More war cries from a dying government. Say no!

Tell Kevin Andrews, Minister of Defence: don’t bomb Syrians.

As we watch heart breaking stories of Syrian refugees walking to Macedonia, our Prime Minister is gunning to spend more of our tax dollars to bomb Syria. And it won’t stop IS.

Bombing means more civilians die, less of our tax spent on Australians and a step backwards for a peaceful and secure world, all to save Abbott’s sinking ship of a government. What a deadly, self-serving tactic!

We tried calling Kevin Andrews in Canberra on (02) 6277 7800 and at his
electoral office in Doncaster, Melbourne on (03) 9848 9900 but got a Ministerial snub – they hung up on us.

So let’s all email bomb his office to show we won’t be silenced. You can still call, but be prepared not to be listened to!

Read more here …

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16 Shoalwater Peace Pilgrims, 6 Groups, 100 Stories…

Peace Convergence  2015

Independence from America day, peace pilgrimages, a world premiere of David Bradbury’s documentary ‘War on Trial’, a talk and protest action with peace activist Prof. Kozue Akiyabashi, head of Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, the Yapoon Peace Parade and much more formed Peace Convergence 2015.

Sixteen people in six groups made peace pilgrimages into Talisman Sabre live military training area.

We went through sixteen court cases for trespass charges, sending sixteen powerful messages of nonviolent civil disobedience for peace.

Inside, pilgrims held holy communion, tea and lamingtons and had many conversations with soldiers about the importance of peace and dialogue to solve conflict and war.

Together, Peace Convergence successfully challenged the Australian, U.S, Japanese military alliance by highlighting the human, environmental and economic costs of war.

Peace Convergence sent a powerful message against Talisman Sabre which included Japanese forces for the first time. We drew attention to its ‘sabre waving’ amidst rising tensions with China, one of Australia’s most important trade partners. Our message saw Tony Abbott MHR react by calling China ‘our friend’ on his visit to Talisman Sabre in Darwin.

Peace Convergence brought together peace activists and groups from all over Australia. We built community. We engaged positively with the Rockhampton community via our community program, which included a flash mob of song during the Riverside music festival and a peace parade.

We beat swords into ‘tea cups’ and ‘hats’ in the media and in the training area!

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Peace Convergence 2015 Rockhampton community program.

 About Peace Convergence

Peace Convergence is a coalition of individuals and diverse peace and justice groups who share common values:

• We are opposed to the human, economic and environmental costs of war
• We question the value of the military alliance between Australia and the U.S. for our regional security
• We view the Talisman Sabre exercises as  aggressive military posturing by the U.S. that threatens our regional security. War makes us less secure.
• We model non-violence as an alternative to the organised mass violence of the military
• We recognise that Talisman Sabre military exercises take place on stolen Aboriginal land and view the US alliance as furthering the process of colonisation.

 Opposing Talisman Sabre war exercises

Talisman Sabre is a joint US-Australian military exercise that takes place every two years in Australia, primarily on the Queensland coast at Shoalwater Bay, north of Rockhampton. It’s the biggest war exercise in the Southern Hemisphere.

Talisman Sabre 2015 involved 34,000 U.S. and Australian personnel (22,000 U.S. and 12,000 Aussie) engaged in nuclear-weapons-capable land, sea and air warfare practice. It costs Australians between $15 and $20 million.

Exercises are designed to increase “inter-operability” between the US and Australian forces. This year, Japan & NZ participated. It is a show of US might in the region and Australia’s support for it. It is war making and war preparation, and not a game.

Every two years, people from around Australia make the journey to the Shoalwater region to join the local community in opposing these war rehearsals, as Peace Convergence.  Along with community events and peace pilgrimages into the training area, we run a strong social media and online campaign as well as local, national and international media. Everyone is welcome!

Why Oppose Talisman Sabre

 Join us

The next Peace Convergence will be in July 2017. Plan a pilgrimage, support activists, come for a day, a week or a fortnight – whatever time you want to give to peace activism.

Come to Rockhampton in the weeks before if you can and help prepare and organise actions.

Make contact: Graeme Dunstan 0407 951 688 / graemed01@gmail.com or Greg Rolles 0439 823 898 / greg_rolles@hotmail.com

 Be part of the movement by staying connected with us  – sign up here!