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 […]
Weapons Conference Warmongers Unwelcome
At 8am this morning a group of around 150 people began blockading and protesting the annual New Zealand Defence Industry Association conference. The action is set to go on for as long as possible throughout the day. The action was organised by anti-war group Peace Action Wellington. Many Wellingtonians were there as were groups from […]
Nationalist poison no medicine against the TPPA
There are plenty of good reasons to oppose the TPPA. It’s part of U.S. imperialism’s strategy against China in the Asia-Pacific, working in the economic sphere as the ‘tilt to Asia’ does in the military. It gives greater powers to capitalists, and will be used to water down labour rights and environmental protections. It threatens […]
TPP – Agreement for the Rich
As an International Trade agreement very little within the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPPA) is actually new. The TPPA has been an ongoing process since the early 1980s that has grown in scope and power to now attempt to cover 40% of the world’s GDP. It’s important to place it in its context of imperialism to understand […]
TPPA: An Agreement for the Ruling Class
Agreement on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPPA) was reached early on Tuesday morning. The final signing could occur in 90 days’ time, with the text likely to be made publically available for the first time during the that period. John Key and Tim Groser claim that deal will not impact Pharmac’s ability to subsidise the cost […]
A Short History of New Zealand Imperialism
From New Zealand’s earliest attempts at increasing its territories in the Pacific right through to today’s economic imperialism, the local capitalist ruling class has had imperial ambitions. It was New Zealand’s local leaders – the Governors, the Premiers, the Prime Ministers – who were calling for a New Zealand Empire in the Pacific. Likewise we […]
Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Shomi Yoon gave this talk to the Wellington branch of the International Socialists on the anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki. Seventy years ago this month the US dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The bomb, a “destroyer of worlds” burnt hotter than the sun. The largely civilian victims were instantly vaporised, and […]
TPPA? No Way!
Thousands of people marched against the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) nationwide over the weekend. There was palpable anger towards the government and their secret negotiating away of healthcare, and workers rights in favour of corporate interests. The secret trade negotiations stalled in Hawaii last weekend as the 12 countries bickered over what could and […]
Free West Papua!
New Zealand is often presented in our media as a country that prides itself as a strong advocate for democratic and human rights. But there is little coverage of the atrocities which occur in West Papua, so close to home. For over 50 years, our Melanesian neighbours have endured and survived some of the most […]
Should NZ recognise Palestine?
Should New Zealand recognise Palestine as a separate state? This is what the Green Party hope to see happen. In December last year Kennedy Graham MP tried to put a motion to Parliament that “this House call upon the government to [recognise] Palestine as a sovereign State, and looks forward to the day when it is accepted as a member of the United […]
