ANTI-WAR ACTIVISTS are planning for demonstrations against joint US-Australian "war games" off the coast of Queensland on June 21-25. Operation Talisman Sabre 2007 will be the biggest simulated War Games operation to take place on Australian shores.A massive build up of 14,000 American and 12,000 Australian military personnel will begin in Rockhampton at the end of May, culminating in six weeks of intensive training at Australian military locations throughout Queensland, the Northern Territory and the Coral Sea.

This includes the Australian-US training facilities in Shoalwater Bay north of Rockhampton, the Delamere Range and Bradshaw artillery ranges in the Northern Territory.

In response, a coalition of anti-war and environment groups are helping organise people from cities around Australia to get up to Shoalwater Bay to participate in a peace convergence.

The joint war games will involve live combat simulations that will include live naval, land-based and arterial bombing of fragile areas of our coastline at enormous cost.

It will also include bombing, parachute drops and on-shore landings, and testing of the latest high-tech military equipment, including laser-guided "smart bombs" and unmanned drones.

The exercise will involve the use of nuclear-powered warships, B52 bombers, stealth bombers and B1 bombers, all of which are currently being used in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

According to the Australian Defence Force, Talisman Sabre's primary aim is to "increase the inter-operability between Australian and US forces".

The games threaten world heritage-listed areas, such as the Great Barrier Reef. The area is also home to the Dharumbal of North East Queensland. Their permission has not been sought from the government.

We have no way of knowing how much damage the games will do to the local environment. Following the 2005 war games, locals reported the discovery of chemicals, including white phosphorous among sea and plant life.

Red phosphorous, used for markers on marine mines, was found washed up on the beaches.

Both the major parties tell us that the US alliance is about protecting ordinary Australian workers. Why should we believe this?

Not only is the government prepared to waste billions on the military, now they want to unleash the latest military hardware on one of the most fragile environments in the world.

A number of activities are being planned, including a fundraising concert in Brisbane on June 16 and mass actions at the military base on Saturday June 23-24.Groups in major cities are organising transport. From Melbourne the peace train leaves from Flinders Street station.

The train will pass through Canberra and Sydney and stop in Brisbane for the fundraising concert on June 16, then continue to Yapoon for the peace camp.

By Rebecca Le May
For further transport information, visit www.peaceconverge.com or call Friends of the Earth Brisbane (07) 3846 5793.

In Sydney a bus is being booked to leave on Thursday afternoon June 21 and return Monday night on the June 25 at a cost of $160 (or less) for the return fare and camping. To book your place or donate, contact Paddy Gibson 0415800586.