BY JAMES VASSILOPOULOS
CANBERRA — The idea of a mass national convergence in Canberra on March 23-24 has caught the imagination of many anti-war activists. The proposed mass demonstration will coincide with federal parliament's last week of sitting until May 13.
Already, activists are organising to bring people to the convergence from Armidale, Tamworth, Bellingen, Coffs Harbour, Bega, Cooma, Batemans Bay, Mudgee, Lankey's Creek (near Holbrook), Young, as well as from Melbourne, Sydney, Wollongong and Newcastle. The idea of a convergence has been endorsed by the Victorian Peace Network and the Sydney-based Walk Against the War Coalition. The Victorian Trades Hall Council is discussing organising buses to bring unionists to the action.
Despite lack of time, preparations are well underway. The Australian Capital Territory Network Opposing War (ACTNOW) has set up a working group to organise the events. A web site will be up and running soon. Tens of thousands of colour leaflets and hundreds of posters will be produced and sent to the cities and towns throughout eastern Australia. At a March 2 peace rally in Canberra, 10,000 leaflets were distributed.
On the morning of Sunday, March 23, there will be a festival with music and stalls. At 2pm, speakers will address the theme, "Voices for peace; bring the troops home". Speakers are likely to include a secondary student, an Iraqi refugee, international law experts, a speaker from Palestine and anti-war activists from the cities and rural areas. That night, a teach-in is to be held at the Australian National University.
On March 24, a rally and march will take place around the theme, "Stop work to stop the war". Speakers from anti-war trade unions and political parties will address the rally. Parliament will be sitting on the day, so the "No war at all" message can be delivered to the politicians.
All anti-war groups are urged to endorse the convergence, publicise the convergence through emails, distributing leaflets and putting up posters and organise buses and trains to bring people to Canberra.
There will be rallies in solidarity with the convergence in other capital cities. For more information contact James on 0405 309 283 or email <dimivasso@hotmail.com>.
From 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly, March 5, 2003.
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