"As always, protests are a polarising phenomenon – people not only disagreeing with the political pros and cons of the issue but arguing over the act of protesting itself."

For a while whenever I had to give a waiata (I know your toes must be curling at the thought!!) I would reel off the chorus Bob Marley’s song: ‘Get up, stand up, stand up for your rights, get up stand up, don’t give up the fight.’   

I’ve stopped doing this over the past year or so for several reasons.  Firstly; to simply spare people the ordeal; secondly because I have probably mellowed somewhat and thirdly, not everyone can stand up even though I’m sure Bob was being metaphorical.

Over the past fortnight people have been doing just that: getting up, standing up and protesting. The unrest over the TPP (Trans Pacific Partnership) has come to a crescendo.  Thank goodness we can so this in New Zealand.

I must say along with the majority of New Zealanders, I have been relatively ignorant in terms of the magnitude of the deal and the possible consequences going into the future. I guess we should have all seen it coming. After all, with modern travel and international communications, not to mention social media, the globalisation of our planet has recently been fast-tracked.  Boarders are becoming more seamless, sovereign self-rule is diminishing.

And it is the latter that seems to be the nub of Kiwi discontent with the TPP deal.  Multinational companies having the right to challenge our laws and the policies of individual nations is scary.  The TPP seems to make this a very real proposition.

Some say this is already happening and it may well be (Exhibit A: the gifting of a New Zealand abattoir to Saudi Arabia). 

As always, protests are a polarising phenomenon with people not only disagreeing with the political pros and cons of the issue but arguing over the act of protesting itself.  The Springbok tour protest remains a watershed of New Zealand history that taught us protesting could be a legitimate ethical and positive option. 

This represented a psychological shift from the majority views of the NZ population in the late 1970’s.  Let’s hope the lesson hasn’t been lost on the current generation, some of whom seem to view the act of protest as somehow uncouth.

In contrast to the Government’s approach to rolling out the TPP deal is the flag referendum.  With the flag, the Government has gone to great lengths (not to mention expense) to rebrand and reinvigorate our sense of nationalism to the rest of the world.  In terms of public consultation, the TPP and the flag referendum are flying in the face of each other.

So what are the risks around not being part of the TPP?  Are we really going to lose out in the face of globalisation?  If we opt to be a member of the Free Market Big Boys Club, are we kiwis going to lose our democratic influence and our ability to protest?

Disability is global.  It cuts across ethnicity, age, gender, religious and sexual preference.  Disability is vulnerable under the free market ethos that seems to be part and parcel of globalisation.  Countries that are lauded for the quality of their approach to disability issues have strong social welfare systems.

So, will the rapid rise of globalisation affect the rights of disabled people?

Yes, I think it is a risky business that needs each sector of New Zealand society to be proactive and wary.  Sometimes if you want to protect what you treasure about our little piece of Paradise, you still gotta be prepared to get up, stand up.

Published 15/02/2016