RAKON INDUSTRIES NZ HELPS KILL GAZAN BABIES

Today, at an Auckland protest against the invasion of Gaza and the contribution of the Rakon company to death and destruction around the globe, Christian peace activist Tyler Culpepper was arrested for an act of non-violent direct action.

Tyler climbed onto the roof of Rakon's manufacturing facility and revealed the true nature of the Rakon company, using red paint to adjust the building's signage to say 'Rakon Kills', an accurate and unfortunate reality. This action was taken during a protest of around 400 people opposing the ongoing israeli invasion of GAZA. In addition to Tylers action others threw water baloons of red paint at the front of the building. These paint bombs were to symbolise the blood shed of hundreds of palestineans by israel.

Components manufactured and sold by the Rakon company from right here in Aotearoa have undoubtedly helped guide the missiles that have killed and injured thousands of people in the Gaza Strip over the last three weeks and millions more in Iraq and Afghanistan over the course of the so-called War on Terror.

Tyler said, "We can't sit back and do nothing when there are people being slaughtered. Especially when companies in our own country are helping to facilitate that killing."

The following was written last night as Tyler was preparing for this action:

All the nations will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks.
All wars will stop, and military training will come to an end.
Micah 4:3

Wars today are no longer fought using simple weapons like swords and spears. Instead, complex weapons, capable of much greater damage are used. These weapons require complex components from all over the world, even from here in Aotearoa.

If we are to participate in the fulfilment of this ancient prophesy – the beating of swords into ploughshares - we must know where to find these modern swords and spears, including the components essential to their operation.

The Rakon company supplies crystal oscillators to weapons companies. These oscillators are used in guidance systems for guided missiles and munitions systems - weapons of mass destruction. Rakon's components have undoubtedly been used in the invasion and on-going occupation of Iraq, as well as in the current invasion of the Gaza Strip. The invasion of Gaza over the last three weeks has cost the lives of over 1100 men, women and children, and injured thousands more, while Rakon made record profits last year.

Tomorrow I will take a can of red paint to the rooftop of the Rakon manufacturing facility and attempt to modify the signs on the front of the building. It is my intention to reveal the fact that Rakon is helping to manufacture weapons of war, for those that have forgotten and those who never knew. Then the process of beating these swords into ploughshares can begin.

The red paint symbolises the blood that Rakon helps to shed by selling components to the weapons companies. It stands in contrast to the sterile white walls of the Rakon factory which give the false impression of purity, so far removed from the death and destruction Rakon facilitates

SUPPORT FOR MAORI FROM PASIFIKA VOICE

A Samoan educator believes non-Maori should support the role of Maori as tangata whenua or people of the land.

Mua Strickson Pua runs the Tagata Pacifica Resource and Development Trust, which helps young Pacific Island and Maori who have been expelled from schools.

As well as Pacific Island culture, the students learn about Maori history and culture and the effects of urbanisation on indigenous peoples.

Reverend Strickson Pua says that makes the Maori students sit up and take notice.

“They're hearing non-Maori saying quite clearly and powerfully that it’s awesome to be tangata whenua, that this is an awesome history, and that these are Pacific Islanders who have acknowledged that they have received great blessings by coming to this country,” Rev Strickson Pua says.

He says young Maori feel affirmed when non-Maori celebrate their culture.

Source

Dispatches from Day 5 - Operation 8 Depositions Hearing

Outside of court the week ended with a bang. One of the kids turned six and so over lunch there was a birthday party outside courtroom 8. We had a cake, candles and party hats. The registrar (he who pronounces Tame to rhyme with 'same') muttered that there was no dignity in this court room. I'd say there was a lot of dignity in that court room - but not the sort the registrar would recognise.

As Friday was the last day of the week, and all the evidence is still suppressed, I thought I'd take some time to point out how much work goes into making it possible for all 18 defendants their whanau and supporters to come to court.

Te Tira Hou Marae has been an amazing base for the defendants. 13 of the defendants live outside of Auckland, and having accomodation, and a place to have hui has been vital. Defendants from outside Auckand have been able to come for a meal, and catch up on all the associating they've been forbidden from doing over the last ten months.

Feeding all the people who come to the marae has been done by an amazing team of cooks (and the curry for tomorrow night is already looking fantastic). Food is plentiful, thanks to all sorts of donations and fundraising efforts.

The lawyers have been doing a fantastic job. I know I wasn't the only person who was worried about how well they'd work together, but they've been really strong in court. They understand that this case is about more than just the law. One lawyer has a poster for the international day of action on his desk. Another brought a present to the birthday party.

Finally, one of the most important jobs has been looking after the children. There have been up to a dozen children at court and the marae. Looking after them at court is stressful. Volunteers have taken the older kids on expeditions around Auckland, making it that much easier on their parents. At the time of the raids the partner's of two of the defendants were pregnant. These women have now given birth to baby freedom fighters in the months since. The work of those women, and their whanau looking after babies in such a stressful time, needs special recognition.

A special thanks to everyone who has donated money or attended (and particularly organised) a fundraising event. The koha from all over the world has made this difficult time much less stressful. The court case isn't just about convictions, but about punishing the defendants, with endless appearances and oppressive bail conditions. By taking some collective responsibility for the costs of this, we are fighting back against the police (and if all of this has persuaded you to contribute you can here).

Liberated box report: The kids had been putting in some good work on Friday; the sign that was left said "Tuhoe Liberators not Terrorists".

Rise Up - Concientising and Mobilising the masses

click for a larger image

Through Creative Communications, we are Conscientising and Mobilising the Masses, Artists from Aotearoa and Hawaii have stepped forward to express themselves on this kaupapa and support the people affected by the State Raids

Friday 7th December

A fund raiser event for those affected by State Raids

Cornerstone Roots - Unity Pacific - Batucada Sound Machine - Damn Native - Nat Rose - DLT - Miss B Me - Antonio Maioha - BT - Miss Ginger Hawaiian MC - LadiSix

Venue: Kings Arms 59 France Street Newton Tickets: $20 presales $25 at the door Organised by Conscious Collaborations

http://www.conscious.maori.nz/front.php

Bolivian Workers oppose 'anti-terror raids'

http://indymedia.org.nz/newswire/display/74346/index.php

The following statement from the Workers Central in the Department of Oruro, Bolivia, in solidarity with the workers and Maori activists arrested under the so-called 'anti-terror' raids has been received.
It is signed by the Central Obrera Departmental, the union centre to which all unions are affiliated in Oruro, November 9th.

New Zealand workers should note that Ururo and the COD based there is the centre of the miners movement in Bolviva which has led several revolutionary uprisings since 1952. It is significant that this union has as its founding documents, the Theses of Pulacayo, written in 1946 which clearly call for an anti-imperialist struggle for socialism. These sentiments are echoed today in the statement below at a time when Bolivia is at the brink of a civil war.

"STOP THE STATE AND PARAMILITARY REPRESSION IN NEW ZEALAND"



"The Bolivian workers affiliated to our central organisation, the Central Obrera Boliviana, and belonging to the Central Obrera Departmental, condemn the brutal deliberate repression of the state and Government of New Zealand against the workers and indigenous Maori people.

The repression unleashed on 15 October against fighters or liberation and sovereignty in this semicolony dominated by Australia and Britain, satellites of American imperialism, is intended to protect the economic interests of the privileged minority that exists in any capitalist country in the world, including Bolivia, and who subject the majority of the people to the most miserable social and economic conditions.

The struggle of the brother and sister workers and people of New Zealand is not alone and has the backing and solidarity of the oppressed of the world. The epoch of the abuse and plunder that imperialist capitalism has enjoyed has led inexorably to the differences between this minority and the poor in the world to become more and more abysmal and inhuman.

We have no alternative but to replace the corrupt and degenerate world capitalist system with a system where the majorities have the right to decide their future by redistributing wealth among all the peoples who are its inhabitants - a system where human rights are fundamental and not for the profits of an irrational and unlimited capitalism. The system can not be anything less than socialism, inspired by the most human and patriotic sentiments. The dilemma facing humanity is: Socialism or the reign of Barbarism"

Oruro, November 9, 2007

C.O.D. Founded 1st May 1953, Affiliate of the C.O.B. Oruro - Bolivia.
FSTMB (Miners) FED FABRILES (factory workers) FUSTCO (officeworkers) FED CONSTRUCTORES (construction) FED SALUD (Health workers) FED MAG URB and FED MAG RURAL (teahers) FESTRATEV (transport) RED RENT JB (retired workers) FUL (univerisity students) FES (secondary students) FED EST NOL (student teachers) CASEGURAL, SIND MUNCIPALES (public sector workers) ENTEL, ECOBOL, SINTRAUTO, COTEOR, (telephone, electricity, water etc) ASOC RED MIN (retired miners) PRENSA (media workers) DESOCUPADOS (unemployed) SEPCAM and ACMPD (small farmers).

Slave Labour Terrorist Settler Grubbyment

Haere Atu Nga Poaka

political prisoners outside Slave Labour Party Conference 2007


Slave Labour Puppet Lash Out

Stand in solidarity! Global Day Of Action - Saturday 27th Oct, 12 noon

I'm banner making & baking sis, see you there.

Don’t forget to make yourself heard on Saturday. If there’s nothing on in your area, organise something!

I’m baking, stitching and painting!

• Everywhere: Any letters emailed to lettersforprisoners[at]riseup[dot]net will printed out and distributed to arrestees. Obviously don’t write anything that could negatively impact on you or anyone else! If you can help with processing these letters, please email the crew on the same address. For more information, see http://www.civilrightsdefence.org.nz.
• Auckland: Demonstration Saturday Oct 27th at 12 noon meeting in Aotea Square. [ Poster ]
• Hamilton: Protest Sat 27th, meet 12 noon @ Garden Place.
• Rotorua: Hikoi Thursday 25th Oct, meet 9am Apumoana Marae (by Blue Lake), hikoi to Rotorua District Court for bail hearings.
• Whanganui: Rally and march Saturday October 27th at 12 noon. Meet at the River Traders Market on Moutoa Quay (behind Taupo Quay).
• Wellington: Protest Sat 27th, meet 12 noon @ Midland Park. Bring noisemakers and rage [ Poster ]. Prisoner support meetings are being held at 128 Abel Smith St, 6pm, each Tuesday. A range of solidarity events are happening over the coming days. [ Upcoming events ].
• Christchurch: A solidarity rally and march will be held in Cathedral Square at 12noon on Saturday Oct 27th, followed by a picnic with live music [ Posters: 1 & 2 ]. A meeting to plan solidarity work will be held Thursday 25th, 6pm at the Otautahi Social Centre, 206 Barbadoes St. A benefit gig has been organised for Thursday 1st November at the Wunder Bar in Lytellton.
• Dunedin: Picnic on Sunday Oct 28th to discuss the Terrorism Supression Act, Tuhoe history and Parihaka. 12 noon - 2:30pm, Otago Museum Reserve.
• Sydney, Australia: Public meeting & demonstration on Thursday October 25th, 5:30pm outside NZ Consulate-General, 55 Hunter St, Sydney
• Melbourne, Australia: A solidarity demonstration will be held Saturday 27th in Federation Square, 12noon.
• London, England: Solidarity protest Saturday 27th, 12 noon @ NZ High Comission, 80 Haymarket, SW1Y, Westminster.

Donations can be made to the defence fund. See the Civil Rights Defence Committee website for details. Or if you’re coming to Melbourne, we’ll be collecting on the day to send over one big donation to cut down on paypal fees

http://radicalcrossstitch.com/2007/10/25/stand-in-solidarity-global-day-of-action-saturday-27th-oct-12-noon/

PUBLIC ENEMY "Don't Believe The Hype"

Re: name revealed /Love to Bro

Omar has done awesome activism in Opposing the FTA with Amerikkka &
Neo Colonialism in the Pacific (amongst heaps of other solid things)

PACIFIC YOUTH HOLD FAST: WE CAN’T IGNORE COLONISATION

By Omar Hamed

http://www.justfocus.org.nz/articles/2006/08/11/pacific-youth-hold-fast-we-cant-\
ignore-colonisation/

Omar Hamed:A Citizen’s Guide To An Emerging Empire
Thursday, 9 November 2006,

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0611/S00170.htm

Selling out our neighbours and serving the empire

A commentary on Winston Peters Foreign Policy “Five Year Plan’
By Omar Hamed

http://snap.enzyme.org.nz/2006/03/selling-out-our-neighbours-and-serving.html

>
> Kia ora whanau
>
> Omar is a dear friend of our whanau, and gave us awesome tautoko when
> I was picked up after the g20 last year. Tautoko back at ya bro.
>
> Ana
>
>
> Another of 17 alleged terrorists rounded up in nationwide police
> swoops last week can now be revealed.
>
> He is Omar Hamed, a 19-year-old Auckland man facing three charges of
> illegal possession of a firearm.
>
> It is alleged Hamed - a Palestinian, born in Greece, but raised on the
> North Shore - was twice in possession of firearm in Tauranga between
> January 10 and January 14 this year, then was in possession of a
> semi-automatic rifle, in Auckland, between September 13 and
September 16.
>
> His lawyer Anthony Rogers last week failed in a District Court bid to
> prevent publication of his name and picture, but appealed Judge
> Josephine Bouchier's ruling to the High Court.
>
> However, the deadline for that application past at 4.30pm today.
>
> Hamed is currently in custody, awaiting an Auckland District Court
> appearance on November 1.
>
>
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/feature/story.cfm?c_id=1501470&objectid=10472072
>

Speaker Box - Waha Nui

Mixed Media-Film-Acoustic Music-Spoken Word-Guest Speakers

On the 28th of October 2007 to commemorate the "Declaration of Independence" 1835

6pm @ Te Karanga Art Gallery 208 Karangahape Rd

Raise the Consciousness: Current state Violations on Human Rights

Nau Mai haere mai!!
Fundraiser for the whanau affected by the Police Raids

KOHA ENTRY

Stop the Terror Laws! Free our Friends!

19 Oct 2007 (Updated)

by AIMC

Friday morning saw around 100 friends and family of the prisoners gathered outside Auckland District Court to show their support and solidarity with the five prisoners due for a bail hearing [ Photos ]. Name supression on at least 1 prisoner was lifted, but interim supression has been granted until an appeal by their lawyer can be heard.

Approximately 150 supporters gathered at the Wellington District Court in solidarity with 4 prisoners due for a bail hearing there. The court was closed, meaning supporters were not allowed to attend. All four Wellington arrestees have been denied bail, and are being moved to Auckland to face their future hearings up there.

In Whakatane, up to 1500 people marched in protest against the Police blockade of Ruatoki and Taneatua on Monday and their treatment of the people of Tuhoe country.

Stand in solidarity!

• Everywhere: Any letters emailed to lettersforprisoners[at]riseup[dot]net will printed out and distributed to arrestees. Obviously don't write anything that could negatively impact on you or anyone else! You can also write directly to the Wellington prisoners. [ Wgtn prisoner contact info ].
• Auckland: Demonstration Saturday at 12 noon meeting in Aotea Square. Saturday evening there is a fundraising film screening. [ Film Screening Info ]
• Lower Kaimai: A weekend has been organised to discuss and organise in solidarity with the arrestees [ Callout ].
• Wellington: A range of solidarity events have been organised in the coming days. [ List of upcoming solidarity events ].
• Christchurch: A solidarity rally and march will be held in Cathedral Square at 12noon on Saturday. [ Poster ]
• Dunedin: A rally against police intimidation of political activists will be held at 12 noon, Saturday 20th outside the Albany St Labour Party office
• Sydney, Australia: Public meeting & demonstration on Thursday October 25th, 5:30pm outside NZ Consulate-General, 55 Hunter St, Sydney
• Melbourne, Australia: A solidarity demonstration will be held Saturday 27th in Federation Square, 12noon.

At this stage, donations can be made to a defence fund organised by Global Peace & Justice Auckland. Identify the donation as being for the defence fund. 38-9000-0099726-00 GLOBAL PEACE & JUSTICE AKLD.

National Day Of Action - Saturday 27th Oct, 12 noon

The Auckland defence committee has called out for a national day of action in solidarity with the arrestees for Saturday 27th October at 12 noon. Organise an event in your centre now, and post the details here at Aotearoa Indymedia.

Updates

5:48pm Friday - News just to hand - All four Wellington arrestees have been denied bail, and are being moved to Auckland to face their future hearings up there.

Report from Protests against Alexander Downer@National Party Conference

Protests in solidarity with Aboriginal Australia were held yesterday outside the annual National Party conference at the Langham Hotel, on Auckland's Symonds Street. Australian Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, was one of the conference's invited quests. Everyone was in high spirits. Many had stayed the previous night at the tent embassy , in a near by park.



Demonstrators highlighted that the National Party had invited a man from a racist government that has stolen Aboriginal land and sent troops to Iraq as a guest of honour. This shows that despite Don Brash resigning the National Party hasn't changed at all - it's still a party that represents the rich and powerful against the interests of working people and the Tangata Whenua of Aotearoa.

At 2:30pm a group of around 30-40 people picketed the conference. Placards had messages such as "Save Aboriginal children from Howard" and "Downer and John Key. Which one is the closet racist?" Maori and Aboriginal sovereignty flags were flown. Lots of passing motorists tooted and waved to show support. Some National Party members came outside in their flash suits to have a look and Prime News filmed.

We were going to have a demo at 7pm to co-incide with the start of Downer's dinner time address but it was decided the demo should be moved foward to 5:30pm in the hope it would recieve more media attention (the Downer speech was closed to the media) A group of about 15 people braved the pouring rain to provide an extremely rowdy welcome for Downer. With the help of whistles, loud hailer and shakers made from tins filled with rocks we made heaps of noise. We circled the Langham Hotel chanting "Downer, Downer we know you. You're from a racist country too", "Always was. Always will be - Aboriginal Land!" and "National, National, we know you. You have racist policies too!". A TVNZ cameraman came out and filmed us and a NZ Herald photographer took some photos. When one demonstrator started singing about how he couldn't hear what he was saying because of the ear plugs in his ears even the cops, guarding the conference, in their fluro yellow rain coats started laughing.



Lots of leaflets calling for an end to Howard's land grab in the Northern Territories and the Seabed and Foreshore Act in Aotearoa were handed out to people walking past. Even some National Party members seemed quite interested. I tried handing a leaflet to one National MP and two Nat women but they politely declined. It was quite funny they appeared to be leaving the Langham to go to an Italian restaurant across the street, just as Downer's dinner was about to start. Maybe they didn't want to pay the 90 or so dollars to enjoy dinner with a member of a racist and militaristic colonial government.
The demonstration made news headlines on ABC in Australia

http://indymedia.org.nz/newswire/display/73459/index.php

http://www.theage.com.au/news/World/Downer-targeted-over-indigenous-action/2007/08/05/1186252528087.html

http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/08/05/1996946.htm?section=justin

Protesters at National Party conference

4/08/2007 16:07:19


Protesters have made their mark today at the National Party's annual
conference underway this weekend in Auckland.


After camping out near the venue - the Langham Hotel - overnight,
around two dozen members of ImagineNative Action and the Youth Action
Group picketed outside the conference this afternoon.


They are protesting over the Australian government's intervention
into Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory. Australian
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer is a guest speaker at the
conference.


There was a strong police presence and the protest passed without
incident. However police remain at the conference as protesters have
indicated they intend disrupting Mr Downer's speech later this
evening.


Inside the Langham business at the conference continues, with the
crucial importance of the party vote being hammered home MPs and
delegates.


National Party President Judy Kirk left no doubt that building the
party vote has to be the top priority for the next election. She told
the gathering Labour eked out its victory in 2005 by marshalling
votes in Auckland and Christchurch.


Ms Kirk says National has to do the same in its own strongholds.


The conference continues all weekend

http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/newsdetail1.asp?storyID=121965

Tent Embassy ki Tamaki

Last night protesters camped near the National Party conference in solidarity with Aboriginal Australians

http://indymedia.org.nz/mod/comments/update/index.php

Last night protesters spent the night camped in a Auckland park near to the National Party conference being held at the Langham hotel. The tent embassy was in solidarity with Aboriginal Australians whose communitys are once again under attack from a racist government. The protest was in response to Alexander Downer's the Australian foreign ministers upcoming visit to the national party conference this evening. Imaginative Action and Radical Youth the key groups behind the protest see the current actions by the Australian government against the Aboriginal population as a racist land grab and clear breach of Aboriginal rights.

The camp which was active throughout the entire night spoke to dozens of passers by with many stopping and over a dozen joining the camp for several hours. Virtually all attention was positive and the camp of about 30 was not disturbed at all by police. Local security were very supportive of the action.

Protests today are at 2.30pm outside the Langham hotel and 7pm. The tent embassy is expected to continue throughout the day.

Stolen Land, Invaded Children and Rugby Union

Press Release: Stolen Land, Invaded Children and Rugby Union



Tēnā koutou katoa.



Today, Saturday July 21st, at 7.30pm the All Blacks are playing Australia at Eden Park in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland). ImagineNative Action spokesperson Te Kanikani Tangata Hara says "we believe the moral and political background to Aotearoa's national Rugby team playing Australia now is similar to the All Blacks playing South Africa in the 1960 to 1990s. Colonial Australia has a history of perpetrating cultural and ethnic genocide against Aboriginal peoples, a history often more brutal and repugnant than that of South African Apartheid."



Te Kanikani Tangata Hara continued, "However, rather than advocating the disruption of this evening's Rugby match, ImagineNative Action will use it as a platform to raise awareness regarding the true nature of John Howard's invasion of Aboriginal communities. ImagineNative Action recognises Howard's plan as an attempt to alienate the people from their land for the purposes of economic (i.e. mining) exploitation, and as an electoral strategy."



Te Kanikani Tangata Hara calls on all Rugby fans of intelligence and compassion to "show their support for the aboriginal people who are having their land and their children attacked by John Howard's racist government. It should be unacceptable to any fair minded human-being that Aboriginal communities and children be brutalised by military occupation and the threat of 'invasive medical testing'".



"Members of ImagineNative Action will be in place outside Eden Park from 5.30pm this evening, handing out educational leaflets and placards that communicate support for Aboriginal Self-determination to the crowd attending the match. We will encourage match-goers, in a friendly and engaging manner, to take a placard into Eden Park with them and display it to the global audience that comes with such major sporting events."



Te Kanikani Tangata Hara said "Our aims are to raise awareness and to send a message to the colonial government of Occupied Australia that the invasion is unacceptable. Most importantly, ImagineNative Action recognises the Howard colonial government desire to break the spirit and will of Aboriginal people to resist the colonisation and exploitation of their lands. Every display of solidarity with Aboriginal people, such as the one planned for All Blacks vs. Australia this evening, will lift the wairua of the people and help strengthen their resolve."



In response to the question of fairness and good sportspersonship to members of the Australian team Te Kanikani Tangata Hara replied, "Our intention is not to shame or distract the Australian players. We realise that the Australian Rugby team is in no way responsible for the horrific actions of their colonial government. Shame should be reserved for John Howard and Helen Clark - a supposedly great Humanitarian - who has thus far refused to condemn Howard's violation of the basic human right of Aboriginal peoples."



"ImagineNative Action is also confident the Australian team consists of highly trained professionals; therefore our action will have no effect on their performance. We in fact call on members of both teams, as morally upstanding sporting leaders in our communities, to show their support of justice and basic human rights for Aboriginal people by wearing black, yellow and red armbands during the match."



ImagineNative Action kaikōrero (spokesperson), Te Kanikani Tangata Hara is available for further comment on 02 11 55 11 54 or via indigenous.solidarity@gmail.com


--
ImagineNative Action

"Building solidarity between Indigenous and Peoples of Colour communities. Defending our whenua & peoples against racism and exploitation since 2007"

NZ LEAD INDIGENOUS GROUP IN ANTI-HOWARD CAMPAIGN

Date: 16 July 2007
Auckland 9am: Anti-John Howard protestors are claiming victory.

Protest rallies were held over the weekend in five different countries, including New Zealand and Australia, against the crackdown on Aboriginal communities.

The organiser of the Wellington rally, Tere Harrison, says they tried to present a statement to Howard to back-off from his "racist" plans, but Consulate staff had been told to snub them.

Harrison says it's a sign that Howard's feeling the pressure. (listen) (listen)

http://niufm.com/site_resources/library/News/Lito/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA_JUL1607/tere_harrison............9am.........1677.mp3
http://niufm.com/site_resources/library/News/Lito/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA_JUL1607/digitaki..................8am..........1677.mp3

Brisbane Rally Organiser, Sam Watson, says the communities are taking heart from the support of Maori and Pacific people.

He says they feel encouraged, in particular, by the comments of Maori MP Hone Harawira, who last week called Aussie Prime Minister John Howard, a racist. (listen)

http://niufm.com/site_resources/library/News/Lito/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA_JUL1607/sam_watson..............8am............1677.mp3
John Howard has sent police, soliders and welfare teams into the Northern Territory, saying there's rampant child sex abuse and that it needs to be brought under control.

The countries where the protests were held were Chile, the US, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.