New Hope, new Dream required following the Earthquake: letter to John Key



Anthony Ravlich

Chairperson

Human Rights Council Inc (New Zealand)

10D/15 City Rd.

Auckland City.

Ph: (0064) (09) 940 9658



[The recent massive earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, (amazingly no loss of life but enormous property damage) which affects everyone, is a time which calls for a gamble on a new dream, an ethical globalization, which addresses the human rights of the worse off domestically and internationally (helping them to help themselves), rather than the present 'failing' political neo liberal dream which promotes liberal elite interests which antagonizes States at a time when they are most concerned with addressing internal conflict. An ethical globalization represents, in my view, the way human rights should always be pursued domestically and globally].



Attention: New Zealand Prime Minister



Dear John Key,



It is times like these – the earthquake in Christchurch – that a gamble on a new dream and a new hope, when the existing dream is failing, is necessary.



I was in the process of researching your government’s plan of rebalancing the economy towards the export sector. I was concerned whether this may just be a continuation of ‘trickle down’ i.e. with a major focus on established exporters. The earthquake interrupted my research.



The ethical globalization I have been proposing involves addressing the core minimum obligations of the State at home and promoting them abroad. This includes the self-help right to development (the rights of peoples….to pursue their economic and social development is a civil and political right but not in NZ’s human rights law). The latter involves a more balanced approach to development with an emphasis on small/medium business development (more full details can be found in my work, www.hrc2001.org.nz).



For example, it is important to require certain core minimum obligations such as ensuring imports are not made with child labor and that overseas exporters also have a decent minimum wage so our businesses are able to compete.



Also, I would seriously suggest encouraging New Zealanders living overseas to come home to help which they may do if they see that the government is serious about ‘equal rights’ for New Zealanders, and includes the omitted human rights in both our human rights law and the New Zealand Human Rights Commission’s National Plan of Action for Human Rights which also includes economic, social and cultural rights.



When people’s imagination is captured by a dream – the ethical globalization I propose - they will often persevere despite great odds. I consider the present neo liberal dream can no longer do this,