9 November 2005

Rod Donald's Posthumous Messages Regarding Ideals

On October 31, I e-mailed Rod inviting him to join us at the January weekend of protest at the Waihopai spybase (as he had done ever since he entered Parliament in 1996).

I also asked him if he had become a Cabinet Minister, would, or indeed could, he have joined us in January?

That was a slightly tongue in cheek question but a perfectly valid one as, right up until Helen Clark announced the new Government, there was every expectation of the Greens being in coalition and Rod being in Cabinet.

Today I was rung by his Christchurch office and asked to come in. There I was handed his handwritten answers, written last Friday (he died in the early hours of Sunday morning).

"Yes", he wrote to the invitation to join us at Waihopai.

Regarding my hypothetical question about coming as a Cabinet Minister, he had written: "I sure as hell would have come!"

Wouldn't that have got the media going! A Cabinet Minister joining a protest at the spybase which constitutes NZ's most important contribution to all and any American wars. Wouldn't it have got Helen Clark going!

Good on you, Rod mate, we know that you'll be with us at Waihopai in spirit. This one's for you.

And if others want to do something to honour and continue Rod's work, then join ABC there. That's one practical, positive thing you can do.

Murray Horton

Anti-Bases Campaign

ENDS

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