Showing posts with label Folole Muliaga. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Folole Muliaga. Show all posts
6/1/07
Protest against Mercury Murder Energy
For switching off the power because a family couldn't afford what $168 that was owing. As a result of a woman who uses life support died because the power was swithced off.
A book of condolences for the family of Folole Muliaga will be opened by the Solidarity Union, who organised a protest at the headquarters of Mercury Energy on Thursday. The book will be on the Union's stall at South Auckland's Otara Markets this Saturday June 2 from 10am to 1pm, and has already been signed by the local Resident Action Movement's ARC Councillor Robyn Hughes, manager of the Mangere People's Centre Roger Fowler and Solidarity Union Secretary Joe Carolan.
The Union will also be calling for a minute of silence for Folole at 12 noon at the Markets, in solidarity with her grieving relatives. A community coalition is being formed at the Mangere Community and Learning Centre which is expected to meet next weekend.
More info at:
www.solidarityunion.com
Pics of demo
http://unityaotearoa.blogspot.com/2007/05/mercury-energy-murder-energy.html
5/31/07
A tragedy waiting to happen – Minister must go!
Thursday, 31 May 2007, 9:28 am
Press Release: Global Peace And Justice Auckland
GLOBAL PEACE & JUSTICE AUCKLAND
www.gpja.pl.net
31 May 2007
Media Release:
A tragedy waiting to happen – Minister Mallard must go!
The tragedy of the death of Folole Muliaga in Mangere was a tragedy
waiting to happen.
There is the usual smokescreen of inquiries but whatever details
emerge it is abundantly clear that the quest for profit in a
state-owned company has come before the basic humanitarianism New
Zealand once took for granted.
The Mangere family tragedy is the outcome.
Families in low-income communities pay a far higher proportion of
their income for essential services than others but no account is
taken of this by the government or its corporate bullies in
state-owned corporations.
Government research shows that one in six families across the country
borrow money to pay for day to day living expenses such as the
electricity bill or the grocery bill. In low-income communities such
as Mangere this figure would be far higher – perhaps up to 80%
Trevor Mallard as been the main driver and cheerleader for these
profit-driven policies for essential services. If there was
accountability within the government then this Minister of State-Owned
Enterprises would resign.
The bitterest of ironies is that the very Pacific Island families who
so loyally support Labour are the very ones who have suffered the most
from the free-market policies and corporate capitalism pursued by Labour.
Last week the Prime Minister was in Mangere and spoke boldly of the
community being Labour’s community. She could deliver far more to the
people of Mangere in the short time if she delivered the resignation
of Trevor Mallard.
ENDS
Press Release: Global Peace And Justice Auckland
GLOBAL PEACE & JUSTICE AUCKLAND
www.gpja.pl.net
31 May 2007
Media Release:
A tragedy waiting to happen – Minister Mallard must go!
The tragedy of the death of Folole Muliaga in Mangere was a tragedy
waiting to happen.
There is the usual smokescreen of inquiries but whatever details
emerge it is abundantly clear that the quest for profit in a
state-owned company has come before the basic humanitarianism New
Zealand once took for granted.
The Mangere family tragedy is the outcome.
Families in low-income communities pay a far higher proportion of
their income for essential services than others but no account is
taken of this by the government or its corporate bullies in
state-owned corporations.
Government research shows that one in six families across the country
borrow money to pay for day to day living expenses such as the
electricity bill or the grocery bill. In low-income communities such
as Mangere this figure would be far higher – perhaps up to 80%
Trevor Mallard as been the main driver and cheerleader for these
profit-driven policies for essential services. If there was
accountability within the government then this Minister of State-Owned
Enterprises would resign.
The bitterest of ironies is that the very Pacific Island families who
so loyally support Labour are the very ones who have suffered the most
from the free-market policies and corporate capitalism pursued by Labour.
Last week the Prime Minister was in Mangere and spoke boldly of the
community being Labour’s community. She could deliver far more to the
people of Mangere in the short time if she delivered the resignation
of Trevor Mallard.
ENDS
5/30/07
Folole Muliaga
The Muliaga family owed less than $200 on their power bill. They had made several attempts to pay some of it but not enough for Mercury Energy. The company switched off their power supply and three hours later Folole Muliaga, a woman who relied on an oxygen machine to help her breathe, was dead.
And Mercury Energy is being blamed for her death.
The closest Lopaavea Muliaga can get to holding his wife is shutting his eyes and imagining she is still in the room.
"I love my wife because she is a lovely wife, she love me and my kids and my family," says Lopaavea.
The family is grappling to understand why a big power company would switch off power to a woman needing oxygen.
The problem is that since Folole Muliaga got sick, the family has fallen behind on its bills.
"When she stopped working because she was sick, that's why my family struggle," says Lopaavea.
They had made two payments to Mercury Energy last month, but that wasn't enough.
On Tuesday, a Mercury Energy contractor switched the family's power off despite being begged not to by Folole Muliaga who was sitting next to her oxygen machine. It's alarm had been set off by the sudden loss of power.
"My mum told him to give us a chance," says Ietitaia Muliaga, Folole's son. "He said he is here doing his job and he's here to cut the power off."
Folole Muliaga started feeling unwell but told her son not to call for help. But three hours later when she collapsed, he called an ambulance. She died in front of her sons.
"They were trying the first aid thing but its too late," says Ietitaia.
The Muliagas are trying to cope with the sudden loss of their mother.
On Tuesday night they were forced to sit in the dark and on Wednesday morning a shocked extended family rallied around.
"We all came here today to pay the power because we love the husband and the kids staying in a dark place last night," says Sarai Tokuma, a relative.
However, following publicity about the case, Mercury Energy had already switched the family's power back on.
"I think their actions are reprehensible, it's absolutely disgusting what they've done," says Brendan Sheehan, a relative.
The family are calling for an independent inquiry into the actions of Mercury Energy. But they say they know it won't bring their mother back.
Source: One News
Interview with Lopaavea Muliaga
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/video_popup_windows_skin/1158720
http://tv3.co.nz/VideoBrowseAll/NationalVideo/tabid/309/articleID/27979/Default.aspx#video
And Mercury Energy is being blamed for her death.
The closest Lopaavea Muliaga can get to holding his wife is shutting his eyes and imagining she is still in the room.
"I love my wife because she is a lovely wife, she love me and my kids and my family," says Lopaavea.
The family is grappling to understand why a big power company would switch off power to a woman needing oxygen.
The problem is that since Folole Muliaga got sick, the family has fallen behind on its bills.
"When she stopped working because she was sick, that's why my family struggle," says Lopaavea.
They had made two payments to Mercury Energy last month, but that wasn't enough.
On Tuesday, a Mercury Energy contractor switched the family's power off despite being begged not to by Folole Muliaga who was sitting next to her oxygen machine. It's alarm had been set off by the sudden loss of power.
"My mum told him to give us a chance," says Ietitaia Muliaga, Folole's son. "He said he is here doing his job and he's here to cut the power off."
Folole Muliaga started feeling unwell but told her son not to call for help. But three hours later when she collapsed, he called an ambulance. She died in front of her sons.
"They were trying the first aid thing but its too late," says Ietitaia.
The Muliagas are trying to cope with the sudden loss of their mother.
On Tuesday night they were forced to sit in the dark and on Wednesday morning a shocked extended family rallied around.
"We all came here today to pay the power because we love the husband and the kids staying in a dark place last night," says Sarai Tokuma, a relative.
However, following publicity about the case, Mercury Energy had already switched the family's power back on.
"I think their actions are reprehensible, it's absolutely disgusting what they've done," says Brendan Sheehan, a relative.
The family are calling for an independent inquiry into the actions of Mercury Energy. But they say they know it won't bring their mother back.
Source: One News
Interview with Lopaavea Muliaga
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/video_popup_windows_skin/1158720
http://tv3.co.nz/VideoBrowseAll/NationalVideo/tabid/309/articleID/27979/Default.aspx#video
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