About Our Chapter

The World BEYOND War chapter in Australia has been going for a number of years now with actions and other activism from members in Naam Melbourne, Gadigal Sydney and Gimuy Cairns. Among the areas of involvement and action are:

• Support for Safe Resettlement of Former Afghan Peace Volunteers
  Members of the Australian chapter, for a number of years, have been part of an international group, headed up by WBW Board President Kathy Kelly, engaged in a difficult and protracted process to bring almost fifty former Afghan Peace Volunteers (APVs) (referenced in Mark Isaac’s book, Kabul Peace House) to safety in a third country. This has included successful resettlement of 25 former APVs in Portugal and supporting others to successfully achieve asylum in Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Finland. 
• Permaculture for Refugees
  The Australian chapter has supported the inspiring work of Rosemary Morrow, the founder of Permaculture for Refugees, including assisting in the production of resources to assist some of the most marginalised people on the planet survive in conditions of war, famine and natural disasters. 
• Action in the Streets
  There has been an ongoing involvement by the Australian chapter in various marches, demonstrations and other forms of protest against war in general, the ongoing ethnic cleansing and war crimes in Gaza, the role of arms dealers and other ‘Merchants of Death’, foreign bases and military alliances, particularly the obscene AUKUS alliance, and other forms of the military-industrial complex. 
• Education 
  Members of the Australian chapter, particularly in Naam Melbourne and Gimuy Cairns, have been active in educational activities detailing the obscenity of war and costs (in lives and the prospects of a better future) of weapons manufacture and dangerous military alliances. This has included taking a lead role in a comprehensive critique of the AUKUS alliance and publicizing that tungsten mined in Far North Queensland is being made into tiny cubes and used by Elbit Systems for fragmentation bombs which inflict horrendous injuries on children and others in Gaza. Members of the Australian chapter participated in the “Turning ‘The Dream’ of Peace into Action” forum with WBW Co-Founder David Hartsough, Tim Hollo and Gem Romuld in January 2024. In June 2024, WBW Board Member Alison Broinowski organized the Australia segment of the 24-hour Global Peace Wave. Additionally, WBW Australia hosted Day 1 of World BEYOND War’s annual #Nowar2024 Conference in September 2024 in Sydney, in partnership with Raising Peace.

Current priority issues for our WBW – Australia group include:

1. Australia to abandon AUKUS submarine program
2. Australia to extricate itself from military ties with Israel
3. End the military alliance with the US (eg AUKUS Alliance)
4. Close all foreign bases in Australia
5. Australia to sign and ratify the TPNW
6. Reduce military expenditure
7. Australia to become a neutral country 

World BEYOND War – Australia welcomes all new members and encourages all members to become involved in a way that suits you. For more information feel free to email Geoff at GeoffHolland1@protonmail.com or Alan at alan@avonsfield.com.au.