* Voices from Australia and the Pacific Speak Out
* Pacific Peace Conference ‘Calling for a Peaceful Pacific’ – Brisbane Saturday 29th July 8.30 am – 4.00 pm Qld Council of Unions 16 Peel St South Brisbane
“With the biggest Talisman Sabre biennial multinational military exercise underway and the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinkin meeting our Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during AUSMIN talks in Brisbane, this represents a critical time for Australians to be vocal about our future”, said IPAN Chairperson Annette Brownlie.
“The merging of Australian foreign policy with that of the U.S. also affects people throughout the Pacific, many of whose countries have areas occupied by the U.S. Military”
A range of international speakers from countries who are impacted by U.S. military occupation in their country are joining in a Pacific Peace Speaking Tour to Australia beginning Friday 28 July. The speaking tour will take in Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra and Darwin from July 28 until August, and includes the ‘Call for Peace in the Pacific’ one-day conference in Brisbane. https://ipan.org.au/regional-peace-initiatives-and-network/
Peace and Anti-War Activists Monaeka Flores (Guahan/Guam), Shinako Oyakawa (Ryukyu/Okinawa), Anne Pakoa (Vanuatu) and Dr Arama Rata (Aotearoa/NZ) will attend the Brisbane Peace Conference and Speaking Tour to Sydney Canberra and Darwin
Monaeka Flores quote
“The war games in Australia this weekend are intended to prepare Australian and U.S. forces for war with China. In the event of war over Taiwan, we in Guahan are a first strike community where we would be collateral damage as in so many other US led wars”
Dr Arama Rata quote
“Prime Minister Chris Hipkins’ statement that the New Zealand Government is still considering joining AUKUS Pillar II, despite widespread criticism of the pact, is reckless. Any involvement in AUKUS would ramp-up militarism, and make our region less safe. AUKUS is a betrayal of New Zealand’s antinuclear stance, and our commitment to independent, Pacific-led foreign policy.”
“Strong messages will be delivered by these and other speakers at the Brisbane Conference calling for de-escalation of conflict in the Asia Pacific Region for our leaders to focus on cooperation not competition, in order to address the urgent issues of a warming planet and support efforts for peace”, stated Ms Brownlie.
Other speakers at the Brisbane Conference include:
Senator David Shoebridge will be speaking in support of the IPAN call to Chart our Own Course towards an Independent and Peaceful Australia as expressed in the IPAN People’s Inquiry report tabled in the Senate in November 2022
Professor Richard Tanter, Nautilus Institute, will address the issues of AUKUS and the Force Posture Agreement signing away Australian control over our lands and foreign policy.
Michelle Maloney, Australian Earth Laws Alliance, will speak to the environmental impacts of wars and war preparedness
Karina Lester, Chairperson, Tjayuwara Unmuru Aboriginal Corporation, will address the 70 years long legacy of the British Atomic tests in Australia
Dr Tiana Hippolite President Pasifika Women’s Alliance represents the large Pacific community in South East Qld.
Dimity Hawkins AM Co-founder of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) will address opposition to nuclear weapons testing in the Pacific and the call for Australia to sign the Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) a key election promise by the Labor Party in the lead up to the 2022 election.
For more information and to arrange media interviews with speakers, contact Annette Brownlie (Media Liaison) 0431 597 256 Email: ipan.australia@gmail.com
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