World Peace March plants trees in Island Bay to promote zero carbon footprint

The event was one of many being organised around the world by the World March to promote personal and collective responsibility to offset and reduce our carbon footprint in order to halt and reverse Climate Change.

The event also drew attention to the need for global demilitarization in order to further protect the environment – the world’ military being one of the biggest contributers to carbon emissions and environmental degradation. The March will then travel through 90 countries in 90 days promoting various initiatives for peace and nonviolence.  Similar tree planting activities will occur in other countries en route.

“Just as forest destruction has been disastrous for Wellington’s unique biological diversity, climate change seriously threatens our way of life” said Peter Russell, Coordinator of the Manawa Karioi Ecological Restoration Project where the trees were planted.  “Our forest restoration project helps to restore Wellington’s biodiversity and also creates  a valuable carbon sink.”

The Project is run by the Manawa Karioi Society at Tapu Te Ranga Marae in Island Bay and is open to the public.  “We established Manawa Karioi in 1990 as a place of peace and inspiration for the people of Wellington” said Kaumatua Bruce Stewart.  “The dedicated and hard-working members of the Manawa Karioi Society have since become leaders in the field of urban native forest restoration.”

“The World Peace March encourages everyone to evaluate their carbon footprint – whether from travel, product consumption or energy usage – and then contribute appropriately to carbon offsetting projects,” says Alyn Ware, New Zealand Coordinator of the World March and Vice-President of the International Peace Bureau. “However we must also campaign to reduce government activities which contribute even more to climate change and environmental destruction – the biggest of these being militarism.”

“Research gathered and published by the International Peace Bureau indicates that carbon emissions and other environmental damage done by military vehicles during exercises and wartime – as well as the damage from the production, testing and use of weapons - is colossal but usually escapes monitoring or regulation. Disarmament could thus provide one of the most significant contributions to restoring our climate and environment. In addition, just a small percentage of the annual US$1.5 trillion military budget – if redirected to sustainable development programs – could eliminate world poverty and fund key programmes for replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy systems.”

Following the tree planting, the World Peace March held a Peace at the Poles event at the Antarctica Monument on Mt Victoria before heading over to Australia for the next part of their march.

The World Peace March encourages local people to join work-days at the Manawa Karioi Ecological Restoration Project to plant more trees and to assist with weed management and tree care.