Comments on: Must the stones cry out? Swords into Plowshares http://www.justice.net.nz/action/must-the-stones-cry-out-swords-into-plowshares/ Comminucating, educating and developing for justice spirituality Sat, 04 Jul 2009 05:15:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Ana http://www.justice.net.nz/action/must-the-stones-cry-out-swords-into-plowshares/#comment-12724 Ana Tue, 13 May 2008 02:00:31 +0000 http://justice.anglican.org.nz/climate-change/must-the-stones-cry-out-swords-into-plowshares/#comment-12724 I've just had a look at the website of the NZ Government Communications Security Bureau, (GCSB) which runs the Waihopai spybase. It states that "... Governments have a duty to ensure that all their official information is protected from disclosure to, or tampering by, inappropriate individuals or organisations..." Perhaps it is worth questioning whether a government such as the US, which wages illegal war under demonstrably false pretences, detains people indefinitely without due process, regularly uses torture during interrogation and overthrows democratically elected national governments could be considered an "inappropriate organisation" to feed information to?? The PM's comments that this action is "senseless vandalism" shows that she has no understanding whatsoever of the purpose of the action. It is anything but senseless. The purported $1million worth of damage that so many people are making a big fuss over is but a small percentage of the $40 million of taxpayer money that funds the GCSB each year, and that with practically no accountability or opportunity for public scrutiny of what goes on at the spybase, and exactly what the information collected is used for. It is shameful that there has been so little reaction from the church in support of this action. Where is Jesus in the church today? Often seems like the church is more of a lame, conformist middle-class duck than the revolutionary calling institutional society to account that Jesus was. I’ve just had a look at the website of the NZ Government Communications Security Bureau, (GCSB) which runs the Waihopai spybase. It states that “… Governments have a duty to ensure that all their official information is protected from disclosure to, or tampering by, inappropriate individuals or organisations…” Perhaps it is worth questioning whether a government such as the US, which wages illegal war under demonstrably false pretences, detains people indefinitely without due process, regularly uses torture during interrogation and overthrows democratically elected national governments could be considered an “inappropriate organisation” to feed information to??

The PM’s comments that this action is “senseless vandalism” shows that she has no understanding whatsoever of the purpose of the action. It is anything but senseless. The purported $1million worth of damage that so many people are making a big fuss over is but a small percentage of the $40 million of taxpayer money that funds the GCSB each year, and that with practically no accountability or opportunity for public scrutiny of what goes on at the spybase, and exactly what the information collected is used for.

It is shameful that there has been so little reaction from the church in support of this action. Where is Jesus in the church today? Often seems like the church is more of a lame, conformist middle-class duck than the revolutionary calling institutional society to account that Jesus was.

]]> By: 01guinness http://www.justice.net.nz/action/must-the-stones-cry-out-swords-into-plowshares/#comment-12235 01guinness Wed, 07 May 2008 02:10:47 +0000 http://justice.anglican.org.nz/climate-change/must-the-stones-cry-out-swords-into-plowshares/#comment-12235 comments from the sidelines: as a German I am reminded of my countries history. And how Ditriech Bonhoeffer is hailed as the one to stand up for Justice. Well, the church at the time did not appreciate his activism! Only with hindsight of history does the church claim his actions as part of their own...... interesting... comments from the sidelines: as a German I am reminded of my countries history. And how Ditriech Bonhoeffer is hailed as the one to stand up for Justice. Well, the church at the time did not appreciate his activism! Only with hindsight of history does the church claim his actions as part of their own…… interesting…

]]> By: Robert Ashe http://www.justice.net.nz/action/must-the-stones-cry-out-swords-into-plowshares/#comment-12080 Robert Ashe Mon, 05 May 2008 05:07:09 +0000 http://justice.anglican.org.nz/climate-change/must-the-stones-cry-out-swords-into-plowshares/#comment-12080 Why is our Church standing silent while these Christian activists are crucified in the media? Have we absolutely nothing to say? Why is our Church standing silent while these Christian activists are crucified in the media? Have we absolutely nothing to say?

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