Soldiers Without Guns

As one of the many peacekeepers that took part in this campaign I watched the movie with much interest. The account was very factual and brought many memories back to me of the time I had in Bougainville. It is a credit to Will Watson and his team and well worth a watch by all age groups.

I have seen this film twice and each time came away with the feeling that the whole world should see it. I have recommended it to many other people and hope that its message will spread through our comunities.

There must be a way for this type of responce to conflict to be used in many other places.

I would like to think that our entire government and opposition members of parliament could be persuaded to see it and to meet with those involved.

New Zealand could lead a whole new era of the resolving of conflicts. We are well respected around the world for our way of dealing with religious and racial conflict. This could be another way to lead the nations to a more peaceful world for future generations.

Penelope Isherwood

The movie is a most excellent historical record assembled and now on show as the movie Soldiers without guns. It is obviously a work of passion by the director. I sat with a mother daughter and grand daughter from Bougainville who were very emotional at what they were seeing and hearing. All she and her family could say throughout the movie was 'thank you thank you thank you. My cultural values were to be tested. Indigenous to indigenous was the missing component in the previous 14 failed peace agreements. We thought similar to them, we had similar protocols we had values which they recognised. We connected we trusted we achieved the unthinkable. A peaceful resolution that remains in place 10 years later. Our cultural integrity was enhanced along with theirs. Our military and government risks were rewarded. Now is the time to celebrate this wonderful blend and successful conclusion.

This film is the best kind of rollercoaster ride. It's powerful, heartbreaking, heartwarming, humourous and gives so much inspiration and hope for what's possible in creating peace. The archive footage collected over 13 years is incredible, Lucy Lawless's narration is velvety smooth and the all NZ soundtrack makes it super special too. Everyone I have talked to who has watched the film - raves about it. Go see it.

This documentary is important, not only for New Zealanders but globally. It shows how the military can be used in a new way to bring peace around the world. Unfortunately there are not that many countries in the world that could have pulled this off. Most countries are controlled by psycopathic power hungry leaders, and have military forces full of young men raised on violent video games who now think war is cool and macho. Yet this documentary is about hope, that their is a way forward for humanity when their is a will to do so.