BY DANNY FAIRFAX
CANBERRA — Anti-war and anti-corporate activists in the ACT have begun organising protests to take place against the Defence and Industry 2003 conference, which will be held in the National Convention Centre on June 24-26.
The conference, organised by the department of defence, is the main conduit between the Australian war machine and weapons and military infrastructure manufacturers.
The 1500 delegates who will attend the conference (each paying $1200 for the privilege) include senior executives of major arms manufacturers — notorious corporations such as Lockheed-Martin, British Aerospace, Raytheon and Tenix.
Also attending will be a number of government representatives, notably defence minister Robert Hill, who will be making the keynote address at 8.45am on June 24.
"Many Canberrans are opposed to the US war drive. This was proven both by polling and by the vast numbers of people who came out this year to demonstrate against Australian involvement in the invasion of Iraq", said anti-war activist Stuart Munckton. "The corporations attending this conference made huge profits out of the death and destruction waged upon the Iraqi people."
The newly formed Global Justice Canberra has called a protest at the National Convention Centre from 8am June 24. Under the slogan "Stop the global war drive! Money for health and education, not weapons manufacturers", the June 24-26 protests are being supported by the ACT Network Opposing War, the body responsible for organising the 15,000 strong protests in Canberra against the invasion of Iraq earlier this year.
People from around the country are urged to converge on Canberra for the protest. For more information call Danny on 0422 132 988, or email <derfunkmeister@gmx.net>.
From Green Left Weekly, May 28, 2003.
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