Global Day of Action on Military Spending
Public Forum on government spending priorities, screening of 'War Redefined' and street leafletting

10 April 2013

In 2011, global military expenditure was $1,738 billion (US$) - on average, more than $4,761,000,000 (US$) every day. By way of contrast, an average of more than 24,000 children under the age of five die every day from mainly preventable causes - lack of access to adequate food, clean water and basic medicines. This is one of the prices paid, the collateral damage that is seldom talked about, for maintaining armed forces in a state of combat readiness around the world.

The third Global Day of Action will be held on 15 April 2013 - the day the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) releases the 2012 figures on global military expenditure. The Global Day of Action is marked each year by events around the world, more than 100 events have already been registered for this year - details are available at http://demilitarize.org/action-events

This year there are four events in Aotearoa New Zealand to mark the Global Day of Action, two in Wellington on 15 April, one in Auckland on 15 April and another on 16 April.

Facebook event links:
• Wellington events on Monday, 15 April - http://www.facebook.com/events/165771056915089/
• Auckland events on Monday, 15, and Tuesday, 16, April - http://www.facebook.com/events/513052375408408/
• Global Day of Action 2013 in Aotearoa New Zealand - http://www.facebook.com/events/382710081820597/
* Wellington, Monday, 15 April 2015

• Monday, 15 April 2013: Leafletting for the Global Day of Action - join us from 12.30pm to 1.30pm at Midland Park (corner Johnston Street and Lambton Quay). If you can help, or for more information, please contact Peace Movement Aotearoa, email pma@xtra.co.nz

• Monday, 15 April 2013: Public forum on government spending priorities - join us from 5.30pm to 7pm for a discussion on:
• Children’s wellbeing - Barbara Lambourn, National Advocacy Manager, UNICEF NZ
• Ending sexual violence - Kate Abel, National Coordinator Tauiwi Caucus, Te Ohaakii a Hine - National Network Ending Sexual Violence Together
• Overseas development assistance - Martin de Jong, Communications and International Advocacy Coordinator, Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand
• Military expenditure - Edwina Hughes, Coordinator, Peace Movement Aotearoa
Forum from 5.30pm to 7pm, light refreshments at 5.15pm, First floor conference room, St Andrew’s on the Terrace, 30 The Terrace (entry via the stairs at the back of the car park on the south side of the church). Organised by Peace Movement Aotearoa, for more information, contact email pma@xtra.co.nz You can RSVP on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/events/165771056915089 A flyer for this public forum is available at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/gdams-wgtn2013.pdf

* Auckland, Monday, 15, and Tuesday, 16 April 2013

• Monday, 15 April: Leafletting for the Global Day of Action - join us from 12.30pm to 1.30pm at Britomart / Queen Street intersection (outside Downtown). Organised by the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) and Pax Christi, if you can help, or for more information, please contact email wilpf@xtra.co.nz

• Tuesday, 16 April: Public forum marking the Global Day of Action on Military Spending - Join us from 5.30pm to 7.30pm for a screening of 'War Redefined' from the Women, War and Peace series, a presentation on the costs of militarism in times of peace, and discussion. “'War Redefined' challenges the conventional wisdom that war and peace are men's domain, and reframes our understanding of modern warfare through probing conversations with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former Secretaries of State Condoleezza Rice and Madeleine Albright; Liberian peace activist Leymah Gbowee; Bosnian war crimes investigator Fadila Memisevic; Zainab Salbi, Founder of Women for Women International; globalisation expert Moisés Naím; and Cynthia Enloe of Clark University, among others. Narrated by Geena Davis.” From 5.30pm to 7.30pm, including light refreshments, at The Peace Place, 22 Emily Place, Auckland City. Organised by Peace Movement Aotearoa, WILPF Aotearoa and Pax Christi Aotearoa New Zealand, for more information please contact email wilpf@xtra.co.nz You can RSVP on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/events/513052375408408 A flyer for this public forum is available at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/gdams-akl2013.pdf

* Global Day of Action supporting organisations in Aotearoa New Zealand

Global Day of Action supporting organisations in Aotearoa New Zealand are: Amnesty International, Tauranga Moana; Anglican Pacifist Fellowship; Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand; Catholic Workers Aotearoa New Zealand; Pax Christi Aotearoa New Zealand; Peace Movement Aotearoa (national coordination); Social Justice Council, Anglican Diocese of Auckland; United Nations Association Aotearoa New Zealand, Northern Region Branch; Waiapu Cathedral Environment Justice and Peace Network; Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Aotearoa Section; Yearly Meeting of Aotearoa New Zealand Religious Society of Friends, Te Haahi Tuuhauwiri (Quakers); and YWCA of Greater Wellington.

If you would like your organisation listed as a supporter of the Global Day of Action and of the urgent need to change spending priorities away from funding armed forces towards meeting human needs, please follow the link at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/gdams.htm, phone us or email pma@xtra.co.nz with 'Global Day of Action support' in the subject line of your message.

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