Just Peace
Brisbane city square hosted a group of 50 to mark the Global Day of
Action on Military Spending. With the Australian budget day looming we
called for an end to spending plans for submarines fighter jets and
allowing the United States to build permanent bases in Australia.
Speakers from the Medical Assn for Prevention of War, the Australian
Greens Senator Larissa Waters, the Catholic Commission for Justice and
Peace, Just Peace, Believing Women for a Culture of Peace, Womens
International League for Peace and Freedom and Friends of the Earth.
Music for the morning provided by folk singer Dermot Dorgan.
We had good media interest with ABC, SBS and television.
As part of the campaign we wrote to school P&Cs asking parents to
take action calling for more funding for schools and less for preparing
for war. We also had t-shirts printed for the day with messages to
provide a focus on the day.
Just Peace was the principal organizing group with support from all
above. This second year of working internationally on military spending
has been very worthwhile, particularly in the context of campaigning for
an Independent Peaceful and Just Australia, as we work to overturn the
decision to host any foreign military forces on Australian soil.
Peace Movement Aotearoa organized different events in New Zealand. Pictures of the actions are available here.