ANZAC Day peace vigils and picnics

Link to share: https://www.facebook.com/notes/peace-movement-aotearoa/peace-vigils-on-anzac-day/2166614800052544

Below are the details of ANZAC Day peace vigils in Dunedin, Nelson and Wellington; and two peace picnics in Auckland – one organised by the Council of Christians and Muslims, and one by Peace Action Auckland. If you would like your peace vigil added here, please email the details to icanz – thank you

Lest we forget … if you would like to share this year’s “Lest we forget …” image, the link is https://www.facebook.com/PeaceMovementAotearoa/posts/2172868322760525

* Dunedin *

Thursday, 25 April – Anzac Day Peace Ceremony: an annual ceremony to remember all the casualties of war and their hopes for lasting peace. Everyone is welcome. There will be readings and songs related to peace and peace-making, followed by a period of reflective silence. To close, everyone will be invited to tie a white ribbon round the peace pole and say the Peace Pledge together. From 10.30am to 11.15am, at the Peace Pole, Otago Museum Reserve, Dunedin. Organised by Dunedin Quakers, please RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/events/375880409675674

* Nelson *

Thursday, 25 April – Honour the war dead by ending war: Anzac Day Peace Vigil, please come to add your voice against war. From 4pm to 5pm, on the Church Steps. Organised by Nelson Quakers, please RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/events/468552977214051

* Wellington *

Thursday, 25 April – Honour the War Dead by Ending War: ANZAC Day peace vigil to remember all the casualties of war, to remember all who resisted war, to call for an end to war, and to promote peace. In conjunction with peace and faith groups here and overseas who are holding vigils on WW1 remembrance dates to highlight our mutual belief that conflict must be resolved peacefully rather than by war. From 5.30pm to 6pm at the Cenotaph, corner Lambton Quay and Bowen Street, Wellington – please bring a candle and a reflection to share if you wish, banners and placards will be available at the vigil. Organised by Peace Movement Aotearoa, contact icanz please RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/events/313273669337851

* Auckland *

~ Thursday, 25 April – Peacenic 2019: You are warmly invited to attend a shared lunch at this year’s ‘Peacenic’ community picnic event – a chance to share friendship and food with new friends. Come along with your picnic baskets as we provide an opportunity for people in each community of faith to build friendships with their neighbours. Share your food or just your heart. From 12 noon to 3pm, Western Park, 9 Ponsonby Rd, Auckland. Organised by the Council of Christians & Muslims, RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/events/2335220460030188

~ Thursday, 25 April – Picnic for Peace, an alternative ANZAC Day commemoration that opposes the glorification of war and calls for a just and lasting peace based on demilitarisation, decolonisation and justice. We will be meeting at Pukekawa (the Auckland Domain) for prayers, speakers and a picnic to coincide with the civic service at the cenotaph. This year’s theme for the Picnic for Peace concerns New Zealand’s continued military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan. New Zealand has had a military history of invasion and occupation in the Middle East from the First World War onward. Contrary to popular mythology, New Zealand has served the interests of empire and oppressed the people of the Middle East, from our first occupations of Palestine and Egypt, to our assistance in invading Iraq and Iran to access oil reserves, to our current deployments that have lasted 15 years and 18 years respectively. In June the future of our military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan come up for consideration by the government. In the spirit of justice, peace and self-determination, we will make use of ANZAC day to call upon the government to withdraw their troops from Iraq and Afghanistan and allow those countries that have been so wounded by us and our imperialist policy to rebuild in peace. From 12 noon by the Auckland Domain Bandstand. Organised by Peace Action Auckland, RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/events/423746205057139

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Please support our work for peace, find out more at
www.converge.org.nz/pma/donate.htm – thank you
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Peace Movement Aotearoa
the national networking peace organisation
PO Box 9314, Wellington 6141, Aotearoa New Zealand
Tel +64 4 382 8129, email icanz
Website – http://www.converge.org.nz/pma
http://www.facebook.com/PeaceMovementAotearoa
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