Friends of the Earth Brisbane
Anti-Nuclear Collective
Member Queensland Nuclear Free Alliance (QNFA)
PO Box 5702 West End Qld 4101
Mobile: 0411 118 737

Nuclear Free Queensland
PO Box 5829
West End Q 4101
mbl. 0411 118 737

www.nuclearfreequeensland.org

Friends of the Earth Brisbane
member Queensland Nuclear Free Alliance
mbl 0411 118 737

27 June 2008  

Media release  

Hidden War in the Pacific:  Public Meeting and BBQ  

Date:           Saturday June 28
Time:                    BBQ starts 1pm Public Meeting starts 2pm
Place:         St Mary’s Church  cnr Peel & Merivale Sts, South Brisbane    

US Bases deny indigenous human rights

Representatives of the Indigenous people of Guam, the Chamoru, are in Brisbane this weekend to raise awareness of their struggle with the United States to reclaim ancestral land.

“For over 60 years, the United States has held the people of small Pacific island, Guam,0 hostage to its military ambitions,” said Brisbane organiser Robin Taubenfeld.

“Unfortunately, Australia supports the ongoing denial of Chamoru human rights by   participating in US military activities in Australia, the Pacific and further a field.”

“Australia engages in huge joint training exercises with the US in Queensland, houses US bases and military staging points in NT and WA, and allows the US to conduct bombing flyovers on the NT from Guam.”

“Support for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have proven Australia to be a strong military ally,” Ms. Taubenfeld said.  US bases cover one-third of the total land area of Guam and there are plans to expand the bases to strengthen the US’ presence in the Pacific.

“The Chamoru, have waged a long struggle to protect their land and culture from the effects of militarism and colonisation,” Ms. Taubenfeld continued.   

“We need to make the link between what is happening in Guam and on our own shores.”

Speakers: 

Dr Lisa Natividad is the organiser of the Guahan (Guam) Coalition for Peace and Justice, which educates the community on the social costs of increased militarism in Guam.

Mr Aguon is the author of various books exploring the struggle of the Chamoru people.  

For more information: Rally for Peace and Nuclear Disarmament Inc Joan Shears (07) 3855 9497
or Friends of the Earth Brisbane Robin Taubenfeld 0411 118 737