This is a public service announcement.
This Saturday 15 October, the day of the first RWC 2011 semi-final, a group of rag-tag protesters plans to Occupy Queen Street.
And guess who's right behind this; Joe Carolan, of the Socialist Workers' Union. Joe is a pal of John Minto and Matt McCarten from Unite Union, and he's probably mates with the sacked Radio NZ blog post reader, Martyn Bradbury as well. Carolan describes himself as "an Irish socialist living in Aotearoa".
Whilst we uphold the right to protest, the timing of this cheap political stunt stinks. Auckland will be gearing up for a huge evening, and Carolan and his mates want to disrupt central Auckland. Their plan is to meet at Britomart at 3pm, and march up Queen Street. Never mind the fact that tens of thousands will be heading from Britomart to Eden Park to watch the Wales versus France match (including thousands of visitors to New Zealand); rent-a-mob wants to cause chaos in the Queen City. Having marched up Queen Street, they then plan to occupy Aotea Square, and their website urges people to bring tents, sleeping bags and food for the occupation.
Reading through the list of those who plan to attend is revealing; there's Sue Bradford and her husband Bill, sacked Green Party candidate Max Coyle, celebrity protester Keisha Castle-Hughes, Campbell Larsen, the Standard commenter who recently wished that the Mad Butcher would "hurry up and die", Mana Party co-leader Annette Sykes, fellow blogger of sacked Radio NZ blog post reader Martyn Bradbury, Phoebe Fletcher, and many, many more. It's a who's who of the left-wing activist community.
We deplore the timing of this protest. RWC2011 has been an overwhelming success so far after some opening night jitters. The tournament is heading towards its climax on Sunday 23 October, when hopefully the All Blacks will get a 24-year-old monkey off their back. But in the meantime Joe Carolan and his ilk want to leverage off the RWC to advance their failed political agenda, and to gain the maximum possible coverage by causing disruption.
We call on the Auckland Council to refuse permission for this march to take place on Queen Street this Saturday, given the influx of rugby visitors to the city. We also call on the council and the police to ensure that there is no occupation of Aotea Square. Lastly, and probably as an exercise in futility, we ask Joe Carolan and his mates, and anyone planning to attend this "occupation" to consider how ill-timed this stunt is, and if they feel that they must vent their frustrations at the evil capitalists, to at least wait until RWC2011 is over.
53 comments:
Well thats a whos who of dysfunctional no hoper misfits if ever I saw them.
The list in the post barely scratches the surface Anon!
At least we will know where they all are.
You're all steamed up, Inv2!
They've chosen the right time and the right place then.
What did you expect?
But don't worry, as soon as John 'pants-on-fire' Key has finished shifting Coro Street to the timeslot he prefers, he'll sweep in and crush this rebellion - can't have passionate people camping out in the city when others want to party for the rugby.
Wow - more attempts at political censorship. It's all on this past week isn't it!?
The world does not revolve around a rugby ball.
No doubt we will be out of the tournament anyway after this Sunday - if last week's match was anything to go by, i can't see us beating the Aussies.
@ Jacqueline - did you not notice this?
Whilst we uphold the right to protest, the timing of this cheap political stunt stinks.
It's not censorship at all; merely deep-seated cynicism as to the timing. It is a deliberate choice intended to get the protest maximum media attention.
These morons threatened this sort of thing years ago .. I wondered where they were.
It could be a good thing actually so uncommitted voters can see what these nut jobs are really like.
"Wow - more attempts at political censorship" .. Umm, no??
bOb, come up and join them if you are so supportive or are you all talk
What would the point of doing it when no one is looking be?
"We call on the Auckland Council to refuse permission for this march"
"We also call on the council and the police to ensure that there is no occupation of Aotea Square"
That's right, Jacqueline, Inv2 not wanting to stop those New Zealanders expressing their concerns, he wants the council and the police to stop them :-)
Jabba -(that's a Syrian name isn't it? Does it have a translation? Is it to do with goats?).
Show me where I've said I support the Occupation and I'll send you a round of finest fetta.
So you are not supportive then booby, you really are a dickhead. Anyway, feta is for yuppies, prefer cheddar and tasty from cows milk thanks
all talk aye boob?
And JS .. if this bunch of nobodys had something to say, the people would go to them to hear it, not the other was round
INV2... deep-seated cynicism? Well I never. Cynical much about S&P claims from Key? About Joyce's response to calls for a briefing? About a human claiming to be the son of a god (happens more often than you think)? hmmm... fair enough, a protest from the left is a much simpler target huh?
Jabba - show me where I've said I'm not supportive and I'll forward a block of your favourite Fonterra Special Edition.
An amusing coincidence is that 6a Western Springs Road , the home of UNITE, used to be a brothel. It still appears to house money grubbing slappers.
How can these morons possibly have the right to occupy a public space ? I don't want to see their saggy arses when I go to the movies.
You are a fan of these people .. You have suggested that many times .. A Hone fan as well from memory. You really really need to get out of town sometimes booby, you seem to suffer a form of cabin fever
More dishonesty from you Robert; it seems par for the course lately. What I actually said was this:
We call on the Auckland Council to refuse permission for this march to take place on Queen Street this Saturday
If you are going to try and use my words to make a point, use the whole sentence. I would have expected better from a "principled Greenie", but it seems that you are just as bad as those you lord it over.
For a variety of reasons I am obsessing about weather.
One of the models I am looking at suggests a wet Saturday.
We live in hope.
I know Auckland is prone to localised weather patterns, but could it be fine at Eden Park and Queen's Wharf, and persist down at Aotea Square?
Another rent a mob gathering...
Same loud mouths attached to megaphones, Spewing the same old mindless rhetoric...
They are nothing if not persistent... Damn I should have stopped at they are nothing.
I have to admit that the sight of Sue Bradford expressing her political views with a picket sign, while she displays her shocking acting skills, flailing around in front of any news camera within a mile's radius like some kind of torture victim makes me want to vomit - she still has the right to do it.
I struggle to believe that we, as a country, put up with hideous and tacky public displays like Boobs on Bikes that has absolutely no value to anyone, but people can show such passion for opposing political views to be silenced.
All the alcohol in downtown Auckland, hundreds of thousands of rugby fans full of beer and testosterone, an All Blacks-Wallabies knockout match, and a left-wing protest march in the middle.
DIS GON B GUD
@ Chris - Oh no; Megaphone Len Richards will be there; everybody duck!
Whilst we uphold the right to protest
Do you uphold the right to communist economic terrorism?
The police should wipe them off Queen Street.
Failing that, a "Free Corps" of Good Keen Men should do the job for 'em.
Who's up for it?
@ Anon - my grandfather, father and brother went to war to fight for the right to protest. But I have a right to express my opinion too.
Jacqueline....Are you just taking the piss, or is your stunning lack of comprehension of these events not an act?
"more attempts at political censorship" Ummm.. where is this suggested?
"Sue Bradford expressing her political views - she still has the right to do it." Ummmm.. where is that suggested otherwise?
Since when has "tacky" become a reason to deny a Council sanctioned public march?
So Inv2, you're happy for these people to have their march and camp out, just so long as they do it when you want them to, not when they chose to do it?
I see.
"Who's up for it?"
Certainly not you sinner. Your bravery only extends to telling lies anonymously on the internet. You'd run a mile and join Redbaiter under his bed at the first sign of trouble.
Moist Jacqueline is quite correct. Inv2 is suggesting, nay demanding, that the marchers be denied what it is they want to do, and that is make a very political statement, until such a time as he sees fit. That they have chosen a time that best suits their needs irks him so much, that he's calling on the Auckland Council and they police to impose his will upon these people, many of whom he's demeaned in this post. Jacqueline sees straight through that SMOG.
It's a public safety issue Robert; it's totally irresponsible to be blocking Auckland's CBD on a day when there will be one of the biggest crowds of the year. Who is going to be responsible if it all turns to custard?
So, Robert, it is all a matter of 'timing' is it? and you agree it is not political censorship at all.
Well surely the timing issue can be worked through, after all the parties named as wanting to march all have a reputation of being sensible and reasonable people and would only be interested in making a legitimate and peaceful march that would not impinge on the rights of others.
....Oh wait....
My hope is that the infestation of Queen Street would not be that large anyway, given their chosen day.
Well, Moist, the 'timing' issue is one for Inv2 to struggle with. The marchers have decided on a time, I'm guessing, and probably won't take much notice of Inv2's 'requirements', nor yours. I suppose you could argue that denying someone the right to chose the time for their action/statement, is 'censorship' imagine an MP being told that, yes, they could address the House, but only after all others had gone home. So Jacqueline is, after all, correct and you, Moist, are wrong!
You miss the point again Robert. Whether it's deliberate or whether you're just a bit slow tonight s open to debate.
But the point is this; protest marches need police and council approval. It would be grossly irresponsible for permission to be granted for a protest at a time where there will be tens of thousands of people in the city. It would be a recipe for disaster.
Have a look at the cast list; Carolan, Minto, the Bradfords, Sykes to name but a few; long-term activists, most of whom have lengthy arrest records. Do you seriously want a repeat of 1981 style disorder?
Inv2 you say 'it would be grossly irresponsible for permission to be granted for a protest at a time where there will be tens of thousands of people in the city.'
Are you worried that the Auckland Council and/or the police will be 'grossly irresponsible'?
Why do you feel you need to call on them to do the right thing?
I imagine the marchers have chosen the time and date they have, to gain maximum publicity. You helped their cause very encouragingly. Their chances of securing that date have to be slim, I'd have thought.
I do think though, that the organisers aren't so keen as you are for a nice, tidy, outofsight, grannie march. I suspect they are looking for a bigger splash than that:)
I2 the reality is that there will only be a couple of hundred people if that and they will get lost in the wilderness that is Aotea Square.
I'm more stressed about the state of my lawn which has been ignored for far too long
Ironic they have chosen an Occupation to protest given the majority of them probably don't have one
"a group of rag-tag protesters plans to occupy Queen Street"
or a group of citizens exercising their rights as free individuals to make a statement about the behaviour of a financial sector that thinks it proper, for example, to pay bonuses to CEOs of US 78 million (Credit Suisse 2010) when the majority of the global population is having to tighten its collective belt to pay for that same sector's excesses and mismanagement.
Some perspective needed here, perhaps?
And what better place to do it than Aotea Square. I mean fuck, when it comes to driving a stake through the evil black heart of Southern Hemisphere capitalism, Aotea Square is really the place to start. It's totally just like Wall Street.
Hey Inv2.
One of your readers is inciting violence on this thread:
"The police should wipe them off Queen Street.
Failing that, a "Free Corps" of Good Keen Men should do the job for 'em.
Who's up for it?"
That's vigilante talk. You haven't addressed his call for violence at all - not threatened to 'ask for his ticket', haven't deleted his comment. People will think that you support his call to wipe the marchers off Queen Street. Do you?
Refer my 8.18pm Robert
Your "8:18" doesn't even begin to address the question of whether you condone the vigilante suggestions made by Anonymous, nor does it talk about why you allow his incite-to-violence comments to remain on your blog.
I have told you in the past Rob that I do not condone violence in any form. However the fact that Anon's comment remains and that you are free to condemn it supports what I have often said; that leaving comments in place for people to judge is the healthiest course of action.
FWIW I would hate to see Aucklnad become the scene of violence on Saturday or Sunday, and reiterate that for reasons of public safety, authorities should refuse permission for this "occupation" (which I now understand is planned to last for at least a week) to go ahead until after 23 October.
Who will you blame if it turns nasty?
"Free Corps" of Good Keen Men.
I read about their intentions here on your blog.
They should do it on the 24th - the ironies would be too many to count.
I2 .. you are wasting your time on Booby, he is stuck in a small town at the bottom of NZ, a fine looking place I must add, BUT he is bored shitless and stuck in a lifestyle free of action or fun. This sort of thing is his sport. I suggest yoy let him loose, I'm sure others have
This is a fantastic development. Too many rugby fans are apolitical, what they need is for a bunch of left wing losers to disrupt their night out to a RWC semi-final, so they can really appreciate how deranged they are.
Surely the whole point to freedom of speech, comrades, is to let as many people as possible, see what a bunch if incorrigible, irredeemable arseholes these people are. Let them march . . . it must be idiot pride week . . .
Good on them for protesting. There is a lot to protest about. However the protest will only blend into the drunken madness which is Auckland town on a Saturday night. Maybe some disenfranchised youth in their drunkeness might loot some stores to feed their materialistic needs because they dont understand what real dissidence is all about OR have any real motivation in life other than to get drunk.
In reality it will amount to a small group of people chanting in Aotea square because the lay public doesn't realise they should be there too.
Where as if the all blacks lose a drunken mob of dickheads will more than likely tear auckland city apart, like the Canucks fans did to Vancouver. This was reflected by the amount of popular 'lets riot if the abs lose the RWC' groups that popped up on facebook. OH JOY!
For the sake of the infrastructure and local business lets hope that the AB's win. Also that the bars don't serve intoxicated people like the law states 'YEAH RIGHT'. Go the ALL BLACKS the countries fate is in your hands.
What a bunch of sheeple. You are wonderful agents of the elite, abusing the very people that are taking steps to end the corruption that, for the life of you, you can't see. Sheeple, that's all you are.
its actually a date thats been set internationally, take a look beyond the uprights and a look at the world, ie the occupation of wall st, tel aviv. ignorance is bliss but rugby is shit and we're the 99
Good for you Anon; your diplomatic attitude will win thousands of converts. Just keep your fingers crossed that New Zealand wins tomorrow night.
With all respect sir, If I may say you have your priorities completely messed up. To some of us the struggle for freedom, a decent wage, universal health care, ending poverty is far more important than rugby!. You are entitled to your opinion, but may I say...in my opinion you are an immoral human being. Thank you
GREETINGS. Oops - caps on -wasn't shouting.
I am From NZ and 'occupy queen street' had its day yesterday.
The word needs to get out and about, of that I have no doubt.
However, and 'what the hey' - there is something of a 99% raising their voices in untity - a unity which unions have not ever proven effective - and in your face this is because they are infiltrated at the top and work for the selfish.
Having said that, and in relation to the 1% I can say of myself and of every protester, that in your position I would be behaving exactly as you are.
But I am as you are as we all are... 'in a position' and I will say that if nothing is offered to which all can agree then this will 'end' as it has always 'ended' and until such an offering is presented, nothing will 'end' and the same old same old will continues until of course the resources exhaust, out the back end and into infinity.
All joking aside (for now) ...
A plan in necessary to which the 1% can be seen as exceptional in their useful resourcefulness, where the 99% are benefiting and thus 100% are too.
There is little point to protesting and focusing anger onto the blue wall is no answer. They are our neighborliness and represent the 1% which are hidden behind them, and odds are that if it were 99 against 1, the 99 will 'win'.
We were educated to believe in the necessity of money, and that was an education in itself.
Or...still is...and the reaction protesting the inequality but do the 99% have a plan in which 100% of the 99% agree on?
Alternatives are possible.
There is such a plan - a seed vision which is coherent, understandable, and within the realms of human possibility to make happen.
The time for shouting "2-4-6-8-where shall we project our hate!" (anger fear etc) needs to be over, so that with rationality and calm, the 99% can deliver an undeniable message to the 1% - a message reflecting genuine solidarity and purpose which overshadows the more basic of human emotional impulses.
If such a plan were presented to which the 99% agree, and was thus rejected by the 1%, then I will personally believe all the conspiracy theories about 'them' and kiss my arse goodbye.
You are welcome to your opinions and to freely express them.
However you seem to have difficulty in allowing those whose opinions differ from yours freely express theirs.
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