Agreement with the US would be wise to reflect on the rueful words of Sir Christopher Meyer, Britain’s Ambassador to the US in the runup to the US/UK invasion of Iraq. Speaking to the current public Inquiry into Britain’s part in that invasion and war: “Meyer expressed frustration that Britain was unable to gain much diplomatic leverage from its position as the US’ chief ally. Britain failed to persuade the US to liberalise trans-Atlantic air travel and, almost on the day when British commandoes joined the fighting in Afghanistan, the US imposed tariffs on imports of specialised British steel” (Press, 28/11/09). If this is the way that the US treats its “chief ally” when it comes to protecting its own trade and economic interests, how do you think little old NZ will get on?
CAFCA is calling on other groups and individuals to join us in the campaign against this very dangerous proposal. As a first step we’ve set up the New Zealand Not For Sale Website www.nznotforsale.org There you will find a wealth of information about just why this proposed Free Trade Agreement is such a bad thing. We particularly recommend that you read Bill Rosenberg’s excellent article “Who Wins If We Get A Free Trade Deal With The US?” http://nznotforsale.wordpress.com/who-wins-if-we-get-a-free-trade-with-the-us/
That Website also has a list of New Zealanders who have publicly expressed their opposition to a US/NZ Free Trade Agreement. You can view the list at http://www.nznotforsale.org/2009/05/13/signatories-to-statement-opposing-p4-free-trade-agreement/
If you would like to add your name (and any organisational office held, if applicable) to that list, just reply to this e-mail with your name and/or position. Title your e-mail “I Oppose US/NZ FTA, Add Me To The List”
And we’re asking all of you to write to MPs saying that you oppose this proposed deal and why. Below is a template letter (which is also downloadable from the Website).
This becomes the means to open negotiations for a US/NZ Free Trade Agreement, which will (among other things):
Remove any remaining “restrictions” on foreign investment, as the US regards NZ’s (purely token) oversight regime as “discriminating” against US transnational corporations
push up the price of medicines by potentially hundreds of millions of dollars a year by attacking Pharmac;
make access to digital recordings more expensive, and copying more restricted;
attack our GE controls and food labelling,
weaken our controls on food imports where they might carry diseases.
Prime Minister John Key has already confirmed that NZ “must be prepared to make concessions”, saying that the US will have its own “shopping list... You can’t rule out Pharmac – it’s been on the list before. You can’t rule out issues of intellectual property and investment. All of those things will inevitably be part of the negotiations” (Press, 17/11/09; “Concessions needed for US deal, Key”).
Both National and Labour myopically see a US FTA as being the Holy Grail of their adherence to the cargo cult of “free trade”. New Zealanders who kid themselves that “we” stand to gain from a Free Trade Agreement with the US would be wise to reflect on the rueful words of Sir Christopher Meyer, Britain’s Ambassador to the US in the runup to the US/UK invasion of Iraq. Speaking to the current public Inquiry into Britain’s part in that invasion and war: “Meyer expressed frustration that Britain was unable to gain much diplomatic leverage from its position as the US’ chief ally. Britain failed to persuade the US to liberalise trans-Atlantic air travel and, almost on the day when British commandoes joined the fighting in Afghanistan, the US imposed tariffs on imports of specialised British steel” (Press, 28/11/09). If this is the way that the US treats its “chief ally” when it comes to protecting its own trade and economic interests, how do you think little old NZ will get on?
CAFCA is calling on other groups and individuals to join us in the campaign against this very dangerous proposal. As a first step we’ve set up the New Zealand Not For Sale Website www.nznotforsale.org There you will find a wealth of information about just why this proposed Free Trade Agreement is such a bad thing. We particularly recommend that you read Bill Rosenberg’s excellent article “Who Wins If We Get A Free Trade Deal With The US?” http://nznotforsale.wordpress.com/who-wins-if-we-get-a-free-trade-with-the-us/
That Website also has a list of New Zealanders who have publicly expressed their opposition to a US/NZ Free Trade Agreement. You can view the list at http://www.nznotforsale.org/2009/05/13/signatories-to-statement-opposing-p4-free-trade-agreement/
If you would like to add your name (and any organisational office held, if applicable) to that list, just reply to this e-mail with your name and/or position. Title your e-mail “I Oppose US/NZ FTA, Add Me To The List”
And we’re asking all of you to write to MPs saying that you oppose this proposed deal and why. Below is a template letter (which is also downloadable from the Website).
WAIHOPAI SPYBASE PROTEST SATURDAY JANUARY 23rd END NZ INVOLVEMENT IN US WARS
People from all around New Zealand will be converging on Blenheim and the super-secret Waihopai satellite interception spybase, in Marlborough, on the weekend of January 22-24. The war in Afghanistan, in which the NZ military is directly involved, has got dramatically worse and President Obama’s surge of 30,000 extra US troops will escalate it further. Already it has spread across the border into Pakistan. Hillary Clinton’s NZ visit this week is aimed at whipping America’s allies into shape and to get more troops out of the Key government, whilst simultaneously dangling a Free Trade Agreement as the “reward” – nothing has changed since Holyoake’s “guns for butter” catchcry of the Vietnam War years.
The theme of our activities, both at the spybase and in Blenheim, will be anti-war. The US says that Intelligence is the key component of all the wars that it is fighting, or planning to fight, throughout the world (Yemen is the latest target in this endless war). The Anti-Bases Campaign points out that Waihopai, an important source of intelligence for the Pentagon, is New Zealand’s most important contribution to the American war machine and it means that we New Zealanders have blood on our hands. To symbolise that, our props will include crosses, coffins and white masks.
This will be the first protest at the spybase since the April 2008 deflation of one of its domes by the Ploughshares peace activists. In solidarity with them, we will be popping white balloons at the base (and we will be at their Wellington trial, for the week starting March 8).
Waihopai, of course, is a “New Zealand” base – or so the Government says. The fact is, however, that in everything but name it is an outpost of American Intelligence – paid for by the long suffering NZ taxpayer. More than $500 million of public money has been spent on the NZ Government Communications Security Bureau (the agency which runs Waihopai) in the 22 years of Waihopai’s operation. That money could have been much better utilised on health and education, not spying on behalf of Uncle Sam.
On Saturday 23rd we will meet in Blenheim’s Seymour Square at 11 am. From there we will march through central Blenheim, with speeches at the band rotunda in the Forum.
This will be followed by a visit to the Waihopai spybase itself at 2 pm. Information will be provided on the function of the base and there will be a peaceful protest, calling for its closure. Speakers, either in Blenheim and/or the spybase, will be: Keith Locke, Green MP; John Minto, of Global Peace and Justice Auckland; and Murray Horton of ABC.
Waihopai does not operate in the national interest of New Zealand. In all but name it is a foreign spybase on NZ soil, paid for with hundreds of millions of our tax dollars, and directly involves us in America’s wars. Waihopai must be closed. (For details on Waihopai and what it does, go to our Website www.converge.org.nz/abc).
The theme of our activities, both at the spybase and in Blenheim, will be anti-war. The US says that Intelligence is the key component of all the wars that it is fighting, or planning to fight, throughout the world (Yemen is the latest target in this endless war). The Anti-Bases Campaign points out that Waihopai, an important source of intelligence for the Pentagon, is New Zealand’s most important contribution to the American war machine and it means that we New Zealanders have blood on our hands. To symbolise that, our props will include crosses, coffins and white masks.
This will be the first protest at the spybase since the April 2008 deflation of one of its domes by the Ploughshares peace activists. In solidarity with them, we will be popping white balloons at the base (and we will be at their Wellington trial, for the week starting March 8).
Waihopai, of course, is a “New Zealand” base – or so the Government says. The fact is, however, that in everything but name it is an outpost of American Intelligence – paid for by the long suffering NZ taxpayer. More than $500 million of public money has been spent on the NZ Government Communications Security Bureau (the agency which runs Waihopai) in the 22 years of Waihopai’s operation. That money could have been much better utilised on health and education, not spying on behalf of Uncle Sam.
On Saturday 23rd we will meet in Blenheim’s Seymour Square at 11 am. From there we will march through central Blenheim, with speeches at the band rotunda in the Forum.
This will be followed by a visit to the Waihopai spybase itself at 2 pm. Information will be provided on the function of the base and there will be a peaceful protest, calling for its closure. Speakers, either in Blenheim and/or the spybase, will be: Keith Locke, Green MP; John Minto, of Global Peace and Justice Auckland; and Murray Horton of ABC.
Waihopai does not operate in the national interest of New Zealand. In all but name it is a foreign spybase on NZ soil, paid for with hundreds of millions of our tax dollars, and directly involves us in America’s wars. Waihopai must be closed. (For details on Waihopai and what it does, go to our Website www.converge.org.nz/abc).
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