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Press Release 26/06

June 27, 2012 in Activism, Events, Protest, Support

PRESS RELEASE – Tuesday June 26

AOTEAROA NZ IS NOT FOR SALE protest 4pm today outside Mercury Energy, 602 Great South Road, Greenlane
Organisers from the Aotearoa NZ is Not For Sale movement have organised a protest in Auckland today at 4PM outside Mercury Energy, 602 Great South Road, Greenlane.

This action is in response to the government’s determination to ram through the Mixed Ownership Model Bill at its third reading in Parliament tomorrow afternoon. A similar protest is being held in Wellington, meeting 2PM at Te Papa.

The protest outside Mercury Energy coincides with the time the Bill is expected to be read.  Mercury Energy is the first essential service that National intends to sell.

Despite the Prime Minister admitting two thirds of New Zealanders were opposed to the bill, Key says he is confident it will pass its third reading today.  “The determination of this government in the face of growing opposition has merely galvanised resistance,” said Jacquelyne Taylor, a supporter of ANFS.

All those opposed to public asset sales are encouraged to assemble 4PM.

http://aotearoaisnotforsale.com/

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A Campaign of Campaigns

June 26, 2012 in Activism, Activist Training, Events, Protest, Support

The ANFS Campaign is moving fast into new territory now. The government is trying to ram the Mixed Ownership Model Bill through parliament as quickly as possible, because it senses rightly that we are serious about stopping Asset Sales.

As the Campaign goes on, the Petition conducted by our Coalition Partners, Labour and the Greens continues to be signed by large numbers of very concerned voters  While this is happening, the social media campaigns and street protests also continue to escalate.

On Tuesday, a Live Auction will be held in Wellington.  Also on Tuesday, 26 June, in Auckland, a protest will be held at the offices of Mercury Energy, which has already begun sexing itself up for sale. This protest signals a shift, as mooted by Hone Harawira, to expand our opposition to include protest action targeted at the newly privatised corporations.  The Mana Party leader warned investors to steer clear of these assets.  Perhaps they should listen.

At the same time, planning and organisation for the next National Day of Action on 14 July is continuing  The emphasis has shifted from exclusive focus on the traditional “tour de force” in Auckland and Wellington, to include protest groups in every electorate in the country.  This new strategy of broadening the base of activists will pay big dividends in the future, looking forward, when we start the long process of recovering our prosperity post-austerity, after National is gone.

To this end, we have created a new set of non-partisan Electoral Action Groups on this site for campaign organisers in each electorate.  This is a new and very exciting development, not only in this campaign, but in New Zealand politics in general.  Such large-scale mobilisation of activists has only been rarely attempted in the past.  We hope to make it a permanent feature.  In this way, we intend to send the roots of Participatory Democracy deep into Aotearoa as never before, Maori and Pakiha working in partnership. This issue is the perfect catalyst for societal change.  We welcome your support.

We would encourage everyone to join this site if they are not already a member and to join the Work Group for your Electorate.  In these work groups, you can plan and coordinate protest actions in your area.  You can also communicate and share resources between other electorates, particularly neighboring electorates.  If you see a neighboring electorate not represented by supporters you know live there, be sure and encourage them to join.

By organising local protests for July 14, you are in effect helping create a peaceful activist network  Permanent electoral activist groups will be able to participate in many future actions without needing to be rebuilt from scratch every time.  Please stay involved after the 14th, because this is just the start.  Your group will be needed to help limit the damage done by National, continuing right up until after the election, when National is sent packing, and beyond, as we consult with local community leaders around the country on how best to reverse the damage done by National.

Organising a really terrific Anti-Asset Sales protest in your electorate is the perfect next step on the road to achieving the goals of the Aotearoa is Not for Sale Campaign.  Let’s do it!