ADELAIDE, 9 NOVEMBER 2008:  MAPW President Dr Sue Wareham OAM has launched a statement on behalf of 36 civil society organisations from across Australia, calling to an end to arms exhibitions in Australia.

At Adelaide's Festival of Peace and Remembrance Dr Wareham called for the Australian government, and state governments, to withdraw support from future arms exhibitions, and to seek economic security through industries that promote life, not death.

Signatories to the statement include 36 organisations, among them major conservation and environmental groups, churches and faith groups, peace organisations, professional associations and trade unions.

Dr Wareham will launched 12 fact sheets developed by MAPW, the Uniting Church, Pax Christi and the Quakers, with information about the Australian and global arms industry and its human costs. (Go to resources - fact sheets on the menu at left, to download).

• Preview the statement and the organisational signatories (many individuals also signed the statement).
• Contact MAPW for further comment on 0431 475 465
• See Events column for details of the festival 

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.