Melbourne anti-war protest: Hanwha & anti-imperialist rallies at Disrupt Land Forces

In the week of 8 – 14 September, Melbourne/Naarm is hosting a huge international weapons expo called Land Forces at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre. A coalition of over 40 peace and anti-war groups are mobilising to protest & disrupt the weapons trade and manufacture of arms used to commit genocide and war crimes.  Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Elbit, BAE, Hanwha, Raytheon & Thales, just some of the biggest global arms manufacturers, will be promoting and trading in their weapons of death and destruction.

A group of Geelong, Werribee & Melbourne activists & groups, including No AUKUS Vic & Unionists for Palestine have formed a group called Elbit out of Victoria & we have a Weapons out of Avalon campaign. We are holding a rally outside Hanwha's Melbourne office on Thursday then marching to the Vigil for Palestine which starts at 6:30. This action is a protest against Land Forces, not a disruption. Please join us with placards, banners & Palestinian flags.

HANWHA RALLY

4:30pm, Thursday 12th September

Hanwha Australia HQ, 550 Bourke St Melbourne

Then march to Vigil for Gaza at Batman Park

Did you know that giant Korean weapons corporation Hanwha has recently opened its factory at Avalon where it will build Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicles & self-propelled Howitzers for the ADF & other evil contraptions of war? The biggest private Israeli weapons corporation Elbit Systems has been awarded a $917 million contract to build the turrets for the Redbacks there. That contract was awarded after the current genocide in Gaza commenced. Another Israeli weapons company Epsilon will also make batteries there.

We also encourage you to join us at another event (protest not disruption) near the Land Forces expo:

US IMPERIALISM ON TRIAL: BIDEN, MARCOS, DUTERTE V THE FILIPINO PEOPLE

6pm Tuesday 10^th September

1 Convention Centre Pl, South Wharf, Melbourne

Come along and show solidarity with the Filipino people. Unite against imperialism everywhere!

Here are the links to the schedule of Disrupt Land Forces public events & a terrific short YouTube video promoting it.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C-9qEhDTMtk/?img_index=1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYW246S6Tvk&rco=1

Below is a chart of the 20 biggest global weapons corporations.  And guess who dominates the top five? AUKUS partners US and UK.