By Leticia Alvarez

“It is my constant study, knowledge and understanding of problems and solutions that drives me on this path of political activism. It is inspiring dialogues with people, building relationships and groups, that spur one on to further action. Although objectives are met, new challenges always arise.”

The term “slacktivist” used to be a generational one; one for a surface champion of human rights, committed to change so long as it’s a click away. Laurie Ross doesn’t merely pin motivational terms onto her desk. Instead, she lives her philosophy. She is the definition of an informed, engaged citizen, making use of democratic pathways to exercise her rights and ensure their protection for us all. Instead of living a life for her own ends, her ideal is “to live a meaningful life in service to humanity.” I sat down with her and had a conversation about her work, what drives her, and some key areas Aotearoa needs to work on.

Forty years ago, Laurie joined the campaign to make New Zealand Nuclear-Free.[1] Her father, Larry Ross, was the founder and secretary of the New Zealand Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Committee and Peacemaking Association between 1981-2007. The goal was not an easy one to achieve. According to the Arms Control Association “A nuclear free-zone is a specified region in which countries commit themselves not to manufacture, acquire, test, possess or station weapons.”[2] Larry Ross was awarded the Queen’s Service Medal for his work in achieving the NZ Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament and Arms Control Act 1987. This milestone represented the majority of New Zealanders who worked to achieve 105 of New Zealand’s local councils declared nuclear-free zones, covering 72% of the population.[3]

Such policy change involved intense political lobbying and public education in a time of mailing pamphlets and no internet. It was the grassroots work of Laurie, her father and hundreds of other New Zealanders, activating social consciousness to implement structural change, which ultimately led to the Aotearoa we enjoy today. New Zealand has set itself apart from other countries: its three-decade anti-nuclear campaign is the only successful movement of its type in the world, resulting in the enshrining of a nuclear-free zone status in legislation.[4]

As a Pacific nation, however, we have not been far from the other side of the coin. Between 1946 and 1996, France, the United States and Britain conducted approximately 300 nuclear tests in the Pacific.[5] These tests displaced Islanders permanently from their homes, disconnected them from their indigenous ways of life, and destroyed health and living conditions across generations. A submission from Fiji, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, and Tuvalu to the UN for a nuclear disarmament negotiation detailed the effects on Islanders: “people continue to experience epidemics of cancers, chronic diseases, and congenital abnormalities, with agriculture and fishing still unsafe over four decades later.”[6] To live a life free of fear of nuclear activity is a privilege few of us are aware of today.

Laurie’s work branches across all areas of life: from human rights to the conservation of nature and urban trees, oceans, and rivers, via Bill submissions, lobbying politicians, and developing Peacemaking Defence and Foreign policy. She has been involved in the Auckland Tree Council, Friends of Refugees Trust, and UN Earth Summit Committee, creating the Auckland Environment and Peace Information Centre and was a Green Party founding member and candidate in 1990.[7] She also works on Climate Crisis and Caring Economics for Social and Environmental Well-being of Humanity and the Earth.

Currently, her focus is on bringing corporate and national interests back to Earth, to help those who need health care - not warfare. This means fighting to stop militarization of space. This issue has recently become relevant to Aotearoa as it is developing a multibillion dollar space industry. Rocket Lab states its mission as opening access to space to ‘improve life on earth.’[8] But it is also launching military payloads from Mahia (near Wairoa) for the US Space Missile Defence Command for warfare combat targeting and has worked for US military agencies for over a decade—around 30% of its business is for defence agencies, according to investment documents.[9]

Aotearoa is a peaceful country—if the militarisation of space issue were made more public, would people agree with New Zealand selling services for the development of US military warfare weapon systems?[10] The iwi Rongomaiwahine are opposed to Rocket Lab launches in Mahia. They also attended the first public protest at the Rocket Lab headquarters in Auckland in June, organised by Laurie and Auckland Peace Action.[11] Green Party MP Teanu Tuiono attended and tabled his Private Member’s Bill at Parliament the same day—the OSHAA Amendment Bill for Prohibition of Military hardware payloads.[12]

While the Outer Space and High-altitude Activities Act (2017) and Assessment Criteria (2019)[13] are in place to ensure payloads do not violate our nuclear free law, military payloads should be prohibited altogether. Matt Robson commented to The Spinoff, “This is against New Zealand’s independent foreign policy, and integrates us into the United States military kill chain.”[14] Aotearoa has committed to the peaceful use of outer space, is party to the UN Outer Space Treaty 1967 and member of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.[15] We are at a point in Earth’s history that demands more than adjustments. Lobbying, law, and policy Laurie says, can shift our values into action to that rejects the commercially driven arguments that perpetuates the warfare culture.

Climate protection is another key reason why New Zealand should limit the number of rockets launched into space. Principle, not fear, said Jacinda Ardern at the 2017 Labour campaign launch, speaking of climate change, “this is my generation’s nuclear-free moment, and I am determined that we will tackle it head on.”[16] Laurie’s work today is aimed at reducing CO2 emissions, which requires stopping the militarisation of the earth, oceans and space. The US Department of Defence alone is the single largest institutional producer of greenhouse gases in the world.[17] Thus, it is vital that NZ ceases support for militarism and instead cultivates conditions we want for future generations to live in.

“5-10% of electricity would be used for the Space Industry and will produce 23% of greenhouse gas emissions, in addition, rockets punch holes in the ozone layer. Current projections are for 100,000 satellites launched this decade. The profusion of rockets and satellites present collision dangers plus masses of waste orbiting Space. How many space rockets and satellites are sufficient for legitimate purposes of science and how much is overuse with adverse consequences on Earth and Space?”

Laurie is a firm believer in implementing positive change via education. However, the multiple threats to Aotearoa and the world require international solutions. The United Nations blueprint addressing the interrelated problems is the ‘Sustainable Development Goals.’[18] Laurie has been promoting the 17 SDGs as a member of the UNANZ for decades.  

“Part of the problem is that the global economic system does not value the right things and permits detrimental activities for profit making corporations based on cheap labour, wasteful and polluting practices that lacks “full-cost accounting” of social and environmental harm. Political change requires dedicated groups at the grassroots to build support for higher community values. This must be targeted for local council policies, as well as central government MPs and all political parties. The principles for protecting Humanity and Nature from war or degradation are enshrined in the UN Charter, Declaration of Human Rights and UN Treaties, agreed to by governments of 194 nation states. Great ideas for social, cultural and political change start with individuals.”

In a democracy, we can influence the kinds of laws set in place. Policy changes in the agriculture industry can prevent the overgrazing of land for dairy, the overuse of artificial fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides, which pollute our rivers and account for NZ’s major greenhouse gas emissions. Single-use plastic can be banned, or taxed, as has been done in the European Union under ‘the polluter pays’ principle.[19] Such a principle would mitigate the damage caused by companies like Rio Tinto here in Aotearoa, where GHD found 83 per cent of groundwater samples had been contaminated by hazardous waste, exceeding guidelines within the New Zealand Drinking Water Standards and Environment Southland groundwater rules.[20] Rio Tinto has repeatedly promised to clean up, but documents released under the Official Information Act show that they have failed to do so.[21] Enforcement of regulations is needed. Laurie is insistent: “Freedom and peace depend on fairness and justice in an economic system that prioritises social and environmental health and well-being.”  

The views expressed in the posts and comments of this blog do not necessarily reflect those of the Equal Justice Project. They should be understood as the personal opinions of the author. No information on this blog will be understood as official. The Equal Justice Project makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site. The Equal Justice Project will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information.

Featured image source: Pixabay

[1] New Zealand Historical Peace Dates: A Short List. Disarmament & Security Centre, New Zealand. Retrieved from:  http://www.disarmsecure.org/peace-resources/new-zealand-historical-peace-dates-a-short-list

[2] Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones (NWFZ) At a Glance. Arms Control Association. Retrieved from: https://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/nwfz

[3] From a Nuclear-Free New Zealand to a Nuclear-Free World. (2012). John Gallagher, Village Connections. Retrieved from: https://village-connections.com/2012/05/10/tribute-to-larry-ross-1927-2012-from-a-nuclear-free-new-zealand-to-a-nuclear-free-world/

[4] Nuclear Free: The New Zealand Way. (1990). David Lange, Penguin Books.

[5] If Climate Change is a New ‘Nuclear-Free Moment,’ Will NZ Abandon the Pacific as it did then? (2021). Mai’iai, K.A., de Jong, M, The Spinoff. Retrieved from: https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/04-11-2021/if-climate-change-is-a-new-nuclear-free-moment-will-nz-abandon-the-pacific-as-it-did-then/

[6] United Nations General Assembly, Elements for a Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons. (2016). Retrieved from: https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/OEWG/2016/Documents/WP14.pdf

[7] End of Moratorium Draws Peace Activist into Battle. Sarah Lang, New Zealand Herald. (2003). Retrieved from: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/end-of-moratorium-draws-peace-activist-into-battle/NCIYT6G7J2VMXVR7DFGBA7NZQ4/

[8] What Lies Inside Rocket Lab’s Secret US Military Contracts? Ollie Neas, The Spinoff. (2018). Retrieved from: https://thespinoff.co.nz/business/20-11-2018/what-lies-inside-rocket-labs-secret-us-military-contracts/

[9] Rocket Lab Shares Jump as US Military Funding Confirmed, Chris Keall. New Zealand Herald.  (2021). Retrieved from: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/rocket-lab-shares-jump-as-us-military-funding-confirmed/H7IBEHJ4HMNE734JKWVC74NJ6E/

[10] [10] What Lies Inside Rocket Lab’s Secret US Military Contracts? Ollie Neas, The Spinoff. (2018). Retrieved from: https://thespinoff.co.nz/business/20-11-2018/what-lies-inside-rocket-labs-secret-us-military-contracts/

[11] Mahia Residents Descend on Auckland to Protest Rocket Labs Links with US military. Ollie Neas, The Spinoff. (2021). Retrieved from: https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/21-06-2021/mahia-residents-descend-on-auckland-to-protest-rocket-lab-links-with-us-military/

[12] Outer Space and High-Altitude Activities (Prohibition of Military Hardware Payloads) Amendment Bill. Retrieved from: https://www.parliament.nz/media/8311/outer-space-and-high-altitude-activities-prohibition-of-military-hardware-payloads-amendment-bill.pdf

[13] The Outer Space and High-Altitude Activities Act 2017. Retrieved from: https://www.treasury.govt.nz/publications/risa/regulatory-impact-statement-outer-space-and-high-altitude-activities-act-2017-regulations

[14] Mahia Residents Descend on Auckland to Protest Rocket Lab Links with US Military. (2021). Ollie Neas, The Spinoff. Retrieved from: https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/21-06-2021/mahia-residents-descend-on-auckland-to-protest-rocket-lab-links-with-us-military/

[15] Membership of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, United Nations Fourth Committee. (2016). Retrieved from: https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/media-and-resources/membership-of-the-committee-on-the-peaceful-uses-of-outer-space/

[16] If Climate Change is a New ‘Nuclear-Free Moment,’ will NZ Abandon the Pacific as It Did Then? (2021). Ma’ia’I, K, de Jong, M, The Spinoff. https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/04-11-2021/if-climate-change-is-a-new-nuclear-free-moment-will-nz-abandon-the-pacific-as-it-did-then/

[17] Pentagon Fuel Use, Climate Change, and the Costs of War. Neta Crawford. (2019). Watson Institute: International and Public Affairs, Boston University. Retrieved from: https://watson.brown.edu/costsofwar/files/cow/imce/papers/Pentagon%20Fuel%20Use%2C%20Climate%20Change%20and%20the%20Costs%20of%20War%20Revised%20November%202019%20Crawford.pdf

[18] UN Sustainable Development Goals. Retrieved from: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/news/communications-material/

[19] Directive of the European Parliament on the reduction of the impact of certain products on the environment. (2019). Retrieved from: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/LSU/?uri=CELEX:32019L0904

[20] Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter Site Contamination Results 'might cause concern for people,' (2021). Che Baker, Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved from: https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/126696810/tiwai-point-aluminium-smelter-site-contamination-results-might-cause-concern-for-people

Environment Southland Won't Release Independent Monitoring Report for Tiwai Point. (2021). Rachael Kelly, Stuff.co.nz. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/126709805/environment-southland-wont-release-independent-monitoring-report-for-tiwai-point?rm=a

[21] Smelter repeats promise to clean up waste, as papers show it rejected a Govt offer to help. (2021). Tom Pullar-Strecker. Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved from: https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/124926887/smelter-repeats-promise-to-clean-up-waste-as-papers-show-it-rejected-a-govt-offer-to-help?rm=a