MELBOURNE, APRIL 25. Over 100 people attended Melbourne's first Alternative Anzac Day commemoration today.

MAPW was invited to make one of a series of brief interventions. Nancy Atkin read a message from IPPNWi Turkey and a poem from David Menkes of IPPNW New Zealand; and commented briefly on the rapidly escalating human costs of war, over the last 100 years.

Other speakers remembered the effects of wars on the lives and health of veterans and their families. Draft resistors from the Vietnam war described their experiences and motivations, whilst acknowledging the mental and physical effects on those conscripted to this war.

• Read Nancy Atkin's speech, including the Turkish and NZ messages.