About Women Say NO to War on 8 March
On International Women's Day 2006, women around the world said NO to war in response to the call from CODEPINK: Women for Peace to "revive the dream of the women who came before us and carved out March 8 as a day for us to be a visible, vocal and vibrant force for peace and justice." And this year, women will again mark the Day by saying NO to war and YES to peace.
CODEPINK "is a women-initiated grass roots peace and social justice movement working to end the war in Iraq, stop new wars, and redirect our resources into health care, education and other life-affirming activities. CODEPINK rejects the Bush administration's fear-based politics that justify violence, and instead calls for policies based on compassion, kindness and a commitment to international law."
Pink is a feature of actions and events related to CODEPINK; this comes from the name which is a play "on the Bush Administration's colour-coded homeland security alerts - yellow, orange, red - that signal terrorist threats. While Bush's colour-coded alerts are based on fear and are used to justify violence, the CODEPINK alert is based on compassion and is a feisty call for women and men to "wage peace"."
Women Say NO to War events
2007
- Riverside Cafe and Community - CODEPINK Peace Action on International Women's Day, Thursday, 8 March. Come along to add your voice to the call of women around the world who are saying NO to war and YES to peace. Programme: * from 11:30am at Riverside Cafe - half price organic fair trade coffees for all women participating in petition signing * from 7:30pm at Riverside Community and Cultural Centre - guest speakers, the Inakord choir, live music, petition signing and letter writing zone, opportunity for public participation. The Riverside Community and Cafe are on the Inland Moutere Highway, map and directions are available online here. Wear something pink if you can, and bring ribbons, photos, cardboard or paper peace doves, bring your own banner or placard if at all possible. We will sign the Riverside Peace Banner and petitions that will be sent to Helen Clark and the Minister for defense; we will stand together in solidarity for peace. The media will be invited, to draw attention to our cries. We are interested in hearing from anyone who is interested in assisting us or making a contribution, please contact email. There will be no charge for this event, but there will be a donations bowl and profit will be given to Peace Movement Aotearoa and CODEPINK.
2006
- Wellington - join the peaceful protest at 5:30pm at the US Embassy, 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon. In the past five years, the US government has led the disastrous invasions and occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq, and is now apparently planning a military attack on Iran. Come along on International Women's Day, Wednesday 8 March, to add your voice to the call of women around the world who are saying NO to war and YES to peace. Wear something pink if you can, and bring pink streamers or ribbons, photos, cardboard or paper peace doves, and wool to decorate the embassy fence; something to make a noise with - pot and spoon, drum, your voice - during the time of anger; flowers or candles to leave at the gate during the time of mourning; and a poem or reading to share during the time of reflection ... and bring your own banner or placard if you wish. All women welcome. There is an A4 flyer here for Women Say NO to War in Wellington; or we can post you pink A4 or A5 flyers - please email and tell us how many flyers of which size you would like, and where you would like them posted to. Organised by Peace Movement Aotearoa and the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (Wellington).
- Christchurch - Women Say NO to War leaflets will be on the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom stall in the Women's Day market, 12 noon to 2pm at the corner of Cashel Mall and High Street.
Other International Women's Day events are on the what's on where page, check local listings for details.
Ideas and support for organising a Women Say NO to War event
If there is not yet a Women Say NO to War event planned in your town or city, this would be a great time to get together with women in your area to organise something. You don't need to plan for something massive - having with two or three women with a placard or banner in a public place would be fine. If you would like ideas or support to organise a Women Say NO to War event in your town or city, there are some suggestions on the Women Say No to War web site. If you would like ideas, support or publicity specific to Aotearoa New Zealand, we are happy to help - please email with 'Support for Women Say NO to War' as the subject heading or phone (04) 382 8129.
Add your Women Say NO to War event to this page
If you would like your event added to this page, please email with 'Women Say No to War event' as the subject heading.
Resources for Women Say NO to War
Women Say NO to War leaflet, updated February 2007
Sept 11: the day the world changed? leaflet about the ongoing 'war on terrorism'
If you have any difficulty opening or printing these leaflets, please contact us and we will post copies to you.
Send an e-card supporting an end to violence against women.
Some facts and figures for your consideration:
Global military expenditure in 2005 (the most recent figure available) was more than US$1,118 billion dollars - on average more than US$3 billion every day. By way of contrast, the level of official aid to developing countries globally was US$106.5 billion - around 9.5% of global military expenditure.
On average, close to 29,000 children under the age of five die every day from mainly preventable causes - lack of access to clean water, food and basic health care. To provide clean water for 2.6 billion people and save an estimated 4,000 lives each day would cost just US$7 billion - less than three days of global military expenditure. The estimated annual cost of achieving all of the Millennium Development Goals is around twenty five days of global military expenditure.
Corporate welfare by way of Pentagon prime contracts to just the two biggest US weapons producers, Lockheed Martin and Boeing, amounted to nearly US$40 billion in the 2005 fiscal year - more than total New Zealand government expenditure for the current financial year.
New Zealand government military expenditure this year is just over NZ$2 billion - on average more than NZ$5.5 million every day; while one in five children here lives in a family with an income below the poverty line, and a further one in four is in a family "with a restricted standard of living". Official NZ development assistance this year is around 17% of the level of military expenditure.
This prioritising of military spending over socially useful spending is just one way the New Zealand government contributes to an obscenely over-militarised world. They also contribute by promoting military and weapons related exports.
Are these your priorities for global and national spending?
Not in Our Name | Peace Movement Aotearoa