John Edmunson, Workers Party national education officer, Christchurch

The Spark September 2010

In June this year Socialist Worker announced that Kia Ora Gaza would be heading to Palestine. Kia Ora Gaza is a New Zealand contribution to British ex-Labour MP George Galloway’s Viva Palestina charity and it will be departing these shores in September to bring aid to the people of Gaza. Kia Ora Gaza’s aim is to raise NZ$100,000 to be used to buy items to deliver to Gaza.

Galloway’s notion of breaking the siege with a massive aid convoy, travelling in full public view and defying the Israeli state was an inspired one. The mere existence of that first convoy brought international attention to the plight of the imprisoned population of Gaza and to the barbarity of the Zionist regime’s mediaeval treatment of Gaza’s 1.4 million inhabitants. As an act of humanitarian solidarity it was brilliant. But socialist solidarity is more than just humanitarianism. It is humanitarian certainly, but it is also revolutionary internationalist solidarity. [Read more…]

Class War Song – Don Franks

Lisa Stoneham, sacked under 90-Day Bill, speaks on her experiences.

Heleyni Pratley, Workers Party activist, speaks on the need to smash all anti-worker laws.

Mike Walker, PFLP Solidarity Campaign coordinator
The Spark August 2010

On the 20th of September 2001, during a joint session of congress, George Bush uttered the now famous phrase “every nation in every region now has a decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists.” The resulting ‘War on Terror’ is not only being fought on the battle field but also in the minds of people worldwide through a complex web of legislation and International Law. New Zealand is an active participant in the global war against terror being led by the United States in Afghanistan and Iraq. But this should be understood within the context of New Zealand’s long history of repressing its own population. [Read more…]

TV review: ‘Undercover Boss USA’
Tuesday, 8.30pm, TV One

The Spark August 2010

‘Undercover Boss USA’ is a peculiar show; a show hard to imagine being produced any time before the 2008 economic recession. The show is an attempt by ‘reality’ television to tap into the growing class anger caused by the recession. Nowhere is this better illustrated than by the extremely over-the-top and unsubtle opening narration:

The economy is going through TOUGH TIMES! Many hard-working Americans blame wealthy CEOs, out of touch with what’s going on in THEIR OWN COMPANIES! But SOME BOSSES are willing to take EXTREME ACTION to make their businesses BETTER! [Read more…]

Don Franks

Wellington protest against new anti-worker laws

You stand at fifty bosses doorways clutching your cv
At last you score a part time gig to clean the lavatory
You keep it spotless ninety days but then you’re out the door
You don’t have to be in the army to fight in the war

You wake up with a runny nose a cough and aching head
You ring in sick and tell the boss you need a day in bed
He says you need  a doctor’s note to prove you’re really sore
You don’t have to be in the army to fight in the war

Down you go to WINZ to try and get a benefit
They talk to you as though they’re looking at a piece of shit
They say you might find  casual work if you shift down to Gore
You don’t have to be in the army to fight in the war

Away up in the Beehive they all sit on their arse
Taking turns to suck more blood out of the working class
Labour brought in GST ,  National made it more
You don’t have to be in the army to fight in the war

Now you see your situation  as looking very bleak
But its just in isolation that the working folks are weak
Stand up and show the bastards what a union’s really for!
You don’t have to be in the army  to fight in the war
No, you don’t have to be in the army to fight in the war.