| Kia ora peaceniks,
This week a large contingent from Auckland travelled to Wellington to help blockade the weapons expo. Together we shut down the Weapons Expo and prevented hundreds of arms dealing delegates for most of a day. Whilst the activists were non-violent, we faced extreme violence from the NZ Police, who kicked, punched, threw to the ground, strangled and sexually assaulted people taking action for peace.
There were 15 arrests, and nine peace activists from around Aotearoa are still facing charges of ‘obstructing a public way’ and ‘disorderly behaviour’. If you would like to donate towards their legal defence fund the bank details are: Peace Action Wellington, Kiwibank: 38-9007-0839416-00, reference “legal”.
If you have videos or photos from the day please send them to peacewellington, especially if they include police violence or an arrest. They could be used for a legal case, for a complaint against the police or maybe even to make a video to raise awareness about the arms trade and the Weapons Expo!
For more info on the week check out Radio New Zealand, Peace Action Wellington, Newshub, The Spinoff, and PAPA .
End Solitary Confinement – PAPA Campaign Launch
Tomorrow People Against Prisons Aotearoa (PAPA) will be holding their campaign launch to end solitary confinement. Earlier this year, United Nations observer Sharon Shalev condemned New Zealand’s use of solitary confinement as a breach of international law. She found that there is an epidemic of solitary confinement in New Zealand prisons. We believe that solitary confinement is degrading, dehumanising, and amounts to torture.
The launch will be on the 14th of October from 6-8pm, at the Ellen Melville Hall on High Street. Speakers include lawyer Moana Jackson, and Auckland Peace Action’s Valerie Morse.
Parihaka Day Peace Action Conference – November 5th 2017
We are excited to announce the second Parihaka Day Peace Action Conference. The resistance of the people of Parihaka to violent colonialism is the foundation of the modern peace movement in Aotearoa New Zealand. Join us to honour that resistance, and build on it by working for peace and justice today. The second Parihaka Peace Action conference will be an inclusive and conversational space covering topics including the legacy of Parihaka, symbols of settler-colonialism today and militarism in the Pacific. The conference will be free and open to the public. More details will be available soon.
Facebook event here.
Gideon Levy Public Lecture
The Palestine Solidarity Network is hosting world-renowned Israeli journalist and author, Gideon Levy. 3rd December 3pm at the Mount Eden War Memorial Hall. Facebook event here.
Ngā mihi,
Auckland Peace Action |
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