Our voices matter. The importance of print media and art in the fight for an equitable future. 

A cultural revolution took place in 1968. Fifty-five years later, we find ourselves in a jarringly similar political situation to that of the students and workers who took to the streets of Paris in May 1968 and brought France to its knees. General strikes and mass protests held the government and their policies of austerity, as well as the senseless war in Vietnam, to account. 

The echoes of that era resonate today, as people around the world rise against economic inequality, social injustice, and environmental degradation. The May '68 uprisings were not just political but were deeply intertwined with artistic and editorial movements. The underground press, poetry, and street art that helped drive the student rebellion became powerful symbols of liberation and resistance. These forms of expression fostered a collective consciousness, challenging the dominant narratives of the time. The role of these physical mediums is no less crucial in our digital world, where writing and creating art remain potent tools of resistance against the status quo. In an age of misinformation and censorship, the act of producing and sharing creative work continues to empower individuals and communities to question, challenge, and ultimately reshape society.

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The Canterbury Memo is UC’s bimonthly magazine, showcasing a diverse array of writing and art from students and contributors beyond the campus. We advocate for a sustainable and equitable future by fostering an open dialogue where critical issues can be discussed openly and thoughtfully. By engaging in these conversations, we not only deepen our understanding of the impacts of these crises but also explore potential solutions at both the student and broader community levels. We aim to challenge the status quo, with the hope that the issues we write about today will become obsolete in five, ten, or twenty years. Such movements serve an urgent, albeit ephemeral, role in the fight for a better future. Each piece we publish plays a vital role in the ongoing fight for a better future, sparking ideas and actions that can lead to meaningful progress. Now, more than ever, is the moment for such a movement.

This coalition Government has, and will, deepen the class divide. The fight for workers, Māori and youth justice must not falter as we face dwindling increases to the minimum wage, sanctioned benefits, and tax breaks for the owning class. What we’re witnessing now is the perpetuation of wealth inequality, at chasmic levels.

However, the fight is multifaceted; the legislative war waged on our natural environments by this Government will only further exacerbate the injustices and inequalities that transect modern Aotearoa. We must stand not only for people, but equally for the planet. 

This is a call to action. We have the power to bring the country to a standstill, we can force those in positions of authority to listen. Student advocacy has become far more organised in recent times and we must harness this momentum. Unionise, rally, protest, read, write, create. It’s all resistance; the power of our voices is not tied to the electoral cycle. So get out there. As the students of the ‘68 uprisings said: la beauté est dans la rue. Beauty is in the street. 

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Joseph Davidson-Labout

Editor-in-Chief, The Canterbury Memo