A Hypocritical Reaction to the Danish Cartoons
While I was cynical about the reason The Press and the Dominion Post published the Danish Cartoons I am angered by the hypocritical reaction of Ministers Chris Carter and Jim Sutton.
Earlier this year, TV Channel C4 showed a cartoon series called Popetown in which the Pope and Catholic heirachy is not depicted in a flattering manner. Upcoming on the same channel is an episode of South Park titled Bloody Mary which is apparently offensive to Catholics. Neither Carter or Sutton have seen fit to comment on either programme.
Now, you might think that New Zealand trade with Islamic Countries is important, and that by condemning the depiction of the cartoons they are acting to protect those exports. But the reality is that most of the Islamic nations we trade with have much more to lose by scaling back trade than we do.
Here is a table showing our top 5 trading partners were Islam is the major religion:
So a boycott of New Zealand Goods and Services would put $400 million more at risk for those countries than for New Zealand.
I also mentioned Popetown above. If we were to face a boycott from Catholic consumers then our top 5 trading nations where Catholicism is the predominant religion:
We would then be placing an equal amount of exports at risk, but with our imports from those countries being smaller, we would be the ones to lose in a mutual boycott.
So Sutton and Carter should be asking themselves - should we protect ourselves from Muslim offense, or should we be telling them that in our culture we value the peaceful expression of all views - whether they cause offense to some or not.
Data Source - Stats NZ Top 50 Bilateral Trading Partners, June 2005 (Link: http://www.stats.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/9CBB2DF0-CD28-42F0-BF31-BC4637077828/0/Section5.xls
Earlier this year, TV Channel C4 showed a cartoon series called Popetown in which the Pope and Catholic heirachy is not depicted in a flattering manner. Upcoming on the same channel is an episode of South Park titled Bloody Mary which is apparently offensive to Catholics. Neither Carter or Sutton have seen fit to comment on either programme.
Now, you might think that New Zealand trade with Islamic Countries is important, and that by condemning the depiction of the cartoons they are acting to protect those exports. But the reality is that most of the Islamic nations we trade with have much more to lose by scaling back trade than we do.
Here is a table showing our top 5 trading partners were Islam is the major religion:
| Country | Exports($NZ000) | Imports($NZ000) |
|---|---|---|
| Malaysia | $488,165 | $753,696 |
| Indonesia | $455,207 | $568,298 |
| Saudi Arabia | $386,407 | $313,073 |
| United Arab Emirates | $157,745 | $400,082 |
| Algeria | $131,101 | $7 |
| TOTAL | $1,618,625 | $2,035,156 |
So a boycott of New Zealand Goods and Services would put $400 million more at risk for those countries than for New Zealand.
I also mentioned Popetown above. If we were to face a boycott from Catholic consumers then our top 5 trading nations where Catholicism is the predominant religion:
| Country | Exports($NZ000) | Imports($NZ000) |
|---|---|---|
| The Philippines | $542,698 | $114,405 |
| Italy | $437,440 | $877,336 |
| Mexico | $428,060 | $120,447 |
| Spain | $244,076 | $179,412 |
| Brazil | $80,565 | $131,168 |
| TOTAL | $1,732,839 | $1,422,768 |
We would then be placing an equal amount of exports at risk, but with our imports from those countries being smaller, we would be the ones to lose in a mutual boycott.
So Sutton and Carter should be asking themselves - should we protect ourselves from Muslim offense, or should we be telling them that in our culture we value the peaceful expression of all views - whether they cause offense to some or not.
Data Source - Stats NZ Top 50 Bilateral Trading Partners, June 2005 (Link: http://www.stats.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/9CBB2DF0-CD28-42F0-BF31-BC4637077828/0/Section5.xls
posted by Michael at
9:58 PM
4 Comments:
Michael, South Park is surely a bit of American rubbish which we as NZer's risk no boycott on exports from it being aired by TV here so why would NZ trade ministers bother commenting.
The Arab world however are a lot more tetchy about such things so there is a credible risk of boycott hence the ministers seeking to distance themselves from the publications.
Personally I think both items are not worth the time and effort but of course we should reserve the right as a sovereign nation to make and respect our own laws.
The arabs really need to get over it.
By
steven, at 11:57 PM
I didn't realise Ahmed Zaoui was worth seven bucks!
By
Blair, at 3:07 AM
Steven - precisely!
Blair - That's $7,000
By
Michael, at 7:34 PM
Clark, Sutton and Carter are fuckwits for the comments they made and should be treated as such for the pandering to Muslim fantics.
Islam is not the religion of tolerance and peace.
It the religion of war and death.
This Labour govt. have no balls in standing up for what is a right in this country.
By
Anonymous, at 9:35 AM
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