Anti-war activists' notebook

Wednesday, March 19, 2003 - 11:00

400 rally against war

BY GRAHAM MATTHEWS

MELBOURNE — Around 400 people rallied in Federation Square on March 14, a snap action that was called just six days before. Protesters condemned Prime Minster John Howard's speech on March 13 that attempted to justify attacking Iraq.

The spirited rally marched to Shell Oil's Melbourne office in Flinders Street and then to the Bourke Street Mall, where marchers sat down in the intersection. Marchers pledged to return for a rally on March 21. If war begins before that, the Victorian Peace Network has called a major rally on March 22.

Howard heckled by hundreds

BY LUKE SMITH

ADELAIDE — On March 14, around 300 people gathered at the Adelaide Festival Centre to show their opposition to a war against Iraq. Their target was none other than the warmonger himself, Prime Minister John Howard, who was in town for a Liberal Party "enterprise forum".

After various changes of itinerary, the PM finally arrived, to be greeted by the shouts and chants of angry protesters.

The protest showed the breadth of the anti-war movement, with people of all ages and many organisations participating, including the Greens, the Socialist Alliance, the Democrats, Resistance, student representatives and the Romero Community.

Resistance speaker Leigh Hughes pointed to the serious ramifications the war would have on the people of Iraq. He warned that it would be just the first is series of wars that are planned by the US to dominate the world.

During the wait for the PM, protesters were entertained by a street theatre wedding of John Howard and George Bush, presided over by minister "Death".

Logan peace rally demands No War!

BY LYNDA HANSEN

BRISBANE — More than 150 people attended a peace rally in Logan City, south of Brisbane, on March 9. The rally was initiated by the newly formed Logan Citizens for Peace.

The crowd heard from Mandy Sola, who quoted Louis Armstrong's "What a wonderful world". Local Murri elder Paddy Jerome sent greetings — the local Murri community has initiated a campaign to send boomerangs to John Howard with messages of peace written on them.

Hughie Williams, Transport Workers Union state secretary, said, "Blair, Howard and Bush are leading us all into the world's worst disaster". Federal Labor member for Rankin Craig Emerson gave a restrained speech, stating "the U.N. is the only hope for world peace". Alison Stewart, a member of the Medical Association for the Prevention of War, and Mike Byrne, an activist from the Stop the War Coalition, also spoke.

From Green Left Weekly, March 19, 2003.

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