Peace Convergence - Stop Talisman Sabre

From the newswire: June 19 2007:
The Peace Convergence is a nonviolent gathering in the Shoalwater region from 18 to 24 June 2007. Peace and social justice, environment, indigenous, women's, secular and faith based groups and individuals are invited to join with the local community - to nonviolently oppose the war games and the environmental destruction it will cause; and to voice our call for an end to the war in Iraq, and Australian involvement with illegal and unjust US-led wars. The Talisman Sabre 2007 War Games are the largest joint USA exercises conducted in Australia, and vital to the USA’s regional dominance through the Pacific Command in Hawaii, linked to bases in Alaska.

There has been a flurry of activity which has seen the establishment of the "Shoalwater Embassy in Yeppoon", a new Peace Convergence website and an exciting programme of events and action for the week ahead. Talisman Sabre troop numbers are building – 5000 US military were in Brisbane last weekend on R&R. The numbers will build to over 20,000 US troops over the war games. Read more at: peaceconvergence.com and shoalwaterbay.org

Exercise TS07 involves 32,000 military members from both nations that will feature crisis-action planning and execution of contingency response operations in land, sea and air maneuvers.
The exercises will impact on the environment of the region, the community, our neighbours in the Pacific, and our relationship with the rest of the world.

Heavy metals and toxins used in munitions, erosion-causing amphibious landings, the possibility of toxic spills and the use of sonar all impact on the 38 listed vulnerable species in the area including dugong and the Green Turtle.

US ships will be nuclear powered and possibly carrying nuclear weapons. The exercises are used to practice bombing, raiding and invading, not defence. Military exercises and bases are known to bring long term social problems to the regions they visit. The joint military exercises are a continuation of the legacy of genocide, colonisation and nuclear experimentation in Australia and this region. The exercises promote violence and aggression as a solution to world problems, rather than working towards peace.

The Operation Talisman Sabre war games will occur over a six week period until 2 July 2007 involving approximately 13,700 US personnel and 12,400 Australian personnel. Exercise activity will be located at Australian Defence training areas including the Australian-US "training facilities": Shoalwater Bay in Queensland and Bradshaw and Delamere Range in the Northern Territory. Support sites including civilian facilities in Australia, offshore and overseas will also be utilised.
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Defence greenwash on war games a toxic lie