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Nonviolent Resistance in Australia to U.S. War on Afghanistan international |
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 Tuesday July 05, 2011 12:23 by Solidarity
 Nonviolent Resistance to Operation Talisman Sabre 2011 and U.S./Australian war on Afghanistan Every two years, 20,000 U.S. miitary arrive for live fire joint exercises "Operation Talisman Sabre" with approx 7,000 Australian troops, primarily based in central Queensland but also involving bases throughoout Australia and the U.S. Australia has a long history of seeking peace and security in the service of empire - British & U.S.. This has taken Australians to Aotearoa, Sudan, South Africa, Gallipoi, Malaysia, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan to kill and die in imperial wars that hav nothing to do with the defense of Australia. OperatiOn Talisman Sabre has become a time of focus for nonviolent resistance to U.S./Australian War on Afghanistan. Some folks have travelled to Rockhampton, central Quensland to take action, while others are focused on an SAS Base at Swan sland near Melbourne. Swan Island Peace Convergence Day 2: Four activists arrested blockading base |
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Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7INTERVIEW (2 mins) with Rev. Simon Moyle
http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2011/07/05/....html
7pm, 5 July 2011
Four Swan Island Military Base Protestors arrested and face court today
On the day that the 28th soldier death was announced, a group of protestors picketed the Swan Island military base in Queenscliff to demand that Australia end its involvement in the war in Afghanistan. Four of the group were arrested.
The four protestors who are part of the 2011 Swan Island Peace Convergence were charged with Hindering Police and Obstructing a Roadway. All charges were heard today in the Geelong Magistrate Court. All were convicted on the charges but no penalty was recorded.
Magistrate McGarvie stated that she took into account of the impassioned statements against the war of the defendants and that their position had much public support.
Arrestee Simon Moyle, a Baptist Minister aged 34, stated:
“Ten years to this war it has created nothing but death and destruction. Passive opinions have changed nothing, it is clear civil disobedience is now necessary to take a stand against the war.”
Arrestee Sharon Turley, aged 28, a professional musician from Adelaide stated:
“While we continue to wage war true peace is impossible. I am just an ordinary person standing in solidarity with the forgotten victims of this war.”
Arrestee Jarod McKenna, preacher and peace award recipient aged 30, stated:
“I don’t think we can underestimate the significance of the Magistrate’s decision to add yet another precedent for resisting this unwinnable war, coinciding with the death of another Australian soldier”.
The fourth arrestee was Carole Powell a nurse aged 57. In court she shared emotionally about the effect of caring for injured military personal.
The Swan Island Peace Convergence will continue until Friday with plans to continue to blockade the base each day. More arrests are expected.
Photos of Blockade of Swan Island
http://swanislandpeace.org/convergence-2011/
While they pursue their hi-tech assault and invasion of an underdeveloped state(already destroyed from the 'West' feeding support to the very Islamic fundamentalists being scapegoated as the excuse for their 'war on terrror')they continue to turn away refugees from their war zones who try to enter Australian waters under atrocious conditions. Many being Afghan and Pakistani. Reminds me of forty years ago when they were up to their knees in Viet Nam even as they deported Asians.
Meantime the other end of NATO, the bit re-running its Suez-type agenda(same players, Brits n French n Israelis) in Libya cos Gadaffy aint 'our sonofabitch'(ditto Nasser in '56), closes the Schengen free-passage across Europe so refugees from their predations in North Africa are left locked in a new gulag of safely offshored concentration camps.
Make ya proud to be white n European. Cleverest monkey ever fell out of its tree.
Hi friends
We've just finished an amazing week of direct action and community building at Queenscliff near Swan Island. (Victoroa, Australia).
About 60 people took part in the various activities in the week.
There are stacks of blog posts, media releases (ie facts!), pictures and videos on our website:
www.swanislandpeace.org
Thanks to all who were part of it and supported from afar!
Jessica
YOUTUBE (3 mins) Australian Catholic Workers Gatecrash Talisman Sabre Military Exercises Open Day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAF4Kmj4U_E
Jim Dowling and Anne Rampa from the Brisbane Catholic Worker together with young people from the St Francis Farm Catholic Worker New Zealand speak out at a Military open Day amongst 8000 Rockhampton locals AND the US ambassador to Australia.
The Open Day was part of the Talisman Sabre Military Exercises and preparation for war occurring in Rockhampton Northern Australia: The largest US military exercises held anywhere in the world.
Other activists were not permitted entry.
Jim was evicted.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAF4Kmj4U_E
The war games and resistance continue.
for more information
Facebook group: Peace Convergence 2011
http://www.peaceconvergence.com
http://www.cairnspeacebypeace.org
28th. digger killed in Afghanistan
http://au.news.yahoo.com/latest/a/-/article/9823386/fal...home/
corrected youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAF4Kmj4U_E
YOUTUBE (3mins)
Bernie Pat Maloney arrested/ held in Rocky cop shop for blockading U.S./OZ Talisman Sabre military exercises (Queensland, Australia)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7MhgE_pm2o&feature=play...edded