Friday Press Conference For Peace

Date: 10 April 2003

Three humanitarian activists speak about the challenge of the war in Iraq and call on the Howard government to replace military force with real aid at a press conference at Parliament House tomorrow, Friday 11 April.

Friday, April 11, 10.00 am, NSW Parliament Media Room

Host: Ian Cohen MLC

Participants

Dr Renwar Reben

Dr Renwar Reben is Kurdish, from Iraqi Kurdistan. He was a political activist at his hospital in Irbil, defending women's rights and developing the trade union for hospital nurses and workers. He took part in the 1991 Kurdish uprising against Saddam Hussein.
He became a doctor in 1993 and came to Australia as a refugee in 1997. While here he has supported the campaigns against racism and for refugee rights. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the newly-formed Anti-War Kurdish Progressive Committee.

Colleen Hodge

Colleen Hodge is Education and Public Relations Manager for the National Council of Churches of Australia. NCCA and its seven member Christian Churches have joined with Muslim Aid to launch a Emergency Appeal for the Iraqi people.

Peter Jennings

Peter Jennings is the Executive Officer of Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA, the overseas aid agency of the Australian Council of Trade Unions. Union Aid Abroad provides vocational training in some of the toughest situations, and has long experience working with Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, the West Bank and Gaza.

Walk Against The War Coalition

The Walk Against The War Coalition unites over 70 community, political, church, peace, environment and union organisations around two basic principles - Stop the War on Iraq, Bring Our Troops Home.

The Palm Sunday Peace Rally - 1 pm, April 13, at Belmore Park, marching to the Domain. Inter-faith call to prayer for peace - 1.05 pm Belmore Park. Domain speakers: Donna Mulhearn, Dr Reben, Andrew Wilkie, Carmen Lawrence, Sylvia Hale, Doug Cameron.

For comment on the media conference: Peter Murphy 0418 312 301; John Hallam 9567 7533.
Contacts: Bruce Childs 0412 803 457; Hannah Middleton 0418 668 098; Nick Everett 0409 762 081

For further information

Union:	Labor Council of NSW
Email:	info@nswpeace.org
WWW:	http://www.nswpeace.org

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