Christchurch Protest March for Democracy, 10 September 2016, National Day of Action

New Zealanders from all walks of life will come together on 10th September in a Day of Action that will affirm our democratic rights and support initiatives to build a fairer and more sustainable society.

Christchurch will hold a family friendly march with speakers and live music that will bring together a powerful movement of individuals and a diverse range of groups and organisations.

The movement is supported by a wide range of civil society organisations including NZ Council of Trade Unions (CTU), Public Services Association (PSA), FIRST Union, Greenpeace, 350.org, Oxfam New Zealand, SAFE for Animals and It’s Our Future.

Barry Coates, national coordinator of It’s Our Future and the Day of Action explained the motivation behind the rally: “This is a time when families are struggling with high housing costs, insecure work and stagnant wages. The gaps between the haves and have-nots are widening in our society. Our rivers and seas are being polluted, our native species are being wiped out and we are failing to curb climate emissions.”

“The government is allowing tax advantages for multinationals and the wealthy, and planning to privatise social services. They are ratifying the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) which would give new rights to foreign corporations to sue our government over democratically-agreed laws and policies, and override te Tiriti rights. Our peace-loving country is about to host an international weapons show and give licences for deep sea oil drilling. It’s time to call a halt. There are already too many advantages for corporations and the wealthy. We need to reclaim our rights.”

“This is not the society we want to be. Through our Day of Action, we will ‘join the dots’ between our concerns and issues, reclaim democratic rights for citizens and retain our nation’s sovereignty.”

“Our Day of Action on 10 September is a protest. It is also an affirmation of our hopes and aspirations for a fair, just and sustainable society. We will highlight and celebrate the positive alternatives in communities in Aotearoa NZ, inviting participation from all those who are building a better future, whether through community housing, supporting refugees and the homeless, growing organics and working in community gardens, creating transport alternatives and community renewable energy, divesting from fossil fuels, supporting community finance and local exchange schemes or fighting to protect our climate and environment and our local businesses.”

The purpose of the Christchurch protest march is to show that a wide cross-section of groups and organisations are united in our concern about the government's unnecessary intention to ratify the TPPA, their continued lack of real effective action on climate change while subsidising fossil fuel extraction and the many other issues now affecting us that arise from uncontrolled corporate greed - including massive and growing inequality, filthy rivers, environmental degradation, privatised schooling and the missed opportunities for sustainable energy development and for a sustainable people-focussed city rebuild.

The following day, Sunday September 11, 350.orgChristchurch has organised a series of workshops on how to be an effective activist. Everyone is welcome.

March for Democracy
Saturday September 10th, 1 - 3 pm.
Shand Crescent Reserve, Riccarton Rd. (march down and back on Riccarton Road)

Workshops for Change
Sunday September 11th, 9 am - 5 pm
Rangi Ruru School, 59 Hewitts Rd, Christchurch

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

Events will be held in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hokianga, Whangarei, Rotorua, New Plymouth, Palmerston North and Nelson, and actions in other centres. Details are on www.itsourfuture.org.nz.

The events have been initiated and organised by It’s Our Future, the campaign against the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) and related treaties. In Christchurch the event is organised by Its Our Future Christchurch in conjunction with the climate action organisation 350.orgChristchurch.

More info here at the Facebook page for this event

Also you may be interested in Workshops for Change on Sunday 11 September – Facebook info here.

© Scoop Media