#TPPAWalkAway. Thousands of Aucklanders gather in Aotea Square to protest the secrecy surrounding the government negotiating the proposed Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement. Photo: Su Leslie, 2015
Getting ready to march. Photo: Su Leslie, 2015
Stretching down Queen Street; anti TPPA protest in Auckland. Photo: Su Leslie, 2015
#TPPAWalkAway. Thousands of protesters around New Zealand urged the government to reconsider the highly secret TPPA negotiations. Photo: Su Leslie, 2015
Zimmerbitch 
Yes! to the protests. I laughed when I heard the US Consulate General’s warning to US citizens to stay away from the protest for security reasons. Are we such a wild lot?
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So many elderly people and children posing a huge threat to life and limb 🙂
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Walking sticks and zimmer frames can be such deadly weapons. 😉
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Not to mention pushchairs!
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Hmm, yes, they are lethal.
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What is the TPPA? It’s snake oil, that’s what it is. What a time for us to have a buffoon in the top job…
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We have his brothers in buffoonery “running” things here.
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Reblogged this on Wobbly Warrior's Blog.
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Thanks Susan
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Great shots – if only they would listen!
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Thanks Maureen. It was so good to be amongst such a huge and really diverse crowd all marching together in common cause. If only they would listen indeed.
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Well done Su
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This is a very troubling time. In Canada we’ve been having similar issues with our government exercising excessive power in creating laws and agreements made in secret without discussion or disclosure. What the hell is going on!!
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I wish I understood better. It seems to me that all the rights our grandparents and great grandparents fought for have been eroded and we’ve been lulled into apathy by bread and circuses.
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I agree. We are taking giant leaps backwards and it isn’t malevolent governments anymore that are threatening to take over the world … the power is being wielded by global corporate giants.
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So true. That’s one of the key reasons we’re so worried about TPPA. The idea that corporations could have the right to sue nations for loss of potential profits arising from policies that are enacted is terrifying.
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That pretty well says it all 😦
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Dammit: you Kiwis are doing what WE should be doing ! What is it about you that makes you so much more responsible than the Aussies ?!
(Btw; that first frame is quite extraordinary, Su: it looks almost like a painting !)
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Hi M-R. I despair a bit of my fellow Kiwis most of the time! Despite thousands of people turning up — in the pouring rain — yesterday, the mainstream press is still acting like nothing happened. Glad you liked the pic. I’m always about worried about using HD filters, but the shot was quite dark, and it definitely improved it. 🙂
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Clever, you are ! I didn’t know you felt about your own MSM as I do about ours. In fact I blame them for a very large %age of what the LNP gets away with.
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I think people here are starting to wake up (a tiny bit) to how complicit the MSM is in sustaining government ideology. I drive my boys nuts ranting about the way “respected” journalists allow ruling politicians to make outrageous claims completely without challenge. Sigh.
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ME TOO ! Those bloody moronic pollies stand there are utter total lies, and not a single journo. even asks a question !!!
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Having done a bit of PR in my day, it seems to me that “journalism” consists mainly of tweeking press releases to fit a word count. And interviewing …. a lost art perhaps?
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Dead ‘n buried, mate. 😦
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Interestingly, one of our minor politicians has just called out a well-known TV and radio host as a government stooge. The story has actually got some traction!!!!
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!!! He must be your answer to Nick Xenophon. 🙂
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Yeah; kinda. Winston Peters has been the kingmaker in NZ politics for ever! He used to be a National MP, then started his own party NZ First. He has lots of policies that I find a bit obnoxious; but then I find myself agreeing with him on other things. NZ First conferences tend to look like Grey Power coffee mornings, so I figure I must be getting old.
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Oh ! – Winston Peters !!! I know about him ! I am not as higgerant as I feared. 🙂
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I agree with you. Congrats!
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I’m applauding wildly on my side of the screen. Both for your country’s determination to demand necessary attention and, of course, for your talent in bringing this all to light with your photography.
Admirable on both accounts, Su. Rock on.
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Thanks Shelley. I’m not optimistic it will achieve anything, but I keep reminding myself that not trying guarantees there will be no change. 🙂
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