Conflict New Zealand November 14 2007

Valerie Morse / Radical Activist
and in the back ground, Maria Van der Meel
at a protest outside Parliament grounds today
14 -11-2007

New Zealand has always been in a state of conflict. It is the lot of any country where there is rich and poor. Perhaps it is a fundamental truth about human society that has been observed by all great philosophers and religious leaders. It was Jesus that said the poor will be with you always... . Having said that I understood from an early age in my life that I had nothing better to do than battle for a more fair and just society. It is a perennial struggle that must be relearned by each new generation. Nothing changes and so the rich continue to do anything for the poor except get off their backs.

What we have witnessed in New Zealand over the last few months is the State in action when confronted with an economic crisis. It so happens that it has occurred under the watch of a Labour Government but it could easily have been National or some other coalition and the script would have remained the same. Economic crisis causes the state to shift into a more coercive gear. Moral panic is the instrument for such a shift. In New Zealand it was the scare of terrorists. I'm just sorry that so many innocent people get caught up in such events.

Postscript.

Not all economic crises are obvious but there has been a global crisis since the nineteen seventies that for many vested interests has remained an inconvenient truth. It is generally recognised amongst peak oil commentators that global oil production peaked in 2005. The war on terror is a mask for the more fundamental problem of oil depletion. Naturally New Zealand, as part of a global community dominated by one military super power that is threatened by such an energy crisis, must be seen to be doing its part. This is really much bigger than you think.