Move the Spotlight back onto our on Democratic failings.
The treaty principals bill is being introduced today, but you may not have known that based the front pages of our major media outlets.
I know many of you out there will be filled with anxiety over the results of the American election, and with good reason, people smarter than me have already covered how it will affect the lives of queer and trans people, people of color, Palestinian people, and for the whites: inflation.
Many of us are probably alarmed that Trump’s ease back into power will most likely embolden those who share his racist, homophobic worldview - and that includes people and politicians here in Aotearoa.
While we were all distracted by the election, acting Leader of the House Simeon Brown used the opportunity to bring forward introducing the controversial Treaty Principles Bill to the House from November 18th to today. This move also was most likely made in part to avoid the massive hikoi planned to protest its reading.
Now, If you are fearful about American politics infecting life here, putting the spotlight firmly on this bill and having unity around squashing it is an excellent place to start.
Unfortunately, our media would rather carry on covering the election, allowing the bill’s introduction and movement forward pretty much uncovered by our major platforms, as one Twitter user perfectly puts it:
a lack of coverage of these major moments, preventing access to informative and accessible journalism, and platforming the boisterous is how America got to where it is, and we are on track to make the same mistakes if we fail to shine the spotlight on backdoor dealings, fast tracks, and slippery tactics.
Shine the spotlight on them, make them sweat, let it blind them, and keep them up at night. If not we will also find ourselves asking, “How did we get here?”
Danz
My new book ‘Slices of Heaven: Uniquely Kiwi Comics about Aotearoa’ is available for pre-order now! It’s a print collection of warm and witty comics about the DNA of Aotearoa, celebrating our quirks, institutions, identity, and shared experiences.
