By Christopher Walker, World BEYOND War, September 24, 2024
Our theme has been “Resisting the USA’s Military Empire.” Australia has always been aligned with military empires: first the British Empire and now the USA’S military empire. The British atomic bomb tests in South Australia were carried by the British military empire. We heard about the impact on aboriginal people and the land as a result. The AUKUS agreement is the most recent example which aligns Australia even more closely with the USA’s military empire. Australia has become more militarised and given over our sovereignty. There has been an expansion of Pine Gap and military bases in Darwin and WA. Australia contributes to the weapons industry led by USA
companies. The military are infiltrating our education system from primary to tertiary education. We do not question the military effect on the environment.
How do we build a different future? There are things we can do. The idea of détente rather than military posturing can be nurtured. We can be willing to relate to other nations and caution the USA and its military enterprise and empire. We should get more information about the USA bases in Australia. We can challenge weapons companies in their involvement in our education system. Indigenous voices should be heard.
We should exercise our sovereignty as an independent nation rather than feel we need a big brother nation to protect us. We can become less fearful and insecure, fearing the outsider, leading us to give uncritical support to the USA’s military empire. Instead, we could become neutral and non-aligned. We should broaden our national security policy so that it is not only a matter of the military. We can foster more cultural awareness and look to diplomacy and non-violent means to resolve conflicts.
We can get comfortable with our own nationality, acknowledging the truth about our past and present, and looking to where we want to go and be in the future. We could become a republic, overcome our fear and embrace what it means to be neutral. White Australia needs to become more uncomfortable with its actions in order to change for the better.
As activists, we need more than a communications strategy. We can be open to more ways of direct-action and having an influence.
History does have surprises. Change can come about suddenly. There is hope.
