It's ANZAC day.
It's the 100 year anniversary of a particularly bad battle in Turkey, that has somehow come to represent the apex of Australian and NewZealand glorification of war. Sure, we say it's not glorifying war - but seriously how is this wall to wall coverage not glorification? The coverage in all media over the past week has numbed my senses. Not made me reflect on sacrifice.
All our focus on this one stupid battle? I'd like to put some focus on those efforts to stop the slaughter.
Gallipolli was ultimately a battle lost for the ANZACs.
So too was the attempt by over 1000 women who came together in 1915 to try to stop war. To call for resolutions for peace. To identify and disarm the causes of conflict. If only we could reflect more on that effort.
The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom - http://www.wilpf.org.au/centenary/100years
Image: Screengrab from http://honesthistory.net.au/wp/wp-content/uploads/WILPF_posters_72dpi-F…
Text in the image says:
As the British army, including Anzacs, is invading Turkey more than 1000 women from both warring and neutral nations meet in The Hague for the International Congress of Women. They set out resolutions for ending all war and resolve to take them immediately to all heads of state in Europe and the USA. They name themselves the International Committee of Women for Permanent Peace.
"I know that the idea that lasting peace can be gained through war is nonsense" - Eleanor Moore
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