Wisdom, restraint call to leaders

By JOSIE CLARKE

Children released white doves and the crowd sang along to John Lennon's Imagine at a small Auckland rally calling for a stop to hatred and violence.

Organiser Anne Cave said the rally sought to bring together Auckland's multicultural community to express messages of peace and share the sadness and horror of the terrorist attacks in America.

Those in the crowd of about 50 at Queen Elizabeth Square on Saturday were asked to sign a petition to be sent to Prime Minister Helen Clark, President George W. Bush and other leaders "beseeching world leaders to use moderation, wisdom and restraint" and condemning the use of military power.

Human Rights Commissioner Warren Lindberg told the crowd that his office and the office of the Race Relations Conciliator had been inundated with "stories of unkindness of some New Zealanders towards others" since the attacks.

Although he accepted that the American people were hurt and angry, there was no reason to hold all Muslim people to blame, and the attacks did not justify racist abuse in New Zealand.

"As my colleague the Race Relations Conciliator pointed out the other day, peace, like charity, begins at home."

The Peace Movement Aotearoa said it was horrified at the thought of the tragedy which could soon engulf the citizens of whatever countries the United States targeted in retaliation.

The movement has asked people to gather in protest at 5 pm in Aotea Square on the day any bombing starts.

Map: Opposing forces in the war against terror

Afghanistan facts and links

For coverage of the attacks on the United States, see: