Peace Movement Aotearoa

31 July 2014

WW1 anniversary: Peace vigils on 4 August

Monday, 4 August, is the 100th anniversary of the start of World War One, "the war to end all wars". Peace Movement Aotearoa, in association with Quakers, is coordinating nation-wide candle-lit vigils on 4 August, in conjunction with peace and faith groups in other parts of the world who will be holding vigils to mark the anniversary and to highlight our mutual belief that conflict must be resolved peacefully rather than by war.

The peace vigils have three themes: remembrance of all of the casualties of war and of war resisters, ending war as a response to conflict, and promoting peace. There are four core messages that will be the same at all of the vigils, including the central message 'Honour the war dead by ending war', which unites the three themes.

Details of the WW1 anniversary peace vigils around the country are available below and online at www.ww1.org.nz If you would like to mark the anniversary and cannot get along to a vigil or there isn't one in your area, please consider lighting a candle at 6pm on Monday, 4 August, in solidarity with all who resist war and promote peace.

Candlelit peace vigils on Monday, 4 August:

• Hokianga - Candlelit peace vigil at 6pm, at the Opononi boat ramp. Please bring your own candle, placards and banners will be available at the vigil. Organised by Hokianga Catholic Workers.

• Auckland - Candlelit peace vigil from 6pm to 6.30pm, at the Devonport War Memorial, corner Victoria Street and King Edward Parade, Devonport. Please bring your own candle, placards and banners will be available at the vigil. Organised by the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom and Pax Christi.

• Hamilton - Candlelit peace vigil, at 6pm in front of the Hamilton City Library in Garden Place. Organised by Hamilton Quakers, in conjunction with AVP Maori Focus.

• Gisborne - Lest we forget: candle light vigil for peace, gather at 5.30pm at the Wi Pere Memorial on Reads Quay (on the corner of Lowe Street), to walk as a group over Peel Street Bridge to the site of the Statue of the Soldier. Please bring a candle in a jar, an LED candle, a glowstick, a torch, any safe light to illuminate the dark. Organised by the Tairawhiti Interfaith Group.

• Napier - Light a candle for peace / prayer vigil, from 12 noon to 12.30pm, St John's Cathedral, 28 Browning Street. You are invited to bring your own prayers / reflections to share with others, the emphasis is on remembering, on praying for an end to all war and for the promotion of the peaceful resolution of all conflict. People of all faiths and churches are invited to bring their own prayers or reflections to share with others. Organised by the Cathedral Environment, Justice and Peace Network.

• Otaki - Candlelit peace vigil from 6pm to 6.30pm at the Otaki War Memorial, 6 Main Street, next to the Otaki theatre. Organised by Kapiti Quakers and Otaki Catholic Workers.

• Wellington - Candlelit peace vigil from 6pm to 6.30pm at the Cenotaph, corner Bowen Street and Lambton Quay. Please bring your own candle, placards and banners will be available at the vigil. Organised by Peace Movement Aotearoa.

• Blenheim - Lest we forget: candlelit peace vigil at 6pm at the Seymour Square Memorial, help to find an alternative to war to solve our differences. Organised by Blenheim Quakers.

• Nelson - Candlelit peace vigil from 5.30pm to 6.30pm at the Cathedral Steps, Trafalgar Street. Please being your candle to mark the anniversary and to highlight our collective belief that conflict must be resolved peacefully rather than by war. Organised by Nelson Quakers.

• Takaka - Silent candlelit vigil at 6pm on Village Green, with an earlier gathering there for information sharing at 12.30pm. Organised by Golden Bay Quakers.

• Dunedin - Candlelit procession at 5.45pm from First Church, 415 Moray Place, to the Cenotaph, Queens Gardens - the candlelit peace vigil will be at 6pm at the Cenotaph and will include a time of silence and speakers. Organised by Dunedin Quakers, in conjunction with the National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies.

• Invercargill - Details will be available at www.ww1.org.nz when confirmed.

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