Southern View: March 26, 2019

SOUTHERN VIEW Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Tuesday March 26 2019 5
Your Local Views
A common bond of being human
In the wake of the
Christchurch tragedy on
March 15, city councillor
Yani Johanson turns back
to the clock to an opinion
piece he wrote two years
ago about the value of
diversity in our society
At a time when the world is
coming closer together through
cheaper long distance travel
and greater connectivity via the
internet, it feels like there is more
conflict and chaos than ever
before.
Whether it’s the huge number
of refugees fleeing war zones or
the fear-based politics of Donald
Trump and Brexit, it is a time of
great concern for where we are
heading as humans.
As such, I believe we have to
ask ourselves why is this happening?
And, more importantly,
how can we stop this from happening?
In my role as city councillor,
I had the privilege of being
involved in two positive things to
address this.
First, at the city council we
have signed off on a multicultural
strategy, which recognises
“the council has a leadership role
in making Christchurch a city
where diversity is welcomed and
celebrated.”
This strategy has been long
CONNECTION: Linwood Ward city councillor Yani Johanson
with Mohamed Jamma, a survivor of the mosque attacks.
overdue and is a fantastic start on
a journey towards being a more
inclusive place.
Second, I was asked to speak
at the opening of the Friendship
Force national conference.
Friendship Force is a voluntary
group with mission values including
mutual respect, cultural
diversity, cultural exploration
and service.
Its members do this by opening
their homes and hearts to
host visitors from other cities and
countries throughout the world.
They have done an amazing job
bringing people to our city even
after the devastating impact of
the earthquakes.
The work they do and the work
the city council has done on the
multicultural strategy is based on
a simple premise that we all have
a common bond of being human
and that we all deserve to be
treated with dignity and respect.
In my view, when people are
afraid of the unknown, scared of
difference or lacking understanding,
I believe the world is fundamentally
a worse off place to live.
And yet, when we provide
opportunities for dialogue and
communication, for living and
learning and for understanding
and sharing, we are creating a
better world, a better country
and a better city.
In essence, we are creating a
community that celebrates and
cherishes difference rather than
being scared of it.
Following on from the terror
attack, I thought it was timely to
reflect on this soapbox article.
My connections to the attack
were two-fold. As a witness when
it ended, driving past at the same
time police were apprehending
the suspect, and as Linwood
Ward city councillor where the
Linwood Mosque is, it has been
both heart-breaking to experience
what took place and yet
heart-warming to see the community
response.
There is no place for hate
here or anywhere. Kia kaha
Christchurch stay strong.
Local
News
Now
Fire rages, homes at risk
QE II toilet costs
could be slashed
•From page 1
Cr Livingstone previously said a
house could be built for $350,000
so he couldn’t understand why
a toilet block would cost almost
triple that.
However, city council head of
recreation, sports and events Nigel
Cox said the $1 million budgeted
for the toilet and changing room
block had been an estimate.
The building would have four
changing rooms with showers and
toilets, a referees’ changing room,
storage, public toilets, provision of
services and landscaping including
paving, vegetation, seating, a drinking
fountain and cycle stands.
It is part of the $12 million draft
QE II Park Master Plan.
The first phase of the plan includes
a new playground featuring
a sandpit with a digger and buried
“fossils,” a basket swing, wooden
horses and a tube slide.
In a nod to the 1974 Commonwealth
Games held at QE II, two
running tracks have been recommended
for the area, along with a
four square court and podium.
Upgraded fitness stations are
also in the draft plan, along with
a disc golf course and adventure
nature trail.
It was finalised by the hearings
panel and will be approved by
the city council before planning
begins in July.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Change the speed limit
to 60km/h?
We want to make Christchurch roads safer. We’re reviewing
speed limits across our roading network.
We are proposing to change the speed limit to 60km/h on
Summit Road, with these adjoining side roads included
in the proposal:
Broadleaf Lane
Sumner Road*
Worsleys Road
Mount Pleasant Road
Evans Pass Road
Consultation is open until 5pm on 8 April.
Let us know what you think
ccc.govt.nz/haveyoursay
*Sumner Road is re-opening
at 6pm on 29 March 2019.