Pip Hinman, Sydney
In the wake of the London bombings and the decision by Australia to send more troops to Afghanistan, a snap protest on July 15 called by Sydney's Stop the War Coalition drew some 60 people, who gathered to listen to community leaders and activists.
Keysar Trad, a Muslim community representative; Max Lane, Sydney University analyst on Asian and Muslim affairs; Damien Lawson from NSW Greens Senator Kerry Nettle's office; Graham Matthews from the Socialist Alliance; Diane Fields from the Refugee Action Coalition; and Marlene Obeid from the Justice for Hicks and Habib campaign all emphasised that ending the terror bombings, and the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan, would be the only real steps to bring about peace.
A passing Iranian musician stopped to contribute a peace song on her violin, and an activist from the group Texans for Peace as well as musicians from the refugee movement also performed.
In Melbourne on July 14, activists from the Stop the War Coalition held an emergency action outside the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The protest demanded that no troops be sent to Afghanistan and that all Australian troops be withdrawn from Iraq immediately.
"The occupation of Afghanistan has only made things worse for the Afghan people. Our troops should not be sent to participate in this madness", Margarita Windisch from the Socialist Alliance told the protest.
From Green Left Weekly, July 20, 2005.
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