Call on Super Fund to quit Super Funding Apartheid
MEDIA RELEASE- Monday August 3rd
Senior Citizens for
Peace
Superannuitants call on Super Fund to quit Super
Funding Apartheid
In commemoration of the one year
anniversary of the murder of nearly 2000 captive
Palestinians in Gaza, taxpayers will today picket the NZ
Superfund office to oppose the investment of New Zealanders
money into companies which profit off Israel’s violence
against Palestinians.
12.00pm onwards Monday August 3rd.
Outside NZ Superfund office, Level 12 , 21 Queen Street, Auckland
“Last August, we witnessed the bombing of hospitals and schools in a bloody Israeli incursion into Gaza, the third of its type in less than seven years. The only way for this kind of human suffering to continue, is for good people to stand by and do nothing while our taxes Super Fund companies that profit off others suffering,” says concerned superannuitant Phil McNeale
“A group of us superannuitants are today picketing the NZ Superfund office to send a clear message; we demand our tax dollars are immediately withdrawn from companies which arm Israel and help maintain it’s brutal regime of occupation and siege. People of all ages are welcome to join us.
“Companies such as Israel Chemicals Ltd, which produces white phosphorous, a chemical that’s use in war was banned by UN Convention because of its extremely harmful effects on civilians. White phosphorous was used by the Israeli military in Gaza in 2008/2009 in densely populated areas, causing extreme human suffering and loss of life among men, women and children.
“In 2012, Superfund divested from a number of companies which profit off Israel’s war crimes, such as Elbit Systems, a drone manufacturer.
“We have previously met with NZ Super Fund, but they are refusing to discuss our concerns with them further. Chief Executive Adrian Orr seems to have forgotten who pays his $800,000 public servant salary; us!
“NZ Super Fund continues to invest in companies* which supply Israel with the means to attack civilians, and in companies which profit from the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. These investments are an affront to international law and the principles of human rights.
“NZ Superfund has taken an ethical stance on not investing with companies tied to nuclear weaponry and whaling. We want to see this same compassion afforded to Palestinians. As taxpayers we do not want to see our money invested in the oppression and murder of other human beings.”
• G4S: a British-Danish private security
company that provides services and equipment to Israeli
prisons, checkpoints, the Apartheid Wall and the Israeli
police. ($542,755)
• United Technologies: produces
Blackhawk helicopters used to attack cities, refugee camps
and villages. ($7,290,126 invested)
• Boeing: sells
Israel F-15A fighter jets and Apache AH 64 helicopters used
in attacks on Gaza. ($6,579,342)
• General Dynamics:
manufactures diesel engines used in Israel's Merkava battle
tanks and produces bombs for Israel. ($1,967,381)
•
Raytheon: produces bombs used in attacking Gaza.
($1,797,902)
• Caterpillar: produces militarised
bulldozers used to destroy Palestinian
homes.(4,710,251)
• Israel Chemicals: produces white
phosphorus. ($327,668)
• Hewlett-Packard Co: produces
technologies for the Israeli military and profits from
business in illegal settlements
($4,434,988)
ENDS