First Nations peace walk against AUKUS takes aim at Labor

March 25, 2024
Issue 
Community speak out with delegates of the Australian Nuclear Free Alliance, NSW Teachers Federation, South Coast Labour Council, Peace Walk to Canberra and WAWAN. Photo: WAWAN/Facebook

First Nations people and supporters, including unionists, began a 400-kilometre peace walk against the AUKUS military alliance on March 18.

They are walking between Port Kembla and Canberra. Their route goes through Nowra, Ulladulla, Batemans Bay and Braidwood.

Peace Walkers Against AUKUS is being organised by Uncle Winiata Puru, Beyond Uranium Canberra, Australian Student Environment Network and the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN) NSW.

In memory of the late Arabunna Elder and anti-uranium campaigner Uncle Kevin Buzzacott, their purpose is to deliver a message to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to abandon support for the Coalition government’s AUKUS military alliance.

Uncle Kevin walked more than 3000 kilometres between Lake Eyre and Gadigal/Sydney in 2000 to stop uranium mining on his Country.

The walkers are also carrying a message from the recent national meeting of the Australian Nuclear Free Alliance (ANFA) in Wollongong, and the Elders and the community there, to the governor-general and politicians in Canberra.

The peace walk followed a union and community peace speak-out in Port Kembla Heritage Park on March 17.

ANFA delegates from across the country, local unionists and community members met for the first national weekend of action against AUKUS.

Hosted by ANFA, the South Coast Labour Council and Wollongong Against War and Nukes, they called on federal Labor to rule out nuclear submarines in Port Kembla and for a nuclear-free future.

The peace walk is hosting a concert at El Horses in Nowra on March 24 featuring local musicians and speakers.

They will finish at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra on April 17.

Those wishing to participate can join in at any stage, and continue on for as long or short as they wish.

[For more information and to register for the walk visit this website.]

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