Bad Banks "exposures" of ASB - Auckland and Whangarei

Bad Banks campaigners outside ASB Bank on Queen Street.

There have been two Bad Banks "exposures" of ASB's false claim to be a "Kiwi bank", in Auckland on 11 December and in Whangarei on 22 December. Bad Banks campaigners handed out the latest leaflet highlighting the bad things ASB has been doing.

The leaflet also linked this particular Bad Bank to the international bank cartels responsible for the global financial implosion and their role in blocking meaningful action on climate change. From the leaflet:

"This implosion sparked the world economic crisis which is today causing large-scale job losses in New Zealand, along with widespread clamps on wages and salaries.

The international bank cartels (to which ASB is affiliated) control global investment flows chasing after maximum profits, at the expense of social and ecological welfare. Thus the world’s bankers are choking off vital “green energy” investments needed to save humanity from climate chaos and oil depletion."

The leaflet was positively received, with a few hundred handed out in Auckland and close to a hundred in Whangarei. A dozen people filled out the contact sheet to keep in touch with the campaign.

Regular Bad Banks stalls or "leaflet drops" are essential. Being out on the street, in tandem with our media work, will raise the profile of the campaign. People will see us and remember us. They will respect us for doing the hard yards.

And by being active and handing out leaflets we're able to engage with people. We can then gauge what issues and ideas are really connecting with them. The questions people are ask, the conversations we have, can all be fed back into the campaign, so that it becomes a living and evolving thing. That way it has the best chance of becoming a popular movement.

Next year

If you would like to get involved with Bad Banks stalls next year contact Vaughan Gunson, email svpl@xtra.co.nz or ph/txt 021-0415 082. We can arrange for a bunch of leaflets and other campaign material to be sent to you.

It's possible to do a stall with just one or two people. Give it a go. You’ll get a positive reception from most people. And by getting out there you’ll inspire others to help out. Because of the simmering mood against the banks you’ll come into contact with people who are looking to get involved in a campaign like this.

It should be possible next year to get regular Bad Banks stalls and other campaign initiatives happening in a number of cities around New Zealand. That’s the goal.

A new person signs up to the Bad Banks campaign, while Peter and Len are engaged in conversations (about Bad Banks of course). Queen Street, Auckland.

Vaughan and Aaron (Green Party activist) outside an ASB in Whangarei. A positive reception to Bad Banks leaflets from most people. The ASB Regional Manager for Northland was not so keen.