The Spark October 2010

reprinted from Beyond Resistance*

While the dust settles and Christchurch recovers from the 7.1 earthquake, people have begun to pick up the pieces and get on with their lives. But for many working class people this is not so easy. Those most affected by ‘natural disasters’ – whether by the tsunami in the Pacific, earthquakes in Haiti, Chile and now Christchurch, NZ – are those already on the margins of despair.

As the impact of the quake became known we saw the authorities rush to ‘lock down’ the CBD, and after a short time brought in the military in a quasi ‘martial law’ scenario. With the aid of the corporate media and using the odd collapsed and damaged building as a backdrop, a sensational picture was painted of a city in ruins. Their reports were far from helpful – heavily recycling dramatic images while providing little concrete advice and information for those of us on the ground. [Read more…]

A Wellington street collection was made today for low paid worker victims of the Christchurch earthquake.

Brass Razoo solidarity band played  while Workers Party and Trades Hall action group members  leafleted and collected.

Brass Razoo

To the waving of Unite flags and the tune  of the Internationale, $508.80 was raised in 40 minutes.

Additional donations can follow this to Christchurch Unite union office account at 03 0675 0423909 000 Westpac.