No troubles in GodzoneEmir Hodzic
Being in New Zealand now, while the Middle East burns and Europe is overwhelmed with refugees, is like being on the
other side of the planet. Well, New Zealand is actually on the other side of the planet. So far away in fact, that
nothing disrupts Prime Minister’s “rebranding” project. Nothing except rugby, that is. Everything is fine and dandy in
Godzone. Except, sometimes thousands of “uninformed” and “politically irrelevant” New Zealanders take to the streets in
protest of the TPPA free trade agreement, and the unusual secrecy behind it.
Unfolding human tragedy does make it to the 6 o’clock news, but it is so far away that it isn’t our problem. Most have
accepted the Government’s explanation that we can’t afford to take more refugees, and some have even embraced good
old-fashioned racism and bigotry. “All they will do is sit around dreaming of ways to kill us” one concerned Kiwi
commented, “What you people need is a boot back to your nation, and fight your own way out, you maggots” suggested
another. The most prominent concern is, of course, that we should help our own first, and not waste money on others. The
same argument can be heard around the world.
Seems perfectly logical though, doesn’t it? Auckland rent prices are sky high, and food prices are among the highest in
the world. Unemployed, and those living on minimum wage, are having a rough time in paradise. However, it has escaped
the attention of these concerned patriots, that despite warnings from academics and some politicians regarding the
growing inequality in New Zealand, the right wing government has been voted in three times! All of a sudden, we notice
the growing gap between the “haves” and the “have-nots”, and the need to take care of our own. If only NZ took in more
refugees, we could blame them for taking our jobs.
I came to NZ as a refugee, and it is difficult to read racist comments about refugees. As someone who went to school
here, made friends, fell in love, hearing about filthy maggots and potential killers, feels like someone’s holding a
torch to my face and exposing my own “otherness”. Fortunately, NZ is one of the most diverse countries in the world, and
there are always opposing views.
The Government has been under pressure to increase the refugee quota, and they have done so by 600. Which still ranks
NZ 90th in the world in per capita assistance to refugees. Local artists, like musician Neil Finn, Green party members,
Amnesty International, and worker unions like Unite Union, have all voiced their concern at the Government’s lack of
leadership in the wake of the refugee crises. Calling the current response “inadequate”.
Thousands of New Zealanders around the country have turned out in support of doubling New Zealand’s refugee quota.
Candlelit vigils were held around the country, and only days a go I was at the “refugees welcome here” gathering in
Auckland. Nevertheless, as it goes with international investment bankers turned politicians, the Prime Minister ignored
the public.
On the other side of the planet, there are thousands of refugees moving through former Yugoslavia, a region that is
still recovering from the bloody war of the nineties. The Serbian government is waiting for EU to give them some money
before they do more, Croatian president Kolinda Grabar, went so far in fear mongering that she wants troops to defend
the Croatian border! Inspired by the Hungarian humanitarian efforts, I guess. The situation in Bosnia is, well, even
refugees from Syria are walking around it (unless Hungarian and Croatian borders close). But one thing that connects
Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia, New Zealand, and many other countries, is the response of the people.
Thousands of Bosnians of different ethnic backgrounds collected tons of aid, and have taken it to Serbia, and with
Serbian volunteers have tried to help as best they could. The same goes for Croatia, and other European countries. While
New Zealand is far away, thousands that took to the street in support of doubling the refugee quota, have shown that
even New Zealand isn’t blind to the unfolding human tragedy.
New Zealand can’t hide from the world and continue to play the game of global capitalism - the New Zealand Government
can’t support US wars but turn its head from the consequences. What we are seeing in Syria and Iraq can be traced back
to the US-UK illegal invasion of Iraq in 2003. With the standoff in Iraq today, ISIS still standing strong, Assad
receiving Russian aid, it is hard to see things “improving” anytime soon. While the Western governments play
geopolitics, and exploit the last drops of fossil fuels for their corporate sponsors, real people suffer.
In the age of crypto-fascist corporate imperialism, where secret free trade agreements are giving even more powers to
multinational corporations, and most politicians serve the interests of big business, there is no utopia to hide in. And
New Zealand is certainly not an exemption. There is no place far away enough, that is immune to world’s ills. And it is
the people who understand this, that are also learning to self organise, act on principle of solidarity, and can’t be
duped by mass media anymore. Future generations will, undoubtedly, judge us on how we treated those that needed our help
the most. And it is thousands of people who extended their hand to those whose lives were reduced in value by
externalities, that I consider my “own”.
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