GUEST BLOG: Josie Butler – Why I threw the dildo at Steven Joyce
Can you explain the reason for you throwing the dildo at Steven Joyce?
I’m a nurse and I’m very concerned about the effects of the TPP on my patients. I believe, and I am not alone, that the TPP will have profoundly negative effects on New Zealand, socially, culturally and economically. I care deeply about my country and it’s people, and I want NZers to know that we can still avoid this outcome. This agreement has not been ratified yet.
Balanced debate on the issue has been continually shut down by the government. I think it is a shame that it takes a hard-working nurse throwing a dildo at a politician to open up this debate.
What was the specific purpose for using a dildo, what was it to symbolise?
I believe the metaphor is well documented now on social media, and it is not necessary to stir the pot.
How did the opportunity come about? Did you follow Joyce or the media etc?
In any campaign where protest has become inevitable, you have to grab your moments.
When did you decide you wanted to do this, and did you act alone or with others?
I’ve been campaigning against the TPP for two years. We have been taking part in the democratic process, we’ve been to the City Council, we’ve educated people, we’ve organised numerous peaceful protests. The TPP is not good for NZ, and I will not give up working towards a healthier NZ, a stronger NZ, a fairer NZ.
You say you were not charged. did you receive a pre-charge police warning? And can you explain how the police dealt with it?
The police dealt with me professionally, as is their duty, and I was dealt with accordingly under the law. No formal charges were laid.
Are you happy with the way police dealt with it, and the way you were treated?
They were doing their job, and I have no complaints at all about them.
Anti-TPPA trade agreement protesters at Waitangi say they were against the dildo-throwing incident and you had since apologised to them. Is the the case, and, if so, why did you apologise? At the end of the day I put myself on the line to stand up for patient rights, and the vast majority of people (including kaumatua) I spoke to at Waitangi highly respected that. I have been invited back next year, and plan to attend.
PM John Key condemned your actions, saying: “It’s appalling because that image has gone around the world and now there’s people in countries all over the world who are saying that the way New Zealanders commemorate or celebrate their national day is with a senior politician having a sex toy thrown at them.” – What is your response to this? That’s rich coming from a man who cuts funding from domestic and sexual violence services, pulls ponytails, and engages in rape jokes. I’m appalled that our taxes paid for the Prime Minister to watch sports and talk about a sex toy on our National Day instead of doing his job and representing the Crown at Waitangi.
Can you describe what the fallout has been like since this? (Good,bad, supportive, ugly, and examples) The overwhelming support and Aroha from around the world has been amazing. Now that the world is having the conversation about the TPPA maybe we can all do something about it.
Did you expect it to gain this much attention? The aim was to gain awareness about the atrocity that is the TPPA
Would you do it again? I will continue to proudly stand up for my country and it’s beautiful people.
When you said “that’s for raping our sovereignty”, can you elaborate on it?
The TPPA is the rape of our tino rangitiratanga, the torture our basic human rights, and the murder of our people. We already have over 300,000 children living below the poverty line, I don’t want to live in a country where families have to choose between potentially life saving medication or feeding their children because of the increased price of medications under the TPPA.
Can you detail how you got into being anti-TTPA, and what active work you’ve done around this?
I got involved through the Nurses Union. I heard the grave concerns from the medical professionals around me about the TPPA and became aware of what was at stake. Those concerns haven’t disappeared now the text is out. I’ve been active in the campaign for two years, and have organised numerous peaceful protests and actions throughout Christchurch, and have spent countless hours campaigning against this. The TPPA is not primarily a trade agreement, it is a mechanism whereby global corporations can override the sovereignty and lawful decisions of nation states.
Well done, Josie, yours was an original and humorous protest (at least to those of us on the left). There is a long history of protest, and you have secured yourself a place in it.
As a white sixty something woman, I have severe concerns about TPPA and consider it to be a continuation of colonialisation/imperialism. If have written about it in a recent blog post: http://abrainydeal.me/2016/02/08/tpp-is-the-new-imperialism/
Good job Josie and thanks for spelling out why you threw the dildo and how you feel about this mostly non-trade; corporate swindle agreement.
The horrific tppa needs to be opposed and your action spoke louder than words. This past week just highlights, yet again, what a coward and a liar and a hypocrite our embarrassing PM is.
Many are opposed to tppa, worldwide, for very good reasons and the list is growing.
Joyce should be glad it was not a wet gooey cow pie instead.
Go Josie Butler …a serious medical professional and protestor with long time concerns about the effects of the TPPA on the welfare of New Zealanders health…her most vulnerable patients
Go Josie!! People are uniting around the threat of TPPA!!
Joyce probably enjoyed it!
Thank you, Josie. I’m glad I’m on your side. Kia kaha.
You are a fine stature of a woman and hold your head high girl, as I am proud of you for placing yourself between those who want us silenced and those of us who are prepared to stand up for others and you did this with skill and Mana.
Go Josie, we love you, and remember if any repercussions are enacted upon you for exercising your right to demonstrate for your cause please let us know so we can ramp up the vile acts they are placing on us all.
‘ You don’t tug on Supermans cape, you don’t spit into the wind, you don’t pull the mask… of the Lone Ranger – and you don’t go messin with a nurse !!! ‘
Dah dee dah dah dah dah dah dee dah….
By Joves…well done Josie.
Your articulate, informed and got guts. We’re all proud of you. My sister was a nurse most of her life and displayed the same sort of compassion for people you do.
And to see you smile as you knew – and we all knew – it was a humorous , harmless act , made us all laugh even the more – in fact the whole world had a good laugh – barring the skulking PM.
And a small amount of credit even though I loathe the man goes to Stephen Joyce as he took the incident with good humour on the chin.
Like others have said …………. Thanks Josie
And you’ve said the quote of the year …..: “”I think it’s a shame that it takes a hard-working nurse throwing a dildo at a politician to open up this debate.”
Amen sister 🙂
Good on you Josie !!! She’s correct in everything she says, and John key’s appalling double standards is highlighted for everyone to see. John key repeatedly, over a period of months, physically abused and harassed a woman at her place of employment, who later lost her job over it, while John key got a free pass. If anyone else had of done this, that person would have been charged with multiple serious offenses and would have had lost their job.
Well done, Josie.
Maybe you’ve started a new tradition? (In the Middle east they throw shoes at despots.) Here in NZ, we can start lobbing dildos at dickheads.
If it looks like a dick, talks like a dick, acts like a dick, then …….
@Theodore – that’s a lot of dildos!
Hey Josie, so, the next time I find myself in hospital and am unhappy with the treatment I am receiving from a medical professional, I can throw something at them?
Does that sound reasonable to you?
(My late wife was a nurse.)
There are many, many nurses who are relieved that SOMEONE has drawn attention to this issue.
The health service will be for the wealthy only at the rate we are going, so no disrespect to you,but if you care about the health service, you would not take such a one eyed view.
Well done, It was a spark of genius to pick that object. ( not being personal but I hope it was a used one.) It had the required effect and got the world media involved even if their comments weren’t complimentary. Us kiwis loved it and the recipient handled it rather well too. I hate this agreement, but have been unaware of it untill 12 months ago. Main stream media don’t want anyone to know about it.
NZ needs more young clear thinking courageous people like you Josie.
Let your role model travel more widely than the media place on the flying object.
The meaning of your example is powerful, people should publicly oppose bullshitting politicians who are in the pocket of transnational corporations.
They deserve public disdain as a starter and that should get a lot more public exposure.
You’re amazing. Keep it up girl 😀
So the high point of the hard lefts campaign against a trade agreement with the great satan, America, is a thrown used dildo? Ok.
Would you rather it had been a molotov-cocktail? What would that have achieved?
Is it true that the brand is [flying] F**kmaster 9000?
Josie, I would just like to applaud your accuracy, which achieved maximum effect. Please post a video of your throwing technique for others to emulate thanks.