Dawn Joyce, Queensland Regional Meeting
The Quaker Grannies, Helen Bayes and Dawn Joyce, are prepared for action again
Pine Gap will be the focus of the Australian peace movement from 19 September to 3 October, with a Healing Camp, nonviolent civil disobedience actions, and a public forum and conference hosted by IPAN, the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network.
Pine Gap is a joint United States-Australia military spy base located on Arrernte country near Alice Springs, Northern Territory. Pine Gap is one of the most important US military bases outside of USA, used in both surveillance and military operations. Although much secrecy has surrounded the base, information about its purpose has slowly come to light through leaked documents and research.
Pine Gap was originally built during the cold war to collect information on the testing of Soviet missiles. Today surveillance and intelligence gathering is still the major function of the base, including the interception of cell phones and satellite communications. It is thought that the US controls all of its spy satellites from Pine Gap.
Pine Gap. Photo from closepinegap.org
US military and intelligence operates overtly and covertly on many fronts globally. The Australian government is complicit in the deaths, injuries and displacement of many people through its involvement in US-led coalitions in war zones, and in the facilitation of execution-style drone strikes. The Australian government has allowed the US military, along with its private war industry contractors, to embed in Australia, on land that was never ceded by the traditional custodians. More information here.
World Beyond War is hosting a conference titled No War 2016: Real Security, Without Terrorism at American University in Washington, DC from 23 to 25 September. The Close Pine Gap convergence is listed with peace initiatives across the globe at this time. The International Day of Peace is 21 September. Peace is possible.
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