The Waste of War - 10th Anniversary of War in Afghanistan, 7 October 2011
Footage from a vigil in Melbourne's City Square held to mark the 10th anniversary of the war in Afghanistan, focusing on the cost in both dollars and lives ...
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| Video information | |
|---|---|
| Produced by | pc |
| Directed by | pc |
| Produced | Oct 10, 2011 |
Full Description
To mark the 10th anniversary of the war in Afghanistan, Renegade Activists prepared a leaflet setting out some of the uses to which $21.3 billion could have been put, this being the sum of increased military spending over the last ten years compared with 2001 levels. A lolly was attached to each "as a taste of what you could have been enjoying": it was calculated that $21.3 billion would provide "19 712 lollies for every man, woman and child in Australia".
More seriously, people attending a vigil in the City Square were asked to consider how this sum could have been better spent - or wasted, if they preferred - while two peace activists, Simon Moyle and Jessica Morrison, took turns reading out the names of Australian servicemen and some of the thousands of Afghan civilians killed in the war. There was also an attempt to drop a banner from the balcony of the adjacent hotel, partially thwarted by security guards but still making its point.
Attendance was not large, with the rain not helping, but a good many leaflets were distributed. Among those who did attend were representatives of MAPW Australia, and Greens federal MP Adam Bandt, who also addressed the gathering.
See also http://www.facebook.com/pages/Renegade-Activist-Meetings-Events/130292800376706?sk=info









