Hiroshima A-bombing marked
BRISBANE — A graphic description of the terrible effects of the US atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945 was the keynote talk of an August 6 rally held here to mark the 56th anniversary of that catastrophic event. The rally, held in King George Square, was followed by a candlelight march through city streets to the Queens Street Mall.
Jack Rowe, a member of the occupying Australian army in Japan after the war, told of the devastating effects of the US attack on the people of Hiroshima, and the aftermath of cancer which hit both residents and members of the Allied occupation forces.
Other speakers publicised the case of the 15 Greenpeace protesters who face long jail terms for peacefully occupying a US air base in California where tests are being conducted for the National Missile Defense project. The protesters include two Australians, Stuart Lennox and Nic Clyde. For more information, contact <releasestuartnic@hotmail.com>.
Funds raised for Haiti
NEWCASTLE — Ninety people attended an August 11 trivia night and auction at Club Nova which raised over $1200 for Haiti, the poorest country in Latin America. The fundraiser was addressed by Christine Barnden who has spent six years working in Haiti. She outlined the work of the Beyond Borders, a group which aims to empower Haitians by funding literacy campaigns which are run and organised by the people themselves. The night was organised by the Uniting Church In Australia Tertiary Students Association.
Hiroshima Day rally
MELBOURNE — Several hundred environmentalist, socialists, anarchists and Christians braved a cold, rainy weather to attend the annual Hiroshima Day rally on August 6. The protest was organised by the Coalition for a Nuclear Free Australia.
Michael Reidie, a member of the O3 to CHOGM Alliance, urged the participants to join in the planned blockade of the Commonwealth Business Forum on October 3. He pointed out that Hugh Morgan from Western Mining Corporation along with representatives from Rio Tinto, BHP and other corporate criminals would be attending the forum.