Te Papa - No Arms Race at Our Place
Peace activists assembled outside Te Papa last Saturday to protest against the 'New Zealand Defence Industry' weapons conference. The conference is held annually at Te Papa, the national museum of Aotearoa/New Zealand (19th/20th October this year).
The protesters demanded of Te Papa to cancel the conference. Visitors to the museum signed a banner (No arms race at our place) to show their disgust and opposition to the conference.
The 50 protesters enjoyed listening to the wonderful tunes of Brass Razoo Solidarity Band. Leaflets pointing out the participating companies in the global weapons industry were handed out to the public and messages were written on the floor with chalk.
Te Papa security decided to move the protesters because they were supposedly blocking the fire exits. The protesters disagreed and thought this was just a measure to get rid of them. Two police officers showed up and gave the resisting protesters a few minutes to decide what to do.
Many activists decided to stay at the front entrance. The protesters said they would rather take a trespass notice than move to the side.
However, the Te Papa security personnel didn’t seem very keen on trespassing anyone from the property. Instead the two police officers, with assistance of several security guards (!!!), started pushing back the activists. The protesters resisted and pointed out that security guards are not allowed to touch them.
After a bit of pushing the police officers left the scene and the protesters took up their initial place again next to the main entrance.
Peace Action Wellington announced to keep on protesting against the weapons industry conference. Two more demonstrations will be held during the conference.
Tuesday, 19th October 2004. 8:30 am, Welcome/Haere Mai’ to the death industry
Wednesday, 20th October 2004, 4.30 pm, Make some noise
Both demos are at Te Papa.
www.paw.randomstatic.net
peacewellington@hotmail.com
to read the leaflet with information on the NZ weapons industry go to
http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/nw121004.htm
The new A3 Community and Industrial Broadsheet
- A cracking good read -
www.snap.enzyme.org.nz
Comments
Re: Te Papa - No Arms Race at Our Place
Nice job everyone, good to see people sticking up to police and succeeding as they should! I would have been there if I could. Hope you are enjoying my bed Urs.
Re: Te Papa - No Arms Race at Our Place
It's fantastic, so comfy...I wish I didn't have to share it with his fiance.
Re: Te Papa - No Arms Race at Our Place
I don't see how people can be against war and weapons as such.
If you're defending your country against Nazis or the Japanese Empire then weapons are good. If you're attacking southern slavers or Middle East dictators then weapons are good. If you're defending yourself against a murderer or rapist then weapons are good.
It all depends on the context. To protest against weapons as such is a non-thinking position.
Re: Te Papa - No Arms Race at Our Place
Protesting against weapons is a thoughtless position, anything used to cause violence is a weapon
Protesting against companies that profit from murder on the other hand...
Peace Be,
Arms are for hugging
Re: Te Papa - No Arms Race at Our Place
Plenty of companies profiting in a certain hot-spot at the mo eh?
Solidarity from Melbourne
You guys fuckin rock! Keep up the struggle, you are among the millions...
www.disobedience.nomasters.org