Groundswell for peace

Two impressive demonstrations against the bombing of Afghanistan took 
place in Adelaide last week. On Monday last week, over 200 gathered on the 
steps of Parliament House at very short notice to show opposition to the 
war on the first day of bombing of the impoverished country.

On Saturday, over 2000 met in Victoria Square before marching via the 
Commonwealth Bank, which houses the offices of numerous Federal 
politicians, and finally to State Parliament.

Don Jarrett of the Australian Peace Committee shared his remembrances of 
the many issues that have brought him onto the streets since coming to 
Adelaide as a young student. There has been a common theme in all of these 
issues, he said. The theme is the drive of the US to expand the control of 
transnational corporations over the world economy.

Kate Farrell, Greens Senate Federal election candidate, said that the US 
must be made to cooperate globally and not dominate globally. She drew 
attention to Bob Brown's motion in Parliament calling for tolerance and the 
use of diplomatic means to overcome the present tensions in the world. He 
also condemned the erosion of civil rights taking place and the expansion 
of ASIO's powers.

Eman on behalf of the Muslim Students' Association, spoke movingly about 
the harassment she and her friends have been experiencing since the terror 
bombing. She likened the campaign against her community to terrorism.

She said that hers is a peace loving community whose members exchange the 
greeting "asalam ewalekom" (peace be upon you) with full awareness of the 
meaning.

Andy Alcock, long time campaigner for an independent East Timor, quoted 
Xanana Gusmao in connection with recent events: "We're involved in a war of 
a different kind — this current one is wrong-headed — we're involved in a 
war against global social injustice".

Trades and Labor Council Secretary Chris White called on those present not 
to be distracted by the warmongering from the issues to be decided upon at 
the elections of November 10 — questions of poverty and declining living 
standards.

Other speakers included Lisa Lyons of the Refugee Action Collective and the 
Imam of Adelaide's mosque who thanked the people gathered at the rally for 
their display of compassion.

Other rallies and protests organised by the Network Opposing War and Racism 
(NOWAR) took place around Australia last weekend. In Sydney 4000-5000 
people assembled in Town Hall Square then marched to Martin Place to the US 
Consulate. Speakers included the State Secretary of the Construction 
Division of the CFMEU, Andrew Ferguson, Lee Rhiannon (The Greens) and 
Warren Smith (CPA).

In Fremantle 500 people gathered in Pioneer Park where speakers included 
Greens Senate candidate in the Federal election, Rachel Siewert, and Judy 
Blyth from NOWAR. There is also an ongoing weekly protest at Perth Railway 
Station, each Tuesday at 4.30pm.

Brisbane's main rally will be next Saturday, October 20, at 11am outside 
the Australian Defence Force Recruitment Office, in Edward Street, followed 
by a march to the offices of arms manufacturer Boeing Industries in the 
city. Last Friday, October 12, there was a lively march through the city 
centre by around 300 people.

In Melbourne, 1000-2000 people marched from the Arts Centre, with street 
theatre being performed on a mock-up missile float through the city to the 
US Consulate in St Kilda Road.

Speakers included Pamela Kerr from the Greens who spoke of her experience 
of living in Afghanistan and of the people she knew, who were now being 
bombed by the US and British. Speakers also raised the dangers posed by the 
USA's National Missile Defence.

A rally on Sunday sponsored by Melbourne women's groups and attended by 
upwards of 2000, protested against the bombing and the discrimination 
against women in the community. The rally assembled at Parliament House and 
marched to the Treasury Gardens.

Watch for advertisements in your city for future actions.