Unity for Peace
National peace activists’ conference
Melbourne, May 27 2006

NoWar is sponsoring this conference, along with many other peace activist groups across Australia. Several other groups have endorsed the conference.

We are pleased that Melbourne has been able to organize such an event, because NoWar had hoped to do so ourselves, since we as well as many others, recognize the strong need for a united country-wide effort by those who seek peace.

This conference is designed to bring people together to plan for peace and to network to that end.

We encourage you to consider attending, or at the very least to consider contributing financially to the organising of the conference.

Regards
Jeanie Lucas
SecretaryNOWAR
nowar@ihug.com.auwww.nowar-sa.net
Ph: 0414 77 3918

Unity for Peace
National peace activists’ conference
Melbourne, May 27

The US and its allies are trapped in their illegal war in Iraq – exacting an enormous human, environmental and financial cost.

Australia was one of only three countries to participate in the invasion of 2003. That places a special responsibility on those of us concerned for peace in Australia to mobilise to end this crime against humanity.

That need becomes all the more urgent as the government sends more troops, not just to Iraq, but to Afghanistan. At the same time, in the name of fighting “terror”, the government is attacking civil liberties and demonising Muslims in our community. It is also arguing for more uranium mining, which lays the basis for more nuclear weapons, radioactive leaks and use of depleted uranium. And Australia is becoming more deeply enmeshed in the US alliance, through the use of Pine Gap and Shoalwater Bay by the US military.

The Unity for Peace conference is a chance for all peace activists to come together, to discuss the issues and to lay the basis for a new, nationwide movement to turn the tide. All organisations that support this initiative are welcome to send delegates. Individuals are welcome, too.

Speakers at the conference include:
Cindy Sheehan: Gold Star Families for Peace, USA, whose son died in Iraq
Hassan Juma’a: president, Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions
Sabah Jawad: Iraqi Democrats Against Occupation
Anas Altikriti: Muslim Association of Britain and Stop the War Coalition
Dr Salam Ismael: Doctors for Iraq
Kerry Nettle: Greens senator;
Joumanah El Matrah: manager, Islamic Womens Welfare Council of Victoria;
Donna Mulhearn: former human shield;
Keysar Trad: Islamic Friendship Association of Australia, Sydney;
Anna Samson: Stop the War Coalition, Sydney;
Kevin Bracken: Vic state secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia;
Jarvis Ryan: Stop the War Coalition, Sydney;
David Spratt: Victorian Peace Network;
Associate Professor Tilman Ruff: Medical Association for the Prevention of War

Thursday, May 25, 7pm Public meeting,
Storey Hall, RMIT, Swanston St, city

Saturday, May 27, registration from 9am
Maritime Union of Australia, 46 Ireland St, West Melbourne

10am: Plenary “The long war” – Iraq and the US imperial project
noon: Panel discussion
1) Defending civil liberties and the Muslim community
2) Keep it in the ground: burying the nuclear myths
3) Australia as military base – from Pine Gap to Shoalwater Bay
2.30pm: Plenary Australia in the world – rebuilding the peace movement
4.30pm: Plenary
Adoption of conference statement

There will be a conference dinner on the Saturday.
Tickets are $20 waged, $15 unwaged.

Please book us ..... tickets at $20/$15.
Add the cost to your registration.

Contact the conference organising committee
Phone: 0418 316 310
Email: dglanz@optusnet.com.au
Mail: GPO Box 1473, Melbourne 3001
For the full agenda and regular updates, email

Together, in Melbourne, the Australian peace movement can declare peace on the world.

Yes, I want to register for the peace activists’ conference.

Delegates
Cost $50 (for one or two delegates)
includes entry to the Thursday night public meeting

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. Does your group want an information table?
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Observers
Cost $20 (waged), $10 (unwaged)
includes entry to the Thursday night public meeting

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Return to Unity for Peace, GPO Box 1473,
Melbourne 3001.
Cheques payable to Unity for Peace.

VENUES
Storey Hall is on Swanston Street, near the corner with Latrobe Street, in central Melbourne.
The MUA offices are at 46 Ireland Street, West Melbourne – just a couple of minutes from the North Melbourne railway station.

For the full agenda and updates, email dglanz@optusnet.com.au

Conference also endorsed by: The Quakers, Nuclear Free Australia, Women for Peace, Irregular Gippsland Peace Newsletter, The Hills Peace Group, Randwick Peace Group, Leichhardt Peace Group, Rainforest Information Centre (Lismore), World Dreams Peace Bridge, Socialist Alternative, New Community Quarterly, Friends of the Earth, Newtown Peace Group, Greenpeace Australia Pacific, Western Suburbs Peace Group Melbourne Victoria (Inc)