While our Kurdish comrades in Syria are in the process of destroying the last ISIS stronghold in the city of Baghouz near the Iraqi border, new movements are making their mark in Aotearoa with actions that challenge the systematic make-up of society.
The Extinction Rebellion movement, an offshoot of the UK version, now has local groups active in Whangarei, Auckland, Thames, Hamilton, Tauranga, Palmerston North, the Wairarapa, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch and Dunedin with many groups taking actions already. In Auckland, a group visited the BP offices while in Christchurch, the water supply to the regional council offices was turned off by activists. The group’s values are:
- Governments tell the truth about the ecological crisis
- WWII-scale climate mobilisation for zero emissions and drawdown by 2025
- Participatory democracy
The third one is particularly encouraging as it is a clear break with the status quo of parliamentary politics and a move towards anarchistic and communalistic modes of organising. The groups are planning actions for mid-April – watch this space.
At the same time, the Climate Strike started Greta Thunberg in Sweden, has reached the South Pacific too with a nation-wide mobilisation for Friday, 15th March. The strike action, set to take place in towns across the country, is likely to be the largest youth mobilisation since the campaign against youth rates. “We are striking from school to tell our politicians to take our futures seriously and treat climate change for what it is – a crisis.”
And last but not least – while not a new movement – the campaign to protect Ihumātao has been visible, vocal and very effective with an occupation, a recent music festival supported by some of the country’s leading musos and protests outside Fletchers. Sign the petition here.
Let’s be inspired by the determination of the Ihumātao campaign.
Let’s carry our radical ideas into the Extinction Rebellion movement.
Let’s support our young people as they take action for a future worth living.
Photo: Protect Ihumātao website
