The anguish and fury at Key’s decision to militarise a situation that requires de-escalation rather than inflaming is demanding expression around social media.
I don’t think an angry march is what is needed here. The decision to re-invade Iraq is wrong on so many levels and demands across the spectrum representation.
There must be many NZers who voted National or didn’t vote at all who will be just as angry at this decision to go to war.
We’ve got to call people together in a form that reaches out rather than alienates.
I think we should gather in our Town Squares and sing Lennon’s classic, “All we are saying is give Peace a chance”. It is unacceptable to allow our Government to declare war without our consent, let us make a clear powerful call for peace that crosses all parts of society and removes our consent. Let’s get together and sing this song over and over.
Out on the steps of Parliament, in Queen Street, at the local town centre, thousands and thousands of people singing. Let’s allow that peace anthem take on real meaning now. The more voices that join, the less the media and Government can ignore it.
Hear hear Martyn.
Forget democracy.Key knew it would get voted down in Parliament so did’nt put it to the vote.Another example of arrogance and the desire to dance to America,s tune.
I’m in.
Fantastic idea Martyn! But why dilly dally around the fringe and limit yourself to Queen St or NZ Parliament? Really make a statement, get a troupe together and head straight for Raqqa!
All we gotta do now is find our voices…
“….I think we should gather in our Town Squares and sing Lennon’s classic, “All we are saying is give Peace a chance”….”
The last time people did stuff in public like that here in Aussie to stop troops going to war, the world’s biggest butcher at the time – Saddam Hussian – patted them on the head by publicly thanking them.
This would not be a good look for NZ if the head of ISIS was to say to the world’s media “We’d like to thank all our supporters in NZ.” And besides, no one here supports people being burnt alive or thrown off buildings.
These people arn’t peaceful, rational, or tolerant.
Get a life ,Martyn, John Key received his instructions of his golfing buddy years ago. What ever we do or say, will make no difference. He WILL do as he is told!!!! and to hell with all of us. . Get to the bottom of this Sabin carry on . Get your teeth in to that !! And expose it for what it is!!!! It would be more damaging to his credibility , than all your rent a mob marches. Arty
The biggest irony here is that most of the long-haired anti-war protestors of the 60s and early 70s are now well-groomed wealthy business men and women who no longer care about such things.
No we are not Mike the Lefty. We still care about decency, respect and peace for our kids.
This involvement is no different to the other wars we have been conned by the yanks to support.
If we weren’t after cheap oil, or more dairy sales we would not be bothering to take part.
If one thinks that ISIS is the enemy – take a hard look at the USA and all the evil involvement they have promoted around the world.
The yanks are experts when it comes to torture.
Shit not me Mike the leftie, I am not rich or well healed at 70yrs.
Good stuff Martyn.
I was in San Francisco as a young 23yr old Kiwi when in 1968 Scott MacKenzie’s song “When you go to San Francisco, be sure you wear some flowers in your hair”.
It was an uplifting time in 1968 when everyone felt glom before then over Vietnam (another hopeless war) as so many body bags were coming home all of a sudden.
Then along comes the era of hope and universal love.
I wished you were all there friends.
But when Key’s war mongering legacy comes crashing down as Nixon’s did, we will need to go back again to atone for our human spirit.
So Martyn my friend you are so right we should now begin the movement again, I will be there too.
Glad to know that there are still a few of us around who have stuck to our principles!
‘Give Peace a Chance’ (and ‘All You need is Love’) were hippie anthems. That’s the way today’s chanters today will be labelled. I think the hippies in many ways were on the right track – they were anti war totally – but this is today and protest might need to take a different form.
The situation needs some seriously creative holistic intelligence to get things heading in the right direction.
Above all we need a new type of able planetary organization concerned with human rights – and those human rights need to be outlined to the utmost … and enforced.
Key wants a referendum on the flag design, but doesn’t care what kiwis think about the important stuff.
Also: why does John Key seem to be the only kiwi (from all media that I have heard and read anyway) who calls them ISIL instead of ISIS?
It can’t be just a random thing, his speeches about them will be well planned.
So is it because that’s what Obama calls them? Does Key think it makes him sound more presidential and wise on the topic of ISIS or something?
Will he start to call aluminum cans aloominum like the yanks do as well? Perhaps he has an erb garden instead of a herb garden like the rest of us kiwis.
I just find it interesting anyway.
And as for his whole spiel about how we can’t sit back and do nothing, well he was quite happy to sit back and do nothing about Boko Haram and all the other nutters doing horrible shit out there.
When the Saudi King died we sent a rep to give our condolences. Well guess what, it is a crime punishable by death in Saudi Arabia to convert to Christianity from Islam. But I guess it only counts if ISIS kills Christians because of their religion and not our mates the Saudis.
The hypocrisy makes me sick to my stomach.
The name ISIS is already taken – it is the name of an ancient Egyptian goddess. We should leave it that way out of respect for Tutankhamen, Cleopatra, etc.
Better to use the alternative names of ISIL or just IS – Islamic State.
Very true, but I doubt very much if that is John Keys’ reasoning behind it.
Better still to call them “daesh” – see Jane Young’s article on Pundit: http://pundit.co.nz/content/on-the-use-of-daesh-and-the-application-of-terrorism
The actual full name of the organisation is this:
Al-Dawla Al-Islamiya fi al-Iraq wa al-Sham
Commonly now called “DAESH” or “DAISH”.
A bit of a brief description and explanation is found here:
http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2014/09/10/good-question-is-it-isis-isil-or-the-islamic-state/
1000% Carlos Ropehana.
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
Key is a paper doll of Obama’s.
Hope he gets close to the flame now.
A sure consequence of participation in this conflict will be that NZer’s, including civilians abroad, will now be considered as targets of many middle eastern terrorists and not spared through virtue of being bystanders to a conflict.
Key is putting us in harm’s way.
Nope- “we” already were targets- western infidels.
No infidel is spared.
Japan had only contributed humanitarian aid (pretty sure I’ve seen that as an alternative to us sending troops) and that didn’t helps its two journalists.
Wrong. Japan contributed hundreds of millions to aid the countries fighting ISIS, which (rightly or wrongly) made ISIS consider Japan to now be it’s enemy.
We were not targets. We are now.
$200m in non-military aid. Humanitarian aid is arguable I guess.
I’m not arguing that it wasn’t humanitarian aid or that it was wrong to provide it.
I am saying that countries who help the enemies of ISIS will inevitably be seen as enemies by ISIS too.
Yes Richard,
Key is putting us in harm’s way.
Yes our tourism will now suffer as Travellers will now see NZ as a soft terrorism target also and they will now seek safer destinations, so I bet Key never thought of that eh bloody idiot?
All I can think is.
“War is over if we want it”
Just don’t go . Don’t go to the war zone . Those guys and girls going are your guys and girls . Stop them from going . Beg , plead , dare to show reason, explain to them what’s going on. It will be their names being read out on ANZAC day , just like the poor suckers who got killed before them and those before them .
Wars without soldiers would be a bit dull for those who start wars for fun and profit wouldn’t it ?
Any songs sung should be sung outside army barracks . Those great kids should be having fun and being happy in beautiful New Zealand/Aotearoa , not being head-fucked by scum bags and liars like jonky and his minions to be used to ‘ advise ‘ on how best kill and destroy. Especially by jonky and his minions . We all know they’er liars , swindlers and crooks and if they’ll sell us out to their off-shore corporates just imagine what they’ll do for those same masters who demand we get involved in killing to protect their profits ?
Like capital punishment , any war , anywhere in these days of global one-ness should be regarded as an unconscionable atrocity and no good will come of it . Certainly not by allowing ourselves to be tempted by our ego and arrogance to become involved .
Unless you’re a shareholder in Global War Ltd of course . Then it’s those few , those ghastly few , they’re the ones who must be stopped . All people all over this earth must use the might of Net neutrality thus open discourse to roust out the psychopaths who create such fucking awful situations from behind the safety of their board room tables and office desks . They were the ones who spawned the lunatics who are I.S. They were the ones who tinkered with the crazy fuckers and look what they’re done ! A fantastic opportunity to make a killing , on all levels .
Whew ! I feel like Martin Luther King after that . Please excuse me . I think I need a wee lie down .
Well done Country Boy.
You are as beatnik as Martyn and me now.
We have a team in Tauranga, angry with John Key’s attitude, ready for an anti-war protest. Some young, some from the 60s, but all ready to take action. Let’s get a date, and do this across the country. How to get it started?
There is actually a better solution than sending troops, which is both cheaper, safer, and more likely to improve NZ’s long term relationship with Iraq and the middle east in general.
Bring the Iraqi trainees to New Zealand. Make sure they have a good experience here.
No-one gets killed, no-one gets invaded, there’s no percentage in murdering the trainers – and even that fucking useless self-serving tosser John Key gets his toadying done.
Perhaps start here:
http://embassies.mofa.gov.sa/sites/NewZealand/EN/Pages/default.aspx
Hold up placards and form a human chain outside, demanding the Saudi government “lead” by “example”, and improve their human rights record, and stop the kinds of atrocities, committed in the name of sharia law, in their own country, which are not much different to what IS dish out as “justice”.
Also demand they stop their citizens donating funds towards IS and other radical, criminal groups, abusing Islam for ulterior motives!
See this “nice” summary:
http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/crime-and-punishment-islamic-state-vs-saudi-arabia-1588245666
I completely support the sentiment expressed here. I would also like to suggest that we now need a 21st century equivalent to the bed-in. A social media campaign with a name, slogan and icon that all can tweet, retweet, like, follow and up-vote.
War Is Not The Answer – W.I.N.T.A.
Yeah, why not? “A bed in” at Farmers or some large window display?
Is this the same John Lennon that donated money to the IRA?
Yes, we need an event, but for now I(Barry) and 14,163 people signed this:
http://www.actionstation.org.nz/notinmyname
“Dear Prime Minister John Key,
The decision to send New Zealand troops into Iraq may have been made on behalf of NZ, but it was made without a debate or vote in Parliament, without adequate discussion of the alternatives and without a clear public mandate.
If you choose to send New Zealand troops to Iraq now, in whatever capacity, you send them without my support and not in my name. The situation in Iraq is complex and tragic, but the bottom line right now is that you must consult Parliament, and listen to the voices of New Zealanders.
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