US warns citizens not to attend NZ Anti TPP rally

tay

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The US Consulate is urging American citizens to avoid the march, saying the police estimate a crowd of about 8000 people.


It said even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational, and reminded people to exercise caution around large crowds or protests.


The consulate said the State Department remained very concerned about the threat of violence against its citizens around the world.


Protest rallies against New Zealand signing the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal will be held in several cities, with the biggest one set to march down Queen St.


The US consulate has sent an email to American citizens in New Zealand, urging them to avoid the march.




US warns citizens not to attend Akl TPP rally | Radio New Zealand News








Thousands of people have marched against the Government's controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement in rallies around the country.


Trade ministers from 12 nations including New Zealand have been negotiating the trade deal, which would stretch from Japan to Chile and cover 40 per cent of the world economy.


Talks had stalled however, with New Zealand digging in over dairy trade and Japan and the United States disagreeing over the auto industry.


Organizers estimated 10,000 protesters had gathered in Auckland; 5000 in Wellington; 4000 in Christchurch and 2000 in both Dunedin and Hamilton. They put the crowds at 800 in Nelson, 500 in Napier, 300 in New Plymouth, 200 in Tauranga, 250 in Golden Bay and 50 in Featherson .


In Auckland the gathered masses ranged from parents with young families to veteran protesters, and came together under banners reading "TPPA Democratic Terrorists", and "TPPA No Way".




Documentary filmmaker Bryan Bruce spoke to the crowd on the grounds of Parliament, detailing his opposition to possible Pharmac changes.


"What's on the table is human misery," he said. "The poor have as much right to health as the rich."


Late last month Prime Minister John Key had said the Government would face a higher medicine bill under the TPP, as patents could be in force for "a little bit longer".


However Kiwis using the health system would not face higher bills for subsidised drugs, he said.


Adaire Hannah said the deal as an attack on the working class.


"You can't make capitalism nice," she said.


"It's basically anti-ordinary people having a role in the way the world works."


Cathy O'Callaghan, a nurse from Wellington, said it was good to see such a diverse crowd.


"It's not just a bunch of hippies."


She was here with her husband and her daughter, who was 15.


Ana Scotney, 20, has never actively protested against anything before.


"But I feel like this is kind of a big deal right now."


"There's this conception of our generation as being apathetic, so I figured I would be kind of a hypocrite if I didn't come.


She likened a rejection of the TPP agreement to the nuclear ship ban in the 80s and New Zealand's refusal to join the war in Iraq.




"The Government is not listening to the people. We are not going to let overseas corporates take over our sovereignty, wealth and freedoms," protester Mischele Rhones said.




"People have woken up to the fact this deal is sitting there ready to be signed.


"We just hope the Government walks away from the deal of the farmers are never going to get a fair deal, we already have effective trade deals in place, why do this?"




Thousands march against TPP trade agreement | Stuff.co.nz
 

taxslave

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Only idiots protest things that are good. Did you see all the protesters in Seattle in their plastic kayaks protesting oil?
 

Cliffy

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Only idiots protest things?
Taxslave thinks shipping jobs out of country and allowing foreign corporations over rule our laws is a good thing. And then, when that happens, he'll blame it all on tree huggers, the disable, poor and the retired. I beginning to think he has been sniffing diesel fumes for too long.
 

tay

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taxslave

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TPP=Terrific Trade & Prosperity.
Of course the left would like everyone to be equally poor except their leaders.And natives.