Take action to stop RIMPAC war exercises

RIMPAC: The world’s largest international maritime exercise is scheduled to take place in the Pacific in August.
These hugely extravagant war preparations impact on the Palestinian struggle, as RIMPAC 2020 is due to go ahead in the face of a impassioned call for an immediate global ceasefire by the United Nations General Secretary and the Pope, as well as the leaders of 53 countries, and for state forces to instead seriously focus on uniting to combat the deadly Covid-19 pandemic.
Besieged Gaza, one of the most densely populated, under-resourced and impoverished areas in the world, would be one of the hardest hit if Covid-19 gets transmitted there, due to Israel’s illegal 13-year blockade and constant military attacks.

Kia Ora Gaza and the other supporters of this campaign to Cancel RIMPAC, say that New Zealand should withdraw from RIMPAC and set a positive example for world peace and for combined efforts to eradicate Covid-19.

#CancelRIMPAC: International Day of Action

Thousands of people across Aotearoa and the world joined in solidarity with #BlackLivesMatter to stand against systemic racism both inside the United States and everywhere. The US police are intimately tied to the US military that enforce white supremacist violence across the globe under the rubric of the “war on terrorism.” New Zealand should have no involvement with the US empire and its forces of violence. Instead we must stand for a free and independent Pacific. The global day of action – this Saturday 20 June – is about educating people and building solidarity across the Pacific between those who resist RIMPAC 2020.

DAY OF ACTION EVENT on FACEBOOK

Ideas for actions:

• Make a sign or banner using one of the key messages and take a photo of yourself, then post it to our facebook event using the hashtag #CancelRIMPAC. If you use twitter, please ping us on @AKPeaceAction and our sister organisation @PeaceActionWGTN 
• Visit the offices of your Member of Parliament and write a message in chalk outside of their office and take a photo of yourself, then post it to our facebook using the hashtag #CancelRIMPAC.
• Sign the ActionStation petition to the PM: https://our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/cancel-rimpac-2020-new-zealand-withdraw-1
• Print some posters (1, 2, 3) and put them up in your workplace, community, library, coffee shop etc.
• Set up a stall and collect signatures for our petition: electronic version or paper version and take a photo of yourself, then post it to our facebook event using the hashtag #CancelRIMPAC.
• Create a large message using people or other natural items (such as rocks) as letters, photograph it from a vantage point then post it to our facebook event using the hashtag #CancelRIMPAC.
• Create a meme, gif or video message of solidarity then post it to our facebook event using the hashtag #CancelRIMPAC.
• Join us for the RIMPAC webinar on Saturday from 1pm-3pm hosted by World Beyond War Aotearoa. Register here

Key Messages for actions:

• DECOLONISE! DEMILITARISE!
• Stop US Wars. No RIMPAC 2020
• Healthcare NOT warfare. Cancel RIMPAC wargames
• Solidarity Across the Pacific. Resist RIMPAC 2020
• For a Nuclear-free, Weapons-free & Independent Pacific
• Cancel RIMPAC, Protect Hawai’i
• For a Free, Independent & Indigenous Pacific
• Peace in the Pacific
• You cannot simultaneously prepare for war and for peace. NZ out of RIMPAC.

Key Hashtag for the Day of Action: #CancelRIMPAC

Resources to Use:

• Leaflet about RIMPAC
• #CancelRIMPAC posters (1, 2, 3)
• Paper copy of our petition to gather signatures

For more info about RIMPAC

• The Spinoff: “Dear New Zealand, please don’t bring your war games to my Hawaiian home”
• Te Ao News: “Activists want navy out of RIMPAC to avoid Covid-19 spread”
• Radio NZ: “Rimpac war games exercise: New Zealand government urged to withdraw”
• WWEA Educating for Social Change: “Interview about RIMPAC with Dr Emalani Case“
• 95bFM: “Calls for the end of RIMPAC: May 6, 2020”
• Read our Official Information Act requests about RIMPAC on FYI.org.nz (1, 2)

If you would like to know more or find support for holding your action, you can email Auckland Peace Action at aucklandpeaceaction@gmail.com
Ngā mihi mahana.