Getting involved in the Syrian conflict will make matters worse, says a protest organiser visiting Tauranga.
Colin Thew is the man behind a rally in Tauranga's Red Square today because he believes the US entering Syria will not solve the conflict in the Middle Eastern country.
Mick Christeller, Michael Morris, Maria Regos and Colin Thew. Photo: Tracy Hardy.
Despite not getting the large amount of supporters he hoped for, Colin is still please to see good, committed people at the rally today,
'This is happening all around the world and around New Zealand. We have to get the message through to our own Prime Minister that we don't want our country committing to a war but especially we don't want America going into Syria because it's only going to make things much worse.”
Colin was down in the Red Square last Saturday where he was getting quite a bit of support from people tooting and stopping to chat to him.
'It was mainly young people which was great to see.
'They totally agree it is so wrong for a war to be started in Syria, over and above what is already happening.”
He says it's great to see people sharing his belief and that he will continue protesting for as long as it takes for the conflict in the Middle East to stop.
Read SunLive's interview with Colin about his thoughts on the Syrian conflict here.
SunLive asked people on what their thoughts on New Zealand getting involved in the Syrian conflict. Watch their responses below.
6 comments
GOOD GRIEF !
Posted on 07-09-2013 14:16 | By SonnyJim
What a blinkered lot of protestors! Try that demonstration in Syria and you will end up dead! Put a gassed child in their arms and see if they can keep back tears as it dies. Nearly a hundred years ago gas warfare was banned - that means no country needs UN permission to hit the perpetrators where it may hurt. Of course the USA is not going to invade Syria, it's really a waste of time when countries are governed by religious 'political' parties. History shows that until religions get pushed out of governance, people die in their thousands hating their own countrymen. And so it continues.....
good grief revisted
Posted on 07-09-2013 21:00 | By Environmental education
What a blinkered comment! How on earth does bombing a country save children from being gassed. The bombing in Iraq just killed more children. Assad is a brutal tyrant. As was his father before him. Torture and have been their modus operandi for 2 generations, but the west pandered to them. And in this conflict they have not only turned a blind eye to the thousands killed by conventional weapons, they have assisted the conflict by providing arms to both sides. Whatever the reason for the new bellicose posturing of the American administration, you can be sure it is not compassion for the children.
EE is a poor educator
Posted on 08-09-2013 00:52 | By Mike Kuipers von Lande
If you must comment EE then take the blinkers off and get your facts right. 'The West' has never 'pandered' to Syria, the Assads have relied on Russia for half a century for their supplies and still do. Russia has been happy to give Syria support so Syria can be a sponsor of violence towards the west and assist Russia in it's agendas in the Middle East and further afield. The opposing side in this conflict has some light arms smuggled in from sympathetic Arab nations that may have originated in the west but all of the Syrian government and military hardware in use is from Russia some of which has captured or stolen from the government and turned against them.
Unbelieveable comment.
Posted on 08-09-2013 09:11 | By TheCameltoeKid
It's pacifists like Environmental education and your warped thinking that allows people like Assad to flourish. The west has never sucked up to Assad. He has been courted by the likes of China and Russia.They are the ones giving him the weapons so get your facts right! By standing back, holding hands, singing and praying Assad's really going to listen to a bunch of nutters in downtown Tauranga. Mind you though, they would make a great target for a ripe tomato and rotten egg throwing party. Yeah bring it on!
The I'm ok so don't worry about atrocities elsewhere attitude?
Posted on 08-09-2013 11:14 | By Annalist
What I think is a sucking up to dictatorial and corrupt regimes approach comes as no surprise. Increasingly we live in a selfish self-centred society where when people see someone being hurt, attacked, injured or in need of help, people just stand by and do nothing. Very occasionally do people do the right thing and act these days. As for relying on the United Nations try telling that to the millions of people who suffer in many countries while the UN holds talks and wrings its hands. No wonder when the UN seems to employ some spent politicians "double dipping" on parliamentary superannuation and generous UN pay and allowances. What a sad bunch of cowards we have become.
west and Assad
Posted on 08-09-2013 19:50 | By Environmental education
So perhaps some of you could let me know any times that western countries have stood up to Assad or voiced any effective protests over his toddler-like behaviour. Or Saddam for that matter. Or even China. The west wont even recognise Taiwan. The point is that using emotional rhetoric about gassed children to justify killing more children has never solved anything. If the US want to invade because they see their own economic dominance threatened, then they can at least be honest and admit this.
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