International year of peace

Press, 28 January 1986, Page 17

International year of peace

By

MAVIS AIREY

begins at home

“Probably a quarter of the women in Christchurch are afraid to walk out in the street at night, and men are afraid of their own violence. Community violence is a real, present threat in people’s lives,” says Warren Thomson. It was this concern to make people aware of peace issues close to home that decided the regional co-ordinator, Mr Thomson, and fellow Christchurch peace workers to highlight community violence and peaceful ways of dealing with it as a major theme in regional activities celebrating 1986 as United Nations International Year of Peace.

“We are really concerned that there may be a backlash against rising crime. We want to raise public awareness that it is possible to settle domestic and family problems without smashing people over the head or by castrating criminals.” He says that members of the Christchurch I.V.P. committee are very concerned about rape, particularly because of the part they feel the media play in highlighting rape and violent crime.

“Some of the court cases read almost like pornographic novels,” he argues. “I believe they are destructive in terms of community values. Reports going into all the details of a rape charge are an incentive to rape. These cases should be reported in a few lines, just giving the charge and the sentence.” The committee believes the

potential for dealing with community violence without resorting to heavy-handed retribution already exists in Christchurch in neighbourhood support groups, men’s non-violence courses such as those run by Ken McMaster at the Selwyn Centre, and assertiveness, confidence, and similar' courses run by the Polytechnic. “The potential is there, but all these groups are struggling for money, and they don’t have much professional support because of the shortage of social workers, psychologists, and so on, particularly for dealing with violent men,” Warren Thomson says.

He hopes I.Y.P. will result in wider realisation that community violence is a problem of recognition and that there are positive ways of resolving conflicts. He hopes some funding can be found for the community groups which are at present struggling in these areas. He would also like to see an on-going organisation set up related to media watch and media violence. “We feel the International Year of Peace must go beyond the international issues, the awareness of nuclear war in an apolitical way, and take a more political stance,” he explains.

This has meant that the nationally adopted I.Y.P. objectives cover not just the pro-, motion of East-West and NorthSouth bridge building, and the concept of a nuclear- free and independent Pacific, but peace education for both adults and

children, persuading the Government to create a commission for peace, justice and disarmament and, most controversially, "to encourage increased knowledge of the cultural values of the tangata whenua and understanding of the Treaty of Waitangi as an essential element in the achievement of peace among all people of Aotearoa-New Zealand.”

This move has not been universally welcomed, and Warren Thomson notes with regret with I.Y.P. has not yet got as much money from the Government as it had hoped. “Compared with 1980, the year of the disabled which had four full-time and one part-time staff, I.Y.P. has only one full-time and two part-time staff. We have limited funds, and our plans are limited by that.” There is a glimmer of hope in the possibility of funds from the lottery.

In spite of the problems, Mr Thomson feels it was inevitable that I.V.P. should have become controversial. “What is the point of an International Year of Peace if it does not address the controversial issues?” he asks.

It is up to each local group to decide how to interpret the national I.Y.P. objectives. Although Christchurch will emphasise community violence, regional activities will also cover peace studies, the defence review and non-offensive defence, and issues concerned with a

nuclear-free and independent Pacific.

Activities are expected to continue throughout the year. An early highlight will be the “Peace and People’s Day” on February 16, marking the culmination of the Summertimes programme in Hagley Park. The day will have an international focus, with food, music, and dancing by people of different cultural backgrounds. A post office is also planned, where

people can write and mail letters on peace issues. The organisers hope the exhibition of photographs by David Robie (who won the 1985 Media Peace Prize) and Gil Hanley on the “Rainbow Warrior” evacuation of the Rongelap people will also be available.

Anyone wanting further information can contact Warren Thomson, telephone 63-806 or 557-975.