Press Release

2011-11-15

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Occupy Auckland Demonstrator on Hunger Strike

A protester who is part of the Occupy Auckland movement has been refusing food since the morning of Monday 14th November. The action is being taken to focus attention on the 200,000 children who live in poverty in New Zealand and the level of hunger experienced by many of the less advantaged around the country.

Andy Hendrie, 41, who runs a health centre and a charitable trust, was involved with the occupation of Aotea Square on 15 October and has been camping for the past month. He said: “Food for all is a human right which our elected leaders and large organisations have failed to collectively address, despite the collective resources that we have in a country like New Zealand”.

“We would like to inspire our government and businesses to come together, pooling their resources to provide food outlets around the Auckland region for less advantaged families and individuals. This includes not only children, but low wage earners and beneficiaries suffering from lack of funds due inflation levels and stagnant or falling incomes”, said Mr Hendrie.

Hendrie is calling for a collective effort from large organisations, central and local government. This would include the pooling of resources enabling food distribution across Auckland and the rest of the country.

This latest action on behalf of Occupy Auckland, which was announced this morning on breakfast television, sends a loud and clear signal to the government and the public. The protesters, who have been protesting corporate greed, income inequality and environmental degradation, are now bringing home the realities of the fact that not everyone in New Zealand has enough to eat, and that something needs to be done about it, and fast.

ENDS

© Scoop Media