Election so important, Anarchist enrols

Press release: Auckland Anarchist Network

3.30pm Friday, 7 November 2008

Election so important, Anarchist enrols

This election is so important, Auckland anarchist Simon Oosterman has enrolled.

But only so he can put his enrolment form on Trade Me with a $1 reserve.

A bid can be placed on the artwork at http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=186660221&ed=true

"I'd rather give $1 towards a non-profit grassroots organisation fighting for real change than give my vote to a political party," he says. "The problem with Government is that no matter who you vote for, a politician always gets in."

Anarchists believe that change in society comes from people's own direct participation and action rather than through representation by others.

"Politicians say they have the answer to every problem from the recession to climate change," he says. "If the issue of poverty and the widening gap between rich and poor was actually raised, they'd have an answer to that as well.

"But in truth, the only answer to all these problems is you.

"You have the power to make change in your community with your neighbours or at work with your co-workers by joining together and taking action. "

Mr Oosterman's enrolment form has been "defaced" with a quote from Anarchist unionist Graham Kelsey in "Anarchosyndicalism, Libertarian Communism and the State", p.79.

"Do not ask for any concessions from the government. Our mission and our duty is to impose from the streets that which [politicians] are incapable of realising in parliament."

ENDS

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