It is an effort to bring about an end to abortion and offer hope to abortion vulnerable.

The vigil is coordinated by Family Life International (F.L.I), a Catholic pro-life and pro-family organisation that provides practical help to all women and girls facing an unplanned pregnancy.

Family Life International says 40 Days for Life runs in 40 countries across more than 600 cities and is known to have saved 12,668 lives and resulted in 83 abortion centre closures worldwide.

This year, for the first time, 40 Days for Life vigils in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch are running 12 hours a day, every day for 40 consecutive days.

This makes it the largest 40 Days for Life mobilisation ever seen in New Zealand.

It is the the fourth time it has occurred in Auckland.

And it is the second year that Michael Loretz has been the organiser there.

He says it's an "an awesome responsibility and privilege to give a public witness and to provide community outreach to vulnerable women in an effort to end the tragedy of abortion in our community."

The vigil is being held outside the Auckland Medical Aid Centre (AMAC) in Dominion Road.

Loretz admits that "there have been tensions but the relationship seems to be civil most of the time."

His hopes for this year's vigil is "that hearts and minds will turn to God and that respect for life and a culture of life will return to our collective consciousness…It would be marvellous if a baby were saved."

General Manager of AMAC, Lesley Wood, feels that the vigil is "futile & unchristian".

Wood said the vigils have "no affect what so ever on the business," adding "it can make others angry and even more determined to exercise their legal rights."

Source

• fli.org.nz
• newsbeat.kiwi
• Image: newsbeat.kiwi

The vigils are among those to be held around New Zealand at 5pm on March 5 under the auspices of Peace Movement Aotearoa.

They will call for increased humanitarian assistance and diplomatic support for Middle East peace processes, as well as opposing military deployment.

Last week, Prime Minister John Key announced the deployment of up to 143 New Zealand military personnel to support training for Iraqi forces.

This is part of action against the Islamic State.

Other church-based organisations to arrange vigils on March 5 include the Quakers in Hamilton, Kapiti, Golden Bay and Nelson.

Further vigils have been confirmed for Auckland - at Aotea Square - and Wellington - at the Cenotaph.

Details of vigils in other towns and cities will be announced online when they are confirmed.

People who don't have a vigil in their area are advised to gather friends and family at 5pm on March 5.

At these gatherings, they are asked to light a candle for peace, and to take a photo of their gathering displaying the message "'Military deployment in Iraq? Not in our name".

The photo can be posted online.

On February 11, Peace Movement Aotearoa released an open letter opposing military deployment to Iraq and Syria.

New Zealand's Catholic bishops released a statement last week giving support to the New Zealand government's deployment of military trainers in Iraq.

The bishops stated that action against an unjust aggressor is justified.

Sources

• Scoop
• NZCBC
• Image: Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice