AUKUS has raised much debate. Do Defence Alliances make us truly secure? What value do we put on trust building and better relations with countries? How deft is our foreign policy towards China? What is the cost of not pursuing non-violent approaches to conflict prevention? This Conference is timely before a Federal Election. This conference will be held online, on February 19th, 2022.
The Structure of the Conference
AUKUS has raised much debate in Australia and beyond. While probably Australia’s most significant security pact in a century, underlying, crucial questions remain.
- Do Defence Alliances and sophisticated weaponry make us truly secure?
- What value do we put on the “good diplomacy” of trust building and strengthening of relations?
- How deft is our foreign policy towards China?
- Does our Overseas Aid serve our neighbours, or our own interests?
- What is the cost of not pursuing non-violent approaches to conflict prevention?
- Why is consideration of Just Peace missing in Defence deliberations?
SESSION I: KEYNOTE SESSION: Where does Australia’s security lie?
Professor John Langmore, AM, Professorial Fellow, University of Melbourne: Peace vs Militarism, the critical issue for Australia.
Moderator: Dr Di Bretherton, Convenor, Psychologists for Peace
SESSION II: Our Relations with China
Professor Jocelyn Chey, AM, Adjunct Prof Western Sydney University and UTS, Visiting Prof University of Sydney: How deft or daft is our foreign policy towards China?
Moderator: Dr Tania Miletic, Assistant Director, Centre for Peacebuilding, University of Melbourne
SESSION III: Australia’s Overseas Aid
Dr Emma Leslie, AM, Founder and Director, Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, Siem Riep, Cambodia. Does our Aid help or hinder Australia’s relations in the region? Does it offer relevant leadership? Is peacemaking at its core?
Moderator: Dr Anne Herbert, HRD Advisor, Australian Aid Programs, Laos and Vietnam
SESSION IV: Just Peace in the Context of Fratelli Tutti
Dr Sandie Cornish, Director, Office for Justice, Ecology and Peace, Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference. Applying Fratelli Tutti’s universal vision of positive relations within societies and between states as Australia navigates a tense future.
Moderator: Fr Claude Mostowik, MSC, President Pax Christi Australia, Director MSC Peace and Justice Centre
For further information on the Conference contact:
Rita Camilleri camrita44@gmail.com Tel 0448701877
Caesar D’Mello caesarmdm@gmail.com Tel: 0451911941
Catriona Devlin devlinc@bigpond.com Tel: 0419109830
Harry Kerr ahmkerr@hotmail.com Tel: 0424950852
Pax Christi 2022 Conference Flyer
CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FORM
Registration for this conference is open until 11 February 2022.
