|
Action Alerts | PMA's newsletter |
What's on | Links | How PMA can help you Help PMA grow | Petition forms
| Site map | PMA main page
PMA newsletter - December 2000
Peace Movement Aotearoa
PO Box 9314, Wellington. Tel (04) 382 8129, fax (04) 382 8173, email pma@apc.org.nz
This newsletter is sponsored by the National Consultative Committee on Disarmament
Link to earlier PMA newsletters.
|
Contents
News from the office
A year of Labour-Alliance Coalition government
Visions of peace for the new millennium
Anne Wells,
Don Franks,
Neil Smith,
Norman John,
Pauline Tangiora,
Jim Delahunty,
Dorothy Kitchingman,
Paul Bruce,
Bertha Zurcher,
Arthur Quinn,
June Stroud,
Gush Shalom,
Marion Hancock,
Celine Kearney,
Des Brough,
David Carrad,
Tim Jones,
Libby Clements,
Larry Ross,
Edwin Junker,
Trade Union Federation,
Dianne Yates
Aotearoa / New Zealand's contribution to the arms trade
Indigenous People in Colonised Countries of the Pacific, Peace Statement
Pacific concept for peaceful co-existence and human security
WEAVE
Peace Network
UN Asia-Pacific Regional Disarmament Conference, March 2001, Wellington
What's on where
|
News from the office
Kia ora, as we review PMA's work during 2000, there are a number of highlights which
stand out. Partly as a result of the government's ambivalent approach to peace and
social justice (see below), as well as a higher than usual amount of opportunities
to make submissions to various Select Committees, the number of alerts and updates we circulated
in the past year has soared up to 287; and more than 860 articles, alerts and updates
were posted to our website.
There has been improvement in the management of PMA, we concluded the process of gaining
charitable status, significant progress has been made on the Schools Information
Project, a new youth co-ordinator has been appointed, and we reached
a settlement with IRD over the historical debt to them which was discovered last year
and which had threatened PMA's financial viability. The settlement seriously drained
our financial reserves, and we hope that you will respond generously to our appeal
letter 2000 which is included in this mailing.
We would like to thank everyone who has contributed to PMA in the past year in whatever
way, especially our volunteer workers: Deborah, Jesse, Jackson, Catherine, Abigael,
and Jie. With best wishes, safe journeys over the holiday period and a very happy
new year to you, from everyone at PMA.
A year of Labour-Alliance Coalition government
Looking back over the first
year of the Labour-Alliance coalition government, it has been characterised by a rather
uneven approach to promoting peaceful and just social relations, both here and overseas.
Employment conditions have improved for some through a modest increase in the minimum
wage and a return to the right of collective bargaining for workers. However, the
government's commitment to 'free trade' ideology is being put into practice in a
series of 'free trade' agreements which can only result in a decrease in the number of proper
jobs available and a further increase in foreign control of our assets. The loss
of local employment opportunities as a result of 'free trade' agreements seems contradictory to the government's rhetoric about 'closing the gaps' between rich and poor.
Yet at the same time, some progress has been made in this area, in particular, the
return to income related rent for state house tenants.
'Closing the gaps' of ignorance and prejudice in relation to the government's obligations
under the Treaty of Waitangi has likewise been variable. There appears to be some
commitment to adding Treaty clauses to new legislation, but what that will mean in
practice is unclear.
The opportunity to add to public understanding of the continuing impact of colonisation
on Mäori was lost when Helen Clark condoned the racist backlash against Tariana Turia's
comments earlier this year. The announcement of the withdrawal of funding from, and government presence at, Waitangi on 6 February next year has sent an ambivalent
message on the government's commitment to the bicultural partnership.
On human rights, the past year has seen the inclusion of same sex couples in new legislation
in accordance with the Human Rights Act; and a Select Committee ruling just last
week labelled police handling of demonstrations during President Jiang Zemin's visit for APEC in 1999 as "unjustifiable".
On the other hand there are plans for unprecedented large scale automated surveillance of electronic messages, and state
hacking into personal computers. Furthermore, calls for an independent Police Complaints
Authority, an inquiry into the activities of the Criminal Intelligence Service and
for the closure of the Waihopai spy base have gone unheeded. Eight months after Steven
Wallace was shot dead by a police officer in Waitara, the Police Complaints Authority
report is still not available.
On disarmament, the purchase of F16s and new frigates is on hold, but $740 million
has been allocated to the army for new armoured vehicles and radios. While Helen
Clark received a standing ovation overseas for declaring her government's commitment
to a nuclear weapons free world, the Labour-Alliance coalition has said they will not support
the Extension of the Nuclear Free Zone Bill.
Foreign policy has been characterised by lofty words, and little action - a statement
at the United Nations on NZ's preference for 'smart' sanctions came with an assertion
that the government would take no unilateral action with regard to changing the appalling situation of the people of Iraq, and there has still been no definite commitment
that NZ navy frigates will not be sent again to take part in the blockade of Iraq.
The situation in Fiji has been loudly condemned by the government, and there are prohibitions
on travel here for various Fijian sport teams and people associated with the new
government pending 'the restoration of democracy'. Yet there has been little said about the Indonesian government's denial of 'democratic' rights to the people of
West Papua, Aceh, Maluku; nor about the creation of violent paramilitary forces in
these places, and the failure to bring them under control in West Timor, as well
as extreme oppression by Indonesian armed forces and police. A high ranking Indonesian navy
officer had no restrictions on his travel to this country to attend the Naval Symposium
recently.
It is hoped that one outcome of the 'Human Rights in Foreign Policy' Select Committee
hearings currently being held will be the adoption of some kind of ethical code in
the government's foreign policy practice - and the application of the same moral
standards to ALL governments, with the more powerful being treated in the same way as the
less powerful. However, the example of the new 'ethical' defence policy doesn't inspire
much confidence about the practical implementation of any moral guidelines ...
A prohibition on NZ armed forces exercising with the armed forces of those countries
whose government uses them to perpetuate human rights abuses was announced in the
Defence Policy Framework in June. In July that policy was breached when they took
part in exercises with British armed forces. Despite a number of PMA members writing to Defence
Minister Mark Burton about this, no satisfactory reply has yet been received.
Visions of peace for the new millennium
This newsletter features the Visions of peace for the new millennium which everyone
on PMA's database was invited to compose last December.
Saying NO to militarism and war
Interspersed with the Visions of peace, are some extracts from the 'Saying NO to militarism
and war' fact sheet, produced by PMA and WILPF during the 'Saying NO to Violence
Week' (YWCA Week Without Violence) in October 2000.
'Saying NO to militarism and war' is an ongoing project of PMA and WILPF, and updated
fact sheets will be published every year. Paper copies of the fact sheet are available
from PMA at $1 each (includes p & p), or it is available online.
You can send a message to the 'Saying NO' message board,
a place for people around the world to share their vision of a world in which there
is no militarism or war, at http://www.peace.org.nz/sayno
Global military spending this year will amount to $3,591,324 every minute of every
day. And every minute of every day twenty two children under the age of five will
die from mainly preventable causes including a lack of adequate food, clean water,
and access to basic medicines. Whose priorities are these?
My vision of peace for Aotearoa/New Zealand * Honouring Te Tiriti * Peaceful and Nuclear-free * Social policies based on equity * Properly resourced communities * Green * Debt-free * Not for foreign investors but for me!
Written in 1990 and still waiting. Anne Wells, Wellington
A vision of peace for Aotearoa/ New Zealand ?
The term of reference isn't all that rational
- true peace is always international.
Although we could, let's say, in theory
(under a Labour / Alliance government; safe
sensible and just a little dreary)
be sitting in our lounges, having tea
so peacefully injected with TV
with no incendiary rockets flying
other poor buggers would still be dying
in almost every other corner of our sphere
broken, bullied, brutalised, in fear
starved by sanctions, crushed by tanks ...
enough !
My vision's MOBILISE - AND STAND UP TO THE YANKS.
Don Franks, Wellington.
From my life experience I see peace, not so much a goal in its own right, but as the
outcome of working for a just social / economic order.
For Aotearoa / New Zealand the key to this is to double our budget for well-resourced
early childhood services each year for the next five years. This would pay immediate,
ongoing dividends in employment, housing, health, education and, therefore, in more
satisfying, harmonious lives.
Internationally, my vision is to limit our armed forces to what is needed to patrol
our ocean fishing zones, making our real defence the training and equipping of expert
technical teams to work under UN jurisdiction, both for disaster relief and in the
under-developed world to help build sustainable, just social / economic environments.
Neil Smith, Auckland
(WWII ended Neil's schooling and began his education with four years' imprisonment
for refusing military service. In Europe's post-war reconstruction, he joined international
student volunteers helping rebuild railway in Yugoslavia. Later career included psychiatric social work and community development work, Auckland City.)
My considered contribution for peace in the 21st century ... that we create truly
human context by each of us loving earth, its wisdom and our neighbour.
Norman John, Christchurch
Peace in whatever form we see it needs to be open to all differences. We may not always
agree with each other but let us discuss with and hear each other - be true to one's
convictions and principles yet find a pathway to follow the ideas that can come out of dialogue. Remember the poor in money, can often be the richest in spirit.
We need to forgive ourselves for any mistakes or hurts we make before we ask this
of others. May we endeavour to seek some spiritual guidance in our everyday existence,
and respect others who see this differently. Most important let not pass our lips
anything we would not say to a person's face. May our relationship with Papatüänuku - Mother
Earth; Rangi - The Skyfather; be strong for the survival of Humanity. Let us be ever
open to care one for another.
Pauline Tangiora, Mahia
The path to a peaceful world will not be simple or easy. We live in the terminal stage
of a world wide social and economic system. As Marxists predict and George Soros
fears, we are in for a big crash soon. What happens out of this debacle will decide
which way we go -- to a new and human society or to regimentation of people in order to
defend the rights of property and capital. This will bring to a head a conflict that
has been behind every economic crisis and every revolution in human history -- not
"good versus evil" but the rights of property versus the rights of humanity. Which rights
prevail will depend on the forces supporting each world view. Our job in the time
left to us is to make sure as many as possible know about the facts of capitalist
life and death and have some vision of what a different and human world could be. To devise
and propagate this different vision is the mighty task that faces us and the future.
Jim Delahunty, Wellington
My vision for a Peaceful Society would be one that slows the pace of today. We have
another new century in front of us ready to enjoyed and the earth's resources shared
more equally. The less hurry and speed there is, the more time there is to think
of others and share life with them.
It could benefit us often if we chose sometimes to walk and chose to talk and chose
to share. Just a little more time could benefit all of us.
Dorothy Kitchingman, Secretary, Servas for Peace NZ
New Zealand has finally elected a left of centre government and that needs celebrating!
But the work has only begun. A vision of peace in New Zealand needs to be one that
incorporates the developing world and dispossessed communities, and addresses the
desecration of the environment, inequalities and resulting conflicts that have grown
under corporate capitalism.
Ultimately, our collective survival depends on our creation of new democratic and
cooperative bodies capable of giving real leadership. There are many who have vision
- particularly inspiring has been the example of the Colombian Gaviotans who create
sustainable and peaceful lifestyles out of a desert turned rain forest ("Gaviotas - A Village
to Reinvent the World " - Alan Weisman), but also the East Timorese, who sacrificed
so much for their independence.
The new millennium gives us new opportunities of showing leadership in our search
for universal recognition of human rights, respect for the environment, and equality
of opportunity. Let's make sure we take them!
Paul Bruce, Latin America Solidarity Committee
"Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me."
Instead of dwelling on past hurts I am finding that 'that which is past is gone and
irrevocable and wise people have enough to do with things present and to come.'
Begin each day with a clean slate (yes, I used one at school). Trust others as I expect
them to accept and trust me with all my weaknesses and strengths.
Remembering how friends' feed-back encourages me to recognise and develop my strengths
and to overcome my weaknesses may I 'do as I would be done by.' Most of all may I
be empathetic and a sensitive listener. May I live simply so that others may simply
live.
Bertha Zurcher, Palmerston North
Of the many earnest thinkers this century Albert Einstein must be accepted as eminent.
Although born in 1879 his contributions to our understanding of the forces of nature
at the command of humankind have been made in our century.
This the most violent in history, in which mankind has developed the most efficient
ways of killing each other and polluting the environment in which we live.
Einstein was a man of peace, recognising that this struggle was paramount today if
we are to enjoy a future. He declared
that "We must find a new way of thinking".
That is a truth we have to achieve in our living relationships. The basic economics
of modern society, predominant today is to perfect the "Game of Grab", to make the
greatest profit possible from the labour of others in the exploitation of resources.
The war for these resources continues through the domination of the weaker countries
by the stronger, by take-over of industries through larger countries inveigling smaller
ones in enterprises, especially rearmament, and enfettering then in debt.
So our visions for peace become clear, freedom from exploitation of people in New
Zealand and overseas, for true equality in terms of trade through internationally
agreed minimum rates of remuneration, internationally accepted measures to protect
the environment and resources, the banning of weapons that kill and maim indiscriminately,
and more urgent steps towards disarmament.
Important in any vision of peace is the practical means of "getting there" that means
freedom and justice in organisation in all walks of life, and effective expression
through a democratic media.
There is so much to think about in the next century and more to do.
Arthur Quinn, Lower Hutt
Dorothy McRae-McMahon from Sydney gave the annual Grocott Memorial Peace Lecture in
Christchurch in November 1999. These are some of her words: "We can no longer see
peace as simply an end to war, if we ever did.
- Peace is about the way we handle relationships across nation states.
- It is about the health of the planet itself, otherwise we will end up in a terrible
scramble for the earth's slender resources and safe places.
- It is still about the reduction of weaponry.
- It is about learning to handle conflicts in creative and disciplined ways.
- It is about the creation and recreation of human community in its most generous and
responsible forms.
- It is about the celebration of difference in race, gender, age, ability, lifestyle
and culture and the protection of human rights.
- It is about 'shalom', the constant vigilance for enhancing the well-being of us all."
June Stroud, Secretary, for Sumner Peace Group
The human spirit and enjoyment of life is damaged by militarism and the unhealthy
belief that violence can ever solve anything, as Dora Russell so aptly said … "it
murders the generous impulses of the heart". Military preparedness does not enhance
human security in any way. Instead, it endangers us all.
(from the 'Saying NO to militarism and war' fact sheet)
The analyses of militarism on your web site http://www.peace.org.nz/sayno confirm
much that we believe and know of war 'economy'. Since much of the world has been
following the the recent upsurge of violence in the middle east, you are probably
familiar with the events that triggered it. The peace movement in Israel is alive but badly
battered by recent events. Perhaps the following words can illustrate some of the
outrage we feel at being manipulated by the generals.
War has promoted many successful careers in Israel. Not that the war industry has
particularly enhanced the economy. In Israel, the defence budget has always been
costly and the public has always been heavily taxed to support these costs.
Most armies today are organisations that can only grow at the expense of increased
public funding. In order to do so, the army needs to perpetuate the dependence of
the public it is paid to protect and thus ensure the indispensability of it's own
existence. The armies of this world are never self-sufficient, never economically competitive
and rarely make any positive contribution to economic growth.
In Israel the army has, however, been a successful launching pad for many a political
career. Ex-generals who do not choose politics find themselves at the head of many
powerful enterprises. The personal history of a heroic fighter is one well-worth
having as it most often guarantees a prestigious second career, or at least the chance of
one, in some position of power. Therefore to many Israelis the dominant role model
and preeminent representation of moral and cultural value is a ranked military officer,
the higher the rank the better the model. It has undoubtedly been the best boys club
known in this country for contacts to power centers. There is a threat looming over
the horizon of the boys club: high-tech start-ups and entrepreneurship.
It appears that Israelis in pursuit of success now have an attractive alternative
to a military career. One consequence of the diminishing yet still pervasive allure
of the military, is the spiral of dependence. Since the state of war has lasted as
long as the State has, Israel without war is inconceivable to those who spent the better
part of their lives anticipating or performing in battle. Those are the people in
powerful positions today.
And what do soldiers do when there is no war? Are they needed? The thought of becoming
superfluous - or even less necessary - is untenable. So if conflict resolution is
at all possible and war might cease, war has to be provoked. Ariel Sharon knows how
to do this. No one can doubt he has experience in this area. Nor can anyone believe that
he has any role to play in a post war Israel. He appears, unabashed, on TV to say
that the hostilities of the past few days were not provoked; they were always simmering
under the surface; that peace cannot be imposed. For Sharon, clearly, peace is not
a natural condition and his set of skills has no added value in a world without warriors.
Barak at least can play the piano!
Gush Shalom, Israel (on the 'Saying NO' message board)
My vision of peace - a local and global community that understands that peace is a
whole lot more than the absence of war and that sees it as the creation of the conditions
that encourage people and the our planet to reach their fullest potential. A community that regards all forms of violence as unacceptable, that understands and encourages
constructive conflict resolution and one that appreciates and celebrates differences.
How do we get there? Start with ourselves, keep working at it, keep believing and
remember to have fun on the way.
Marion Hancock, Auckland
Lantern floating, WILPF commemorating Hiroshima Day 2000 in Wellington, City Voice, used with permission.
A vision of a peaceful society in NZ in the 21st century.
The market-driven, hands-off economy has been replaced with sustained regional development,
building thriving local, sustainable, non-polluting businesses which employ hundreds
of thousands of people on comfortable incomes.
This has lessened the tension and stress in society so we (especially women) can walk
on the streets and live in our homes without fear.
Our education system is well-financed and multi-faceted, catering to the needs of
Mäori in köhanga, kura and wänanga where te reo and tikanga Mäori flourish and nurture
individuals strong in their own identity. All our children, from the diverse cultures
that make up our society and their varying health and education needs are catered to
from birth so that our teenagers are strong and creative and our society flourishes.
As adults our varying ongoing health and education needs are met with ease by a government
willing to care for our elderly as carefully as our very young. We share our lives
co-operatively drawing equally on the strengths and values of women and men, old
and young and our various races and cultures.
Celine Kearney (WILPF, Tamaki Makaurau)
A Peace Council vision of peace for Aotearoa / New Zealand is best summed up in terms
of peace, jobs and democracy. Unemployment is the fundamental issue. As MMP politics
have failed to deal with this issue, the unemployed themselves must be involved in
finding a solution. Central to this question is the continued redistribution of economic
resources as negotiated through the Treaty of Waitangi between Mäori and the Crown.
The Employment Contracts Act must be repealed, and a new relationship created between trade unions and employers.
Aotearoa / New Zealand will need to refocus its foreign affairs and trade relations,
by engaging in more South-South dialogue with members of the commonwealth, Non- Aligned
Movement and the United Nations on peace and disarmament.
Des Brough, Senior Vice President,
Peace Council Aotearoa NZ
We need to learn or accomplish the following:-
To cope with propaganda
Historical Vision, Global Vision
Mass:- We have to deal with Mass Phenomena beyond all previous experience,
Technological Development has Mass, Speed and Acceleration,
and changes everything as it goes.
Co-operation is far more important than Competition
Take aboard "green" insights.
Scale down material expectations.
Forget growth. Re-orient economy.
Reform diet radically.
Any child once born has full rights.
Life is not absolute and may be surrendered when it has no quality.
Happiness depends on Health, Relationships, Activity...
Possession comes away down the list.
We share the air we breathe with the earthworm.
David Carrad, Lower Hutt
Peace is elusive for the great majority of the world's population, and the challenges
facing the planet mean it is likely to remain so. The greatest threats to global
peace are likely to come from the intersecting problems of climate change, resource
depletion, exploitative globalisation, and poverty.
A peace movement that focuses only on 'traditional' peace issues won't be able to
contribute much to solving these interwoven problems. I believe that the peace movement
has to reach out to the worldwide movements on these issues, both to learn from them
and to offer peace perspectives.
At the same time, we must not forget the world's many arsenals of destruction. They
still have the potential to cancel all hopes of peace.
Tim Jones, Wellington
Although Aotearoa / New Zealand is comparatively un-militarised when compared with
other countries around the world, militarism is a dominant pervasive ideology here
too.
The military budget for the current financial year is $1,630,000,000 - and a further
$736,439,000 has recently been given to the army for new armoured vehicles and radios.
This year's known military spending is therefore $2,366,439,000 which averages out
to $6,483,394 every day.
In contrast, the Disarmament Division subsumed within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and Trade has an annual budget
of $2,990,000.
Armed forces recruiting advertisements offer young people: 'Trades training second
to none'; 'a future'; 'a degree; and state "Some Bursary students take a degree.
Smart Bursary students get sponsored through their degree, gain management skills
and
walk into an Officer's job at the end of it" [their emphasis]. It is a stunning indictment
on our society that our children's futures, their chance of trades training, and
the opportunity to gain a degree without incurring crippling student debt can only
be achieved by learning to kill - such is the insidious power of militarism.
(from the 'Saying NO to militarism and war' fact sheet)
From 2000 humans will deal with their rubbish - rubbish of every kind - the rubbish
we dump in our precious land, sea and air, the rubbish we emotionally, physically
and mentally throw at each other, the rubbish we invent to ruin our social and ecological
systems. It will be a time of healing ourselves, each other, the land, sea and air.
From 2000 humans will learn that we are all connected to each other, to the environment
and to the spiritual world. We will learn to respect ourselves and each other and
find ways of living in greater harmony.
From 2000 Aotearoa/New Zealand will evolve sustainable political, economic and social
systems. We will incorporate the learnings of science and technology into our funds
of wisdom which have lain dormant and use both together to create ways of caring
for ourselves and our surroundings that suit us here and now and that leave our children
free to create what suits them.
From 2000, Aotearoa/New Zealand will become a world leader in sustainable living.
Libby Clements, Wellington
New Zealand as a 21st Century Neutral Peacemaker
From pioneering a Nuclear-Free Zone in 1984, to a Nuclear-Free Law in 1987, New Zealand
has become known for its peacemaking initiatives in Bougainville and its skill in
UN peacekeeping missions around the world. NZ should continue this trend by completing its withdrawal from the nuclear war infrastructure and becoming a neutral country.
We can have good relations with all countries, and specialise in international peacemaking
and mediation services. The world is increasingly threatened by nuclear and other mass destruction devices; arms races, wars and disputes that can escalate, and genocidal
mass killings. For survival, the world desperately needs active peacemaking nations.
New Zealand should become a pioneer for peace - a neutral Geneva of the South Pacific.
Larry Ross, Secretary, NZNFPA
1) The media in NZ (and the world!) is owned and censored by Multinational Corporations
and their subsidiaries. People have been misinformed and lied to for decades. This
disables "Democracy" - no matter what the voting system is, because people can't
make an informed decision! Peace, to some degree, relies on "wisdom", which in turn relies
on correct information.
The Media, these days, is the first line of attack - manufacturing consent for wars!
Peace therefore can only be enabled if the ownership / control of the media is returned
to the public (not government) and opened up to debate, fact-finding organisations
(eg. Peace, environmental / social groups) and education about the real state of
affairs.
2) Often I hear people denying the fact that violence on TV / Video and in Films and
magazines does influence people badly. For me there is no doubt whatsoever, that
so-called "normal people" get "numb" towards violence by watching it, that people
who have had dysfunctional backgrounds can get sucked into re-enacting violence and that children
from a very young age onward are sucked into the adrenalin-buzz of destructive behaviour
(kids cartoons). Why do we have to have this insane stuff dominating our entertainment?
3) NZ Does not have human rights protected from other legislation - why not?
Edwin Junker, Whangarei
Looking for a publication which never ever manufactures consent to war ? Then do not
hesitate, subscribe to ... |
|
Social responsibility: collective not selective! A socially responsible government
shall:
- provide an equitable, inclusive environment that enables all citizens to participate
fully in society, recognise the cultural diversity of all people and enable genuine
democracy with freedom from oppression, exploitation and fear of want;
-
recognise and implement the rights of Mäori under Te Tiriti O Waitangi and the just
settlement of claims under the Treaty;
- repeal or amend the Reserve Bank Act to bring the bank under democratic political
control and to include the promotion of full employment on the same basis as inflation
control;
- repeal the Employment Contracts Act and replace it with legislation that promotes
just employment laws, collective bargaining and other trade union rights;
- increase benefits and the minimum wage to a level that will enable all to participate
fully in society and care for the needs of children and other dependents;
- provide free and adequate health care to all citizens including an adequate accident
prevention and compensation system.
- develop and expand a public owned housing system to ensure that adequate and affordable
housing is available to all citizens;
- provide a comprehensive and fully public-funded education system covering pre-school
to tertiary education;
- cease all further sales of state assets and buy back key assets.
Achieve these goals by developing and supporting a productive economy based on full
employment and a progressive taxation system.
Written in 1998 and still waiting. Trade Union Federation
I would like to write of a vision of peace for the millennium as Labour's current spokesperson for women's affairs.
In 1995, the Leibrich report, "Hitting Home" commissioned by the Ministry of Justice, and surveying over 2000 men in New Zealand showed that 21% of men reported physically abusing a female partner in the preceding year, and there was a 35% lifetime prevalence. The report showed that while younger men committed more violence, older men condoned it and thought it normal to give the wife and kids a good hiding now and then.
My local hospital is completing a report which indicates that male on male violence is also on the increase in New Zealand.
Around eleven children are killed each year in New Zealand as a result of beating - or even more horrifically - being thrown from a car window!
Peace is about thinking globally and acting locally.
We are all shocked by violence in East Timor, or Bosnia, or the Solomons, or anywhere but home - but home is where it starts.
My hope for peace in the millennium is that we, in a so-called modern western democracy continue to work through and improve democratic processes for resolving conflicts and tensions, and that we spread that message at home and abroad.
This is the essence of Labour's Foreign Affairs policy document as we continue to promote international peace through treaties, negotiations, the UN, the Commonwealth, and through aid and support for our near neighbours and those in crisis. At the same time we need to face up to the increase in violence, and violent crime within New Zealand and look to isolating and addressing the causes as well as assisting the victims - it is a big and challenging agenda for a new government committed to change.
Dianne Yates
Labour List MP, and currently Spokesperson for Women's Affairs.
Aotearoa / New Zealand's contribution to the arms trade
This country is not a major contributor to the arms trade. Nevertheless, the armed
forces are an end user of the international arms trade whenever they purchase new
or used weapons or equipment. The NZ government contributes to global weapons transfers
whenever it on-sells used or surplus weapons. In the past, this has tended to be small
arms (which, despite their innocent sounding name, are the greatest killer in armed
conflict globally). However, in the near future the airforce's Skyhawk warplanes
are likely to be sold to the highest bidder which is a matter for serious concern. [1]
Also of great concern has been the deliberate promotion and development of the production
of military equipment, weapons and missile guidance system parts, and shoot-to-kill
training equipment for overseas export. These are politely referred to as 'defence technologies' exports.
As this graph shows, the value of these exports more than doubled from 1996 to 1998.
This is due in part to Trade NZ (the government funded export body). They set up a
Defence Technologies Joint Action Group and have used taxpayer's money to actively
assist the companies involved to expand 'defence technology' exports. Trade NZ spent
$75,000 on promoting 'defence technologies' in the 1997/98 financial year; $50,000 in 1998/99;
and $30,000 in 1999 / 00.
(from the 'Saying NO to militarism and war' fact sheet)
[1] Update:
the Army's light tanks and armoured personnel carriers have been sold to Helston
Gunsmiths (Cornwall, England) who advertise themselves as a supplier of specialist
vehicles, ammunition, light weaponry, heavy machine-guns, mortars, howitzers and
more to military and police forces. According to the NZ Herald
(18-09-00) there is no cause for concern given the British government's requirement
for 'end-use' certificates on all weapon sales. Well, that's really reassuring given
the British governments record on weapons sales ... to the governments of Iraq and
Indonesia to name but two.
Indigenous People in Colonised Countries of the Pacific, Peace Statement
We, Indigenous people from the lands known as Aotearoa, Japan and Australia, all bound
by the Pacific, met at the Forum For Pacific Peace and Human Security, held on the
Peace Boat from 21 - 26 September 2000. We identified and considered issues that
we believe require urgent attention and action to attain lasting Peace in the Pacific.
As a result:
We call for an agreement of lasting peace between all nations;
We recognise the introduction of foreign political systems have sought to remove our
sovereignty;
We reassert our right to self determination and reconfirm that colonial powers cannot
interfere with our sovereignty;
We agree that in exercising our sovereign rights, land, the control of resources including all flora and fauna, the seas and fresh water, remain
the property of Indigenous Peoples;
We affirm our right to implement and utilise our own Indigenous forms of education;
We reject the process of globalisation as it attacks our sovereignty;
We condemn any militarisation in the Pacific whatsoever, and reject the use of force
as a means to achieve Peace, disputes must be resolved by mediation and negotiation;
We declare that there must be an immediate prohibition on all uranium mining and that
no transportation of uranium based products be through the Pacific whatsoever. The
prohibition must also be extended to include the transportation of any other toxic
or like substance that could affect us and the environment in an adverse way;
We reject open entry migration into our nations, however, we do not reject migration
outright, but must be included in the decision making processes;
We recognise that the introduction of oppressive Criminal Justice Systems has resulted
in high levels of Indigenous incarceration, and for many, subsequent death. These
matters can only be addressed effectively by Indigenous dispute resolution methods;
We reaffirm that Indigenous intellectual property rights remain within the sovereignty
of Indigenous People.
We endorse and support: the Peace Vision from the Forum for Pacific Peace and Human
Security 2000; the Manifesto 2000 for a culture of Peace and Non-violence; the Kareoka
Document signed in Rio de Janeiro 1992; and, initiatives such as those taken by the
Peace Boat and NFIP as a means of forging networks and partnerships for Peace in the
Pacific and the rest of the world.
We call on all Peoples of the Pacific to support each other in attaining lasting Peace.
from the Forum For Pacific Peace and Human Security, Peace Boat, September 2000.
Pacific concept for peaceful co-existence and human security
Peace Issues - The Forum for Peace and Human Security at the end of its deliberations
on the Pacific vision for peace, hereby makes the following declarations:
* That the root causes of tension, conflicts and armed violence are linked to colonial
legacies, land struggles, militarism, government decisions and misguided and inappropriate
policies and actions;
* That we are witnessing peace issues emanating from structural conflicts, value conflicts,
social conflicts, information conflicts, economic interest conflicts and political
conflicts;
These peace issues are identified to be centred around; self-determination, appropriate
education especially human and cultural values and technical skills, foreign systems
of government which are not compatible with indigenous institutions, clear visions
for development, the need for governments to address longstanding indigenous issues,
the myth that military is needed for employment and national security, and the negative
effects of globalisation.
The Forum for Pacific Peace and Human Security:
* is mindful of our collective ownership and our responsibility for peace;
* is aware of our vulnerability to tensions, conflicts, socio-economic disparities,
violence, militarism and globalisation.
The Forum for Pacific Peace and Human Security in order to promote Peace, calls on
all peoples of the Pacific to:
a)
live in peace and harmony, protecting and safeguarding our cultural history, identity
and a sustainable future for our children;
b)
reassert and rediscover our indigenous concepts of peace to build a peaceful environment;
c)
extract only those elements of foreign systems and cultures that re-enforce peaceful
co-existence and humane values;
d)
implement peace education as a priority subject at all levels;
e)
outlaw and ban all forms of militarisation including standing armies in the Pacific;
f)
address the important issue of socio-economic disparities;
g)
review and reform current systems of government and vision for development in the
Pacific to suit our needs;
h)
reassert our right to self-determination, our sovereignty, land and control over
our resources;
i)
resist the negative effects of globalisation;
j)
protect indigenous peoples and others who share the Pacific from militarism, mining,
toxic waste, genetically modified organisms, pharmaceutical and other products;
k)
protect the Intellectual Property Rights of Indigenous peoples;
l)
encourage indigenous peoples developing and implementing alternatives such as the
Turaga Nation peace model of Vanuatu and the Bougainville Peoples Integrated Peace
and Economic Self Reliance System.
"These are some of the areas that demand urgent attention in the Pacific. For there
to be Peace, the peoples of the Pacific must own the Peace and take responsibility
for it."
Extract from 'Pacific concept for peaceful co-existence and human security', the statement
from The Forum for Pacific Peace and Human Security, convened by the Pacific Concerns
Resource Centre and the Peace Boat in September 2000. Copies of the full statement are available from PMA by post (please send an SAE), by email, or online at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/paccon.htm
WEAVE
A group of young women have begun an educational venture that will revitalise the
way young people understand and deal with issues of conflict. This is their vision
for the 21st Century.
WEAVE, or Women Educating Against Violence, is a performance troupe aimed at increasing
secondary school students and the wider communities awareness of peace issues. WEAVE
evolved from a series of hui held in the Banks Peninsula in the final months of the 20th century. These meetings brought a diverse group of women together, culminating
in a vision of instilling hope for the future by actively working with young people
to promote peace.
In addition to providing dramatic displays, WEAVE uses interactive workshops as effective
methods of imparting knowledge. These incorporate young people actively participating
in roles which encourage an awareness of how individual actions impact upon the community, the environment and the wider world.
Within a short space of time and with minimal resources on which to draw, the WEAVE
group has already had an amazing response from young people and community groups.
WEAVE is a charitable trust, any donation to help with their project would be greatly
appreciated.
If you would like to know more, or if you think the WEAVE programme would benefit
a school near you, your correspondence would be fantastically valued.
The WEAVE Collective is Harata Carlson, Sonya Short, Anna Parker, Danielle O'Halloran,
Adrienne Ross, Jasmin Lamorie, contact details weavetrust@angelfire.com or anna@chch.planet.org.nz,
PO Box 1732, Otautahi / Christchurch
Peace Network
We are very pleased to bring you the news that the youth Peace Network (formerly Aotearoa
Youth Peace Network) has been reactivated, and renamed Peace Network
. Abigael Vogt is the new co-ordinator and her task is to increase knowledge of, and
interest in, peace issues among young people. She will be based in the PMA office.
Abigael has worked for us in the past as a fundraiser, and in previous years with
the East Timor Independence Committee in Auckland.
In 1995 Abigael went to work in a badly destroyed town in West Slavonia, Croatia.
She was a volunteer in a refugee camp and with a social reconstruction project working
and living in a community divided between Croatian Serbs, Croats and refugees from
Bosnia. The project had community visits and small repairs programmes and worked in liaison
with other projects and agencies. It had a grassroots approach to peace building
and conflict resolution - with a multi national, multi ethnic make up. All decisions
were made through consensus and consultation.
Abigael worked directly in the community taking part in community visits, short term
work camps, English teaching, children's activities, the women's group and small
repairs programmes.
During 1997, Abigael was employed by the UN Development Programme in Bosnia. While
she found working on refugee resettlement educational, she missed the wonders of
NGO work, with its speed and flexibility. Since her return to NZ she has continued
to work within the NGO community. She is currently a support worker for Refugee and Migrants
Service, working with recent immigrants from Ethiopia.
The first focus of Abigael's work as Peace Network
co-ordinator is as part of the National Youth Working Group who are organising events
for young people around the country in conjunction with the UN Asia-Pacific Regional
Disarmament Conference (see next item). Abigael is currently setting up a local Youth Working Group to plan the Wellington events.
UN Asia-Pacific Regional Disarmament Conference, March 2001, Wellington
Sub-titled 'Ka hao te rangatahi: A Pacific way to disarmament', the United Nations
conference is being organised here by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
There will be three main themes - nuclear disarmament (including implementation and
follow up from the 2000 NPT Review conference and discussion of a nuclear weapon
free Southern Hemisphere); illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons (as
part of the regional preparations for the 2001 UN conference on that topic); and other international
disarmament related conventions and regimes such as the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty,
the Chemical Weapons Convention, the Ottawa Convention on land mines, International Atomic Energy Authority Safeguards and the UN Register of Conventional Arms.
As all of the nuclear weapons, land mines, chemical weapons and small arms (illicit
and 'licit') have been brought into the Pacific by former or current colonial powers,
it is unfortunate that the key Pacific concerns of decolonisation and demilitarisation will not be addressed by the official conference. However, that omission gives peace
groups a focus for raising public awareness of these issues in alternative events.
The geographical focus of the UN conference is primarily on South Pacific Forum member
states. It will feature the 'Kathmandu process', characteristic of conferences run
by the UN Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific - this
has the advantage of involving NGO 'experts' directly in the conference as presenters
and resource people. However, it also has some disadvantages as it breaks the direct
link between the United Nations and those NGOs who have consultative status with
the UN and its agencies; and makes NGO selection reliant on approval by the organising Ministry
of the host government.
MFAT asked the IPPNW/A2000 (Wellington) group to co-ordinate NGO events around the
conference, and have promised funding to cover some of the costs. The NGO Co-ordinating
Group has met three times since the beginning of November and some of the proposed
NGO events are now starting to take shape.
PMA's involvement with the NGO Co-ordinating Group is focussed on relaying the views
of peace people outside Wellington (and around the Pacific in this instance!) to
the meetings. All national peace groups should have received two mailings about the
UN conference from us during November.
At the meeting on 11 December, the following proposals with requests for funding were
accepted and forwarded on to MFAT:
* from IPPNW/A2000 (Wellington) - to provide an interface with the UN conference,
for assistance with the costs of arranging the NGO meetings, secretarial services,
and arranging an NGO seminar;
* from IPPNW/A2000 (Wellington) - to arrange a half day seminar to discuss the agenda
of the UN conference, with invited speakers, including some travel costs;
* from CALM - one return air fare from Auckland to bring a speaker to Wellington to
speak about landmines;
* from the Centre for Peace Studies - one return air fare from Auckland to bring a
speaker to Wellington to speak about the militarisation of space;
* from PMA - to assist with the cost of networking information, keeping national peace
groups informed, and networking around the Pacific;
* from WILPF (Aotearoa) - to assist in subsidising the cost of accommodation on Tapu
Te Ranga marae for young people, Mäori and people coming from other Pacific countries
who wish to stay there; to provide a place where official delegates can meet with
NGOs in a relaxed setting;
* from the Youth Working Group (see below) - to organise events for young people on
Pacific disarmament issues in Otautahi/Christchurch, Nelson, Wellington and Auckland.
A number of other proposals which do not require funding, including one for the third
Erich Geiringer oration, were also brought to the meeting.
Please get in touch if you require more information about the UN Conference, or the
associated NGO events. Unless something unexpected crops up, in future we will only
be mailing meeting results to those groups who responded to the earlier mail outs.
We will provide more details about the NGO events in the next PMA Newsletter.
Youth Working Group -
a group of keen young peace people have set up a national co-ordinating group to plan
events for young people around the country during the UN Conference to raise awareness
of Pacific peace issues. Regional contacts are: Otautahi/Christchurch
- Anna Parker, PO Box 8390, Otautahi/Christchurch, anna@chch.planet.org.nz; Nelson
- Julie Heaton, PO Box 355, Nelson, ymca_nelson@ts.co.nz; Wellington
- Abigael Vogt,
Peace Network, PO Box 9314, Wellington, pma@xtra.co.nz; Auckland
- Jen Margaret, c/o Peace Foundation, PO Box 4110, Auckland, jmargare@manukau.ac.nz
What's on where
International
2001 to 2010
- International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence for the Children of
the World.
24 to 30 March 2001 -
NGO events associated with the UN Asia-Pacific Regional Disarmament Conference (26
to 30 March 2001 in Wellington).
National
Waihopai Spybase protest camp, 20 and 21 January 2001
- go camping with the Anti Bases Campaign in the scenic Waihopai Valley, with beautiful
rural vistas marred only by the presence of the eavesdropping domes ...
Angie Zelter's visit postponed
Due to circumstances beyond our control (the cancellation of the Australian part of
her journey), Angie's speaking tour has had to be postponed. We are hoping to find
the necessary funding to be able to bring her directly from England some time during
2001.
Thanks to all of you who sent in pledges of financial support for her internal travel
costs and fare from Australia - we will let you know just as soon as we have a more
definite idea of when Angie's visit might take place.
Stranger than fiction
-
room here to squeeze in a quick final STF for 2000 ... during a recent visit by Tony
Kempster (Campaign Against the Arms Trade) we learnt that the British government
has abandoned its 'ethical' arms sales policy. Apparently they couldn't cope with
the level of complaint about their selling arms to all and sundry, and the fact that people
actually expected them to implement the policy!
Views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of all PMA members or
the Working Group.
COPYRIGHT Peace Movement Aotearoa 2000. Permission is given for written material to be used
by groups and individuals sharing our aims and objectives - please credit sourced
material to its original source, unsourced material to PMA.
Link to earlier PMA newsletters.
Return to top of page.
|