Don't be fooled by their appearance – these women may look like sweet nanas, but this week they're taking a firm stand.
They're participating in a week of peaceful protests to counter the ‘week of war' taking place up in Auckland.
The Royal New Zealand Navy is marking its 75th anniversary with several days of military-themed events, including naval formations, military parade, and a ships' open day. But some of the key sponsors are military contractors, who will be there to advertise their wares.
It will also be the first time a U.S. warship has entered New Zealand waters since the ANZUS bust-up of the 1980s. A peace flotilla has been planned to sail out and meet the incoming battleships, but it's been suggested protestors could be arrested as ‘terrorists'.
Tauranga peace advocate Dolores Flynn-Edge was so concerned about that possibility, she gave Transport Minister Simon Bridges a letter.
'I asked him: Is that true? I always thought we in New Zealand had the freedom to protest if we wanted to.”
Dolores herself won't be on the water – she's going up to hear a lecture on whether there can be such a thing as a ‘just' war – but she stands in solidarity with those who are. She also finds the government's priorities to be misplaced.
'The government are paying a lot of money to upgrade the navy and military,” she says.
'Yet they can't find any money for the hungry children?”
Her friends Mary Rose, Joy Rising, and Merrill Simmons-Hansen are going up as well. As to the ‘terrorist' threat, Mary Rose maintains they're 'too old to worry about getting arrested.”
All of the women are united in their opposition to war, and hope others will join them in standing up for peace this week.
As Dolores puts it: 'We've got enough war going on without having to play war games.”
More info on the peace protests can be found at aucklandpeaceaction.wordpress.com
14 comments
Stupid women
Posted on 15-11-2016 11:30 | By Kenworthlogger
Why dont they go and protest about war in a war zone like Siria? After all its their freedom to do it.
Let's do away with the military
Posted on 15-11-2016 12:22 | By Taurangaborn
Everyone knows that they are a complete and utter waste of time, money and resources (just ask the people of Kaikoura, Christchurch and any other place in NZ that has suffered a natural disaster in recent years). Come on ladies, take of your hippy rose coloured glasses and welcome to the real world. The military has provided training, skills and resources (and yes you have to spend money to get these) to generations of Kiwis which has enabled both them and our country to be best that they can be. For the record, yes, I am an ex-serviceman.
Get real ladies
Posted on 15-11-2016 14:12 | By mutley
No one wants war. But as these foolish old Bats protest, the HMNZS Canterbury approaches Kaikoura and the fleet of new NH90 helicopters ferries people out. Without the military we would be completely stuffed at times like this. What other Government agency has the resources and discipline to mobilise at such speed ?
Cloud cuckoo land
Posted on 15-11-2016 14:36 | By sobeit
Yes that's a great idea. Just one small issue . What happens when / if the bad guys come. Bad guys might include internal terrorists,or invaders / refugees. If we don't attempt to take responsibility for our own security why would anyone else ? For my money we could / should do more to bolster our armed forces !
Deluded
Posted on 16-11-2016 08:16 | By Bay Citizen
These ladies are deluded fools. We don't get to control when an enemy might present itself. We have to be ready to defend ourselves - that is the first priority of any government. Protesting in a peace flotilla is all very well, but it won't just be a protest will it. It will try to block their entry to harbour unlawfully. Dolores then lapses into a something of a clichd parody of peacenik protesters by talking about hungry children. There's not much point having the money to feed children if they've been blown up or impaled on bayonets. Not everyone in the world is our friend and you need to realise that.
Its Their right
Posted on 16-11-2016 09:51 | By Bop man
All you have it mistaken as a free country these ladies can protest what they like, they can even dress a chickens and do the funky chicken in front of the war ships if they like.But they must remember why they are in a country where they are free to do this.
Disgracful
Posted on 16-11-2016 10:09 | By Kenworthlogger
As an ex Army serviceman i find these batty old women a discrace. These type of women would have been the sort that hassled returned servicemen from Vietnam and spat on them in the street etc. its all there in the histry books.
Bop Man
Posted on 16-11-2016 11:53 | By Kenworthlogger
This freedom that you talk about was paid for with the blood and guts of young men who paid the ultimate price. Hardly free at all was it? Would you like it if people used this so called freedom to harrass you and make life difficult for you? I very much doubt it. These women plan to harass young service men and women that would give their blood and die for your so called freedom. Its disgusting.
Embarrassing
Posted on 16-11-2016 15:58 | By Cresty
I hope they are prepared to join a flottilla to protest the naval ships anchored at Kaikoura. We have a defence force and i am proud to see them helping in times of adversity. Thank you USA, Canada, Australia and Japan. Another Nana.
@mr Logger
Posted on 16-11-2016 18:09 | By Bop man
As I Said they need to remember why they can protest.
Bop man
Posted on 17-11-2016 08:30 | By Kenworthlogger
You are quite correct!
Can there ever be a
Posted on 19-11-2016 12:58 | By morepork
I'm amazed they even ask such a question. Throughout history there have been certain people who could NEVER be persuaded by reasoned argument... (Attila the Hun, Napoleon Buonaparte, Adolf Hitler...) so what would these ladies do when faced with such? Just comfort themselves with having the higher moral ground while their families and friends are killed? Sometimes, well-meaning people just don't think it through... Yes, we DO spend money on the military. We need to, so we can take our part in a joint defensive responsibility that provides some security for a small nation in a big, bad world. NZ has a small but efficient and effective defense force who make us proud every time they are deployed; whether building and protecting schools and hospitals in far-off war zones, bringing aid and comfort to people hit by natural disaster at home, or holding the line in conflict.
Can there ever be a
Posted on 19-11-2016 13:09 | By morepork
Our defence forces deserve our respect and support. BUT, that doesn't mean there can be no protest against war. Over centuries, we have learned that War is the LEAST useful way to resolve issues: it consumes resources and it destroys people. We SHOULD be able to sit around a table and reach agreeable compromises, with War only being a last resort, when all else has consistently failed. Under those circumstances, resorting to War is regrettable, but it is "just"... I hope these ladies realize that the reason they can make their protest is because others fought a number of "just" wars to ensure the freedoms we now take for granted. People protesting war is a necessary part of the checks and balances we need, to ensure that war never becomes the FIRST option. I don't support their protest, but I respect the need for it.
Truncated headings
Posted on 25-11-2016 17:43 | By morepork
The two posts I made on 19/11/2016 under the headings "Can there ever be" were truncated. They were in response to he question raised by the ladies group: "Can there ever be a "just war"?I believe there can be.
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