Pacific Peace Conference and Speaking Tour – Brisbane Report
Liz Ridley
The pacific Peace Conference and Speaking Tour is off and running. The Pacific delegates from Guahan Ryukyu Aotearoa were welcomed at the Qld Nurses and Midwives Union on Friday lunch time followed by a Fireside Gathering and Welcome meal at the Aboriginal Sovereign Embassy fire.
On Saturday The “Calling for a Peaceful Pacific” Conference was held in Brisbane uniting people across the Asia Pacific in solidarity and activism against the escalating militarisation of the region.
First Nations’ women, Monaeka Flores (Guåhan) and Shinako Oyakama (Okinawa), Arama Rata (Aotearoa), Karina Lester (South Australia), and Tiana Hippolite (Pacific Diaspora), spoke clearly to over 80 conference attendees about the destructive impact of imperialism, colonisation and war, and the exploitation of their people and environment through nuclear testing, establishment of US military bases, military exercises on their lands, and war waste, as well as their people’s resistance and activism in opposition to the continuing occupation of their lands for military purpose.
Non-indigenous panellists, A/Prof. Richard Tanter (lecturer on nuclear weapons), Michelle Maloney (Australian Earth Laws Alliance), Dimity Hawkins (co-founder of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons), and Greens Senator David Shoebridge spoke of successive Australian governments’ complicity in this exploitation by Australia’s role as a sub imperial military power in support of a dominating USA and UK “rules-based order” in the region; the lack of democratic decision making about Australian military policy and practices; and the limitation on opposing voices in the Australian mainstream media.
The panellists noted the expansion of Australia’s military complex using public funds, including AUKUS and the nuclear submarine deal, expansion of the Tindal RAAF base for USA B52 bombers, planned purchase of long-range missiles with strike capability, Talisman Sabre and Rim of the Pacific Exercises, which has turned Australia’s defence into offence without public consultation and debate. There was consensus at the conference on the importance of First Nations’ Peoples sovereignty as well as youth engagement, linking the peace movement to their actions for environmental protection; supporting unions in opposition to AUKUS and east coast nuclear submarine ports; to pressure government to sign the NuclearBan Treaty; and to oppose Australia’s expanding industrial military complex and involvement in war through engagement in public debate on peace and environmental protection.
On Sunday morning a speak out was held at the gates of the Qld Enoggera Army Barracks where banners about Peace, AUKUS and nuclear Subs and messaging was well received by passing motorists.
Now Monaeka and Shinako are participating in forums and meetings with community and political representative in Sydney Canberra and Darwin. We thank them and other guests who contributed to this event organised during the largest ever Talisman Sabre exercises of over 30 thousand military personnel rehearsing for war.
The conference statement unanimously supported follows:
Pacific Peace Conference statement Saturday July 29th 2023
From this conference we stand together for Peace throughout the Pacific and the world. People in all pacific states and countries demand the right to genuine security which includes removing the threats of War, catastrophic climate change impacts, injustice and discrimination and to address the rights of indigenous people.
We call for cooperation not competition to achieve genuine security and an end to the military exercise Talisman Sabre currently underway in Australia where 30T military personnel are rehearsing for war.
We commit to growing our knowledge understandings connections and friendships among the people who share the waters of the Pacific Ocean.