MAPW raises nuclear awareness at national peace events on Palm Sunday
SUNDAY 5 APRIL 2009. MAPW speakers were guests at successful Palm Sunday rallies in both Melbourne and Sydney, with Tasmanian members coordinating a Palm Sunday vigil in Hobart.
In Melbourne, ICANi organiser Jessica Morrison chaired the peace event. Speakers included MAPW Vice President and ICAN Board member Dr Ruth Mitchell.
Dr Mitchell spoke about abolishing nuclear weapons, most of which are on high trigger alert and available for immediate deployment by the US and Russia. She highlighted the environmental impact of nuclear weapons, and the great carbon cost of keeping the weapon systems running.
- View Dr Mitchell’s speech on YouTube
- Read Dr Mitchell’s speech at Sydney Indymedia
Other speakers included Rahmat Amiri, an Afghani calling on Australia to stop supporting war in Aghanistan. Palestinian Reem Yunis and army veteran Chip Henriss both condemned the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
- View Chip Henriss' speech on YouTube
Members carried the MAPW banner on a march through Melbourne. The rally ended at the Bourke Street mall with a minute’s silence and a “die-in”, where Ms Morrison read through a list of current conflicts and members of the rally lay down in symbolic gestures as each war was called out.
In Sydney, MAPW President Dr Sue Wareham spoke on resolving global conflict, notably in Afghanistan and Palestine.
In Hobart, MAPW Tasmania (Medact) organised a Saturday vigil.
For further information and pictures, please visit:
Melbourne Protests
ICAN
ICAN Flickr
Japanese for Peace
The Melbourne event was sponsored by Victorian Council of Churches and Committee for International Cooperation and Disarmament.
