Watching our impact in Parliament- Pacific Peace Pilgrimage
Quakers have felt led to sponsor a visit of friends from the Pacific, and this week it has begun to happen! It was a joy to welcome our four friends on Sunday – from the Marshall Islands and the Pacific Conference of Churches. ICAN had also paid for Karina Lester, second generation survivor of Australian nuclear testing to join. The guests with ICAN and Quakers headed to Silverwattle for a powerful 24 hours of grounding in the land (thanks to the FNCC for organising the Welcome to Country, and Friends Lisa and Molly who hosted us so graciously), and grounding in one anothers stories. It was a time of deep sharing, including naming of many traumas. Trish led us in a worship sharing session.
And from Monday night, the political engagements have be phenomenal, where I could see direct impact from Quakers present throughout the week. On Monday night Susan Templeman, whom Quakers know well, moved a motion to Commemorate the 80th anniversary of the beginning of nuclear detonations in the Pacific. One of the four speakers of the motion was Matt Smith, who mentioned that someone from North Queensland had travelled to Canberra for the commemorations. Another was independent Helen Haines, who said “I acknowledge the work of organisations such as the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize recipients—ICAN—and the Quakers for their persistent advocacy”.
Then on Tuesday there was a Parliamentary Friends of the Nuclear ban Treaty meeting. The meeting was chaired by Josh Wilson, who has recently been visited by Friends to talk about militarisation. A co-chair is David Shoebridge, whom Quaker Jamie Reilly recently spoke on a panel alongside. And then, in walks Sam Rae, who had never engaged on nuclear weapons ever before – except last month he was visited by Quakers Anne Herbert and Rob Leslie!
Wednesday morning was a most powerful vigil which I coordinated with the group, and many Quakers attended, alongside 11 Federal MPs. Here are some photos of the event, and a short video of one of our guests sharing his story. Another one of our guests read this poem written by her twin sister, sharing the profound hurt of calling devastating nuclear detonations ‘Bravo’.
It’s easy to feel like engaging with parliamentarians doesn’t make a difference. But this week has shown plenty of evidence that it can and it does! So grateful to many Friends who discerned and planned this work, and the many other Friends who have made thoughtful representations to their elected representatives.
Jessica Morrison
Peaceworker
