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Sunday Herald Sun . . Page.. 813 ..

On Sunday at the protest at the French Embassy there were many people from so-called middle Australia voicing their protest. It was a great shame that the media focused on the few who were there who chose to move against the police. There were many groups and individuals present who were much more newsworthy, in my opinion, who have been working consistently for peace for many years, and whose stories are inspiring and moving. One such organisation is the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. This group has recently celebrated its eightieth birthday. Women from all over the world belong to WILPF, and they work together across borders - not just one border, not just a twin city border, but across all borders - to bring the message of peace and non-violence into prominence. They are planning to celebrate their eightieth anniversary with a peace train, which will travel from Helsinki to Beijing in August of this year. On the way, they will meet with women’s groups in conflict areas and with women who have been working for the implementation of the UN forward-looking strategies for their countries. It is through this kind of work that people become strengthened in their ability to stand and say no to governments who wish to play war games.

I support this motion because I believe that all nuclear testing and weapons development is deplorable. It is, as the Japanese said - and they do know - an insult to humanity; and, I would add, an insult to all life. It is appropriate for people to protest in a non-violent manner, whether it be boycotting French goods or peaceful demonstration. I will table an article from the Sunday Herald Sun from June of this year headed, “How you can stop buying French”, for the information of other members. It is also appropriate, as a voice of protest, to reconsider such arrangements as the sister city relationship with Versailles. To those who argue that this is pointless and in some way will hurt our relationship with ordinary people, I say that the majority of ordinary people in the world, including the French, do not want a nuclear war or any war and, if anything, such strong diplomatic action can do more to enhance our relationship and connection with the so-called ordinary people of Versailles.

The sorts of cultural exchanges Mrs Carnell mentioned are to be encouraged, of course, and there is no reason why these exchanges cannot continue to occur. Mrs Carnell said that a sister city relationship will benefit children, so that we can understand each other. Of course it is good to encourage relationships between different parts of the globe; but I repeat that it is patently obvious that most people, particularly women and children, already understand that war and weapons are idiotic. The argument that no-one in France will watch ACT TV shows that Mrs Carnell and other Liberals fail to understand the very basis for community action. It is that every person, every individual or, in this case, every local region, if they take a strong stand will, in combination, have a strong effect.

A sister city relationship is much more about diplomatic posturing than about real communication with ordinary people. The work of groups such as WILPF is on the ground and real. It reminds me of the Earth Summit in Rio, where, while the politicians were posturing and dealing, with disappointing results, a whole other summit occurred when non-government organisations met. I believe that history will show that the alternative summit, the NGO Forum, was the one that really mattered. It is groups such as WILPF, who are working on the ground, not the posturing of politicians, that will see real and meaningful exchanges taking place and a movement towards greater understanding and peaceful relations between all people.

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