International year of peace concerns Waimarino group

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 4, Issue 9, 29 July 1986, Page 12

International year of peace concerns Waimarino group

On 24 October 1985 the International Year of Peace was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly. All governments were asked to make a modest financial contribution to year of peace projects in their countries. In New Zealand there are several people working fulltime as part of the national Aotearoa year of peace committee, with Sonia Davies as chairperson. The objectives of the Aortearoa committee are to: • educate the community in peace matters, • increase knowledge of Maori cultural values and to promote peace among the peoples of New Zealand, • work out ways in which New Zealand can become an international peace-making nation, • ensure that peace education is introduced into schools, • persuade the government that we need a coipmission for peace, justice and disarmament, • promote the concept of a nuclear-free and independant Pacific.

A lottery board grant of $50,000 was given to the Aotearoa committee for peace projects during the year. The projects included $4000 for a peace van which is visiting schools and colleges, $5000 for the N.Z. Foundation for Peace Studies which has produced a booklet for secondary school teachers, and $100 to Wanganui Boys' College for books for a 6th form history course on the growth of peace movements. Maurice Hurford of Wanganui is our local fulltime peace worker. He has been granted a year's secondment on full pay from the Ministry of Works. He has an office in Victoria Avenue, Wanganui from which he disseminates literature. He also assists in such ventures as the Waimarino peace group's video tent and stall at the Waiouru Desert Fair in March this year.

He has an office in Victoria Avenue, Wanganui from which he disseminates literature. He also assists in such ventures as the Waimarino peace group's video tent and stall at the Waiouru Desert Fair in March this year. There is a regional year of peace committee based in Wanganui which meets monthly. Their major project was the publication of a peace calendar in the form of a poster. Throughout the world people are working towards peace — ordinary people working for real peace, not politicians scheming on a paper peace. It is up to all of us, to uphold the six objectives of the Aotearoa peace committee beyond the end of International Year of Peace, and so to work for peace in New Zealand and the world.

Linda

Keith,

member

Waimarino Peace Group