NZ Superfund office occupied: call to divest from Israel
15 August 2014
Stop Superfunding Israeli Apartheid
In light of the murder of nearly 2000 captive Palestinians in Gaza, activist group People Against Israeli Apartheid are currently occupying the NZ Superfund office to oppose the investment of New Zealanders tax money into companies which profit off Israel’s violence against Palestinians.
12.00pm onwards Friday 15 August
NZ Superfund office, Level 12 , 21 Queen Street, Auckland
“We’ve witnessed the bombing of schools, hospitals and shelters in a bloody Israeli incursion into Gaza, the third of its type in less than six 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 fund this bloodshed,” says PAIA Spokeswoman Nadia Abu-Shanab.
“We are occupying the NZ Superfund office today to send a clear message; we demand our tax dollars are immediately withdrawn from companies which arm Israel and help maintain it’s brutal regime of occupation and siege.
“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.
“Today, however, NZ Superfund 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 suffering 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