From: Auckland Peace Action

Date: 23 April 2018

"Auckland Peace Action is hosting an alternative Picnic for Peace for ANZAC Day this Wednesday, April 25th at the Auckland Domain rotunda at noon," said member Valerie Morse.

"ANZAC day was never meant to be about glorifying war, but that is exactly what the military is doing at these events. They dress up the horror of war into something noble and necessary. It isn't. World War 1 was nothing but a grotesque mass slaughter to prop up dying empires and give birth to the industrial arms trade."

"As the end of World War I is marked across the country, the peace movement will take the opportunity to remember all the lives that were lost in that war and all other wars. We will also celebrate the courage of conscientious objectors who refused to go to war."

"New Zealanders who refused to kill or fight were tortured. Archibald Baxter and other objectors were kidnapped and sent to the Western Front by the NZ military where they were strapped to posts for days on end under live fire. Waikato Māori were rounded up and imprisoned in Mt Eden prison."

"On Anzac Day, we will also take time to acknowledge the work of today’s peace movement to end New Zealand’s involvement in the global weapons trade and the War on Terrorism. The effects of World War 1 are still with us today which is why continuing to work for peace is essential."

Speaking at the picnic will be:
Iris Carpenter (Auckland Peace Action)
Reverend George Armstrong (Anglican Church)
Reverend Emily Worman (MCC Church in Progress)
Billy Hania (The New Zealand Palestine Solidarity Network)
Avigail Allan (Dayenu/People Against Prisons Aotearoa)
Megan Hutching (Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom)
Maire Leadbeater (Peace Movement historian)
Liz Remmerwaal (World Beyond War)
Valerie Morse (Auckland Peace Action)

Playing Tunes will be:
The Lange Family
Roger Fowler
Witchy (https://witchy2.bandcamp.com/releases)
Baby Zionov (https://soundcloud.com/babyzionov)
Boigafool
ENDS

© Scoop Media