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.