In April 2017, Sunday Assembly Canberra will tackle a subject that looms large in human history. We will discuss War.

Why do societies wage war on others? How do we commemorate past conflicts? Can we avoid war, and choose peaceful alternatives?

Our main speaker for April's event is long time peace activist Graeme Dunstan. Army-mad in high school, Graeme entered Royal Military College as a staff cadet but dropped out after 3 years. He went on to the University of New South Wales where, in reaction, he became a major campus organiser against the US war on Vietnam and Australian conscription for it.



Although he graduated with honours in engineering, Graeme instead chose a lifetime of activism and community organising. Now 18 years a full time nomad, Graeme’s migratory route takes him through Canberra each April where he applies his organising skills to create new narratives around Anzac Day.



Graeme organises the annual Anzac eve Peace Vigil, which begins on the summit of Mount Ainslie at sunset and descends through darkness towards the Australian War Memorial. The vigil laments the terrible cost of war and how much we cherish peace. Graeme also promotes the Anzac Day Frontier Wars March, which seeks to have the conflicts between Indigenous Australians and mainly British settlers (1788–1934) acknowledged by the Australian War Memorial.



“Sixteen years of war, no end in sight and none promised”, Graeme said.”The victory of permanent war is the normalisation of war. Deceived by the US alliance, distracted by mass media and deflected by climate change activism, Australians have become indifferent to the vicious wars waged in our name and with our taxes.”



Graeme Dunstan will be the keynote speaker at the April 2017 Sunday Assembly Canberra, helping us to think deeply about war and peace.



As usual, we will curate a whole event around this theme of War, including readings, personal reflection and songs.



Where: Majura Hall, Rosevear Place, Dickson. (Near the Majura Tennis courts).

When: Sunday 23 April 2017. Please arrive by 2:15 for a 2:30 p.m. start.

RSVP: Please register your free tickets via http://www.sundayassemblycanberra.com/april-2017



Interesting speaker + community + songs + tea & cake = Sunday Assembly Canberra.



If you are coming along to the assembly, we are always very grateful to anyone who can bring a home-baked or store-bought cake to share after the assembly!