Thousands March in Auckland Against USA War

EDITORIAL: Between 8000 and 10,000 people marched up Queen Street, Auckland, New Zealand today protesting against a USA and UK war against Iraq.

For more images of the Auckland AntiWar March, click here…

The Anti-War march led by Global Peace and Justice Auckland [GPJA] delivered a peaceful “No War’ message to the New Zealand public, the Government, and to Auckland City’s commerce/retail heart. Thousands more lined the street offering support to the protest march.

Anti-war protests have taken place in at least 20 centres around New Zealand – thousands have expressed their disgust against American plans to invade Iraq.

New Zealand’s protest action sparks the first of hundreds of such protests organised around the globe. More than 600 centres internationally (including Antarctica!) have registered protests. This weekend's global action is expected to be the biggest ever public mobilisation against war in the history of mankind.

Anti-War movement numbers in New Zealand have increased dramatically in recent months as the United States and Britain determinedly edge the world closer to war. Widespread opposition to US President George W Bush and UK Prime Minister Tony Blair’s war Mongering is a dire warning to our politicians to heed the views and values of the New Zealand public – after-all it is we they serve.

Here in New Zealand, the Government has been particularly timid on voicing opposition to any US-led war against Iraq. Let today’s protests be a warning to the Cabinet that New Zealanders do not want any part in a trumped up Bush-Blair war.

To the contrary, the view emerging is clear: New Zealand ought to voice its outrage at the pre-emptive aggression of Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Our Government must take a stand, express as Germany, Russia, China, and other countries have, that a diplomatic solution to this crisis must be exercised. Failure to do so causes New Zealand to blandly become insignificant, and should the Australia, UK, USA way be realized, then the world will again sink into an abyss of human suffering and we will all be witness to a selfish unilateral dominion of which has never been seen.

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