nuclear-news

New Zealand art show a reminder of that country’s proud anti nuclear history

Her first-hand experiences and those of her fellow protesters feature in an anti-nuclear exhibition called Blast! Pat Hanly – The Painter and His Protests, on now at the Voyager New Zealand Maritime Museum….. Blast! is a travelling exhibition featuring the paintings
of anti-nuclear artist Pat Hanly and his wife Gil Hanly’s photographs.

Memories of anti-nuclear era Western Leader, Auckland NZ NICOLA MURPHY 19 July 12, PEACE PROTESTER: Jody Lusk doesn’t regret participating in New Zealand’s anti-nuclear protests, despite getting injured after attacks by French police.

Jody Lusk was a naive 24-year-old when she headed to Mururoa atoll to
protest against nuclear tests in 1985.

She had never been a part of such a movement. But she was angry at the
French for what they had done to the Rainbow Warrior and she wanted to
do something about it.

This month is the the 27th anniversary of the Rainbow Warrior bombing.

It also marks 25 years since New Zealand passed nuclear-free legislation.

Ms Lusk was on the brigantine Breeze which travelled to Mururoa, the
site of French nuclear testing in the Pacific in 1985.

“We were sailing into the unknown,” she says.

“But it galvanised a lot of people into action.”

She celebrated along with other Kiwis when nuclear-free legislation
was passed in 1987, though that did not mean the end of the testing.

Ms Lusk got involved again in 1995 when she joined peaceful protesters
on the MV Greenpeace, which was descended on by French police.

She was dragged from the ship, resulting in a serious spinal injury
that took six months to heal.

Her first-hand experiences and those of her fellow protesters feature in an anti-nuclear exhibition called Blast! Pat Hanly – The Painter and His Protests, on now at the Voyager New Zealand Maritime Museum….. Blast! is a travelling exhibition featuring the paintings
of anti-nuclear artist Pat Hanly and his wife Gil Hanly’s photographs.

The museum has added several pictures from its own collection to
supplement the display, including Brian Latham’s photos of the
brigantine Breeze….. The mother-of-two encourages people who know
little about New Zealand’s anti-nuclear journey to check Blast!

“I worry that history may be lost through apathy or lack of
knowledge,” she says.

Museum business development manager Philip McGowan says the exhibition
highlights an important part of New Zealand’s history.

“It’s such fantastic artwork and supplementing it with photos is a
nice combination.”
http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/western-leader/7307239/Memories-of-anti-nuclear-era
The exhibition runs in the Edmiston Gallery at the Maritime Museum
until November 13.

July 19, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | history, New Zealand