An independent review of the Urewera raids has labelled police actions ”unlawful, unjustified and unreasonable”.
While the decision by then-Commissioner Howard Broad to undertake ”Operation Eight” in 2007 was justified and reasonable, some of the subsequent actions were not, the Independent Police Conduct Authority has revealed.
Click here to read article
We returned to our familiar haunt of the Wellington Railway Station underground. There were three of us with DVDs, flyers and the multitude of signs that were stretched along the walkways. We had an unfortunate musical accompaniment, a very loud saxophonist, who was there the entire time. I think that encouraged people to speed through the passageways as quickly as possible, unlike the dulcet tones of the violinist who was our unplanned accompanist late last year.
It took about a half an hour to distribute our 100 copies of the latest AE911Truth DVD, “Experts Speak Out”, after which we distributed older compilation DVDs. We lost count, but we passed out well over 200 DVDs and flyers. Many passers-by told us that they already had DVDs we had given them, but unfortunately these people seldom stop to talk about their reactions.
We had the usual mix of reactions, with some people uttering disparaging remarks while lacking the courage to stop and discuss their views. One of our members had a lengthy conversation with two young men who had done extensive research in a effort to bolster their quasi-religious belief in the official conspiracy theory. Cognitive dissonance was oozing from their pores while they held fast to their convictions.
The people who don’t take DVDs fall into five groups of people who:
1. have already taken DVDs;
2. look at us and say, “no, thanks”;
3. are in their own little worlds, taking no note of their surroundings;
4. studiously ignore us, staring intently ahead;
5. react negatively. This is by far the smallest group.
We detected that the people in group 5 were more surly than in the past. These people, staunch defenders of the Establishment, have heard a lot of news lately that challenges their faith in the powers that shouldn’t be. Mainstream news polls now offer the choice of “the government did it” in their list of choices about the Boston bombings. We are having an effect, however gradual.
Here’s a quote from one of our members:
From my point of view, last evening was a success. I gave away about 50 ESOs to the defence people (none in uniform but some support staff and one or two ‘suits’). One suit laughed at the street signs and another said something derogatory to me.
A sophisticated well dressed woman (a Sue Kedgley look-alike) asked me what we were on about. I gave her an ESO DVD and she exclaimed “Oh I see, its about 9/11 – I know all about that s**t!” I was shocked that such a refined woman would say that ‘word’. She told me that she was an activist opposing the Trans-Pacific-Partnership. She asked me did I know about it. I said that we were also activists and knew all about TPP. She took the DVD and thanked me. Made it all worthwhile. I did not feel up to arguing with the 2 lads who desperately wanted to believe the ‘official’ story. The elder one had studied a lot about 9/11 and corrected me on minute detail.
As I mentioned above, this is the behaviour of someone seeking to support a religious belief, not someone interested in discovering facts.
Till next time!
Three Kiwi Heroes
Waihopai heroes give up their shirts and….
Three brave kiwis, Adi Leeson, Sam Land and Peter Murnane appear in the Court of Appeal in Wellington this morning seeking to overturn a High Court decision allowing the GCSB to pursue a civil claim for $1.2 million for damage done to the Waihopai spybase when they deflated one of the domes in an anti-war protest in 2008.
This trio were found not guilty of wilful damage by a jury in 2010 but the GCSB are taking them to court for damage to the dome and to pay for pies and drinks for the workers who re-erected a new dome.
The trio will take part in a protest outside the court of Appeal this morning at 10am with a protest following at the steps of parliament where the poverty-stricken trio will offer the government the shirts off their backs and…. They will be met at parliament by Mana MP Hone Harawira.
This protest deserves public debate since the government is this week to introduce into parliament legislation to make legal what the GCSB has been doing illegally for 10 years now – spying on New Zealanders.
John Minto
Spokesperson
Ph (09) 8463173 (H)
(09) 8469496 (W)
http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/plappeal.htm
Waihopai Ploughshares Court of Appeal hearing
On 30 April 2008, a Christian Ploughshares team – Adrian Leason, Father Peter Murnane and Sam Land – entered the grounds of the NZ Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) / US National Security Agency spy base at Waihopai and punctured the dome covering one of the two antenna to disable and draw attention to the role of the base – part of the US governments global spy network – in the ‘war on terrorism’. They then built a shrine and prayed for the victims of the war with no end while waiting to be arrested.
In March 2010, after an eight day trial, the Waihopai Ploughshares were acquitted by the jury. In response, in October 2010, the Attorney-General lodged a civil claim for $1.2 million, on behalf of the GCSB. In August 2011, following a hearing in the High Court in Wellington, Associate Judge David Gendall issued a summary judgement awarding $1.2 million damages in the government’s favour, as well as court costs. A more detailed chronology of these events is included below.
Last year, the Waihopai Ploughshares lodged an appeal against the High Court decision, and the appeal will be heard by the Court of Appeal in Wellington on Wednesday, 8 and Thursday, 9 May 2013.
The outcome of the appeal has wide implications for justice here: if the High Court decision stands, it makes it more likely that if the Crown is dissatisfied with the outcome of a trial, it will initiate costly civil proceedings against defendants who have been found not guilty – this would have particularly negative implications for anyone acting on their conscience who engages in a citizen’s disarmament action.
More information here
The Government Communications and Security Bureau will be able to spy on New Zealanders under proposed law changes unveiled today. But it will need the prime minister’s permission.
New legislation to overhaul the rules governing the GCSB was released this afternoon by Prime Minister John Key.
The GCSB has been under scrutiny since it was revealed the intelligence agency illegally spied on internet millionaire Kim Dotcom.
The agency was meant to assist with international intelligence and cyber security, but was not supposed to spy on New Zealanders, that was the role of the Security Intelligence Service.
However, under proposed changes the GCSB would be able to monitor New Zealand citizens and residents with the permission of the responsible minister – usually the prime minister.
“The GCSB will require an authorisation from the responsible minister and the commissioner of security warrants when its cyber security and information assurance functions are being performed in relation to the communications of New Zealanders,” Key said.
More here
There were four of us at the VUW campus today for a bit less than two hours during the midday rush. There was a bit of rain, but not enough to hinder us too much as we distributed AE911Truth flyers and Experts Speak Out DVDs.
We each had the usual mix of strange and rewarding experiences talking with students and other passersby. So far as we can tell, the tutors generally seem rather truth-averse. Mike was told by a gentleman who appeared to be an instructor that he (the instructor) would have nothing to do with “your crazy conspiracy theories”. So much for the spirit of free, open and honest academic inquiry. Another faculty member awkwardly avoided one of our group whom he knew very well, shall we say. We were also told that we shouldn’t have been distributing DVDs on a day when three people had been killed at the Boston Marathon. This person did not express concern about the 55 dead from recent car bombs in Iraq.
Overall, we have a higher rate of acceptance of our materials on campus than we do anywhere else, but we also get perhaps the strongest negative reactions. Perhaps there is a secret VUW Thought Police Force that keeps faculty members in line.
I spoke to a gentleman who claimed to be a debunker of non-official ideas about 9/11. He cited the example of WTC7, which fell because there was a “large missing chunk” which escaped notice because it was on the opposite side of the building that was being photographed. The missing chunk was caused by falling debris from either WTC1 or WTC2 that must have somehow curved around to damage the back of WTC7. Missing Chunk Man also said there was incompetence involved, which was covered up to protect the incompetents who could have prevented Osama bin Laden from executing his evil plot. Missing Chunk Man had worked himself into to such a twisted frenzy of explanations, that he forgot to give back the DVD and flyer I had put in his hand a few minutes prior. I noticed that he was examining the flyer rather intently as he walked away.
I also spoke to a representative of the Fijian truth movement. She pointed out that we would not have been able to have the conversation we were having on the streets of Fiji. New Zealand is not yet under a military dictatorship, but in the meantime, we’ll have to settle for a mere surveillance society.
Thursday, 4 April 2013, 10:11 am
Press Release: Governor General
4 April 2013—Media Release
Governor-General visits the Middle East
The Governor-General, Lt Gen The Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae, is undertaking a five country visit to key nations in the Middle East.
Sir Jerry and Lady Janine Mateparae have arrived in Afghanistan, having previously visited the United Arab Emirates. After undertaking several events in Afghanistan, the Governor-General and Lady Janine will travel to Jordan, Kuwait and Oman.
The visit to Afghanistan was focused on marking the completion of New Zealand’s 10 year commitment to reconstruction in the Bamyan province of Afghanistan. In Afghanistan, the Governor-General and Lady Janine will attend a number of events to mark the contribution of the Provincial Reconstruction team in Bamyan province and to honour the New Zealand Defence Force personnel who lost their lives there.
Sir Jerry Mateparae paid tribute to the several thousand New Zealanders who had served in Bamyan province from the New Zealand Defence Force, New Zealand Police, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and civilian contractors.
“They came here knowing the risks that service here entailed, and the dangers that claimed 10 young lives. They came here because they were proud to follow in the footsteps of all New Zealanders who have left our shores to resist tyranny, to defend democratic values and to bring peace to troubled lands.”
More widely, the visit to all five nations in the Middle East aims to demonstrate New Zealand’s commitment to a region that shapes the global environment. New Zealand has long-standing relationships in the Middle East, with engagement growing across the political, security and trading spheres. Engagement with the Gulf Cooperation Council countries alone is increasingly important for New Zealand, with total trade totalling more than $5 billion in the year to June 2012.
Sir Jerry said New Zealand highly values the dialogue it has with its Middle East partners on issues of regional and global interest.
“I look forward to hearing the perspectives of our hosts on both the opportunities and challenges currently facing the region. New Zealand is committed to supporting the peaceful resolution of conflicts in the Middle East, as demonstrated through the involvement of New Zealand peacekeepers in places such as the Sinai, Lebanon, Iraq and Afghanistan. I also welcome the closer links between our peoples, with many citizens of these countries now coming to New Zealand to study, to trade and for tourism.”
© Scoop Media
Bearing the enticing title of Lizard People, Church Steeples & Tin-Foil Hats, a March 25th, 2013 Salient feature article by student journalist Laetitia Laubscher makes a brief mention of NZ911Truth.org. The Salient article, while necessarily promoting the VUW conspiracy theories course, as did a June 2012 article by
I have some observations on the article which I will keep to myself for now, but meanwhile, please read the article and leave a comment on the on the article’s comment section.
The highly touted conspiracy theory course at Victoria University of Wellington (VUW) has now gained a regular spot in the academic calendar. Search this site for Kerry McBride to get background on the course and some commentary on the possible motivations for it.
With this class under way, we decided to have our first group action on the VUW campus on March 12. (Although this was our first group appearance on campus, one of our members had already distributed hundreds of DVDs a couple of years ago during clubs week.) We stationed ourselves outside the building where the class was held and distributed our AE911Truth flyers and the latest DVD from that group, Experts Speak Out, with stunning labels created by one of our members. We also distributed some other compilation DVDs to others who were not evidently enrolled in the course.
We spoke to two people who were enrolled in the course. They were receptive to us, but also said that they were withholding any comment on the course because they had only had one class session so far.
In general, the reception on campus was better than any other location we have visited to date. That said, one of our group had a discussion with a young man who seemed to be off the scale on the Dark Side. It’s just as well that these types don’t usually engage us in conversation. We had other stimulating discussions with Kiwi students and several international students. One student commented to me that his English language class was laced with pro-USA propaganda.
One of our members has a close family member who fears for his/her safety, thinking that the police may go G20 on us for exercising our rights of free speech. This same member offered DVDs to two police officers who seemed positively frightened at the offer of free truth info. No G20 action yet; in fact most uniformed people seem to be intimidated by us. That said, I recall some good conversations that TruthMama and I had with some police officers at a demo a couple of years ago. We weren’t the centre of attention, so perhaps that made them feel less threatened by us.
We’re thinking of re-visiting the VUW campus over the next few months. There were four of us, and we were there around midday. Come out and join us next time!
WomenSayNoToWar
Come along to add your voice to the call of women around the world who are saying NO to war and YES to peace
Wellington, Thursday, 7 March: join us from 5.30pm to 6pm, at the NZ armed forces HQ, corner Aitken and Mulgrave Streets
Auckland, Friday, 8 March: join us from 5.30pm to 6pm, at the Army HQ, 204 to 234 Great North Road
The theme this year is alternatives to military spending, eg, ~ welfare not warfare ~ education not militarisation ~ Please wear black if you can, and bring black streamers / ribbons / wool, photos, messages, cardboard or paper peace doves to decorate the military HQ, something to make a noise with – pot and spoon, drum, your voice – during the time of anger, flowers or candles to leave there during the time of mourning, and a poem or reading to share during the time of reflection …. and your own banner or placard if you wish. All women and children welcome.
The poster for Women Say NO to War 2013 is attached and available at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/iwd13.pdf Organised by Peace Movement Aotearoa and the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, for more information please contact email pma@xtra.co.nz or wilpf@xtra.co.nz or go to http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/iwd13.htm
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Global Day of Action on Military Spending, 15 April 2013
Last year global military expenditure was $1.738 trillion (US$) – on average, more than $4,761,000,000 (US$) every day. By way of contrast, an average of more than 24,000 children under the age of five die every day from mainly preventable causes – lack of access to adequate food, clean water and basic medicines. This is one of the prices paid, the collateral damage that is seldom talked about, for maintaining armed forces in a state of combat readiness around the world.
If you would like to be involved in the 2013 Global Day of Action in Aotearoa New Zealand, or would like your organisation listed as a supporter of the Global Day of Action and of the urgent need to change spending priorities away from funding armed forces towards meeting human needs (the list of supporting organisations is at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/gdams-supp.htm ), please contact Peace Movement Aotearoa email pma@xtra.co.nz with ‘GDAMS 2013 support’ in the subject line of your message.
Links to more information
* The GDAMS 2013 Aotearoa New Zealand event page is at http://www.facebook.com/events/382710081820597
* Peace Movement Aotearoa’s latest comment on the NZ government’s prioritising of military spending over social spending is at http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=454139961300045&l=166560be6f
* Information on the Global Day of Action in Aotearoa New Zealand since the first in 2011 is available at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/gdams.htm