For a better way…

Written By: - Date published: 4:53 pm, August 30th, 2014 - 10 comments
Categories: activism, benefits, capitalism, class war, community democracy, corruption, democratic participation, election 2014, equality - Tags:

The NACT way is Not Our Way. We need a better way of governance and democracy.  One that is for all the people.

I joined the hardy souls who went to the Not Our Way rally and march in Auckland.  The host speaker said that this wasn’t about hate.  It’s about the need for change to a better way of government.

As usual for protests, there were speakers.  There was also some music which I enjoyed, even though I couldn’t catch all the pertinent lyrics about John Key in a great sounding rap. And then we marched.

Just as I got to the CBD, I checked the news, and learned Judith Collins had resigned.

These people waiting for the demo, had already got their wish fulfilled.

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People starting to gather at Aotea Square in the rain.

Beginning to gather Not Our Future

Lisa Gibson from the Glen Innes State housing group was one of the first speakers.  She talked of state houses being empty in the middle of a housing crisis.

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Speakers talked of many things that need changing for a better government and society. An end to NationOil:

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And a need to protect the environment, the seas, and the creatures within it.

The hikoi went on a convoluted route, stopping by Sky City (yo know why) on the way.  A symbol of our anti-democratic, dirty government.

Stopped by Sky City

 

it was a bit of a cross country obstacle course.  We hiked up Victoria Street, where the march, splintered somewhat as we made our way up the steps and walkways into Albert Park.

We stopped at the bandstand.

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Whatever we do this election and below, the struggle goes on for a better way of government.  No more dirty politics.  No more covert, anti-democratic manipulations.

Working for a better way and a New Zealand that will be for all New Zealanders; where the rich don’t waste our resources, and the least well off have warm safe homes, enough food to eat, and a living income; where businesses and jobs contribute to the greater good; where our media serves the people and democracy and not conniving special interests.

Keep calm vote left

10 comments on “For a better way… ”

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  1. mickysavage 1
    30 August 2014 at 5:54 pm

    Hey Karol I was there too but missed you!

    • lprent 1.1
      30 August 2014 at 5:57 pm

      I wasn’t. Got out of bed to head there (despite this irritating lymph node that is up).

      However I read the comments and decided that I’d better stay home for releasing the comments.

      • disturbed 1.1.1
        30 August 2014 at 8:32 pm

        Iprent, Take olive leaf capsules three twice a day Healtheries’ 3500 30 for $10 at Packnsave wear wool to keep your body temperature even.
        Get better for the long journey we are about to go on as we rid the tyrannical Government.

    • karol 1.2
      30 August 2014 at 6:10 pm

      Heh. I was wearing camouflage – to protect me from the weather. I have a small head, and my head covering swamped me – made it difficult to see where I was going some times.

      Didn’t see you either.

  2. heather Tanguay 2
    30 August 2014 at 7:10 pm

    That is a good account of the protest, that’s our sign about the Milkmaid, funny I painted it last night!
    We have been protesting on and off for 50 years and believe in honest government which is fair to all concerned.
    One down and how many to go.
    Vote labour , Vote Positive.

    • Clemgeopin 2.1
      30 August 2014 at 7:35 pm

      Prophetic sign!

      Normally I watch 3 News at 6, but today I watched TV1 at 6 because I had watched TV3 breaking news at 12:30.

      There was, as far as know, NO MENTION of the protest, unless I missed it when I briefly left the room a couple of times. I would have thought that was an important political news item for a democracy!

      Also, regarding the reaction of opposition leaders to Collins resignation, TV1 DID NOT include Cunliffe’s reaction/statement in their report. Quite odd, biased and unfair I thought!

  3. disturbed 3
    30 August 2014 at 8:40 pm

    So NZ Herald released a bullshit report saying that we were among the most less corrupted in the world?

    Herald is caught up in the Collins email leaked today?
    Not according to this in 2013. a NZ report no less.

    We need a full independent investigation. into Hager revelations.

    Integrity Plus 2013 New Zealand
    National Integrity System Assessment

    The Integrity Plus 2013 New Zealand National Integrity System Assessment was released by Transparency International New Zealand on International Anti-Corruption Day, 9 December 2013.

    This landmark report reveals that serious and urgent action is needed to protect and extend integrity in New Zealand. Recent incidents and investigations of corruption, and increasing public concern, provide a compelling case for a more pro-active approach to these issues.

    According to Co-Director Suzanne Snively “Our report finds that the mechanisms that support a high integrity and high trust society, and that facilitate social and economic development, remain generally robust but are coming under increasing stress. There has been complacency in the face of increased risks”.
    http://www.transparency.org.nz/

  4. Thinker 4
    31 August 2014 at 8:29 am

    Wow. Great link & worth checking out.

    Some people ooze integrity from every pore, and wherever you see Snively in a meaningful role, you generally find integrity by the bucketload.

    But, I wonder how much of what’s been revealed in recent weeks was on their radar when the report was done? What a similar report’s findings would be, now, would interesting to contemplate.

  5. aerobubble 5
    31 August 2014 at 1:56 pm

    This morning once again accosted by someone believing that just because you are stood at a bus stop you want to be chatted to. Being Sunday it was of course a Jesus freak, who told me Jesus loves me. Thinking of Slater, I thought it best to get online and pay it double. But instead of Slater’s view, of it back double in kind, I thought I’d pay it forward double.

    Jesus wasn’t the first to have a go at the money lenders, he was the first to survive publishing (many works were scrubbed by the Church so parchment could be re-used for Christian writings). Karl Marx had a go at the money lenders too, even Adolf did, but that just goes to show how inadequate Jesus teachings have been.

    Secondly. The bible wasn’t written by one man, or him and his son (just for those believing I was being offensive), but by an evolutionary process of adapting and discarding ideas. Buddha actually got into print so to speak much earlier; process of debate was more keenly understood and was missed by the Jesus cultists.

    Now my point is, we have to thank Jesus freaks for their tirelessness in reminding us to rebuild our sensibilities, that containing their simplistic calls for worship of their death centered cult has made western imperialism what it is today. Buddhism never regaled the foolish to take up arms in his name and impose themselves on the world for example, nor spawned Communism or National Socialism who arguably are its offshoots.
    So yes Slater has a purpose, and if that purpose is to remind us that negative politics doubled merely causes the demise of firstly Collins and soon, Slater himself, then that’s all good in my opinion.

    Key’s next some say, since how coincidental that he waited for Slater to return. Then one of Slater’s emails get exposed by Key’s office, and the team everyone is talking (Hagar) about goes into action. Slater is the hard voice of stonewalling, Hooten today on Q&A is the soft conciliator, together they are the conversation that moves the debate on. The name of this adventure, Move-along-now-its-all-over, something Keys been saying all week. What did Hooten say that got me thinking its was more dirty tricks, well the goddamn truth that’s what.

    Hooten decried how he could not fathom how Keys office didn’t manage the speedy release of the SIS briefing notes, as Hooten put it, the fact that the staffer
    had not been sacked shows that he was being told what to do. And therein lies the sad attempt to move the debate on.

    The problem is that nobody has taken the fall for the speedy release to Slater, not Slater, not Key, not Key’s office. Its doesn’t matter how many more crisis moment Key digs up to distract, how much his office distorts, how much diversion and misinformation, the fact is the press have smelled blood and worse, can’t let up because they were the ones being played by the PM’s office… …sorry Key.

  6. philj 6
    31 August 2014 at 8:02 pm

    xox
    I attended the Transparency International Public policy announcement in Wellington last year and the public were told that NZ had too little corruption to be concerned about! I was not impressed. Maybe theTransparency folk have had to wake up.