LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 40, 27 March 1984, Page 2

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Crime statistics In reply to your article on crime statistics I think a rise of 4.5% per annum acceptable, though obvious evidence of the growing stress within our social structure. To see crime and violence in terms of its destructive end only and overlook its roots is to ignore the fact that the origins of these acts are located in feelings which are part of each one of us. The desire to meet violence with violence for instance, to hit out at the aggressor is a deep-seated human response. An eye for an eye. What does this say about our attitudes in society and evolution in 1984. Who are the real criminals in a spiritual desert of technology where heroic politicians mainline the veins of our planet with nuclear needles? We must separate respect for all people from disrespect for what some people are doing in a given situation. Society should ideally seek to come to terms with the aggressor showing him the danger of his behaviour and then he may be helped to cope with his anger, frustration or antagonism in more construc-tive ways. If an offender is dealt with in a non-violent manner the cycle of violence can be broken.

Paul

' Beckett

A ction for peace Last year the Waimarino Peace Action Group circulated a petition to residents of Ohakune and Raetihi which called on the Borough Councils to declare their respective Boroughs nuclear weapons free zones.

As a result of the petition Ohakune was declared a nuclear weapons free zone, a symbolic act but nonetheless important as it reflects the concern of citizens about nuclear war and emphasises their opposition to nuclear arms. Recently the American film "The Day After" which depicted the impossibility of . survival after a modern bomb blast, was shown in the Raetihi and Ohakune cinemas and nationwide. On March 1 5 a documentary video film on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was shown at Ruapehu College. This film was made by a Japanese doctor who survived what was, by today's standards, a very small nuclear blast. He treated bomb victims, largely without success. Many thousands of people died. His mission in life is to tell others of the horrors of nuclear war so they may never let it happen again. It is up to us. The groundswell of public opinion is of the utmost

importance. Our politicians voice the opinions of the majority of the people in their electorates. The Waimarino Peace Action Group wish to bring to the attention of local people the facts about the abomination of nuclear war so that we will not be complacent. To this end there will be a series of videos and discussions held in Ohakune. The next will take place during the first week in April and will be advertised in this paper. Additional information may be obtained from Errol Vincent in Ohakune or Linda Keith in Raetihi.

Linda

Keith

Grammatical error or proofreader's oversight? "Its" is a possessive pronoun; "it's" is short for "it is". Y our disregard of this grammatical point is the one discordant note in otherwise excellent publi^P cation.

G.R.

S. Drabble