Anti-AIDEX Women's Action

To me the most successful action that I experienced during six days at AIDEX
was the women's action.  The reason for its success was that the action had
been thoroughly planned in advance.  All the participants had to do was to
experience the joy of its unfolding.

The action started at 7.00 am outside the War Memorial in Canberra, where the
women gathered to share breakfast under large trees.  Then we arranged
ourselves in two circles for singing, talking, prayers, crying, grief and
laughing ceremonies and yelling out the names of the woman we wished to be
remembered forever.  We paraded into the city, where women speakers educated
us about the cost of war.  We showed our anger, we sang and danced. 

When we arrived back at the chaos of AIDEX, we gathered again under the trees
and sang and then proceeded to decorate the National Exhibition Centre  fence
with symbols and messages of our feelings and thoughts against war.  We sang
more and danced.  We united and finished the action.

I was overwhelmed by strength after the action; my soul was flying.  There
had been no ordering, only suggestions and trust.  There was space to channel
many emotions, unlike the other actions where only anger was released.  We
communicated and united together - feeling our connections with the Greenham
Common women and the other women activists who had come before us.  For the
first time at AIDEX, I felt truly peaceful, feeling that I was an example of
what peace is.

I felt that splitting from the main group and not compromising my beliefs was
the right thing to do.  I felt united with the women.  That was so important
after struggling to communicate unsuccessfully with the main group.  Everyone
had had something to say but no-one was listening.

To me the women's action was the only truly nonviolent action at AIDEX.  It
was educational, creative, supportive and well planned.  We didn't have to
put our lives on the line to show our disapproval of AIDEX.  The other
actions were creating violence in that there was even more psychological
injury than mere physical injury.  The women's action was a manifestation of
peace, healing and growth.  We had to break away from the patriarchal
dominance that was infesting both sides of the NATEX fence.

Thanks to all the inspiring women who gave their time to create such a
wonderfully successful nonviolent action. 
Kathlyn Rosetta