DRUMS OF WAR...

Pax                                                  International

Christi                                  Christian Peace Movement

Australia                                            

National President: Father Claude Mostowik MSC

61+2+9550 3845

0411 450 953

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September 25, 2014

Melissa Parke MP

Electorate Office

62 Wray Ave

Fremantle WA 6160

Dear Ms Parke

I am writing on behalf of Pax Christi Australia, which is part of Pax Christi International, an international Christian movement for peace founded in 1945, to express profound gratitude to you for your courage in your excellent speech in Parliament on September 22, 2014. On your website it was titled Drums of war silencing debate on complex human security crisis.

Pax Christi Australia has three branches in Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales as well as members in other Australian states. I am also the Director of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Justice and Peace Centre in Australia.

It seems that you have been among the very few voices that have challenged not only your party but also the bellicose statements and actions of our Government in moving from a so-called humanitarian mission in Iraq to again unthinkingly joining the United States in a war that cannot be won. These are also concerns of many other peace and justice organisations that I am associated with such as the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Justice and Peace Centre (Australian Province) and the Australian Anti-Bases Campaign Coalition

Your recognition of the pain and suffering inflicted on the peoples of Iraq, Syria, Gaza, Afghanistan, Pakistan and many countries in Africa - so often ignored in the West, until people like the Western journalists are also brutally murdered— seem not to have.

Pax Christi Australia does not believe that security can be achieved by bombing people, especially people who have never posed a threat to us in the first place. We believe that this violence will only make things worse, jeopardise security and threaten peace everywhere.

May I also take the opportunity to thank you for your welcome statements more recently on asylum seekers and the environment.

Once again, sincere thanks. On such matters you have our support, support and encouragement.

Peace and good wishes

Yours sincerely

(Father) Claude Mostowik msc

National President.