Loxley Award to research abolition of war

PRESS RELEASE

Loxley Award to research abolition of war

Press release

For immediate release

Quaker Peace and Service (Aotearoa-New Zealand) has granted the second annual Loxley Award to Wellingtonian Alyn Ware to fund research in Costa Rica and the United States on the abolition of nuclear weapons and alternatives to war. The Loxley Award was established in 2008 with a bequest from Ken Loxley of Nelson in order to support New Zealanders to undertake a study programme or project in New Zealand or abroad which promotes understanding of peace, justice and environmental issues.

"We granted the award this year to Alyn Ware because we believe that New Zealand could learn from the lessons and positive example of Costa Rica in order to play a leading role in global nuclear disarmament, demilitarisation and the abolition of war" said Mia Tay from Quaker Peace and Service. "He has prior experience working on key disarmament initiatives with the government of Costa Rica and at the United Nations. His project would build on this experience to provide very valuable feedback to enhance the role New Zealand could play to promote peace and disarmament."

Costa Rica abolished its army in 1948, facilitated the Central American Peace Accords in the 1980s, and is now leading initiatives at the United Nations for the abolition of nuclear weapons, reduction in military spending and the reallocation of military expenses towards Millennium Development Goals of poverty alleviation, universal education, primary healthcare and environmental protection.

"The initiatives launched by Costa Rica at the United Nations will require support from key countries in order to succeed," said Mr Ware in accepting the award. "As a well-respected member of the United Nations, New Zealand could play a very important role in building support from around the world and in implementing elements of the proposals at national and regional levels. A deeper knowledge of the Costa Rican initiatives, including the response of countries at the United Nations in New York, will assist in proposing realistic and concrete approaches that could be taken by New Zealand."

The award will also take Mr Ware to Washington to investigate the traction that Costa Rica's initiatives could have with the new US administration and the US Congress. He will be hosted there by the Bipartisan Security Group - an independent group of disarmament and security experts working with US officials and legislators.

Mr Ware is a member of the Public Advisory Committee on Disarmament and Arms Control which was established under New Zealand's nuclear free legislation and is chaired by Minister for Disarmament Georgina Te Heuheu. He is also Director of the Peace Foundation Wellington Office, Global Coordinator of Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament, Vice-President of the International Peace Bureau, and Director of Aotearoa Lawyers for Peace.

ENDS