Thousands oppose war on Iraq

November 6, 2002
Issue 

BY ALEX BAINBRIDGE

HOBART — In the largest of several anti-war protests held around the country, 2000 people marched through the Tasmanian state capital on November 2. Green triangles, Socialist Alliance “No war on Iraq” placards, union flags and countless personal displays of opposition to a war against Iraq flooded the streets.

Speakers at the protest included Julie Green from the socialist youth organisation Resistance, who denounced the dishonest excuses for war, such as British Prime Minister Tony Blair's “dossier of fiction”, Salvadoran peace activist Rene Aragon and Quaker Peace and Justice Committee member Peter Jones.

“Do you think the 45,000 people who marched in Melbourne a few weeks ago believed the lies?”, Green asked the crowd as it gathered in Franklin Square. “No”, they yelled. “Did the 200,000 people who marched in Washington last weekend believe the lies?” “No”, the crowd yelled. “Do we here today believe the lies?”, she asked. “No”, the crowd yelled again.

The rally and march was organised by the union-initiated Peace Coalition, which is a broad umbrella group campaigning against a war on Iraq. It was the largest anti-war rally in Hobart since the 1991 Gulf War.

Around 1000 people rallied in Adelaide on November 2, reports Luke Smith. The rally was the second organised by the Network Opposing War and Racism collective in the space of a month, reflecting the urgency felt within the movement to take to the streets and keep the pressure on the Australian government not to join a US/UN war on Iraq.

Led by drummers and singers, the colourful protest marched to Parliament House and drew people from across the spectrum of the anti-war movement.

David Scrimgeour, from the Medical Association for the Prevention of War, pointed out that a war on Iraq would kill many civilians. Senator Andrew Bartlett, federal leader of the Australian Democrats, contrasted the defence budget to the ever-diminishing amount of funding dedicated to foreign aid. He opposed the federal government's legislation to increase ASIO's powers.

The Greens' Patricia Murray criticised the “war on terrorism” and pointed out that “injustice and poverty create the seeds of terrorism”. A war on Iraq will not end terrorism, she predicted.

Socialist Alliance speaker Ben Standing made an emotional speech that explained the links between capitalism and war: “We need a system that doesn't reward greed and hatred. We need to fundamentally change the way our society is run. From wealth for a few, to equality for all. I don't think it is an impossible task”, Standing declared.

Jim McIlroy reports from Brisbane that more than 1000 people rallied in King George Square on October 27. The rally, initiated by Brisbane Lord Mayor Jim Soorley, was co-sponsored by peace and social justice groups, the Queensland Council of Unions (QCU), church groups, the Ethnic Communities Council, Rally for Peace, the Brisbane Stop the War Coalition, the Queensland Greens, University of Queensland Student Union and Queensland Young Labor.

Greens Senator Bob Brown gave an impassioned address, calling for a world based on meeting human rights and needs, not war and profit.

“No to war, yes to understanding and solving the problems of the world, and promoting justice and peace”, Soorley said. QCU secretary Grace Grace declared that “peace is always an issue for workers” because “workers and their families always bear the burden of war, emotionally and economically”.

Terry Symonds, from Brisbane Stop the War Coalition, attacked the US and Australian governments' push for war against Iraq as a plan for complete control over Middle Eastern oil.

From Green Left Weekly, November 6, 2002.
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