January 2004 update from New Zealand Campaign Against Landmines - NZ Calm

(Thursday 19 February 2004 ) Contact People, John Head, Convenor, Nathan Donaldson, Publicity Officer

1. CALM ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING was held in the Wellington City Council Chambers on 14th August. New Committee appointments confirmed were Chris Swain, Youth Coordinator, Louise Head as Editor and Nathan Donaldson as Publicity Officer. It was noted that as a result of our campaign with Secondary school students, 26 pages of completed youth petition forms were sent to the ICBL. Committee members based overseas include Deborah Morris in Bangkok, John Borrie in Geneva and Tony Connell in Albania. Our meetings with diplomats and politicians continue.

2 5MSP For the first time four CALM Committee members attended a meeting of the States Parties. Hon Deborah Morris was a member of the New Zealand Government delegation and Chris Swain concentrated on NSA and Youth activities. Other Committee members attending were the Treasurer, Brian Hayes and the Convenor, John Head. CALM was responsible for nominating NGO representatives from Vanuatu, Fiji and Tuvalu to attend the 5MSP and the ICBL GM. As a result of a CALM initiative, their travel and accommodation costs were funded by the New Zealand Government. CALM was able to report to the Universalisation Contact Group and the ICBL of significant moves towards Treaty Universalisation by seven of the eight Pacific countries yet to ratify or accede to the Mine Ban Treaty.

3. RUNNING FOR THOSE WHO CAN NOT RUN. Before leaving for the 5MSP, CALM Treasurer, Brian Hayes and his wife Leang decided to take part in Thailand River Kwai Half Marathon and use this activity to raise funds Thai landmine survivers. They both completed the course and Brian was the first in the 55 plus age group. As a result of their fundraising in New Zealand, they were able to hand over $2, 544.20 to the Prosthetic Centre in Chiang Mai. Full details are in our latest newsletter which is on our website; www.calm.org.nz

4. LAUNCH OF THE LANDMINE MONITOR. The New Zealand Launch was held at the Loaves and Fishes Hall within Wellington Cathedral on the 17th October. Guest speakers were the Thai Ambassador in New Zealand, HE Mr Norachit Sinhaseni and the New Zealand Minister for Disarmament, the Hon Marian Hobbs MP. The Wellington Thai community performed a welcome cultural dance and provided a Thai finger food lunch. Copies of the Landmine Monitor and Executive Summary were available for the 80 people attending. CALM has mailed copies of the Landmine Monitor and Executive Summary to the political leaders of 14 Pacific nations as well as New Zealand libraries and Universities.

5. EXPLOSIVE REMNANTS OF WAR. CALM has supported the UK Landmine Action by distributing publicity and petition forms. We sent a message of support to the Cluster Munitions Coalition (CMC) on their establishment and thanks to the efforts of John Borrie, our Committee member in Geneva, we closely followed the CCW debate on Protocol 5 and will be pressing our Government for early ratification of Protocol 5.

6. RESOURCE CENTRE. The ICBL Regional Resource Centre for Australia, all Pacific nations and New Zealand has now been established at the home of the current Convenor,John Head. The Landmine Monitor Researcher for New Zealand and the Pacific will, this year, be done by Hon Deborah Morris.