Pegasus Post: July 26, 2016

PEGASUS POST Tuesday July 26 2016 7
30 years of nuclear resistance
POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT: Former Prime Minister David
Lange spoke to Dr Dewes about making New Zealand
nuclear-free and not allowing nuclear weapons to enter the
country.
What about moments when you
have had to pinch yourself?
There were a few pinch yourself
moments with all the people I have
met and things we have managed
to achieve. I was in the United
States when I got the news that the
February 22, 2011, earthquake hit.
I thought about the house; it didn’t
do well in the September-quake
so I was worried it would be gone
completely. I got all set to head back
to Christchurch and I called one of
my daughters and she said, ‘no mum
stay there, you have some important
things to do, you need to stay and
do it’. So I did. In the morning, I saw
pictures the New York Times had
of the Cathedral and then I had to
go and speak at the UN. We were
standing around before the discussion
started and someone must have
told the UN secretary general where
I was from and he came up to me
and shook my hand and said, ‘please
tell the people of Christchurch they
have my support’. Then he told the
whole audience at the UN where I
was from and what had happened to
my city. I couldn’t speak for several
moments. I saw what had happened
at home as an opportunity to get my
point across.
What was the point you were
making?
If we had a nuclear power centre
in Christchurch, the effect would
have been devastating. Especially if
a tsunami had come through. The
rest of the country would have been
in a really horrible situation. The
Japanese ambassador challenged me
on what I said. I had no idea several
weeks later I would be writing him
letters of support for what had happened
following the earthquake that
hit Japan.
Can you tell me a bit more about
your involvement with the United
Nations?
I was appointed to the UN Secretary
General’s Advisory Board
on Disarmament Matters as a
non-government member, which
was great because I could openly
say what I wanted and what I truly
thought and felt. They had to look
at things a little differently because I
made them. I was the only female on
the Government peace delegation
in 1988, too. I think that I presented
a really different perspective to the
men as well, which was refreshing.
I wasn’t paid for my work at the UN
though.
AT WORK: Dr Dewes marks on
a map the areas that support a
nuclear-free New Zealand.
How could you afford not to get
paid for your work?
The UN paid for my flights and
accommodation so that helped. I
also continued working from home.
I taught peace studies part-time at
Canterbury University so there was
a little bit of money. I re-married so
there was a wage coming in. What I
could go without, I did. But for me,
it wasn’t about the money. I got to sit
on the advisory board and provide
my input and opinions, which was
why I kept doing it.
How did you meet your second
husband?
I was in Geneva for work in 1992
and Robert Green was at the same
convention about peace talks and
nuclear development. Robert was
the chair of the United Kingdom
branch of the World Court Project
so I gradually got to know him. I
had to convince him to come to
New Zealand, as the Government
were looking at changing a clause to
the nuclear legislation, so I needed
to convince him to come to New
Zealand to speak and make sure
they didn’t change the legislation.
When he was in the navy, he carried
nuclear bombs so he knows what
he’s talking about and I wanted to
get him to share his information
with New Zealand. Soon I had
people sending me money to help
get him to New Zealand.
What do you think of Helen
Clark running for secretary general?
I think go Helen. I watched the
debate she was in recently and
thought she did really well. She has
the knowledge and experience for
the job and I think she would do
really well at it.
What are you setting your sights
on for the future?
Robert and I are trying to wind
down a bit now, that’s easier said
than done though. I would really
like to be able to spend more
time with my four grand-children,
too.
Preschool, Nursery
and Kindergarten
It’s time
Our passion…their future.
We offer 20 hours ECE,
WINZ subsidies and also
our transition to school
programme.
At our pre-schools, children
are the leaders of their own
curriculum.
We intentionally work alongside
them to develop and progress
their special interests and talents
as they start to build lifelong
learning skills.
Find us on Facebook
Lake Terrace | Bottle Lake
Preschools
Lake Terrace Preschool
30 Lake Terrace Road
Burwood, Christchurch 8061
P: 03 383 4757 Michelle Cross (Manager)
Open: 7.30am-5.30pm Mon-Fri
www.kidsandco.nz
Bottle Lake Preschool
1 Pohutukawa Crescent
Parklands, Christchurch 8083
P: 03 387 0684 Rachel Allan (Manager)
Open: 7.00am-6.00pm Mon-Fri
To have your ‘repairs’ inspected.
We can help with assessments and
advocacy until you get the level best from
your insurance policy.
Ph: 03 377 8855 | 127 Ferry Road, Christchurch City
E: reception@earthquakeservices.co.nz | W: www.earthquakeservices.co.nz
NO WIN
NO FEE