Peace week

Press, 30 August 1988, Page 20

Peace week

Sir, —T. Loudon (August 15) seems unaware of the true nature of peace studies. Surely, teaching our children how to resolve conflicts non-violently, listening skills, co-operation, mediation, building confidence and trust between people, and respect for our environment will equip them to “resist aggression” far better than training them in violent responses which, ultimately, lead to dependence on nuclear weapons for their “security”? The Roper Ministerial Report into Violence strongly supported peace studies (p.p. 7475) and the Corner Defence Review results confirmed that more than 80 per cent of New Zealanders “favour the introduction of studies in schools which examine the causes of war and ways of preventing them (p. 102).” Much of the material used for peace education comes from Christian-based groups in the United States and Britain. In the spirit of co-operation, I would like to offer Mr Loudon copies of the material so he could stop spreading dis-information about a subject he seems to know little about. — Yours, etc., KATIE BOANAS, N.Z. Foundation for Peace Studies, Christchurch. August 22, 1988.

Sir,—J. Gallagher’s thinking has not changed since he first jumped on his positive-neutrality bandwaggon. Surely the Club of Rome has come up with some new ideas? “Positive neutrality” in today’s battle between freedom and socialism is as much a contradiction in terms as “freemarket socialist” or “anti-com-munist peacenik.” J. Gallagher has no understanding of global strategy or East-West conflict. Only by actively uniting with, and supporting, the Western Alliance and cutting off support for the socialist bloc can we save Western civilisation. Positive neutrality has its place — in the history books along with Chamberlain, Quisling and “Tokyo Rose.”—Yours, etc.,

T. R. LOUDON. August 28, 1988.

Sir, —In answer to T. R. Loudon (August 22) we advocate a peacemaking neutrality for New Zealand security, similar to the Western-oriented neutrality of Sweden, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Austria, Finland and Ireland — all prosperous, democratic and mainly capitalistic States. All nations agreed at the 1978 and 1982 special sessions on disarmament that humanity

faces "self-extinction” because of the nuclear arms race. They encouraged “the establishment of nuclear weapon-free zones ...

as an important disarmament measure.” New Zealanders agreed and twice elected a Government that would make and keep New Zealand a nuclear-free zone in law. Mr Loudon now faces a 10-year prison sentence if he treasonously undermines security by helping bring nuclear weapons into New Zealand, or a fine of up to $lOO,OOO for dumping nuclear waste. The South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty, comprehensive nuclear test ban, chemical weapons ban, many peacekeeping missions and offers are a few of New Zealand’s initiatives. — Yours, etc., LARRY ROSS, Secretary, N.Z. Nuclear-free

Peacemaking Association. August 23, 1988.