Young ACTivist becomes internet sensation

Having a video promoting a cause go viral is something most activists and political parties would be thankful for, but The ACT party, a small organisation best described as right-libertarian (albeit with some very conservative law and order polices), is less than pleased that the performance of their then campus wing president Rick Giles. Giles appeared on TV3s' morning news programme 'Sunrise' to talk about why he was against 'Earth Hour' and in favour of 'Edison Hour' an hour used to celebrate technology and energy use. At first Giles made a slip and used the words “fun loving” when he meant “fundamental” but such a gaff would have gone unnoticed if not for his later statements. When questioned about his disbelief in anthropogenic climate change Giles told the interviewer “I think my arguments are so powerful, its not necessary to talk about them” he then went on to argue that if climate change was indeed happening, his arguments about Each Hour still held, making a bizarre metaphor about Islamists, Communists and Genghis Khan's hordes.

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The youtube video of the clip has now been viewed over 22,000 times, and a Facebook page has attracted over 4,600 fans (not to mention a collection of photoshoped images and even haiku's). According to the New Zealand Herald, t-shirt company Mr Vintage is going to be producing t-shirts featuring Giles' words. The story has been mentioned on Stuff.co.nz, the country's major news website, and Kiwiblog, New Zealands' most popular blog. Humorous satire has appeared describing a post-apocalyptic world in which the people of New Zealand didn't listen to Rick Giles' powerful arguments and caused their own doom. Giles seems to be responding well to the situation, calling the satire “Great writing, great fun!” on the Facebook page, and poking fun at his “fun loving” gaff in a video he posted to youtube to outline his argument.

ACT however haven't responded so well. When another ACT member, Clint Heinre, posted his own satirical video on his blog, he commented that “My response is to preserve the organisation that I have fought tooth and nail to establish.” When Giles was interviewed on bFM radio, the show received an email from the newly elected ACT on campus president stating that Giles doesn't speak for the organisation any more. ACT has it's share of colourful characters, the former party Vice President Trevor Loudon is a conspiracy theorist (believing Barack Obama to be a secret communist) and a student of Zenith Applied Philosophy, a breakaway sect of Scientology started by a man who believed his house in suburban Christchurch was the centre of the universe. Then of course there are the embarrassing actions of MP David Garrett. While ACT currently forms part of a coalition government they may well be struggling to retain a semblance of credibility by the time the next election rolls around.