Nuclear weapons

Press, 12 April 1984, Page 20

Nuclear weapons

Sir,—What has happened to the woman who stirred New Zealand into greater awareness 18 months ago? Perhaps she has been talking for too long to people who will not listen. The Sunday night interview with Helen Caldicott and Dr West may have done more damage to the peace movement than anything we have seen for a long time. Dr Caldicott was insensitive, aggressive and too keen to expound her theories about phallic symbols, right brain, etc. She preached to Dr West, whose approach by contrast was reasoned and to the point, as if he were out to harm the cause. I admire Dr Caldicott’s faith that nuclear disaster can be averted, but if she is to be a spokeswoman for the peace movement, she must be more positive, and be willing to listen to others who may disagree on small points, but are in agreement on a lot of things. — Yours, etc.,

JULIET NEILL. April 9, 1984.

Sir, — Perhaps Dr Helen Caldicott sounds destructive, as Sir Robert Muldoon claims, because she suggests New Zealand withdraw from A.N.Z.U.S., which for many New Zealanders has represented security for this country (“The Press,” April 10). However, a wide spectrum of people has now come to believe that A.N.Z.U.S. has lost its security value and now threatens to involve New Zealand in a nuclear war. Dr Caldicott does wish to destroy the machinery of nuclear annihilation, thus allowing humanity to survive. Thus she must be seen as truly constructive. I believe she is one of the true heroines of the nuclear age. We recommend that Sir Robert Muldoon replace A.N.Z.U.S. with a constructive policy of positive neutrality, including a territorial nuclear-weapon-free zone, and international peace-making initiatives to help prevent nuclear holocaust. A South Pacific N.W.F.Z. could be the next step. — Yours, etc.,

LARRY ROSS, Secretary, N.Z. Nuclear Free Zone Committee. April 10, 1984.

Sir, — On a beautiful autumn day, the contemplation of the destruction of the world must be one of the least pleasant thoughts imniaginable, but, for the survival of our species, one of the most necessary. The escalating madness of the super-Powers means that nuclear war, by design or accident, is now a mathematical certainty, and, as latest scientific evidence predicts, will cause almost certain annihilation of life. Surely this is the point where the ordinary person must sayfenough. Reluctance to

get involved in a problem which seems too big for an individual to solve has brought our very existence to a precipice. But, collectively, we must try to influence our politicians, to in turn influence other countries, that we want an end to nuclear madness. This is perhaps the only chance we have to ensure that we and further generations continue to have autumn days to enjoy. — Yours, etc.,

G. E. KIESANOWSKI. April 9, 1984.