Reprinted from The Common Good, no 5, Winter 1997
SOUNDING THE ALARM BELLS
New Zealand and ANZUS
ÔWhere have all the peace people gone?Õ is a question New Zealanders may well ponder as we commemorate the 52nd anniversary of the destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by US nuclear weapons. Those momentous bombings took the world to a new level of brinkmanship and potential disaster, the plan for which continues to be played out to this time.
This edition of The Common Good focuses primarily on war and peace issues, and New ZealandÕs involvement in them. As the NZ BishopsÕ document A Consistent Ethic of Life (p 2-4) points out, it is the poor of the world who pay by far the heaviest price for the arms buildup that results in war. The notion that the world is at peace, and has been at peace since the end of World War II because of the nuclear deterrence is laughable. There are 35 wars or conflicts raging now and 40,000 people a month being killed. The bishopsÕ statement rightly links the arms race, war, and poverty as being interconnected components that threaten the very survival of the planet. A Consistent Ethic of Life is one of the most important moral statements to emerge not just from our bishops but from any bishopsÕ conference in recent times.
Katie Dewes, a friend of the Catholic Worker and indefatigable proponent of non-violence and peace has contributed her insights on the World Court decisions to outlaw nuclear weapons. Sam Day, a recent visitor to Aotearoa, is a man who turned his back on a lucrative writing career to work for peace and justice. His 20 instances of imprisonment, his current near-blindness, and his risk-taking commitment are inspirational to all who care about our planet. Finally, Greg Jones reflects on his experience of opposing the Ôspy baseÕ at Waihopai.
Recent reports in this country give cause for grave concern here. The Coalition Government is poised to take New Zealand back into stronger military alliances, with the United States and its regional allies, particularly Australia. The leaked Australian defence documents gave a clear indication of what our powerful neighbour wants.
Denials that the CabinetÕs external relations and defence committee were about to recommend that NZ$3 billion should be spent on buying two more ANZAC frigates, 18-21 F-16 jets, five Hercules, three Boeing 737s and replacement armoured personnel carriers, have only fuelled the flames of speculation that New Zealand is about to re-enter the American global defence camp.
In recent months, senior Government ministers have been softening up New Zealanders to such a prospect. Foreign Affairs Minister Don McKinnon, the son of a major-general, recently suggested that the country was heading towards a D-minus in defence unless a bigger commitment was made. Both he and Defence Minister Paul East are keen to see New Zealand re-enter an ANZUS-type pact with the United States and Australia. Indeed, Mr East is believed to be on the point of announcing a return to the ANZUS alliance.
ÔI believe that the extreme anti-nuclear swing may be starting to return to the centre,Õ he said. People had ÔirrationallyÕ opposed visits by nuclear-armed and nuclear-powered ships of the US Navy in the 1970s and 1980s.
This development is monstrous and should be resisted by every sane and concerned citizen. The US military machine is a demonic force which now consumes 53 percent of all US discretionary spending Ñ more than $8,000 per second around the clock throughout the year. It shapes every aspect of government life. Health, education, environment, crime fighting, drug interdiction, welfare, transportation, and research and so on all compete for the other 47 percent. US military interests are now so powerful that the US Congress increased their 1997 budget $11billion more than they had requested. If this is not madness, what is? DonÕt look for devils under the bed. Evil is alive and well in structures like the military industrial complexes of the world.
And it is into a new partnership with this demonic power that the Coalition Government would have us return. Such talk should send shivers down every New ZealanderÕs spine.
International witness to being nuclear free has made us the envy of many countries. We need now to build on that policy by promotiong alternative forms of national security. Our defence should be remodeled around three key components: peacekeeping, territorial surveillance, and search and rescue.
Where are all the peace people in Aotearoa? Well, thatÕs probably a question we each need to answer. All of them will be required to keep the Coalition Government on this track and build a sane and safe future for coming generations.