Petition, peace vigils and protests, 9 – 11 October

Petition, peace vigils and protests, 9 – 11 October

Link to share: https://www.facebook.com/PeaceMovementAotearoa/posts/1476470925733605

Below are details of the peace vigils and protests that will take place in Wellington next week around the NZDIA Defence, Industry, National Security Forum, and below that, links to information about the NZDIA and Lockheed Martin – principle sponsor of the Forum … there is also an online petition by Peace Action Wellington ‘Stop the 2017 Weapons Expo’ that you can add your name to wherever you are at https://our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/stop-the-2017-weapons-expo

Peace vigils: Monday, 9th, and Tuesday, 10th October

Quakers are holding the first peace vigil on the eve of the NZDIA Defence, Industry, National Security Forum, ‘Emerging Technologies & Cybersecurity Capabilities Supporting National Security Agencies’, that will take place at the Westpac Stadium on the 10th and 11th of October. The principle sponsor of the forum is Lockheed Martin, the world’s largest weapons-producing corporation, which is also involved in British and US nuclear weapons production and deployment.

Silent vigils will be held by the Gandhi statue at the front of the Wellington train station from 5pm to 6.30pm on Monday, 9th, and Tuesday, 10th of October. We invite support from other faith people in calling for a world where profiting from the death and suffering of others is not acceptable business. Please join us to make a visible stand in a public place, and bring your friends. Further protest activities will be carried out on the 10th and 11th by Peace Action Wellington, see below for details and links. ‘Peace cannot come from the barrel of the gun’ banner, with vigil details, https://www.facebook.com/PeaceMovementAotearoa/posts/1476470925733605

Protests: Tuesday, 10th, and Wednesday, 11th October

Peace Action Wellington is planning a diverse blockade and protest action for the first day of the NZDIA forum (weapons expo). We want this to be an accessible, family friendly fun event so there will different activities to get involved in depending on your comfort level. * 10 October: Blockade the Weapons Expo. Meet 7.30am at the pedestrian overbridge to the Westpac Stadium, beside 90 Waterloo Quay, https://www.facebook.com/events/113050772677735 Plans during the day TBC * 11 October: Give Peace a Dance! Party & noise demo against the arms trade. Meet 4.45pm at the pedestrian overbridge to the Westpac Stadium, beside 90 Waterloo Quay https://www.facebook.com/events/1515632225191268

Links to more information

* Find out more about the NZDIA (NZ "Defence" Industry Association), which promotes NZ military and weapons-related companies, at http://www.nzdia.co.nz

* Find out more about Lockheed Martin’s offensive weapons production at http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/what-we-do/aerospace-defense.html – information about their latest US nuclear weapons contract is at http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/technology/os-bz-lockheed-martin-nuclear-20170823-story.html and their involvement in British nuclear weapons production (as one of the unholy trinity that runs the Atomic Weapons Establishment) at http://www.awe.co.uk/about-us/our-company/