Submission prepared by MAPW President Sue Wareham to the Defence White Paper, covering issues raised by Dr Wareham during the community consultation around the Defence Department's discussion paper, Key Questions for Defence in the 21st Century. MAPW recommendations include strengthening the United Nations and international law; adopting a truly defensive (rather than offensive) policy; recognising global poverty and climate change as major security threats; and withdrawing from participation in nuclear-war related activities.

The Asia-Pacific region is the fastest growing market for armaments in the world. This fact sheet describes the connection between conflict in the region, and Australia's past arms exports. It is No 2 in a series on the global weapons trade.

In August 2008, an arms fair planned for Adelaide, South Australia, was cancelled after public protest and a growing campaign to protest at the fair. Three weeks later, an arms fair planned for Ottawa in Canada was cancelled after a public campaign. This fact sheet is No 5 in a series on the global arms trade, and looks at the role of these weapons trade fairs.

There are around 875 million small arms in the world. Guns injure over a million people every year, and kill 300,000. This fact sheet outlines the problem. It is No 3 in a series on the global weapons trade.

Flyer for Victorian Branch MAPW meeting, October 14 2008. Speakers: Dr Melanie Archer, who worked as a forensic entomologist assisting with autopsies in the Solomon Islands; and Dr Mark Zirnsak, on the human rights impacts of the global arms trade.

MAPW and the Australian Conservation Foundation say the current conflict in Georgia, with the renewed threat of the use of nuclear weapons, provides another reason why Australia should scrap plans to sell uranium to Russia. Dr Sue Wareham, President of the Medical Association for the Prevention of War (Australia) was invited to address the Australian Government's Joint Standing Committee enquiring into the proposed sale of Australian uranium to Russia, on Monday 25 August 2008. 

NSW Branch media release, 2 June 2008, welcoming an end to Australia's combat role in Iraq and calling for an investigation into possibility of referring former PM JOhn Howard to International Criminal Court regarding his role in sending Australian troops to Iraq. Contact MAPW (03 8344 1637 or 0431 475 465) to speak to Sue Wareham (National President) or Robert Marr (NSW Coordinator) on 0433 766 513

Flyer for a public meeting on Friday 13 June 2008, at Belgrave, in Melbourne's outer east, on US bases, indigenous self-determination and Australia's links to regional militarisation. Speakers are two indigenous Chamoru activists campaigning against US plans to move thousands of marines from Okinawa to Guam.

Tuesday 13 May 2008: MAPW Victorian Branch members report back. MAPW Vice-President Dr Bill Williams will speak on health impacts of Jadugoda uranium mine in northern India and discuss possible support. Medical student member Ashraf Tokhi observed the impact of conflict on ordinary lives, in a recent visit to Afghanistan.

Melissa Parke, now an MP,  presented this stimulating address on her work with the UNi over the past 10 years — including in Gaza, Kosovo and Lebanon. She comments on the importance of international human rights, especially in relation to refugees.

MAPW President Dr Sue Wareham OAM addressed the Sydney Peace Foundation conference, Iraq Never Again: Building Peace, Ending War, held in Sydney on 15 and 16 April 2008. Dr Wareham spoke of the increasing humanitarian costs of war, of the human costs of the Iraq war, and of the posibilities for working together for peace.
 

Doctors for Iraq Press Release, Baghdad, 14 April 2008

Doctors for Iraq has received reports from the Imam Ali hospital in Sadar City, Baghdad, of dozens of civilian casualties following US military air strikes on the densely populated neighbourhood east of Baghdad.

Five days of intense fighting between the Mehdi army militia and the Iraqi military in early April left hospitals in Iraq overwhelmed with the number of casualties. Doctors for Iraq's network across the country reported that hospitals were lacking many medical supplies and resources to treat the injured.

Sergei Kolesnikov outlines nuclear security issues in Europe and the need to "gain better vision of, and more ideas on how to tackle the most sensitive points which can be understandable both for the public and decision-makers", to keep IPPNWi at least as visible as it is now, but still able to increase its effectiveness, globally. Paper from IPPNW XIIIth World Congress 1998.

Paper from IPPNWi XIIIth World Congress 1998

1996 Nobel Peace prize Co-Laureate Jose Ramos Horta presents several key issues including human rights, justice, reconciliation and peace, in relation to East Timor "as a footnote of the Cold War" from its invasion in 1975 by Indonesia.

Necdet Ipekyuz of the Turkish Medical Association outlines the fundamental issue that regions "where armed conflict is ongoing receives assistance in the form of health, educational equipment, food and clothing from various NGOi's. There isn't enough effort being put into practice in bringing about a peaceful solution to the armed conflict". A paper presented at the IPPNWi World Congress, 1998.

Ullrich Gottstein's slide presentation demonstrates the vast impacts on the Iraqi people after 1990, including issues of food, education, casualties and more. He visited Iraq in 1998.

An analysis of Australia's role in nuclear disarmament in recent years and options for the future, by Richard Leaver, Senior Lecturer, School of Political and International Studies, Flinders University, and academic specialising in international affairs. Paper from MAPW Conference 2000.

An appeal from Hiroshima by Kenjiro Yokoro, MD, of the Japanese Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War. Speech presented in Australia by Dr Tilman Ruff on behalf of JPPNW on August 1, 2002.

Former Australian Ambassador and author of Fact or Fission - the Truth About Australia's Nuclear Ambitions, Professor Richard Broinowski gives an overview of the links between nuclear technologies and proliferations risks, and the challenges these pose. Paper presented at the 2000 MAPW National Conference.

This 2007 MAPW report was written by MAPW doctors Hadia Mukhtar and Sue Wareham, with Phillip Salem from Australians for Lebanon. It documents the terrible legacy of cluster bombs in southern Lebanon as a result of the 2006 war, and makes recommendations for Australian action both to assist the survivors, and to prevent the use of these weapons in the future.

Dr Rae-Wen Chang's 2007 paper discusses effects of recent conflicts on the health of the Iraqi population. A well referenced and comprehensive overview. Recommended reading.