Posted on 24-12-2002
New
Zealanders Act For Peace
(Photo shows Citizens’ Weapons Inspection Team sign after concluding
that
nuclear weapons of mass destruction are being stockpiled and
deployed at
the U.S. Trident submarine base at Bangor, Washington State,
USA)
The New Zealand-based organisation of professional engineers,
Engineers for
Social Responsibility, today offered financial support to New
Zealand
citizens wishing to join the Canadian-led weapons inspection
team planning
to visit the United States.
A Canadian organisation, Rooting Out Evil - a coalition of peace
groups -
has said that in the new year they will be sending a team of
volunteer
weapons inspectors into the United States of America. In a recent
press
release, the coalition announced that they ".. have selected
the US as our
first priority based on criteria provided by the Bush administration.
According to those criteria, the most dangerous states are those
run by
leaders who:
1) have massive stockpiles of chemical, biological, and nuclear
weapons;
2) ignore due process at the United Nations;
3) refuse to sign and honour international treaties; and
4) have come to power through illegitimate means."
The Coalition stated that the current US administration fulfills
all these
criteria. And so, again following Bush's guidelines, Rooting
Out Evil is
demanding that his administration allow immediate and unfettered
access to
international weapons inspectors to search out their caches
of chemical,
biological, and nuclear weapons. ESR is offering up to $1000
towards the
costs of New Zealanders joining the weapons inspection team,
and will
encourage other groups to do the same. Information about ESR
is at
www.esr.org.nz
and about Rooting Out Evil is at www.rootingoutevil.org
ESR
may be contacted at PO Box 6208, Wellesley Street, Auckland.
Contact:
Lawrence Carter, ESR President, ph. +64 9 373 7599 ext 88177
Also...
NZ Unions Oppose War On Iraq
The Council of Trade Unions National Affiliates Council, representing
more
than 300,000 union members, has resolved to actively oppose
war on Iraq,
CTU president Ross Wilson announced today.
In a resolution the CTU National Affiliates Council has:
* Deplored the cynical linkage by the US government of support
for the war
with free trade negotiations with the US ;
* Condemned any pressure that is or may be brought to bear on
NZ to drop
its nuclear free policy in exchange for free trade negotiations
with the US;
* Called on the NZ government to support strengthening and implementation
of existing treaties and conventions for the elimination of
nuclear,
chemical and biological weapons;
* Called on the NZ government to actively work towards mandated
international inspection of all countries developing and producing
weapons
of mass destruction.
* Called for every effort to be made for a long term peaceful
resolution
of the current situation
And has called on unions to;
* Support and participate in any rallies and community activities
against
the war.
* Work to increase understanding of the current international
situation
amongst their members.
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