Posts
I was rung by a friend from the steps of parliament who was expecting mass arrests.
Radio NZ says people were moved from the entrance to the Beehive.
Murdoch
Wellington busts through parliament cordon. #TPPAWalkAway
Thousands
march against TPP trade agreement
15
August, 2015
Thousands
of people are marching against the Government's
controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement in
rallies around the country.
Trade
ministers from 12 nations including New Zealand have been negotiating
the trade deal, which would stretch from Japan to Chile and cover 40
per cent of the world economy.
Talks
had stalled however, with New Zealand digging in over dairy trade and
Japan and the United States disagreeing over the auto industry.
LAWRENCE
SMITH/FAIRFAX MEDIA
The
gathered masses in Auckland's Aotea Square ranged from parents with
young families to veteran protesters.
In
Auckland a crowd of around 2000 gathered at Aotea Square on Saturday
to voice their anger at the TPP.
The
gathered masses ranged from parents with young families to veteran
protesters, and came together under banners reading "TPPA
Democratic Terrorists", and "TPPA No Way".
From
Aotea Square, the demonstrators began marching down Queen St.
LAWRENCE
SMITH/FAIRFAX MEDIA
Thousands
of people protest at the Auckland rally against the controversial
TPP trade agreement.
'HUMAN
MISERY'
Around
a thousand people marched to Parliament from Midland Park in
Wellington.
Documentary
filmmaker Bryan Bruce spoke to the crowd on the grounds of
Parliament, detailing his opposition to possible Pharmac changes.
"What's
on the table is human misery," he said. "The poor have as
much right to health as the rich."
Late
last month Prime Minister John Key had said the Government would face
a higher medicine bill under the TPP, as patents could be in force
for "a little bit longer".
However
Kiwis using the health system would not face higher bills for
subsidised drugs, he said.
The
organisers of the Wellington march claimed 2000 people had gathered
at Parliament.
Cathy
O'Callaghan, a nurse from Wellington, said it was good to see such a
diverse crowd.
"It's
not just a bunch of hippies."
She
was here with her husband and her daughter, who was 15.
Ana
Scotney, 20, has never actively protested against anything before.
"But
I feel like this is kind of a big deal right now."
"There's
this conception of our generation as being apathetic, so I figured I
would be kind of a hypocrite if I didn't come.
She
likened a rejection of the TPP agreement to the nuclear ship ban in
the 80s and New Zealand's refusal to join the war in Iraq.
'CORPORATE
GRAB'
In
Hamilton about 400 people gathered at 1pm as part of a nationwide
week long "Walk Away" campaign.
Drums
could be heard as the colourful crowd of all ages marched from Maui
St down to Wairere Dr, flanked by two police patrol car.
Members
of the outspoken and enthusiastic crowd drew placards, waved flags
and chanted "TPPA walk away, we don't want your evil ways"
down Te Rapa straight.
Rallygoers
slammed the deal as a "corporate grab" that cut at the
heart of Kiwi's sovereignty and basic rights.
"The
Government is not listening to the people. We are not going to let
overseas corporates take over our sovereignty, wealth and freedoms,"
protester Mischele Rhones said.
This
was Rhodes' third rally against TPP, and by far the biggest protest
in the Waikato yet, she said.
The
aim was to "to be heard", and gain hundreds of signatures
to present to the Waikato Regional Council meeting next week, in
hopes they would take the message to central government, Rhodes said.
"People
have woken up to the fact this deal is sitting there ready to be
signed.
"We
just hope the Government walks away from the deal of the farmers are
never going to get a fair deal, we already have effective trade deals
in place, why do this?"
ActionStation
Over 10000 people are marching against the #TPPA today around NZ. RT if you are one of them. #TPPAWalkAway #TPPANoWay
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.