April 17 was the International Day of Solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners. Some 1500 detained Palestinians began a hunger strike on that day, with the aim of calling the world’s attention to Israel’s illegal system of mass arbitrary arrests and ill-treatment of Palestinian prisoners.
I find it difficult to not be frustrated, disappointed and a little angry every year when ANZAC Day comes along.
It’s not just the anguish of losing tens of thousands of our best and brightest in historic conflicts or the pain of the families they left behind or the damage these wars caused our communities and wider society.
It’s the way our Government treated so many Maori when they returned from war that still makes me angry all these many years later.
Nobody goes to work expecting to get hurt, sick, or killed. But in New Zealand, far too many people do. Every year 50-60 people are killed in a work incident and 600-900 more die early deaths as a result of work-related ill-health.
Anzac Day is important to remember because of the utter futility of being part of an imperialist military alliance. New Zealand casualties in that war, killed or wounded, were 58%. That is equal to one-quarter of the adult male population. Our death rate of those who served at 16.6% was higher than that suffered by Germany!
Workers Memorial Day is Friday 28th, a day we remember those who have been killed at work.
Here is a list of at least some of the events planned for around the country.
Children’s Commissioner Andrew Becroft says a new United Nations-funded report is more compelling evidence why New Zealand should stop locking…
The government is being accused of a ”sneaky backdoor attack” on one of the core principles of New Zealand’s cornerstone…
In 2013 criminal justice spending was falling and the Government was mulling over what to spend the money on. 3…
A new independent report has outlined a number of serious concerns about New Zealand’s seclusion and restraint practices, says the…
Race Relations Commissioner Susan Devoy says NZ First leader Winston Peters needs to focus on what is relevant. “We suggest…