Media Release from the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN) 26 April 2022
If you want peace, prepare for peace, not for war
Defence Minister Peter Dutton’s talk of war is dangerous to all in the Pacific
- The beneficiaries are the weapons manufacturers
- War with China is a lose-lose scenario
- Stockholm International Peace Research Institute reports annual US $2.11 trillion spending on military
- Mature leadership is needed for peace and a secure environment
Mr Dutton today again used scare tactics in an apparent desperate bid to see his government re-elected at the upcoming federal election.
“Hearing our country’s defence minister likening China today to Germany in the 1930’s and saying that we must prepare for war is dangerous provocative rhetoric”, said Ms Brownlie, IPAN’s Chairperson.
“This coupled with the Prime Minister Scott Morrison talking about an ‘arc of autocracy’ and ‘red lines’ must be alarming to all Australians.”
“We are all shocked and horrified by the ongoing war in Ukraine where people are being needlessly killed as collateral damage and suffering the loss of their homes, livelihoods and history. Mr Dutton and Mr Morrison’s reckless talk of war coming to Australia must be condemned.”
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute today released their annual report on military spending with the news that this has increased dramatically to US $2.11 trillion which is so fundamentally wrong while resources are not being spent on the transition to a fossil fuel free future, on health, nutrition, education, housing and many more social needs.
Australians want and expect mature leadership which prioritises dialogue and diplomacy and respect for United Nations laws including the Treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons (TPNW) which came into effect early 2021.
IPAN believes this government needs to be removed with a strong call to a new government for peace and genuine security through cooperation dealing with the existential problems facing Australians and all humanity, climate change pandemics and nuclear war.
Media Interviews: Contact Annette Brownlie, 0431 597 256
IPAN Media Liaison: Kathryn Kelly, contact 0417 269 984
PO Box 573 Coorparoo Brisbane Qld Australia 4151
ipan.australia@gmail.com
www.ipan.org.au
Raising Peace Festival - an amazing success!
11 days, 37 events, 35 organisations, 120 speakers, 1000 attendees. The event was truly heartening. Standing together for peace, sharing our experience and passion for peace, we can do so much together.
Watch recordings of the sessions here.
Make a donation here.
And if you only have 3 minutes, watch the closing statement from IPAN’s Nick Deane:
☮ Peace Festival ☮
From 16th to 26th September 2021
International Volunteers for Peace (IVP) and The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF, NSW) both celebrated their centenaries in 2020. They joined with the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN), to hold Raising Peace, a series of events to mark those centenaries and draw attention to United Nations International Day of Peace (21st September).
2021 International Day of Peace Statement with Signatures
The Peace Festival will include: exhibitions, speakers, discussion forums, workshops, films, music, activities and entertainment.
Participating organisations:
African Women’s Group |
AntaR |
Architects for Peace |
Australia West Papua Association |
Australian Anti-Bases Campaign Coalition |
Australian Network of Museums for Peace |
Australians for War Powers Reform |
Blue Mountains Permaculture Institute |
Great Lakes Agency for Peace and Development |
HandUp Congo |
Independent and Peaceful Australia Network |
Initiatives of Change/Creators of Peace |
International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons |
International Volunteers for Peace |
Marrickville Peace Group |
Medical Association for Prevention of War |
Pace e Bene Australia |
Pax Christi |
Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Sydney |
Peacifica |
PEN Sydney |
People for Nuclear Disarmament |
Religious Society of Friends NSW |
SafeGround |
Soka Gakkai International Australia |
Sydney Knitting Nannas and friends |
Sydney Peace Foundation |
Sydney Peace and Justice Coalition |
Uluru Statement from the Heart |
United Nations Association of Australia |
Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom NSW |
Women’s Reconciliation Network |
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Event Overview...
Our Vision
This event will showcase and celebrate a broad range of initiatives, ongoing efforts and successes in promoting peace.
We will share knowledge, inspire, increase visibility, encourage new collaborations, attract and engage young people.
Aims
- Showcase the multitude of methods employed to work towards peace
- Draw attention to United Nations International Day of Peace (21 September)
- Strengthen collaboration and relationships between peace organisations, study centres and inter-related issues, eg. First Nations, Climate Change
- Engage with young people
- Explore a world where war is no longer an option
- Promote the delights of living in peace
- Promote understanding across cultures
His Excellency Mr Armando VARGAS ARAYA, Ambassador of Costa Rica, has agreed to be our keynote speaker at the Peace Festival. This is a news article from the Canberra Times:
Costa Rica abolished its military. Other countries can too
This link will take you to Lee Rhiannon’s speech on the occasion of our Raising Peace event in 2020, Wage Peace Speech This event celebrated 100 years of SCI (IVP) and WILPF NSW.
International Volunteers for Peace (IVP)
The Australian branch for Service Civil International (SCI), one of the world’s largest Global Volunteering Networks with Branches in 44 countries and 106 Partners and Contacts in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. More than 5000 volunteers participate in hundreds of volunteer projects each year.
IVP is a non-profit local community group. it focuses on organising volunteering opportunities around worthwhile community needs and causes, for which it recruits participants from Australia and all across the world through its global network.
IVP activities are aimed at encouraging understanding among peoples and promoting discussion and an appreciation of the problems that different communities face in their struggles for social justice and environmental harmony.
The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF, NSW)
- Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) brings a feminist perspective to the analysis of root causes of war and conflict, and emphasises the gendered impacts of conflict and war.
- WILPF has a transformative vision for permanent global peace, where a just economy and social, environmental and gender justice is achieved for all.
- WILPF brings together women and people of diversity from around the world who are united in working for peace by non-violent means; and encourages young women and others to participate.
- WILPF is recognised as an authoritative resource, a trusted support and an ongoing stable anchor point in the area of peace activism.
IPAN has the vision of an independent and peaceful Australia.
It advocates for that movement.
IPAN is a network of organisations around Australia – community, faith-based and peace groups, trade unions and concerned individuals. It aims to build public dialogue and apply pressure for a truly independent foreign policy for Australia. It wants our government to play a positive role in solving international conflicts peacefully, i.e. without resorting to armed conflict.
IPAN is currently conducting a ‘People’s Inquiry’ exploring the case for an independent and peaceful Australia, with specific reference to the Australia/USA alliance. Submissions to the inquiry from any interested party are welcomed!
See also:Independent Peaceful Australia
About Raising Peace
How did Raising Peace start?
Raising Peace began on the initiative of International Volunteers for Peace (IVP) as a way to celebrate the 100 years anniversary of our founding organisation, Service Civil International (SCI). The name also links us with the Raising Peace campaign of the Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service (CCIVS). We are delighted to have Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN) and the NSW branch of Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) as co-organisers.
What is the aim?
The name was chosen to celebrate and raise the profile of peace rather than the celebrations of war that we so often see held at official levels.
Raising Peace will bring together the myriad of organisations working for peace in all its manifestations. Mainly from NSW but also the East coast of Australia and nearby Asia-Pacific areas. There will be opportunities to learn from each other and for new collaborations to develop.