Written By:
advantage - Date published:
10:25 am, January 1st, 2024 - 8 comments
Categories: Left, Politics -
Tags:
With the left out of power, one of the most useful things we can do in 2024 is simply let people know where they can join in and do good.
This post isn’t an opportunity to skite about how virtuous you are.
It’s an opportunity to list great activist groups we know well, which others might also love.
Apart from the Labour Party and my local Catholic church, my personal recommendation is Forest and Bird. Can’t beat the virtue, and their legal team often win against the state. And most branches have specific local projects they work on over years, making a difference.
What’s your favourite New Zealand activist group?
In 2024 what might we resolve to join in with?
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Citizens Advice and Beneficiary Advocacy. Support for Food Banks and Women's Refuges.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/495567/sample-reveals-half-of-beneficiaries-paid-wrongly-by-msd-what-happens-next
My favourite one is a very local initiative – providing emergency housing – through the St Vincent de Paul Society.
However, in the wider context – the work that Dave Letele does through BBM – initially to address obesity in South Auckland, but expanding into a foodbank and other support initiatives at the grassroots level is incredible.
https://thebbmprogram.com/
And Gumboot Friday – providing front-line counselling for young people – started by Mike King – is another organization which is making a real difference.
https://thebbmprogram.com/
Both of these organizations speak up for the people they work with – apparently without fear or favour – and challenge the government-funded organizations to match their delivery.
Not a do gooder operation, but an old fashioned socialist one–https://www.socialistsocieties.org.nz/canterbury/
A materialist philosophical world view to counter post modernism is essential in these trying times.
Fish and Game. They took on the government and farmers over public access to Crown Pastoral Leases only to lose in the High Court because of a legally dubious decision that should have been appealed to the COA and Supreme Court.
https://www.naumaira.nz/ – a Maori power company who operate a no disconection policy. And no credit checks on customers.
Simplicity Kiwisaver – using their money to invest in housing, and first home mortgages.
100% Sam Stubbs, one of the good guys.
Look out for others i am seeing so many people at the super market not having enough money to buy meagre amounts of food.If you can throw a couple of dollars their way if you have the means or some food even better.I meet someone i had known 30 40 years ago just need $1.80 to buy a pack of 4 bread rolls because his card declined a $4 purchase . He was obviously very hungry .I helped him tried to catch up with him in the car park to give him a we food parcel next time.I have never seen this level of hardship in all my life in this land of Plenty/ Milk and Honey. Its sad this year is going to get worse as it always does under National who use unemployement and austerity for the poor to bring down wages and demand which only benefits the well off sickening.
that's very sad, but great you were able to offer help.
I hope we can build something good on the left so that this time of austerity is short.