Australia's Defence White Paper is currently open for comment. Individual or organisational submissions can be made. Public meetings are currently being held around the country (no bookings required). You can make a written submission and send it in or hand it up at a meeting.  Details and schedule are available at: http://www.defence.gov.au/whitepaper

Western Australian member Peter Masters passed away on 28 July. He was 88 years old, and active in mind and spirit right to the last. He will be especially missed by MAPW members and supporters in Western Australia and around Australia.

Thanks to Judy Blyth for sharing with us this inspiring obituary.

English born and trained, Peter's early practice of medicine was in WW2 as a Medical Officer serving in India, Burma and Singapore. He retired from the Army as a Captain. His war experiences may have conditioned Peter towards the great yearning for peace that he expressed through his life, and which led him to Medical Association for Prevention of War, but I have the feeling that the seed for peace was sown earlier and deeper. It was such an integral part of the being of this quiet, helpful, gentlemanly, thoughtful man with a twinkling sense of humour.

After the war, Peter married Maria to whom he had been engaged for several years. He obtained his Diploma of Child Health, MD qualification and was working as a paediatric pathologist while he and Maria started their own family. He was made a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathology UK - and fortunately for us in W.A., later became Director of Pathology at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children here in Perth. By this time, he and Maria had four children, and their fifth and last child was born in here in 1965.

Peter was made a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australia, and was a member of the Royal College of Physicians. He was the Director of Pathology at PMH for 27 years, and always a kindly and outstandingly capable "boss" who called forth the best from his staff by his dedication and considerate ways. He introduced the Guthrie Test to WA. The screening of metabolic diseases in the newborn helped prevent many of these diseases.

Retiring in 1985, Peter joined PMH's archival group and through interviewing many past members of the staff, was able to make a great contribution to compiling the hospital's history.

Besides, MAPW, other affiliations of Peter included People for Nuclear Disarmament, the Anglican Social Responsibility Committee (in the early 1980s), and a long term active membership of the ALP. In retirement, Peter became a volunteer lecturer at the Trinity School for Seniors, sharing his profound interest in history and social justice and how these influence current world affairs. He also engaged in community education by contributing to Radio National's Ockham's Razor periodically.

I also want to reflect on Peter in a more personal way as he became my steadfast friend while I worked with MAPW. I first met him at a PND AGM back in 1993. I had been working as a volunteer with PND for some years as its coordinator, and that evening there were many members owed a "Thank you". Of course one was Peter who had responded to my telephoned request to give a talk about nuclear disarmament to a class of secondary students. His traits of sincerity, self-effacement and willingness to help immediately struck me. I hoped then that I would have more to do with this gentlemanly Englishman in future - and I did.

In January 1996, after leaving my role with PND, I was asked to fill the shoes of MAPW (WA) Executive Officer June Lowe for about 6 weeks while she recovered from an illness. My friend June and I plotted how we could share this interesting and challenging job, but this turned out not to be achievable and I somehow became "staff" for the WA Branch for nearly a decade. Throughout those years, Peter became my companion in all things MAPW, always finding time to attend meetings and discuss and advise on arising issues in detail. He was a wonderful friend, adding to my confidence and helping me to grow into the job.

When WA was facing the possibility of several uranium mines starting up, WA peace organisations formed the Anti-Uranium Coalition WA, AUCWA. This grew into the Anti-Nuclear Alliance of WA, ANAWA, when Pangea International decided that WA could be the site for a vast underground repository for much of the world's high-level radioactive wastes. Peter attended every single of these meetings with me, co-representing MAPW, until I retired in mid-2005. I valued greatly the detailed discussions we had about these issues and how MAPW (WA) might relate to them.

Peter somehow was always THERE when needed. In 1998, when India suddenly announced that it had performed a nuclear test, Peter arrived at the (nearly) spontaneous protest at Perth's traditional vigil place at corner of Hay and Williams Streets outside Wesley Church. When Jo Vallentine had to appear in court over her actions to stop the uranium mine at Jabiluka, Peter came to support her. When the huge Reconciliation Walk over the bridges happened, Peter was there beside me, holding up the other end of MAPW (WA)'s banner while I also struggled to keep my bicycle upright. With Peter Underwood and me, he co-authored MAPW (WA)'s response to the Defence White Paper in 2000. He also, in 2005, co-authored MAPW (WA)'s submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into the strategic importance of Australia's uranium resources, and addressed the Inquiry's panel when it came to Perth. He challenged the panel to dwell on the technical links between nuclear power and nuclear weapons, and asked that rapid development of Australia's renewable energy program become its top priority. He came to most of the roundtables I organised with the US Consul, Mark McBurney, to discuss the Iraq war, the visits of US warships and the proposed Seaswap plan among much else. When the 2005 pre-NPTi Preparatory Conference consultation came to Perth in 2005, of course Peter was there, contributing with his familiar strong grasp of the issues and his wisdom. He also participated in a protest outside the US Consulate appealing the US engage more meaningfully in its own nuclear disarmament.

As well as faithfully attending all of MAPW (WA)'s Executive Committee meetings, Peter was MAPW (WA)'s treasurer for quite a few years. Before, during and after his undertaking this role, I always noticed that it was Peter who was the first member to pay up the annual subscription! Because I was also involved with PND, I knew that there too he was often first off the block with his cheque book to pay his membership.

The editors of newspapers must have come to know the name of Peter Masters rather well. He was always drafting letters on peace issues, many of which were published and much appreciated.

What a wonderful life he led through his contributions in medicine, in rearing his family, in the organisations he chose to belong to so actively, in community wellbeing and education, and in his relationships with all around him. He was a gentle man as well as a gentleman. He will be so missed by so many. To Maria, and their five children and eleven grandchildren we can only say that we understand a little of what you will be missing, and that is a great deal.
 

JULE 2008: TWO NEW REPORTS based on recently released documents, show Australia's willilngness to test and use weapons of mass destruction during the cold war period.

US PLANNED TO TEST NERVE GAS ON AUSTRALIAN SOLDIERS
Newly declassified Australian Defence Department and Prime Minister’s office files show that the United States was strongly pushing the Government for tests of VX and GB — better known as Sarin — nerve gas. Only a few of the guineapig soldiers would have been informed. Full details of what eventuated are not yet available.

See reports including:

• http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23979410-601,00.html
• http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=287260  

1968: PM GORTON WANTED AUSTRALIAN BOMB
Newly released secret documents shed fresh light on Australia's push for its own nuclear arsenal and reluctance to sign the NPTi.

• See report by Sunday Age Foreign Editor Tom Hyland, at www.theage.com.au/national/when-australia-had-a-bombshell-for-us-20080705-32ai.html?skin=text-only

JULE 2008: TWO NEW REPORTS based on recently released documents, show Australia's willilngness to test and use weapons of mass destruction during the cold war period.

US PLANNED TO TEST NERVE GAS ON AUSTRALIAN SOLDIERS
Newly declassified Australian Defence Department and Prime Minister’s office files show that the United States was strongly pushing the Government for tests of VX and GB — better known as Sarin — nerve gas. Only a few of the guineapig soldiers would have been informed. Full details of what eventuated are not yet available.

See reports including:

• http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23979410-601,00.html
• http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=287260  

1968: PM GORTON WANTED AUSTRALIAN BOMB
Newly released secret documents shed fresh light on Australia's push for its own nuclear arsenal and reluctance to sign the NPTi.

• See report by Sunday Age Foreign Editor Tom Hyland, at www.theage.com.au/national/when-australia-had-a-bombshell-for-us-20080705-32ai.html?skin=text-only

SATURDAY 14 JUNE: Visiting Chamoru activists Lisa Natividad and Julian Aguon inspired over fifty participants at an Melbourne workshop on the expansion of US bases in Guam, and the creation of new bases in Okinawa. See the Events column for details of further Australian meetings.

Participants heard of the health and social effects of the US bases in both countries, and of Australia's close links with military operations in Guam and Okinawa.

The workshop was part of a national tour to publicise the Guam's campaign against an extra 50,000 US military personnel due to arrive on their tiny island. Lisa and Julian are visiting Adelaide, Perth and Brisbane and Canberra.

• MAPW is helping organise the tour in several states: the speakers come highly recommended by those who have already heard them.

IN DUBLIN between 19 May and 28 May, 110 governments negotiated a new international treaty, the Convention on Cluster Munitions, that will ban cluster munitions that “cause unacceptable harm to civilians”. The treaty bans all the cluster munitions that have been extensively used.

The treaty requires that countries party to the treaty destroy stockpiles of banned cluster munitions, clear all areas contaminated by unexploded cluster munitions, and assist victims of cluster munitions under their control, including families and communities of anyone injured by cluster munitions.

While the treaty is a major step forward, it does contain some major loopholes, in particular in relation to "interoperability", and responsibility for clearance.

Australia was part of the negotiations. Disappointingly, the Department of Defence was able to get into the treaty the three loopholes it was seeking:

• Australia will be able to assist US forces in the use, transfer and stockpiling of cluster munitions, provided Australian troops themselves do not use the munitions and that Australia assesses that the use is in compliance with their understanding of the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols. This could see Australian air traffic controllers directing US aircraft using cluster munitions;
• Australia will be able to keep the SMArt 155 artillery shells bought last year, which meet the requirements to be exempted by the treaty;
• Australia will be able to keep an unlimited number of cluster munitions for research and training provided it believes that these are “the minimum number absolutely necessary” for the purpose.

The treaty opens for signature in Oslo in December and the next job will be to ensure that countries sign on.

Many of the major manufacturers and users of cluster munitions have stayed outside of the treaty: the USA, Russian Federation, Israel, and Pakistan. However, the new treaty will put pressure on these countries to stop the production, sale and use of cluster munitions banned by the new treaty. 

Thanks to Dr Mark Zirnsak, National Coordinator for the Australian Network to Ban Landmines for the article on which this report is based.

• Read more details in Mark Zirnsak's full article.
• Get lots more information from the Cluster Munitions Coalition website.
• Media representatives are welcome to contact MAPW for further comment.

MAPW's Northern Territory branch is supporting a public meeting on proposed uranium exploration at the Angela Pamela deposits, to be held Wednesday 7 May in Alice Springs.

The meeting will provide information on the implications of uranium exploration and mining, and discuss options for community response.

The keynote speaker will be Dr Gavin Mudd, civil engineering lecturer at Monash University.

Dr Mudd has active research interests in urban groundwater issues, groundwater management and assessment, especially with respect to climate change and sustainability. He has had extensive involvement in examining the underlying scientific issues associated with uranium mining in Australia, with detailed knowledge of the Australian uranium mining sector.

Other speakers include a representative from Lhere Artepe Aboriginal Corporation, Dr Hilary Tyler from the Medical Association for the Prevention of War and Natalie Wasley from the Beyond Nuclear Initiative.

Public comments on the exploration license application are due at the end of May. These comments must be considered by the NT Mines Minister Chris Natt in deciding whether to grant the license.

The uranium deposits are situated 25 km south of Alice, within the town water catchment boundary and in close proximity to planned and existing bore fields for drinking water supplies.

MAPW member and meeting organiser Dr Tom Keaney notes that “The potential economic benefits of uranium mining can not be divorced from the risks of local contamination from radioactive materials, the catastrophic effects of nuclear reactor dysfunction, the production of radioactive waste or the potential for reprocessed Alice Springs uranium to end up in a nuclear warhead. These risks have clear local, regional and global implications”.

Contact :

Dr Gavin Mudd 0419 117 494
Natalie Wasley 0429 900 774
Jimmy Cocking 0423 511 931
Dr Tom Keaney 0406 557 35
Dr Hilary Tyler 0419 244 102
 

GENEVA, 30 APRIL 2008: MAPW Vice-President Tilman Ruff is currently in Geneva attending the NPTi PrepCom (28 April – 9 May), an important meeting of states which are parties to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Tilman is one of two NGOi representatives invited to be on the official Australian delegation.

ICANi Board Member and volunteer Tim Wright is also at the meeting and is posting excellent and informative daily reports: icanw.blogspot.com/

Tim Wright writes:

• On the Australian government’s role:

“This week’s Non-Proliferation Treaty meeting is an ideal opportunity for the new Australian Government to start restoring our nation’s former reputation in this field — by putting into action Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s promise to engage in “creative middle power diplomacy”. Our contribution to the elimination of nuclear weapons could be significant.”

“In a statement to the meeting this morning [Monday], Australia’s disarmament ambassador Caroline Miller announced that the Rudd Government is committed to playing 'a new, more active role in multilateral affairs' with respect to nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament.”

However, Miller did not confirm whether the government will carry through the ALP’s pre-election promise to “lead the international agenda for a nuclear weapons convention” – a treaty to ban nuclear weapons and ensure their elimination.”

• NGOs call for a NWC

“One of the really positive things about this meeting so far has been the emphasis on the NWC among NGOs. It truly is central to everything that’s happening here. It’s generally acknowledged that ICAN should take much for the credit for this renewed enthusiasm for the NWC – so well done, everyone! Most of the NGO events have been about the NWC, and even when the events aren’t about the NWC, the questions directed at people seem to be about the NWC!”

More detailed NGO reports: www.reachingcriticalwill.org/

Australia’s opening statement:
www.reachingcriticalwill.org/legal/npt/prepcom08/statements/AustraliaApril28.pdf).

CANBERRA 21 APRIL 2008. Nuclear disarmament was included in the  "priority themes" developed at the weekend summit. 

The stream discussing Australia's security and prosperity in a rapidly changing region and world, listed among five priorities:

Assert new leadership in global governance:

• Reaffirm our commitment to working in international institutions and to the international rule of law.
• Ensure Australia’s commitment to gender equality is reflected in domestic and foreign policy.
• A properly resourced nuclear disarmament diplomacy, built on regional cooperation on nuclear expertise and non-proliferation, including the appointment of an Ambassador for Disarmament.
• Deeper institutional engagement to nation and peace building

To read the full initial 2020 report, go to: www.australia2020.gov.au/report/index.cfm

• Read Felicity Hill's participants-eye-view of the event and see pictures of the security stream in action.

MAPW's succinct submission to the Australian Government’s 2020 summit, in April 2008, was prepared by MAPW President Dr Sue Wareham. It discusses three areas of concern: nuclear weapons; war as a response to terrorism; and our future security.

MAPW proposes that :

• Australians cannot be secure in a nuclear-armed world. We urges the Australian government to act on its commitment to nuclear weapons abolition as a matter of urgency. 
• War as a response to terrorism has been a catastrophic failure. 
• Our security will be best served by using our financial and technical resources to seek global solutions to the enormous challenges that we face, in health, the environment and susbtainable resources; rather than by acquiring threatening weapons systems. 

Read the submission.

MAPW immediate Past President Dr Tilman Ruff has been invited to represent Australian non-governmental organisations on the Australian delegation to the 2008 Preparatory Committee for the nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPTi PrepCom), which begins in Geneva in late April. 

City of Yarra Councillor Jenny Farrar, from Mayors for Peace, is the second NGOi representative.

Dr Ruff is the Australian Chair of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. The invitation to join the delegation comes after a successful round-table discussion on the NPT PrepCom, where representatives of 19 NGOs - including churches, peace organisations, environment groups and the ACTU - met with officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

This is the first time that NGO representatives have been invited to join an official Australian delegation to an NPT meeting, and represents a significant advance in recognising the important role and expertise of civil society organisations.

ICANi's Tim Wright will also be attending the PrepCom, as an NGO participant.

SYDNEY, 16 APRIL 2008: MAPW President Dr Sue Wareham used the example of Iraq to illustrate the need for action to to make warfare a discredited and unusable option in resolving conflicts.

"We know that war brings with it the risk, if not the certainty, of humanitarian disaster, enormous loss of life, destruction of essential services, terrible human rights abuses, floods of refugees, crippling economic cost, and a devastated environment", Dr Wareham told a Sydney Peace Foundation conference.

"Iraq is suffering all of these, as predicted over five years ago by many individuals and organisations."

"During the last 100 years the impact of warfare on civilians has changed dramatically, to the point where warfare can accurately be regarded as an attack on civil society."

• Read more about the humanitarian costs of the Iraq war, and of war more generally, in Dr Wareham's address to the conference Iraq Never Again: Building Peace, Ending War.