New Zealand Quakers mark war anniversary
Peace vigils take place
Friends recently took part in a series of peace vigils held across New Zealand. The events were organised by Peace Movement Aotearoa. Nine of the eighteen held across the country were organised by Quakers, who also participated in several others.
The peace vigils were aimed at changing people’s perception of war and arming world governments with ‘enough brawn’ to solve conflicts without resorting to violence, the organisers said.
Auckland, Whanganui and Nelson were among the towns and cities which hosted vigils. Individuals and families also took part.
Quakers and Peace Movement Aotearoa have worked closely together since earlier this year when Yearly Meeting of Aotearoa/New Zealand agreed to set up a working group to deal with world war one commemorations.
The Yearly Meeting also published a statement saying that they were concerned that history is not reinvented to glorify war.
They drew attention to the use of scarce resources for war, and reaffirmed the words of their 1987 statement which read:
‘What we call for is a commitment to make the building of peace a priority and to make opposition to war absolute. We challenge New Zealanders to stand up and be counted on what is no less than the affirmation of life and the destiny of humankind.’
