Palmy Peace Group to Oppose Weapons Expo – Peace Action Network
“Peace Action Manawatū will coordinate opposition to the annual NZ Defence Industry Association Forum due to come to Palmerston North in late October.”
“This ‘Weapons Expo’ is a meeting of 500 of global armaments manufacturers and dealers. Lockheed Martin, the world’s largest arms dealer and a maker of nuclear weapons, has been the primary sponsor of this trade fair for many years and other weapons companies represented include General Dynamics, Thales, Cubic Defence and Serco.
These are the companies that profit from militarisation and war which lead to human suffering, death and destruction of our planet. We are not prepared to sit idly by when this obscene showcasing of weapons comes to our community.” said Peace Action Manawatū spokesperson Dr Fred Hirst.
Last year, Wellington’s Mayor Justin Lester vowed not to allow City Council venues to be used in future for this industry trade fair because of increased opposition. After being held for 20 years in the capital, it is no longer welcome in the Peace City.
“Palmerston North’s Mayor Grant Smith has dismissed our concerns” said Hirst. “The Weapons Expo is booked into the Central Energy Trust Arena, a PNCC venue, despite our Peace City status, and contrary to the Council’s ethical investment policy which excludes weapons. We will build our campaign over the next three months and invite people to help stop this unethical, immoral trade promoting proliferation of weapons, nationally and across the globe.”
The global pattern of increasingly frequent, violent and destructive weather events, associated with climate change, is accelerated by raised greenhouse gas emissions due to military activity. The environmental impact is suffered by the 65 million people displaced from their homes world-wide, including refugees and vulnerable Pacific Island neighbours who are threatened by sea level rise.
Peace Action Manawatū will be supported by Peace Action Wellington and Auckland Peace Action, who have long campaigned against the Weapons Expo. An invitation is extended to those who share similar concerns to attend a week of peace themed events in October.
Go Dr Fred Hirst, we have just heard that the bomb that killed the bus load of children recently in Yemen was manufactured by Lockheed Martin. Who have the big backers of past expo’s here in NZ selling weapons to the various mass murderers around the world…Right now on my own behalf I as an ex-city Councillor have asked the Council to allow me to speak to the Councillors about this issue. Are they so inhuman as to allow this bunch of weapon sales-people to stain our fair city with their corruption. If you live in travel distance of PN, and if the Expo isn’t cancelled then come and join in the non-violent activities. read this about my FOI request:
Mayor PN City Council
CEO PN City Council.
Request Under the FIA
1.Under the Freedom of Information regulations [Act] can you please supply me with a copy of the original request to hold the NZ Defence Industry Association Forum from the 30 Oct to 1 Nov 2018 at the Central Energy Trust Arena in Palmerston North.
2. Which Committee of Council holds responsibility for this consent and when were the Committee members informed of its receipt and approval. Was it before or after the CEO / Mayoral approval? FYI, As I understand it the PNCC ethical investment policy was developed by the Finance and Performance Committee.
3. Depending on your reply [within the 20 day time frame laid down by the FIA] I seek also to speak to the Committee or the full Council regarding the consenting of this matter. If that is possible would you please inform me of the process.
Sincerely Yours
Peter J Wheeler
Past PNCC Councillor