Anti-war activist notebook

Blockies for peace

BY KAMALA EMANUEL

LAUNCESTON — When the war started, like many others, I just had to protest. I joined around 100 other furious people on the side of one of Launceston's busiest roads, calling on motorists to honk for peace. Standing in the drizzly rain, we were inspired by the response, cheering every motorist that honked at us.

We got such a buzz that some protesters filled a couple of cars and did a couple of "blockies for peace". They drove past four times, each time they setting off a cacophony of horns blaring for peace!

Byron joins worldwide candlelight vigil

BYRON BAY — On March 16, 400 people in this northern NSW coastal town joined with 5912 other peace vigils from 133 countries around the world in a wave of candlelight peace vigils at 7pm in every time zone around the planet.

The vigil idea grew to a huge global event in around one week. It reflects the power of the internet and the deep desire of people around the world to express there desire for peace.

1000 at suburban peace festival

BY AARON BENEDEK

SYDNEY — On March 16, 500 residents of Newtown marched down the Sydney inner-city suburbs main street to a peace festival in Enmore Park. Another 50 people marched to the festival from the post office in the neighbouring suburb of Marrickville.

The two marches and the festival, which were jointly organised by the Newtown Peace Group and the Marrickville Community Peace Group, attracted 1000 local residents.

NSW deputy premier Andrew Refshauge joined with the Socialist Alliance and the Greens in calling on voters to write "No War" on their ballot papers.

From Green Left Weekly, March 26, 2003.

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From GLW issue 531