The Panama Papers, New Zealand and Imperialism
The Panama Papers have given us an insight into the secret world of offshore. Offshore refers to the secrecy jurisdictions that exist all around the world where the wealthy can hide their wealth. New Zealand has been pushed into the spotlight as a major South Pacific tax haven, with itself and the territories it manages, […]
The language of the unheard in Bengaluru
“A riot is the language of the unheard” is one of the less frequently cited sayings of Dr Martin Luther King Jr, but its truth has been illustrated in the recent textile workers’ strike in the Indian city of Bengaluru. The Garment and Textiles Workers’ Union planned the protests over the government’s new laws stating […]
Stop the anti-immigrant rot
There is growing pong around the Labour Party. I am talking about the reek of foreigner-bashing. For some time now Labour’s main plank of housing policy has consisted of banging the anti-foreigner drum. In July last year the party’s housing spokesperson Phil Twyford notoriously came out with a deliberate, racist, anti-Chinese outburst when he claimed, […]
Stop the Slop – Protest at Dunedin Hospital
Andrew Tait gave this speech at a protest outside Dunedin hospital on Friday: Nga mihi nui ki te tangata whenua o tenei rohe Kai Tahu whanui. Ki tewhare e tu nei, tena koe. Ki a koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa. That’s my hospital. I pay for it. My family and friends work there, […]
Criminal Injustice at Corrections
Late last year a trans woman who had been forced into a men’s prison was allegedly raped by two members of staff at Whanganui Mens prison upon her transfer to the prison. This was not investigated. Again this year she alleged she was raped by two guards in a gymnasium stairwell. In a move that […]
A tribute to Jill Brassell
Jill Brassell, who died on November 30, was a stalwart of the Wellington left for many decades, a fine musician, a militant, a Woman’s Liberationist, an understated wit and a friend. We’re going to miss her and we’re so sad to learn of her death. On behalf of the International Socialist Organisation we send condolences […]
Challenging war and racism after Paris
A statement by our sister group in the US, International Socialist Organization. The criminal slaughter of innocent people in Paris by gunmen and suicide bombers acting for the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is being seized upon by the forces of militarism, empire and the anti-immigrant right. They want to exploit the outpouring […]
Socialism makes sense
It’s sensible, anyone can understand it.It’s easy.You’re not an exploiter, so you can grasp it.It’s a good thing for you,find out more about it.The stupid call it stupid and the squalid call it squalid. It’s against squalor and against stupidity.The exploiters call it a crime but we know:It is the end of crimeIt is not […]
Proving a villain: the Bacchanals’ Richard III
Richard III, directed by David Lawrence. Bats Theatre, Wellington, until 31st January. Stabbings, strangulation, child murder, an earl drowned in a barrel of wine, sword fights, dirty politics, and – naturally – one of the best baddies in the whole of literature: Shakespeare’s Richard III sets out how villainy needs to be done. The Bacchanals’ […]
Don’t let this horror be used to stoke bigotry
[We reprint here a statement from the International Socialist Organization (US) about the killings in France.] THE HORRIFIC killings at the offices ofCharlie Hebdo in Paris have shocked the world. The outpouring of sympathy and solidarity for the 12 people killed–mostly editors, writers and cartoonists for the magazine–and 11 wounded is widespread and justified. But […]
