Kia ora,

Today is 'Saying No to militarism and war' day, the international day of 'Saying No to Violence' Week (YWCA Week Without Violence).

You may be interested to hear that the Ministry of Defence are 'disturbed' there is a 'Saying NO to militarism and war' day included in the 'Saying No to Violence' week along with such things as child abuse.

It is interesting that they specifically referred to 'child abuse' in their complaint about today - given that less than a year ago a NZ navy frigate was in the Gulf enforcing the economic sanctions against the people of Iraq. Surely being complicit in the deaths of more than 4,500 children every month is child abuse ?

You are invited to send a message to the ‘Saying NO to militarism and war’ message board at The message board is for you to share your vision of a world in which there is no militarism or war.

The 'Saying NO to militarism and war' fact sheet is now available on-line at Check it out for all the latest facts and figures on global military spending, the obscene profits made by tax payer funded weapons manufacturers in the US, military spending in Aotearoa / New Zealand, the rapid growth in 'defence technologies' exports promoted by Trade NZ funding, and more.

'Saying NO to militarism and war' is co-ordinated by Peace Movement Aotearoa and the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (Aotearoa).

Please feel free to forward this message on to any e-lists, people or groups who may be interested in sharing their vision of a world without militarism and war.

Peace Movement Aotearoa the national networking peace group PO Box 9314, Wellington, Aotearoa / New Zealand. tel +64 4 382 8129, fax 382 8173, website < http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/> Internet Peace Gateway