Wheeler's
Corner 37 8th September 2018.
“Connecting
with people who care”
1. War or peace:
When will we ever
learn, that war is no pathway to peace, that updating ones weapons leads toward
the misuse of those weapons, why else do we buy them... As I’ve
pointed out before, many times in fact, certain countries depend
greatly on convincing other countries that by updating their weaponry
they are updating their security.
That in fact is a lie, but its a
good selling point. In 2017 in Wellington a company was pushing others to buy their
latest long range snipers rifle. I don’t know if the NZ Army
brought any of these massively expensive weapons for these transactions
are often kept highly secret until its too late to cancel the purchase.
The United States
under Trump is pushing weapon sales big time [especially in India right now] across the world and it
clearly has New Zealand in its sights...our very own Minister of
Defence...appears so it would seem, to be a great fan of present US behaviour...he even plans to
present awards at our latest upcoming Defence Industry get together
here in Palmerston North.
The present NZ Parliament has two past mercenaries, one on the National side and
the other being our present Minister of Defence. [Ron Mark] In my view this is
not a good look.
Two references will give a closer look at just who Ron Mark is: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Mark and https://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2015/06/whaleoil-challenge-to-ron-mark-show-us-your-tan-beret-ron/
and I am inclined to agree with whale-oil as my youngest brother spent time with the UN force in Gaza and he was never a part of the SAS.regardless of the truth or otherwise of Ron Mark and his military career...
Two references will give a closer look at just who Ron Mark is: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Mark and https://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2015/06/whaleoil-challenge-to-ron-mark-show-us-your-tan-beret-ron/
 |
| Ron Mark SAS really ? |
and I am inclined to agree with whale-oil as my youngest brother spent time with the UN force in Gaza and he was never a part of the SAS.regardless of the truth or otherwise of Ron Mark and his military career...
Will we be drawn
into the Trump clan that buys what the US instructs us to buy...not to meet
our perceived so-called threats...but to achieve Trumps need to sell
more weapons to a world flooded with arms all ready.
To understand
clearly the US drive for arms sales go to the reference below. I
think it will shock you. It clearly shows how the US depends on the
dictators of this world and in many respects shows the reasons why
Trump is so supportive of certain key dictatorships like Saudi Arabia
and such like.
Sweden has cancelled
a deal with Saudi Arabia regarding some weapons sales because of
their misuse of those weapons... go to:
“This is a win
for a clear foreign policy based on respect for human rights and a
moral compass where this type of far-reaching military cooperation
agreement simply does not fit,” said Asa Romson, deputy prime
minister and member of the Green Party.
However, Ulf Bjereld, a professor of political science at
Gothenburg University, said the cancellation could isolate Sweden on
the world stage."But it can also strengthen Sweden's role in
that we treat everyone equally and we stand up for human rights,"
he said.We must not forget that Trump thinks Saudi Arabia and its present dictator is a great place to do business with, as does Britain and Canada. Obviously money talks...the question is can we support Trump and his childlike beliefs, and still maintain a high standard of human rights behaviour...or will we too sell our soul for a few bucks.That is the question that we as individuals have to answer...
It would appear that we here in Palmerston North are happy to be a part of Trumps desire for the sales of new and more deadly weapons that can be used in all the undeclared wars taking place around the world.
2. There are people here in Palmerston North who take seriously the task of effecting change to our present 'follow the leader' style of behaviour that has led to the irrational connection of collective security and war as a means of insuring peace. Their desire and goal is to achieve a more human climate for the advancement of peace and good will:
"We have agreed on a respectful NVDA response with an over-arching peace theme. As a result we have gained wide support from multi-faith, church and refugee groups and others who feel safe to join our PAM events.
We live in a 'Peace
City' and are fully aware of our duty of care towards our fellow citizens. Our
opposition is focused on the war profiteers, the weapons manufacturers and arms
dealers, not the NZDF or the police who are respected members of our
community".
To that end, PAM [Peace Action Manawatu] will be hosting various events leading up to and during the Weapons EXPO here in PN. My plea to you all, is that you will note the dates in your diary and if you can will attend, for two clear reasons: 1. To understand the urgency of recognising the failure of war as a weapon of peace and 2 to become a living and active member of a growing peace community.
On Sunday Sept 23 at 3.00pm, at The Globe Theatre ,
Peace Action Manawatū is presenting the
acclaimed documentary film 'The Man who Saved the World' with Stanislav
Petrov, Kevin Costner, Robert De Niro, Matt Damon.
This film is being screened to
commemorate the International Day for Peace (Sept 21) and the International Day
for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons (Sept 26).
The Man Who Saved the
World is a 2014 feature-length Danish documentary
film by film maker Peter Anthony about Stanislav Petrov, a
former lieutenant colonel of the Soviet Air Defence
Forces and his role in preventing the 1983 Soviet nuclear false alarm
incident from leading to nuclear
holocaust.
On 26 September 1983, the computers in the Serpukhov-15 bunker
outside Moscow, which housed
the command centre of the Soviet early warning satellite
system, twice reported that U.S. intercontinental ballistic
missiles were heading toward the Soviet Union. Stanislav Petrov, who
was duty officer that night, suspected that the system was malfunctioning and
managed to convince his superiors of the same thing. He argued that if the U.S.
was going to attack pre-emptively it would do so with more than just five
missiles, and that it was best to wait for ground radar confirmation before
launching a counter-attack.
Trailer for the movie can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaPXVJWHji4
Other events for the period of the so-called expo / forum [October / November] are still at the planning stages and I'll keep you up to date as they are finalised: But if you could note for your dairies the period of the 29th Oct to the 3rd of Nov 2018. I doubt if there will full coverage by the media, but we are hoping for a balanced and reasoned approach by the media. Of course it would be great if the local city councillors can force a retreat by those who granted permission for this anti-human approach to maintaining peace in the world in which we all reside.
3.
What is stated below represents how by arming a country with nuclear weapons you threaten not only only the innocent but also the world:
Let me finish this Wheeler's Corner with a couple of verses from that wonderful poem sent to me:
If you have not already done so, you can go to: http://wheelerscornernz.blogspot.com/2018/09/who-would-jesus-bomb.html and read the full poem.
Well that's it for this week, I hope you are well and that your wider family are as well...and never forget that you are among the most important people in the world...even if you disagree with me..because all people are important.
Please feel free to contact me at: wheeler@inspire.net.nz. Wheeler's Corner is broadcast each Monday a 4 pm at MPR. [AM999]
3.
What is stated below represents how by arming a country with nuclear weapons you threaten not only only the innocent but also the world:
Let me finish this Wheeler's Corner with a couple of verses from that wonderful poem sent to me:
"Blessed are those who are meek
For they will indeed inherit the earth
How can you 'see' but refuse to 'speak'?
Just how much is your soul worth?
Woe to the hypocrites who twist
What is right and what is wrong
I don't think He is at all impressed
So tell me “Who would Jesus bomb?”
If you have not already done so, you can go to: http://wheelerscornernz.blogspot.com/2018/09/who-would-jesus-bomb.html and read the full poem.
Well that's it for this week, I hope you are well and that your wider family are as well...and never forget that you are among the most important people in the world...even if you disagree with me..because all people are important.
Please feel free to contact me at: wheeler@inspire.net.nz. Wheeler's Corner is broadcast each Monday a 4 pm at MPR. [AM999]
1 comment:
I received this comment by email:
I have come across the following passage in Nicky Hagar's book 'Other People's Wars.
New Zealanders are very different and the realisation of that difference, as First World War hero turned pacifist Ormond Burton famously noted in his 1935 book, The Silent Division. New Zealanders at the Front. 1914-1919, came on the beaches of Gallipoli. 'Before the war it might be said that the men and women living in New Zealand were unaware of the fundamental underlying unities which bound them together as a people' However at Gallipoli, they became 'conscious of their identity as a nation'. And part of this discovery came from their realisation, while fighting with the British, that they were taller and stronger....[and] better able to withstand the fatigue of marching and digging and fighting. They were more resolute in attack, stronger in defence. The general standard of intelligence was much higher. 'The answer Burton concluded lay in food, housing, better health, 'no great cities with overcrowded slums' and good education and in the 'very slight' class distinctions that made for' a greater freedom and for the development of a strong sense of self respect within the individual.
I have finished the book now and have concluded the American effort in Afghanistan and Iraq amounted to not much more than a 'bugger's muddle' it was clearly shown the New Zealanders were considered a junior partner in the operation, with the leadership clearly in the thrall of the Yanks and eagerly vacuuming up the crumbs that fell from the various tables. It showed in the early stages of Afghanistan our force was treated like the fifth wheel of the bus and after all the rush and hurry to join the fray they seemed to be left high and dry, twiddling their thumbs while the 'real soldiers' went about the tasks of war. What it also showed was that the New Zealand troops treated civilians caught up in the melee, with compassion and respect in contrast to the other side with its predilection to shoot first and ask questions last!
My uncle volunteered for Gallipoli as an eighteen year old and from what I can make out was one of the group that struggled their way to Chunuk Bair. Once they had achieved their objective they found they were in a vacuum due to the alcohol induced haze of the Pongonalian brass, not having any forward plans of what to do next, and the group were left to find their way back to base, I believe he was killed in that retreat. Not bad for having been only twelve days on the job. My mum was resentful of the outcome for the remainder of her life!
Peter G.
Post a Comment