7 December 2004

Bypass 'Progress' Afront to Inner-city Community

Commencement of work on the inner city bypass today by contractors Fulton Hogan is an afront to affected communities and all thinking people of Wellington, Anti-Bypass Action spokesperson Tony McPhail said today.

On Friday December 10 there will be a colourful & creative demonstration, meeting midday in Civic Square with music and dance performances by local groups.

Public notification about the programme and timetable for the work has been minimal, despite massive anticipated disruptions to the immediate community.

"There is a shameful lack of information about a project that is going to see the centre of the inner city in turmoil for the next two or more years," Mr. McPhail said.

"Ongoing noise, pollution and danger to pedestrians, including those attending the five adjacent schools and pre-schools in the area has been given little consideration.

"So-called 'consultation' by representatives of Fulton Hogan, Transit New Zealand and the Wellington City Council over the project has always been initiated by the community themselves, and the feedback has been woefully inadequate.

"Local residents and workers in the area continue to oppose the project and Anti-Bypass Action intends to continue to fight it."

"This project is totally against the wishes of the local community. The Te Aro community is famous for being creative and in the the next few weeks we hope to become infamous! We encourage every one who is opposed to the bypass to creatively and actively resist."

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>