For the second year in a row, peace activists are returning to the Swan Island Military Base in Queenscliff Victoria for a week of nonviolently resisting the Afghan War and Australia’s role in it through peaceful direct action. Swan Island Military base is a key training facility for the SAS who continue to fight and kill in Afghanistan in Australia’s name. The SAS are a key plank in our contribution to U.S. imperialism through the ANZUS alliance. Swan Island is also a key facility for ASIS, Australia’s oversea’s intelligence body.
Many of us feel powerless in the face of an unjust war, but this is our chance to get alongside our brothers and sisters in Afghanistan, and learn how we can help and raise our voices.
The week running from Sunday 23rd September to Thursday 27th September 2012 will include:
- Nonviolence training
- Creative direct action to blockade the bridge to Swan Island military base where SAS troops are trained for active combat in Afghanistan.
- Engagement with the Queenscliff community
- Peace vigils
- Workshops on the Afghan War and Australia’s role in it, Australia’s role in the U.S. alliance and the rising military tensions in the Asia Pacific between the U.S. and China.
Let the government know that indefinite war will lead to indefinite resistance!
Make your provision booking for accomodation here
swanislandpeace.org
I am Davey Hellers Mum and interested to participate in Peace protest.
That’s great Liz – check out the link called “book accommodation” above. If you could put your details into the form that’d be great, so we can organise accommodation, food etc. Look forward to meeting you!
Simon
On hearing the Rev. Moyle on radio this morning (25th September) I find it reprehensible that one who calls himself a Baptist Minister tried to justify the use of children in a political demonstration. As a Baptist I believe this flies in the face of one of the principles of the Baptist Church in as much those wishing to be baptised into the Church should be of an age whereby they are able to make a personal and logical decision, knowing the facts and consequences of their actions.
It was mentioned that there were a number of children involved and who, purely by their age, are obviously unable to make such a conscious decision. Thus I believe the use of such children is a blatant misuse of them by the organisers of this “convergence” or more to the point an “Anti-Afghanistan War Demonstration”
Peter, are we not to “teach a child in the way that they should go, and when old they will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6)? Christ, the prince of Peace, abhors war and embodies active nonviolence, and teaches us as the church to follow him in that way. As parents, it is insulting to say we would “use” our children in the way you imply. To such as these belongs the Kingdom of God, and so we seek to learn from them what God’s peaceable Kingdom looks like. These children have friends in Afghanistan who are also children, and the children of Afghanistan are asking us to end the foreign occupation which is terrorising them and fuelling the conflict. Why would we refuse their participation in that? What would that communicate to our children about our convictions as followers of Christ?
They were not at the blockade when police tried to remove us, we only brought them down when the police gave up trying and the gate space turned into a place of celebration and gameplaying. Even the police said they were impressed with the way we engaged the children. So if police, who were there, were fine with what we did, I don’t think your take holds much water, particularly as you weren’t there and didn’t see any of it.
Could I suggest, as a brother in Christ, that if you have concerns you address them as questions rather than unfounded accusations? Having correct information rather than projecting your own fears can allay the genuine, reasonable concerns you express. I’m happy to meet up if you’d like to allay those concerns further in a face to face context.
In response to children being “used” obviously they did not participate in the initial blockade. However they did participate creatively by making banners, flying kites in solidarity with Afghan children and other activities appropriate to their age.
One thing you seemed to be missing is that the entire week has been non-violent by us and the police. Lastly even a child knows violence is bad, and war is bad. They had the choice to participate and all children had their parents present at the time. One thing that has amazed me from this experience is a 9 year old who has a better social conscious than most adults. As a Christian I’m surprised at how judgemental you’ve been but hey, we’re all entitled to our opinions but when I have children I will have them with me a future Swan Island Peace Convergence-es.
Peace.