Thank you to all who turned up on Tuesday. There were a small number of us, yet still we reclaimed half of Queen Street. If anybody has any photographs or videos please get in touch via email - littleredhen AT revoltingworld.org
Last Minute Update:
Given the reactionary and violent Police response to the NZ-US Partnership Forum protest today, we will be hoping to promote a very peaceful, fun event.
It has become obvious that the NZ Police could act with a very heavy hand without reason more than wanting to beat up some young kids. Let's show them that we're just out there to show New Zealand support for the US General Strike and to have a nice evening.
Sleep well, see ya tomorrow :)
Why?!
....We want a world where WE ALL HAVE our NEEDS met.... and we know we already could have.....
....because you and me and everyone else on this planet are expendable when theres a buck to be made....
....because we can get out to Aotea Square and onto Queen street with a big banner or flag or chalk or whatever and make our thoughts known....
....because I wake up every day knowing that at that very moment people are running for their lives as their own homes burn down around them, while we have the relative luxury of having been born in a country further down the list of necessary aquisitions for resources and strategic location, and still further down the list when it comes to requiring force to be owned and used (but for how long?).... unlike those born into situations far worse than mine we can actually get out to these sorts of events without (hopefully) getting shot at or bombed....
....because we know whats going on AND actually give a shit. Carrying on with business as usual is hardly going to put a spanner in the works of big business and the system at large... Refusing to participate entirely for a day becomes pretty noticeable when the tills aren't ringing and the cashiers dont show up to work and the streets are full of people out to protest the status quo of war and the (wage) slavery that supports the hierachy of capital....
....because things don't change all by themselves,things wont improve unless we get off our arses, make our presence felt and known, say what we think, network and organise with each other and take action.....
The action
We wish to show our dissatisfaction with the disgusting actions of multinational corporations, with the violent and oppresive American government, and with the New Zealand government and corporate society for their participation in and support of these organisations.
A General Strike is being planned all over the United States. We plan to show our support.
New Zealand is 'the first to see the light'! Imagine a world waking up to a vision of support and change... anything could happen.... we hope.
Auckland, 4PM September 11 happens to coincide with midnight on the Morning of September 11 in New York.
We plan to gather at Aotea Square, moving at 4:30 PM toward the US Consulate (which, by the way, is 'American Soil'...for real...the marines behind those bulletproof doors upstairs are legally allowed to shoot and kill you with no redress in our courts) for a candle lit vigil in the street.
If you think you can afford to maintain melancholy in our present time and place, please realise that we are NOT sheltered here.
* There is the Suppression of Terrorism Act 2002.
* Our basic needs and resources are privately owned and not freely accessable to all (Water, Housing, Food), and are often of low quality, or even unsafe.
*
More and more of our countries resources and land are being purchased by offshore investors and companies.
* Between the 9th and 11th of September 2007, Auckland will host the second annual United States New Zealand Partnership Forum.
We are not sheltered, and are surely not removed.
What to bring:
Signs, banners, whistles, candles, flags, friends, family. Whatever you feel is a symbol of your support/thoughts/feelings toward people living under the oppression of the US government and multinational corporate greed.
Help us out:
Please pass on the information, blog it, print it, talk it.
If you are not in Auckland on this day but want to participate you can organise with people in your locale for an action to take place. Make a flyer, either original or based on this one, rally some friends together, etc etc.
.... it is up to us as individuals to express our views, but where our veiws converge we may act as groups...
If you would like to get in touch you can email littleredhen AT revoltingworld.org
"We have maintained a silence closely resembling stupidity"