Sunday 12 March 2017

Appeal to sustainers – TPP roadie carries on - March 2017


TPP roadie carries on - Pure Politics - Public Interest Policy

Greetings dear friends

My name is Greg Rzesniowiecki and I am a public advocate. I work for what I sense are the best policies for my home of choice Aotearoa New Zealand. I came here 21 years ago from the West Island (Melbourne Australia).

My approach is well documented in reports published in the Campaign Against Foreign Corporate Control (CAFCA) journal 'Watchdog' with my reports commencing September 2014 in Watchdogs #136, 137, 138, 138, 141, 142 and 143, links to journals - click on the TPP reports:
I've just written a history concentrating on the 'TPP policy solution' campaign lobby to Local Government through 2012 – 2016 which will appear in the Watchdog #144 due April 2017.
Through this period I've been sustained by hundreds of people with in kind and monetary support. I'm extremely grateful that people feel they gain value from the work I undertake. Without your sustenance I wouldn't have the time to undertake the research and have the space to think on the problems we confront.
For example I wrote the following blog post on 'chemtrails, geoengineering and climate change' through Saturday 11 March and into the wee hours of Sunday morning, it all takes time and knowledge of the material:
An Appeal for funds to sustain my continued work on your behalf

Image:  Tinkerbell final rest – Auckland 2016

To undertake this public advocacy exercise I have lived 'on the road' often camping in my Toyota Liteace van, 'Tinkerbell'. She's now deceased as of late 2016. I have a loan of Lisa Er's campervan, which I will returning around the end of March 2017. Thanks for the 6 month loan Lisa, it's been a nice home. Generally I don't need much, however in order to continue to advocate I need the means to travel and sustain my physical needs. In effect you help me to help get your point across to the government.

I came to be a dedicated activist from around February 2014 and exhausted my own surplus of cash by June 2014. Since then I have relied on the generosity of sustainers and sponsors to continue this lobby and public advocacy project. Incredibly I have been sustained for near three years. A bank account is provided below and at the conclusion of this appeal for any who might care to contribute - cheers for that. I need a new van – you might assist? About $5000 would cover a reasonable second-hand replacement van. I need ongoing funds to live. I happily live cheaply :)
Donations to Public Advocacy Donations Account: 389017-0439360-00 - Reference TPP roadie
A heart felt thank you for all the contributions so far and for the one you are about to make. And no pressure there's many who are not in a position. I work for everyone – for public interest.
TPP policy solution and TPP Free Zones
Along with a cast of hundreds if not thousands, we successfully lobbied local government to adopt the TPP policy solution, with 12 major NZ councils who in their territories represent 60% of the New Zealand population: http://www.actionstation.org.nz/tpp_policy_solution
We also undertook subsequent efforts to get NZ Councils to support 'TPP Free Zones' as a tactic to make the NZ Government adopt a democratic process for initiating, negotiating and ratifying trade and investment treaties such as TPP. Folks from Waiheke and their supportive Community Board members won it in January 2016, followed by Upper Hutt City Council in February 2016:
With our rallies, Real Choice actions, Action Station and brilliant leadership from It's Our Future's (IOF) Professor Jane Kelsey, and IOF coordinators Jonathon King, Edward Miller, Barry Coates and Stephen Parry, and the thousands that have supported actions, we have made a mark on NZ politics. Well done! I suggest we will continue to make our mark promoting good policy.
TPP is dead, but is it buried for ever - or a zombie to return?




Despite the US withdrawal from TPP there are more treaties and their corporation favouring provisions to watch and counter; RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership), TiSA (Trade in Services 
Agreement), proposed treaties with Saudi Arabia, the EU, the Russian customs union, with the UK and more.

Then there's the prospect of a bilateral with the Trump ruled US at some point down the road.
There is TPP lite discussions this week in Chile 14, 15 March, where the TPP nations minus the US (although the US are attending along with China and South Korea) will consider the approach to take, given US President Trump has withdrawn from the TPP.
In NZ we may have a problem as the New Zealand Parliament has ratified the deal. The legislation is awaiting the coming into force provisions. It can not come into force as it is, however, will the NZ Government attempt to amend the TPP legislation to enable a new 'TPP lite' treaty without going through the formal treaty examination process required under Cabinet's rule 7.112 and Parliament's Standing Orders 397-400?
We need to be vigilant with all of this in play!
Greg's public advocacy role - do you gain value from my work?
To be perfectly honest I love this role of public advocate and feel I have a natural talent for the task. I'm an independent researcher, I comprehend the political and democratic processes, and are relatively fearless.
Were I to drop this mahi in order to earn a living, I would be similar to most - unable to keep abreast of the many developments. So it's a question for you – do you gain value from my work? To what extent?
Greg's TPP paperwork and research
In respect to the TPP itself I have created a number of papers, forwarded to the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade (FADT) select committee through the TPP treaty examination and subsequent consideration of the TPP enabling legislation. These are available at this dropbox link, feel free to explore the material:
All but two of these are original writings. In addition I've placed material at this blog, TPP Free Wellington reports:
Image: GG Official Secretary receiving TPP petition Saturday 30 January 2016

TPP Free Wellington to which I've been strongly associated launched a petition to the New Zealand Governor General (GG) asking him/her to tell PM John Key not to ratify the TPP. Ultimately Dame Patsy did in November 2016. Through the GG process we have learned that our Governor General as head of State appears to have no desire to protect the State, from the sovereign and material loss the TPP represents.

I wrote the previous Governor General (GG) Sir Jerry Mateparae in respect to the TPP in June 2016, with an essay,
TPP – How does this fit our democracy?
Sir Jerry ended his commission before the new GG Dame Patsy Reddy was sworn in September 2016. I copied the email to Dame Patsy and the NZ Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias:
Future international treaties – can we improve and democratise the process?
We need to intervene in the ongoing process to determine how the NZ Government - initiates, negotiates and ratifies treaties. To that effect I placed paper before the FADT committee suggesting the development of a model treaty to use as a template for future negotiations. This arose in response to questions from Green Party MP Kennedy Graham:
I provided that paper and another letter with recommendations to Minister Todd McClay, in respect to the Government's Trade Policy Strategy Refresh:
NZ Parliament Standing Orders guide parliament's process for dealing with international treaties. I placed a paper into the Parliamentary Standing Orders select committee for consideration during the current review for the development of updated Standing Orders to apply as the rules for the incoming parliament after the 23 September 2017 general election. This is one of three papers and summarises the recommendations I offered the committee under the existing Standing Orders 397-400:
Full set of documents here:
Obviously there is a lot of writing contained in these papers and blogs. They reflect my thoughts and the collaborations with the TPP Free/Action community of activists and supporters. I do have original ideas, and I synergise the many inputs that come from people both within Aotearoa and overseas. I work independently of any political party although I collaborate with any allies.
Greg's advocacy in non-TPP legislation and or policies
I've also placed paper into select committee in relation to other legislative proposals, this one the Local Government Amendment Bill (No2) 2016:
RNZ report of the Select Committee which includes some of my korero to the committee 1 September 2016. I spoke in between Stephen Woodhead Chair of Otago Regional Council, and Hastings' Mayor Lawrence Yule who is President of New Zealand Council's Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ). Report runs to 9:06 into the 14 minute report:
In addition I have placed paper into various select committees in my public advocacy career since early 2014 when I considered the Countering Foreign Terrorist Fighters Legislation Bill. Since then during 2016 the Maritime Crimes Amendment Bill.
Image: https://www.parliament.nz/en/WatchParliament/VideoDetail/180436  Green's Kennedy Graham speaks in opposition to the Intelligence and Security Bill.

In regard to Intelligence and Security, I placed paper into the review by Sir Michael Cullen and Patsy Reddy (prior to her promotion for services to GG) and the resulting Intelligence and Security Bill. That bill just passed through the House for it's Second reading and unfortunately looks to be confirmed as NZ Law if Labour and NZ First continue to vote for it with the Government.

I have initiated this Facebook page highlighting the problems of associating with the US and its criminal spying and Aggressive war-making activities. The latest Wikileaks release of Vault 7 adds fuel to the fire of discontent with our US alliance: https://www.wikileaks.org/ciav7p1/
The Facebook page I've named, 'Stop the NZ Intelligence and Security Bill - Stop the NZ CIA' https://www.facebook.com/StopNZIntelligenceBill/
The object is to raise awareness and initiate action to pressure the NZ Government over the US alliance and 5 Eyes spying. Feel free to join.
I've also placed paper into a few more legislative proposals including the, 'Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Bill 2016' opposing it for the infringement on human rights, and the 'Children, Young Persons, and Their Families (Oranga Tamariki) Legislation Bill' which I opposed on the basis that children removed from their families or domestic setting due to abuse or inappropriate care are placed in familiar and culturally similar care. That is where children are removed from Caucasian or pakeha settings they are placed in similar cultural care. The same for tangata whenua or Pasifika children. I intend to maintain a watch on government legislative projects and intervene where I feel a need and have the opportunity. I am open to suggestions in this regard. I also support the initiatives of others who reflect similar humanitarian values...
Looking Forward – Values - Compass Points in a Post Truth World
I've identified that most New Zealanders hold similar intrinsic values and want a beneficial, abundant, sustainable and resilient state. To this effect I commenced this blog which considers values, the blog's title, 'Values - Compass Points in a Post Truth World.'
The initial post looked at the Flag referendum 'Stand For' values and those identified by Colmar Brunton in their November 2016 'Better Futures' report focusing on the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, 'Values - Dig deep what are we about?'
I feel we need to turn the world toward a sane heading. In late November 2016 I wrote, 'Working on an open, egalitarian and abundant 2017 with a mind to history's lessons - you too?' which picks up the values idea and relates them to what I comprehend is the values pursued by the 'Deep US State' and it's Exceptional attitude. They will not countenance binding their state to the principles of International Law.
Do we remain allied to a nation that continually wages aggressive war wherever it feels it advantages its corporations or larger agenda?
Under the Trump Presidency the tendency toward unilateralism and exceptionalism might be raised higher than under President Obama the 'Drone Assassination Emperor', and George W. Bush the 'War on Terror Emperor'
Which begs the question of what policies and parties to support in New Zealand at the 23 September 2017 general election? I remain non-partisan and aim to develop a list of policies informed by my researches and discussions with many people. If you generally support the work I've done to date, you'll have a good idea what that means. The Colmar Brunton Better Futures report outlined in the link above** is fairly good indicator;
Between 60% and 80% of Kiwis rate each goal as very important. When those people were asked to name the single most important goal the top six in order of priority were: no poverty, good health and well-being, quality education, sustainable cities and communities, clean water and sanitation, and zero hunger.
Image:  Above Wellington.  Below Pure NZ
It’s clear from this that New Zealanders care most about improving the day-to-day lives of others and there is a strong skew towards social issues in the top six goals.

In particular Kiwis think we need to do more towards achieving zero hunger, sustainable cities and communities and no poverty, as they believe our performance in these areas fails to measure up to the importance we place on them.”

Link to the Better Business report:
As a public advocate I work to implement the people's intrinsic desires. You can help me to continue to do that - thanks for your time and consideration.





Appeal for sustainers
I'm keen to continue in public advocacy, however, I do need to eat and as I mentioned earlier acquire my own wheels (Tinkerbell replacement). If you care for what I do perhaps on this occasion consider digging deep.
Greg's only income is from public donations. To sustain me continue this work contribute to Kiwibank account “Public Advocacy Donations Account”
389017-0439360-00 Reference "TPP roadie"
Many thanks for your support.
Aroha and peace


Feel free to email for any further information or suggestions: gregfullmoon013@gmail.com
gregfullmoon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregfullmoon



Also please share with those who may be interested both in the content or to assist – thank you.
.

Thursday 22 December 2016

TPP Free Wellington - Final report for 2016


Is TPP dead and buried?

Will Trump renege on his election pledge to bury the TPP? 

It is the grass roots movement that made TPP unpalatable for all the Presidential candidates in the US election, especially when Bernie Sanders came out so strongly against toxic trade treaties.

TPP Legislation in NZ - Key's last act!

One of the Key National Government's last acts was to pass the TPP Amendment Bill, the third and final reading being passed Tuesday 15 November. This despite the overwhelming opposition of the New Zealand democracy.

Petition to the Governor General on TPP

TPP Free Wellington handed over the TPP petition to the Governor General's Official Secretary, 3:30pm Wednesday 16 November, who advised that the GG had assessed and considered it formally as of 21 November.

The TPP Bill went to the Governor General that same 21 November where she signed it into law. That means that the New Zealand Government has succeeded in doing all necessary to bring the TPP into force subject to the necessary coming into force provisions of the TPP agreement signed 4 February 2016. 

The coming into force clause Article 30.5.2 of the TPP text requires that:
"In the event that not all original signatories have notified the Depositary in writing of the completion of their applicable legal procedures within a period of two years of the date of signature of this Agreement, it shall enter into force 60 days after the expiry of this period if at least six of the original signatories, which together account for at least 85 per cent of the combined gross domestic product of the original signatories in 2013 have notified the Depositary in writing of the completion of their applicable legal procedures within this period."

The Coming into force provisions require that at least both the US and Japan join the TPP agreement through their own ratification processes. The US is unlikely to Ratify TPP in its current form. The question is what changes might be proposed to the TPP to get the US through their corporate ruled Congress?

A large question is will Trump renege on his election promise, and persuade the US Congress to ratify the TPP treaty then it likely follows that it will come into force. How likely is this?

Greg Rzesniowiecki 'TPP roadie' provides an outline of this in this blog post:



New Zealand's unresponsive democracy

The fact that most New Zealanders oppose the TPP, and the unwillingness of the Government to listen to the people demonstrates the inadequacy of our Constitutional arrangements. Constitutions are all about determining how state power is administered - if our Government is able to ignore the public opinion then either it is acting unconstitutionally or the constitution is broken! 

Political Insurance for NZ - Labour, Green, NZ First, Maori Parties - we require a commitment that they withdraw from the TPP legislation/treaty.

We need to ensure that the likely new New Zealand Government elected in 2017 commits to withdrawing from the TPP where it gets support from the new US administration after Trump's inauguration in January 2017.

Jane Kelsey speaks to this in this blog:


Where Professor Kelsey states:
"As we reflect on a tumultuous year in the realm of global corporate treaties, we can allow ourselves a brief moment to celebrate the demise of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) in its present form. Looking back on the 6-year campaign our overseas allies pay tribute to the leading role we played in Aotearoa. Our combined action across most of the 12 countries ultimately defeated the deal. We need to remind those who attribute this to Trump that it was progressive activists working with Bernie Sanders who put the TPPA at the centre of the US presidential election campaign, forcing Clinton and Trump to follow suit.

"The failure of the TPPA was just one of many signs that this limb of the neoliberal paradigm is in crisis. 2016 saw the paralysis of the US-EU negotiation known as TTIP, well before Trump’s election. The Belgian regional parliament of Wallonia vetoed the ratification of the lesser-known Canada-EU deal (CETA), setting conditions for their approval, leading European activists to embrace the slogan: ‘we are all Wallonians’.

"By then Brexit had thrown the spanner in the works. No one (in their right mind) wants to finalise an agreement with the EU without knowing the status of the United Kingdom, which is the largest market for many parts of those deals."

Which brings us to what is the project for 2017 for the TPP Free movement?

In the above linked article by Jane Kelsey she makes the following observation and call to action in 2017.

"What then do we do next year? This is a long game. We have fought and won battles before – the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI), the expansion of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) in the World Trade Organisation, the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA). Every time updated versions of the same proposals resurfaced in new forums. There is a fatal tension as obsessive levels of secrecy fuel the crisis of legitimacy.  

"We need to build on 2016 and do what our allies in the US did – force this policy onto the electoral agenda alongside the other life and death questions of poverty, homelessness, safe work and climate change.

"On 3rd February next year – the anniversary of the mass mobilisation against the signing of the TPPA in Auckland – we will be launching the New Zealand campaign to stop TiSA. So have a great break. We have a lot to do next year."

Many thanks for all of your efforts and support - we've had a great 2016!

TPP Free Wellington will take a break over the summer and come back refreshed to confront any further toxic trade and investment treaties.

We will provide timely advice as events transpire and offer further opportunities for Wellingtonians to campaign for our common and public interests.

Happy Summer Solstice, Merry Christmas, A great New Year. See you in 2017 refreshed for the task of holding toxic power to account.


Cheers and thanks on behalf of TPP Free Wgtn

Tuesday 6 December 2016

TPP - Deception and Secrecy to the End - A Coup in the Making - Bye John Key

Closing the story on the TPP (Trans Pacific Partnership) Maybe?

It is just over a year since TPP Free Wellington initiated the petition to the Governor General (GG) then asking Sir Jerry Mateparae to honour the constitution and not provide Royal Assent to the TPP legislation.
A lot has happened in the year since including the swearing in of a New Governor, Her Excellency General Dame Patsy Reddy 28 September 2016. More recently the passage of the TPP Amendment Bill 15 November and the recent 5 December announcement by the leader of his resignation as PM Monday 12 December 2016.

TPP Petition to the Governor General - #1 - 30 January

We made an initial presentation of the petition with over 4300 signatures Saturday 30 January 2016, when we passed the petition to the GG's Official Secretary, Gregory Baughen at the Government House gates.
We continued collecting signatures on the petition accumulating another 4000+ to November 2016. We launched an online version of the petition mid-year on which we collected a further 2600 signatures.

TPP Legislation, Trump and an ever hopeful NZ Government

The Government pushed the TPP legislation forward despite its knowledge that the TPP would fail whereby the US refuses to ratify the treaty.
The election of Donald Trump as President elect of the US along with the entrenchment of Republican majorities in both the US House of Representatives and Senate, meant that the stomach to ratify TPP was lost. This was confirmed when Obama US President till 20 January 2017 gave up attempting to push the TPP treaty through the US Congress during their so-called lame duck period.
The TPP legislation was passed by the Parliament on Tuesday 15 November the final vote outcome read out at 4:44pm or thereabouts.

TPP Petition to the Governor General - #2 - 16 November

We handed over the TPP petition to the Governor General's Official Secretary, 3:30pm Wednesday 16 November, who advised that the GG had assessed and considered it formally as of 21 November, see email text:
Good afternoon Greg and Amanda
The Governor-General has asked me to contact you again. She would like to reiterate that she received your petition last week on the same day as you delivered it, and read what it said.
Since then she has given it further thought. She would like you to know that your petition has been received with respect and that she has given it her consideration.
With kind regards
Greg
Gregory Baughen
Official Secretary to the Governor-General of New Zealand
Wellington, New Zealand

Soundings in the Matrix - More Deception Revealed

It was Monday 5th December that I was advised by the Minister of Trade's office that the TPP Amendment Bill was placed before the Governor General and signed Monday 21 November 2016. What does it mean?
There's this by Andrew Geddis, and guess when it was published – 21 November:
Andrew Geddis makes a number of observations including these concluding passages in his blog:
This Act comes into force on a date appointed by the Governor-General by Order in Council, and 1 or more orders may be made appointing different dates for different provisions and for different purposes.”
Under this provision, it was left up to the executive branch (ministers) to advise the Governor General on when to bring the Bill into force. But at select committee this clause was changed so that the Bill could only come into force if and when the TPP came into force - the executive branch's power to advise the Governor-General to bring it into effect "for different purposes" was removed and instead this was strictly tied to "the date on which the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, done at Auckland on 4 February 2016, enters into force for New Zealand."
So, if the Government was to sign up to a TPP-1 (minus the US) and then tell the Governor-General to bring its provisions into effect, I don't think she can do so because the conditions of the commencement clause have not been met. And if the Governor-General were to go ahead and do so anyway, I don't think that action would be lawful ... and someone could go to court to challenge it.
Meaning that if the Government does sign up to a TPP-1 agreement that contains all the same provisions except for its entry into force, it cannot rely on the Bill it already has passed through the House to meet our domestic obligations under it. At the very least, it will have to amend the commencement clause in the current Bill - which will allow the House to debate whether it really is a good idea to change our domestic laws to meet the trade demands of a country that we no longer will be getting any reciprocal trade benefits from.

Open Government Partnership – The Alpha and Omega of Bullshit and Arrogance

It's important to note that I asked the Trade Minister directly when the Bill would be placed before Her Excellency on Monday 14th November the day before the 3rd reading debate. I got the answer after several prompts the last on the 1st December.
Here's my emailed question for those who might want the details:
from: Gregfullmoon * <gregfullmoon013@gmail.com>
to: "T McClay (MIN)" <T.McClay@ministers.govt.nz>
date: 14 November 2016 at 15:18
Dear Ministry, hello xxxxxx,
This email formalises my phoned request for information in respect to the timing of the presentation of the TPP Amendment Bill to Her Excellency the Governor General for Her consideration in respect to granting the mandatory Royal Assent to the Bill.
1. Will the TPP Amendment Bill be presented immediately (following the regular process) to Her Excellency the Governor General? or
2. Will the NZ Government await a future occasion when there is confirmation that there is ratification by sufficient TPP Partner Nations as per the terms of the "entry into force" provisions of the TPP treaty before presenting the TPP Amendment Bill for Royal Assent?
Many thanks in anticipation of your response.
Their response to my request finally came Monday afternoon as I was assisting in the set up for the Lower Hutt Guy McPherson lecture and just after the leader's "bye announcement":
from: T McClay (MIN) <T.McClay@ministers.govt.nz> via parliament.govt.nz
to: Gregfullmoon * <gregfullmoon013@gmail.com>
date: 5 December 2016 at 15:35
Hi Greg,
A response letter from the Minister is forthcoming. The Bill has received Royal Assent on the 21st of November 2016.
Thanks,
The sheer arrogance is what is astounding. The office must have known that the TPP Amendment Bill once passed on 15 November would be going to the Governor in Council (Cabinet or Executive) on Monday 21 November to be forwarded to the GG for Assent that afternoon. The TPP and its process from initiation to finalisation in the New Zealand Law has been a fascist imposition. The secrecy at the end is another pile of shit in an already full shit sandwich.
Which begs the question whether I had reasonable grounds for sending this email in response to their tardy and arrogant advice?
from: Gregfullmoon * <gregfullmoon013@gmail.com>
to: "T McClay (MIN)" <T.McClay@ministers.govt.nz>,
todd.mcclay@parliament.govt.nz,
todd.mcclay@national.org.nz
date: 6 December 2016 at 12:01
Greetings xxxxxx and Minister,
This is not amusing at all.
How do you justify withholding this information, when I asked you on the 14th November? It would have been a reasonable courtesy to merely respond in a timely manner between the 14th and 21st November to inform me of the Cabinet's decision to place the Bill in front of the Governor General immediately.
My distrust grows with each passing experience of your malevolence.
Most sincerely greg.

Out takes and Conclusions – TPP

I'm attempting to make sense of the TPP Amendment Bill in relation to the TPP Agreement coming into force clause Article 30.5.2 of the TPP text:
In the event that not all original signatories have notified the Depositary in writing of the completion of their applicable legal procedures within a period of two years of the date of signature of this Agreement, it shall enter into force 60 days after the expiry of this period if at least six of the original signatories, which together account for at least 85 per cent of the combined gross domestic product of the original signatories in 2013 have notified the Depositary in writing of the completion of their applicable legal procedures within this period.
I'll come back and comment or edit the blog when I have further advice, including the promised further correspondence from the Minister of Trade. I am particularly keen to ensure that there are no alterations to our domestic laws and arrangements from the TPP Amendment Bill without the TPP proceeding as per the 4 February agreement – that is the full satisfaction of the “Coming into Force” clause, article 30.5.2. I'm keen to ensure no TPP and no change at all!

Out takes and conclusions – John Key Resignation announced 5 December

It is of note that the leader John Key announced his resignation from the top job on Monday 5 December. Does he just want to go out on top of his game? Over the past 8 years of his Ministry a number of changes have been implemented in Aotearoa New Zealand which do not advantage the majority of the people.
I attended the parliament Tuesday 6 December to witness Question time and the special debate “ requested by Winston Peters NZ First leader. You can watch the Parliament here, Question 2 etc. follow:
The other 11 questions can be found here:
Hansard of Question time:
Hansard of urgent debate on the resignation of a Prime Minister:
Several projects that Key has promoted including the TPP and the alteration of the New Zealand flag have failed to move forward.
Has the National Party's deep polling indicate that the New Zealand public are keen to dig deep – what is the truth about - climate change, mass surveillance, corporation rule, financial scandals, ecological destruction including polluted waterways, poverty, housing and a host of others not least public health? All have gone into reverse with increasing extremes of inequality.
Then this from left, or is that right field, Key being talked about in the context of the IMF?

Statescraft as Soulcraft – What Government Doesi

The real question in all of this is what is the role of government? To serve the public interest?
After all who are public servants supposed to serve?
They all get a great deal of money in the form of an income, plus a large dose of gravitas and Mana for serving as politicians.
What is the objective assessment of progress attributable to any government? The elimination of need and a move towards a more inclusive and egalitarian society - or other values?
Here's how New Zealanders answer the values question, my recent blog post, “Values - Dig deep what are we about?” published 29 November:
-----------------------------------------------

Sunday 20 March 2016

Relaunched TPP petition to the Governor General - No Mandate do not Ratify TPP

The following media release relaunching the TPP petition to the Governor General was circulated Tuesday 9th February 2016 as the TPP National Impact Analysis was tabled in the NZ Parliament.
The period since the February relaunch has been filled with activity focused on maximising concerned New Zealanders to get the views and concerns into the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (FADT) Select Committee. There's still an ability for people to place evidence of a substantive nature before the FADT committee.

Here's a link to the pdf of the petition, Again please print both pages double sided on the one A4 sheet:

                                                           --------- ( 0 ) --------
TPP Free Wellington – Press Conference – Parliament Grounds
Relaunch1 of Governor General Petition 1:00pm Tuesday 9th February
No Mandate – Binding Referendum Required - Let the People Decide!
The mood of the public was demonstrably opposed to the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA)2 treaty signing at the Auckland Skytower Thursday 4th February.3
TPP Free Wellington4 are relaunching the petition to the Governor General with revised wording given the fact of the TPP signing ceremony at the Skytower Casino5 in Auckland.
We may never know what the Governor General has conveyed to the New Zealand Government in respect to the petition. Nevertheless the TPPA has been formally signed.
Our petition launched 11th December 2015 stated:

We, the UNDERSIGNED citizens and residents of Aotearoa New Zealand, PETITION Your Excellency:
1. to COMMAND the Government to put the question of proceeding with, or withdrawal from TPPA to a BINDING REFERENDUM; and
2. to PROHIBIT the Government from signing any final agreement, or taking any binding treaty action UNLESS the People vote in favour; and
3. to REFUSE Assent to any enabling legislation UNLESS the People vote in favour.
The organisers today reaffirm their commitment to proceed with the petition, anticipating it may become the last defence against TPP if the Government manages to push Bills for enabling legislation through the House.
Our revised petition amends the 2nd point to read, “2. to PROHIBIT the Government from taking any binding treaty action UNLESS the People vote in favour;”
This acknowledges the Government has formally competed the Signing as per clause of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties.6 We find that the signing breaches the provisions of the Vienna Convention.
The relaunch of the petition to His Excellency compliments TPP Free Wellington's recent events - Rally for Democracy and Sovereignty at the Wellington Cenotaph on the day of signing - and the Saturday 30th January handover7 of the Petition to the Governor General requesting His Excellency to command the Government to put the question of the TPP to a binding referendum.8
We have investigated the nature of our Aotearoa Constitution and assert that it is based on democracy and respect for human rights. We will pursue our assertion – that TPP is unconstitutional and against the National Interest through all avenues.
The petition to His Excellency is but one of a number of tactics to regain control of the New Zealand democracy by the people who comprise it. The representatives in the New Zealand Parliament have a licence to govern, however that licence does not provide them with rights to breach the fundamental basis of New Zealand and International Law. If there is a globalist imperative that TPP is necessary for world order, it ought be spelled out for the people to comprehend and determine the validity of a corporate rights charter to be supreme over National and International Law.
Greg Rzesniowiecki, from TPP Free Wellington, “TPP is an imposition on our parliamentary sovereignty9 to make laws that protect the public interest.10 Opposition to Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) is universally rejected.11
Greg reports, “That in May 2012 New Zealand lawyers delivered an open letter to the TPP negotiators urging the rejection of Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS).12 Those lawyers included the current leader of the New Zealand Labour Party, Andrew Little who's party now opposes the TPP.”
Rzesniowiecki concludes, “There is no mandate for TPPA. TPP was kept a secret at the last election. Our petition to the Governor General makes this clear and requests His Excellency support the people not transnational corporations,13 as he promised in his oath and swearing in speech14. Informed consent requires a binding referendum of the people.”

Sir Robin Cooke was the president of our Court of Appeal and a member of our highest Court then, the Privy Council, and he later became a life peer of the House of Lords, and he is widely regarded as the greatest judge New Zealand ever had.

Sir Robin Cooke says, “..the modern common law should be seen to have a free and democratic society as its basic tenet..”15

Sir Edmund Thomas had to say about this limit on the power of the Parliament and the NZ Executive. Sir Edmund was a judge of the Court of Appeal and an acting judge of the Supreme Court, is currently a distinguished fellow at Auckland University Law School, and is regarded as New Zealand’s greatest jurist.
Sir Edmund Thomas states, “In a full and free democracy, sovereignty rests with the people…”16
It doesn’t matter that he’s talking about judges. The important point is he’s talking about the inherent limits on Parliament’s power.

The NZ Government today tables the National Interest Analysis in the Parliament. The Government ignores the people and the law in proceeding to Ratify TPP without the informed consent of the people of Aotearoa New Zealand. A binding referendum would satisfy this deficiency.
If the TPP is such a good deal, then let the people decide.

TPP Free Wellington provide this detailed statement at a Media Conference 1pm Tuesday 9 February at Parliament.


Ends.


Contact TPP Free Wellington:
Greg Rzesniowiecki
02102431632


1 Relaunched petition is fundamentally the same petition launched 11 December 2015 with 4300 signatures handed to the His Excellency's Official Secretary on the 30th January 2016. The revised petition recognises the 4th February signing at the Casino in Auckland. All petitions will be forwarded to the Governor General at the appropriate time. We encourage the public to sign and forward to the mailing address on page 2 of the petition form.

2 TPP and TPPA both refer to the Trans Pacific Partnership (Agreement).

3 20th November 2015 3News Reid poll placed support for TPP at only 34% and opposition at more than 50%!

4 TPP Free Wellington on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/658556344213166/

5 That the signing took place in a Casino speaks volumes for the way which NZ public and National Interest is being considered.

7 A number of media covered the petition handover at Government House. This video taken by Mick McCrohon records the key elements: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3t1TIIgrIA

8 No Mandate Do Not Sign TPPA blog – download petition pdf for print, distribution, signing with explanation: http://nomandatedonotsigntppaggpetition.blogspot.co.nz/

9 Tim Groser in 2012 acknowledged that the TPP treaty involves the loss of sovereignty: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10817978

10 TPP will limit government ability to regulate in the public and national interest as already demonstrated in respect to Tobacco control. Similarly on Climate Change Dr. Joshua Freeman and Dr. Hayley Bennett make the case that TPP will be bad for climate change mitigation: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11567925 And further reinforced herein: http://www.ibtimes.com/top-us-trade-official-defends-exclusion-climate-change-trans-pacific-partnership-2276835

12 Jurists open letter here: https://tpplegal.wordpress.com/open-letter/ which says in part: “As lawyers from the academy, bench and bar, legislature, public service, business and other legal communities in Asia and the Pacific Rim, we are writing to raise concerns about the Investment and Investor-State dispute arbitration provisions being considered in the on-going negotiations for a Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement. We have diverse views about the TPP generally. However, we are united in our view that the foreign investor protections included in some recent Free Trade Agreements (FTA) and Bilateral Investment Treaties (BIT) and their enforcement through Investor-State arbitration should not be replicated in the TPP. We base this conclusion on concerns about how the expansion of this regime threatens to undermine the justice systems in our various countries and fundamentally shift the balance of power between investors, states and other affected parties in a manner that undermines fair resolution of legal disputes.”

13 It is either corporation dictatorship or treason by our NZ Government. Report of the United Nations Independent Expert Alfred de Zayas urged the UN system and Governments across the world to radically reform the international investment regime by putting an end to free trade and investment agreements that conflict with human rights treaty obligations. In his full-length report* to the Human Rights Council, he also called on States “to conduct human rights, health and environmental impact assessments before and after entering into bilateral and multilateral investment agreements.” “Over the past decades free trade and investment agreements have had adverse impacts on the enjoyment of human rights by interfering with the State’s fundamental functions to legislate in the public interest and regulate fiscal, budgetary, labour, health and environmental policies,” said Mr. de Zayas, the first UN Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order” http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=16439&LangID=E Full report available from this link: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/RegularSessions/Session30/Pages/ListReports.aspx go to this reference in the list: A/HRC/30/44 Report of the Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, Alfred-Maurice de Zayas: www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/RegularSessions/Session30/Documents/A_HRC_30_44_ENG.docx The ISDS provisions of the TPP will provide opportunities for transnational corporations to chill government legislation (both NZ and globally) to limit greenhouse gas emissions to reduce anthropogenic climate change, and to promote renewable energy alternatives with positive programs. There are many references which provide evidence to support this claim, including the lack of support within TPP for climate change reduction measures. This article from the Australian academic blog 'The Conversation' explores the Canadian experience of ISDS as a partner to the NAFTA agreement: https://theconversation.com/canada-has-an-isds-clause-with-the-us-it-has-faced-35-challenges-is-this-australias-future-48757

14 The Governor General (GG) Sir Jerry Mateparae stated in his inauguration speech in 2011 that his Oaths of Allegiance to the Queen and to the People of New Zealand “reflect my commitment to our country and the People… that I will serve faithfully and impartially. The values and undertakings in these oaths are very important to me.” Sir Jerry further stated at that time, “My view reflects the sentiment of the proverb “He aha te mea nui o te ao—What is the most important thing in the world? The answer is: he tangata, he tangata, he tangata––it is people, it is people, it is people!” https://gg.govt.nz/content/swearing-speech Oath of office: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oath_of_Allegiance_%28New_Zealand%29

15 Sir Robin Cooke, “Fundamentals”, New Zealand Law Journal, May 1988. Sir Robin's full quote we reference: “..the modern common law should be seen to have a free and democratic society as its basic tenet and, for that reason, to be built on two complementary and lawfully unalterable principles: the operation of a democratic legislature and the operation of independent courts.. ..if a change, by legislation or otherwise, were seen to undermine either of them to a significant extent, it would be the responsibility of Judges to say so and, if their judgements to that effect were disregarded, to resign or to acknowledge frankly that they are prepared to depart from their judicial oath and to serve a state not entitled to be called a free democracy.”



16 Sir Edmund Thomas, “Centennial Lecture – The Relationship of Parliament and the Courts: A Tentative Thought or Two for the New Millennium”, Victoria University of Wellington law Review, 2000. Sir Edmund Thomas full quote states, “In a full and free democracy, sovereignty rests with the people.. ..it is absurd to suggest that the plenary power delegated to Parliament by the people embraces the power to destroy representative government.. If Parliament.. proceeded to enact legislation undermining the democratic basis on which it exercises the sovereign power of the people, there is nothing in the notion of Parliament’s omnipotence which would preclude judicial resistance..”
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