SATURDAY 14 JUNE: Visiting Chamoru activists Lisa Natividad and Julian Aguon inspired over fifty participants at an Melbourne workshop on the expansion of US bases in Guam, and the creation of new bases in Okinawa. See the Events column for details of further Australian meetings.

Participants heard of the health and social effects of the US bases in both countries, and of Australia's close links with military operations in Guam and Okinawa.

The workshop was part of a national tour to publicise the Guam's campaign against an extra 50,000 US military personnel due to arrive on their tiny island. Lisa and Julian are visiting Adelaide, Perth and Brisbane and Canberra.

• MAPW is helping organise the tour in several states: the speakers come highly recommended by those who have already heard them.

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.