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WAR TALK: DANGEROUS, DIVISIVE

It is not rational, and it is not in Australia's interests, to talk up war.

Talk of war with China serves only the interests of a cynical few - whilst making the world dangerous for everyone.

MILITARISATION & CLIMATE CHANGE

We're working to highlight the increasing militarisation of Australia's response to the climate emergency.

Read the latest on the Defence Legislation Amendment (Enhancement of Defence Force Response to Emergencies) Bill 2020.

NUCLEAR WEAPONS BAN TREATY

The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons entered into force on 22 January 2021.

The treaty makes nuclear weapons illegal under international law - but Australia has not yet signed. Health workers and students play a key role in calling for recognition of the medical and public health imperative to abolish these inhumane weapons - take action today.

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2021 Fundraising Dinner: David McBride

MAPW is pleased to announce that David McBride is the speaker for our 2021 fundraising dinner in Canberra, ACT

Gaza escalation: disproportionate impact on Palestinian people

Australia can and should promote the rule of law by acting to address the occupation of Palestine and supporting efforts to secure a just and sustainable peace that returns the universal right to life, health, dignity and self-determination to the Palestinian people.

What’s the meaning of 22 January?

On 22 January 2021, the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons enters into force, making nuclear weapons illegal under international law.

War Crimes

MAPW welcomes the report into alleged war crimes and continues to call for an end to the prosecution of military lawyer David McBride.

Causes & Costs of War

War Crimes

MAPW welcomes the report into alleged war crimes and continues to call for an end to the prosecution of military lawyer David McBride.

Health and Security

In this global crisis, it’s healthcare workers – not soldiers – who are on the frontlines, and it’s clear that the true security of our community depends on a commitment to health and welfare for all. Our task at MAPW is to translate this new awareness into a fundamental reimagining of Australia’s notions of “security”.

UK Ruling on Arms Sales Should Trigger Australian Ban

The Medical Association for Prevention of War welcomes the UK Court of Appeal’s finding that arms sales to Saudi Arabia are unlawful. Australia must now immediately suspend all military exports to Saudi Arabia.

Iran: Resist the Slide to War

MAPW unequivocally opposes any moves that will escalate tensions, and we call on our government to resist a slide to war.

Nuclear Weapons

Dr Sue Wareham and Dr Margaret Beavis at 2018 ALP conference

Australian Labor Party commits to sign and ratify UN Treaty

MAPW welcomes the resolution by the ALP national conference to sign and ratify the 2017 UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons when next in government.

Peak health professionals support MAPW call for Australia to sign the nuclear weapons ban treaty

Peak health organisations, representing hundreds of thousands of members, have signed on to a call for Australia to commit to signing the 2017 UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

Are they in safe hands?

It is far from reassuring to hear President Trump proclaim that he and Putin control more than 90 per cent of the world’s nuclear weapons. These weapons constitute a major hazard to world peace and health. Are they in safe hands? It is time for Australian politicians to reconsider our decision not to sign the […]

Sign the Petition – the ALP must commit to join the UN Nuclear Weapons Ban

We have launched a new petition calling on the Australian Labor Party (ALP) to commit to signing and ratifying the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. The ALP is currently finalising their policy platform to take to the next federal election. The ALP is in the process of deciding their position on […]

Other Weapons

Australian Weapons Trade, Subsidies, Fuel Yemen Crisis

The failure to acknowledge the role of Australian weapons sales in perpetuating the human catastrophe in Yemen is unsustainable.

Australia Preaches Respect for International Law in Syria while undermining the Law

Health professionals in Australia have strongly criticised the government for preaching respect for international law in Syria, while practising the opposite. Australia strongly endorses attacks on Syria by the US, the UK and France which violate international law, given they are neither conducted in self-defence nor authorised by the UN . Claims by Foreign Minister […]

Keep a strict line

(Published by The Age – letters page 5 February 2018) Over the years Australia has sold guns to government institutions in Papua New Guinea, which have sold them on to criminals in the civilian population. Armed violence now makes PNG one of the world’s most dangerous countries for its own citizens and for visitors. Australia […]

The Nuclear Chain

Submission: BHP

BHP's proposed Olympic Dam Tailing Storage Facility (TSF 6) does not meet acceptable standards. We've made four recommendations to the federal government.

Learning from Fukushima

Eight years on from the world's most complex nuclear disaster, what has been learned?

MAPW writes to Minister Canavan, ARPANSA about ongoing nuclear waste saga

For far too long nuclear waste management has been thought about well after the waste is produced.

MAPW submission to the Joint Committee on Treaties inquiry – Generation IV Nuclear Energy – Accession

The inquiry will examine the following treaty: Framework Agreement for International Collaboration on Research and Development of Generation IV Nuclear Energy Systems, as extended by the Agreement Extending the Framework Agreement for International Collaboration on Research and Development of Generation IV Nuclear Energy Systems (Washington, 28 February 2005)

Australian Militarism

War Crimes

MAPW welcomes the report into alleged war crimes and continues to call for an end to the prosecution of military lawyer David McBride.

Iran: Resist the Slide to War

MAPW unequivocally opposes any moves that will escalate tensions, and we call on our government to resist a slide to war.

Opposition to War Memorial’s $498 million extension grows

MAPW National President, Dr Sue Wareham, and National Secretary, Dr Margaret Beavis, are amongst the 83 prominent signatories to a open letter calling for a halt to the half-billion dollar proposed expansion of the Australian War Memorial.

The Strategic Dilemmas in Militarising Australian Exports

The Australian government’s recent decision to adopt an ambitious new defence manufacturing plan has met with controversy. Far beyond most job-creation initiatives, Malcolm Turnbull’s plan has international ramifications.

Alternatives to War

Iran: Resist the Slide to War

MAPW unequivocally opposes any moves that will escalate tensions, and we call on our government to resist a slide to war.

Parliamentary Debate on Going to War is Long Overdue

This week marks the 15th anniversary, on March 20, of one of Australia’s most disastrous foreign policy decisions – our involvement in the invasion of Iraq. To characterise this as “our” involvement however does a great disservice to the millions of Australians who were vehemently opposed to the decision that was made by just one […]

War Memorial

NCA Refuses Silent Peace Vigil on ANZAC Parade on Armistice Centenary

Canberra citizens are planning a Gathering for Peace on Anzac Parade on Remembrance Day, to stand in silent commemoration of those Australians and others who suffered the horrors of World War 1, with the message “Honour Them – Promote Peace”. However the National Capital Authority is denying permission for such a gathering. In response to […]

Australia has failed to invest in peace, rather than scourge of war

Full marks for Stephanie Dowrick’s article “War — what is it good for?” (July 21, Forum p10). Dowrick rightly identifies Australia’s failure to invest financially in peace rather than war. Our funding for diplomacy has been slashed, while funding for war sky-rockets. The poor old weapons industry even gets a leg-up with government subsidies, despite […]

Should arms dealers really be funding the Australian War Memorial?

To hear Brendan Nelson tell it, arms manufacturers have a patriotic duty to fund the Australian War Memorial. It’s about “completing the loop”, he says. And it’s certainly not crass. “You need to know that the man on behalf of BAE Systems with whom I negotiated the sponsorship of our theatre, the BAE Systems Theatre, […]

How the Australian War Memorial has lost its way

Australians do not “remember, interpret and understand the Australian experience of war”. Perhaps such an understanding in the case of the Frontier Wars might raise extremely uncomfortable questions about the implications for modern day Australia and our approach to warfare, or perhaps a focus on the Frontier Wars against the first people of Australia simply […]

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WAR TALK: DANGEROUS, DIVISIVE

MILITARISATION & CLIMATE CHANGE

NUCLEAR WEAPONS BAN TREATY

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