Sing for Peace and an End to the Arms Trade

The Australian Government's Department of Defence will be hosting a Defence + Industry Conference and Trade Exhibition at the Adelaide Convention Centre, North Terrace, 30 June to 2 July 2009. At this conference, potential contractors will “maximise their business opportunities” with the Department of Defence.

In terms of government funding, Defence receives special treatment. Over the past 14 years, there has been a 37% increase in Australian Defence expenditure in real terms. Defence spending has been guaranteed to increase by 3% per annum in real terms up to and including the Federal Government’s 2017-18 budget. By comparison, these projected increases are more than three times the budget allocated to restore the Murray Darling River System (about $12B).

If you would like to express your opposition to this disproportionate government spending and to the arms trade in general, you are invited to join us in a series of four workshops. People of all sexes, ages and singing abilities are welcome to come to any or all of three singing workshops and one non-violent direct action workshop.

Singing protest workshops: 1.30-4.30pm Saturdays 9th May and 13th June
Quaker Meeting Hall, 40A Pennington Terrace, North Adelaide

Non-violent direct action workshop: 1.30-4.30pm Saturday 27th June
Westcare Church Hall, 216 Wright St, Adelaide
Entry from Millers Court which runs alongside

We will be learning suitable songs and deciding how we can use music most effectively as part of the wider campaign to protest this Conference in particular and the global arms trade in general.

You are welcome to come to as many of the workshops as you can, and to sing with us for peace to protest the Conference in June/ July. There will be no auditions. These FREE workshops are being organised by Women's International League for Peace and Freedom and will be run by Mary Heath.

More information: http://www.wilpf.org.au