About $60 million of Kiwisaver funds are being invested in companies supplying weapons and components used by the Israeli military for the conflict in Gaza. Most investors don’t know this says Barry Coates, chief executive of the ethical investment charity Mindful Money. He says $9.3m of Kiwisaver funds are invested in Boeing, the largest supplier Read more
Ahead of a major arms fair in London, Catholic leaders in the UK are calling for an end to the arms trade. The Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) takes place every two years in the British capital, and brings together members of the arms industry with government officials, military officers, and academics. This year’s Read more
In the past few days, the Lord allowed me to visit Iraq, carrying out a project of Saint John Paul II. Never before has a Pope been in the land of Abraham. Providence willed that this should happen now, as a sign of hope, after years of war and terrorism, and during a severe pandemic. Read more
Pope Francis Social Encyclical: ‘Fratelli Tutti’ was launched at the Vatican, Sunday 4 October, 2020. The document focuses on fraternity and social friendship as the ways to build a better, more just and peaceful world – with the contribution of all: people and institutions. The official summary follows, with a link to download the full Read more
October 4, Pope Francis signed his new encyclical, Fratelli Tutti during a visit to Assisi. The encyclical calls for a new kind of politics and emphasises social friendship as a way to build a more just and peaceful world. It encourages the contribution of all people and institutions and seeks to build a global movement Read more
After dramatic scenes outside Wellington’s stadium last year, the New Zealand Defence Industry Association’s annual forum has been moved to Palmerston North’s main stadium and will occur there on the 31st of October and 1st of November. Dubbed by protesters as a “weapons expo” for companies that profit from war and killing, the event will Read more
Protesters from last week’s defence industry conference in Wellington have appeared in court on charges of obstructing a public place, and disorderly behaviour. Six people appeared before a registrar in the Wellington District Court last Friday morning. Continue reading
If someone’s house was on fire would you pour gasoline on it? Well the answer is obvious: Of course you wouldn’t. Yet that is very similar to what the United States and many other more economically developed nations are doing. Despite the tragic fact that approximately 40 current armed conflicts worldwide are causing over 150,000 Read more
The Vatican has called on the international community to expand the definition of a ‘weapon of mass destruction’ to include “devastatingly powerful conventional weapons used to perpetrate war crimes and crimes against humanity.” “Conventional weapons are becoming less and less ‘conventional’ as technological advances elevate their power to destroy to the level of weapons of Read more
In an address to a United Nations committee, the Vatican’s representative has called for a total ban on chemical and nuclear weapons. “It is sadly ironic that states vociferous in their condemnation of chemical weapons are silent on the continued possession of nuclear weapons,” said Archbishop Francis Chullikatt. “The international community must appeal and act Read more