peace & justice

Campaigners for peace

In a leafy Christchurch suburb Tui Motu recently visited the home of Kate Dewes and Rob Green, also the headquarters of the Peace Foundation’s Disarmament & Security Centre (DSC). Kate and Rob have a common passion for world peace and nuclear disarmament. This joint quest has brought them together personally.

Rob’s story Buccaneer nuclear-strike jet n January 1991, at the height of squadron based on the aircraft Ithe first Gulf War, Rob Green was carrier HMS Eagle. Their invited to address an antiwar rally assigned cold war target was a of some 20,000 people in Trafalgar military airfield on the outskirts Square, London. Here was he, a retired of Leningrad, Russia, now Commander in the Royal Navy, at known by its original name, the foot of Admiral Nelson’s column St Petersburg. They had the speaking out against the validity of the capability of dropping a 100 nuclear deterrent. It was the climax of kiloton thermonuclear bomb a long journey of disillusion and the close to a civilian population discovery of a new faith. in one of the world’s most beautiful ancient capital cities. Five days later the futility of that “I accepted without question deterrent was amply displayed when an élite role with my pilot as Iraq launched its first SCUD ballistic ‘nuclear crew’”, Rob writes. missile attack against Israel. The missiles fell on Tel Aviv, Israel’s second Later he was switched to city. A nuclear state had been attacked antisubmarine helicopters. by a non-nuclear one. The Americans Their role was to defend the responded by ordering air attacks on aircraft carrier Ark Royal from the SCUD launch sites, but the United possible Soviet submarine States could do nothing to prevent attack. Because the latest Soviet Rob with photo of his aunt, Hilda Murrell Israel going on full-scale nuclear alert. submarines went too deep Israeli missile launchers, armed with and fast for the conventional deterrent and opted to replace the nuclear weapons, were pointed at Iraqi homing torpedoes, the helicopters were ageing US Polaris submarine-launched sites. In the event, the SCUD attacks armed with a nuclear depth bomb, ballistic missile system with Trident. caused only minor damage; America more powerful than the weapon which This was done despite misgivings and its allies quickly defeated Hussein devastated Hiroshima. It would have among the Naval Staff at the huge cost: using conventional weapons only. caused huge nuclear fallout (as did the Trident was dubbed ‘a cuckoo in the And Israel was praised for exercising experimental underwater explosions on Naval nest’. restraint. But what sort of escalation Bikini Atoll in 1946) and, incidentally, Britain’s possession of these horrendous might have occurred if the SCUD the helicopter could not have escaped. weapons, however, proved to be no missiles had caused massive loss of life Rob was cast in the role of a suicide deterrent to Argentina when the or had been carriers of germ warfare? bomber. “Because I was ambitious and Falklands War started in 1982. Rob was assured there would almost certainly was by that time a naval Staff Officer. Over his years serving as a Naval be no need to use it, I decided to obey.” Officer, Rob became progressively He comments: “I know what a close- disenchanted with the effectiveness of When became run thing that war was. If Argentine the British nuclear deterrent. As a 25- Prime Minister, she was obsessed with aircraft had sunk one of the troopships year-old he had been a navigator in the the need to strengthen the nuclear before the landing force had got ashore,

18 Tui Motu InterIslands the British might have had to withdraw murdered in 1984 near her home in him to become active. Rob joined Ex- or risk defeat. What would Thatcher in the West Midlands. Services CND, and also a think tank have done?... I later heard a rumour of The police inquiry concluded that it called ‘Just Defence’. a very secret contingency plan to move was a random act by a burglar whom a Polaris submarine south within range she surprised while he was ransacking In 1991 he became British Chair of of Buenos Aires.” her home; but other, more sinister the World Court Project. This was a explanations have been suggested. world-wide network of citizens’ groups After the Falklands War Rob left the lobbying the United Nations to bring Navy no longer believing in the validity Murrell was busy at the time of her the legal status of nuclear weapons of the deterrent strategy. Although death preparing a paper criticising the before the World Court. It was while he did not become an active peace building of a new plant. working at this project that Rob met campaigner until 1991, his conversion She contended that it was wrong to Kate who was one of ’s journey had started a long time earlier. build such installations which not only leading peace campaigners. Later they He found his political affiliations were uneconomic, but for which there married, and Rob came to live in New changing gradually towards the left. was no safe disposal of their highly Zealand. “In the Navy”, he says, “even to vote radioactive waste. She was also opposed Liberal was considered radical. No one to nuclear weapons and supported the Kate’s story would ever have voted Labour! Greenham Common women’s protest. ate Dewes grew up in Hamilton Kwith a strong Christian back­ “As a young man I felt I had a ‘vocation’ Under Thatcher’s government British ground, although most of her family to be a naval officer, so I became totally security services routinely put anti­ supported New Zealand’s participation­ immersed in the naval ethos including nuclear activists under surveillance, and in World War II including the dropping Intelligence. I acquired the professional some UK media have suggested that of the atomic bombs. While she was at skills. But I also experienced the Hilda Murrell was the British ‘Karen University she became aware of the anti- corruption – the covering up of Silkwood’, the US nuclear technician Vietnam war protests. While teaching incompetence, the neglect of the who died mysteriously when she was in Auckland she helped organise the deleterious side-effects which weapons about to expose dangerous aspects of the Peace Squadron protesting against the use may have. There was blind loyalty US nuclear industry. The police inquiry visits of US nuclear armed ships. Kate to orders, pride in tradition. What I call indicated that Murrell’s house had been recalls that her very first involvement the Charge of the Light Brigade approach methodically searched in a manner was religious: communion at Bastion – as in Tennyson’s Crimean War poem unlikely from a random burglar. :‘Theirs not to reason why, theirs but to Point followed by a Maori blessing of do and die’ – was alive and well. Another sinister scenario involved Rob the water before the Peace Squadron himself, suggesting that the intruder held its first event in 1975. “At one time we were shown Peter was looking for documents belonging Watkins’ film The War Game, a black At the time she was teaching at Epsom to Rob concerning the notorious Girls’ Grammar School, which was and white documentary on the sinking of the Argentinean warship quite conservative. That involved some effects of nuclear bombing in Britain, Belgrano during the Falklands War. conflict. “I was undergoing quite a shift including live shots of the firestorms. It Rob denies that he was involved in within myself,” says Kate, “because made a lasting impression on me. any way with the famous leaking of I believed that it was God’s will that “The British Navy goes back to King secret intelligence to the Labour MP we didn’t kill people and that nuclear Alfred. It has very long traditions, about this; and his aunt weapons were not part of God’s plan.” and there is an ethical undercurrent. never raised such matters with him. Kate became interested in Hiroshima A noble image was a way of attracting Nevertheless, her violent death had and its aftermath and read up some top quality recruits. If you were no a profound influence and helped personal accounts of survivors. At High more than hired killers you would not motivate him to pick up Hilda’s torch School she had also seen The War Game, attract the right personnel! To change regarding nuclear issues. which had a profound effect on her. away from this was to break away from Chernobyl and the end of the Cold In 1977 she went with her first husband, the tribe, to lose most of my former John Boanas, to study Peace Studies at friends and colleagues.” War also influenced Rob’s thinking – to move from opposing the peaceful Bradford, in England. She discovered Rob was also greatly influenced by use of nuclear energy to the nuclear that there was a lot of ignorance in his Cambridge educated aunt, Hilda deterrent itself. When the first Gulf Britain about the protest activities in Murrell, who had been an early War started, he became afraid that New Zealand, and this made her all environmentalist and, in her retirement, nuclear weapons could be used, either the more eager to learn the historical an antinuclear activist. She was brutally by the US or Israel, and this moved base for the NZ peace movement. “In ss

Tui Motu InterIslands 19 peace & justice ss 1979 I had my first child and began to In the 1990s when we run the Peace Foundation office from were taking the case to home in Christchurch. I worked with the World Court, David Fr John Curnow and other church Lange warned me I was people at that time.” possibly being watched by operatives of the British She initiated the visits of Dr Helen and US governments. Caldicott, an Australian peace activist However, we have not let and paediatrician, who was a key that put us off. I still stand person influencing mothers, doctors alongside my church. I and politicians towards an antinuclear have never broken my stance. “Those early years were very links with the Anglican important for building up peace church, and now I feel at groups and preparing to take our home in a Maori Anglican case to the World Court. I become church.” involved with the Quakers, many of whom were strongly involved in the Going to the World peace movement. We worked with the Court churches – to reach people who had The World Court not been challenged about these issues. Project (WCP) grew There was a women’s spirituality group from an initiative of I belonged to, who were very creative the Christchurch Peace Rob Green amd Kate Dewes and looking for change. I started Collective. Kate was teaching Peace Studies at Canterbury one of the leaders. She (International Physicians for the University.” helped organise a speaking tour by US Prevention of Nuclear War) lobbying international law Professor Richard Kate also found herself involved the World Health Organisation on the Falk of Princeton University, in 1986. with conflict resolution: what causes basis of the indiscriminate medical and He suggested that New Zealand should conflict? Where does it all start? Teaching environmental consequences of using take the US to the World Court on teenagers to be pro-life in the widest nuclear weapons. In 1993 the WHO the subject of nuclear ship visits. The sense was more effective than just shock adopted a resolution asking if nuclear idea of going to the World Court for a treatment, using scare tactics. “There weapons use constituted a breach of was a backlash to Peace Studies in the judgment appealed especially to retired international law – by 73 votes to 40 mid-’80s. I was called a communist Christchurch magistrate Harold Evans, (10 abstentions). who decided to approach governments because I was pushing peace education • In spite of intense opposition to sponsor a UN resolution, but with in schools. I received abusive phone by nuclear states, more and more a much wider scope – the legality or calls. They weren’t easy times before we governments were persuaded to otherwise of nuclear weapons. got the antinuclear legislation through. support a direct approach to the UN: Among the crucial phases in the WCP specifically the 110-strong NAM “One evening my parents went to process we may note: (non-aligned movement) group of a Concerned Parents’ Association • mobilising citizens’ support – by states; Australia and New Zealand, meeting of over 2,000, in Hamilton. At lobbying organisations such as doctors both of whom were incensed by the the meeting I was denounced by name and lawyers via their international continuing nuclear testing by France as being a communist. My father was representative bodies; and by collecting at Mururoa; and many of the Pacific so angry that he stood up and said his Declarations of Public Conscience Islands states. On 15 December 1994 daughter was not present and therefore throughout all countries where there the UN General Assembly adopted a unable to defend herself. He demanded were active antinuclear movements. resolution to refer the nuclear issue to that the speaker withdraw what he had By 1995 nearly 4 million had been the World Court ‘urgently’. The vote said. That night was the turning point gathered, mostly from Japan. was 78 votes for, 43 against with 38 for my father. He phoned me to say • the ending of the Cold War in 1990- abstentions and 25 casting no vote. that he had publicly owned me. And 91 took away the excuse which had he became supportive of our work. • In October 1995 the case was put been offered by the Lange government before the World Court at the Hague. “My family became concerned for my that the move to the World Court was The governments of the US, UK, safety, especially when I became a solo inopportune. France, Germany, Russia and Italy mum with three children in 1991. • a doctors’ organisation IPPNW defended the right to use nuclear

20 Tui Motu InterIslands weapons. 14 governments condemned Rob presented a UK documentary case consequences mean that the ban such policies as illegal and immoral. Polaris in Deep Water made in 1991, must be maintained. Deliberation by the 14 judges went which revealed that nuclear subs had on for some months. The climax came developed cracks in their Reactor Meanwhile the corporate lobby is on on 8 July 1996. The NZ Government Cooling Systems. For that reason the march in support of reviving the delegation, led by National’s Attorney British subs were banned by the Royal use of nuclear energy for electricity General Paul East, stood in solidarity Navy from visiting foreign ports generation, exploiting growing con­ with the WCP holding their huge for fear of causing an incident. The cerns about climate change and the cost rainbow banner outside the Court submarines were still running because of oil. Rob warns that the international proclaiming ‘Nuclear Free Aotearoa the Navy had to maintain its deterrent. nuclear energy industry is extremely New Zealand’. The cracks were the result of ageing powerful and ruthless, and has not stainless steel coolant pipes being solved problems of safety and how The World Court findings are summ­ rendered brittle under the constant to deal with radioactive waste. Both arised as follows: neutron bombardment. The cracks nuclear power plants and submarines “A threat or use of nuclear weapons were not easy to detect, and it was are vulnerable terrorist targets. There would generally be contrary to the rules expensive to replace the pipes. are cheaper, safer and more effective of international law applicable in armed alternative solutions to the challenge conflict, and in particular the principles Currently, no British nuclear submarine of climate change. and rules of humanitarian law”. This is allowed to visit even a UK commercial latter confirms that the Nuremberg port – for the same reasons. Young people need to be told about principles apply to nuclear weapons. the extraordinary achievements of Where to today? New Zealanders in the cause of world However, a caveat was added, that “the According to a leaked document the peace and nuclear disarmament. As Court cannot conclude definitively Pentagon has recently authorised the part of their work at the DSC, Kate whether the threat or use of nuclear pre-emptive use of nuclear weapons to and Rob publish articles and speak weapons would be lawful or unlawful attack potential enemies who possess nationally and internationally about in an extreme circumstance of self- weapons of mass destruction. The type the World Court Project based on Kate’s defence, in which the very survival of weapon envisaged is a small, tactical PhD thesis documenting the history of of the state would be at stake”. ‘bunker buster’. The US accepts that this campaign. They are preparing an Nevertheless all the judges confirmed nuclear deterrence probably will not exhibition at the Canterbury Museum in that an obligation existed for work against extremist groups, who June 2007 to mark the 20th anniversary international negotiations leading to are now the principal threat. This new of the Nuclear Free legislation and the nuclear disarmament. initiative authorises the use of tactical beginning of the WCP. With a team of weapons irrespective of their collateral keen young people, they are working No distinction was made by the damage. They may be described as closely with the City Council to Court between the use of nuclear ‘small’ – but in fact they are hugely implement recommendations adopted weapons and the threat to use them: destructive, and would cause long-term by the Council when Christchurch both are declared contrary to the law. and indiscriminate poisoning of the became a Peace City in 2002. These In so doing, it implicitly outlawed environment from radioactive fallout. include teaching Peace Studies at nuclear deterrence. The part played This appears to be a final justification Canterbury University; promoting the by New Zealand in this whole for possessing nuclear weaponry. Hiroshima and Nagasaki Exhibition process – notably by the Lange and and a Gandhi exhibition to museums the Bolger governments – had been Rob has written an updated and and schools; a World Peace Bell in crucial. expanded edition of his book The the Botanic Gardens; hosting Mayors Naked Nuclear Emperor: Debunking for Peace meetings; and organising a Nuclear Deterrence, to be published Nuclear-powered ship visits sculpture from New Zealand for the in the UK and US later this year, in Earlier, under the Bolger government, Nagasaki Peace Park. there had been an attempt to declare which he proposes alternative non- that nuclear-powered submarines were nuclear security strategies to deter war They believe it is important that they perfectly safe and should be allowed and achieve peace. It is vital also, he leave a legacy of hope rather than to visit. Kate determined to get Rob thinks, for New Zealand to maintain despair and that future generations can its antinuclear stance, and indeed to out to New Zealand to counter these be proud of their peace heritage. n export it. claims. Rob came and spoke in seven See www.disarmsecure.org and the Peace cities. At his very first public meeting Nuclear propulsion, says Rob, City web site www.ccc.govt.nz/Christchurch/ David Lange was on the platform and continues to carry a small risk of PeaceCity was publicly supportive of the WCP. accidents, but the unacceptable worst Photos: Martin Hunter

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