From June 17-24, a Peace Convergence will see thousands of people meet in the seaside town of Yeppoon, Australia, to oppose joint U.S.-Australian war games on the Great Barrier Reef and surrounds. Over 20,000 U.S. troops and about 12,000 Australian troops have been involved in Operation Talisman Sabre 07 since May. The convergence will mark the start of the live firing exercise at Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area.

Opponents to the games say they threaten world heritage values including Ramsar listed wetlands, endangered species including dugongs, green turtles and whales, and the local water supply. They cite the presence of nuclear powered vessels, nuclear weapons, banned munitions like depleted uranium and other military toxins as risk factors. They maintain that the war games, the biggest U.S. military presence in Australia since WW2, indicates increasing collaboration with the rogue Bush administration and its illegitimate and unpopular wars. PDF from Friends of the Earth Brisbane

In June the International Whaling Commission condemned the U.S. navy use of sonar in the TS07 games as a risk to migrating whales who traverse the Great Barrier Reef. The U.S. Centre for Biological Diversity have launched a lawsuit against the U.S. navy over their use of sonar in Hawaii. [1] [2]

Recently the Australian Government allowed the Australian Defence Force to purchase cluster bombs, undermining a fledgling anti-land mine treaty and attempts to reduce the world’s the land mine problem.

The Peace Convergence will run for a week from June 18-24. Events include public meetings, concerts, street rallies, direct action and theatre actions.

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