In this update newsletter no 35
* New 2007 protest cards now available
* Nationwide protest action on 19 May
* Letters to the editor
* Media activity
New protest postcards
Following on form the success of earlier post card campaigns, NZHT has prepared and now has in in stock the newly designed freepost cards which allow everyone to express their opposition to ANZTPA to the United Future and NZ First MP's. These cards target the officially "undecided" parties in Parliament and set out in clear terms why ANZTPA cannot proceed. By signing them you add your voice to the opposition in the same way as signing a petition but with much more visual impact. You can order stocks of the cards by clicking here http://www.nzhealthtrust.co.nz/support_forms.html
We are looking for volunteers to help us distribute cards to retail outlets, practitioners, consumer groups and the like. Our goal is to have all of the 50,000 cards we've had printed, signed and at Parliament by the end of June. As each card contains one side to send to United Future and one side to send to NZ First, that's a total of 100,000 cards that could be in front of the MP's telling them what NZ thinks. Remember that the most effective way to ensure all the cards reach their target is to have people complete them in front of you and then collect them up and freepost them to Parliament yourself.
Nationwide Protest Action
Following on from the successful rallies organised by Nicola Grace last month, there is to be another day of nationwide protest action and red umbrella march's on Saturday 19 May. We urge you all to get involved and bring along as many supporters as you can.
Click this link for all rally campaign information www.nzhealthtrust.co.nz/rally.html
Letters to the Editor
As the pressure comes on for the Government to get their doomed legislation through, the spin coming out of the Beehive is picking up speed. Friday saw the Dominion Post carry a piece written by Minister King in support of her own proposal which, not surprisingly, presented only the details the Government wants to focus on and even some of that was questionable in its accuracy. The Minister for example persists in her claims that 80% of the industry, through Natural Products NZ, supports ANZTPA and yet this figure of 80% has never been proven and is challenged.
She continues to claim that Rongoa would be exempt under the proposal and yet the bill makes no exemption for commercial Rongoa at all. She also makes the unsupported and subjective statement that the model is "appropriate" for the risk levels of the products when this is the very issue at the heart of our objections.
This is a good opportunity for concerned people to write a letters to the editor of the Dominion Post and other papers reminding the media and indirectly the Government, that having made up our own minds based on all the facts, rather than just the version they and trying to sell, we as consumers DO NOT WANT ANZTPA !!! http://www.stuff.co.nz/4006146a4580.html
Media Activity
With the increase in media interest our news page on the website continues to be updated with items of interest. We suggest you visit the site regularly for new information. In particular have a look at the Kiwi FM interview with Amy Adams http://www.nzhealthtrust.co.nz/news.html#amy
and the Press article of 11 May "Health products: the great Aussie takeover". http://www.nzhealthtrust.co.nz/news.html
Please send/email newsmedia stories/links you find and we will put them on the News Page
Keep up the good work everyone and people power will ensure our rights are not sacrificed.
Dave Sloan
