Kerry Nettle
Kerry Nettle
Marrickville Peace Group
By 2005 it was becoming clear that there was little happening on the peace front in Sydney, despite Australia’s involvement in the ongoing war in Iraq. In an effort to bring attention back to this issue, the Marrickville Peace Group began its ‘Twenty-O-Three’ initiative. Using the unique invasion date for its title – 20.03.2003 – the group collected signatures on an open letter it had written to President Bush at a rally it organised in Martin Place. The plan was to send the open letter to President Bush via the US Consul General.
The initiative was repeated over four years, with an open letter being delivered to the US Consul General on the anniversary of the invasion each year. Local MP Anthony Albanese spoke at one of these rallies. Lee Rhiannon (Greens MP in NSW Parliament at the time) spoke at another. In 2007, then Kerry Nettle (former Greens Senator) lent her support in trying to get the US Consul General to accept the letter in person, without success.
Draft Program of Now We The People Conference
Shute, Carmel Thu, 14 Aug 2003 23:52:24 -0700
Dear Friend,
Please find below the draft timetable for sessions at the Now We The People Conference on August 23-24, 2003, at 702 Harris St, Ultimo - University of Technology Sydney.
In solidarity,
(Draft timetable, July 18, 2003)
Now We The People Challenging the US Empire - Australia for peace and justice Conference, August 23-24, 2003, University of Technology, Sydney.
SATURDAY AUGUST 23
10.15 am - Welcome to Country.
1020 am - Introduction
10.30 Opening Plenary Where are Howard and Bush taking Australia? The social, economic and environmental consequences of the US Alliance
Doug Cameron, Patricia Ranald, Andrew Wilkie, Tanya Plibersek MHR, Senator Kerry Nettle, Margaret Reynolds (possible)
Anti Iraq War protest
Two hundred anti-war protesters gathered at Cawper Wharf, Woolloomooloo, on January 23 2003, in a stormy protest against Australian involvement in a war on Iraq.
The protesters were responding to a call put out by anti-war groups the previous day, after Prime Minister John Howard announced the departure of 350 Australian navy and army personnel to the Persian Gulf. Protesters carried placards and banners that read "Send Howard, not the troops", "No Australian involvement", and simply "No!".
The protest was addressed by Reverend Ray Richmond of the Wayside Chapel, Socialist Alliance candidate for Port Jackson Paul Benedek, Greens senator Kerry Nettle, newly elected Greens MP Michael Organ, Walk Against the War spokesperson Nick Everett and Friends of the Earth campaigner John Hallam.
A variety of unionists also addressed the protest, including NSW Labor Council campaigns officer Amanda Tattersall and Public Sector Association state secretary Maurie O'Sullivan.[1]