It is my belief that we are witnessing the awakening of peoplekind, the fall of the old world regimes and our emergence into one global family of love and peace, fully aware of the awe and reverence that we hold for Nature in her myriad forms, and in celebration of the rich diversity of the world's people.

I offer just two reflections on the nature of the world--Vandana Shiva on current global reality and a glimpse of the "Nation of Gardeners" that is our heritage from the ancient people of Aotea Roa, the Waitaha.

"The earth is our mother. We are born of her. We are her children." - Vandana Shiva

"At 10:30 a.m. on 18th September, I was with Laxmi, Raibari, Suranam in Jhodia Sahi village in Kashipur district in Orissa. Laxmi's husband Ghabi Jhodia was among the 20 tribals who have recently died of starvation In the same village Subarna Jhodia had also died. Later we met Singari in Bilamal village who has lost her husband Sadha, elder son Surat, younger son Paila and daughter- in-law Sulami.

The deliberate denial of food to the hungry is at the core of the World Bank Structural Adjustment programmes. Dismantling the Public Distribution System (PDS) was a World Bank conditionality. The food security of the nation is collapsing. While observing 2 minutes silence in the midst of tribal families who are victims of starvation even while 60 million tonnes are rotting in the godowns, I could not help but think of economic policies which push people into poverty and starvation as a form of terrorism.

Kashipur was gifted with abundance of nature. Starvation does not belong here. It is the result of waves of violence against nature and the tribal communities. Twenty years ago, the pulp and paper industry raped the forests of Kashipur. Today the herbs stand naked,

The terrorism of the pulp industry has already left the region devastated. Now the giant mining companies have unleashed a new wave terror. They are eyeing the bauxite in the majestic hills of Kashipur. Bauxite is used for aluminium - aluminium that will go to make Coca Cola cans and fighter planes.

The Aluminium companies want the homelands of the Kashipur tribals. But tribals of Kashipur refuse to leave their homes. They are defending the land and earth - through a non-violent resistance movement ; the movement for the Protection of Nature and People". As Mukta Jhodia, an elderly woman leader of the movement said at a rally on 18th in Kashipur, "The earth is our mother. We are born of her. We are her children."

Fifty million tribals who have been flooded out of their homes by dams over the past 4 decades were also victims of terrorism - they have faced the terror of technology and destructive development.

Terrorism can only be stopped by cultures of peace, democracy, and people's security. The real conflict is between citizens across the world longing to live in peace and security and forces of violence and terror - denying them peace and security.

The tribals in Jhodia Sahi had lit a lamp for me at the village shrine - a small stone. These tribal shrines are insignificant when one measures them in physical terms against the twin towers of the World Trade Centre. But they are spiritually deeply significant because they embody a generous cosmology of peace - peace with the earth, peace between people, peace within people. This is the culture of peace we need to reclaim, and spread. We can turn this tragic brutal historical moment into building cultures of peace."

"If we are not gentle with life, the garden within us dies." From "The Song of the Waitaha"

"When we raise children with the Wairau to hear the plants grow and open their minds to touch the stars; that is Waitaha.

When our mara (gardens) cover the nakedness of Papatuanuku(Mother Earth) with the peace of Rongo Marae Roa (God of Peace) and the kumara are abundant; that is Waitaha.

When the waters are shaped to nuture fish, and birds are plentiful; that is Waitaha.

When Arai Te Uru sails again and again with kumara for the nation; that is Waitaha."

I continue to celebrate that here in Christchurch,Canterbury and NZ we are birthing a new, peaceful and sustainable world. Towns and districts all over Canterbury are rejecting rubbish landfills and are creating resource recovery parks and education centres based on the Reduce Reuse Recycle ethos. Each new resource recovery park is challenging Christchurch City ever more strongly to re-think its arcane superdump ideology. It's major proponent only just survived this election!

People are galvanised against the introduction of genetically engineered food into our culture and eco-systems. We are aware that it has zero benefit to us, and is simply another form of violent terrorism by global corporates and their governments bent on environmental and social destruction and whose use-by dates are long past. At the time of writing we wait to hear wether our Government is "of the people, by the people, for the people" or in Vandana Shiva's words "government of the people, by puppets, for the global corporates."

Despite a precarious funding environment of meagre morsels from the old authorities, our organic movement is growing strong in our region. Canterbury Organics has established itself as the certification authority of the small organic farmer and gardener and shall soon be an incorporated society. Christchurch Community Gardens are expanding rapidly and their association has recently employed a field worker and ...???. Kid's Edible Gardens is set to become a model for organic and environmental education throughout the country.

Our local branch of Soil and Health held another successful organic seedling sale, thanks to the spirited effort of Diana and our team of propogators. Our literature is being sought and stocked by leading plant nurseries. Lea has developed a number of new booklets on organic techniques. Our display at Gardenz was again a real success and worm farming received excellent exposure at the event.

It is from these energies and principled actions that the tree of life shall blossom into the flower of peace in our region and on Earth.