BY STEVE CAMPBELL

PERTH — Since a 2500-strong anti-war, anti-militarism protest against the sea swap agreement on January 19, the campaign against war in Iraq has continued to gather momentum in WA.

The sea swap agreement between Australia and the US, which enables the US to use the WA coast as a refitting station for its warships — a de facto US navy base, has fuelled anti-war sentiment.

More than 60 people attended an open organising meeting on January 23 to prepare for the February 15-16 international weekend of protest against war on Iraq. Initiated by the NOWAR Alliance, the meeting was attended by representatives from the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers’ Union (LHMWU), the State School Teachers Union (SSTU), the Communication, Electrical and Plumbing Union, the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, the campaign against sea swap, the Greens WA, the Democrats (whose national leader Andrew Bartlett attended), the ALP, the Communist Party and the Socialist Alliance.

The support from unions has been impressive. The LHMWU has decided to advertise the February 15 rally, and to hang a banner from its building. The SSTU will be also advertise the rally.

A “Music Not Massacre” fundraiser for the NOWAR Alliance will held on February 8 at the Globe Entertainment Complex. Ten bands will play during the evening on two separate stages. The venue holds up to 800 people.

Event organiser Nerida Mills has just got involved in anti-war activities. “I believe that many people around the world are sick of being told how we can’t make a difference”, she said. “It’s not true, one phone call, one email, one discussion can make the difference. To inspire and educate others and to be educated. That’s what I got involved for, to make the difference in the world that I have dreamed about since I was a child: world peace.”

From Green Left Weekly, February 5, 2003.
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