Activists gathered in Auckland today outside the US consulate to protest the occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan. 
Marking the anniversary of the Iraq invasion 7 years ago the protesters demand the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all foreign troops, including and especially the NZ SAS and other military in Afghanistan.
The Workers Party had a PFLP banner, as part of a solidarity campaign with the Palestinian liberation movement
The protested ended on a fitting note, with old shoes being hurled at the Consulate.
The flag is symbolic, imperialism is real
Victoria university members of the Workers Party are facing charges of serious misconduct after burning the New Zealand flag. This leaflet explains the political background to the act.
Why burn the New Zealand flag?
The New Zealand flag is a symbol of imperialism. This is most obvious in its design, a tribute to the British Empire. This design was adopted after the Second Boer War, which devastated South Africa but resulted in a surge of Kiwi patriotism.
A simple re-design, while reflecting our emergence from the shadow of the British Empire, would not change the imperialist nature of the flag. It’s a tool of the ruling class, inseparably linked with militarism. From the Boer War through WWI and II, right through to armed involvement in Vietnam and Afghanistan, the flag has marked New Zealand’s presence. Flags mark military conquest, the subjugation of nations.
Flags and borders divide the working majority. ANZAC soldiers had more in common with their Turkish counterparts than with the bureaucrats who sent them to Gallipoli. The working majority has interests in common worldwide, including an end to imperial war. Ruling class nationalism is a barrier to recognising this.
What purpose does ANZAC day serve? Continue reading “The flag is symbolic, imperialism is real”
Obama – managing the US war effort
John Edmundson
During the lead-up to the 2008 US election, Barack Obama made much of his plans to end the war in Iraq. His bold declaration – that “on my first day in office, I would give the military a new mission: ending this war”. Across the world, many people pinned their hopes on this promise.
Obama’s policy was never really about ending America’s imperialist war policy. It was always about managing the US war effort more effectively. Continue reading “Obama – managing the US war effort”
Middle East politics
For indepth background analysis of the conflicts in the Middle East check out back issues from our MidEast Solidarity and Liberation journals:
MidEast Solidarity Spring 2001 mideast17
No to West’s war of terror
The West’s mass murder in Iraq
Israel’s war on the Palestinians
From Zionism to socialism
One year of the new intifada
Fear of fundamentalism
How the West made Bin Laden
Labour wages war on workers and poor
The problem is capitalism
Towards an anti-imperialist movement
MidEast Solidarity Autumn 2002 mideast22
Black Hawk Down actor speaks out
United Nations – friend or foe?
Peace is not good enough – against the invasion of Afghanistan
Palestine – solidarity urgently needed
Behind the wars on the Palestinians
Deir Yassin massacre
Who is in Palestine?
Liberation Spring 2002 liberation11
Liberating ideas and the movement we need to oppose the war on Iraq
Depleted uranium – another weapon of Western terror
How the West strangles the Middle East
One year on in Afghanistan
Represssion and resistance in Turkish jails
Spark Audio: Three talks on the Middle East
The following talks recorded at forums in the first half of 2008 have just been added to the Spark Audio archive.
John Edmundson
What future for Palestine?
Phil Ferguson
Iraq five years on
Nick Scullin
The present war in Afghanistan
Condoleezza says thank you
– Daphna Whitmore
Condoleezza Rice just called in to say thank you.
Thanks for the “long history of partnership”. Thanks for New Zealand’s military participation in wars in Korea, the Pacific and more recently in Afghanistan.
Hang on a minute, isn’t Helen Clark supposed to be a peacenik camouflaged in a power suit?
Oil workers’ union leader calls for an end to the US plunder of Iraq
On May 28, 2008, Chevron and ExxonMobil Corporations each conducted their annual shareholder meetings.
Chevron held its meeting at its world headquarters in San Ramon, Ca. ExxonMobil convened in Dallas, Texas. Antiwar, environmental and other social justice organisations conducted protests at each event.
The statement below from the Federation of Oil Unions in Iraq to the shareholders of each corporation was presented at press conferences conducted in conjunction with these protests. The statement was transmitted by Hassan Juma’a Awad, President of the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions, to US Labor Against the War for presentation at these events.
Original statement posted here
Continue reading “Oil workers’ union leader calls for an end to the US plunder of Iraq”