activism

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Spying (310)

Introducing Campaign Hub 2008

Written By: Steve Pierson - Date published: 3:37 pm, September 11th, 2008 - 69 comments

Helena Catt, head of the Electoral Commission, says the EFA has had a ‘chilling effect’ on democratic participation. I’m convinced that that is a foolish position based on a belief that ‘democratic participation’ is rich lobby groups paying for ads and billboards, trying to market to us. What the EFA has actually done is democratise […]

Choosing a Righter Future

Written By: Tane - Date published: 2:25 pm, September 2nd, 2008 - 19 comments

A couple more National Party billboards I whipped up in my lunch break. You know, when the original is so godawful it takes all the fun out of the parody. Step it up could you, National? Even Ansell’s better than this… (Click on the images for larger versions or here for more submitted by readers.)

Wave goodbye to National’s crappy slogan

Written By: all_your_base - Date published: 11:06 am, September 2nd, 2008 - 28 comments

Over to you (click the image below for the high res version – 300K JPG): send us your versions and we’ll post them under the fold. _______________________________________________________________ (Rodneygrub) (Rodneygrub) (David Slack) More billboards from Island Life

New Facebook groups

Written By: Steve Pierson - Date published: 6:36 pm, August 31st, 2008 - 42 comments

After I was part of the ‘Great NZ Sell-off’ skit protest outside the National Party conference at the start of the month, I did a wee interview with a journo from NewstalkZB and he, knowing I’ve got something to do with this interweb thing, asked ‘what do you think of the fact that John Key’s […]

Nats, Farrar fail again in attempt to muzzle Kiwis

Written By: Steve Pierson - Date published: 11:05 am, August 29th, 2008 - 26 comments

For the third time, National’s attempt to get a legal decision to block the EPMU and its sister unions from participating in the election campaign as registered third parties as failed. So pathetic were National’s arguments that they lost their last case even though the EMPU submitted no arguments of its own to the Court. […]

Workers demand decent work rights policies

Written By: Steve Pierson - Date published: 9:54 am, August 28th, 2008 - 24 comments

6000 workers turned out in Manukau yesterday for the EPMU’s Wages Drive rally. With 25 events nation-wide over this month, which have attracted crowds from several hundred in little old Blenhiem to thousands in each of the cities, this is the largest series of political rallies in New Zealand this parliamentary term. The EPMU reports […]

Drinking Liberally – Palmerston North

Written By: Steve Pierson - Date published: 4:35 pm, August 14th, 2008 - 24 comments

A third Drinking Liberally chapter is underway. The first meeting of Drinking Liberally – Palmerston North will be next Friday at the Kingsgate bar. The guest speaker will be Hamish MacDouall, Labour candidate for Whanganui, David Bowie expert, brain box, and all-round nice guy. Now, Palmy isn’t known as a hotbed of political activism but […]

Activist Workshop

Written By: Steve Pierson - Date published: 1:29 pm, August 13th, 2008 - 6 comments

I’ve been awfully remiss in not posting on this earlier. Transition Towns, a group dedicated to developing the skills needed for communities to become more self-sufficient in the coming post-peak oil world, is holding an activist training session in Wellington this coming weekend. There’s a programme of activities running from Friday evening through to Sunday designed […]

Petition: sign the Enforced Disappearance Convention

Written By: Steve Pierson - Date published: 9:18 am, August 13th, 2008 - 12 comments

In December 2006, the United Nations adopted a major new human rights treaty, the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance aimed at preventing and punishing ‘enforced disappearance’ – the kidnap and murder of political opponents by governments. 73 countries have signed the convention, 4 have ratified it. 20 ratifications are […]

Pathetic

Written By: Steve Pierson - Date published: 8:39 pm, August 3rd, 2008 - 37 comments

Rather than discussing the quote from Bill English that he would sell Kiwibank, David Farrar is whining that the protest outside the National Party conference today breached the EFA because it did not contain authorisation. Once again, Farrar would rather try to attack on technicalities than deal in substantive issues, and once again he is […]

Freedom Week

Written By: Tane - Date published: 6:28 pm, July 30th, 2008 - 9 comments

Amnesty International does some great campaigning and human rights work around the globe and this week is Freedom Week, their annual fundraising and awareness drive. Most people will be familiar with Amnesty’s work, especially with the spotlight they’ve helped to shine on China’s appalling human rights record in the leadup to the Olympics. What’s often […]

For the people

Written By: Steve Pierson - Date published: 12:01 pm, July 28th, 2008 - 28 comments

A sage comment from our reader, Bill, got me thinking. He said “If political news was even given the same modest in-depth coverage as (say) sports news we wouldn’t be living in the NZ that we inhabit today.” I might put it like this: “If you knew as much about politics and how your country […]

Growing opposition to Immigration Bill

Written By: Steve Pierson - Date published: 12:07 pm, July 14th, 2008 - 13 comments

Nick Butcher has produced this excellent video opposing the Immigration Bill (which we blogged about last week and is covered in more detail here). There’s also a website and an ipetition. This really is an appalling Bill and I take my hat off to Nick and co for having the initiative to organise public opposition […]

David Slack at Drinking Liberally Auckland

Written By: all_your_base - Date published: 11:30 am, July 9th, 2008 - 13 comments

(Via: greylynnsinglesclub)

The Girl Effect

Written By: all_your_base - Date published: 4:01 pm, July 7th, 2008 - Comments Off on The Girl Effect

Learn more at thegirleffect.org

Road spike

Written By: Steve Pierson - Date published: 5:02 pm, July 3rd, 2008 - 118 comments

The truck companies are going to blockade our motorways tomorrow morning to protest being forced to pay a levy to cover the damage their trucks do to the roads. They expect us to pick up the tab instead. Well, hey, we all like a free-ride, don’t we? So, click on the image below and print off […]

Drinking Liberally reminder

Written By: Steve Pierson - Date published: 12:44 pm, July 3rd, 2008 - 3 comments

Don’t forget Drinking Liberally tonight. The weather’s crap but the good people at Southern Cross have provided their function room, so you won’t get wet. Nicky Hager will be drawing a big crowd and there should be plenty of lively discussion in the light of this week’s political events. WHAT Drinking Liberally Wellington WHEN 5:30pm, […]

Reminder: Drinking Liberally Auckland

Written By: lprent - Date published: 2:36 pm, July 1st, 2008 - Comments Off on Reminder: Drinking Liberally Auckland

Remember that Drinking Liberally Auckland is having its inaugural session tomorrow with David Slack. Note it in your schedules and tell your left-leaning and green friends where the action is. In fact phone a techno-phobe friend now! WHAT Drinking Liberally Auckland WHEN 7:30pm, Wed 2 July WHERE London Bar, corner Queen and Wellesley Streets, Auckland […]

Hager to speak at Drinking Liberally – Wellington

Written By: Steve Pierson - Date published: 9:45 am, July 1st, 2008 - 13 comments

This is one not to be missed. Nicky Hager will be speaking at Drinking Liberally – Wellington this coming Thursday. Hager, author of The Hollow Men – shortly to screen as a movie at the International Film Festival – is back in the spotlight this week following this article in the Sunday Star Times. In it, […]

Drinking Liberally – Auckland

Written By: lprent - Date published: 9:45 am, June 25th, 2008 - 14 comments

You’re invited to the first Auckland Drinking Liberally event – 7.30pm next Wednesday night (2 July) at the London Bar with special guest speaker David Slack. Drinking Liberally brings together people from across the left-leaning wing of the political spectrum for discussion, debate and, well, drinking. The first Auckland event will take place from 7.30pm […]

Drinking Liberally email for the next event

Written By: Steve Pierson - Date published: 4:04 pm, June 17th, 2008 - 26 comments

“Hi all, Ok, we’re going to try to lock in a regular Drinking Liberally schedule now: first and third Thursdays of each month. Which makes the next session this coming Thursday… And a huge thanks to Dr Michael Cullen for coming along to the last event. The video’s up on YouTube for those who missed […]

Roger Awards open

Written By: Tane - Date published: 9:07 am, June 17th, 2008 - 16 comments

Nominations have opened for this year’s Roger Awards, naming and shaming the worst transnational corporation operating in New Zealand in 2008. Previous winners have included Telecom, Progressive Enterprises and TranzRail, but I reckon Rio Tinto and Spotless Services would have to be odds-on favourites for this year. For more information and a nomination form click […]

Political monogamy

Written By: all_your_base - Date published: 1:42 pm, June 13th, 2008 - 43 comments

Thought this might make a good followup to Steve/Trotter’s comments in the post below. It’s from the group TruthThroughAction.org – a group of independent filmmakers who create content in support of Democratic causes. It may also serve as a timely warning to any women planning on attending the next of John Key’s young professional networking […]

Video: Dr Cullen at Drinking Liberally

Written By: all_your_base - Date published: 7:13 am, June 7th, 2008 - 70 comments

We just received a video of Michael Cullen’s speech to Drinking Liberally on Wednesday from one of the attendees. It’s well worth a look. Everyone who was there that I have spoken to since was hugely impressed because Cullen spoke from his roots, from his political soul. He would do well to speak like this […]

Many liberals, many drinks at Drinking Liberally

Written By: Steve Pierson - Date published: 12:49 pm, June 5th, 2008 - 9 comments

Drinking Liberally last night was another raging success. The crowd was about 80, lots of new faces and good fun had by all. Given an open brief, Michael Cullen went back to his roots. He talked about social democracy and what it stands for; what that meant growing up in a working class family and […]

Drinking Liberally tonight

Written By: Steve Pierson - Date published: 3:19 pm, June 4th, 2008 - 11 comments

Just a reminder that Drinking Liberally is on again this evening. See youse there. WHAT Drinking Liberally WHEN From 5.30pm, Wednesday June 4th. WHERE Southern Cross, Abel Smith Street SPEAKER Michael Cullen, Deputy Prime Minister CONTACT wellington@drinkingliberally.org

Cullen to speak at Drinking Liberally

Written By: Steve Pierson - Date published: 3:50 pm, May 30th, 2008 - 100 comments

Drinking Liberally’s Facebook group has just sent out the invitation to their second event. I don’t know how they’ve swung it, but they’ve got Michael Cullen speaking. It’s not every day the Deputy Prime Minister agrees to talk to your drinking club/politics forum. It will be on Wednesday again to fit Cullen’s schedule. So, details: […]

Drinking Liberally liberally attended

Written By: Steve Pierson - Date published: 6:19 pm, May 22nd, 2008 - 18 comments

The launch of Drinking Liberally at the Southern Cross last night was a blast. The organisers had been hoping for 20 plus people to make it the first time, so it was really impressive to see over 50 people there. Nandor spoke well and had a chance to speak on a big picture level regarding […]

Launch of Drinking Liberally NZ

Written By: Steve Pierson - Date published: 12:17 pm, May 15th, 2008 - 67 comments

If you’re down in Wellington and of the Left, you’ve probably heard people talking about Drinking Liberally New Zealand. Drinking Liberally is an international network that grew out of the US, where people from throughout the Left, greenies, union-types, feminists, anarchists, Labourites, and everyone else, get together at a bar in their town, have a […]

“Obama in 30 seconds” winner

Written By: all_your_base - Date published: 9:54 am, May 13th, 2008 - Comments Off on “Obama in 30 seconds” winner

After over 1100 submissions and more than 5.5 million total votes cast, MoveOn.org have announced the winner of their “Obama in 30 seconds” homemade ad competition – Obamacan by David Gaw & Lance Mungia. They’re now running a fundraiser to get it aired commercially.

A hand-up, not a hand-out

Written By: Guest post - Date published: 9:53 am, May 8th, 2008 - 37 comments

Last night, while walking the tiles, I came across a group of young people. These were ambitious young people, and their ambition was this: find a supermarket trolley, take said trolley, put one of their party in the trolley, then drive the trolley to the nearest Star Mart and into that Star Mart, wherein to […]