activism

Categories under activism

Spying (310)

Onward

Written By: Steve Pierson - Date published: 12:45 pm, November 10th, 2008 - 31 comments

I am incredibly proud to have worked with some many great people during the election campaign, and to know that many times more put in the hard work as well to defend what we believe in. Organisations like Both Eyes Open, Drinking Liberally, and The Standard have shown it is still possible to build grassroots […]

Don’t mourn, organise.

Written By: IrishBill - Date published: 11:48 am, November 10th, 2008 - 70 comments

In 1984 I watched the incoming Labour government move on a set of policies they had no mandate for and I also watched the Left flounder to resist them. Given it was only three years since we had mobilised so strongly against the Springbok tour that failure to act was unacceptable. In 1990 when we […]

Congratulations

Written By: IrishBill - Date published: 10:36 am, November 9th, 2008 - 77 comments

It’s been a hard fought campaign but it’s clear that we’ve got a firmly right wing government now. Congratulations are in order for John Key and the ACT party. Of course I’m not happy with the outcome and I expect it will bode badly for a lot of New Zealanders but that’s the democratic result […]

Shock revelation: Taper is Wellington Leftie

Written By: Steve Pierson - Date published: 8:25 am, November 6th, 2008 - 99 comments

The secret taper has revealed himself as Kees Keizer, a leftie from Wellington. I spent quite a bit of time yesterday encouraging Keizer to tell his story, preferably to The Standard or the Herald (more credible), and he steadfastly refused. So imagine my surprise when I see a three page article of him talking to […]

Democracy under attack

Written By: Steve Pierson - Date published: 1:44 pm, November 5th, 2008 - 67 comments

From Both Eyes Open: National Party candidate Stephen Franks’ campaign team has been systematically tearing down political posters put up by his opponents despite Franks recently describing people defacing his election hoardings as ‘political thugs who don’t like free speech or opinions different from their own’. The group Both Eyes Open which has been distributing posters, […]

Last days to get active

Written By: Steve Pierson - Date published: 4:22 pm, November 4th, 2008 - 10 comments

It’s great to see people still downloading materials from the Campaign Hub. With just over three days of campaigning to go, you’re running out of time to communicate the issues you care about and make sure people vote Left. So, be sure to take the opportunity. On the same note, Both Eyes Open has released […]

Another Nat secret agenda tape

Written By: Steve Pierson - Date published: 3:19 pm, November 4th, 2008 - 121 comments

The Herald campaign updates reports that Clark has just had a private interview with TV3, appearently getting her response to the latest secret agenda tape. Guess that means it will be on TV3 tonight. According to the Herald, a reporter at the conference asked the PM if she thinks the public is sick of having […]

Fresh ideas

Written By: Steve Pierson - Date published: 2:34 pm, November 4th, 2008 - 10 comments

Part 3 in the CTU’s series of election vids. The best yet You can see the other two here

More vids from the campaign trail

Written By: Steve Pierson - Date published: 10:42 am, November 4th, 2008 - 43 comments

We’ve just received these. The first is from Hollowman productions, who brought us the famous Porirua markets video. The second is a video a reader took when he was stopped by a plain-clothes cop after asking a leftwing question to John Key at a campaign event. The question he asked is here

Public politics

Written By: Dancer - Date published: 3:30 pm, November 2nd, 2008 - 46 comments

In today’s Herald six prominant NZer’s nail their political colours to the mast: Sir Paul Reeves: electorate vote Maori party, party vote Labour; “Labour will still get his party vote, and he would prefer that the Maori Party formed a government with Labour, rather than National” Graham Lowe: “ending a 40-year relationship with Labour to […]

Greenpeace converts John’s office

Written By: Tane - Date published: 3:22 pm, October 31st, 2008 - 34 comments

Some great political theatre from Greenpeace yesterday. A bunch of climate activists got up at the crack of dawn, plastered ready-made lawn around the outside of John Key’s electorate office, then put up some wee pine trees and stumps alongside a billboard saying ‘Would John solve this climate crime?’ Looks like a couple of them […]

Granny Herald yearns for good old days but democracy alive and well

Written By: Steve Pierson - Date published: 2:59 pm, October 31st, 2008 - 16 comments

The Herald is once again trying to convince us that everyone is so scared of the EFA that there is no poltiical participation going on. Once again, they cite some rich right-wing organisations that don’t want to have to identify themselves when advertising, and so haven’t advertised at all. It seems the Right’s view is […]

Whose record is better?

Written By: Steve Pierson - Date published: 11:19 am, October 31st, 2008 - 6 comments

I found it weird that National’s attack ad is a series of newspaper headlines. Everyone knows newspaper headlines are sensationalist and everyone knows that things were much worse under National in the 1990s, as this new youtube vid illustrates: Meanwhile, the upbeat jokers at 08wire have a positive reponse to the Nat attack ad:

The Standard line: Nanny State

Written By: Steve Pierson - Date published: 10:11 am, October 31st, 2008 - 32 comments

So, you’re talking with someone about politics and they say something really dumb and wrong and you know it’s wrong but you don’t have the arguments and facts at your fingertips to make a decisive point. That’s where our election series, The Standard line, comes in. The info you need in bite-size form. Today: Nanny State […]

Patu online

Written By: IrishBill - Date published: 10:43 am, October 22nd, 2008 - 78 comments

There’s been a bit of fuss about the ’81 tour lately and whether it is pertinent to today’s politics. For years now I’ve suggested to those too young to remember the tour to watch Patu because it provides a visceral sense of just how important the tour was as a formative political event and it […]

Vox pop

Written By: John A - Date published: 2:11 pm, October 21st, 2008 - 81 comments

Spotted in central Wellington:

New posters/leaflets

Written By: Steve Pierson - Date published: 6:19 pm, October 20th, 2008 - 66 comments

I have to say, these are my favourite so far. There are some talented people out there. There’s eight versions of this new one on the Campaign Hub, each with an example of Key flipping-flopping Keep getting them out there guys. The people deserve to know.

Nats letting the facade drop

Written By: Steve Pierson - Date published: 2:06 pm, October 10th, 2008 - 4 comments

We’ve been receiving reports of some appalling statements by National MPs on the campaign trail. They mesh with the arrogance and heartlessness that shines through in the secret agenda tapes. A writer reports on David Bennet’s performance at a forum on mental health policy in Hamilton: Mr Bennett came absolutely unprepared. he had no knowledge […]

Right’s attack on free speech fails, again

Written By: Steve Pierson - Date published: 9:11 am, October 10th, 2008 - 56 comments

National activist and pornographer Cameron Slater took a complaint to the Electoral Commission against myself and others who took part in a satirical protest outside the National Party conference. He complained that we had breached s63 of the Electoral Finance Act by making unauthorised use of the National Party logo and s65 by not authorising […]

Drawing your attention

Written By: Steve Pierson - Date published: 1:00 pm, October 4th, 2008 - 18 comments

Malcolm Evans, award-winning former Herald cartoonist, is bloody good at what he does – insightful, well-drawn, concerned with the big issues, and always on the side of the underdog. His leftwing views made for a difficult relationship with the Herald’s editors. In 2005, they ‘accidentally’ published a cartoon in which he criticised the Israeli occupation of Palestine. The resulting uproar […]

Good on youse

Written By: Steve Pierson - Date published: 10:38 am, October 3rd, 2008 - 49 comments

Yesterday, I printed and cut 6500 A6 leaflets from the designs on the Campaign Hub and took them along to Drinking Liberally. They were all gone in minutes. The Right wins and keeps power by dis-empowering and disenfranchising, by taking away our voice. So, it was great to see so many people take it on themselves […]

Gordon Campbell at Drinking Liberally, Wlgtn

Written By: Steve Pierson - Date published: 1:59 pm, September 29th, 2008 - Comments Off on Gordon Campbell at Drinking Liberally, Wlgtn

You probably already read him on Scoop Election ’08 and he’s a former Listener journalist too. The topic of his talk is: ‘Covering the issues – how to escape from the who’s winning, who’s losing style of election coverage’. His recent article Horse race political journalism might give you a taste of what to expect. […]

Nats desperate to silence grassroots activists

Written By: Steve Pierson - Date published: 1:53 pm, September 28th, 2008 - 33 comments

An email from a reader: “A friend and I were putting up some Vote with Both Eyes Open posters on Lambton Quay the other night. We had just put some up around the intersection by Parliament and crossed the road when a senior National advisor came up to us with one of our recently pasted banners […]

Drinking Liberally, Palmerston North

Written By: Steve Pierson - Date published: 1:17 pm, September 24th, 2008 - 2 comments

The second Drinking Liberally, Palmerston North is on this Friday. Peter Falloon, NZUSA co-President is the guest speaker. I’m going to try to get up there too and harangue people into getting more active. So, if you like beer, politics, and encouragement get along. What: Drinking Liberally, Palmerston North When: 7:30pm, 26th of September Where: Zoe’s […]

Both Eyes Open shows activism alive and well

Written By: Steve Pierson - Date published: 9:33 am, September 24th, 2008 - 36 comments

The Vote with Both Eyes Open posters had a star turn yesterday when Annette King presented them as evidence that activism is alive and well in New Zealand despite attacks from National that the Electoral Finance Act is scaring people off. Bill English didn’t look at all comfortable as King read from the poster about […]

Drinking Liberally – Auckland

Written By: lprent - Date published: 3:42 pm, September 23rd, 2008 - 4 comments

WHAT: Drinking Liberally Auckland City WHO: You and any of your left-leaning comrades WHEN: 7.30pm, Wed 24th September WHERE: London Bar, cnr Wellesley & Queen Sts (opposite Civic). The entrance to the bar is around on Wellesley St, you need to go up the stairs and we will probably be congregating at the far end […]

Questioning politicians

Written By: Steve Pierson - Date published: 9:36 am, September 22nd, 2008 - 16 comments

We’re keen to help you get active this election campaign. That’s why we’ve launched Campaign Hub 2008 and its Facebook group to give you info, access to materials, and tips on campaigning. It’s great to see so many people have downloaded leaflets and posters from the Hub or clicked through to Vote With Both Eyes […]

Unacceptable

Written By: Steve Pierson - Date published: 10:39 am, September 19th, 2008 - 164 comments

From Newzblog: “Local activist James Sleep was today exercising his democratic right to protest when he was approached by an entourage of 4WDs carrying Wairapara MP John Hayes and John Key. Sleep attempted to get out of the way however he soon found himself being propelled backwards by the force of Hayes’ car. The car […]

Jessica Alba says “Declare Yourself”

Written By: Dancer - Date published: 4:26 pm, September 16th, 2008 - 12 comments

Some commentators have pondered whether an election in NZ so close to the election in the States should be a concern for Labour. Helen Clark has already said: “… Obviously we all take a great interest in the American election but our election is what determines our immediate future”. But there’s also an upside in […]

Rochelle, that was pretty good.

Written By: lprent - Date published: 11:32 am, September 15th, 2008 - 78 comments

Well it turns out my niece has been having fun and done an effective google bomb on John Key. I’ve just been watching her TV3 clip when I wrote this post. Rochelle shows her experience with the media in expressing her opinion. This is something that belongs in the Tips on campaigning. I’ve had something […]