Margie Pestorius

War and Peace- articles by Andy Paine

Read the full text War-and-peace by Andy Paine.pdf

The problem with non-violence

April 2014

“The only problem with non-violence,” he tells me, “is this: what happens when you’re being attacked and you need to use violence to resist?” It really, honestly, is a valid question. It’s not his fault we’re constantly force-fed myths of violence in self-defence, from our movie and television screens to our governments and militaries, telling us that violence is only used to protect ourselves…. more…

First they came for the Muslims

September 2014

I think I first noticed it about a month ago. First it was just a few random posts on Facebook – people who are remnants of a conservative christian church past, who I have no real life contact with any more. They were sharing horrible anti-Islam articles with horrible anti-Islam comments posted below. I thought about deleting those people off my facebook, but then I thought that actually I wouldn’t. As obnoxious as I found this stuff, sometimes it’s better to see what’s out there. Know your enemy and all that…. more…

The war we didn’t notice

April 2015

Years ago, when I was involved in much less activism than I am today, I used to play footy with a number of guys who were in the Australian army. One of these guys missed a chunk of the season when he had to go to Afghanistan on service. When he got back, I asked him what it had been like over there. He told me he didn’t want to talk about it… more…

Australia becomes 51st American state

On Monday, 18,000 American troops landed on Australia’s north-eastern coast, occupying a large tract of land at Shoalwater Bay and completing a process that had been developing for some time – the transformation of Australia into the 51st United State of America… more…

They say people don’t believe in heroes anymore

June 2015

In the first Mad Max movie, there is that classic scene where Max is trying to quit the police force. Fifi tries to convince him to stay by telling him of the need for heroes. “They say people don’t believe in heroes anymore. Well damn them Max, we’re gonna give them heroes.”…. more…

Smoke and terrors

September 2015

The day after Malcolm Turnbull took over as Prime Minister, defence minister (at the time) Kevin Andrews proudly announced that the Australian air force had for the first time “engaged a target” (if you don’t speak militarese, that means killed someone or blown something up) in Syria. more…

Frontier Wars’ Desert Pea Wreath

You will need

*Paint the back of a paper plate yellow*

Cut out three leaf shapes from a folded serviette. You can also use crepe paper or red cloth or paper painted red. Or try making the potato stamp version and simply glue or staple the cutouts on. ***See potato stamp instructions and the end of this lesson.

Cut a split in the base of each leaf shape

Tie a triple knot in the centre of a black pipe cleaner.
Or you could use black wool or a black shoe lace.

Wrap the knotted tie around the red cut out.
Gather and twist at the back.

Make two holes in the plate for each pea.
Thread the ties through the holes.
Twist at the back and cut away the excess.

Arrange the peas in groups of two or three around the rim leaving room for the leaves.
Staple fresh leaves in between the pea groups all the way around.

Add a string to hang the wreath on your door or letterbox.

This place honours the 300,000, or more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders who died during European settlement of the nation we now call Australia.

Painted or Red Paper Desert Pea Blood Flower

***Potato stamp pea petals Make a leaf stamp from a big potato
Safety – adult supervision with cutting.
Paint black or black marker black dot in middle of petals

With respect to the First Peoples on whose land their blood was shed by invasion. We will remember them. Lest we forget all who died on, and for country. © Hazel Davies 2020 MakingPeasce.com

Lest We Forget the Frontier Wars 2020 – online gathering

“Nganyji Nguju Bina Bambiji”

Translated from Gimuy Wallubara Yidindji: “We will remember them. We WILL remember them.”

The old people who lived and died during the Frontier Wars, truly gave their lives to protect their families and the beautiful Land which they had lived with and told stories about for thousands of generations.

They suffered gross indignities and injustices: murder, disappearances, poisonings, pandemics, torture, massacre, rapes, detention, dispersion, stolen children, dislocation, social disintegration of clan and band and much more.

It’s 250 years since the British first invaded. They made no treaties. The white settlers warred upon the first peoples and stole their land.

“Nganyji Nguju Bina Bambiji” We will remember them.

____________________

In 2011 Ghillah Michael Anderson initiated the first Lest We Forget the Frontier Wars Anzac Day march to the Australian War Memorial. David Bradbury’s movie Wage Peace documents the Frontier Wars march of 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e315HCFtXcQ

Gimuy Wallubara Yidindji and non-indigenous people who live on their land have been commemorating the Frontier Wars in Cairns for the past 5 years.

Nowra based florist Hazel Davies has been active in getting the Desert Pea recognised as the native blood-on-the-Earth equivalent of the Flanders Poppy.

She has been teaching Desert Pea wreath making and conducting wreath laying ceremonies at the Australian War Memorial and elsewhere.

In this year of contagion, we move on line – and we ask YOU to participate wherever you are.

Lest We Forget the Frontier Wars.

____________________

You can do this by creating your own Anzac Frontier Wars ceremony and sharing it on FaceBook.
Make some smoke with a small fire in your public and private space. Your driveway for example.
Light candles, Improvise a wreath with flowers. Or photocopy one of Hazels Wreaths.
Name the massacres and the local people who suffered them.
Share your ceremony with FaceBook friends.
Join the Zoom session and share there too.

Starts 6 pm Friday 24 April.

The Zoom session will show you a Frontier story from a previous ceremony.

Other stories will be available on the Facebook Event Page. You might have a Frontier Wars story to add.

Bring a response that express ‘lament” – a personal sorry story, a poem or a small live performance. We will show 4 or 5 of the offerings and put the other ones on line.

Watch live from 6pm On FaceBook www.facebook.com/wagepeaceau/

CANCELLED #NoCovidMarines for #Darwin CALL MINISTER PAYNE #giveemtheboot!

WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE MARINES ARRIVAL IN DARWIN HAS BEEN CANCELLED!!

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL INVOLVED.

URGENT ACTION TO STOP MARINES ARRIVING IN DARWIN. CANCELLED

Contact Defence minister Linda Reynolds 0262777800

Make the following points

homeaffairs alerts have banned entry to the Country from ALL countries especially high risk countries such as the USA
USA citizens and travellers are already highly contagious.
ASK: What are they doing about?
Don’t let them fob you off with an email.
Emphasise the vulnerability of Indigenous people in Darwin.
Refuse transfers from Guam
ASK: have they taken transfers from US military in Guam

Write now to @LindaReynoldsWA

Linda Reynolds Minister for DefenceMinister@defence.gov.au, 2020-03-30

MORE INFORMATION HERE WITH IPAN’s MEDIA RELEASE

Sample Letter

Good afternoon Minister Reynolds,

Could you please confirm whether the next deployment of US marines to Darwin has been suspended until after the Covid-19 coronavirus crisis has passed. When was the 2020 rotation expected? Sometime in April 2020? As you know, the Australian government has blocked non-citizens from entering the country:

www.homeaffairs.gov.au alerts > novel-coronavirus

“From 21:00 AEDT 20 March 2020, only Australian citizens,residents and immediate family members can travel to Australia. From 23:59 AEDTon 28 March”.

Please confirm whether your department will act responsibly and in accordance with Federal Government emergency policy measures, and confirm that this rotational deployment will now be suspended until the Covid-19 coronavirus crisis has passed.

Could you please issue a Media Release confirming your decision and place this on your website so the actions of your department are transparent to all Australians.

Thank you,

Sincerely,

Geoff Holland

HSBC Supports War Crimes in Yemen

It’s 5 years since the Saudis started to deliberately target Yemeni civilians in airstrikes. Equipment used was from the USA. A Boeing missile destroyed a school bus in 2016 and killed 50 school children.

Humanitarian disaster. War crimes.

Join us in SYDNEY to commemorate 5 years of war on Thursday (12th March), 11am at HSBC, a major investor of arms dealer Electro Optic Systems.

Your money, in this bank, is doing harm.

“HSBC loan money to Electro Optic Systems: about $50m to be precise. The UK based bank appears to have no ethical screening. For example, it also funds several coal projects in South Asia.

Electro Optic Systems is dealing with the Saudis one of the most problematic governments in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia is USA’s ‘ally’ due to the immense amount of money made in weapons deals. Their policies have long included the structural confinement and control of women. Mistreatment of dissidents has been extreme including the murder and dismemberment of critical journalist, Khashoggi. The Saudi’s are involved in “proxy” wars for the USA.

Australian companies should not be dealing with the Saudis. We say NO to weapons exports to Saudi or UAE.

This Thursday, Anti Bases Coalition (ABC) with Wage Peace will extend their regular vigil to visit HSBC to tell their customers “Your money, in this bank, is doing harm.”

HSBC funds war; HSBC funds climate destruction

Small action groups targeting corporate investors and contractors in systematic ways are making a difference in movements across the world. The Stop Adani campaign have ejected over 60 contractors from that project. But it takes many of us to get out, to take a risk, to take action, to do our part from time to time.

We are asking you to join us. Acting against militarism, along with acting against climate destruction is important. Strategic focused actions make a difference.

Yours sincerely

Margie, Nick, Cate, and Julie,

JOIN US #StopArmingSaudi

Bank HSBC: 333 George St

From 11am – Facebook event here

(We’ll meet at 10.15 nearby, And Wed. afternoon to prepare. Call: 0403214422)

followed by the regular vigil at EOS at 75 Elizabeth St from 12 pm

This is what we’ll tell customers at HSBC who, unlike you, are probably not thinking about what happens to their money in banks.

“Did you know your choice of bank can have a huge impact on the world? This is because the money you put in your account is used by banks to make loans and investments.

HSBC invests $50m in the Australian manufacturer Electro Optic Systems which sells weapons to Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. Both countries are involved in the deadly and destructive war in Yemen. This war has been going for 5 years as of March 2020, resulting in the largest humanitarian disaster of these times.

HSBC is also involved in destructive COAL projects in South East Asia.

The types of loans banks make can go to industries that do good or those that do harm. So where your money goes ultimately shapes the world we all live in.

STOP BANKING WITH HSBC

Align your banking with your values

EOS and HSBC are “Enhancing the Lethality” of Saudi war crimes …

References

HSBC involved in Coal Projects – Market Forces so may be a target for this coming divestment week the 20th March.!

Mohamad Bazzi The Guardian: America is likely complicit in war crimes in Yemen. It’s time to hold the US to account

What we know about EOS

EOS has ex ACT Labor Senator Kate Lundy on their board along with ex ADF General Peter Leahy.
They sell missile fire systems into conflict zones.
They are currently teaming with Elbit to provide a weapons system for tanks – a “turret”
They have a submission to arm the Land 400 attack tanks with HanWha
Active with a sales office in the UAE.
Lethal products have been seen to be shipped from Sydney Airport to UAE and Saudi Arabia
Subsidised by the Federal government (36m grant)
Subsidised by the ACT (payroll exemption).

Share our video now to show people care about Australian companies dealing weapons to the Saudi prince.

Resources

Sign [or share] our petition to #stoparmingSaudi:

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WAGE PEACE provides strategic messaging and digital campaign support
for campaigns & groups disturbing war & militarism in Australia.

We ‘organise’ and ‘mobilise’ to #EndWarCulture